Steep Hill For Run Game
November 29th, 2014
Rey Maualuga and the Bengals have been stingy against the run of late.
Joe thinks Doug Martin is one of the nicest guys on the Bucs roster. But numbers don’t lie. Martin is having a brutal season that just may get him jettisoned in a few weeks.
Martin ranks dead-last in the NFL in yards per attempt. There is no way to sugarcoat that.
For reasons unclear, Bucs coach Lovie Smith is bound and determined to get rookie Charles Sims in gear, even if it may cost him games. Bobby Rainey, who hasn’t fumbled in two months, is a better weapon, but the shotcallers at One Buc Palace don’t seem to think so.
If the troubles with the running game aren’t enough, the Bucs square off against a foe tomorrow that of late, has been shutting down opponents’ running attacks.
The Bengals, in the past three games, have held opponents to a total of 225 yards (Cleveland 86, New Orleans 75 and Houston 64). All three teams have better running attacks than the Bucs.
So not only do the Bucs stink against the run, they are facing a team that his hot for stomping out rush attacks.
The only worse conundrum Joe can think of is ordering a shot of Cuervo at the Den of Depression that is 100 percent tap water. Joe can only guess ordering a cocktail there looks something akin to this:
November 29th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
When Doug Martin plays with Tom Brady next year he will crush it! Don’t worry we will lose the trade and get a 7th rounder for him.
November 29th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
It’s pretty tough to run the ball when the defense can stack the box knowing the quarterback can’t hurt them. Said quarterback is Josh McCown. McCown had a QB rating of 109.9 last year with the Bears. This year it’s like 83. The difference is 2 words: Offensive Line. Last year the Bears had one, this year the Bucs don’t.
P.S. Stop trading with the Patriots. We always get fleeced.
November 29th, 2014 at 3:07 pm
Yep and if Winston is starting in tampa all the sudden Doug Martin will come back to life as would Vincent Jackson and evans would be even better!
November 29th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
CLE beat Cincy, and was mainly ball-control. I think that might of been tate’s last game with them, and he isn’t that good. New Orleans fell behind early and was throwing most of the game, and they’re a heavy passing team. Houston was without Blue, and their starting QB was playing with a torn peck and they too fell behind. I don’t think you can just look at the stat line and say, well, they’re good at stopping the run because the Texans only gained 64 yards (with their back-up rb mind you). Don’t let the stats fool you, Cincy doesn’t have a good run defense.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
btw CLE isn’t a great running team, btw…they looked good vs. Atlanta last week, but they’re poor at stopping the run.
November 29th, 2014 at 10:54 pm
I wonder who’s line is better at stopping the Bucs’ run game – the Bengals D Line or the Bucs O-line?