Running On The Bears
October 19th, 2021
Hot streak.
Playoff Lenny is on a roll and the Bucs want to run the ball, presumably to open up the passing attack, never mind it’s already open.
But Bucs tight end O.J. Howard touched upon something interesting today. He said running on a defense takes away a defense’s “pride.”
Joe has flashbacks to the Super Bowl when in the second half, the Chiefs wanted no part of Playoff Lenny much less barrelling Ali Marpet pulling down the right side or beastly Tristan Wirfs coming at them. The Chiefs were actually jumping out of the way rather than try to bury Playoff Lenny.
In short, the Chiefs’ defense quit.
Joe watched the Packers-Bears game Sunday and the Packers ran on the Bears, racking up 154 yards. The Packers’ offensive line is OK, nothing special. Not nearly as good as the Bucs’ offensive line.
The Bears currently allow 4.1 yards per carry, which is middle of the pack in the NFL. Giving the Bucs a short down-and-distance is playing with fire. That’s all there is to it.
October 19th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Looked to me (a casual observer) that the Bears RT is weak. He nearly got several jumping the gun calls (maybe only got one) and seemed to be beaten too often by the Packers’ rush. We should be able to exploit that – if true.
October 19th, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Fournette is the player of the week. Congrats Playoff Lenny!
October 19th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
“Fournette, Fournette, Fournette” Pete & Tommy love you bro
October 19th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
When will OJ Howard have a break out game. I would like to see him make a splash play. We keep hearing he’s not 100% but neither was Jacoby Brissett n he made plays all over our defense, Dak Prescott not 100% n he made big time plays. Gronk was not 100% n he balled out,JPP’s been fingerless for several years n he ball out. The list goes on n on but we keep rescuing n bailing OJ out with bandaid excuses. Com on man, he’s 6’5 250lb 4.5 forty n caught a td against the Eagles which he almost fell to the ground before catching the pass. Look at these no names Ravens 2018 3rd pick n Cowboys 2018 4th round pick Mark Andrew’s n Dalton Schultz making plays on a regular basis. Where is OJ?
October 19th, 2021 at 4:18 pm
I expect another very physical game much like the Rams game was, with one exception: the Bears don’t have the Rams offense capable of chewing up the clock. In 6 games they’ve scored 98 points, half of the 195 points we’ve scored. Their defense is good (ranked #8) but not great, allowing almost 21 PPG average. Pass defense is very good, but their run defense is just meh (Browns & Packers ran on them for 215 & 154 yards respectively, and both beat them handily by dominating the TOP).
Hopefully the Bucs keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing for these last 3 games (using a more BALANCED ATTACK than we did in the first 3 games). But in the end, it’ll still be a good ol’ Black & Blue division physical, smashmouth football game. Remember those well.
October 19th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
dmatt … “When will OJ have a breakout game?”
It’s been 4 years and you’re still waiting? That’s perseverance. You hang in there.
October 19th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Yeah waiting on OJ is like waiting on Winston and look what happened.
I would like to see it, but don’t expect it.
October 19th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Maybe OJ is short for Godot.
October 19th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
👍🏻 MyPirate
October 19th, 2021 at 5:07 pm
Just herd Quinn entered COVID protocol today.
October 19th, 2021 at 6:14 pm
They shouldn’t have a problem running or passing against the Bears.
The D should have no problem since the Bears can’t do anything through the air. This should be another 28 – 7 game halfway through… This time FINISH!!
October 19th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
IrishMist Says:
October 19th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Maybe OJ is short for Godot.
I see what you did there, Irish.
Well done.
October 19th, 2021 at 7:58 pm
This should seriously open up TE and WR screens once Lombardi Lenny starts dominating the edges.
October 20th, 2021 at 8:12 am
Are y’all serious? OJ Howard caught a TD last game and arguably played better than any other receiving threat. He’s improving, coming off an ruptured Achilles. The amount of time you obsess about him is hilarious. lol stuff
October 20th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Lenny is running on the same track as the A-train Mike Alstott. Csonka/Riggins bully runners with good hands. Ride him all the way to the Super Bowl.
October 20th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Rather than using the run to set up the pass let’s reverse it and make a very potent pass attack open up the running game. Lenny is going to have a good day. It is time for OJ to show just what he has. His blocking game has shown an improvement now it is time for him to become a threat as a receiver. If he and Lenny can be effective on short passes then the receivers will have their way over the middle and on longer passes. Tom Brady will a plan on how to attack the defense of the Bears. He and Byron will pick apart the Bears. The defensive front will push and get an into it the backfield. If so here comes the blitz. The secondary has shown up that they are playing better as a group and should play a better this week. Go Buccaneers!
October 21st, 2021 at 12:19 am
Can’t wait for Lenny or RoJo to break off a big one, a 60 or 70 yard run and take it to the house. We haven’t had one of those big runs yet and we are overdue. Maybe Sunday afternoon it will happen.