Running Backs Better Catch
May 19th, 2020
Targets RBs. A lot.
Based on this information, the Tampa Bay offense may be the design of Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians, but it will sure look a lot different this fall.
Now yesterday, Joe brought word from Jake Arians, the son of Bruce Arians, that the Bucs did not have running backs J.K. Dobbins and Cam Akers ranked that high in the draft because they were dubious of their pass-catching skills.
Enter third-round draft pick Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who the Bucs think has the ability to catch the ball. That’s one sign the Bucs are not going to rifle the ball downfield virtually every pass.
Another sign? New Bucs quarterback park-violating, home-invading quarterback Tom Brady loves throwing to running backs.
Per the PFF tribe, only one quarterback had more completions to running backs last year, and that was Philip Rivers. The new-Indianapolis signal-caller completed 148 passes to running backs in 2019. Brady had 118.
In fact, those two quarterbacks were the only ones to have at least 100 completions to running backs last season. No. 3 on the list is the pride of Chicago, Mitch Trubisky.
So let’s see: The Bucs sign a quarterback who likes to throw to running backs and the Bucs draft a guy who they think was one of the top pass-catchers at running back in the draft.
You don’t have to star in “Hidden Numbers” to add this up.
May 19th, 2020 at 12:09 am
Trubiskies…the pride of Chicago 🙂 The Mike Smith led defense made him look all world…best game of Trubiskies career by far.
Glad the Bucs kept Howard vs trading him for a song…I think he’ll have a good year.
Mike Evans may not reach 1000 yards for the 1st time in his career given all the weapons and Brady’s penchant for throwing to the backs.
May 19th, 2020 at 12:42 am
Vaughn has everything we need for #2 RB. Like to see him concede.
May 19th, 2020 at 12:43 am
*su
May 19th, 2020 at 1:05 am
Bucs have never, in the history, ever had RB’s involved in the passing game like Belicheat does. Maybe the Bucs can replicate it with Brady’s help. Howard hopes so. Man, it would be nice if the Bucs were to not suck
May 19th, 2020 at 1:07 am
I’d take it one step further and say that RB’s in the short passing game is a Belicheat tradmark
May 19th, 2020 at 1:55 am
Rojo season 1350 yards and 9 TD
May 19th, 2020 at 5:45 am
The word “checkdown” is not a bad word. A good QB will read and get rid of the ball quicker to an OPEN receiver.
IMO, there will be ample opportunity for RBs in this offense. I mean, who do you cover?! Evans? Godwin? Gronk? You going to leave them matched one-on-one?
Oooops! There goes the RB in the flats!
May 19th, 2020 at 6:17 am
Burn a team a few times going to RBs and that opens up everything….I would agree that RBs coupled with much more TE action will limit both Evans & Godwin……but I see that as a good thing.
May 19th, 2020 at 6:19 am
Where did Jameis rank?
May 19th, 2020 at 7:10 am
Johnlimp: Evans will miss Winston this year I promise you. Winston always made sure Evans got his numbers every season. I dont see Brady doing the same. I actually see TB and Godwin lighting it up more so.
And Tribisky had a career game because we couldnt defend a pass in the flat to a rb. One of the worst football games I think I ever watched as a Tampa fan!
May 19th, 2020 at 7:50 am
Hey Howard Cosell, what do you call a RB with 431 catches 3492 yards at a 8.1 yard per catch with 10 TDs? That is the stats of the “Missing but not Forgotten Ring of Honor member” James Wilder. Sure did appear like he caught just a few passes around here. For 9 years. Not sure if you remember seeing any of his games. I do not remember the Bucs being on MNF when you Howard Cosell were on it. But we did have a few great Pass catching RB. Alstott was another great hands RB we have had in our past.
It is well past time we should have had James Wilder inducted into our Ring Of Honor, he most definitely has earned it. In my humble appreciative opinion he should have been there before Malcholm, (RIP thanks for the SB) Tony Dungy, or Jon Gruden. Because he was the Buccaneers in most all of his time here with us. We may have gotten or butts kicked all across the field then. But you could always count on Wilder showing up in games. Wow what a highlight maker he was. JAMES WILDER FOR THE RING OF HONOR 2020? 2021??
GO BUCS!
May 19th, 2020 at 7:52 am
PA Fan – Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Evans is one of the top five receivers in the league. Godwin is very good and I love him being on this team, but Evans is the clear number one on this team. Both will be thrown to extensively, but because he is the best receiver on the team Evans will almost certainly get the most targets.
May 19th, 2020 at 8:37 am
The highlights I’ve seen Vauhn catching screen passes he looked real good doing it. A lot of his screens go for TD’s because he doesn’t waste time dancing back there. He gets the ball, and heads straight up field at warp speed. I thought CEH was the best back in the draft, so did Andy Reed. When we couldn’t get him I was happy with the Vauhn pick, because I thought all the rest of the backs were pretty much same. Time will tell, but at Least Vauhn did good things on a bad team in the tough SEC. If nothing else, he’s an upgrade over Barber. I’m excited to see what the Calais kid can do also. can’t coach speed, and he has some. I think we’re better then fine at RB now.
May 19th, 2020 at 8:54 am
Back in our glory years, all we ever did was dump passes to RB’s.
…but we had an all pro defense to carry the load
May 19th, 2020 at 9:23 am
James WILDER belongs in the RING of HONOR ..
May 19th, 2020 at 9:39 am
Pa fan it sounds good to bad Evans was putting up those numbers before Winston even got here🙄
May 19th, 2020 at 10:46 am
TheBradyBunch. Not really sure who will end up getting the most targets but I agree mike will get his touches. I also think that with an efficient run/screen game alone that will help all WR’s stats. My hope is to see Mike & Chris especially, being hit earlier and in stride. Can still hit them home runs. Just git ’em started earlier. chuckle
May 19th, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Tom got those Elon Musk-quality transplants.