Changing A Team’s Mindset
September 29th, 2023
Developing a running mentality.
There has been a lot of chatter seeping from One Buc Palace of late about how the Bucs haven’t quite absorbed the new offense. Joe’s already gone over how that makes sense and seems reasonable.
But it’s not just X’s and O’s involved with flipping from Bucco Bruce Arian’s no-risk-it-no-biscuit offense to Dave Canales’ run-heavy, moving-pocket offense.
It’s almost like night and day.
Canales isn’t just bringing a new offense to the table, he’s trying to change the mentality of the offense. He wants a physical mentality, an aggressive attitude. Until that happens, Canales seemed to hint the offense won’t reach its potential.
“I think a part of the mentality we’re trying to establish here is if you’re a running team who throws play actions for those guys – for the line, for the tight ends, for the receivers on blocks, for the running backs – it’s got to have an aggressive mindset,” Canales said. “We’re not where we need to be as a group with that mindset running the ball yet.”
In other words, Canales wants guys to break the huddle and think they will truck the dudes on the other side of the line. Here comes the run and unless you get out of the way, prepare to pay.
To build that mindset, Canales said the Bucs have to be “stubborn” and keep pounding the ball, keep pounding the rock.
Canales also suggested this is what is holding back running back Rachaad White. He wants White to attack the holes more.
Again, mindset.
“At this point now, it’s just about building the right mentality in the run game and for [the players] it’s reps – seeing the mid-zone, seeing the down-hill stuff, seeing the gun runs [and] kind of feeling where those voids are going to be,” Canales said. “I think that’ll help to really boost Rachaad confidence in being decisive in some of the runs.
“I think, again, that’s just a rep thing at this point in three games.”
So no, Canales is not going to make big changes, so White and his non-production are safe.
All this mindset talk reminds Joe of the excellent former commenter on JoeBucsFan.com, “Thomas 2.2.” Thomas liked former Bucs commander Greg Schiano and sympathized with him suggesting that Schiano needed time with Bucs players to turn the franchise around.
Why was that? Because, Thomas said, Schiano had to “coach the Rah out of them.”
That’s sort of what Canales is trying to do. He’s trying to coach the Leftwich out of them.
September 29th, 2023 at 8:10 am
Aggression is great but it must be matched by ability to have success. Do we have the horses to be a successful running team? Questionable, but time will tell.
Captain Obvious cape flapping
September 29th, 2023 at 8:12 am
White is not a run between the tackles guy. Until they give Tucker the ball consistently, and give him enough carries where he can prove that he has the toughness they are looking for this will not happen. Tucker showed he had this ability at SU, but it takes consistent opportunities.
September 29th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Get J. Taylor. No one but real homers believe in White. I’m for giving more reps to Tucker, but he’s no threat like Taylor would be. If we can’t run it this week, changes need to be made during the bye.
September 29th, 2023 at 8:22 am
Hopefully he’s blowing as smoke up your arse as Arians use to say. White is garbage. On this team or this league to bounce around in the pocket without him bein able to run up the gut. Still turning the ball over. White is the most overrated players on Bucs if not NFL. This is a pass happy league with a good QB and star power receivers to go with it. If anything that was a great early L for Bucs and Canalas to learn from.
September 29th, 2023 at 8:27 am
The run fell apart AFTER they stopped stretching the field. just sayin’…..
and that is exactly what makes early drops so impactful. kills the whole rythm and sets the other team up and puts the D in a hole. seems obvious, but no one at OBP has said it.
September 29th, 2023 at 8:29 am
Canales wants White to attack the hole more.
WHAT HOLE?
September 29th, 2023 at 8:37 am
Unfortunately, Licht has “a type” when he drafts RB. Rojo-White are the same guys.
September 29th, 2023 at 8:53 am
74 Bucs Fan … ‘Do we have the horses to be a successful running team?’
Not sure how questionable it is at this point. For anyone into horses, it’s the difference between having a bunch of Clydesdales versus a bunch of Paso Finos. They’re both great horses, but one will pull the beer wagon while the other is fine for trail riding.
Back in 2020 we had a good-size & tough OLine with D Smith (6’6″ & 338 lbs), Marpet (6’4″ & 307 lbs), Jensen (6’4″ & 319 lbs), Alex Cappa (6’6″ & 305 lbs) & Tristan Wirfs (6’5″ & 320 lbs). And actually most of them were bigger than their ‘official’ numbers. They were Clydesdales. Same over on our DLine with Vea & Suh & JPP. Clydesdales … with attitudes.
Today we probably gotten faster with some of these ‘trimmer’ players, but Hainsey ain’t no Jensen and Hall ain’t no Suh. That’s OK because we can still win with them, but it’ll be hard to play smashmouth football with the teams stocked with Clydesdales.
September 29th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Then maybe hand Canales the ball and have him show Rachaad how it’s done with both our lines on the practice field! Again and again and again……
September 29th, 2023 at 9:27 am
Agree with the fundamental point of the story but I feel the need to come to “Rah’s” defense. He was NO Leftwich! That comparison seems unfair to me given Rah’s career post Bucs. Rah was a good coach who simply got thrust into a position of top coach before he had matured. Reportedly he tried do hang with the players because of his youth and it’s difficult to really “hang” with the guys and still keep their respect and desire to “follow orders”. I wish Rah the best.
D.R. Great analogy with the Clydesdales and trail horses. I would take it a step farther in amplifying your metaphor. The Bucs need a full stable of horses…Clydedales, trail horses, and hopefully some thoroughbreds with lots of speed at skill positions.
I would nitpick size however with a caveat at the end. The current OL is size wise almost a match for that 2020 OL. Wirfs is 15Lbs lighter than Donavan but does anybody really think Wirfs is not a significant upgrade? Feiler is actually larger than Marpet at 6-6 331 (if not as talented)and I suspect that and experience are a reason Canalas seems to favor the left side of the line for critical running yards.
Hainsey is 6-4 306 * Mauch is 6-6 302* and Goeddeke is 313*
* My caveat for the right side of the OL These guys have FIVE YEARS (I may be off a year) experience among all three! I think some of them have just added that weight in the past year and are still growing into it. Mauch came out of school as an older dude and is probably close to his “man weight” Goeddeke and Hainsey may be still trying to handle that recent weight gain and are still working hard to increase their strength.
Bottom line is that I think this line has the “potential” to be better than the 2020 line when they’ve played together more and the three on the center and right continue their physical maturation.
September 29th, 2023 at 10:04 am
StPete … ‘Bottom line is that I think this line has the “potential” to be better than the 2020 line when they’ve played together more and the three on the center and right continue their physical maturation.’
I agree with you about their potential St Pete, but I’m thinking we might be a couple pieces away from what we really need. Those 2 pieces being Feiler & Hainsey.
Feiler’s certainly big, but I’m not seeing us running over either Guard very much thus far. Why? We’ve run over LG 10 times in 3 games, for a total of 25 yds (2.5 YPC). We’ve run over RG 6 times for 12 yds total (2.0 YPC). Nothing to write home about in either case.
Bucs have run over the middle a whopping 32 times in 3 games, gaining a total of 99 yds (3.1 YPC). Two of those runs though were in double-digits (12 & 14 yds), meaning that the other 30 runs only gained 73 yds (2.4 YPC). Again, nothing to write home about.
The remaining 36 of our 84 total runs gained a total of 98 yds (2.7 YPC) by running over the tackles or outside. IOW St Pete, we’re equally bad right now at running the ball no matter where we strike. THAT’S not encouraging.
September 29th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Can’t wait to see this ‘Moving Pocket’ of which you speak.
Threat of Hurts running has to be respected and that alone helps Philly’s Rushing.
As long as the Bucs are Baking Spuds and playing Hot Potato with the ball not even the passing game will get much respect. Look right. Dump it to the back. Look left. Dump it to the back.
Play that White fumbled on was a look right and dump it to the back. Evans was down the field on the left side with no one close and QB had room to roll left and deliver the ball. Perfect opportunity for Baker to do what people seem to think he does. I suppose it’s on Canales and his desire to have the ball out in less that 2.7 ands depending on timing.
Progression means going thru the list and not just looking at the top and then jumping to the bottom. Guess some QB’s are fast readers and some get slowed by the big words.
September 29th, 2023 at 10:39 am
So, Canales doesn’t care about winning. It’s going to be run, run, pass, punt no matter what. “It’s all about reps at this point.”
September 29th, 2023 at 11:10 am
If Canales is going to try and force the run with 2 bad running backs the Bucs will be in for a long season……
So far the run run pass approach takes me back to 2014 when Marcus Arroyo was calling plays.
September 29th, 2023 at 11:38 am
SlyPirate Says:
September 29th, 2023 at 8:37 am
Unfortunately, Licht has “a type” when he drafts RB. Rojo-White are the same guys.
—————-
Completely opposite, newbie. Rojo was known for hitting the hole hard and running through contact as well as having iffy hands and not good at pass blocking. White is known for hesitating and waiting for the play to develop and has good hands and good pass blocker. They are NOTHING alike and the fact that you would compare the two shows you have no clue what you’re talking about. In 2020, Rojo averaged 5.1 yards per carry and had 978 rushing yards… White hasn’t averaged over FOUR yards per carry once in his career. Other than his rookie season, Rojo hasn’t averaged under FOUR yards per carrry once in his career. Two totally different RBs.
September 29th, 2023 at 11:43 am
I loved BA offense. Was exciting to watch and proved to work for 3 years. 2 with Brady and 1 with throw the ball to the other team Winston. Great numbers in yards and scoring. Bowles handcuffed leftwhicn last year and leftwhich wasn’t good enough to over come. Maybe by end of next season everyone has got canales offense mastered but that’s a long ways away. Personally I think even if they master it BA offense is better but we shall see
September 29th, 2023 at 11:49 am
Brandon great comment. Rojo in our SB year did great. People are calling RW1 rojo but they’re dead wrong they must have forgot that Lenny got benched for rojo and then thru a fit about it. 🤔 some of these fans just don’t have a clue. Calling RW1 n rojo the same haha that’s hilarious. Rojo would have had 1k that year but Brady wanted AB to get his incentives don’t believe me go back and watch the games or ask JOE he wrote an article about it. BUCS should go sign ROJO and have RW1 pair with him. They would be perfect. Rojo to run the ball hit the holes and RW1 on passing downs.
September 29th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
SlyPirate Says:
September 29th, 2023 at 8:37 am
Unfortunately, Licht has “a type” when he drafts RB. Rojo-White are the same guys.
Dumbest comment of the day. Tojo was a power downhill runner with breakaway speed and terrible hands as a receiver. White dances around and has little power but catches everything thrown his way. Personally I would rather have Rojo at this point
September 29th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
I agree completely with Cone about that fumble play by White. I’ll go a step further by saying Baker is always going to have EYES DOWN when the pass rush starts to get close. He is already short for a QB in the NFL, but so is Hurts for example. Difference is Hurts scrambles with the attitude to throw to a guy he has processed is open. I personally have seen Canales working with the QB on shifting feet while maintaining balance to throw quickly but in live fire haven’t seen Baker successfully do this.
Mike was Wide the F open on that play.
It shocked me Baker didn’t SEE him when all Canales talks about is Scheming Mike then Chris open, which I also think is idiotic.
Trey Palmer is the fastest guy at WR and we haven’t thrown a Go route to him once.
Honestly, Kyle Trask stands TALL in the pocket and would probably have the same record as Baker with better passing numbers.
Baker has limited turnovers, but at the expense of production.
I think that continues this week against the Saints if he doesn’t get his head out of his arse.
My prediction is that he KNOWS the offense HAS to start faster and IMO that will force Baker into 2 or more picks trying to throw the ball down field against the Saints. Even Tom Brady couldn’t successfully do that.
Canales already mentioned that this team doesn’t have the Attitude to ground and pound so how do we beat the Saints? They don’t even have their starter Carr and we will get beat by Jameis before this team admits anything.
I’m never a guy who is doom and gloom, but Baker, IMO jas looked terrible. Only 1 of his TD throws was actually an accurate pass and there would be at least 5 more if was accurate AT ALL.
September 29th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
D.R. Question for you about the OL. Since clearly in its current iteration they are not going to be able to play smashmouth football for the immediate future, why doesn’t Canalas have any screen plays? Am I missing something.
Perhaps because they’re all young and inexperienced they are not able to figure out the proper release and blocking for screens? I would love to see White get the ball in some space with a convoy to help him out.
September 29th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Brandon
ROJO was a BUST down here. Every comment you have is about how great ROJO is….there’s a reason he couldn’t sniff the field for the Cheifs or even make the Cowboys practice squad.
It’s revisionist history to suggest outside of a decent 2020 season that ROJO wasnt a bust.
September 29th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
In other words, you have to find the holes provided to you by your offensive linemen. Something Rashaad White can’t do. Tip toeing through the Tulips isn’t going to get it done. We can all definitely all spell the name Jonathan Taylor in unison.
September 29th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
StPete … I’ve got a hunch that Canales is still keeping the offense very vanilla at this point. If you can’t do the simple things well, what are the odds of doing the more complex things well? Screens look easy on TV, but the ‘set up’ to pull them off & make them successful is most likely a lot more complex than we see (easy for the defense to blow up if not done well?).
September 29th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
D.R. You confirmed my suspicions about the challenge of executing a proper screen play. I hadn’t thought about the angle that Canalas may be holding some stuff back for use after they’ve mastered the basics.
September 30th, 2023 at 4:20 am
The whole run game looks slow. Slow to get the ball in Whites hands, slow from getting to the “hole”, and slow to make his decisions. Not sure what mindset has to do with this. You can have “mindset” all day long but if your players can’t (or won’t) execute it, then mindset is worthless.
To be sure or O line is not at all where they need to be…yet. Guys are whiffing on blocks.
Our Super Bowl O Line was more talented and physical than the group we have as of right now. BA took advantage of that. No “mindset” needed. Jensen didn’t hurt. Missing Marpet, Cappa and Jensen.
Fournette had the same issues. I am positive his refusal to just hit the line is a big reason he is gone. Not taking coaching is a big issue with some players. Fournette was not a shifty running back and neither is White. Alot of young RBs think they are the next Barry Sanders and they simply are not.
Go Bucs!
September 30th, 2023 at 4:29 am
DR you are absolutely correct Sir. On any screen pass all the guys on the O line have to have their movements and timing perfectly choreographed or it turns in to a giant CF, and very likely a penalty thrown in for somebody downfield illegally.
Everyone also has to sell it, including the QB and backs. One guy messes up and it gets blown up. Harder to get right than most people think.
Go Bucs!