Sad Rushing Attack
July 25th, 2023
“I see you, RoJo.”
Joe is going to walk out on a limb and say new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is going to improve the run game.
How can Joe say that with any degree of confidence? Well, the Bucs (you may have already known this) were the worst rushing team in the NFL last year.
Only way to go is up.
Now one of the Joes on this here website grew frustrated with Ronald Jones (RoJo) because the guy couldn’t hit a home run. He never took one to the house. Yeah, Joe is overstating this a little. Just a little. RoJo had one touchdown in his Bucs career over 10 yards.
Yup, that was the 98-yard touchdown in 2020 against the Stinking Panthers.
Think about that. Sneak Vaughn has as many Bucs touchdown runs over 10 yards as RoJo had.
That’s why Joe was giddy when Playoff Lenny took over as the Bucs’ No. 1 back in 2020. He took it to the house.
Well, Warren Sharp has disturbing info on the Bucs’ rushing attack last season. Tampa Bay was one of four teams that did not have a rushing touchdown of 10 yards or more.
Interestingly, none of those four teams had a winning record. The Commandos didn’t have a losing record, finishing 8-8-1. The other two teams were the bungling Broncos and the slimy Saints.
As Joe stated, the Bucs’ run game can only go up from here.
Side note: Is it fair to suggest Alvin Kamara of the slimy Saints is washed? He’s 28 (usually the time running backs have hit a ceiling) and though playing in 15 games last year, Kamara was part of a slimy Saints run game that, like the Bucs’, didn’t have a rushing touchdown of 10 yards or more.
RB rushing TDs scored on runs longer than 10-yards
9 – SEA
8 – DAL
7
6 – CLE
5 – JAX
4 – GB, SF, LV, NYJ, DET, CAR, MIA
3 – BUF, TEN, PHI, NYG, NE, LAC, MIN
2 – IND, KC, LAR, CHI, ARI, ATL
1 – BAL, PIT, HOU, CIN
0 – TB, NO, WAS, DEN(2022)
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 25, 2023
July 25th, 2023 at 8:04 am
Notice how Seatle had the most on the list. Go OC Dave and the BUCS!
July 25th, 2023 at 8:08 am
Linebackers weren’t getting blocked
July 25th, 2023 at 8:14 am
Is he planning on running the ball and blocking for himself. Maybe he can use some of those high school plays he last called.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:15 am
RoJo’s legacy will always include his 2020 season when he was a big part of Bucs’ SB team.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:17 am
It would be great if the Bucs can be the surprise team in their division. Almost all the talking heads say they are dead meat. Fingers crossed that they kick some ass in their division and elsewhere too. They are a younger team now and should improve as the season progresses. And the new coach on offense could have a big impact. Younger, stronger plus better coaching could make the bucs a surprise team. Or not haha. But hope beats eternal eh?
July 25th, 2023 at 8:19 am
If you want to improve the running game look at Sean Tucker.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:26 am
Joe … ‘Warren Sharp has disturbing info on the Bucs’ rushing attack last season. Tampa Bay was one of four teams that did not have a rushing touchdown of 10 yards or more.’
It was FAR WORSE than that Joe. I was surprised to see that Bucs only scored FIVE TDs rushing last season, and that all 5 were from the ONE yard line. Out of curiosity went back & looked at what the result was each time our offense got to the 5-yard line or closer last season. Not as dismal as I was expecting.
Bucs ran 46 plays from the 5-yard line or closer last season, not counting 5 plays that we got penalized on (we won’t go there). Of those 46 plays, we scored on 23 of them … 5 rushing TDs, 14 passing TDs and 4 FGs. That’s a 50% average which isn’t great but isn’t gross either. On the other 23 plays, we ran 11 times that came up short, we passed 2 times that came up short, we passed another 8 times that were incomplete, and TB12 took 2 sacks.
Two games jumped out at me (we lost them more than likely because we failed inside the 5-yard line). We lost the Steelers game 20-18 because we had to kick a FG after Brady got sacked trying to pass (it was 3rd-and-4 from the 4). We lost the Rams game 16-13 after having the ball 3rd-and-2 from the 2; Fournette rushed up the middle for 1 yard so we settled for a FG (and ended up losing by 3 points). Neither of those BTW count the Browns game or the 2nd Falcons game which were both very winnable.
IOW our losing 2022 season really came down to not making 3 critical plays in 3 games plus pulling our starters in the final game. Bucs MIGHT have just as easily gone 12-5. Or possibly better (we had a chance to tie the Packers with a 2-point conversion, but failed). The NFL really is a game where every yard counts.
What that tells me though is that the Bucs desperately need a power back for those less-than-5-yard situations IF we’re truly gonna be a running team. Other than that, Canales better be VERY good at scheming guys open in those short yardage situations.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:34 am
Look Seattle was #1 they also were top 3, if memory serves, in 10 and 20 yard runs as well! All about efficiency which can give us fans something to look forward to.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:35 am
Running Back Committee.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:36 am
The top four on this list aren’t much more impressive than the bottom four.
July 25th, 2023 at 8:44 am
Beej excellent observation about LB’s not getting blocked! I would include safeties and others in that equation but I agree with you wholeheartedly.
While the OL will be improved since they won’t start with 60% unavailable for the very first snap of the season, the critical position that perhaps has the most effect on the problem you mentioned is still pretty much status quo.
I think Cade Otton has potential to continue his improvement and learning curve but I don’t see him getting beyond Cam Brate standards and he’s certainly no Gronk in the blocking game. Ko Kieft can block but I haven’t seen him getting downfield much, but then again I’m not one of the guys who carefully dissects tape I may be mistaken.
Whatever the reason I suspect Canales will address the problem you correctly identify.
And not to pile on the GOAT but I think the entire franchise, coaches, players and fans relied too heavily on Brady’s arm, especially given the decimated OL that was not able to protect. Brady still had the arm but he became a gun shy statue in his “senior” years.
July 25th, 2023 at 9:25 am
98 yard touchdown is over 10 yards and not only does it count but it’s a franchise record. Can’t admit BA’s system is outdated and not running back friendly then beat up the backs who didn’t thrive in it. I don’t not believe saying Dave canales will improve the run game is going out on a limb
July 25th, 2023 at 9:35 am
Opponents will be stuffing the run with no fear of a Mayfield passing attack plus having the benefit of Bowles game plans and blunders during the games….4 wins max.
July 25th, 2023 at 9:43 am
I PERSONALLY THINK THE BUC’S RUSHING ATTACK WILL BE MUCH IMPROVED THIS YEAR..WITH A BETTER O-LINE & DAVE CANALES EXCITING EXUBERANT ATTITUDE ,I FEEL PRACTICES WILL BRING OUT THE BEST IN OUR RB ROOM..4YD AVG WOULD MAKE US UNPREDICTABLE AND OPEN UP THE PLAY ACTION PASSING GAME, RESULTING IN MORE BIG PLAYS & TOUCHDOWNS, AS LONG AS WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR DEFENSE’S TO AT LEAST RESPECT OUR RUNNING ATTACK, EVERYTHING ELSE WILL OPEN UP TOO..THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL ( BARRING INJURY ) BAKER MAYFIELD “WILL BE” OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK AGAINST THE VIKINGS IN THE 1ST REGULAR SEASON GAME..I’M PREDICTING HE WILL HAVE HIS FINEST STATISTICAL YEAR & LEAD US TO THE DIVISION TITLE & ANOTHER HOME PLAYOFF GAME..THIS TEAM WILL “SHOCK” THE EXPERTS & IF THE BEAUTIFUL CYNTHIA FREELUND DOESN’T JUMP ON BOARD, SHE’S GOING TO LOOK RATHER FOOLISH BY SEASON’S END..
July 25th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Playoff Lenny? More like over hyped Lenny.
2020 – 1 rushing TD’s over 10 yards
2021 – 2 rushing TD’s over 10 yards
2022 – 0 rushing TD’s over 10 yards
3 TD’s over 10 yards in three years,
July 25th, 2023 at 10:00 am
I HOPE THE BEAUTIFUL KAY ADAMS JUMPS ON THE BUC’S BANDWAGON TOO..SHE’S AWESOME !
July 25th, 2023 at 12:25 pm
DR
How many of those rushing TDS were by Brady?
TOMMY After the start of the season we are not accepting any band wagon jumpers no matter how cute they are!!
July 25th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
ATLBuc … Brady got 1 rushing TD, White got 1 & Fournette got 3. Of the 11 runs attempted inside the 5-yard line that DIDN’T MAKE IT, Fournette had 8 of those, White had 2 and Brady had 1.
Down that close to the goal line, seems to me that the real problem lies more with the OLine not getting any forward push than it does with the RBs. IOW we just weren’t strong enough up-front & couldn’t get any push. HOPEFULLY with Jensen returning, adding Feiler, and Goedeke & Hainsey beefing up some over the off-season we SHOULD be able to man up better in those goal line situations.
July 25th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
DR…we WON the Rams game 16-13.
July 25th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
@Fred
Beat me to it and that’s one of the games Brady is credited with “leading” a come back. Iirc, we went into the 4th qtr down 13-6 and managed to score 10 points in 4 offensive drives with 2 ending in punts lol. As Charles Barkley would say that offense was “turrible”
July 25th, 2023 at 9:24 pm
Playoff Lenny!
Sign him!!
July 26th, 2023 at 2:20 am
Can you say stacked box?
Can you say no blocking?
Can you say out of shape and slow (Fournette)
Can you say Leftnut?
Go Bucs!