“Our Guys Are Our Guys”
July 23rd, 2023
One of the great Bucs philosophers of the 21st century used to spit out the quote in the headline.
Joe is referring to one of the Tampa Bay head coaches during The Lost Decade of Buccaneers football, Dirk Koetter (2016-2018). “Our guys are our guys” was Koetter’s way of saying that he loves every damn player on the roster because they’re on the roster. If you don’t think your own guys are good, then there’s a serious problem on multiple levels.
Koetter’s Bucs receiving corps included guys like Freddie Martino, Bernard Reedy, malcontent DeSean Jackson, and “The Stampeder,” Donteaa Dye, but Koetter always publicly embraced every one as “his guys.”
Joe hears a lot of that in new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Name a guy and Canales appreciates what the guy can deliver. He’s confident.
O-line? Loves’em. Quarterback? Two talented options. Running back? Rachaad White has “cool hidden power” and unleash Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
Yes, Canales went there with Vaughn during his chat with the 2B’s In A Pod podcast.
“I think that one of the cool parts is Ke’Shawn Vaughn. We call him ‘Sneak.’ He’s our [No.] 2 [running back] and he’s a fantastic runner,” Canales said. “Just quick feet in the hole, sturdy build, and like he’s just got a real natural feel for it.”
Joe’s excited for Vaughn, who got hosed last season by Byron Leftwich and Todd Bowles.
Vaughn had 17 carries and a touchdown in the Bucs’ playoff win against the Eagles in 2021; he had 17 carries all of last season.
Lots of great energy and optimism at One Buc Palace. It’s the hope time of year at every training camp. Joe certainly hopes the good vibes continue after facing angry Steelers, Jets and Ravens defense in preseason.
Joe remembers preseasons past when panic set in early.
July 23rd, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Vaughn did look really really improved last preseason – and not in the preseason stat padding way. While I wouldn’t want him starting for a season, I think he’s actually a solid backup who can spot start and do well. However, I hope we don’t see, because I think White has the talent to be a star runner, and a true 3-down guy.
Plus RB’s are a dime a dozen, so even if Vaughn isn’t any good – so what, just sign someone else off the street and use them if you had to. Outside of your superstar RBs there really isn’t a huge gap between, say, a 20th ranked back and a 100th ranked back. That’s also why I like White, I think he can be a top 5 type of guy if he gets the carries.
July 23rd, 2023 at 5:17 pm
It seems to me that Vaughn wasn’t “hosed” by our former OC as much as he was beat out by a rookie (R. White)…
Vaughn needs to make major strides this season if he is going to be taken seriously.
Poor pass blocker.
Mediocre receiver out of the backfield…
He had one nice 55 yard run. Other than that he has been below mediocre in every facet of the game.
Plus he fumbled a few times in preseason when he got the chance to “show me what you got”…
You won’t make it long in the NFL if you are a one trick pony RB.
July 23rd, 2023 at 5:20 pm
Hopefully he can be Rashard Penny 2.0
July 23rd, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Came down for a game in Tampa vs Saints……shutout…9-0……
Wanted to get the bad out of my mind so the next week I want to a game at Carolina….vs Bucs……..saw a 45 yard run….thought it was Rojo….but it was Vaughn…..very nice!!!
July 23rd, 2023 at 5:57 pm
In this league, the RB needs to be capable in three phases: running, blotz pickup, and receiving. Vaughn is not a good pass blocker and is below average coming out of the backfield. You won’t see the field much if you’re not good in blitz protection. That’s what doomed Ronald Jones. He got zero playing time in KC.
Licht is being cute again this year by not bringing in an experienced back. He did the same with our interior line last year and it blew up in his face. It’s all about “his guys.
July 23rd, 2023 at 6:02 pm
I would have cut Vaughn long ago, so he could “sneak” into the unemployment line.
I am pulling for our rookie Tucker, who really seems to have quite a bit of talent.
July 23rd, 2023 at 6:11 pm
So far Vaughn is sitting on 79 total runs, 362 yards which is a 4.3 yard per touch averaged and 2 TDs to go 12 catches on 22 targets for a whopping 79 yards. At best since being drafted in 2020 Vaughn has been an emergency back at sitting in the 3rd seat behind combos of Rojo, Lenny, and White.
The sample size is small, he looked decent in last years preseason particularly against the Dolphins. The ability to cut n go that’s all over his college tape translates at least in preseason games, but it’ll be interesting to see how he responds running behind a blocking scheme he’s more familiar with. Enough can’t be said about Canales installing a system the top 2 RBs had success in coming out of their respective colleges.
My guess would be our front office & coaching staff are fine with trying to see what production they can get from 2 RBs on their rookie deals. With camp starting in a few days the further we get into camp the less likely it’ll be that we dip into the FA market for an RB. Team have been signing guys the last few weeks getting their rosters set for camp, so if that were something the team is looking for the clock is ticking.
July 23rd, 2023 at 6:38 pm
@ Bucfan13
I couldn’t agree more.
#1 – Vaughn needs to become a more complete back this season.
#2 – I don’t agree with how Licht has ignored the RB position. Besides our QB group the Bucs RB group is one of the weakest in the NFL.
I’m hoping our GM has a plan in place. Maybe Sean Tucker will become a stud – but he didn’t practice during OTAs. Maybe Ronnie Brown from DivII Shepard will become a stud. Maybe Pat Laird will step up and make something of himself…
Those all seem like long shots to me.
July 23rd, 2023 at 7:30 pm
We have the weakest rooms in the leaguer at QB, RB, and TE – outside of that we are fine LOL
6 wins max
July 23rd, 2023 at 7:32 pm
We went from Brady, Lenny, and Gronk to Mayfield, White, and Cade – we are scaring NO ONE except our own fans
July 23rd, 2023 at 7:36 pm
The running backs will only do as good as the O-line, game plan, and their ball security! White and Vaughn are capable of producing yards running and receiving. They both need to avoid fumbles, that’s been keeping Vaughn on the bench, and White didn’t look much better last year either. We’ll see how that goes soon.
July 23rd, 2023 at 7:37 pm
Set him loose!!
July 23rd, 2023 at 7:39 pm
KESHAWN VAUGHN HAS TALENT, WE HAVE SEEN HIM BUST A LONG RUN ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION…BUT HE HASN’T BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY THE BALL ASIDE FROM THAT 17 CARRY GAME AGAINST THE EAGLES IN THE PLAYOFFS 2 YRS AGO..( & BY THE WAY, HE PLAYED A HELL OF A GOOD GAME THAT DAY..OPPORTUNITY IS ALL SOME OF THESE GUYS NEED..BEING KEPT ON THE BENCH WATCHING ALL THE BIG MONEY GUYS CAN RUIN A GOOD PLAYER IF HE STAYS THERE TOO LONG..I BELIEVE WE HAVE TALENTED BACKS BEHIND RASHAD WHITE & VAUGHN IS ONE OF THOSE FORGOTTEN GUYS THAT HAS SELDOM HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY TO SHOW WHAT HE CAN DO..
July 23rd, 2023 at 8:42 pm
Ke’Shawn Vaughn reminds me for some reason of Earnest Graham (2004-2011 with the Bucs). Earnest pretty much sat for his first 3 years (much like K’Shawn?) and only got 52 carries for 215 yards rushing in that time (with 0 TDs).
But then he got his big opportunity in 2007 because of the injury to Cadillac Williams. In 15 games he got 222 carries for 898 yards rushing (4.0 YPC) plus another 324 yards on 49 receptions (6.6 Y/R). And in there he got 10 rushing 10TDs. Big year for Earnest.
That ended up being almost half of his 8-year career totals. But I always felt like the Bucs misused him. In his 8-year career, Graham average 4.3 YPC and 7.0 Yards per Catch. I’d take those numbers all day long today.
Ke’Shawn is almost THAT good. Over his 3 years he’s averaged 4.3 YPC rushing and 6.6 Yards per Catch. Folks seem to forget that he was actually drafted HIGHER than Rachaad White. The young man just needs a bonafide chance to show what he can do.
July 23rd, 2023 at 9:34 pm
Ernest Graham went to Mariner High School at the same time my brother was MLB and team captain for Cape Coral high – the rival school.
My brother could bench 400 as a senior, led the team in tackles and was like an immovable stump in the the hole. He had crazy country boy strength.
Nobody got the best of him – except Graham. Ernest was a junior at the time. My brother got a good stick on him and he looked up and said “Number 46 huh?”. Next play was off tackle and Ernest shook up the other team captain who played D Line and then met my brother in the hole and trucked him on his way to some ridiculous long TD run.
Graham was a beast and Southwest Florida is proud of him.
July 23rd, 2023 at 9:51 pm
Going what I see from what’s on tape right now. White is the more well rounded back, but Vaughn is the better runner.
Who knows with how these guys are going to develop and how they play in this offense, but either player could breakout this year.
DC says White is the number 1 and Vaughn is the 2, but I think it shakes out 1 and 1a at season start and then we’ll see what happens.
July 23rd, 2023 at 10:17 pm
Last season proved it is hard to run without good blocking. If the o line blocks better this year the rbs will look decent at least. If the o line blocks like last year the Bucs go nowhere.
July 24th, 2023 at 3:39 am
17 carries last year is criminal!
But it’s is not just Vaughn. Seems to be a pattern on offense to not give 2nd team guys much in the way of game Reps. That is not a wise thing to do with potential injuries apt to happen on any team.
Go Bucs!
July 24th, 2023 at 6:03 am
@TOMMY MORDUE – Dude, you have a serious self-esteem problem if you need to put everything in CAPS just to be seen. That’s sad because I agreed a lot in what you said. Just relax.
July 24th, 2023 at 6:07 am
I think our OC will get a lot out of our RB room. Have a feeling that “True” Bucs fans on this site will be smiling big time during the season. The Haters will just find another reason to hate.
July 24th, 2023 at 7:15 am
“Licht is being cute again this year by not bringing in an experienced back. He did the same with our interior line last year and it blew up in his face. It’s all about “his guys.”
Player development is a thing, and if Licht were thinking like fans he probably wouldn’t have a job in the NFL for as long as he’s had. IDK how he’s supposed to be more active on the open market. We’ve got 2 cars that have barely seen the road, and some of you want to go to the scrap heap and go digging for gold amongst junk. Wild times.
July 24th, 2023 at 2:29 pm
Defense Rules Says:
July 23rd, 2023 at 8:42 pm
Ke’Shawn Vaughn reminds me for some reason of Earnest Graham
———-
I agree, he gives me that same vibe as well.
With that said, you absolutely want someone better than Earnest Graham as your lead back – BUT you also want Earnest Graham on your team.
July 24th, 2023 at 7:43 pm
“Our guys are our guys” is code for “these are the players we have and there is no cavalry on the way to make us better so get used to it and give you season tickets to clients so you can AT LEAST get a write off.”