Bucs Rushing Early, Often & Successfully
September 25th, 2019
The numbers, via NFL Films, tell a clear story.
Through three games, Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, has a legitimate running game.
Look at the graphic below served up by the folks at ESPN NFL Matchup, the TV show that has NFL Films gurus break down all kinds of things and share all kinds of league data.
Tampa Bay ranks fourth in the NFL in total rushes on first down (56), and they’re averaging 4.7 yards per carry on those carries. Just for fun, if you want to subtract Ronald Jones’ 25-yard, draw-play run late in the first half Sunday, with the Giants in a prevent defense, the Bucs would still be averaging 4.3 yards per carry on first down. That’s a strong number.
Overall this season, as Joe wrote earlier today, the Bucs have the eighth most rushes in the NFL and the eighth-most rushing yards.
The running game won’t scare anyone, but it’s real and it just might improve as offensive coordinator Byron Lefwich gets a better feel for his running backs.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Yeah you’d think they would throw in a play action pass somewhere in there. Like in the redzone.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:24 pm
It’s time to #freerojo. He’s shown me enough through 3 weeks that he should be the starter over PB going forward. A bell cow back would do wonders for us in opening up the passing game.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:26 pm
Actually, it should read “Bucs choking early, often and successfully”. This organization is consistently pathetic! Remember when we asked prior to this year whether it was bad coaching o
September 25th, 2019 at 2:26 pm
And they really have not busted out DO who runs just has hard as the two guys ahead of him!
September 25th, 2019 at 2:26 pm
or bad players. Well now we know its both.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Jones have no break tackle ability. Soft as hell. And takes tackles awkward
September 25th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Good. Keep pounding the rock. Let the haters hate, tired of leading the league in passing and not winning. Pound the rock, and continue to improve on defense.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
@doctor Bingo, some play action every once in a while would be great. On average i believe the bucs run on first down into an 8 man front 62% of the time. And we never use it in the redzone.
September 25th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
Pel. BA an his staff have to unteach an reteach all the players what the previous staff did. Bad coaches can take decent players an make them regress Aka Smitty that REALIST loves so much. Hey REALIST tell your butt buddy Smitty thanks for the horrible job he did. On second thought drive both yourselves off a cliff plzz thank you lol
September 25th, 2019 at 2:35 pm
If you’d listened to Joe this summer our RB’s totally sucked and every flashy and shiny RB that Joe recognized he wanted to throw wads of money at. Gross mis-characterization right there (you’re good at that). Yes, Joe did not believe the Bucs did enough to improve the running game/running backs stable. Joe still believes that. They did not do enough. … However, that does not mean Joe will ignore their success through three games. Hopefully, they will keep it going. –Joe
Considering we don’t have a ton of cash invested at RB, and they are 8th in the league. I think we are getting value.
September 25th, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Maybe Bucs can use the money they saved on JPP to get a real RG/RT combo. Imagine the running attack with a real OL.
I can’t…..
September 25th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
When you have no money, it’s easy to say that you have everything you need. If we had $$$, you know damn well that we’d be looking at a upgraded RT and possibly RB
September 25th, 2019 at 3:36 pm
folks talking about play action….lol…
go back and watch OJ’s….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 25th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
How about our 1st down running stat in the red zone?
September 25th, 2019 at 4:03 pm
BUT! BUT! BUT!
WE WERE TOLD JAMEIS HAS NO RUNNING GAME!
September 25th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Well it is obvious we have the running game that has been MIA since 2015 ! Only problem is Leftwich tends to abandon it when we get 10-15 yards away from pay dirt . Sunday when they pulled that RPO crap it was ridiculous ! Been pounding it consistently 4-6 yards a clip then you pull that BS ! Poor coaching again at least Arians admitted he should have kept his dam hands out of it ! Sad commentary but for a SHAKY kicker this team sits at 2-1 , and JW two pic sixes week one and we are 3-0 ! Costly mistakes ! Killing ourselves .
September 25th, 2019 at 5:16 pm
We need to start Jones and he need more carries
September 25th, 2019 at 6:14 pm
Lamarcus Says:
September 25th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Jones have no break tackle ability. Soft as hell. And takes tackles awkward
^^^Tiki pointed out how he let’s the ball float around. I noticed on the long screen. I hope he takes not of that. Also put the ball on his inside arm when he was cutting back, biiiiiig no no.
September 25th, 2019 at 7:30 pm
My problem with the run calls thus far is why we are not calling an audible in front of 9 man fronts, double A gap stacked looks etc
Its like no matter what the play called is, no matter what the D gives you, run
Is JW not seeing it or is he not allowed to call an audible?
The Giants especially, Jenkins could not cover ME 1 on 1 anywhere on the field -why not check to the slant or quick out in the 3rd and less than 5 looks??
It just doesn’t make any sense
September 25th, 2019 at 11:35 pm
Jones won’t be reliable if every play looks l very awkward. He is like a tackling dummy. I mean I love what he doing but he not protecting himself well. He really could of broke that screen down further if he wasn’t so scared with ball.
September 26th, 2019 at 8:12 pm
Lamarcus, you couldn’t be more wrong with your claim that Jones has no break takle ability. Take a look at these highlights (https://twitter.com/i/status/1171451189247889412). He broke a number of tackles, requiring at least 2 defenders to bring him down a number of times. And the 12 yard run in Carolina, he shrugged off McCoy leaving him on his back. That run also required multiple guys to bring him down. No back is perfect ,why so critical of an RB averaging 5.3 a carry; right now that’s 8th in the league for RBs (Barber’s at 3.7)? And he’s doing it while predictably running against stacked boxes.