3 Drives, 19 Carries, 101 Yards
December 17th, 2023
Feel free to wager (and Joe has) that the Buccaneers are going to pound the rock today on the non-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.
There’s a ton of excitement about it at One Buc Palace.
In the second half against the Falcons last Sunday, the Bucs had three consecutive drives against Atlanta that included 19 carries for 101 yards.
Here are the run totals in order: 5, 4, 12, 5, 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 15, 6, 10, 5, 6, 4, 9, 0, 3, 4.
It left drool on the faces of powerful people at One Buc Palace. Those eight consecutive rushes of four yards or more resonated with stud left guard Tristan Wirfs. Joe talked to Wirfs 1-on-1 about it at his locker in Atlanta and Wirfs said the feel of the repetitive successful runs probably was the best run-game feeling the team has had since 2021.
Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks talked about the Bucs’ sustained run-game success last Sunday. Speaking on the Brooks & Beckles show, part of the Lightning Audio Network, he cited seeing success on the second level and right guard Cody Mauch hunting for safeties as evidence the Bucs turned a corner.
Imagine the hunger of Todd Bowles and playcaller Dave Canales to run more today after trying all year to establish a dominant run game. Finally, it clicked in last week’s second half.
Buckle up for smashmouth football today — whether it works or not.
December 17th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Running the ball effectively is the only way we have a chance to win today. Baker is a interception waiting to happen.
December 17th, 2023 at 10:50 am
If greenbay stacks 7 or 8 in da box, Tampa will be forced to throw. Running fast a stacked box will force the throw.
December 17th, 2023 at 10:51 am
We will run they will pass. Should be a good game. Will a 4th qtr blunder decide it either way?
December 17th, 2023 at 10:56 am
I know Joe has been saying pass pass pass, but maybe sticking with this run game thing will payoff… sometimes Forest Gump is a broken clock or something like that.
December 17th, 2023 at 10:58 am
Geees, more run game today?… came up with a new drink to make it through the season. I call it “Pound the Poodle”… a shot of Bowles rum and a shot of Pepto Bismol on the rocks with a Big Storm beer chaser!
December 17th, 2023 at 10:59 am
And fishhawk this town has seen a QB that was a Interception waiting to happen, he is New Orleans problem now.
December 17th, 2023 at 11:01 am
Let me see – we want to fire the coach but establish a real run game. Try this. Find Paul Johnson, bring him out of retirement and let him install his triple option offense. Nobody in the NFL could stop it, we have a quality head coach that everyone will like and an offensive attack straight out of the 1970’s. Nobody in the NFL today has ever seen it!
December 17th, 2023 at 11:02 am
If the Bucs front office is drooling over this run game, they are probably tied into their wheelchairs, so they don’t fall out. They certainly belong in a nursing home.
December 17th, 2023 at 11:06 am
Let’s also not forget that the Bucs were able to run the ball in the 2nd half after the Falcons two starting DTs had left the game because of injuries.
Just sayin’………….
December 17th, 2023 at 11:08 am
It makes sense to run the ball when wide receivers don’t want to break their fingers from catching a rock hard football in cold weather. But please run the ball outside of the tackles!
December 17th, 2023 at 11:13 am
“Fishhawkbuc Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Running the ball effectively is the only way we have a chance to win today. Baker is a interception waiting to happen.”
Baker has 8 picks in 438 attempts. It’s a common human fault to ascribe all types of negative traits to people you don’t like, but it doesn’t make them true
December 17th, 2023 at 11:19 am
Devin white inactive. Not injury related.
December 17th, 2023 at 11:19 am
Green Bay will stack the box and dare the bucs to beat them with the anemic pass game. If baker has his average 225yrd game the bucs lose unless the defense gives them points again.
December 17th, 2023 at 11:20 am
They just announced Devin White will NOT play and it is NOT injury related.
I guess Joe or Irá or whomever may be right, has DW already played his last game as a buc.
Will have to burn his Jersey .
December 17th, 2023 at 11:21 am
D. White is a healthy scratch….. ira called it lol.
December 17th, 2023 at 11:21 am
BEEJ: Wow, that’s 1-pick every 55 passes. Hey, Baker haters got to hate…
December 17th, 2023 at 11:22 am
Cut Devin White. Diva can go play for the Eagles and prove he’s not even a worth money in free agency.
December 17th, 2023 at 11:24 am
NO DW!! SWWWEEET!
December 17th, 2023 at 11:26 am
“Oz Len Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 11:21 am
BEEJ: Wow, that’s 1-pick every 55 passes. Hey, Baker haters got to hate…”
Historically, it’s been among his biggest faults, and he’s been desperately trying to avoid them this season, to the point he pulls the ball back down in certain scenarios when he ought have fired it
December 17th, 2023 at 11:42 am
When you have qb who’s as inconsistent as Mayfield you HAVE to have an effective run game. He’s not the turnover machine as Infamies Jameis but gives us as many bad/uughh plays as he gives us good/great plays. The personification of a middling qb. Some you win dem some you lose. We rely on his vision and arm we become Demsome
December 17th, 2023 at 11:44 am
That’s a fair assessment
December 17th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 11:42 am
but gives us as many bad/uughh plays as he gives us good/great plays
———-
like what ughh plays??
uggh plays are ints and missess. baker’s most legit criticism is missing by over throwing on the deeper balls. thats a function of whats already been brought up. looking to avoid ints and also by having less time to throw because of the line.
he’s been decent on short yardage and spectacular at avoiding the riush
if you are calling checkdowns uggh plays then you don’t know football,
I am hoping canales has some brains. Now that there is a rungame and it has s a little repitation at being minmally decent then he should unleash baker to do what he does best – play action and roll outs.
If that happesn then his haters will be kicked off the wagon if they try to jump on the band wagon. We are already full – no late comers allowed.
December 17th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Beeej Says:
December 17th, 2023 at 11:44 am
That’s a fair assessment
——
hardly
December 17th, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Carolina game was rain, can’t blame him for that. He missed a few against Atlanta, but NOT when the chips were down
December 17th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
GMC on NFL Network is really good. Every bit as good of an analyst as he was a player. He did a nice segment on RW
Makes us die hard Bucs fans proud for sure!!!
December 17th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
The Pack had a tough time stopping NYG running game and lost. Up north here you better have a decent running game for those sloppy fields from mid November on. Fingers crossed, the Bucs can pull this off.
December 17th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Remember when the biggest issue for the Bucs was the inability to win in the cold?
What’s the temp? 41? 43?
Expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed.
December 17th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Run or Pass the Bucs have to protect the ball. Packers have 4 fewer takeaways but they do go after the ball and get it.
Can brag up the lack of picks but Mayfield will put it on the ground and is fortunate they have bounced the Bucs way. Top third in fumbles now and one more puts him tied for 5th most amongst QB’s.