“Choppy”
August 27th, 2017
The Bucs’ No. 1 running back, Jacquizz Rodgers.
Last night, the running backs trio of Doug Martin, Jeremy McNichols and Peyton Barber combined for seven yards on eight carries.
No wonder Dirk Koetter was lukewarm on his running game this afternoon at One Buc Palace.
Jacquizz Rodgers had 10 carries for 34 yards all in the first half against Cleveland. He ran hard and was solid. It’s obvious he’s locked up the No. 1 job for opening day. But beyond that, it wasn’t pretty outside of a 27-yard scamper by Russell Hansbrough, whose other three carries netted one yard.
“The running game is just a little too choppy right now,” Koetter said. “Could be [that] we’re rotating a lot of guys in there, but that’s not really a good excuse. We’re going to have to do better.”
Koetter has used that excuse previously, saying last year’s running woes had a lot to do with using a lot of backs because of injuries. That hurt the rhythm, Koetter said.
The Bucs certainly used a lot of backs in 2016, but Doug Martin still managed 144 carries (28th most in the NFL) and averaged a league worst 2.9 yards per carry among full-time running backs.
Martin finished this preseason with 11 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown, solid but not special. He had some strong runs but missed some opportunities, and mixed in a drop and a blown protection.
Opening day will have many themes. One of them will be: In Quizz We Trust.
August 27th, 2017 at 7:54 pm
Man, you are anti doug.
August 27th, 2017 at 7:56 pm
Is it safe to say that our o line is average?
Same with d line?
If we spent all the 2nd round picks we blew on lineman….
Now before u say you can’t hit all your picks
We aren’t talking 5th round picks.
Why not be greedy and try and hit these picks
August 27th, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Will regret passing on Marlon Mack , ADRIAN Peterson. All better runners with breakaway speed
August 27th, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Wow ! Saturday was a rough day. My grandson had his 8th birthday at a pool party at my abode and it rained. The Rays had a 4 to 2 lead going into the 8th…They lost… The Bucs managed a 3 to 3 tie at the half and lost against the the worst misfunctual team in football, the Cleveland Browns. Lucky I’m a happy – go lucky fellow- Otherwise, I would have gone to the dark side. !
August 27th, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Bucs are playing it safe..they do not want to deal with massive injuries..Quizz sgould be our number 1 RB..he’s earned it!!
I am watching these preseason games..Edelman out for the year..Chiefs got what’s his name out for the year..way to much risk..
We are playing softly to then unleash those m’fer sticks..i am not concerned at all..I think this is all Koetter’s and Jason’s plan..don’t show all your cards just yet!! and not risk injury!
August 27th, 2017 at 8:33 pm
LOL, I thought Russell Hansbrough was gonna run all the way to Hillsborough last night.
August 27th, 2017 at 8:52 pm
I second Ira.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/08/buccaneers-blog-lesean-mccoy-trade/#more-183628
August 27th, 2017 at 8:56 pm
This is why we should’ve drafted a joe Nixon,, or dalvin cook smh
August 27th, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Jojo white Says:
August 27th, 2017 at 8:56 pm
This is why we should’ve drafted a joe Nixon,, or dalvin cook smh
Every year there are one or two running backs taken in the 1st round that can do what Cook, Nix, etc. do. Every couple of years there is a unique talent like O.J.Howard. Rarely do TE’s come around with O.J. Howard. The Buc’s are miles ahead of the curve by having #80 being drafted by the Buc’s. We are very lucky to have him. In respect to to my choice check my handle.. I was a student at FSU before the Buc’s where born. I would have loved to have seen Dalvin join our team but think #80 will be the better player in the long run for the Buc’s.
August 27th, 2017 at 9:33 pm
Jojo white Says:
August 27th, 2017 at 8:56 pm
This is why we should’ve drafted a joe Nixon,, or dalvin cook smh
Every year there are one or two running backs taken in the 1st round that can do what Cook, Nix, etc. do. Every couple of years there is a unique talent like O.J.Howard. Rarely do TE’s come around like O.J. Howard. The Buc’s are miles ahead of the curve by having #80 being drafted by the Buc’s. We are very lucky to have him. In respect to to my choice check my handle.. I was a student at FSU before the Buc’s where born. I would have loved to have seen Dalvin join our team but think #80 will be the better player in the long run for the Buc’s.
August 27th, 2017 at 9:34 pm
oops, didn’t intend to enter that twice. my bad 🙁
August 27th, 2017 at 10:10 pm
I think Joes opinion on Martin reflects most of the fan base take on him (correct me if I am wrong). Paying attention, sticking to facts, and non-trusting. That should be expected. Although I am extremely happy for his recovery and being able to find peace to allow him to continue to pursue football, the facts are Martin let the organization, fans, and his teammates down by his actions in a season when they needed him. He is on a short leash because of it. My hope is his returns to pro-bowl form and has a consistent, injury-free (finally) career hereafter. I believe he can accomplish at least the former.
August 27th, 2017 at 10:15 pm
The running game is going to improve when opposing defenses are acared of Jameis, and right now I havent been very impressed with him or thw teams.execution in general. Jameis.needs.to.do a much beyger job come.week.1
August 27th, 2017 at 10:31 pm
The game I watched Saturday night had Clevelend, not at all intimidated of the pass with Evans and Jackson out and the Bucs down 2 OL starters, putting 8 men at the LOS with some pretty creative stunts.
Why the surprise the running game wasn’t stellar?.
August 28th, 2017 at 6:29 am
Thank you Cobraboy, I was beginning to think I’d watched a different game from many others also. My biggest takeaway from the game was that our Bucs have a formidable starting lineup but still don’t have anywhere near the depth that I’d hoped, especially at certain positions. OLine, DLine & CB come to mind. Tough to fairly evaluate RBs unless they’re running behind our 1st strong OLine IMO & in similar down-distance situations (on 1st down I’d expect a RB to pick up 4+ yds, but on 3rd & 1 I’d be very happy with 1+ yds, even though it’d screw with his average).
August 28th, 2017 at 7:20 am
koetter has a right to protect his players if he wants to.But I gotta say that
its unfair to force season ticket holders to pay for an exhibition game with so
many key players not playing.League should move to more joint practices and a final controlled scrimmage with each team and charge fans reduced admission to see it.Take the financial burden off the loyal Buc season ticket holders.
There were a few takeaways I got from the game:
Godwin is more than capable of being a day one starter. like some of us thought.
Reedy did a good job of making things happen both in the return game and
his touches on offense.He could be a special teams stalwart.
Ryan smith needs a lot more work,but his speed and athleticism might help him
develope over time.
August 28th, 2017 at 7:27 am
I expect the Martin and Sims show to return to 2015 form. Unfortunately no Martin for the first three, but I think if healthy, not to worried.
August 28th, 2017 at 8:32 am
As he should be. I really don’t know why people keep looking in the rear view mirror when it comes to Doug Martin. He’s not great and last year his selfishness cost the team a playoff spot. If Doug Martin was an average running back the Bucs would have been in the playoffs. Rodgers performed much better behind the same offensive line that so many of you blame for Doug’s crappy season.
August 28th, 2017 at 9:35 am
Man Lee, Steve and Ira are gonna blow a gasket when Doug is this team’s leading rusher at the end of the year.
Again the writing has been on the wall for a Doug return for awhile, team didn’t bring in a competent replacement and the shuffling of the o line shows that they think they can improve the run game that way rather than waste a 1st rounder on a RB.
Not sure why the Joe’s and the “Sage” of TB can’t see what even the blind can see…
August 28th, 2017 at 11:14 am
The Bucs last season were in no position to make a run at a SB, period, end of story.
Making the playoffs would have been a fun extra game with some local hype, but most likely would have been one-and-done.
A playoff appearance would have meant a lower draft pick…and no OJ Howard.
Which is better? A week of football hype followed by a letdown, or drafting the best tight end prospect since Tony Gonzalez?
Hell, the Bucs tanked an entire season to get Winston!
Football is a TEAM sport. One guy doesn’t lose a game. Martin didn’t cost the Bucs a playoff spot. The TEAM fell short.
If you need to find blame for the 2016 Bucs season, look no further than the OL. They created a crap running game and had Winston running for his life.
August 28th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Joe- you’re reaching pretty hard trying to lump Doug into those stats, with his whopping 2 carries the entire game.
Give me freaking break man.
Sir, Joe was illustrating why Dirk Koetter called the running game choppy, aka highs and lows. –Joe