Bucs Running Backs Don’t See Many Stacked Boxes
December 21st, 2022
The unbiased NextGen data is clear. Being a Buccaneers running back isn’t hard, relatively speaking.
Among running backs with at least 80 attempts this season, Rachaad White has carried the ball against eight men in the box on defense just 15.89 percent of the time. That’s the 10th-lowest total in the NFL. Leonard Fournette (20.75 percent) ranks 22nd-lowest among the 45 running backs that qualify.
This doesn’t surprise Joe considering the Bucs throw more than any other team in the NFL. However, it is a bit insulting to the Bucs’ running game, considering how it’s rather easy to predict when the Buccaneers will hand the ball off. (Thanks, Byron!)
For the record, Tampa Bay ranks last in the NFL in total carries, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns.
How does that happen with an offensive line getting an above average grade from coaches? Perhaps the Bucs need better running backs.
December 21st, 2022 at 11:06 am
Don’t we have coach named Harold Goodwin who is the “Run game coordinator?” How good a job is he doing?
December 21st, 2022 at 11:07 am
Perhaps the Bucs O-line needs different grades, reflecting the reality on the field.
December 21st, 2022 at 11:10 am
Every play is designed to get a touchdown, there’s always a point where it breaks down (hopefully after a gain 4-5 yards) If they’re only getting 2 or so, it shouldn’t be hard to figure out where things are going awry on any given play –either the rb isn’t getting to the hole quick enough, he chose the wrong path, or there never was a hole
December 21st, 2022 at 11:16 am
Blocking schemes suck on Boron’s favorite plays, the ones that get nothing. This season can’t end soon enough.
December 21st, 2022 at 11:19 am
You said it predictable. 1st down is 25% of every 4 down series.
December 21st, 2022 at 11:20 am
* Yawn *
December 21st, 2022 at 11:26 am
Bucs lead blockers are constantly not getting to the second level and not blocking “their man”. I don’t know if its terrible scheming or inexperience (probably both).
Bucs Rb’s are having to beat defenders within 1 yard of the LOS way too much this season. The blockers just cant get downhill clean or fast enough to develop a running play.
You could also see it early on this season in the screen game. The line could not execute the screen in the first 10 games. Now we can stop running the Godwin screen SMH. Average to below average on most fronts this season and its taking way to long to gel
December 21st, 2022 at 11:45 am
Watching the 49ers running game when they lost Deebo Samuel. They did not miss a beat. They have a great scheme, we do not.
Harold Goodwin needs to be replaced.
December 21st, 2022 at 11:46 am
Everyone knows how basic our run game is. Line up and block the man in front. What happened to the diverse run game we saw in WK 1 vs the Cowboys?
December 21st, 2022 at 11:59 am
Teams don’t have to stack the box. The plays are predictable which allows LBs and Safeties to play downhill . This also makes them vulnerable to play action . Unfortunately the Bucs don use much play action.
December 21st, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Bijan Robinson to the rescue!
December 21st, 2022 at 1:07 pm
Yup everyone one in the world has nailed this including opposing teams it’s the predictablity of the entire scheme.
December 21st, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Having the least talented line in the nfl just makes impossible to win
December 21st, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Joe … ‘Perhaps the Bucs need better running backs.’
Or perhaps the Bucs need a better OC. Maybe the Bucs could use a better OLine. Who knows, maybe we need all three.
December 21st, 2022 at 1:43 pm
Chris@Apple
SF has a great scheme period… where basically any QB, RB, TE, or WR is plug-and-play. Purdy’s performance is the perfect example of that too. It’s crazy the difference having a competent HC and offensive mind leading the staff makes… BA’s loss is another example.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Defense Rules Says:
December 21st, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Joe … ‘Perhaps the Bucs need better running backs.’
It’s my guess Joe was being sarcastic, given our last in NFL rushing attack, which almost always points to poor O-line play.
December 21st, 2022 at 2:27 pm
the box isn’t stacked because opponents don’t grade our O-Line a B-/C+;; they grade it closer to D-/D+
December 21st, 2022 at 3:22 pm
D-Rok … I’m not so sure. Joe’s been a lot more supportive of the OLine than he has of BL or Fournette. White gets some love, but his average (3.8) is impacted significantly by his longer runs. Fournette, not so much.
December 21st, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Can’t see the forest for the trees. can’t believe you guys don’t see this. Just take a play from the Dem’s playbook. Just lower the bar so we look really good. I’m sure Todd would fall for it hahahaha
December 21st, 2022 at 3:47 pm
So Byron and the run game coordinator and Bowles all together can’t figure it out well enough to be better than Lovie Smith’s team?
Didn’t we fire him already for being a bum?
But the current staff is producing less than he did and they are still employed…
December 21st, 2022 at 3:54 pm
The Yucs will never win with Clueless Todd at the helm.
December 21st, 2022 at 7:36 pm
I’ll take bad blocking schemes for ten. I don’t care who the runner is, if the O-line doesn’t make a hole, that runner stops. There is not much more to think about on it.
December 21st, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Boys bad drafting is the cause
Look at hurts
The guy is awful as a passer but he can pitch a tent when he drops back
December 21st, 2022 at 9:55 pm
Fournette’s rushing average isn’t far off what his career average is. He’s a big part of the problem.
December 22nd, 2022 at 8:11 am
Its both, these linemen don’t get as good a push for running blocking.
The backs are not quick to hit the holes, nor do they twist and spin out of tackles.
Watch most good running teams, their backs get hit but they are able to spin out or keep their feet moving and move a few yards after contact.
The only time a Buc RB gets yards after contact are when they are at the second level and taking on DB’s. DL’s and LB’s bring them down at first contact.
Also notice that in short yardage situations good offensive lineman will push the pile forward before the whistle blows. The Buc offensive linemen don’t do that. I think other offensive coordinators teach their linemen to push in the back of the running back to move them forward. Not the Bucs.
Its really easy, if the Buc offensive staff would watch other games with successful offenses and steal some of their plays and formations the Bucs would move forward offensively but unfortunately these stubborn coaches keep doing the same thing and the numbers speak for their failures.