Should Playoff Lenny Be Worried?
January 16th, 2022
Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
When Tom Brady hit the kill shot near the end of the third quarter with Mike Evans to seal a Bucs home playoff win, the first since January 2003 (no, the Super Bowl was not a home game), Bucs fans at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway went bananas.
The head rush from the touchdown had barely settled down when, during the timeout after Evans’ touchdown, the Beastie Boys were blasted over the PA system. It was a full-blown celebration for Bucs fans and they had every right to party.
And a big part of why Bucs fans were so giddy was the Bucs jumped out to a commanding lead, in part due to Ke’Shawn Vaughn. The second-year man from Vanderbilt looked every bit a No. 1 back, running and catching the ball.
It helped that early in the game before injuries set in, the Bucs’ offensive line was blowing holes into the Eagles’ front line. Here Joe thought the interior of the Eagles’ defensive line was one of their strengths. The Bucs were running right at them and gouging them.
Vaughn averaged damn near four yards a carry in the first half and totaled 42 yards in the first half. The running attack sort of slowed when Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs were hurt. Yeah, when two of your three Pro Bowlers on the offensive line get hurt, that will drag down the offense.
But Vaughn sure looked like a No. 1 back.
Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians loved what he saw.
“Ke’Shawn can run, man,” Arians said. “He’s a good back. He is making the most of his opportunities and that is all we can ask from him.”
So Joe has to ask: If Vaughn was this good, should Playoff Lenny be worried about his starting job? Last year Ronald Jones was the No. 1 back and when he got hurt/sick near the end of the year, Playoff Lenny took his place and never looked back.
Could Playoff Lenny, who missed his fourth straight game, be looking at a reduced workload come next weekend?
January 16th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
He can run, he cannot catch or pass block..
January 16th, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Don’t be silly joe.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Good game for Vaughn, honorable mention to Gio. Bucs still have a long way to go!
January 16th, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Why would Fournette be worried? He’s injured, let him heal.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:21 pm
Work him back in slowly no need to rush him back
January 16th, 2022 at 5:22 pm
I found Vaughn’s body language extremely odd. Am I the only one?
January 16th, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Nice hands in recent games.
No it doesn’t make Lenny any less valuable,
I new the players call him “sneak” but he could not get on the field much.
The ability to establish a fierce running game in the post season is almost mandatory.
3 more tough physical games, it is a luxury to have so many.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
Lenny has always considered himself the #1 back. A little competition wont hurt.
Tougher games ahead. We need a healthy Lenny to get somewhere.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
No Joe that would be terrible coaching. You put Lenny back in there and let him one up Vaughns performance.
Then you give Vaughn a series and let him do it even better.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
No.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
For us to be playing as well as we are is a miracle in itself. Playoff Lenny is banged up. And we had 2 injuries to 2 O linemen today. I just keep getting this feeling somewheres in these playoffs those injuries are bite us right dead smack in the Butt. Shout out to our D also. They played lights out the 1st half.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:32 pm
No worries for Lenny…..he know who Tom would choose…….Vaughn simply bought him a week of healing.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
What happened to you can’t lose your job because of injury?
Who ever thought of such a goofy unwritten rule. That’s not a rule for team players. –Joe
January 16th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
I’m glad that Vaughn is starting to live up to his draft status, but he’s no Lenny yet. There are no special running backs on our team and I’m hoping that we try to get one in the draft. Lenny will deservedly want to be paid, but if it’s me, I’m not paying any running back big money unless they are special.
I was watching the 1985 Bucs vs Bears on YouTube last night and James Wilder was just trucking hall of fame dudes! Wilder was special and would be well worth a big contract.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
He shouldn’t be worried, but Rojo should.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:48 pm
No he shouldn’t be. Lenny is a better runner and receiver and decidedly better as a pass blocker. Vaughn will be great to give Lenny a rest if we have to lean on the short passing game moving forward with the Oline i juries sustained today…Go bucs.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:48 pm
No, he should not be worried. Brady wants 4net back there and he will get what he wants. Brady trusts 4net probably more than any other back they have. Just my opinion tho.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:50 pm
If this makes Lenny come back and run with a vengence, I’m all for it.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Can’t we just save all of the negative talk for later in the week. Right now let’s enjoy this win with the healthy guys
January 16th, 2022 at 5:53 pm
Vaughn and Bernard both showed great hands. Refreshing 😀
January 16th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Cmon now. Lenny is best all around rb on team
Run and catch and truck guys
Lenny aint worried
Stoked vaughn and Goo stepped up
Now rojo should be worried if anyone
January 16th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Vaughn and Geo made a nice one – two punch in this game. I would expect Fournette will still keep his starting job, but might lose a few reps to Vaughn and Gio will likely be the 3rd down back if he is healthy.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Lol. No.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:09 pm
You ride that horse till it bucs you off! If Vaughn is having the hot hand and is blowing up the D, keep feeding him the ball! He can catch, once his confidence is going through the roof, throw him the ball and see what happens. Blocking is the only thing that worries me, but if he can do it…… ride him to another Super Bowl!
January 16th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
One word, two letters and one syllable….no. Lenny was an integral part of this offense and has proven his worth. Vaughn did shine good things but not enough to take that spot
January 16th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Maybe you rest Lenny next weekend and play him when we go to the “frozen tundra.”
January 16th, 2022 at 6:48 pm
Alvin Scissors Harper Says:
January 16th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Maybe you rest Lenny next weekend and play him when we go to the “frozen tundra.”
Can’t, Lenny needs reps. So does KV and good to get Gio warmed up. Our team is a little banged up. But, gulp, for once the Bucs have some depth.
January 16th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
It’s nice to have options. Vaughn is shiftier and finds the holes better but Lenny is explosive once.he breaks the line. Nice problem to have. Rojo who?
January 16th, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Vaughn looked like he was nursing those ribs at the end..
Cmon Lenny.
January 16th, 2022 at 8:11 pm
Anyone that doesn’t know how good Vaughn is ,, is your typical NFL Jersey Wearing Fan doesn’t have a clue ………as I have said all year !!
January 16th, 2022 at 9:58 pm
Lenny the 1, Vaughn the 2. We can’t pay Rojo, he’ll make more on market anyway. I love Rojo, but can’t work bro. Gotta get rid of OJ too. I was super stoked for OJ, but can’t pay him.
Sign CDIII, Godwin, Whitehead, and Jensen, above all else.
January 16th, 2022 at 10:29 pm
Lol no Lenny should not be worried about Vaughn wow come on now
January 16th, 2022 at 10:29 pm
I like Lenny at 1 and gio at 2 move forward
January 16th, 2022 at 11:27 pm
Vaughn is a threat to fumble every time he touches the ball.
January 16th, 2022 at 11:48 pm
I think people forget that Vaughn banged up his ribs a couple of weeks ago and has played both games since then. Bruised ribs just don’t heal that fast. Vaughn has shown his toughness by running the ball hard even though he has to be hurting every time he gets hit. He isn’t Fournette but they would make a great one two punch.
January 17th, 2022 at 8:49 am
Vaughn is pedestrian at best even as a runner. Lenny has nothing to worry about.
January 17th, 2022 at 8:57 am
Why is everyone dismissing Vaughn lol. He’s going to be a great back and can catch the ball.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:57 am
Lenny should be worried that this shows the Bucs that they don’t have to break the bank to pay Lenny in free agency in the off-season. Same goes for Rojo… I personally think They should sign Rojo back to a team friendly deal and roll with Ro and Vaughn.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
You Keshawn Vaughn haters make me sick! What more does this young man have to do to impress you ungrateful Buc fans? Vaughn stepped up for us big time when we needed him. Im looking for Keshawn Vaughn to step up again going into the divisional round and have another contributing performance.