Historic Bucs Run Game Eclipses 2,000 Yards
December 15th, 2024
Dynamic duo nearing history.
So the Bucs set out last offseason to fix their statistically NFL-worst running game.
Man, Joe’s never seen a fix quite like this, and it’s reached historic levels.
Today the Bucs pounded the Chargers 40-17 and hammered away on the ground for 222 yards on 39 carries. The Bucs now have 2,020 rushing yards through 14 games!
That total is the most Tampa Bay has racked up since 2015 when they had 2,162 yards on the ground through 16 regular season games, the second-best rushing season in team history.
You’d have to go back to 1998 to find a total close to that when the Bucs had 2,148 yards with Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott in the backfield.
In fact, the best Bucs rushing season was in 1979 with 2,437 yards, but NFL football was much different back then. It was a run-first league. Those ’79 Bucs ran the ball 609 times for a 4.0 yards-per-carry average.
So if today you were wondering if you’ve ever seen a Bucs running game this good before, well, Joe feels comfortable saying you haven’t.
And there’s still three games this season.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:32 pm
We would have more if Trask was our QB1
December 15th, 2024 at 8:33 pm
Unbelievable! Outstanding! Just dominate football all around. Bucky is a stud and we just keep hitting them with 3 good backs. Love it!
Oh and Mike – you’re a beast! 159yds and 2 TDs!
December 15th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Love this team
December 15th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Joe, is the tail wagging the dog? You said no deep shots and boom Mike deep all day
It was a beautiful thing. Finally! The Bucs went back to it against an A-list secondary. Awesome!–Joe
December 15th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
It’s amazing what a difference playcalling makes, and not being ultra predictable and just trying to run it up the middle on every first down. Suddenly White looks like a quality RB and all those offensive lineman that couldn’t run block, are now considered great run blockers.
Not sure what the Bucs are going to do after the season, since there’s no way they’re going to be able to keep Coen, but man, I would not want to give up this playcalling. Coppertop has been ridiculously good at mixing things up and keeping defenses off balance.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:37 pm
As Licht says, don’t forget the O line. They have been great.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:39 pm
Gotta be the best OL the Bucs have ever had.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:39 pm
Shake and Bake did it again
December 15th, 2024 at 8:40 pm
Mike C Says:
December 15th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Joe, is the tail wagging the dog? You said no deep shots and boom Mike deep all day
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Man what internet drama did I miss? Why is Joe being beat up on today?
Also I’m pretty sure Joe said he wanted MORE deep shots, at least that’s what I’ve seen him say.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
We need to keep c.liam Cohen!! Him and baker are a team. Let’s build on this succes . Liam loves it here !
December 15th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
Oh what fun it is to run. The O line is smiling. The QB is healthy. The WRs get open.
Run
Run
Run
December 15th, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Alvin! Have to agree. They are bulls who seem to just love mauling dudes in the run game. The scheming Coen implements is top notch. I hate that this will be a distraction come playoff time with him interviewing for other teams. Bucs need to either not give him permission or pay the man handsomely to stay on board!
December 15th, 2024 at 8:45 pm
I was super impressed with the play call and route on the Bucs first TD. Did you see the stutter step to the outside of McMillan? Great design and great execution.
We saw NONE of this creativity last season under Cannoli. A fan has hope!
December 15th, 2024 at 8:56 pm
Best rushing offense in Tampa since the Bucs had Thunder and Lighting/ Alstott and Dunn of the late ’90s! Licht and the boys at OBP have to figure out a way to keep Coen as it is almost a guarantee that clubs in need of a head coach are going to have him on their short list of candidates! I am not saying launch Bowles as the players like and respect him and the team is winning but how about offering Coen a deal to which he cannot say no, like a big bump in pay and offer him the title of “head coach in waiting” for the time when Todd Bowles decides to retire?
December 15th, 2024 at 9:00 pm
So now Joe likes the Bucs running the ball? There was a time Joe pounded the table for the Bucs to forget about running and do what they do best throw. Good thing the Bucs kept at it. Now even Joe thinks it’s a beautiful thing.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:05 pm
“Those ’79 Bucs ran the ball 609 times for a 4.0 yards-per-carry average.”
That ’79 season was magical after those first three terrible seasons in Buc history. God bless Ricky Bell. And thank you Jerry Eckwood.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:11 pm
It’s also possible that Baker is a pretty good QB no matter who is at OC.
No doubt the running game is improved. Great to see
December 15th, 2024 at 9:14 pm
Gotta love #42 Ricky Bell in 79 what a stud
December 15th, 2024 at 9:34 pm
Yup, i saw the ’79 Bucs. Started watching in ’78. Have seen a lot of bad football over the years. Today was great.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:39 pm
shout out to ricky bell and jerry eckwood…hell yeah !
December 15th, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Ricky Bell, what an amazing athlete, such a shame he died so young. Eckwood was amazing as well. Those dudes should be considered for the ring of honor!
December 15th, 2024 at 10:09 pm
FortMyersDave Says:
December 15th, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Ricky Bell, what an amazing athlete, such a shame he died so young. Eckwood was amazing as well. Those dudes should be considered for the ring of honor!
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He was before my time, but I can say his TV movie starring Mario Van Peebles was God awful.
December 15th, 2024 at 10:10 pm
How bout Jalen emerging as a significant threat? Think that had a significant role as well in opening things up, Joe
December 15th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Never seen anyone like Bucky. Hail j licht drafting the center bringing in a guard and locking up wirffs. That freaking group has gelled and Baker had a wall of protection today.
December 15th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Rod, I remember that movie about Bell, “Triumph of the Heart”. Came out in the late ’80s, the biggest complaint besides the below average acting was that they did not even film the production in Florida but somewhere with lots of hills and trees which lost their leaves in the winter……
December 16th, 2024 at 1:09 am
I don’t believe the Glazers will let Coen leave One Buc!! The Lions found a way to hold on to Ben Johnson and the Buccaneer Organization MUST do something similar 🚩🏴☠️🚩🏈‼️
December 16th, 2024 at 4:32 am
Rod, “tail wagging the dog”means the journalists making the story happen, Joe is fantastic 👏👌😀👍🙌.
December 16th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Mario Van Peebles was god awful!!!!!
December 16th, 2024 at 10:19 am
For those Baker haters out there… Liam Coen and Dave Canales can thank him for getting them both head coaching jobs. Coen might have been able to do it on his own, he’s imaginative, diverse, and effective… Canales is awful and Mayfield was the sole reason Canales is a head coach right now.
December 16th, 2024 at 1:20 pm
I’m 38. Been a Bucs fan since 99’. This is the most fun the run game has looked to me. Since the pure elegance of Cadillac Williams. Gruden just ran him into the ground… but the combination of Jason L., Baker, and Cohen need to stay together