D-Line Up, Run Effectiveness Down
August 27th, 2020
So what happens when the Bucs running game meets the teams’ No. 1-ranked defense?
Of course, there are victories and defeats for both sides. But Joe specifically asked Bucco Bruce Arians yesterday what he liked on film of the trenches in the team’s live goal-line sessions on Tuesday.
The head coach had a direct answer.
“I liked the defensive line’s penetration, linebackers coming downhill,” Arians said. “I was not very pleased with the running game of the offense down there, but that’s tough sledding. You know, when they sell out, you can throw a pass if you want to – I wanted to see a little more toughness, so we only threw one pass. Yeah, I liked the defensive side.”
Last season, in only three games did teams break 100 yards rushing against the Bucs — twice for New Orleans and once for Seattle.
Joe is not surprised to learn of the victories for the run defense. Joe will focus on that rather than ramble on about the recent history of the Bucs’ run game.
August 27th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Thanks joe
August 27th, 2020 at 10:16 am
The sign of a great running game, is being able to run effectively even when the other team knows your going to run. I don’t feel like we’ve had that ability since Alstott, and the short time we had Caddy Williams! Maybe here and there in 2012 and 2015 with Dougie, but nothing like it was with the A-train!!
August 27th, 2020 at 11:04 am
Memories of Mike Alstott. Good times. When he got the ball you knew something good was going to happen.
August 27th, 2020 at 11:11 am
We had an elite run defense last year. If felt like the 2nd half of the year that teams were under 20 percent success on 3rd and 2 or less against us and tried to run. It did not matter what they tried.
August 27th, 2020 at 11:30 am
The flip side of this is if we can run our defense, then we can run on any defense.
August 27th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
We had some horrible run teams with Alstott, let’s be honest… Exciting, but outside of the Dunn years, let’s not act like he was leading a potent rushing attack.
August 27th, 2020 at 3:25 pm
MGIV,
I never said we had a truly potent rushing attack with him as the lead rusher. I was simply stating when we needed a tough couple of yards here and there, the A-Train would get them for us, even when the defenses were expecting it. That 2005 game against the Redskins(can I still call them that), remember we went for two to win the game and A-Train won it for us. I’m sure the Redskins knew it was going to him, but couldn’t stop him! How many 3rd and 2’s, or 3rd and 3’s have we had the last few years, where we were just able to run it down the the other team’s throat! Not many! A-train was never our most efficient runner, but boy could he bring the thunder!!
August 27th, 2020 at 7:35 pm
Mike Alstott was in the same mold as Larry Czonka, John Riggins, Hall Of Famers all Day!! WD40 Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott, And Thunder and Lighting baby! They were not the best, but part of a consistant running game that was depended on, and sometimes they were awesome. Defense and Running game was all the Bucs had then. Mike Alstott perennial Probowl player. GO BUCS!!