The Revived Run Game
November 16th, 2024
Helped jump-start dormant Bucs run game.
Last year Joe gave up on the Bucs’ run game.
Of course, Bucs fans flashing back to last year would respond, “Run game? What run game?”
Exactly.
Rachaad White had almost 1,000 yards. But his yards per carry (3.6) and his advanced numbers were terrible.
Despite this, then Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales wanted to run, run and run some more. To be fair to White, Canales probably didn’t use him correctly. Canales thought White was Mike Alstott and plunged him up the middle time and again.
It seemed Canales believed if he ran White behind Tristan Wirfs, he’d somehow catch the bird flu.
Last year the Bucs had the worst rush offense with 1,509 yards on the ground.
This year? While not quite an about-face, the Bucs are significantly better. The Bucs rank 11th in the NFL in rushing with 1,253 yards.
To go from dead-last, No. 32, to nearly in the top 10 is damn significant improvement. So Joe decided to back and compare the first 10 games this year to last season.
FIRST 10 GAMES
Year, Attempts, Yards, Average
2023: 230, 703, 3.05
2024: 253, 1,253, 5.0
That’s a helluva jump. Of course, this is also one reason Joe is confident Liam Coen is a big reason for this, and why “this Joe” believes Coen will be a head coach somewhere next year, whether it is in the NFL or college.
A Bucs personnel staff member told Joe after a training camp practice this summer, “We can run the ball now.”
He wasn’t lying.
November 16th, 2024 at 1:14 am
The legend of Bucky Irving will be on display at the Giants
November 16th, 2024 at 2:35 am
Naa, Bucky will light it up in the first quarter and then Lovie will bench him the rest of the game.
November 16th, 2024 at 3:27 am
It’s nuts to me that Sean Tucker, who is a far better RB than White, gets no opportunities. Make it make sense, Joe!
November 16th, 2024 at 3:59 am
With an easier schedule the run game should look even better. Agree we need to see more of tucker. Deploy 2 back sets more often
November 16th, 2024 at 4:19 am
White was a part of that miracle catch against the 49ers.
Bucky has made White tougher. Talk less. Cut his hair. And be more violent.
I really think we need to stick to the run in the 2nd half. We need to start putting teams to sleep.
Mauch and Goedeke are psycho killers.
Barton is a stud.
Pound the rock!!
November 16th, 2024 at 4:25 am
When the Bucs finally figure out that Bucky is a star running back in the NFL, I’m afraid it will be just one game to late for the playoff push. Apathy can turn out that way. Or is it simply ignorance. We will never know for sure. Nobody is ever going to admit either.
And it’s a shame too.
As for Tucker, he’s good, but he ain’t no Bucky Irving.
November 16th, 2024 at 6:03 am
We can’t forget the 2 new oline coaches.
November 16th, 2024 at 6:06 am
Wow, that is a big jump. Kudos to Coen and the players! They have a momentum growing.
Hoping to see the Bucs go in strong after the bye with huge point spread wins. It’s time to go big.
November 16th, 2024 at 6:26 am
We all agree the run game is much better this year.
Because we actually have a run game this year!! HA HA
I still think Rachaad is our No. 1 RB, even though I have mixed feelings about it.
It’s clear now, that when he’s schemed properly and the O-line does its job, Rachaad can gain yardage on the ground. That wasn’t the case last year. Some of that was Rachaad, but I also put some of it on Dave Canales and the O-line we had at the time.
Additionally, Rachaad has proven he’s a pass threat out of the backfield when he has some open territory in front of him.
Totally agree that Bucky has some serious talent and will get even better as time goes on. But, he’s not quite the pass threat that Rachaad is out of the backfield, just yet. RUN Bucky RUN! GO Bucky GO! SCORE Bucky SCORE!
Sean Tucker? I absolutely want to see him get more opportunities. Unfortunately, there’s only so many offensive snaps to go around, and he’s a victim of that. But, he brings a style that’s different than Rachaad and Bucky, and we need to put that three-headed monster to use. Sean has the ability. We just need to get him more snaps and it will really blossom.
I call on Liam Coen to scheme up a few plays that have all three of our RBs on the field at the same time. And actually use them during games. There’s a downside to that, but if used sparingly and at the right times, it would be very effective.
November 16th, 2024 at 6:57 am
Bucs can’t lose Coen.
November 16th, 2024 at 8:33 am
IMHO I think Tucker might be just as good as Bucky, he has taken advantage of every opportunity he has had this season. From what I recall he’s the only back to have over 100 yards yet and he has caught everything thrown his way. It’s going to piss me off if he leaves next season and becomes a star on another team.
November 16th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Bucky Bucky Bucky!!
November 16th, 2024 at 11:00 am
There is one reason why none of this matters, and he occupies kind of an important position on the Bucs.
November 16th, 2024 at 11:14 am
Oline is peaking. Vanessa Anne I agree. Line up Bucky and Tucker in a pro set and White in the slot. All 3 can catch the ball. All three can run the ball. Coen knows this. Run some misdirection, some pulling guards and trap plays. Each of those guys get 12 touches a game (at least until Godwin gets back) we probably win out. And these three are good enough athletes that they can get loose downfield to keep a defense honest. We’re busy praising this offense but they do have alot more to show us.
November 16th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
@Kenton Smith
Exactly what I was thinking Kenton, with Bucky and Sean in the pro set and Rachaad in the slot. And I agree, all three can catch and run the ball. Rachaad just has a little more experience under his belt.
Along with that misdirection, line up Cade (or Mike when he comes back) next to Rachaad or on the other side of the 0-line. That would be a real challenge for any D to defend. The only thing they’d know for certain is that whoever we get the ball to is going to move it down the field.
November 16th, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Bucky! Bucky! Bucky!
Now put him in the damn game! When it’s on the line!
Don’t get me wrong, I like what White brings to the table. He is silky smooth catching the ball out of the backfield but he’s not a RB like Irving, period. If you plan on running the ball to take away timeouts from the other team put Bucky in the damn game. Don’t get too cute with this shît
November 16th, 2024 at 2:40 pm
Coen was blessed with Graham Barton – who has made a huge contribution to that improved run game – as well as Goedeke’s & Mauch’s improvement.
Interested to see if the loss of Tristan for the next few weeks affects our production? Will likely mean Otton will be taken out of the pass game more – likely Rachaad White too – protecting Mayfield.
Getting Mike Evans back will be key.
November 16th, 2024 at 3:21 pm
White Tiger – I don’t know if anyone has heard different but a with Wirfs injury he could easily be back next week. Sure would help if he is.
November 16th, 2024 at 4:55 pm
Yeah, unfortunately, we will lose a player like Ticker and he will go to another place and show out.
November 16th, 2024 at 5:15 pm
And yet they ran White in the red zone last week and he looked like someone’s Grandma on a gummy.
November 17th, 2024 at 12:12 am
Tucker did in one game what White hasn’t done in two seasons, and that is look like a quality starting running back. He kind of reminds me of Saquan Barkley. What gives me pause on Coen as a coach is that Tucker hasn’t been given the chance again and even with Irving balling out and he keeps giving the ball to White. Why two coaches who are adamant about running the ball keep giving the rock to the guy who’s not good at it.
November 17th, 2024 at 1:18 am
ModHairKen!!!
“ModHairKen Says:
November 16th, 2024 at 5:15 pm
And yet they ran White in the red zone last week and he looked like someone’s Grandma on a gummy.”
That, sir, is a JBF hall of fame post.