Will Big Bucks = Run Game?
October 9th, 2018
Your beloved Buccaneers just valued — and paid — Ali Marpet as one the top left guards in the NFL.
And he plays alongside the guy made the highest paid center in the league in March.
On the other side of Marpet is a left tackle who could get the franchise tag next season, if the Bucs aren’t willing to pay him the fat contract he would command on the open market when his contract expires after in a matter of weeks.
Yes, the Bucs believe they are loaded with talent on their O-line.
What makes that intriguing is how much the Bucs have struggled to run the ball over the past 36 games. Something to think about as you count the hours before the Bucs-Falcons game on Sunday.
Joe isn’t dwelling in the past, but there’s certainly no logical reason why the Bucs can’t rediscover their ground game Sunday against a deplorable Falcons defense allowing 4.9 yards per carry and eight touchdowns through five games.
October 9th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
guard was a major issue next to marpet at center last year & RG continues to be a issue . also seems that dotson has lost a little this year coming off that knee surgery
October 9th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
IF they could re-establish a run game it would help move the chains, eat some clock and keep our deplorable defense off the field.
October 9th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
Let’s commit to getting Ronald Jones into the second level where he can be effective.
October 9th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
RoJo….is gonna break out on the carpet in ALT this Sunday
October 9th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
RG and RT will definitely need to be addressed for next season.
October 9th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
“how much the Bucs have struggled to run the ball over the past 36 games”
Wait – wasn’t that supposed to be all Doug Martin’s fault?
SMH
October 9th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
When has Marpet been a good OL? There was one small stretch his rookie year at RG where he looked good. He has been a terrible lineman when playing out of his RG position. How can anyone think this is good when the OL hasn’t pass or run block correctly in recent memory? Sounds like another paid Florida vacation. This team should at least let them play out the rookie contracts before they get ripped off.
October 9th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
RG is an issue right now for sure. Benenoch needs to either figure it out, or let’s see what Kappa can do.
Or just blame it all on Doug, lol, cuz ya know, that was probably the issue the whole time despite having the same exact struggles this year without him.
#BlameDouggie
October 9th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Still reserving judgement of our running game. Waiting for the day that we actually try to establish a run. Has not happened yet still waiting.
October 9th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
im with season is over here- marpet was projected to be a right guard but this staff keeps moving him around how can any player learn and adapt to one NFL position let alone 3 i feel like id rather see our o-lineman elite or good at one postion rather than “versatile” lineman i see what they are trying to accomplish but its not working and i also would be working out guards as well cuz benenoch isnt cutting it i had hopes for him too and i dont know about evan smith anymore maybe in spot duty but we still need to upgrade the line that is clear and i thought kappa was injured reserve? im not sure or PS perhaps
October 9th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
haven’t even tried to run…in a spread/shotgun formation most of the time and on obvious running downs too
October 9th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
There’s more to not running the ball well than just any one thing. Doug Martin was not a great runner and Peyton Barber is workmanlike at best.
Still,
1) We just don’t have much creativity in our run designs. I’ve joked that it seems like we only have one running play. Watch Andy Reid and McVay’s offenses in comparison to ours.
2) We’re very predictable about when we’re going to run. For a couple of years Stocker actually lead the other tight ends in plays. When he was in, we ran it. When Brate was in, we passed it. With O.J. taking a bigger role (pre-injury) and Monken calling plays, this problem has gotten less acute. Still, it’s possible that defensive coordinators and line coaches are finding tells. Maybe it’s the way Jameis (or Fitz) does the line reads and sets the blocking schemes. Maybe it’s a little more of a forward lean by our tackles or maybe it’s the positioning of the running back, a foot deeper on a run than a pass. We get blown up for negative yards far too often for it to be a coincidence.
Nevertheless, I’m from the block-well->run-well faction. I’ll take a workmanlike back like Barber with a great offensive line over a great back with a mediocre oline. So, I don’t think the fix is a running back. McVay went out and got an all pro left tackle. I mean, who lets an all-pro left tackle go in the modern football era? We Bucs’ fans are so used to mediocre that we’re calling for an extension for an average at best Donovan Smith. The NFL evolves and the lack of practice time, combined with the ubiquitousness of the spread in college signals an impending crisis in offensive line play. Let’s invest in the offensive line even if we have to give something up skill-player wise. And yes, I’d have rather taken an olineman than a running back in last year’s draft.
October 9th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
way to go ali, i think your doing a fine job man
October 9th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Falcon’s defense is terrible, but why would the O-Line have some big turnaround b/c Marpet got paid? Running has been predictable, & the right side is suspect.
October 9th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Dude hasnt made not one pro bowl or all pro team. And gets beat consistently. Man. I hope he’s one of those guys that he wants to prove he’s worth that contract.
October 9th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
At some point you just have to point out the obvious. The offensive line sucks. We could have drafted Barkley and people would be acting like he is a bust. RBs cannot be successful when the shtty offensive line can’t create holes. Joe chose Martin as his punching bag last season and was too stubborn to admit the line sucks. It appears that it is beginning to finally sink in with him now though.
October 9th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Why don’t we have a running game? Let’s rewind to last year…….start of the Thurs Night Game at home vs N.E. We start the game with Martin…..Every run by Martin was a ‘chunk’ play. As we approach midfield we suddenly abandon the run and throw a bomb play then two more passes for a punt…………Next our defense steps up and gives us the ball back and we proceed to pass, pass, pass, punt……Never once looking for Martin. It was a disgrace of a game plan IMO and a great example why our rushing game is complete garbage.
October 9th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Now go get Erek Flowers and plus him in at guard instead of Caleb.
He can be an emergency tackle too if someone goes down. His skillset transitions well to guard.
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/4/2/8183561/2015-nfl-draft-ereck-flowers-breakdown-offensive-tackle-miami
October 9th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Still a lot of needs on this team but RG, RT will probably require a top draft choice or two over the next few years…
October 9th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Glazers make their cash from TV rights. They could give a crap about anything else. The team has sucked since Malcolm ceded control to the soccer brats….no other way to put it than the that straight truth.
If youre a multiple account shill working for the Glazers and posting like a “fan” you should be ashamed of yourself
October 9th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Man U is having the same sort of issues…coincidence?
October 9th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
it wont matter because dirk doesn’t run the ball…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 9th, 2018 at 6:06 pm
🙄 hopefully he can actually block somebody now that he has been paid. Marginal results from a big money line.
October 9th, 2018 at 6:11 pm
What happened to Koetter’s 125 yds rushing/ game pre-season plan?
The O Line has the physical talent, but they are screwing up with blocking assignments- don’t know if that’s coaching or wrong reads, but they need to get it together soon.
October 9th, 2018 at 6:40 pm
BUCS HAVEN’T HAD A GOOD OLINE SINCE…EVER!!! People have b!tched about how the Bucs haven’t had a solid run game and never mention that a dominant oline is such a huge piece of the puzzle.
This re-signing of Marpet makes me think they’re going to go with the top RG in Round two which is what I’ve wanted. They’re paying Marpet, Jensen, and likely Smith next. Benenoch makes every player he goes up against look like Michael Phelps every play. Dot’s time is up with this team after next year so replace him with whatever is the best decision without spending too much.
October 9th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Easy on the bourbon. EASY!
October 9th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
Joe….did you read the article?
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/4/2/8183561/2015-nfl-draft-ereck-flowers-breakdown-offensive-tackle-miami
Steve white agrees with me
October 9th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
U people crack me up.If they were to sign flowers people would lose their minds.Also the Glazers have been spending money since 2015 with little roi.Most of ya’ll don’t know jack shyt about football just irrational and emotional fans,hence the pining for Flowers…
October 9th, 2018 at 8:41 pm
marques:
That article was written three years ago.
October 9th, 2018 at 10:00 pm
Whenever you are trying to patch things up this far into the season, you are doomed.
Cant think of an example where that worked.
But running the ball seems like a grand idea to me.
October 9th, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Wait I thought Doug Martin was the problem with the run game??? I’m confused…..
October 9th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
There are a bunch of reasons the bucs can’t rediscover the ground game but I’ll just go with they never had one to begin with.
In Tampa, Getting paid top dollar does not mean you have to to produce like the top paid, just ask Lavonte David and Geraldine said it’s all about fun. You just got paid don’t go out and get embarrassed by back up d lineman Ali.
October 10th, 2018 at 3:26 am
Warhop is the problem!
Hire Logan Mankins!!!
October 10th, 2018 at 6:55 am
Still believe the Bucs will draft a RG or RT in the first 3 rounds of the coming draft. While we play good pass blocking, we need a smash mouth Olineman on the right side.
October 10th, 2018 at 7:09 am
Just like JimmyJack said , if running is working , you run and run until they stop it. No cohesion in play calling. Running game is the glue that holds a great offense together , because when you are in a bad weather game , running is your best weapon. Running the ball has much less risk of a turnover as well. Falcons giving up 4.9 per rush, so let us see what the Bucs average per rush is Sunday. This game against the FowlGoons will be a trendsetter for the rest of the season. ROJO will break out and Brate will be huge. Bucs 34 Falcons 31
October 10th, 2018 at 7:42 am
Been saying it since the end of the preseason…..go sign Ryan Nall off the Bears practice squad. A 6’2”, 235lb, Todd Gurley style bruiser back, with good hands out of the backfield. Pair him and Barber together and watch our pathetic run game take off!