A Return Of The Doug Martin Era
October 16th, 2022
Lombardi Lenny
The Bucs entered today’s game with a league-worst 3.1 yards rushing per carry.
That number just got lower as the Bucs hammered the rock 26 times against a second-rate defense.
Back in 2016, the Buccaneers’ feature running back, Doug Martin, averaged 2.9 yards per carry and was suspended near the end of the season and entered a substance rehab. Of course (sarcasm), the Bucs brought him back the following season and Martin averaged 2.9 yards per carry.
Today, the Bucs rushed for 2.88 yards per carry, 21 carries for 63 yards by Leonard Fournette, and Tom Brady and Rachaad White combining for 12 yards.
It shouldn’t be this damn bad. Six games is no coincidence. Unfortunately, Joe’s not sure offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich realizes how bad it is, since he keeps hammering away at the run with elite receiving weapons being underutilized.
Joe’s not sure there’s a quick fix for the run game, even Tristan Wirfs was blown up today, and rookie tight end Cade Otton has a lot of work to do. Robert Hainsey and Luke Goedeke had the worst games of their young careers at center and left guard, respectively.
No, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs should call the Panthers — or Martin.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
This team sucks. Simple as that.
Wake up or don’t.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Nobody told lefty the Steelers were without 4 starting defensive backs. His game plans and play calling are getting worse by the week. Adios Byron!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
For a team that is so bad at running, it is amazing how we are always running on first down. Playcalling is just awful.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Can’t go through a hole that ain’t there.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Leftwich has been exposed.
Now that he only has 5 pro-bowl / all-pro players on offense, instead of 7 or 8, he can’t do anything.
HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO BE CREATIVE
HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO ATTACK AN OPPONENTES WEAKNESS
HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO SCHEME AROUND OUR OWN WEAKNESSES
AND HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE WORD “MISDIRECTION” MEANS…
He is a fraud, and there’s a reason no one has hired him.
And our O-line has also been exposed. They can’t run block in this scheme. The pass blocking is okay, but nothing to brag about.
Dropped passes don’t help either (looking at you, Gage)
October 16th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Leftwich is a maroon and Bowles is clueless. Send in the clowns.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
THE NFL IS RIGGED
It a Gamblers MARKET.
This is why Pete Rose is not allowed in MLB games for LIFE!!!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
I wonder if the Joes will stop running their mouths next time we play a “bad team”, since we ALWAYS play down to their level?
The last time we actually didn’t do that was way back in 2020, and it only happened once.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Stevie Wonder can see the run game doesn’t work. Why can’t Leftwich?
October 16th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
RETURN OF THE PERKINS ERA. IF WE DO NOT GET RID OF THESES PATHETIC COACHES CAROLINA WILL BEAT US
October 16th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
They just kept running right into the run blitz over and over it was so bizarre.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
@unbelievable I see no lies.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Said it since the day Jensen got hurt , then Stinnie, Bucs needed to bring in two experienced line man
I hat a waste of Brady’s last season . The blame goes to Licht
October 16th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
I’ve always called out Byron Suckwich from day 1…..
Finally his parachute Bucco Brucie is not there to catch him falling…..he has zero business being an OC
October 16th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Bowles wants to play the same way Pete Carrol does it in Seattle….. run the ball and play defense. The Arians No Risk It philosophy is officially dead and if they keep it up so is the season. When they finally go hurry up and press it down the field it was too late!!! Pay for all these receivers and then we don’t use them. Against a teams secondary where our perfume from last year would be the #1 CB. Pass the ball or Bring BA back or fire Bowles and his game planning!!!! Something!!!! This team is a joke right now!!!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
LOL. Same thing i was thinking … this remind me of josh freeman / doug martin games.
3rd & 1 and leftwich calls a run to the left where otton is blocking a DE.
2&1 , 2&2 ,3&1 3&2. All defense know leftwich/ brady will run lenny. This playcalling is horrible.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Damn, I’m disgusted! Same old BUCS ish. Well, at least Oneil will be happy! Damnit, GO BUCS!!!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
I wonder is Brady is going to practice on Wednesday this week?
October 16th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
bowles is study john mckay quotes for post game
October 16th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Nearly all Brady’s passes were underneath, telling me the line couldn’t hold it together long enough for longer patterns to develop. When the other team figures that out, you’re doomed
October 16th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
The OL sucks at run and pass blocking. Time for some serious evaluations
October 16th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
This was so f’ing embarrassing that I’m taking a break from these outlets for at least a week (like I did during the Jameis Winston era). This was such an absolute “s”t show” on offense (both in terms of play calling and execution) that it’s best that I take a break.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Just not a good team. The Big Money guys made their nut and only play half assed. The rest of the guys are either too young or just don’t have the talent. BTW – TB stunk out the joint today. He’s #1 on the list.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
This was not the game to come out, and try to establish the run. They were missing their whole secondary. How about come out throwing? Such bad play calling. Defense couldn’t get off on third, the offense couldn’t convert. Won’t win many like that. Throw the cherry on the cake ST’s sucked too. Team was a total disaster today.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Just fire Bowles already.
He’s one and done.
It’s kinda like we’re back to Dungy ball, but with a defense that stop 3rd and forever to save its life.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
Sad to say it, BUT This offense isn’t built for Brady’s game. Brady needs to have a few seconds and some cushion without getting hit over and over to do his GOAT thing. This O-line CAN’T do that and it showed today. He got antsy because of getting hit and having guys at his legs on so many plays. He knows and so does the opposing team.
Oh we it was fun to see winning football for 2 years…back to the old Bucs life for us fans
October 16th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
No deep passes… maybe TB’s shoulder injury isn’t so minor.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
IMO. offense / playcalling is the problem with the team. Is stagnant. And brady is not playing well. Not accurate. Balls behing. Low. High. And alot of dead throws.
Im ok with the defense. Also defense is alot in the field. And we missing suh or jpp type of player. Specially a rush. Nowhere to be seen one year wonder pot belly shaq.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
@FairMinded – I’ve felt this way since they got here. Leftwich is super overrated and benefitted from an amazing receiver corps. Now that they’re dinged up, and the o-line took a step back, he’s been exposed.
I also think BA was able to motivate these guys just a little bit more in a way that Bowles just doesn’t.
And the. of course, when the ultimate team leader, Mr Brady, is taking a vacations and time off every other week, the guys aren’t going to be all in the way they were. It starts at the top, and Bowles, Leftwich and Brady are all letting the team down in various ways.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
It ain’t Lenny’s fault. He’s giving everything out there
October 16th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
The blocking isn’t there to run up the middle, and Lenny doesn’t have the wiggle to bust plays to the outside. That’s our main problem.
As the game wore on today, you saw more sweeps and tosses. That’s an acknowledgement we can’t run up the gut. So Byron is learning, but it’s slow.
Today was painful. But lessons should be learned. Do not try to run up the middle, if you need a “burst” run then put in White, do whatever you have to do in order to protect Brady (especially early), figure out whatever gadget/fake plays you need for the red zone because our basic packages aren’t doing it.
Things should improve. Losing Brate hurts, especially if Gronk isn’t coming and if Rudolph is washed. We need an experienced tight end, even though Otton looks good.
Things should improve, if we’re healthy. But only if the lessons are learned, coaches make adjustments, and players pick up their games.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Sorry about your business model, Joe, but this team absolutely sucks. I have followed them since 1976 and have officially lost interest. There’s more important things in life.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Hainsey is not even CFL material. He simply CANNOT run block. Holds his own in pass block when he’s not getting pushed 8 yeards back in 2 seconds. At least it’s not as bad as Goedeke that can’t field a bullrush without getting almost pancaked almost every snap.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:33 pm
The NFL is Rigged!!!
Its the new WWF
That Roughing the Passer call on DW cost us the Game!!!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:35 pm
We haven’t scored a TD in the first quarter this year……..isn’t that we have the designed play calls?
Our game plan was totally flawed today…..as it usually is.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
I agree with Unbelievable — Byron’s offense is very uncreative. He really needs to work on that.
Pittsburgh went at all our weaknesses (can’t run, inexperienced lineman, lack of receiver chemistry) and exploited them. We had no counters. We just kind of line up and try to beat people straight up. That’s not going to work with where the offense is at right now.
Brady likes throwing underneath. But you still need time to scan the field and throw. The Steelers blitzed a ton today and got pressure on Brady, and it worked. They know he’s not comfortable with the receivers right now and they felt they could overwhelm the young lineman, and they did.
Much to fix. I’m glad Brady lit up the lineman. Brady didn’t play great today but he cares. Other guys need to care, too, including the coaches.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
No more scapegoats Brady is 45 I told y’all that he needs a all star team to be average. But y’all call me a Brady hater because I tell the truth. Now we still good I knew we would lose against a team we should have beaten and this is that game. But it’s time to move on from Brady after this year !!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
This receiving corp is not elite when they can’t get open against backups.
Wasn’t just the OLine that was beat – the DLine couldn’t get pressure when only 4 rushed.
Bucs beaten today on both sides of trenches and special teams.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
Leftie is the definition of crazy, do the same thing over and over and expect something to change.
Let Brady draw up a game plan, and then run with it. It will be better that way.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Do we all understand now why Brady doesn’t sneak anymore???
October 16th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
What happened to Vaughn anyway, he was last season’s darling and hasn’t been on the field this season.
If they are saving him for a rainy day, I think we got dumped on today. Use Fournette as a fullback.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Can’t run the ball. Can’t pass the ball. No offense. No defense when it counts. Forget the playoffs. Might as well get Trask some game experience. Brady is done with the Bucs already. Forget about 2023. For all the talent, this team is pathetic. Too much brag. Not enough to brag about. I have been a fan of this team from the very beginning, and will die as a fan. I don’t have many years left. High expectations make it really hard to watch when we can’t gain a single yard to convert, and then they convert a third and sixteen. Brady appears to have retired mentally. I need a nap. Bah humbug.
October 16th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
The Bucs are not strong on the O line or the D line this year.
Do not see this changing anytime soon.
Up and down mediocre football will continue until they start to win the line of scrimmage again.
That may not happen much this year. 💩💩
GO BUCS!!!!
October 16th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Licht blew the offseason
October 16th, 2022 at 4:55 pm
The playcalling is dreadful how they’re using Lenny is dreadful we are freakin dreadful!
October 16th, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Nothing compares to surrendering 5 plays of 11+ yards on 3rd down
In the second half alone
Against Mitch Trubinsky….besides Suckwich at OC
Wow just WOW
October 16th, 2022 at 5:08 pm
“Joe’s not sure there’s a quick fix for the run game”
Actually there’s a very quick and easy fix to the running game – STOP BEING SO G-D PREDICTABLE!
It’s 3rd and 1 and this idiot Leftwich is running into a hole where the Steelers literally have 5 guys run blitzing. They were sitting on the play, they knew it was coming.
Want to fix the running game? STOP F-ING running up the gut on 1st down. Literally, that is all you need to do. Switch the playbook around, run on 2nd down, that’s fine, just stop running the same G-D plays in the same G-D order over and over and over and over again.
Half the morons on this site could do a better job than this idiot Leftwich.
October 16th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Shocking that R.WHITE was so solid in college and sucks in the run game in the NFL so far. I guess some blame can be put on the struggling OL, but still, R.White is not the quick-cutting elusive badass I thought we would see. I thought we’d have 5 or 6 huge highlight reel runs from him by now. The kind you save WEBMs of and rewatch over and over.
October 16th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Muscle Hamster!!!
October 16th, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Offense is so far from what it was a year ago. Lenny hits a 10-12 run on first down once or twice a game. The other 10 first down or 3rd and ones are losses or no gain.
Defense sucked in money downs but didn’t lose the game. Poor play on offense and predictable play calling lost this game.
Bowles doesn’t have the ability to be a head coach. He has most of the tools to succeed but isn’t getting the team prepared or motivated
..
October 16th, 2022 at 5:16 pm
Guys, I have a great idea. Let’s just run it up the gut on every first down and every 3rd and short. No one will see that coming. Plus our O-LINE is so good they’re guaranteed to make big holes. That’ll fix our run game for sure.
October 16th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Bowles must go now!
October 16th, 2022 at 5:38 pm
67 and 70 were nothing short of terrible today–Sorry but Brady DOES need to come to practice- totally out of sync with 14 most of the game – didn’t look for 13 much– threw too many bad balls for a GOAT QB– no pressure from the edge on D– not too hot at stopping the run-AGAIN- overall a pitiful coaching performance from Lefty — we need Jensen back– a new play caller and the old TB (not the one that is constantly scowling)
October 16th, 2022 at 5:50 pm
6 games and has Lenny broken a 20 yard run?
I love what he brings to the passing game. He very valuable on this offense. As a pure runner im unimpressed.
October 16th, 2022 at 8:22 pm
I’m ready to see Brandon Walton now. He filled in for d smith very well and happenedto bea guard in college, can’t tell me our rookie left hard is better than any other lineman on our roster
October 23rd, 2022 at 10:04 am
That Steelers game showed this team isn’t tough enough to get one yard with the game on the line. That effort was embarrassing on multiple possessions the lack of physicality makes me think we are lucky to be at .500