More Running Game Mystery Emerges
November 22nd, 2023
Rachaad White
Joe needs medication. Make that more medication.
It’s not because the Buccaneers’ rushing attack literally is the least efficent operation since the 2013 Ravens run game fell apart in Ray Rice’s final season. Joe’s already been treated for that.
It’s because offensive coordinator Dave Canales and Todd Bowles seem so excited by the evolution of the run game this week.
Canales was talking today about how left guard Aaron Stinnie was delivering crushing blocks and how rookie right guard Coby Mauch had the best game of his young career. Todd Bowles was on the Buccaneers Radio Network praising the interior blocking, as well.
Canales went on to laud center Robert Hainsey for playing fast and physical Sunday, and for knocking over defensive tackles. Of course, Tristan Wirfs can run block, too.
Bucs running backs had 13 carries for 38 yards on Sunday.
It would be nice to have the “occasional big one,” Canales said, referring to a long run. It hasn’t happened this season.
Is he pointing fingers at Rachaad White?
“[Big runs] come with what the back sees and his ability to break tackles on the second level,” Canales said.
Listening to Canales and Bowles, Joe can’t help but think these guys believe the team is one running back away from a 7-3 record.
Fun fact: per official NextGen Stats, Rachaad White has faced stacked 8-man defensive boxes on just 15.6 percent of snaps, a low rate among starting NFL running backs. That’s less than he saw last season yet White’s production as a runner has dropped.
November 22nd, 2023 at 2:32 pm
They see two high shell at a 62% clip (3rd highest in the league) – only behind Miami and Cincinatti. Their success rate on those downs, and for those non-football acumen individuals (light box), is just over 31%, worst in the league by a wide margin.
Something isn’t right.
November 22nd, 2023 at 2:33 pm
It’s a joke, a travesty! How can we be so inept at the most basic of offensive principles?
Secondly, is there a law that states that only the 49’ers can utilize a FB?! Seriously! Why wouldn’t you try it? The guy needs someone to lead him to the hole. Again, NOT complicated!
November 22nd, 2023 at 2:42 pm
Just trying to hold the team together
November 22nd, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Why would they invest 8 guys to stop our run game when 6 or 7 are plenty
November 22nd, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Joe you have Posithink…To them it was a good loss. Not great one but average. Houston was the greatest loss of their carreer.
November 22nd, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Beeej , defenses only need 3 guys to stop our running game
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:03 pm
If you look at Buc History from the 70’s….they are Off the Lows!! Bwahahahaha!
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Licht needs to be hammered with questions if he doesn’t put in a claim for Darrell Henderson…. literally would make any 0 sense not to especially after a failed claim attempt on a 3rd string RB from the Jets.
Why is Keyshaun Vaughn who’s now a weekly healthy scratch in street clothes still on this team?
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Joe is like a dog with a bone on this run game. For good reason.
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:21 pm
@joe needs meds. I get it brother. This has been a very frustrating season for all of us. Keep up the great content!
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:23 pm
They are doing the sneaky tank, it looks like , from play calling, on.
Thanks Jason
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:24 pm
Kind of like watching JTS and YaYa play versus the same people, yet have completely different results and stating the “ rotation” is most important
Rose colored glasses in the direction that suits the narrative rather than the truth
One of the primary reasons Todd gets run out of here in 7 more weeks
It is laughable to laud the interior line in the run game, they get abused week in week out and there has been ZERO progress since training camp – it’s actually worse now
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:25 pm
The only mystery is why we are not doing more runs to the outside instead of up the middle!
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:35 pm
I dont think White quite fast enough for sweeps
November 22nd, 2023 at 3:39 pm
It’s not the back. It’s the blocking.
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:02 pm
Isn’t the stat out there that White has the least amount of yards gained before contact of any starting RB in the NFL? In other words, he’s being hit nearly as soon as he gets the ball.
Said it all year, but short of Barry Sanders in his prime, there isn’t any RB going to have success – to this point, in this offense.
You have a team that was literally built to pass the ball – and only some idiot head coach like Todd Bowles would ignore that fact, and instead decide you need to waste downs running for no yards because that’s what your middle school football coach told you was the key to success in 1978.
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Its just lip service. You cant pat your Oline on the back when you have such a horrible rushing attack, regardless of the rb.
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:16 pm
“More Running Game Mystery Emerges”
I don’t see ANY mystery. More like a missing person’s report.
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Coaching is a major issue here…but we all know that. I just hope the Glazers know it too.
If I were owner, I would fire Bowles and Canales, make Tom Moore interim HC, and insist Trask start the rest of the season for evaluation purposes.
And players who complain? bye.
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:21 pm
Best runs of this season happened when a TE threw their weight into the line to open a bigger hole (or maybe just a hole).
To me the best idea would be to turn Ko Kieft in as a fullback. Then he could fake a few blocks and take route to the outside. That could make for a better chance to sustain some drives.
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:28 pm
This running game discussion is boring…..
Let’s get back to Ya Ya vs JTS………
Joe’s favorite subject…..
November 22nd, 2023 at 4:50 pm
I thought White was going to be a really good back from watching his Arizona State games when he was drafted by the Bucs. Too bad he can only catch out of the backfield and is lame running the ball. Bucs need to go back to the draft this year and try again in the second or third rounds. Then add a good free agent as well.
November 22nd, 2023 at 5:08 pm
hahaha. . . is that Goedeke with the great form in the photo?
November 22nd, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Are we talking about the misplaced slot receiver, white?
November 22nd, 2023 at 6:05 pm
RB is literally one of the easiest plug & play positions in football….he’s simply not a great runner. It doesn’t take 2 yrs to figure out the running part.
November 22nd, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Canales … “[Big runs] come with what the back sees and his ability to break tackles on the second level.”
Note to David: First our RBs have to actually GET to the second level. We’re not doing that all that often.
Watching teams like Philadelphia and San Fran on offense, they’re both very talented BUT they can beat you with either the pass or the run. And oh ya, their plays are very creative too. They’re both scoring at about the same rate (Eagles 27.3 PPG vs 49ers 27.9 PPG) and are each doing about 50-50 on the run vs pass (Eagles 317 rushes vs 327 passes for a 49.2% run-pass, versus the 49ers 303 rushes vs 278 passes for a 52.2% run-pass).
We’ve lost to both, but the 49ers beat us primarily with the pass, while the Eagles steamrolled us with the run (201 yds). Todd Bowles & Dave Canales would love to have our Bucs emulate either offense, but we’ve no place close to either from a talent perspective to run the kind of game plans that they run. We’re wasting too many plays trying to be something we’re not.
November 22nd, 2023 at 6:36 pm
I know that we all don’t see things the same way, but Rachaad White is one of the best weapons that we have. The problem is the offensive line not able to create holes. Simple.
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Calogero Says:
November 22nd, 2023 at 6:36 pm
I know that we all don’t see things the same way, but Rachaad White is one of the best weapons that we have.
——–
He literally broke a guys ankle the other day juking out of his shoes – but people think he’s not good because he’s not getting 4.9 yards per carry when he’s literally hit in the backfield more than anyone else in football. Also, he’s literally over a yard better per rush than any other RB on the team, meaning the other guys rushing behind this line in this scheme are dramatically worse.
But all of that would be for not if he had only traded for Zack Moss. That would have fixed everything!
November 22nd, 2023 at 7:49 pm
When each offensive lineman controls thier counterpart, a hole will open and the rb needs to gain at least 4 before the DB or ends come into play. The coaches watch the film play by play afterwards. I doubt any of us fans do that. They know who does thier job. Just wish they knew how to adjust the plays before the next game. No one likes to lose, especially the players. And me. Go Bucs!
November 22nd, 2023 at 8:59 pm
Darrell Henderson was released by the rams bucs should give that guy a go.
November 22nd, 2023 at 9:10 pm
1} IF Bucs had a run game, play action would be more effective and opponents’ linebackers wouldn’t be able to play deep zone as much and Bucs’ receivers would be more open- especially across the middle.
2) The Bucs keep throwing outside passes and screens to White because they CAN’t run the ball inside – the 49ers DLine were also pressuring Mayfield up the middle- not excusing Mayfield for not making better decisions on getting rid of ball faster
3) If Bucs had Eagles’ OLine, they’d be 7-3
November 22nd, 2023 at 9:49 pm
I wanna be sedated.
November 22nd, 2023 at 10:10 pm
Be careful what you wish for, Joe. White would thrive with a coach like Shanahan or McVay. You don’t need a RB to act like Earl Campbell to be successful. If that describes your RB, sure, run them up the gut repeatedly. If you have a finess RB, you need to scheme them into open space and let them work. This coaching staff is unable or unwilling to do this.
November 23rd, 2023 at 7:16 am
Canales and Bowles appear to have a long term view towards the development of the running game. I guess they see themselves here next year.
November 23rd, 2023 at 8:15 am
Well, there is a commenter who goes by the name Ghost of Darrell Henderson. So yeah. Sign that guy. Just saying.
November 23rd, 2023 at 9:42 am
I thought Baker was mobile and could as a quasi additional running back? He’s averaging 3.4 yards per carry. That blows compared to other true mobile quarterbacks. So, he’s not very mobile and can’t throw deep. Why is he behind center again?
November 23rd, 2023 at 9:43 am
I thought Baker was mobile and could serve as a quasi additional running back? He’s averaging 3.4 yards per carry. That blows compared to other true mobile quarterbacks. So, he’s not very mobile and can’t throw deep. Why is he behind center again?
November 23rd, 2023 at 10:09 am
ROJO
November 23rd, 2023 at 10:11 am
5.1 yards a carry in 2020…
November 23rd, 2023 at 11:54 am
A decent RB probably would have won us a 2 or 3 more games.
November 23rd, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Heaven forbid, if they pop a 20 yard run anytime this season, that pigskin will never fly the rest of the year! Or maybe even next year as they’ll be hoping to repeat their “occasional big one”…they’ll have all the proven tools to get the job done! They’ll have Mayfield blocking on every down. LOL
Joe, I thought in training camp Canales said he was a big “stat guy”…almost to the point of being obsessive with it? Doesn’t he look at our stats?? I guess being a “stat guy” and being an “understanding the stats guy” are two different things.
November 23rd, 2023 at 3:44 pm
A SOLID RUSHING RUNNING BACK IS THE MAIN COMPONENT MISSING IN THE TAMPA BAY OFFENSE ( SURE COULD USE ANOTHER “MIKE ALSTOTT” RIGHT ABOUT NOW..
November 26th, 2023 at 7:34 pm
No RB can make yards with this OLine….period!