“It’s Rarely The Runner”
October 21st, 2018
Now here’s meaty insight into the mind of Dirk Koetter that likely explains why he stuck with Doug Martin well past the point of sanity, though it makes the Bucs’ offseason moves a little puzzling.
Bucs fans are aware that the Tampa Bay rushing attack was pathetic in 2016 and 2017, with modest improvement this year. (If only the 2018 defense would have improved as much as the running game, the Bucs would have a winning record.)
Friday on the Buccaneers Radio Network, a fan asked Koetter what’s usually happening when the run game isn’t going well. Is it the running back or the offensive line?
“More often than not it’s the blockers or it’s something the defense did. It’s rarely the runner,” Koetter said. “You know, most runs are unsuccessful because the runner didn’t have a chance to get started, unless he made the wrong read.”
That “rarely the runner” line really got Joe thinking.
If so, then why was offensive line coach George Warhop welcomed to return this season after the run game was deplorable for two consecutive years, and Warhop himself admitted the offensive linemen didn’t put out acceptable effort and mentality last year until Week 10 against the Jets?
The Bucs bought the highest paid center in football back in March, and Koetter just said Ali Marpet is a top-10 interior linemen in football (all positions). And Joe knows how much Donovan Smith is revered at One Buc Palace.
With those three and capable blocking tight ends, the Bucs should be much better at pounding the rock and today would be a great day to do it against a Browns defense allowing 4.6 yards per carry.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:06 am
The OL will have its hands full today- they need to play with much more aggression and work all the way to the whistle. Too many instances of Marpet and Smith standing around and watching the play after their initial engagement. Too many whiffs by Benenoch- who just isn’t looking like an NFL starter. I can remember the last time I saw any of these guys make an initial block and then get to the 2nd level.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:14 am
The Glazer boys aren’t bringing in new coaches with existing contracts already on the books….Koetter is stuck with everything he has….GM….Coaches….Players. Its that simple….either he makes it work and proves his coaching genius….OR….he gets canned. The Bucs are a small market team and the Glazer boys are focused on profits….You cant field a contender AND maximize profits. That’s the reality.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:18 am
I have been saying it for the past two seasons, why is the Oline coach who has only had one double digit win season in his entire NFL career to go along with his 3 winning seasons as a NFL teams oline coach. Coach Warhop came to the Bucs from the Browns, who have not had a good team since Bernie Kosar was their QB. Yet we wonder why we can not run the ball with any consistent success. It starts up front.
Go Bucs!!!!
October 21st, 2018 at 8:20 am
I have been saying it for the past two seasons, why is the Oline coach who has only had one double digit win season in his entire NFL career to go along with his 3 winning seasons as a NFL teams oline coach. Coach Warhop came to the Bucs from the Browns, who have not had a good team since Bernie Kosar was their QB. Yet we wonder why we can not run the ball with any consistent success. It starts up front.
Go Bucs!!!!
October 21st, 2018 at 8:26 am
The talent we have at the WR and TE position’s is why we have a tendency to pass. That and the rule changes favor passing teams. RB’s are important but not like they once were.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:26 am
Hey Booby M, you do not spend $88,000,000 on new players salaries ” focused on profits”. They spent $88,000,000 this past offseason trying to field a contending team, that to me does not look like they are “maximize profits”.
Go Bucs!,4
October 21st, 2018 at 8:34 am
Frank I’ve also been seeing the same things. Especially them not getting to the second level. The O-line is slow to the punch and hardly get any push. The defense is standing these guys up at the L.o.S. I watched Marpet on a play pull as a lead blocker against the Bears, to just run by would-be tacklers without engaging a single block while Barber was tackled behind the line of scrimmage. How Warhop, and Koetter are ignoring this baffles me. Benenoch is struggling mightily and his backups aren’t seeing the field. Koetter is too slow to make corrections, and it’s actually unfair to Jameis while he is being evaluated.
October 21st, 2018 at 8:49 am
Line as a whole is not great at run blocking, but decent or good at pass blocking. Play to strength and (hate cliches, but) pass to set up the run. This is coaching business. We CAN be effective running and win now…have to manage the series (field position, down and distance, defensive personnel, etc). Expect that. Go Bucs!
October 21st, 2018 at 1:50 pm
DDDDUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
How many years have we been telling you it’s the o-line????????