Yes Gentlemen, The NFL Allows You To Break Tackles
August 5th, 2023
Bucs RB Rachaad White.
The Bucs had a trash rushing attack last year. That’s been well-established.
And this is why Joe is in the Show Me mode when it comes to Rachaad White as a quality back running the ball (he’s good as a receiver). White’s advanced rushing numbers were pitiful.
Yeah, Joe knows people like to habitually howl about the offensive line. Well, per Scott Spratt in Aaron Schatz’s Football Almanac 2023, blaming the offensive line for the Bucs’ running woes is a lazy crutch.
Per Spratt, no team had fewer broken tackles. Bucs running backs only broke 78 tackles.
And as Joe likes to say on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” unless there was a rule change that Joe is unaware of, running backs are still allowed to elude would-be tacklers or break tackles.
Running backs don’t have to go down on contact.
August 5th, 2023 at 8:06 am
Remember against Seattle, when White “Chris Conte’d” the defender? I’d like to see more of that this year.
August 5th, 2023 at 8:07 am
Wish someone would have told our backs that last year
August 5th, 2023 at 8:13 am
A huge part of that was Leonard Fournette, who couldn’t break a tackle from the smallest DB. He routinely launched himself into defenders leaving his feet and ending the play. We will be much better without Fournette on the field.
August 5th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Last year’s O-line would have need Barry Sanders just to be middle ranked in rushing.
August 5th, 2023 at 8:25 am
Was it not because of a limited opportunity? Bucs only had 386 rush attempts and 78 tackles broken is a 20% broken tackle % which was higher than Derrick Henry’s (16%). I thought their issues were due to scheme and some level of predicability. The defense always knew when they were running and with no linebackers getting blocked they’d hit them near the line of scrimmage. Am I missing something?
August 5th, 2023 at 8:27 am
The Bucs had a “Trash Run Blocking” last year. That’s been well-established.
August 5th, 2023 at 8:32 am
Da Bucs Guy Says:
August 5th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Last year’s O-line would have need Barry Sanders just to be middle ranked in rushing.
^^^^^^^^
Let me guess…You love the Saints O-Line, don’t you?
August 5th, 2023 at 9:00 am
I have sometimes wondered the same thing about even top tier running backs Joe.
Guys like Alstot and others used to break more tackles than RBs do these days.
Maybe it’s just me though LOL
Go Bucs!
August 5th, 2023 at 9:23 am
Before I push back I had to go to the tape. This kid is good.
When the defense whiffs in the backfield he gets no credit for a Brocken tackle.
Gets thru untouched, 12 yards downfield he’s pinned against the sideline, and runs to contact and then gets out of bounds. Smart. He has a first down and does not risk a turnover fighting for an extra yard. Godwin has stripped at the goal line with that kind of extra effort.
Receiving out of the backfield I see defensive backs spinning around and not getting a finger on him.
Seems like when the first guy is on him there is a swarm coming. At that point it protect the ball and protect the body.
If a guy rushes for 200 yards you would think that he was knocking off 10 yards a pop when actually he had 80, 60, and a few shorter ones.
Point is you have to see it to believe it and I see a very good running back. If he puts up 150 all purpose yards with no broken tackles. I’ll take it every Sunday.
August 5th, 2023 at 9:35 am
To me, this has been a Buc problem way back to the days of the “muscle hamster”. As good as he was he seemed to go down with the first hit.
August 5th, 2023 at 9:47 am
It’s hard to break a tackle when it starts while you are still taking the handoff
Add Lenny “tiptoes” Fournette to the mix – his MO has always been power runner body, scat back running style – and you get these stats
White is way more a slasher and our new zone scheme will fit him better – much easier to break a tackle beyond the LOS with momentum
August 5th, 2023 at 9:48 am
The Bucs running back group is ranked 30th out of 32 teams.
Probably best to keep very low expectations in 2023…
I am hopeful Sean Tucker is able to earn the RB2 spot at some point this season – the earlier the better.
Key Vaughn is a JAG.
August 5th, 2023 at 10:06 am
Even Alstott and Wilder went down when tackled as they were handed the ball. The line wasn’t friendly to our running or passing. Brady was tossing the ball as fast as he could because he didn’t want to get hit and the backs were already trying to find running room behind the line instead of looking for holes to run through. I think the line will be a little better this year with better planning as well as personnel. As long as we keep them healthy.
August 5th, 2023 at 10:36 am
Not sure why white is the focus of last year’s rushing nightmare when you had one of the biggest backs in the nfl in Lenny. Can’t say much about white if Lenny was starter for half the season then got replaced.
August 5th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Getting rid of Rojo was a terrible decision.
Rojo was one of the best pure RB’s in the NFL.
August 5th, 2023 at 11:51 am
Pewter Power Says: Not sure why white is the focus of last year’s rushing nightmare when you had one of the biggest backs in the nfl in Lenny. Can’t say much about white if Lenny was starter for half the season then got replaced.
If Lenny was in there because of experience and money he was being Paid I sure hope they don’t make that mistake again.
August 5th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Well Rojo is suspended for 2 games for PEDs.
I guess you would rather have him on the bench.
August 5th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Rojo visits the Candyman!
August 5th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
Da bucs guy is a troll.. definitely a saints fan
August 5th, 2023 at 2:01 pm
All these advanced stats mean nothing after you add the context. Advanced stats don’t work well with intangibles.
August 5th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
ROJO?
What has he done since he left Tampa?
Absolutely nothing.
Why is that?
August 5th, 2023 at 4:10 pm
For broken tackles to mean anything, we need to know who they were breaking tackles against. Breaking a tackle from a defensive lineman is different than breaking the tackle of a corner. And if you’re completely predictable and just run in the same place (up the middle) on the same downs in the same situations, guess what the outcome is?
August 5th, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Marine Buc Says:
August 5th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
ROJO?
What has he done since he left Tampa?
————
Got a Super Bowl ring.
August 5th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
@ Rod
True. He won that lottery…
Now let’s look at the stats –
17 carries 70 yards 1 TD.
He was beat out by a 7th round draft pick.
I will give ROJO his props for the one awesome 98 yard run he had against Carolina. That was a thing of beauty…
August 5th, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Marine Buc – I disagree on your analysis of Rojo, he was legit a very good player for a short period of time, but I don’t know what happened to him in 2021, he seemed to become super soft – not sure what was happening behind the scenes.
BUT, I was only answering the one question since you left yourself open for a layout. You are correct, since he left, he hasn’t done much – but he did get a ring while sitting on the bench. He’s the Blaine Gabbert of RBs.
August 5th, 2023 at 5:59 pm
@ Rod
“I don’t know what happened to him in 2021, he seemed to become super soft – not sure what was happening behind the scenes.
No worries bud.
Rojo did have a few somewhat productive seasons in Tampa. I never said he was a complete bust.
“Getting rid of Rojo was a terrible decision.
Rojo was one of the best pure RB’s in the NFL.”
I only mentioned ROJO in response to this statement made above…
“You are correct, since he left, he hasn’t done much – but he did get a ring while sitting on the bench. He’s the Blaine Gabbert of RBs.”
I agree. This is what I was trying to say about ROJO. Letting him go was NOT a “mistake”.
LOL!
August 5th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
I guess you guys didn’t see Rojo recently was suspended for using illegal drugs. That is probably why he wasn’t so good last year and why I am glad we cut him.