Fuzzy Run-Game Evaluation By Bruce Arians

November 19th, 2019

It might be time for Joe to seek mental health counseling.

Here are some facts:

Jameis Winston is a very effective scrambler by NFL standards. And as a team, including those scrambles, the Bucs average 3.9 yards per carry. That 3.9 average is tied for 22nd-best in the league.

So the rushing attack is poor, and the woes of the running game are magnified when you take America’s Quarterback out of the equation.

Also a fact? Ronald Jones is averaging 3.4 yards per carry through his last seven games. And one more pesky fact reveals that the Bucs’ 3.9 yards per average rush is equal to what it recorded through 16 games last season, tied for 30th best in the NFL.

But there was Bucco Bruce Arians yesterday saying, “I think our run offense has been pleasing a majority of the time, when we can use it, you know, when we can use it.”

Joe simply cannot believe Arians is pleased by the running game. Does he tell this stuff to Team Glazer?

By no measure do the Bucs have a “pleasing” running game. They’re not explosive, among the worst in the league in those metrics. The Bucs are tied for the 11th-most rushing touchdowns, so that’s good, but Arians himself has lamented on Buccaneers Radio how his club has not been a good short-yardage team this year.

Joe hopes Arians and the powers at One Buc Palace realize the Bucs’ rushing attack is far below what any NFL analyst would consider “pleasing,” to use Arians’ word. It doesn’t have the same stench it did last year, but must we keep such a low bar around here?

42 Responses to “Fuzzy Run-Game Evaluation By Bruce Arians”

  1. Pete I Says:

    8 rushing attempts Sunday for a franchise LOW!

    Bruce ” Lack of preparation H – didn’t miss coaching but why not” Arians is at it again.

    Cardinal fans warned us of this…

  2. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Koetter was/is a way better OC than leftwich and at this point appears a more competent HC than arians. Koetter always made it clear that if there is green grass to jameis take it; it seems that jameis has had the brakes put on him this year and maybe he is now going off the reservation when he scrambles. IT seems the DCs of the other teams know jameis doesnt scramble so they go straight cover zero with no spy on jameis because he will not run; until this last game

  3. PUGS&BUCS Says:

    Minnesota is on cruise control behind Dalvin Cook right now… and we’re still trying to figure out why OJ Howard can’t stop handing the ball to the other team.

    Remember: JW LOBBIED for Cook. Licht took Howard and word is, they were jumping up and down like idiots in the war room when that clown fell to him.

    Cook was the pick…. we blew it and we’re paying for it 3 years later. Sad part is, it’s going to cost JW his job.

  4. Jimmy Says:

    >>> Does he tell this stuff to Team Glazer? <<<

    More important, do the Glazers buy the shiite that Arians is selling?

  5. Lamarcus Says:

    Run game? Pft

    We rely on JW to win games around here. If he can’t deliver…. It ain’t happening

  6. H8JWLVEBUCS Says:

    Thats why JW and Arians get along so well because they are both BSers artist.

  7. Allbuccedup Says:

    Looks like Jameis is the run game too. The owner of the panthers just said not going to accept mediocrity. When are the Glazers going to speak up or they ok with 5 wins a year?

  8. zzbuc Says:

    Guys, When OJ played for Koetter, that he uses TE he was brilliant. On this scheme TE are used sporadically. I know OJ turnover last game was really bad, but I would think that giving up on him would be a inmense mistake.
    We need to have a macro view…..Ive been saying this for several years, We BUCS community need to know we are NOT a talented team, we have some talent out there no question about it, but this is NOT a talented roster.
    Arians made a BAD lecture , very bad indeed.
    Running game is poerfect!! Secondary is fixed!!!This is not rebuilding is reloading!! I mean those where his very words!!!!
    I am not giving up on him, but several big moves have to be made.
    No more JW
    No more Jason Licht
    No more Leftwich

  9. H8JWLVEBUCS Says:

    Glazers dont care as long as they get 5 billion in revenue a season

  10. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    I feel asleep last night thinking of the poor ticket sales folks at OBP…3rd prize…tough sell …I can only imagine what the meetings are like

  11. Evolvingbucsfan Says:

    He says the game dictates the plays, being behind and abandoning the run game, hmm sounds familiar.

    Establish the run to set up the pass, but just like the last regime we go into full blown panic mode and throw over 50 times when we get behind early and i believe that’s exactly what the opposing team wants. I would rather see us pound the rock eat up time and limit turnovers trying to get back in the game and wear them down than the air it out to Miller or Perriman when they lock down Evans or Godwin. Just shows how little the trust the run game and then we see Dare exclusively in the second…..how’s it working for you so far coach?

  12. Kobe Faker Says:

    “The Glazer boyband wants to can BSer but don’t want to pay the rest of the 3 year contract salary,

    BSer, conned everyone and wants to quit but wants the rest of the 3 year contract,

    So here Kobe sits”

    Kobe Faker

  13. Bobby M. Says:

    The telling statement is “when we CAN use it”….teams are committing to stopping the run, forcing us to throw…..and it’s working. It’s been working for 5 years. Winston is a turnover waiting to happen, so teams keep it in his hands as often as possible. You can see the play calling tries to offset it with some running attempts but they go nowhere….everyone watching can see its got no shot of success but they still try. Ultimately the score dictates we have to start throwing more and more…that’s when the wheels on the wagon start wobbling before eventually flying off. Winston is a play callers nightmare between his decision making, holding the ball, poor accuracy, forcing throws….it’s impossible to navigate.

  14. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    More BS from BA

  15. Pewter power Says:

    Who the hell cares about dalvin cook get over it he was drafted by someone else. Rojo ain’t the problem the offensive coordinator is and the coach who is trying to lie to everyone so leftwich doesnt look bad. I would be all for BA if he was calling plays but he is really useless right now and wouldn’t care if he got fired. He has been trash this year and more interested in teaching refs a lesson than his players. Any cheap coach can do what he’s doing right now which is basically nothing

    We got on koetter for not having a hand in the defense but we dont get details about BA defense, he’s probably even less hands on than koetter was

  16. Frank Pillow Says:

    I think the issue is less about forcing us to throw than it is that we’re often down multiple scores right out of the gate because our D flat out stinks and our O turns the ball over regularly. That’s all compounded by some very bland game plans and piss poor execution. At this point, Mr. “The secondary is completely fixed” has as much credibility as Mr. “Tennessee Ready.”

  17. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    I agree, we should have listened to Jameis, and took Cook instead of Howard.
    We already had a good tight end in Brate.

  18. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    BS from the FB

  19. Sport Says:

    Bobby M for the Win!

    In BA I Trust!

  20. BucFan81 Says:

    HAHA only the Bucs could make things worse in regards to coaching. They got rid of Koetter which had his issues especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s be honest though his staff overall seems to be looking better than the Arians regime which has regressed the team and may not even finish with 5 or 6 wins. Koetter first season he won 9 games and he also had a top 5 offense the whole time he was here. I bet he gets his revenge Sunday. I am expecting him to put up around 50 points on this group which he has done to previous Bucs teams when he was with Atlanta before.

  21. zzbuc Says:

    @BucFan81

    I´ve always been a Koetters supporter as an offensive mind, and a really good one. But I also think that no matter wich coach you have, with this roster you can´t go anywhere….Is way much less talented than what the so called experts say, even Arians….. Good 1/2 recievers, those two are really talented, You have VEA JPP LVD,OJ ….now please show me where the rest of the talent is…..Because I can´t find it……

  22. bojim Says:

    Minnesota is on cruise control behind Dalvin Cook

    Jeez. Still got a hard on over Kuechly too?

  23. 813bucboi Says:

    Bobby M. Says:
    November 19th, 2019 at 9:46 am
    The telling statement is “when we CAN use it”….teams are committing to stopping the run, forcing us to throw…..and it’s working. It’s been working for 5 years. Winston is a turnover waiting to happen, so teams keep it in his hands as often as possible. You can see the play calling tries to offset it with some running attempts but they go nowhere….

    BINGO!!!!!!!!!

    we cant run the ball because teams are loading up the box combined with JW turning it over in the first quarter….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  24. unbelievable Says:

    Maybe try rushing more than 6 times a game…

  25. 813bucboi Says:

    folks talking about dirk was better….lol…

    dirk never had a run game or a top 10 offense in scoring….

    dirk was trash….his offense racked up a ton of yards with no points….

    GO BUCS!!!

  26. Jean Lafitte Says:

    The oline are not great run blockers and when you add in all the turnovers and the fact we get behind in so many games, we abandon the run. Anyone with half a brain can see this unless of course you are a Jameis apologist.

  27. Buccfan37 Says:

    Watching the Bucs blunders is like being on a acid trip driving with a cop behind you. True story.

  28. Bigdaddy66 Says:

    There’s one common denominator for all the Bucs offensive woes and that is the inconsistent play of the oline.
    Fix it !!!

  29. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Almost impossible to believe that Licht could fall out of the Koetter/Smith frying pan and into the Arians fire….

    And we owe this to the Glazers and Lovie…Thanks a lot.

    Literally, the Licht is on but nobody’s home.

  30. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Where oh where is our Steve Balmer?

  31. JimmyJack Says:

    Peabrained to only call 4 runs whole game. As bad as the OL looked on Sunday the playcalling did them no favors. The Saints can get after the QB and they knew we were passing all day…….Takes a real Maroon to go against a good passrush and just make it easier for them.

    Coaching sucked as bad as the players Sunday. I demand better.

  32. Buczilla Says:

    Richard Williamson is starting to look like a genius compared to the dudes running the show now. The only thing that would be “pleasing” to me is if we fired the whole lot of them, starting with Licht. Such utter bs from this guys mouth. Geez.

  33. soggy Says:

    Buccfan37 Says:
    November 19th, 2019 at 11:28 am

    Watching the Bucs blunders is like being on a acid trip driving with a cop behind you. True story.

    ——————————————————————————————laughing and freaking out at the same time Oh Ya..

  34. D-Rome Says:

    Joe, I know you dig for every little nugget of insight when it comes to the team we love but even you have to acknowledge that Arians is on auto-pilot in his pressers.

  35. 2020 What is the bucs future plan? Says:

    WE NEED:

    1. NEW QB
    2.NEW GM
    3. NEW COACHS

    GLAZERS WAKE THE F#@%&*CK UP!

  36. View from 132 Says:

    See if we can get a 3rd rounder for Bruce’s gut.

  37. PUGS&BUCS Says:

    Dear bojim…

    I’m right.

  38. PUGS&BUCS Says:

    Dear 2020 What is the bucs future plan? ….

    You list 3 things. QB is #1.

    Nowhere do you list a solution or a remedy to giving up 30+ a game. What stats will a new QB have to put up to off-set what’s happing on D right now? You’re talking ungodly Areaball numbers.

    You aren’t watching.

  39. Show me the TDs Says:

    Obviously, the Bucs suck. You are what your record says you are. What is so infuriating and insulting are these excuses and flat out lies rolled out every week, win or lose. The Bucs need to self evaluate, own up, and fix the issues. Simple as that.

  40. Kansas95Buc Says:

    …..so we only rushed 8 times Sunday and that’s ok with him? I had to re read this article twice because I swore I missed something. Jeez its no wonder our INTs went up

  41. diggler Says:

    Kansas95Buc Says:
    November 19th, 2019 at 3:19 pm
    …..so we only rushed 8 times Sunday and that’s ok with him? I had to re read this article twice because I swore I missed something. Jeez its no wonder our INTs went up

    ^^^Ok this! This right here! Because IT IS ok with him. What did Shiano do to Freeman when HE wanted him gone? UmmmHMMMMM! BA wants Winston gone but he knows Licht and Glazers don’t soooo what is a coach to do? Set him up to fail that’s what you do and it’s working! GO BA! I like Winston but a good QB he’s not.

  42. Stevebobucsfan Says:

    I think both bad ownership and bad luck. I do have confidence that Arians will sort out the problems and the Bucs will be winner weather he has to move on from Winston or weather Arians franchise Winston for a year and draft a QB. If Arians stay for another year we will be winners. I know many would say I wouldn’t spend franchise money on Winston, he had his chances but unless we hit it big in free agency or the draft what else do they do. We all know what happens in Tampa, many players are great elsewhere but when the y get to Tampa. Well no comment needed