Disappointment
October 14th, 2018
What run game?
Judging by Joe’s Twitter timeline yesterday, a lot of Bucs fans are moaning about how Ronald Jones is still the Bucs’ No. 2 running back behind Peyton Barber based on the words of Bucs coach Dirk Koetter on SiriusXM NFL Radio Friday night.
Joe is guessing some of these folks have Jones on their fantasy teams.
The Bucs’ rushing attack has been pretty lame this year. This led Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report to deem the biggest disappointment of the Bucs this season to be the lack of a running game.
When Fitzpatrick had some magic in his arm during the first two weeks, Barber logged 35 carries for 91 yards. He couldn’t find much space on the ground even with the aerial attack moving the ball up and down the field. The third-year running back has yet to reach pay dirt.
The Buccaneers selected running back Ronald Jones in the second round of April’s draft. He hasn’t made a significant impact on the season after nondescript performances during the exhibition period. The USC product suited up for one game against the Bears, logging 10 carries for 29 yards.
Despite a productive summer for Barber and a premium pick used to bolster the backfield, the Buccaneers rank 30th in rushing offense (69.5 yards per game).
Joe doesn’t see a problem with a pass-first offensive attack in any way. Think about it.
The Bucs have such a turd of a defense, they can’t stop a cool breeze. The strength of the Bucs’ offense is the passing attack, clearly not the run game. So why force a round peg through a square hole? Go with your strength.
And the way the Bucs defense is shatting all over the field week after week, the Bucs aren’t going to win too many games by only scoring 24 points and by forcing offensive coordinator Todd Monken to channel Woody Hayes.
October 14th, 2018 at 7:51 am
We simply don’t run block….I used to think it was predictable playcalling….but it’s not simply that…..we call runs at times when you would think we are passing and they are still stuffed.
Rojo is gang tackled as he just receives the handoff…..
Only 2 yards rushing TD last year
One obvious problem is our impotent run attack in the red zone….it seems we always try to run on 1st down there…..and it never, never works.
Lets move to short passes instead of running plays….I don’t care if we never run if we can move the ball and score through the air….I realize that is not the conventional wisdom….but I fear trying to establish the run is costing us dearly.
October 14th, 2018 at 7:59 am
common denominator – George Worhop.
October 14th, 2018 at 8:01 am
@Joe … “Joe doesn’t see a problem with a pass-first offensive attack in any way. Think about it.” Interesting challenge Joe. Have thought about it … and I see a HUUGE problem when the opposing defense KNOWS you have no choice but to pass early because your run game sucks … and your pass protection is just mediocre against smash-mouth football teams like the Bears.
Being shut out in the first half of the Steelers game AND only scoring 1 TD & 1 FG against the Bears sorta kinda leads me to that conclusion. But hey, with Jameis running for his life, what could possibly go wrong?
@Joe … “The Bucs have such a turd of a defense, they can’t stop a cool breeze.” The phrase “junkyard dog with a bone” keeps coming to mind for some reason. You make every excuse in the world for the offense’s crappy performances, and seem quite relentless in blaming ALL of the Bucs losing performances on the defense. My gut feel is that the Bucs defense, now that more (not all) of our starters are back healthy, will look significantly better today than they have in other games this season. Of course, if we lose 7-3 and those 7 points come off a Pick-6 thrown by You-Know-Who, you’d STILL BLAME THE DEFENSE.
@Joe … “So why force a round peg through a square hole? Go with your strength.” Would that be the same STRENGTH that scored all of 10 points against a real defense? Good ol’ Dr Phil … “And how’d that work out for us?”
October 14th, 2018 at 8:27 am
If the season ends on a sore note, I wouldn’t be upset if we revamp the whole coaching staff minus Buckner and Monkins.
October 14th, 2018 at 8:30 am
A pass first offensive attack is fine,
But if you don’t have an effective running game, opponents DL will tee off on qb, linebackers will blitz more, (see Bears game, Steelers game) which will lead to turnovers and possibly injured qb.
Koetter, himself, declared during pre season he wanted 125 yds per game rushing. Well, they are failing and the blame is equally shared among coaches, OL and TE blocking execution and RB’s.
So, sweeping it under the rug and pretending it doesn’t matter will lead to more losses.
October 14th, 2018 at 8:30 am
All of you know it alls blamed and yelled about how it was Doug Martins fault.
Guess you morons didn’t notice the terrible run blocking. It’s the oline that’s causing the running problems not the running back.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:05 am
The offensive line is an disappointment, and I lay all of the blame on Jason Licht.
The Bucs has a 6th round pick at Center
An old injured UDFA at RT
2nd round pick at LT
5th round pick at RG
2nd round pick at LG
How many quality stud O-Linemen has Licht pass over in rounds 1-2?
October 14th, 2018 at 9:08 am
When did George Warhop become the “run game Coordinator” I’ve heard Dirk reference this title a few times in the past couple years. And all I’m gonna say is that the running game was only good in 2015. So maybe Warhop being the guy in charge of it is what has “ran” it into the ground.
Or maybe it’s retaining Timothy Spencer. We’ve gotten worse every year of him being in charge as well.
Or maybe it’s the right side of the O-line.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:14 am
@Lakeland
Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound trying to blame the success of our O-line on their draft status?
You apparently don’t realize that Ryan Jensen was a top 3 center in football in 2017 despite him being a 6th round pick. And he hasn’t disappointed in his short time with us.
Another perfect example of how ridiculous your premise is, Jason Peters was the undisputed best LT in the league for the Eagles for years on end, and he was an undrafted free agent Tight end for Buffalo to start his career.
Granted Dotson is too old, and Benenoch just doesn’t seem to have the talent and me personally, I would have made a concerted effort to improve the right side of the Oline this offseason, but dont sit here and say that they suck just because they werent 1st rounders.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Ryan Jensen is a ONE year starter
His grade at PFF is 52.9
Last year Ali Marpet graded higher than him at Center
Quit making excuses for your INCOMPETENT GM
October 14th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Even the left side isn’t performing consistently. No question that’s where the beef
is. But they have not been manhandling the opposing defense like a good o line
would,so far. Time to show up with their lunchpails.
October 14th, 2018 at 9:31 am
The entire regime is to blame starting the worst gm in the nfl licht then you have warhop who is as bad as smitty, only person who think those 2 knuckleheads are great is anthony collins who robbed the bucs of millions thanks to licht & warhop
October 14th, 2018 at 9:31 am
** one year starter at Center
October 14th, 2018 at 9:34 am
My point is
Jason Licht has passed over good, quality O-Linemen in the drafts for bums
His record speaks for itself
October 14th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Lakeland like passing on laremy tunsil? Or where is this kappa character, licht will be fired for his super dumb personnel moves, passing on derius guice for ronald jones was another dumb move
October 14th, 2018 at 9:50 am
Dusthsty Rhothdes
The 2018 draft, Jason Licht passed on Connor Williams
He was 1st round talent, with a 1st round grade
Could play Guard or Tackle
Licht passed on him for Ronald Jones
The Cowboys drafted him 12 picks after Jones
He starting for the Cowboys at LG
And is solid
October 14th, 2018 at 9:51 am
its done, get over it
October 14th, 2018 at 9:53 am
Connor Williams has a higher grade than all Bucs O-Linemen, except for Ali Marpet.
October 14th, 2018 at 10:14 am
He’s not a disappointment yet and I doubt he can be properly evaluated if everyone in front of him on the depth chart is also doing absolutely nothing. There will be no breakout for him until the line figures out how to run block. Barber is the starter and he hasn’t even had a breakout game. It’s fine once this entire coaching staff is replaced then you’ll see what kind of talent we really have
October 14th, 2018 at 10:28 am
Not there yet
But the problem still lies with Jason Licht
He’s the GM, head of football operations
If the coaching staff, players are not producing
He has the power to get rid of them
October 14th, 2018 at 11:04 am
Lakeland right on and lichts prints are all over this terrible franchise
October 14th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
I was sold on Rojo and feel bad now for being so wrong….whats it gonna take kid? Just pound the damn rock!