So, How Much Did The Bucs’ Run Game Improve?
September 11th, 2024
Right tackle Luke Goedeke.
Did the Bucs’ rebuilt, re-tooled and redesigned run game get better on Sunday? Guess it depends on how you look at it.
If you gander at Rachaad White’s (running) stats, no it did not. If you look at Bucky Irving’s stats, yes it did. If you look at the first half stats, not really. If you look at the second half stats, yes.
And if you go by successful runs, well, it’s a mixed bag.
A successful run, or any successful play, is one that gains 50 percent of the yards needed to move the chains on first down, 70 percent of the yards needed to convent on second down or 100 percent of yards needed to convert on third and fourth downs.
The Bucs’ run game as a whole Sunday had successful run plays on 36 percent of their carries against Washington. Consider the league’s best rushing teams on Sunday, Detroit and Baltimore, had successful runs on 66 and 65 percent of their rushes, respectively.
The Bucs were sort of in the middle third of the league, ranked No. 22 overall.
However, when the Bucs ran using inside zone running or power running, they were quite successful. With power runs, every rush attempt was a successful play. With inside zone runs, half were successful.
And Joe thinks that 50 percent on inside zone runs could be misleading. Washington has solid defensive tackles. So against lesser inside defenders, Joe thinks that number could be better for the Bucs.
It’s way, way too early to make any definitive statement that the run game is or isn’t better than last year. As always with an offensive line, it takes time to gel.
Talk to Joe around Halloween. And even that could be too soon.
Offensive Rushing Success Rates
(2024 Week 1)The Lions (66.7%) and Ravens (65.2%) led in overall rushing success rate, excelling with Inside Zone and Outside Zone—the two most common run concepts.
The Raiders had only 3 successful rushes, all Inside Zone.
Data: @FTNData pic.twitter.com/T2buArZTG1
— Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) September 10, 2024
I compiled every Rachaad White run from Sunday and the tape was a lot better than what I thought it was going to be. I saw a runner who was more decisive hitting holes. In fact, he created some plays out of nothing. I think the 2.1 YPC is a bit deceiving, IMO. pic.twitter.com/eoLpNOj6h6
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) September 10, 2024
September 11th, 2024 at 5:52 am
Pitches and sweeps is best for Rashad white he needs some space to get going running up the gut is no good for him and Liam knows that
September 11th, 2024 at 6:03 am
The 37 on the board is the only thing that matters. The Bucs are still a passing team for now.
September 11th, 2024 at 6:19 am
I think he had contact in the backfield on 3, that’s better than last year
September 11th, 2024 at 6:29 am
Something strange about Rachaad’s rushing numbers from Sunday. He was 7 runs for 10 yards to the Left (1.4 YPC), and 8-21 (2.6) to the Right. Terrible average overall (2.1 YPC). But … there might be more to the story.
Rachaad had FOUR runs to the Left that resulted in negative yardage (-1, -2, -3, -5). His other 3 runs to the Left went for 21 yards (2, 15, 4). He also had ONE run to the Right that resulted in negative yardage (-3). His other 7 runs to the Right netted 24 yards (4, 5, 6, 1, 3, 0, 5). That’s a bizarre distribution for a single game, especially since 4 of White’s 5 negative runs were to the Left side (and 3 of those were on runs around Left end).
Kinda wondering if maybe he was being asked to do something he can’t do (not fast enough?), OR that side of the Washington DLine was particularly good at containment. On the good news side though, nobody made him run up the middle play after play after play.
September 11th, 2024 at 6:34 am
He doesn’t look fast enough to be doing power sweeps
September 11th, 2024 at 6:36 am
Keep chopping that wood. It’s coming!
It’s Exciting!!!
September 11th, 2024 at 6:57 am
Coen is going to have so much fun drawing up plays as Bucky earns more playing time. White will be used on obvious passing downs but also will be used to keep defenses guessing. The question will be whether he accepts his shared load. Hope so. He can be a classic “third down” back which is not a label I like. He is what is: Dangerous coming out of the backfield.
September 11th, 2024 at 7:04 am
A totally fair assessment
September 11th, 2024 at 7:12 am
We had 112 yards rushing as a team last year we only averaged 90 per game. I’ll take that especially going along with Bucky Irving success and breakout runs.
September 11th, 2024 at 7:12 am
Kudos for JBF for posting the Closky X vid. Context is so important when addressing our running situation. I think the success of the offensive will be predicated on both the effectiveness of both White and Irving.
Everyone needs to temper their expectations with Bucky…there’s lots of games remaining for these guys to be sorting out their roles and yeah by mid-season maybe these guys flip for the betterment of the team. For now, the change of pace role looked really good for Bucky. White’s RB1 role allows Bucky to adjust to NFL game speed without added pressure to perform. Putting the small 5’9″ Bucky in as an every down back might not produce the numbers we saw on Sunday. Does everyone immediately think Bucky is getting 5-7 yards on every first down? Maybe? I don’t think you really know how good a back is until he’s responsible for 3 downs, every possession. Because every play/every hole is different. Let’s hope both the boys stay healthy and produce as they did and/or better moving forward. This Lions game would’ve been a dog fight if we had everyone healthy going into it… let’s hope the offensive can move the ball well.
September 11th, 2024 at 7:18 am
White is simply not an explosive dangerous runner. He is more effective as a pass catch and run back. The new kid is far more explosive and exciting. I predict White will be used primarily as a pass threat and the kid will gain more and more share of the run plays.
September 11th, 2024 at 7:21 am
Zoocomics … ‘White’s RB1 role allows Bucky to adjust to NFL game speed without added pressure to perform. Putting the small 5’9″ Bucky in as an every down back might not produce the numbers we saw on Sunday.’
Excellent points. Sunday’s game was the 1st shot out of the barrel for the 2 of them as a RB combo. I’m sure that Coen learned a LOT about using the 2 of them as a tandem. Steady improvement is the name of the game.
September 11th, 2024 at 7:26 am
I would be happy if the Bucs finish 16th in running for the year. Irving looks to be the main RB with Whire as the change of pace RB. Absolutely agree with proudbucsfan on White’s strengths.
Is it just me or did anyone else see Wirfs as having a sub-par game on Sunday?
September 11th, 2024 at 7:29 am
Currently, we’re ranked 17th in rushing yards which is much better than last place. Our team YPC is 24th at 3.7, again, improved and against one of the better Dlines
September 11th, 2024 at 7:45 am
They should probably start tracking rushing stats excluding QB scrambles. I always forget about that.
Baker had 184 yards rushing last year for example, and there were 10 QB’s with 300+ yards rushing.
That 116 yard difference is enough to move up /down like 7-8+ spots in the rankings.
September 11th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Lord C … Good point about QB stats. Of course, they also include kneeldowns in the stats, so those would also come out. Why they ever chose to include those in rushing stats I’ll never know (since it’s an intentional loss?).
September 11th, 2024 at 8:11 am
I liked Bucky running the ball better than Rachaad.
However, that being said. I heard all this talk about how many tackles Bucky broke in college. It was a small sample on Sunday, but to be clear, he did not break any tackles on Sunday.
So going forward Bucky may be a little better than Rachaad running the ball. But before we anoint Bucky special running the ball, he either better break some tackles or show real speed away from defenders.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:20 am
SOME STATS DON’T LIE!!!!
32nd Ranked Offensive Rushing 2023
Buccaneers
32nd Ranked Offensive Rushing 2024
Panthers
All you need to know about Canales.
September 11th, 2024 at 9:23 am
When bucky runs the ball there just feels like there is a chance he could house it, you could even feel it in the stands among all the fans that where chanting bucky. What a feeling! go bucs and run bucky run!
September 11th, 2024 at 9:53 am
Both RB’s first live game in a new system. I agree we sorta know what we have with Rachaad. But damn I’d like to see that kid succeed. And hopefully as he gets more familiar with a new system he finds his spots a little easier. And game planning should adjust to match what Rachaad does best. Unfortunately opposition game planning will key in on what RW does best as well. So he is going to have to use whatever talent he possesses to eek out the most of the new system.
Irving is playing for the first time against NFL men. Same thing. He will adjust. And his talent level will become apparent. The new scheme FINALLY doesn’t seem to be predictable. So both these guys have the chance to let their talent carry them further than the choked down running schemes of the last few yrs. I agree Bucky seems to be more electric. He just seems to have the feel of a shifter back. Did he break tackles in this game? Nah. But as he adjusts and gets more coaching and physically finds his legs against these guys he SHOULD be able to level up.
Fingers crossed.
The coaching looked better all around on Offense. Even receivers looked better. Palmer and McMillan had some errors you see in new guys. That should also abate with some more real game time.
September 11th, 2024 at 10:22 am
Perhaps if you gandered stats a little more deeply instead of focusing only on YPC, you would have a different opinion.
R White was tackled for a loss 5x, resulting in a total of -14 yards
Bucky was tackled for a loss 2x, resulting in a loss of -8 yards
Clean up those leaks in the o-line and our run game would have been explosive.
September 11th, 2024 at 10:33 am
Graham Barton is soooo much better than Hainsey. He will improve the run game.
Goedeke is a powerful blocker. We all know what a beast Wirfs can be.
Those 3 are gonna make the Bucs line great for years to come.
I hope Mauch progresses. I still think one future guard may be on the team. Elijah Klein may have the potential to be a good starting guard.
Our passing offense is lethal. I hope we get the running game going.
This team would sure look good with a 3rd Lombardi.
I think we have the QB to do it
September 11th, 2024 at 10:57 am
Well, we are not dead last.
If Bucky can pass block, he should be RB1 by mid season. The kid just has the juice and seems to find the holes better than White. Bucky is also very effective as a pass catcher. Effective 1-2 punch, but Bucky should be 1 IF he can pass block.
Regardless – the offense looks good. That Washington Dline is no joke – so props to the Oline for handling the job – especially on the first game rolling out a new offense. Way to go Bucs!
September 11th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
I thought Bucky looked so much more dangerous though. He looked to be one minded tackle from breaking several big runs that ended up getting 6-7 yards gains. He looked mad a couple times he could get it done. I expect a real break out for him soon.
September 11th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
I guess White is hitting the holes, but on most of those 4-6 yard runs he’s not seeing the future. Its easy for me in my chair to see the momentum of everybody and where a new crease will emerge in half a second but I’m not an NFL RB. Bucky does this. He moves in the hole to the next crease that may not be there now but will be. My main complaint about White’s lack of vision or whatever you want to call it stands.
September 11th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems at first glance. Sunday’s game was a ‘Tale of Two Halfs’ IMO.
First half Rachaad ran 9 times for 15 yards (1.7 YPC). Bucky ran only 3 times for 6 yards (2.0 YPC). The TEAM average in the 1st half was 2.1 YPC (15 runs for 31 yards). Nothing to write home about, but probably should’ve been expected since (1) it was the 1st game of the season; and (2) our starters (OLine & RBs especially) didn’t get a whole bunch of work in preseason games.
Second half was much better. Rachaad only ran 6 times for 16 yards (2.7 YPC). Bucky also ran 6 times for 56 yards (9.3 YPC). The TEAM average in the 2nd half was 6.4 YPC (13 runs for 83 yards, excluding kneeldowns). Quite understandable I think because (1) we productively used the 1st half to ‘feel out Washington’s defense; and (2) you could see our OLine gelling more & more as the game progressed. Nearing he end of the 3rd quarter, Washington’s defense had worn down.
Bucky was at a slight advantage in the 2nd half because he was ‘fresh’ (only 3 rushes in the 1st half vs Rachaad’s 9 rushes). The temp on the field showed 99 degrees (bound to take a toll). Plus his awesome 31 yard run in the 2nd half really bolstered his YPV average (take that away & he had 8 carries for 31 yards … 3.9 YPC instead of his 6.9 YPC average on the day). One long run like that can make a huge difference.
From a TEAM perspective though, our running game accomplished its mission. We ran it 30 times for 112 yards (3.7 YPC) as a team. Take away those 2 kneeldowns at the end and we had a 4.1 YPC average (28 rushes for 114 yards). That’s a heckuva lot better than last year’s 3.4 YPC average.
September 11th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
It sure looked like we have Improved in so much as we were Not the worst running team in the league! Small steps, we could very well end up middle of the pack which will definitely put us in the playoffs!
September 11th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
This was new to me; interesting. Thanks, Joe.
“A successful run, or any successful play, is one that gains 50 percent of the yards needed to move the chains on first down, 70 percent of the yards needed to convent on second down or 100 percent of yards needed to convert on third and fourth downs.”
September 11th, 2024 at 6:17 pm
the sniff test to me, it felt better somehow
September 12th, 2024 at 12:26 am
36% allowed bakey to get 4 TD. Now imagine if that was 50% or higher
September 12th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Showed signs of life…unfortunately those signs did not come from White.
Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2024 at 9:47 am
The play calling was better than last year, especially with regards to 1st downs and run plays. I think any NFL team that wants to run the ball needs two above average backs, which I think the Bucs have now.
Bucky looked explosive and will only get better with more game time. White looked better, even though his YPC didn’t change much. I think part of it was Washington’s front 7 are good, and he isn’t used to getting to the line without contact.
Imagine if you go from getting hit behind the LOS on most of your runs and having to plow just to get a 2 yard gain (2022-2023 seasons). Now, you’re hitting a hole but having to look for a seam or hole to beat a linebacker – it’s an entirely different skill. He’s elusive enough and I think he’ll get better at it over the next month or so.
If we can end up middle of the pack for rushing efficiency / yards, it’ll be more than enough to boost the passing game and put teams away when we have a lead.