Seven Days To Get A Running Back
October 24th, 2023
Bucs fans after watching another brutal rushing effort Sunday.
If a team really does have a goal of playing in meaningful January games, then having the worst position group in the league is a call to action. Will the Bucs heed that call?
If the Bucs are serious and not just virtue signaling, then yes, they will.
The NFL trade deadline is a week from today, Halloween. And if the Bucs do not go out and find a running back, then Joe isn’t sure how the team believes it can make the playoffs. Thanks to that terrible display of undisciplined football Sunday, the Bucs have a 40 percent shot of making the playoffs, per various stat outlets.
Joe doesn’t know why the Bucs wouldn’t want to talk turkey with Sean Payton and the Broncos. It sure seems like the Broncos might be gunning for a top-five draft pick. In recent days, Payton said the Broncos are listening to offers on all players.
Denver has a running back on a rookie contract who is also pretty solid in yards-after-contact, Javonte Williams. And he can catch the ball.
You can’t tell Joe he wouldn’t be an upgrade from Sean Tucker or Sneak Vaughn.
The Bucs need a running back. Period. The Bucs need to trade for a running back. The Bucs must trade for a running back.
There is no Dale Gribble conspiracy here.
To be content with the worst running back room in the league on a team that wants to run the ball, well, then the Bucs are simply not serious about winning this year. How could they be?
Seven days and counting.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:16 am
“The Bucs need a running back. Period. The Bucs need to trade for a running back. The Bucs must trade for a running back.”
^^^^^^^^
I agree 100%. The bottom line is, if they don’t, they’ve quit on the season. I don’t like quitters.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:26 am
I get it there are lot of contract extensions for key players upcoming next offseason which may have gotten the front office nervous about adding a quality back when Jason would probably prefer to address the issue in the draft. However, these backs can’t run for a lick with these scheme and o-line. I like Ezekiel Elliott he is cheap and can finish the year with no repercussions going into the offseason. Eazy E, White, and Edmonds I like that 3 back committee.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:28 am
Titans might be having a fire sale I would at least inquire with them about Henry.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:42 am
They need more than a RB.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:46 am
Jason Licht MAKE A MOVE!
October 24th, 2023 at 5:47 am
“The Bucs are not serious about winning.”
That just about says it all. And in all reality, it’s quite possible the Glazers accepted that this was going to be a rebuilding year and an excuse to rid themselves of TB. Maybe they gave Licht the order to stand pat and let Bowles be hoisted on his own petard of emphasizing a JV run game. People always think tanking means sitting your starting QB and your best linebacker (ahem LD). But I think more often than not, it’s stuff like this. Not addressing known needs, playing to weaknesses. If ANYONE in this organization truly thinks we are on the path to winning football this season, God help us all.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:51 am
What holes and lanes will this new running back be running through? I’d be more interested in any fire sales involving left guards and centers – I’m giving Mauch the benefit of the doubt (for now) that he’ll develop (hopefully sooner than later).
Barry Sanders in his prime is about the only RB who could make chicken salad out of this chicken s—- run blocking we’re getting. Let’s please not waste any draft capital behind a futile OL.
October 24th, 2023 at 5:57 am
Not gonna happen.
October 24th, 2023 at 6:04 am
Not holding my breath. The quote “Our guys are our guys”. Is just on repeat in my head when I think about trades.
October 24th, 2023 at 6:06 am
Keep coming here hoping the headlines say Bowls fired .
October 24th, 2023 at 6:11 am
Middle of the road. Not tanking but not exactly winning either. It’s quite a strategy.
October 24th, 2023 at 6:16 am
Plan1 will run for none Thursday night.
October 24th, 2023 at 6:16 am
Prediction: Nothing will happen by deadline. Because of the dead money, Bowles and Canales will get another year to sort it out…which is fair. I think Baker signs for 3 years, but we draft a QB, potentially in the first round. Licht will need to address the Center position in FA, and then some. Quite a few missing pieces still to acquire, and yet we have several contracts expiring after this season. The offseason and draft will be epic to say the least.
Guys like Licht, Spitek, front office, etc… they are smart enough to know we’re not playing for a Super Bowl, they know what they have and what it will cost to pick up guys that will essentially be borrowed for the remainder of the season. We have a lot of young pieces on this Bucs team, and I think we’re heading in the right direction given the costs of the post-Brady era. How smart was it that Licht didn’t figure out a way to bring in Garoppalo or Carr… We just need to be patient as fans.
October 24th, 2023 at 6:18 am
Meaning while let Tucker back on the field with White. Make them fight for their job!
October 24th, 2023 at 6:18 am
‘Mean
October 24th, 2023 at 6:36 am
How exactly is getting a RB going to fix the QBs inability to see the field and accurately connect with the wide open receivers? I guess the new RB will be needed in order for Barker and his mob to blame for Maybefield horrid play!
October 24th, 2023 at 6:44 am
Zoocomics, if the Bucs go 5-12 or even 7-10 there is no way the Glazers bring Bowles back. A lot of the season ticket holders have 2 season contracts which started in 2022 so there is no way they will re-up to see Bowles finish with double digit losses. Plus if they flame they will be looking for a new QB, the Glazers will want a new head coach who can develop a top shelf QB, that is not Toilet Bowels. Bowels is coaching for his job so it is amazing that he is letting our new OC run White and Vaughn out there game after game with the predictable and expected bad results.
You are right about not getting Carr or Jimmy G. Carr is already fighting with his teammates and Jimmy G is fragile with the Raiders being one of the few teams truly as bed or even worse than the Bucs. The Saints may have to enter their own cap hell soon, they have been kicking the cap down the road even longer than the Bucs. They are going to fall off of the cliff in the coming year or 2.
October 24th, 2023 at 6:53 am
we have a running back his name is Baker Mayfield
October 24th, 2023 at 6:56 am
Don’t make a foolish move. This was a year to overcome the cap problems from the last few years. Don’t trade capital.
A RB is not going to make a difference with the C and two Gs they have and the absurd immaturity of the OC.
Play it out. Finish this disappointment as best as you can. Then, get a new HC. Prepare for draft and FA.
I’m not saying tank. No one tanks. But don’t spend tomorrow’s paycheck today.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:10 am
Running lanes are there. White got through the line plenty of times vs Falcons and then went down on first contact. Dude is a 3rd down back at best. Trade for Henry, who is on the last year of his contract. That way we don’t have to pay for him after this season is over. Bucs are 3-3 and still control their own destiny with 11 games remaining.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:11 am
I agree with ModHairKen. Play the season out with what we have a new running back will be met with the same disappointment as what we have now since our offensive line can’t block. let’s recover as much as we can from the salary cap jail we are in. let’s hope our offensive coordinator learns and gets better next year.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:13 am
Giving a 3rd round pick to asshat Payton is really gonna be a problem to me. For a few other reason as well. Coming off a knee, inconsistent, and 3rd round is too much for our current situation. We have too many other needs to give up any draft picks. Licht has already made that bet with Edmonds anyway.
Go Bucs!
October 24th, 2023 at 7:17 am
Trade now for draft picks and hire a HC now.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:17 am
If I were the Bucs I’d be selling not buying. I want more draft capital in a draft loaded with QBs. Adding a better RB now would be like putting lipstick on a pig.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:26 am
ModHairKen … ‘Don’t make a foolish move. This was a year to overcome the cap problems from the last few years. Don’t trade capital.’
Zoocomics … ‘Nothing will happen by deadline. Because of the dead money, Bowles and Canales will get another year to sort it out…which is fair.’
Agree with Joe about adding a RB (or 2), and also agree with both comments above. There are still several FAs on the street looking for work who MIGHT be able to help (Lenny Fournette, Melvin Gordon, Dontrell Hilliard, Caleb Huntley among others). There are some RBs on Practice Squads who MIGHT be able to help. Move Rachaad to slot WR and let’s try something different. OK, anything different.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Trade now for draft picks. As long as Bowles is HC, this franchise is doomed. Bucs need (next year) a QB, center,Guard,RB, TE, safety and more Dline beef. It would be idiotic to further mortgage the future and deprive the new coaching staff (hopefully) of their picks. Also, what makes you think Bowles and Canales know what to do with a new RB?
October 24th, 2023 at 7:34 am
what about sean tucker…is he with arron stinnie somewhere…?
were these 2 guys stashed away with the empty gatorade vats in a storage room at one buc or something ?
October 24th, 2023 at 7:38 am
unless sean payton can fleece us, i doubt he will give us anything…
i don’t think he’s a big fan of the bucs and will choose to deal elsewhere…
i’d rather talk to payton preslee if i want something 🙂 🙂 🙂
October 24th, 2023 at 7:39 am
Anyone trading a starting center and decent left guard cuz that’ll help alot
October 24th, 2023 at 7:45 am
i don’t think you can pry penny away from philly…
they will keep there depth at rb in a long season, with a superbowl in mind…
penny is just sitting, ready…and probably anxious to get in the mix…rb’s get banged up all year – they aren’t giving their insurance policy up at rb unless once again, they fleece us
October 24th, 2023 at 7:46 am
Spending more money and draft picks on running backs to get hit before they can even cross the line of scrimmage is asinine
October 24th, 2023 at 7:53 am
While the OL hasn’t been great, there have been holes. And when they’re there White (or Vaughn) completely miss them, opting instead to run so hard up a guard’s arse he could tell everyone what that guy had for lunch. Neither have vision and neither have shown even a remote ability to break tackles.
If they do get an RB, it has to be the kind that can break tackles and make their own holes when needed. And oh, see the ones they do get.
Offseason, center and G need addressing. Hainsey and Feiler suck out loud. Mauch has been awful but gets a pass, as we’ve all seen this movie before with rookie OL (Marpet, Kappa and Goedeke). They usually take time. Wirfs was a freak.
October 24th, 2023 at 7:54 am
just go to the spread offense and use white as the slot receiver he is and abandon the running game focus on Evans, Godwin, Otton and White as the go to guys and throw a bunch of bombs, jimmie giles to the post style until the offense puts points enuf to help the defense and get a W
the ATL is better than everyone thinks… they were jacked up to play us
October 24th, 2023 at 8:07 am
If we had a competent HC, I would say stay the course and go for the division.
Problem is, we are a rudderless ship at sea with no land in sight.
Sunday showed us everything we needed to know. This is what a Bowles led team is capable of, not much.
Trade away Evans for draft capital. Devon White can also go.
Scrap it out and start over with a new HC next year.
October 24th, 2023 at 8:16 am
One of two things needs to happen by the trade deadline….either trade for players to improve OR trade away players to rebuild. Sitting still says we’re not serious about winning today or tomorrow. A bad loss to the Bills and it’s time to unload guys like White, possibly Evans, either of our overpaid CBs, JTS, etc…..we can’t possibly keep everyone and to let guys walk for nothing is dumb. I think we surprised teams initially but now there’s tape on our offense and teams have adapted. We aren’t good enough from a talent perspective to enforce our will on anyone and we aren’t crafty enough in our coaching to make this roster look capable. Attendance is already dropping, management better give fans a reason for hope or recognize the opportunity to position to rebuild
October 24th, 2023 at 8:19 am
ROJO is FAR BETTER than anyone on the Bucs roster-DO YOUR FREAKING JOB JASON LICHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 24th, 2023 at 8:34 am
Only fire sale should be us having one. Time to get something in return for players like Evans
October 24th, 2023 at 8:39 am
if not for tom brady and his camaraderie with lenny, rojo just might still be here today…
get him back in the building
October 24th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Bucs need a change in coaching. They’ll be competitive for a deep play off run again by 2025 if they get their next head coach choice right.
October 24th, 2023 at 8:52 am
Carter= Son of Trask. Under yet another new name. You always do the same things that give you away.
October 24th, 2023 at 8:55 am
We need to be sellers, not buyers. Even with a great RB like Jon Taylor or Derrick Henry, this team is not going anywhere, esp considering that OL group. Outside of Wirfs, just awful
October 24th, 2023 at 8:59 am
A new running back is not enough to fix this team. We should be doing the exact opposite. Trade away players and stock pile draft picks for the new head coach and let the rebuild start now. This team will go nowhere this year or next if we stay the course. There are only a handful of untouchables on the entire roster. Let the rebuild begin. Go Bucs!
October 24th, 2023 at 9:02 am
No RB is going to fix this rushing attack
NO ONE
Besides Licht is too busy scouting OL to draft from a school no one has ever heard of over making improvements to the roster
October 24th, 2023 at 9:18 am
RB problem yes. But more than that.
October 24th, 2023 at 9:37 am
I highly doubt this will happen.
We are stuck with this lackluster group of running backs and that is 100% our GM’s fault.
Plus the entire middle of our O-line and our starting TE are just really bad at run blocking.
Adding another mediocre running back won’t change a single thing except cost us valuable draft picks…
October 24th, 2023 at 9:38 am
PFF grades for interior line:
– Mauch – 43
– Hainsey – 52
– Feiler – 54
This is putrid..
October 24th, 2023 at 9:45 am
Are they going to also trade for 3 new interior linemen who can run block and a blocking tight end?!?
October 24th, 2023 at 9:51 am
We are not good enough to warrant going out and getting a RB in the cap situation we are in. By not getting one it pretty much means a tank/see what we got year.
October 24th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Licht won’t make a move…he won’t undermine his draft pick Recede White and he can claim “Chase Edmonds is coming off IR”! He has unlimited job security while his record sans BA & Brady is putrid. If only there was a Dominik type out there who would trade a Blount type bruiser for a 7th round pick. If only…
October 24th, 2023 at 10:31 am
If you are putting ko keift in the back field might as well give him a carry . Can’t be any worse
October 24th, 2023 at 10:41 am
I think Bowels gets fired this Friday. Long week before next game. If we get blasted Thursday watch he’s gone.
October 24th, 2023 at 10:41 am
Trask=Carter
October 24th, 2023 at 11:05 am
We’re gunning for a top 5 pick!!
October 24th, 2023 at 11:45 am
We don’t need a rb the wheels are falling of this team has no heart
October 24th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
This is the number one most important issue with the bucs right now. If we do not trade for a decent RB1 then we are a joke with no hope for even making the playoffs much less winning a playoff game. Jason Licht needs to go out And find us a good running back right now or else he is also a joke. maybe he is afraid to stand up to the Glazer’s because they have decided to mail it in this year. Either way a good GM gets this done.
October 24th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Jack Clark: Giving up a 6th Rounder in 2025 to get a guy that could help the Bucs NOW is asinine? You don’t know much about football, do you?
October 24th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
YAY! We got Zack Moss! The running game is FIXED!
Wait, he was just hit behind the line of scrimmage for the 14th time this game and is doing worse than White was.
I’m starting to think maybe the RB wasn’t the issue. Hummm….
October 24th, 2023 at 2:55 pm
Nah you guys deserve Rachaad White.
October 24th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
NO CAP SPACE!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 24th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
I don’t think getting a RB now is the answer. We do need RB and Oline help, but it will have to wait until the offseason. Chase Edmunds is coming back soon and they will roll with the crew they have. What they need to do is open up the playbook to not rely on the run. They keep trying to run the ball and get nowhere. Even with tight coverage our WRs have a better chance of making a play than the RBs relying an Oline that can’t run block effectively.
October 24th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Joe in Michigan Says:
October 24th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Giving up a 6th Rounder in 2025 to get a guy that could help the Bucs NOW is asinine? You don’t know much about football, do you?
You think getting another running back to get hit before he can even cross the line of scrimmage will help the Bucs NOW? You don’t know much about football do you?
October 24th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
First of all, the interior OL sucks, as stated so eloquently above. This is not helping.
That said, Rachaad White and Vaughn are both useless plodders with mediocre vision and no redeeming qualities, and were both overdrafted on poor scouting.
Tucker was free and based on his vision and explosiveness, is at least interesting if you can find a way to get him a lane. It boggles the mind that he is getting ZERO snaps while Vaughn continues to be rostered. Gmafb. Nobody in football-land thinks Vaughn is an interesting talent.
There are other cheap talents to kick the tires on if we’re feeling cheap, like Trey Sermon and vets like Fournette. Cheap but better than the above two.
Other thoughts – Trey Palmer is fast but doesn’t have hands. Give Jarrett another look. Evans is the best player on the team and has been for 10 years. Trask < Baker sorry. Neither is a SB QB.
October 24th, 2023 at 9:04 pm
Jack Clark: Yeah, you just give up, go to bed and cry yourself to sleep. No sense getting a RB who will actually hit the holes and break tackles.
October 24th, 2023 at 10:50 pm
ST got the quicks the other backs don’t
Get him going
FACTS
October 26th, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Welp, they made me coach’s decision inactive tonight. It’s like they didn’t see my college film. What a shame.
You know, if trotting out Keshawn Vaughn for 1.5ypc with absolutely no upside MAKES YOU HAPPY, you know what? Keep doing it.
If my career is over after 3 games because your interior OL is a mess and your coaches believe they really did pick the right guys 2-3 years ago and journeyman Chase Edmonds, then hey I’ll see you when a better team picks me up.
Love,
Sean “Explosive as f” Tucker
October 26th, 2023 at 9:42 pm
Today we dressed Vaughn over Sean Tucker
Go watch Tucker’s college film
3 games of a few carries with a bad OL is not evidence that he’s not the most (only) explosive RB on the roster
October 26th, 2023 at 10:01 pm
The NFL ain’t the ACC.
October 27th, 2023 at 12:02 am
Holes are holes, and the Bucs aren’t making them.
Speed is speed and change of direction is change of direction and Tucker has it.
Vaughn was a boring plodder in college and has had years. Why is he dressing?
Smart sounding answer Joe, but it doesn’t hold up.
White had an okay game tonight, just enough to keep him roster-clogging the starting lineup.
it’s truly a joke. I guess Tucker’s career is over after three games because “it’s just not the ACC” we’ve seen his potential on a few plays. Got it.
Hey, if it ain’t working, just keep doing it. Got it.
Go BUCS