First Down Offense First Rate
December 19th, 2019
Bucs coach Bruce Arians.
This really surprised Joe.
Now Joe doesn’t have the time today — maybe in three weeks — but Joe would guess the most popular play on first down for the Bucs is to run Peyton Barber up the middle.
For basically nothing.
So when Joe noticed the good people of NFL Films pumped out for BSPN’s NFL Matchup the teams with the best first down offense in the NFL, Joe expected to see the Bucs perhaps in the red category.
In other words, one of the league’s worst.
Instead the Bucs are one of the best teams in the NFL for first down production. Yes, that’s with Barber.
The Bucs average 5.85 yards on first downs. That’s No. 9 in the NFL.
Obviously the big-play, no risk it, no biscuit passing of Arians has a lot to do with that. And it is a good thing, too. Otherwise, people would be totally freaking out on Barber, and for offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich for constantly calling his number.
Once again, Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, bails out the Bucs.
December 19th, 2019 at 5:40 am
Sooner or later this coaching staff will help us forget the past.
WHERE IS THE REALIST???????????
Go Bucs!!!
December 19th, 2019 at 6:12 am
Pretty sure Realist is slowly realizing that he is more akin to a clown than the nostradamus-esque figure he made himself out to be this offseason. Hence the silence.
December 19th, 2019 at 6:22 am
Our best play is play action on 1st down……no need to establish the run because the entire world expects us to run it up the middle.
Jameis has time and if he connects with our receiver instead of their DBs, we get big yards.
December 19th, 2019 at 6:35 am
Of course we’re good on first down… our average yards per carry of 3.5 added to our average yards per pass pay, assuming 7.5 or so and then factor in that we still probably pass a little more than we run on 1st down, and I’d totally expect us to be roughly 5.5 to 6 yards a play. It’s pretty simple math really.
December 19th, 2019 at 7:21 am
@Brandon
Not surprising to me either.
Not surprising that this site gives the credit only to Winston.
Others smartly give credit to our two pro bowl receivers as well. Our receivers drop percentage is 3.4% which is 4th best in the league.
Who cares if we rush for 15 yards less a game than some other teams when we out pass them by 70 yards a game. It is a passing league.
December 19th, 2019 at 7:22 am
Still no playoffs Bucs seem to play well when the pressure is off.
December 19th, 2019 at 7:49 am
Yawn……. still very boring. If we are so predictable on 1st down, then how about a shocking different call on it? This offense is more than capable even with ME13 and Ungodly on IR.
December 19th, 2019 at 8:00 am
I’m a little confused Joe. Well OK, a lot confused (but I think it’s an age thing). You list us as #9 on 1st down, but another site I go to (sometimes) lists us as #4 on 1st down (OK, here’s the site … https://www.lineups.com/nfl/teams/teamrankings).
That same website shows our Bucs as being in the top-half of EVERY metric that they use EXCEPT for rushing yardage. Makes sense from what we’ve seen this year.
December 19th, 2019 at 8:14 am
The Bucs receivers deserve credit, but to poo poo Winston getting credit is ridiculous. Joe rightly points out Jamies Winston has been the primary reason the Bucs have such high production on first down.
December 19th, 2019 at 8:24 am
A great running game will make Jameis a better QB- not because of yards, but less turnovers and time of possession.
If Linebackers and Safeties are forced to defend the run first, Bucs receivers will have even more opportunities than they do now.
It starts with run oriented/talented OLine.
December 19th, 2019 at 8:51 am
If you watch the Ronde Barber breakdown of the Lions game, you can see how the Barber-Up-The-Middle plays open up the deep passing game off play-action
December 19th, 2019 at 8:52 am
If you want the Ronder Barber recap of the Lions game, you can see how the Barber-Up-The-Middle plays opens up the deep passing game off play-action
December 19th, 2019 at 8:55 am
Welcome to the Jameis Winston site all Winston all the time JOE !!!!!
You do know there are 52 other rostered players don’t you????
Just rename the site Joe loves Winston !! The reason I now check your site last!!!
Where you get the latest Winston news and maybe some Bucs news by mistake !!!
December 19th, 2019 at 9:49 am
Lololol ou812, what a hater. You clowns make me laugh.
December 19th, 2019 at 9:58 am
Sorry Pa Bucs Fan, but the ‘clowns’ as you call them are those who think that ONE player, ANY ONE PLAYER, wins games all by themself. The more that fans appreciate that football is a fantastic TEAM sport, the more those fans will appreciate that EVERY player has a role in winning and losing.
December 19th, 2019 at 10:37 am
and folks wanted BA to call plays…lol….
BL is going better than monken and dirk combined…..
GO BUCS!!!!!!
December 19th, 2019 at 10:37 am
doing
December 19th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Deffence rules
Practice what u preach clown. Jameis cant take credit but can take all the blame is you and your clown groups MO.
December 19th, 2019 at 5:25 pm
Most of those teams have excellent run games or excellent play callers.
Surprised Sean Payton and Andy Reid are near the Top?
Not at ALL.
We are there strictly because of the pass.
When we are there because of a nice RB screen or Heaven forbid a 6 yd gain on 1st down, I’ll be happier.
December 19th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
How well is our ranking in first series interception turnovers? Top 2? Yay! But that dont matter until it does. And then it is anyone else’s fault but the guy in control of the football. 90% of the offensive possessions. I hope we keep our winning streak going against the texans and VH3