“Great Teams Run The Ball In The Red Zone”
August 22nd, 2013
Joe’s always looking for clues on the New Schiano Order mindset, and Josh Freeman dropped a very subtle one during his Fran Tarkenton interrogation news conference yesterday.
“Coach always says, ‘Great teams run the ball in the red zone,'” Freeman said.
Is that really what the great teams do? That’s an excellent question for the extreme stats geeks. Regardless, that message is being pounded into Freeman’s head.
Last summer at this time, Greg Schiano couldn’t stop saying “run the football” when asked of his offensive plans. And Schiano proceeded to pound the ball four times on first and goal in the preseason opener at Miami. It was a tone-setter, and Joe remembers being in Miami seeing the Bucs line up there with no receivers in a full power set.
But after a preseason injury to Davin Joseph, and subsequent injuries and changes on the offensive line, Joe saw the Bucs drift away a bit from their desire to pound the rock like an old-school powerhouse.
Yes, Doug Martin still finished with 319 carries. But now the Bucs are getting healthy on the offensive line and have a deeper stable of running backs. Joe’s eager to see whether the New Schiano Order directs more of a run-first team.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Great teams SCORE TOUCHDOWNS in the red-zone. That’s all that matters!
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Ahhh, I just had a flashback of Blount failing to score against the Saints with 3 consecutive runs from inside the 5 yard line, then Freeman running out of bounds on 4th down. Thanks Joe. VJ’s 95 yard catch-and-run was wasted. Ahhhhh!!
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:55 pm
It wasn’t just the injuries that changed Coach’s mindset, its also the fact that you can’t just run the ball to victory anymore. The NFL has changed and Schiano realized that by the bye week. Running the ball is a huge asset but it can’t be the only thing you do.
Do great teams run the ball in the redzone? Well great teams can run and pass in the redzone. Im glad Schiano was quick to realize that both are necessities in todays NFL.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:51 pm
A solid run game is the QBs best friend. Even when its the QB tucking and running with it.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Now that Free toned himself up like a track star, his running/eluding ability must be even that much better.
August 22nd, 2013 at 3:53 pm
See I told you. Schiano ran it on the goal line because he didn’t trust Freeman to throw it. There I said it a month in advance so the perspective lackers don’t have to now
August 23rd, 2013 at 12:33 am
I think great teams pass in the end zone. First and goal at the 8 yard line. I would rather have three passes in the end zone instead of 2 runs and a pass.