“Those Days Are Over”
December 6th, 2024
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
It’s THE sunny story of the 2024 Buc season through 12 games.
Yes, Baker Mayfield is enjoying another solid year under center and yes, Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have formed a stellar tandem at defensive tackle.
But the No. 1 takeaway with five games remaining is the massive improvement in Tampa Bay’s rushing attack. After finishing last in each of the past two seasons, the Buc run game now commands the full attention of every opponent.
Rookie Bucky Irving and Rachaad White trigger a run brigade that averages 137.2 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. The Bucs joined the NFL in 1976 — they’ve never averaged more than the 4.8 yards per carry accomplished in 2015.
That ground game was led by Doug Martin and Charles Sims, who each averaged 4.9 yards. Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet started up front as rookies that year while veteran Logan Mankins provided key leadership at left guard.
Sunday’s opponent is clearly aware of the power of the Buc ground game, which has averaged 167.7 yards in the past three games.
“They’ve established an identity,” says Oakland defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. “You can see they are a run-first team.”
During Tom Brady’s three years in Tampa, the Buc running game was considered an afterthought. That’s why Brady averaged 41 pass attempts in his 50 games as a Buccaneer.
Mayfield is averaging 34 throws and that number figures to come down in the stretch run as Todd Bowles emphasizes ball security and winning the time of possession.
What’s changed?
Irving’s arrival as a fourth-round steal is certainly a major factor, but there’s more to the story. Liam Coen has proven to be a creative play caller, especially in scheming up the run to keep defenders off balance.
Buc fans no longer have to endure the spectacle of White repeatedly running between the tackles, to no avail.
Some of White’s longest gains this year have come off wide runs. At times, the Bucs have run effectively with both White and Irving on the field. Coen’s imaginative designs have certainly contributed to the success of the league’s No. 8 ground game.
Let’s not forget the grunts in the trenches who are making things happen.
Tristan Wirfs has had a solid season at left tackle, but you can make a compelling argument that Luke Goedeke has been even better.
The switch from left guard to right tackle has turned Goedeke from a project to a potential Pro Bowler.
He’s been that good.
Ira Kaufman likes the consistency left guard Ben Bredeson (left).
Graham Barton has done a nice job at center as a rookie, although he struggled at Carolina. At guard, Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson have consistently showcased their physicality in the run game.
It helps to have continuity up front and Tampa Bay’s five starters have combined to miss only six games. According to Graham, Mayfield has done a consistently nice job of getting Tampa Bay into the right run fits at the line of scrimmage.
“This is a Top 10 offense in almost every category,” Graham says.
This enhanced ground game has powerful ramifications. The Bucs are second behind the Chiefs in third-down conversion rate, in large part because they stay ahead of the sticks with efficient runs.
Tampa Bay is also tied for third in red zone success, scoring touchdowns on 66.7 percent of drives that advance to the opponent’s 20-yard line.
“For me, it’s the ability to run the ball,” says Graham. “They’ve got a bunch of big guys up there who can move bodies.”
Can the Bucs maintain their current production on the ground? We’re about to find out, but there’s nothing artificial about these numbers.
For example, Tampa Bay’s average of 5.1 yards per carry is tied for second with Philadelphia, Arizona and Washington — all behind Baltimore.
Notice that all four of the other teams on the list feature mobile quarterbacks. Mayfield isn’t a statue, but he averages only 19 yards per game off scrambles. That pales in comparison to Lamar Jackson (52.2), Jalen Hurts (40.4), Kyler Murray (35.7) and Jayden Daniels (45.4).
For the previous two seasons, Tampa Bay’s play action didn’t work because nobody respected the run game. Safeties didn’t feel the need to creep up and linebackers took deep drops, daring the Bucs to hand the ball off.
Those days are over … perhaps for quite awhile.
December 6th, 2024 at 4:56 pm
“ Those Days Are Over “
I thought this article was about Bucs’ reputation for stifling defense. Those days have been over since 30 seconds left in Rams playoff loss.
December 6th, 2024 at 5:06 pm
So many positives. Next year, with some defensive upgrades, this team could be a monster.
December 6th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Great article.
Shout out to the O-line coaches, Coen and everyone else responsible for the turnaround in the run game 👍🏼
December 6th, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Let ‘em
We’re gonna need better coaching, too.
December 6th, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Hey Ira, what do you meat when you say “perhaps for quite awhile.” Seems like your insinuating something deeper there.
December 6th, 2024 at 6:02 pm
This one will be similar to the Giants’ game. Only difference is it’s in Tampa. If I lived in the RJS area, I would get tix with friends and go. It will be a great FL outdoor weather weekend. Go Bucs!!
December 6th, 2024 at 6:48 pm
The key takeaway from this article would be the offense is the only reason this team would make the playoffs. Glazers need to get with the times, the way the league rules are set up you need an offensive head coach like Coen. What you don’t need is to pay head coach type salary for a defense like this because Kacy rodgers could give you these results
December 6th, 2024 at 7:43 pm
Bucky Irving is the steal of the 2024 draft. He should get offensive ROY consideration but that award will likely go to the TE Bowers, whom we will see on Sunday. Difference is that Bowers was the 14th pick overall in the draft and he was expected to put up numbers but Bucky has amazed. Ira should ask Sean Sullivan if he still thinks if the Bucs should have drafted Ray Davis instead of Bucky! Looks like Davis will be a good player in Buffalo but right now it looks like Bucky will be another feather in Licht’s hat as far as getting tremendous value with a day 3 pick.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:31 pm
Man, I’m so sick of people bashing the Bucs defense. Yeah, they aren’t playing great but for heaven’s sake, they are missing major pieces due to injuries.
The team is still paying off the Tom Brady years debt and never had the backups to support major injuries to the defense this year. And yes, the team’s record would truly be bad if it weren’t for one of the better offensive years for the Bucs.
Sorry, naysayers, but the poor defense has far more to do with injuries and salary cap limitations than it does coaching.
All that said, if the only way to keep Coen from leaving to be a head coach of another team is to fire Bowles and promote Liam, I say go for it. Defensive coaches are far easier to find than true offensive gurus.
December 6th, 2024 at 8:56 pm
Those days are over… until Coen takes a HC job next year and we have a new scheme… lol.
December 6th, 2024 at 9:47 pm
About 3 comments so far about the subject.
The rest are the same old same “off topic” comments that have little, or absolutely nothing, to do with the article Ira wrote. Cmon guys, are you reading the articles or just jumping straight into bitch mode in the comments section.
It’s like keyboard Tourette’s syndrome – smh 🙂
December 6th, 2024 at 10:40 pm
You know what Pear I love Blowles defense as much as you do but I wish you guys will lay that one to rest. What was he to do???? They couldn’t get pressure on Stafford with four and he was picking them a part with no pressure in his face. At the snap Winfield wasn’t deep enough nor in the right position. Blame the players for allowing the Rams to out of bounds the play before and stopping the clock. If they’d kept that from happening even with that big completion they would’ve never had time to kick the field goal and we would’ve won.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:51 pm
So Scotty Mack every game the defense lets the other team go right down the field and score the game winning td or field goal you cheer for them and say GOOD GOING GUYS YOU’LL GET THEM NEXT TIME??? They’re paid millions of $$$ to do a better job a and we have the right not to be happy when they don’t. Sorry to tell you it is on coaching because it allows receivers to run free on every pass play and no one keeps an eye on the rbs in the flat who regularly get 5-7 yards every time they catch the ball.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:06 pm
Charles Simms was a bum. Afraid to hit the line he would dance around in the backfield pitter pattering around looking for a giant hole that doesn’t;t exist in the NFL. Got a mysterious knee injury in the preseason and was never seen again. Charles we hardly knew ye,
it’s to bad Licht’s recent defensive draft picks haven’t worked out as well as his offensive picks, especially on the DL. Logan Hall and JTMs have been complete busts. The last time I saw Hall was in the Atlanta game, four or five games ago.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:08 pm
Yeah the run game has been sick! Doesn’t really seem to matter who we’re going up against our run game is a big problem for opponents. We all know and have made it clear that Bucky Irving is a beast.
Then there’s Rachaad White who is a weapon on any down with his pass catching ability.
Let’s not forget the big guy who can legit run guys over at the first lvl and once at the second level take it to the house. He’s not a bad lead back, goal line back , or kick returner even. He’s fun to watch. He was a featured in college for the Heisman also. Impressive performances by all three this season.
This O-line certainly deserves more recognition for it. Especially given to the young rookie C who has had to deal with a lot of really good D-lineman. Not an easy task handling some of these big guys. Kudos to Graham Barton.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:13 pm
Good one dave!……… or lame as usual.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Ira has mentioned on the pod that there are many who have bailed on Bowles since the Rams playoff loss in 2022, but I see it’s just the vocal minority of Dave Pear. Reasonable fans don’t go back to that game because one play does not define a coach. And let’s be fair: why pick one play when we’ve had a cornucopia of options to choose over the time when Bowles’ plays couldn’t be overturned by the HC because he WAS the HC; we are shooting fish in a barrel here, much like opponents’ strategies against the Bucs’ run game pre-Coen.
Great article Irv—deserving of worldwide readership and not the fish-wrapper you’ve toiled for before.
I’m setting you up because let’s focus on the journalism and editing here. I know Ira and the Joes pride themselves on accuracy, word use (don’t make us endure another lecture on flushing vs. fleshing, Joes!), and grammar. In what Universe do we refer to a quoted source by their first name? I think someone pickled Ira’s beet salad with something a little stronger than normal!
December 6th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
Do injuries matter? The Philadelphia Eagles are a good example of injury luck. Nine of their starting 11 on defensive have started all 12 games. The Buccaneers defense has only two players on defense who have started all 12 games
December 7th, 2024 at 4:59 am
A wonderfully constructive article, Ira.
So many positive points. Baker right there with top mobile QBs and other facts about the players numbers are pretty amazing.
December 7th, 2024 at 6:07 am
We have a perfect .500 record.
December 7th, 2024 at 6:20 am
Detroit’s defense is missing the most starters in the league, that includes a pro bowl edge in Hutchenson, and they keep winning, not whinning about injuries. No excuses, every team is hurting this time of year.
December 7th, 2024 at 7:24 am
Gonegator, I was thinking the same thing. Only a few will comment on the article
It’s the same bunch of get off my lawn guys led by Davepear that repeat the same garbage
December 7th, 2024 at 7:58 am
If Todd can get his defense to play good and not score a bunch of points, then baker won’t have to throw 34 times. So the defense will dictate how the offense plays.
December 7th, 2024 at 9:17 am
Love to see how we stack up with just the running backs….taking the QB out of the picture…..
December 7th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Co-Rookies of the year, Irving, Barton depending on where we go from here?
Yes, we are at .500, tied for first in the NFC South.
Excited to see multiple top 10 offensive categories. Love seeing Kancey Vea playing so well together.
Yes, We do have a few missing nuts&bolts, and have great parts, needing upgrades and replacing, due to their age and choices not skills. What NFL team doesn’t, this is the last quarter of this 24 season.
Next team up is the raiders.
Get healthy Irving. Let White, Tucker, Williams catch and tote the rock, until you are back. Get other WR the ball first, then hit Evans out of motion from the slot.
Beat the players in front of you. Not yourself.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
December 7th, 2024 at 10:11 am
If Todd is fired after the season, Coen will be gone too. Making him HC would be a diaster. Promoted head coaches rarely work out.
Todd needs a new DC.
December 7th, 2024 at 11:13 am
Agree, Bonzai.
December 7th, 2024 at 11:53 am
@#99 the Big Fella
You’d think some of them would be smarter, or would be able to understand “topics” and keep conversations on track but injecting Todd sucks (in EVERY conversation) seems to be an impulse they can’t resist.
I imagine them doing the same at the grocery store, or the dinner table…
How are you today sir? Todd Bowles sucks!
Or
Honey, can you pass the potatoes? Yes dear, but they’ll suck like our defense because of Todd Bowles 😡
December 7th, 2024 at 5:33 pm
I’m with yall,
Everyone’s dealing with injuries at this point. Time for the defense to
Start executing.
December 7th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
Todd doesn’t suck.
He Blowes
December 7th, 2024 at 6:33 pm
See what I mean – lol