How Will The Bucs Use Their Running Backs?
June 15th, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
So there are a lot of unknowns with the Bucs.
The biggest unknown is the offense. What will it look like? Yeah, it has a similar core to what Dave Canales had last year. But how will new coordinator Liam Coen use this offense, and his weapons? Will it look like Sean McVay’s offense?
What about the awful Bucs running game? Will the drafting of Bucky Irving shock Rachaad White into lifting his game? Or do the Bucs already plan on using Irving in early downs?
(Remember how the Bucs crowed how Irving is so good at making guys miss? That’s something in the run game that White is awful with.)
This week Bucs coach Todd Bowles offered his take on how Irving might be in the mix on running downs.
“It’s still early right now, we’ve got to get in pads,” Bowles said. “There’s still more to determine. We’ll get in pads and see who can do what as far as Bucky is concerned. …
“He’s a talented guy, he’s smart, he’s here early every day. I look forward to seeing what he can do so we can see where we can use him at.”
It’s been two days since the last minicamp practice and Joe is still wowed by a move White put on a linebacker when he caught the ball in the left flat. White just broke the dude’s ankles. Joe was screened on the play and never could identify the linebacker. Maybe that’s a good thing?
If Coen and his staff can coach up White to use moves like Joe saw when White gets the rock in the ground game, White could be a special, special player. He already is in the passing game.
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June 15th, 2024 at 12:33 am
Still think the IOL and playcalling were the main issues on offense last year. However, we can rest assured that all NFL coaches will start the best players so that they won’t lose their jobs and millions of dollars.
June 15th, 2024 at 12:51 am
With the IOL issues hopefully fixed, I think the running game will be much improved, White in particular. And having Irving pushing him should only help. And an improved running game will help Mayfield, and open up some coverage for Godwin across the middle.
June 15th, 2024 at 2:19 am
Boring and getting very old Joe…
Go Bucs!
June 15th, 2024 at 2:28 am
Boring and getting very old Joe…
Doesn’t mean it’s not accurate. Joe’s not one to play ostrich. Never has, never will.
June 15th, 2024 at 5:05 am
Todd Bowles answered the ‘How Will The Bucs Use Their Running Backs?’ question with … ‘We’ll get in pads and see who can do what as far as Bucky is concerned’. It was a nebulous answer, yet it was also the only answer that makes any sense. Another way of saying ‘I don’t know yet’ but I can accept that he really doesn’t know yet. I guess that underwear football really doesn’t provide all the answers.
June 15th, 2024 at 6:21 am
Todd says it is still early on Bucky. “Wait until they are in pads.” Also saying Bucky is there early everyday sounded sort of like a trophy prize right not. But it also says a lot when a player is there early everyday. They are committed.
I am cheering on Bucky. I want to see White and him do well. I agree with DR, underwear football doesn’t provide all the answers. More like a get to know each other gathering.
June 15th, 2024 at 7:30 am
How will the Bucs use them? Most likely, run on 1st down, run on 2nd down & pass on 3rd & long. You heard it here first !!!!!
June 15th, 2024 at 8:04 am
If White shows huge improvement, we’ll know how bad our line was these past 2 years
June 15th, 2024 at 8:06 am
RB position group needs way more competition-Sign ROJO.
June 15th, 2024 at 8:34 am
ROJO is unemployed for a reason
June 15th, 2024 at 8:52 am
I’d give the Plant High School RB a shot over bringing rojo back.
June 15th, 2024 at 9:13 am
I don’t need to see a huge improvement in the running game to know that the interior of the offensive line was terrible the last 2 years.
June 15th, 2024 at 9:23 am
“How Will The Bucs Use Their Running Backs?”
Hopefully how Coen wants and not how Bowles dictates. When the offense is on the field Bowles should be in the locker room eating a donut lol.
June 15th, 2024 at 9:36 am
Underwear football, underwear football, underwear football is all I hear! So are we asking to have players put on pads the first day of OTA’s without any installs? This will be a great idea if you want to see how many players we can injure? There is a reason the NFL doesn’t allow it. It should be obvious to anyone with half a brain that would insane! Plenty of time to get the pads on and let the young guys at least now where to line up.
June 15th, 2024 at 9:46 am
Anything to report for Sean Tucker?
June 15th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Inside zone, wide zone, duo, those wrap schemes and maybe alot more. The zone stuff is going to take some time with the IOL being a new group set in terms of personnel, but if we can find a way to get that going it’ll be hard to stop especially if our play at both OG improves as a run block w/his ability to seek & secure blocks in space.
I’ll expect alot of read & cut type runs, but also expecting the screen & play action game to piggy back off that and Mayfield having the ability to read the box and “x” out of anything into a more favorable option given the look pre-snap.
I’m ready to see Sean Tucker more than anybody else in the RB room to be totally honest. To me, of all the 1st year guys from last season he’s the one to have the most to benefit having a full offseason in comparison to how his draft phase ended up going through the health scare.
June 15th, 2024 at 10:26 am
Sean Tucker is definitely on my radar as well
June 15th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
He might be on your radar, but he has NOT flashed AT ALL in OTAs or Mini Camp.
Im just as discouraged by that as you are.
Both the Kentucky guy and DJ Williams HAVE flashed at times, which makes it even worse.
Just can’t understand how a guy with 4.3 speed doesn’t do ANYTHING in practice.
Frustrating.
June 15th, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Bucky is a jitterbug runner that is hard to award up on – much like Warrick Dunn. I’m excited and hope we use him on early downs, with White on screens.
Sean Tucker time too I hope.
June 15th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
^^^square up on…
June 15th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Those hoping for something out of Tucker need to understand that his college highlights show him running through holes so big an asteroid would fit through. His NFL vision for tight holes is even worse than Rachaad’s which is saying something.
Everyone wishes he would break out.
He won’t.
June 15th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
Not sure that I have seen anything on this site or any other site that suggests that Irving has picked up things really well so far. Really, those kudos have gone more to Smith and McMillan.
Nothing that Bowles just said there suggested that Irving will be the number 2 back at the start of the season. There will be lots of GM/coaches on Joe Bucs fan site complaining if that is the case.
June 16th, 2024 at 10:37 am
Moves like that should be used on LBs, not DL. If RWhite (or any Bucs RB) is regularly expected to juke DL, then the running philosophy is bad, or the blocking is bad.
June 16th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Who will be the short-yardage back when it is 3rd and 2 yards?