Buccaneers’ Run Game Is Best In Team History
December 30th, 2024
Some ancient Bucs fans of the 1979 team might be a little annoyed by the following:
The current Bucs have 2,357 yards rushing through 16 games. That’s the highest total in Tampa Bay since ’79, when the Bucs gained 2,437 yards on the ground in their 16-game season. But by NFL standards 45 years ago, that was only an above-average rushing attack.
Those ’79 Bucs averaged 4.0 yards per carry, which ranked 14th in the NFL. Today’s Bucs rank third in yards per carry at (5.2 yards) and have the fourth-most rushing yards in the league.
So Joe is calling it today. Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, the beastly Bucs offensive line and friends are the greatest rushing attack in the history of the franchise.
It’s that good.
Team Glazer has commissioned a documentary on the history of the franchise to be released near the start of the Bucs’ 50th season next year.
Joe sure hopes this iconic Bucs running game gets proper respect in the film.
December 30th, 2024 at 10:42 am
Not ever advocating for the Bucs to lose on Sundays, but what’s best for this team is WHATEVER keeps Coen in town.
December 30th, 2024 at 10:42 am
Bucky looks like a Madden video game making guys miss, dude is so fun to watch. Like watching Barry out there.
December 30th, 2024 at 10:52 am
It’s so sad we don’t have Godwin right now to go with this running game. It’s been a pleasure to watch this season. The between the tackles 1-2 yard runs to nowhere the last 3 years were painful!
December 30th, 2024 at 10:54 am
Coach Coen is having unparalleled success with his offense. In his first year he is already nearing all-time franchise records. That’s remarkable. He is a no-excuses leader, he gets the job done.
December 30th, 2024 at 10:55 am
I sure hope that James Wilder is included!
December 30th, 2024 at 10:57 am
Whats best for this team is winning….
These Coen fan boys are out of control.
December 30th, 2024 at 10:57 am
Will Godwin make it back for the playoffs?
December 30th, 2024 at 10:59 am
*Buckey Irving makes 4 guys miss for a 10 yard gain*……
Bucs Fans – “Coen’s a genius!”
December 30th, 2024 at 11:04 am
James Wilder avg 3.9 yards per carry. Only had 2 years over 700 yards. His biggest year he had 407 carries. he got his yardage due to bulk carries.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:05 am
Bucs will still have Liam Coens’ playbook after this year , so how difficult is it to call plays if you have the entire playbook?? Baker is smart enough to call his own plays-just like Joe Namath did his whole career. Too much ado about nothing with all this vetching, moaning, and worrying about Coen staying or leaving.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:12 am
Hi , Joe, have been a fan from the start of this franchise.Yes believe it is the best run game the Bucs have ever had. I think you have to consider, we actually have 3 running backs. I don’t think we have seen all of Sean Tucker’s potential. He can’t get on the field enough due to , White and Irving.Yes believe Tucker has some more growing to do. At some point I believe the Bucs will have a true 3 headed monster. I don’t know that the Bucs have had that in the past. Yes there was Dunn, Alstott, combo, and don’t forget Cadilliac!!. However, this o line, which is still young ang growing combined with these runnings backs is something to see and fun to watch. The Bucs having this kind of offense is highly unusual as is the poor play of the defense. What a switch!!
December 30th, 2024 at 11:12 am
Dewey Selmon-Did you ever actually see James Wilder Play??
December 30th, 2024 at 11:14 am
Dewey doesn’t know what James Wilder meant to the team and what a powerful runner he was when running the ball was what passing is to football today.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:15 am
It’s not just about having the playbook. It’s about knowing which play best fits that particular situation, and which player to use.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:26 am
Question is… Will Joebucsfan make it into the documentary? How can you talk about the BUCS without mentioning the number one fan website. Or are you guys seen as click competition? We will see. Go BUCS.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:26 am
Wilder in his best 2 years avg 3.8 and 3.6 ypc. The Bucs finished 8-24 during those 2 years. yes I was there and I know how much he meant to fans. The article is about the best Bucs rushing team from 1979 which he was no part of. Most people can’t even tell me which college he went to. There is a reason he isn’t in the ROH. And Missouri is the answer to the question.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:28 am
James Wilder was so fun to watch play. He was elusive for his size.
Would flat out truck you in the Open Field.
Bucky will need to finish big TDs to be included with Wilder at this point.
Even Doug Martin had breakaway speed.
I’ve been lobbying for more Tucker because of the 3, he is by far the fastest and capable of scoring from distance!!
Either way, all 3 are good for next season in my book.
Rachaad is actually the MOST replaceable of the 3 IMO
December 30th, 2024 at 11:29 am
Tough to say. Stats aren’t everything. Alstott and Dunn did not have Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:31 am
Before there was Mike Alstott there was James Wilder , dude was a beast. May not have had great numbers but the impact he had on those horrible teams can’t be denied. Ring of Honor material. Anyone around at that time will remember the game against the Jets. What a hoot that was.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:34 am
Tucker says what about me!
December 30th, 2024 at 11:39 am
@Tbbucs3
The team didn’t just go from the worst rushing game to the the 4th because of Bucky (He is very good though). Compare Chaad in a per snap basis to last year. He’s improved too. The scheme has a lot to do with it. How much is Bowles paying you lol? Trying to minimize the influence of a guy in charge of an offense that is top 5 in scoring, passing, and rushing
December 30th, 2024 at 11:52 am
Getting old in the tooth…trying to remember, was yesterday Bucky’s first start? If so, kind of a significant event thought we would have heard a little more buzz about that. Or maybe I just missed it. Not sure.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:55 am
Bucky Irving is an absolute star. What a pick.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:55 am
Stop calling me ancient Joe ! 😉
December 30th, 2024 at 11:58 am
Before Wilder there was Ricky Bell. Can’t forget about him.
December 30th, 2024 at 11:59 am
SB~LV I agree. I would love to have James Wilder on this team now. PURE BEAST!!!
December 30th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Given his draft position, Irving is the best value pick in the entire draft. And yes, that’s including Daniel’s. Because you should expect value with a top three pick. If Irving had breakaway speed, he’d be the talk of the NFL. And he’d also probably have a couple more touchdowns on some of his longer runs. But that’s okay, he’s a great back regardless. And he’s young. As long as he can stay relatively healthy, he has a very bright future here.
December 30th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Dewey Selmon, “There is a reason he isn’t in the ROH.” Stupidity for 1000 Alex….
December 30th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Jerry Eckwood and Ricky Bell! I went to a lot of those games, including the 3-0 “thriller” against the Chiefs that put the Bucs in the playoffs for the first time in 1979.
December 30th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
People on this site are absolutely delusional if they believe, for a second, that this offense would run as smoothly without Coen, playbook or not.
December 30th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
Bredeson. Barton. Wirfs. Goedeke. Irving. Tucker. And Hainsey to the bench.
That’s why the rushing game is better. Not because of White or Mauch.
Is White better? Yes. Is Mauch better? Yes. But they are the weak links.
December 30th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
After last season it’s nice to debate who’s responsible for the run game turning around! Insane, credit to all, Front office, coaching and players.
December 30th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Glazerz need to back the Brinks truck up into Coen’s driveway and block him from leaving by any financial means necessary.
Co-Head Coach ala Monte Kiffin late in his career…
December 30th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
I think Cohen’s a pretty good play caller, but he definitely has more toys to play with this season. The addition of Bucky Irving, Graham Barton and Bredeson has changed everything about this offense. Baker has more time, the running game is completely different. Would be interesting to see how well the offense runs with Canalis calling the place with this exact same offense. I think it definitely runs better with Cohen making the calls but I just wonder how much better. Canales kept trying to run inside last year but he didn’t have this o-lined or Bucky. Give Cohen his props but Jason Licht deserves just as much kudos for drafting Barton, Irving and McMillan… even Culp.
December 30th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
It’s dangerous to compare teams from different eras, but that 1979 team was special. To win the division in your fourth season and fall one game short of the Super Bowl is amazing. I remember that team fondly. Ricky Bell rushed for 1,263 yards and Jerry Eckwood (in his rookie season) added 690 yards. The defense was the best in the NFL and only surrendered 14.8 points per game. James Wilder was not on that team. I do think this year’s team is better. Much more dynamic and multi-dimensional since Bucky and White catch the ball so well.
I checked out the 1979 draft class and two names jumped out: Dave Logan and Chuck Fusina. Logan was a fixture on the radio broadcasts in the 1990s. He is missed. Chuck Fusina, when not backing up Doug Williams, was my high school substitute teacher in chemistry at Chamberlain in the early 80s. I guess back-up quarterbacks didn’t make much money back then. 🙂
December 30th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Investment in the oline is why this team is running well. Games are won in the trenches.
December 30th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
defence wins championships 79 dungy era offence is just more fun to watch
December 30th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
jameswillie Says:
December 30th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Jerry Eckwood and Ricky Bell! I went to a lot of those games, including the 3-0 “thriller” against the Chiefs that put the Bucs in the playoffs for the first time in 1979.
________
We were there for the deluge too!
December 30th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
DoooshLaRue
It was raining hard that day – I was there too
December 30th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Not mentioned from yesterday is Sean Tucker: We were just plowing straight onto the line at the end, which Carolina KNEW was coming. Dude got 2-3 first downs in a scenario where you usually get stomped for a yard at best
December 30th, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Why would any team try and run vs Bucs when passing against this defense is a guaranteed success. The benched, old man Kirk Cousins feasted on this secondary. Bucs offense needs to go crazy in playoffs to win. Ducco Bruce
December 30th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
It’s more about the scheme than anything – and also not being ultra predictable with the playcalling.
Also the 79 team couldn’t pass the ball, just like the Alstott / Dunn teams -which were clearly the best duo in team history. Bucky will need to do this for a decade to supplant Dunn – I hope he can, but Dunn was elite but held back by a highschool level offense.
December 30th, 2024 at 6:42 pm
No, they do not need to lose Sunday. That’s ridiculous, you are not a fan. They do need to do everything possible to keep Liam here. If that means moving him to head coach and finding a new DC – do it
December 30th, 2024 at 7:28 pm
Why do folks persist in thinking the only way we keep Coen is to fire Todd Bowles?
These are smart, loaded owners. They have learned & become excellent owners. The front office is very professional. They can handle kicking a coach upstairs for an advisory position – especially one who has multiple division titles, added two great OC’s and helped build a great winning culture, has taken the high road, even in the face of limited cap space!
This is not an all or nothing proposition. Both can be accomplished, and he can be an asset in finding a new DC with a scheme that fits well with the defensive talent we have already dedicated a lot of financial resources to keep.
Chill baby, chill. This is a new era for Bucs fans.
December 31st, 2024 at 1:27 pm
BUDLIKEDTHEBUCS Says:
December 30th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
defense wins championships 79 dungy era offence is just more fun to watch
1979 was a ROH John McKay team Bud. 1976-1984
Hired in October of 75′ to be the head coach of a team with no players and only 9 months to put a team together. In four short years he led the Bucs to an NFC Central Championship(again in 81′) and the NFC Championship game. His promise when he got hired was to have the Bucs in the playoffs in 4 years.
While the early Bucs are remembered for their 0-26 record start they forget that the Bucs are also the first expansion team to win a Divisional Title in only 4 years. 2 in 6.
The “creamsicle years” weren’t all bad 😉
December 31st, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Well the numbers don’t lie, it’s a strong indicator that says hey can’t run through me. it would be more impressive imo if it was actually just the DL and DL alone mostly for these results and it just isn’t. I’m okay with that though whatever.
It’s just when we ran a legitimate 4-3 defense it was so hard to find sack artists and pass rushers that could dominate and tackle at the LOS on every downs. We switch to a 3-4 and it’s way more productive when it comes to pass rushers and the front-7 is more efficient when it comes to communicating.
When there was (4) guys at the LOS though dlineman specifically, it was way easier to look better at run stopping and it would be naturally 4 guys is better then (3). We are a more solid unit on defense now I suppose than some older times we do have a lot of work to do still in offseason and for playoffs still. We shouldn’t overlook anything. Nothing comes easy or is just given. Almost everything great that you want in life you have to work hard for it and take it. Make others see your skills and abilities so you won’t have to be questioned anymore.
You don’t have to be better then anyone only have to do your best and not be lazy. Some days are hard and some are easy. You have to be there for alllthat you can be.