The Run Game Ought To Improve
August 23rd, 2024
Getting the run game going.
Joe doesn’t think this is an insurmountable obstacle.
The Bucs, the past two years (you may have heard), had the worst run attack in the NFL. So this offseason, the Bucs made a concerted effort to get better.
That should not be a difficult task. Hey, No. 31 in the NFL is better than dead last.
Of course, the Bucs expect to be a lot better than that.
Albert Breer of SI.com, who Joe saw Wednesday at the final Bucs training camp practiced, filed a dispatch from One Buc Palace about the Bucs and their chances in 2024. Breer is very confident the Bucs run game will improve.
Why? Because new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen will see to it.
…Coen has shown how meticulous he is in that area, with two stints under Sean McVay in Los Angeles serving as his classroom for learning the Shanahan zone system. What’ll help in his cause is the state of the offensive line—with Tristan Wirfs now entrenched on the left side, Luke Goedeke taking another big step toward becoming a top-shelf right tackle, and Graham Barton arriving as a middle-of-the-fairway first-round pick at center. And the backfield’s gotten a boost too, with rookie Bucky Irving bringing a physical, one-cut-and-go style of running to what starter Rachaad White and second-year man Sean Tucker have established. Irving’s looked like he’ll play the position, in that scheme, a little like Kyren Williams has for the Rams, as a guy who reads and hits seams fast.
For those not aware of Kyren Williams, he made the Pro Bowl last year with the Rams in his second season. He averaged five yards a carry while racking up 1,144 yards starting in 11 games.
If Irving can make the Pro Bowl by next year coming in as a fourth-round pick, that would be exceptional. But let’s not get crazy.
If any Bucs running back could total, say, 1,200 yards this year, Joe would be ecstatic.
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August 23rd, 2024 at 6:15 am
Amen to that Joe, All the pieces are in place their should be no Excuses! White should be used more like Daboo is in San Fran.
August 23rd, 2024 at 7:26 am
It’s good to hear from a national guy who’s actually come to camp and done his homework.
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:08 am
IMPO I think Sean Tucker is going to be better than Irving but those two backs are going to rule our division and possibly the league. I see big things coming for our run game
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:09 am
I’m all in on Bucky!
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:22 am
I have the utmost confidence that the run game will be better due to our line being bigger and the fact that Coen schemes for our personell. Leftwich was just awful as an OC. Things were better when it was no huddle/2 min, cuz Brady called the plays. Canales, better passing game caller (sans Godwin on the outside), since he was the qb coach for forever, but that really hindered his running game calls. He only knew Marshawn Lunch and to his credit (stubbornness?) only called runs like that. White just ain’t that guy. I think Coen is the best of both worlds.
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:45 am
If it doesn’t improve, that means it’s dead last for a third year in a row. It’s not hard to improve from last. Any life in the run game at all will do it.
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:46 am
If Barton is down the middle of the fairway, no one ever will complain about that shot.
But we don’t want one shot down the middle,
We want BUCK Shots all over the place!!!
August 23rd, 2024 at 8:49 am
BUC-key-SHOT
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:03 am
This Preseason McVay’s Rams have used 11 Personel 100% of the time. Most OC’s from that tree pretty much followed suit. Falcons set up with 1 Tight End 93% and the Bucs 80% which was about the same Percentage as the Rams used in 2022 when Coen was the OC. That season the Rams were 28th in Rushing and 27th in passing. Following year Rams moved up to 11th in rushing and 10th in passing. Besides Coen not getting invited back there were other circumstances or excuses so it wasn’t just Coen’s leadership.
Looks like with Tampa it’s going to be 1 in every 5 plays where there will be two Tight ends on the field for the Bucs. If they find that they can’t run the ball with 1. Maybe there will be more times where 2 RB’s will be used. Works for the 49er’s
Last season the Rams used 1 TE 82% and 2 TE 6% ran fine during the season but struggled running the ball against the Lions when it really counted.
Bucs were 51% w/ 1TE and 27% w/ 2TE and struggled most of the season.
Lions were right in line with Tampa Percentage wise but had a better line and ran the ball much better.
SF used 2RB and 1 TE the majority of their snaps.
If Coen can not get a run game using 1 TE he will have to have enough horses in the stable to keep in the TE rotation and in case of injuries.
Just having a better O Line should move Bucs up off the bottom as far as the running game and will have folks saying what a Genius Coen is.
August 23rd, 2024 at 9:18 am
Getting the OLine effective again is key. Throw in LC ‘s run schemes and with a bit of early success the Bucs run game can be very productive. We’ll get a glimpse tonight.
August 23rd, 2024 at 10:20 am
It already has improved with addition of Barton and Irving. Unless Rachad White can prove he can hit holes and cut like Irwin, he will be positioned as a pass catcher while Bucky twists and darts through the designated running lanes.
Getting an average of 4+ yards per carry is now attainable with improved offensive line and a natural running back.
August 23rd, 2024 at 11:01 am
Bucky = Pro Bowl
I like where your heads at, but a “respectable” top 10 run game would be a good accomplishment, too.
August 23rd, 2024 at 11:41 am
Go Bucky Go! All the way to the Pro Bowl and hopefully the Super Bowl!
August 23rd, 2024 at 4:49 pm
Way too much hype on a small guy at RB that came from a conference that does not tackle, who has never even laced it up in a regular season game , sorry not sold at all on the Buckster.
August 25th, 2024 at 8:57 am
Irving…Probowl?
Geez! The guy has not done Jack yet! Tucker has out played him running against truck drivers and you have the dude in the Probawl?
Go Bucs!