Six Days To Get A Running Back
October 25th, 2023
Propane for a running back.
The NFL trade deadline is now six days away, Halloween afternoon.
The way the Bucs’ running backs have not produced, this time of the year they venture outside of One Buc Palace in the spirit of the season — wearing a running back’s costume.
Sad thing is they play dress up as running backs on gamedays, too.
The Bucs want to be a playoff team. Prior to Sunday’s shameful performance by the offense, it appeared the Bucs were headed that way. Now? Well, Joe hears how defensive coordinators want offenses to be one-dimensional, right? The Bucs are because they cannot run.
Can Baker Mayfield put the team on his back? That road is fraught with potholes.
The best way for the Bucs to regain their playoff push is to trade for a running back. Joe cannot stress enough how the credibility of the organization rests on the ability to get a running back in the next six days.
Shoot, Joe isn’t suggesting the Bucs break the bank on a star. A mediocre running back would be a strong upgrade.
What would D’Onta Foreman with the Bears be worth, a fifth-round pick at best? Dude nearly averages five yards a carry (misplaced slot receiver Rachaad White averages three yards a carry). Foreman had three touchdowns last week, two on the ground.
White has never had more than one touchdown in a game in the NFL. Neh-VAH!
Joe is a big believer Javonte Williams from Denver could be had. Given that the Bucs have limited funds under the cap, Williams is on a rookie contract. He gets YAC (yards after contact).
Foreman and Williams are proven producers, at least more than White.
If the Bucs are serious about making the playoffs, they will get a running back. If they don’t, then any talk of playing meaningful games in January is just virtue signaling.
The thought of the Bucs ignoring the worst running back room in the league is sort of like thinking Hank Hill will use charcoal for his steaks.
October 25th, 2023 at 5:18 am
If they are going to do it you’d want to get the guy in right away. You wouldn’t want him to play on Sunday with his old team, right? I don’t see the Bucs doing anything. This year was always about finding out what they have, what they need, and getting the cap in order. If they won the division, and got a home playoff game that would’ve been gravy. If not, better draft slot, and easier schedule next year. Think that’s the plan, we’ll soon see.
October 25th, 2023 at 5:25 am
But, but, but…What about Jack Clark saying the Bucs are doomed no matter what, because the O-Line NEVER blocks and there are NEVER any holes to run through? Jack T@rd is a quitter with a quitter’s mentality, obviously.
Any RB who hits the hole AS SOON AS IT DEVELOPS and can break a tackle once in a while would be a huge improvement.
October 25th, 2023 at 5:43 am
Exactly! Jason Licht make a freakin move!
October 25th, 2023 at 5:46 am
Well. That is sad. The state of affairs is so bad that “A mediocre running back is such an upgrade over what the Bucs have.”
I say ride with this team. Don’t make changes. Hang on to the capital. Let this season play out. If Mayfield can’t get the job done, let’s know it. Don’t create a narrative that Bowles and Mayfield did not have a full deck.
This is now on Bowles and Mayfield. Just like last year was on Brady and Arians/Bowles/SpongeBob.
Sure, Arians got a SB. And it is huge. But at what cost? He foisted clearly incompetent assistants on the ownership and walked suddenly leaving them no choice but to pick one of them. They picked the better of the two, but it was still a bad choice.
No Arians is gone and the town is left with a sink full of dirty dishes.
October 25th, 2023 at 6:10 am
Yeah, I think Arians knew that BL or TB wouldn’t be ideal HC candidates so he did them a solid by just up and leaving. That much is clear by now. Bad thing is it makes him look absolutely awful coaching tree wise, and proves everything he said about him not doing much was a lie, at least offensively. It’s just weird how he and TB got along with such different offensive philosophies.
October 25th, 2023 at 6:19 am
I don’t believe TB can get it done as a head coach so I agree don’t waste the capital. Realistically we have tried to some degree 4 running backs over the last two years with no luck, we may have a bigger issue.
October 25th, 2023 at 6:28 am
The team can’t run the ball cause Maybefield isn’t playing well. He doesn’t make the right changes at the line and doesn’t see the field good enough to make defenses pay for their mistakes not to mention his shaky accuracy and decision making.
The Bucs are destined for average at best while Maybefield is QB1
October 25th, 2023 at 6:37 am
6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Sorry Joe not gonna happen. You know these guys better than anyone. Getting a RB now would be an admission of failure or that they were wrong and nobody in franchise will take that high road to improve the team.
Wish they would though…
October 25th, 2023 at 6:39 am
I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the Bucs make a move. I don’t think they will. Money is tight, you know.
October 25th, 2023 at 6:45 am
I’m not interested in wasting any draft capital on this team to get a playoff appearance and get smoked wildcard weekend again. With the bad teams that won last week and our injury report heading into Thursday night I believe we are already planning the tank.
October 25th, 2023 at 7:00 am
There’s one problem with that 5th round pick for Freeman……we don’t have one 24.
So….is he worth a 4th round pick for a 6th.
I think we need to improve our running game but don’t like giving up draft capital.
?
October 25th, 2023 at 7:10 am
Out of curiosity Joe, is the cartoon character supposed to represent you holding your breath until JL signs a RB? You’d almost surely be a lot better off drinking that beer, then grabbing another.
October 25th, 2023 at 7:12 am
Sorry Carter but, if Trask was the answer, they wouldn’t have signed Baker in the first place. Baker’s not going anywhere.
I agree with Joe. Get a RB, NOW. We don’t have a RB on this roster with vision or the ability to break tackles and create on their own. Couple that with sub-par blocking and you get the 32nd overall rushing attack!
October 25th, 2023 at 7:12 am
Only ONE day to get (start) a qb.
October 25th, 2023 at 7:13 am
Are you watching the same Bucs team? It’s going to take a new guard and center to fix this running game.
October 25th, 2023 at 7:19 am
Joe, why not call up one if the practice squad guys?
October 25th, 2023 at 7:36 am
I want to see what Ronnie Brown does
October 25th, 2023 at 7:37 am
How can we find a real HC to come in and clean up this mess?
October 25th, 2023 at 8:05 am
This is a fake deadline. We won’t be trading for a RB at all. Might sign a free agent though.
October 25th, 2023 at 8:07 am
Joe in Michigan Says:
October 25th, 2023 at 5:25 am
But, but, but…What about Jack Clark saying the Bucs are doomed no matter what, because the O-Line NEVER blocks and there are NEVER any holes to run through?
^^^^^
I couldn’t have said it better myself, thank you for being my herald
October 25th, 2023 at 8:15 am
Was thinking more about our 6 red zone plays. They lined up with 4 on the line, dropped one of those with the TE each time, making 8 back n coverage. VERY hard for 4 receivers to find a lane in a confined says with 8 defenders.
With first down on the 6, your OTHER to be able to gain 3 yards on the ground in that scenario, which is half way to the goal line
October 25th, 2023 at 8:17 am
Hank Hill did enjoy his charcoal burger that Khan made for Hank in S1E7. So, there’s a chance.
October 25th, 2023 at 8:25 am
I wish we could edit.
October 25th, 2023 at 9:11 am
Stop with this trade deadline countdown unless we are sellers NOT buyers. I don’t care what RB we could possibly trade for this is NOT a playoff team.
October 25th, 2023 at 9:18 am
Joe was sort of asked the same thing last night on Twitter. Guessing that’s an option but man is that a reach/Hail Mary to ask 2024 training camp meat to save your season this fall.
Why not just trade for a guy who at least has shown he has been productive — at least more so than White? Think about it: White has never had a good game for the Bucs playing on this continent! (How many regular season games in Bucs history have they not played on this continent since 1976, a half-dozen?) And apparently the guys behind him on the depth chart are worse!
October 25th, 2023 at 9:21 am
Nope. Not till the deadline hits.
October 25th, 2023 at 9:21 am
🙂
October 25th, 2023 at 9:23 am
You know, Joe had high hopes for this guy. After that decent worthless preseason game he had, the dude totally fell off the map.
October 25th, 2023 at 9:47 am
White for a RB.
October 25th, 2023 at 9:58 am
Can’t get blood from a stone Joe. I don’t see a move happening.
October 25th, 2023 at 10:00 am
Ronnie Brown isn’t even on the practice squad correct? The guy is selling cars somewhere I think.
October 25th, 2023 at 10:04 am
I think along similar lines with Oddball.
No way Licht signs a new RB. It would admit that they don’t know what the hell he/they to do. If they got another RB, Center, or OG it would be solid evidence that they cannot evaluate talent (see JTS as well). I suspect our GM is not wanting to draw any more attention to the fact that he is partially responsible to this star-crossed season. Blame it on Bowels who is coaching this mess and hope that he’s the only one fired.
Look at John Lynch with the 49rs. He adds very significant talent in the middle of the season. As in RB. He’s not afraid to gamble because he knows he is on solid ground.
October 25th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Pretty sure I will get grief but these are my top 3:
1. Derrick Henry: Bring back the feels of Alstott and Blount!
2. Zack Moss
3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Pistol
October 25th, 2023 at 10:11 am
I’m all for a reasonable trade, but I’d also guess there are plenty of guys on the street who would be better than what we have.
October 25th, 2023 at 10:12 am
Save the draft capital. This team most likely will see some major changes for next year.
October 25th, 2023 at 10:48 am
@ Pistol
Zack Moss would be a great addition but he is currently one of the team captains in Indy and I doubt the Colts would just let him go without receiving substantial draft capital in return.
Our GM won’t trade draft picks this year because we are probably going to be picking in the top ten…
October 25th, 2023 at 11:34 am
Bucfan 1988 … Agree with you that we need better blocking at the TE, C & G positions, but Joe’s right about White … he’s not getting it done. Also agree with him that White could possibly make a good slot receiver, but fact is that we NEED to find a RB or this season will be circling the drain. Doesn’t necessarily need to be before the trade deadline (31 Oct) though. Several guys on the street & on others’ Practice Squads who we could grab up.
October 25th, 2023 at 11:41 am
First, the Bucs should give Tucker a real look at lead back. Let him have a game to get in the flow and see what he can do.
October 25th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Only $6 million for King Henry for the rest of the season. If he cant fix the run game, noone can.
October 25th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
His career is mostly spent, and we couldn’t get him for less than a third round or second round pick. Maybe, to maybe go one game into the playoffs
October 25th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Wouldn’t mind D’Earnest Johnson behind Etienne in Jax. 5.2 career average USF kid
October 25th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
A month ago the buzz was us potentially trading Mike Evans….since then crickets….is there any chance we trade Mike before the deadline? Godwin already making WR1 money, and we have stocked up on several smaller slot WR’s….not that I endorse this, but its been eerily quiet and the dude is having another solid year.
October 25th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
Edmonds has had some decent seasons with limited action. I’d take 5.1 yards/carry from a Bucs RB.
The question of course is whether he is already used up. Running back shelf-lives are not long.
I see so many coaching/scheme problems that wasting anything on someone else’s scraps seems foolhardy at this point, sadly.
And if Ira is right and they use a different center, maybe that can make a difference. What if Hainsey was the problem last year as well…. would explain things.
October 25th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
No one is going to be able to run for a decent YPC with this offensive line….NO ONE. Trading for a RB would be useless.
October 26th, 2023 at 9:49 pm
How bad a coach can you be
Todd kicks for a field goal with a yard to go on a fourth down. Then at the end of the half goes for a delay of game penalty from the same distance with 19 seconds left on clock so they have to punt. Now I know why the Jets said.bye bye to him. Make the change now