Needing A Running Back
April 6th, 2017
Yesterday, Joe brought word on what the four-letter thought the Bucs should draft at No. 19. Today, another national outlet chimes in.
Bonnie Mott of USA Today took a magnifying glass to the roster of the Bucs and she has concluded a dependable running back must be acquired in this month’s draft.
With Doug Martin suspended the first three games of the season due to his PED violation, the Bucs will be without their lead back, leaving them Jaquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims. While both players have been productive, they aren’t meant to be utilized as a No. 1 back and carry the majority of the workload, rather like a change-of-pace-back instead.
There’s a concerning lack of experience and production at running back right now. The team needs someone to fill the void Martin leaves. A few draft options could be LSU’s Leonard Fournette, FSU’s Dalvin Cook and Toledo’s Kareem Hunt. Of course, there’s always free agent running back Adrian Peterson who is readily available through the open market. The team has plenty of options.
So lets run this down, shall we? As a pure runner, strictly a runner, Leonard Fournette is likely the best but is he a fit for an offense that seems pass-heavy like the Bucs’? Not to be overlooked, as an NFL suit told Joe recently about Fournette, “How come last year every time I turned on an LSU game, Fournette was standing on the sidelines?” Fair point.
Yeah, there is the Christian McCaffrey sect. He sure was productive… against middling PAC-12 defenses and historically overhyped B1G defenses. Besides, some say he will go in the top 10.
Does that mean versatile Dalvin Cook slips? Perhaps.
As far as the you-can-get-value-at-running-back-later crowd, while that isn’t far-fetched, Dirk Koetter doesn’t totally buy it (Joe will have more on that tomorrow).
Besides, don’t the Bucs already have a third round pick of a running back on the roster? That same guy is often hurt, can’t run between the tackles and when he tries to run outside, looks as if he’s auditioning for a position with the dance troupe that backs up Britney Spears in her Vegas act.
April 6th, 2017 at 7:13 am
I wonder why your’e all obsessed with the old, injury prone and expensive AP (not a great blocker and pass catcher) and overlook the option of signing Blount.
We are missing the though-short yardage-between the tackles back. Why not Blount? Draft McCaffrey and end it
April 6th, 2017 at 7:32 am
Excellent recap Joe. Bucs have lots of options at #19. If Cook’s there, Jason Licht will grab him I’m convinced. If not, BPA who’s a S, TE, WR, DT/DE or C/T, not necessarily in that order.
April 6th, 2017 at 8:05 am
A “pass-heavy” offense? You’re joking right? Looking for any excuse at this point to pimp Dalvin Cook.
Sims was never drafted to be the lead back, he was drafted to complement Martin who they thought was a good lead back, and the season before this last he was awesome in that role.
I probably would have been just fine with drafting Cook, and I still might be, but Joebucsfan is working hard at making me hate the guy. I can’t wait to read the article where Koetter’s words get twisted about finding great value in the middle rounds as it pertains to running backs, as if history hasn’t already proven it to be true.
April 6th, 2017 at 8:12 am
I will be glad when draft day finally comes.
April 6th, 2017 at 8:15 am
We will be more balanced this year. Weve tended to be run heVy the first two years under Koetter but the passing will go up as winston gets more green lights to open up the field, the line gets betters, and we have more options at receiver/te
April 6th, 2017 at 8:44 am
Mike James was taken in the later rounds. Not sure if he’s even still in the league. Fournette may be the best pure rusher but didn’t appear that way when he faced the grown men of Alabama. gotbuc its cool bro be my guest hate him now, the first time he gose 60 you’ll love him later.
April 6th, 2017 at 8:48 am
I think McCaffrey is the best option, because of his versatility….The threes first round should be on offense……Defense looks pretty good to me…..Adding some on the late rounds for depth……How many WR receivers do we have? How many TE do we have? I like what we have, but we need depth, and we don not have depth….Not even on QB!!!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 8:59 am
Cook in rd 1….. torn between Godwin, J.Willis and/or even one of the safeties(Baker/Williams/Evans) in round 2. lots of talent in this draft, no kickers please
April 6th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Look, it is really this simple…
…if we cannot keep the opposing team’s score down we will fall behind in score, and if we fall behind in score, the running game is abandoned…which means we’ll be passing more.
Therefore, defense is most important.
That’s what it boils down to. If we don’t draft defense in round one, we MUST draft offensive line so that Winston has time to dig us out of the hole. So as I said yesterday, in order of importance:
Safety
Defensive End
Right Tackle
Center
Running Back
RB is 5th on the list of needs.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:07 am
List of Running backs Selected outside the first round with 1000+ Yards from 2010-2016.
2010: Michael Turner 5th round, Arian Foster UDFA, Ray Rice 2nd round, Maurice Jones-Drew 2nd round, Ahmad Bradshaw 7th round. Jamaal Charles 3rd round
2011: Frank Gore 3rd round, Lesean Mccoy 2nd round, Shonn Green 3rd round, MJD (lead league with 1600+ yards), Michael Turner again, Arian Foster again, Ray Rice again.
2012: Alfred Morris 6th round (runner up to AP with 1600 yards), Steven Ridley 3rd round, Matt Forte 2nd round, BenJarvus Green-Ellis UDFA, Ahmad Bradshaw again, Charles again, Shonn Green, Frank Gore, Ray Rice, Arian Foster.
2013: Demarco Murray 3rd round, Eddie Lacy 2nd round, Jamaal Charles, Alfred Morris, Frank Gore, Lesean Mccoy, Matt forte.
2014: Le’veon Bell 2nd Round, Justin Forsett 7th round, Jeremy Hill 2nd round, Lamar Miller 4th Round, Demarco Murray (leading rusher), Lesean Mccoy, Arian Foster, Eddie Lacy, Frank Gore, Alfred Morris, Matt Forte, Jamaal Charles.
2015: Chris Ivory UDFA, Latavius Murray 6th round, Devonta Freeman 4th round.
2016: Jordan Howard 5th round, Jay Ajayi 5th round, David Johnson 3rd round, Lev Bell, Shady Mccoy, Legeratte Blount UDFA, Devonta Freeman, Lamar Miller, Frank Gore.
Gonna keep posting this til it sinks in.
And Joe you have to realize that it’s 10 times more likely that Cook goes top 10 over McCaffrey.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:10 am
I’m there with BB. I’d draft for OL if at #19 we can get the best one on our board, but otherwise it’s defense all the way. I’ve read some posters here speculate that Smith gets the first word in to Licht on choosing our first round pick, if so, forget Cook and all the other hyped tight ends, wide receivers, and Cook Cook Cook. Did I mention Cook?
April 6th, 2017 at 9:14 am
Bucaneer Bonzai…..If you don’t score you will never win…….
April 6th, 2017 at 9:20 am
great post Blake_bucsfan. The Bucs should look at drafting a stud WR or TE in the first round, RB can wait.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:20 am
Bonzi
70’s want thier philosophy back. The teams that rely on defense are ONE super bowl and DONE bears, ravens, bucs, broncos have proved that… Teams that win multiple Super Bowl have a franchise Qb with weapons…
Franchise qb with multiple weapons wins multiple championships.
Defense wins a championship
April 6th, 2017 at 9:22 am
Don’t mind Bonzai.
He considers the current stable of rb’s adequate. Loves the current rotation, expects Drug Martin to be back and ready to go.
The sugar on top. The CFL wr is going to light up the NFL this season too.
Have another cup of coffee Bonzai.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:23 am
What I’m wondering is why Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have Dalvin cook available at 19 and the Bucs passing on him in both of their mock drafts
April 6th, 2017 at 9:28 am
And Joe you have to realize that it’s 10 times more likely that Cook goes top 10 over McCaffrey.
,………..
Actually Blake most of the recent mocks I have seen have McCaffrey going before Cook
April 6th, 2017 at 9:28 am
But we won so many games with our last two 1st round pick RB’s. Cadillac Williams and Doug Martin made us unstoppable. The Vikings won so many titles since they drafted Adrian Peterson.
How many teams in the last 20 years won the Super Bowl after they drafted a RB in the 1st round?
Listen, do you want to draft players that might help win someone their fantasy football league, or do you want to draft players that will win the NFL championship?
Joe, with all due respect, your absolute love for Johnny Football and Trent Richardson a couple years ago is speaking volumes. Sorry.
Running backs and wide recievers are fun to write about, I get that, but start to wrap your head around this team either drafting an offensive lineman or edge rusher/safety. You’ll be happier come draft night. Teams don’t become consistent winners by drafting high players that have a four year shelf life.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:34 am
fournette battled an ankle injury all year long…plus everyone knows lsu had no qb….they were easy to game plan for….put 8 or 9 men in the box and force the qb to beat you….fournette is similar to marshawn lynch imo….he will be a beast who ever gets him….
when it comes to cook and mccaffrey, they both have similar running styles to sims….neither likes to run between the tackles…both players like to try to out run defenders to the outside….we have sims for that….
we already have 2 change of pace backs in Rodgers and sims….we should be targeting an rb that can do damage between the tackles…foreman, mixon, conner james, perine….GO BUCS!!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 9:34 am
I find this time of year fascinating. I use three sources for my draft analysis, CBS Scout, ESPN, and Draftsite. Definitely not scientific or remotely reliable but as stats from various Sources (combine, pro days, free agency activity) culminate with interviews and reams of actual game film I get a general sense of where players might fall, especially in the first 2 rounds. Coupled with a multitude of mock drafts from every analyst in the western hemisphere it seems McCaffrey is rising, Fournette is remaining stable and Cook is sliding. Far more mocks show Cook sliding to 19 Than any of the top 3 RB’s. But unlike joe I see Licht passing on Cook if he is there and taking Njoku or Melifonwu if they are available. I think the Tampa fans would storm the Ray Jay, but according to those who say Cook could be there the Buc’s biggest need is TE or FS/SS.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:36 am
…leaving them Jaquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims. While both players have been productive-
There’s a concerning lack of experience and production at running back right now.
LOL. I am not opposed to drafting a RB in day one ( don’t think rnd 1 is necessary) but if your concern is a lack of experience and production how is drafting an unproven RB with no NFL experience better than two RB that have shown they can produce when given the chance?
According to Joe’s concerns we need to pick up an experienced FA that has proven to be productive.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:37 am
Good points Bonzi, but the flip side of that argument is that a powerful running game is critical for a balanced offensive attack. It eats the clock, keeps the opposing offense off the field which also helps keeps down their score and prevents your defense from wearing out. Right now we don’t have a bell cow running back which is a big hole that will ultimately limit the effectiveness of the passing game. Seems to me the team needs to maintain balance on both sides of the ball. I like your positions of need, just not on the same page with the order.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:38 am
Dalvins pro day boosted his stock big time. One scout referred to the showing as “f***ing special.”
Said it before, i’ll probably say it again. If Fournette goes to Jacksonville, Cook doesnt make it out the top 10.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:41 am
I gotta admit, I’m pretty sold on Dalvin at this point (if we draft a RB in round 1).
Any other round, I want Perine.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:43 am
Seems like the same article every day at this point. Except now McCaffrey is going top 10?? Before Cook??? Not hardly.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:43 am
Who even cares about mocks. They do not put players on teams or pay them. Most are wrong. The only thing that counts is the draft. Other wise just look at who is right most of the time.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:45 am
How about Joes love of Winston, how’s that working for you? Don’t pick and choose. Johnny football was a spoiled entitled infant that had more talent in his little finger than most have in their entire body. As we get older we are supposed to mature, not regress. He chose the later with his decisions. How many recent Alabama backs have succeeded in this league? Now, how many FSU backs? FSU produces professionals not wannabes that is why all the hype. Look at the history. UF (just not at receiver) and UM as well. Just because we are called “homers” for our teams, doesn’t mean that they aren’t some of the best players in the country. As soon as they declare, they are no longer Gators or Canes in my eyes, they are football players. Noles will always be Noles in my eyes. I will take players from these 3 schools, they just produce professionals.
April 6th, 2017 at 9:52 am
Simms is actually one of the better pass catching RBs in the NFL. I would put Simms up against any draft prospect in that category, “especially for an offense that seems pass-heavy like the Bucs.”
The questions is what do we really need? Something new, shiny and known? Or can we capitalize on comparative advantage and draft a bruiser?
April 6th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Dalvin Cook will show everyone of you haters out there who he is and why he is the best.. that kid is a beast.. if he is there and we don’t grab him we will be sorry.. and McCaffrey is special.. just not special enough.. we need a 3 down back that carry a team and Dalvin has proved he is that guy
April 6th, 2017 at 10:09 am
Disagree DPewter,
Simms is asked to run swing passes and screens. A 16 year old from Jesuit or CCC could run these routes and be just as successful. It is in the run game that he is wasting a roster spot. You have to be able to do both. Now if they keep Simms as a ST player or a backup slot receiver, maybe. He has dropped a couple of passes that turned into INTs in his brief career as well. I know that is going to happen, he is human, but he is not worth any more time or “development” for me. Cut your losses. You ask if we need the known, not when it comes to him. I will take Cook, McCaf, Mixon (reluctantly) and will take Mack, Hunt and a long list of others later in the draft and be done with him and Martin, though I am willing to give him one more chance for a discounted price.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:29 am
Blake what’s your point a undrafted TE just lead the NFL in TD’s and the best receiver A. Brown was drafted in the 6th round and a future HOFer TO was drafted in the 3rd round. You can strike gold anywhere brother but when you draft in the first round you look at the highest potential for a player.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:31 am
Lol…gotta love the McCaffrey jab.
Are ACC defenses better than Pac12 defenses? Both had one elite defense (besides the teams these guys played for) in Washington and Clemson…and a bunch of average defenses beyond that.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Aside from the fact the current administration is averse to 30+ year old RBs?
In a manner of speaking, been there, done that.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:50 am
Ok then Ndog, you make me up the list for WR, TE, and QB’s drafted outside the 1st that go on to be at the top of their respective positions, and see if it even comes close to the amount of successful Running backs.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:56 am
JJ Bucs solid points on Simms. I honestly see him more as a slot receiver that can line up in the back field. The argument was to attack the premise that a Fournette style RB isn’t worth drafting.
We have RBs that can handle the swing passes, screens, etc… We are lacking in power. True the bucs seem to be a pass happy team, but what comes first the chicken or the egg? If we had a better (power) running game would we evolve into a balanced team (which every coach wants)? I like Cook an McCaffrey, but I believe you’ll get better value with a Kamara/Mixon/Perine/ in the second or maybe even trade up in the third.
I have just seen to many 3rd down, and goal line stuffs to overlook a bruiser.
April 6th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Fantastic rebuttal Tmax. OMG one-day these folks will enter the the 2000s.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:07 am
Tmax you are forgetting about the Patriots. Who won their first 3 rings off the back of their Defense. And you’re forgetting the Giants, every ring they have is because of their defense.
And both of you stop acting as though you would be disappointed if we won a superbowl.
Not to mention their have been plenty of great offensive teams that were 1 and dones. Rams, Colts, Packers, Saints.
All I know is that we were in the division basement for over half a decade with sorry af defenses. And the one year we showed signs of life on that side of the ball, boom, winning season.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:13 am
“One scout referred to his pro-day as f@$!in special” peculier. No-one seems to be talking bout bad shoulders or fumble issues. Coughlin having a sit down with Desean Watson today, don’t think RB is as big an issue to that organization as some may feel. I think those jag folks are trying to figure out whether or not they currently have a QB. Same can be said for those jets folks I mean the signed josh mcown for Christ sake.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:15 am
DPewter… I would love Fournette, so would anyone else here, but unless he robs a liquor store while naked and on acid with a midget on his back like Yoda, he ain’t falling to us. IMO, Cook is the best overall RB in the draft. Honestly by a mile in my opinion. Fournette seemed to always be injured and on the sideline. Some will say Cook was always injured, but he played through that. Cook didn’t sit out his bowl game like a punk. Football is a team sport. While Fournette and McCaff will have the luxury of playing on Sunday, 3/4 of their teammates will be Shmoes like you and me and will look back and say I can’t believe those 2 selfish guys hung 90 other guys for their own preservation. Ridiculous! I’ve never seen it and hope it does not become a trend. I just think the Sims thing has run its course. He is truly ordinary and that is being generous. It’s not personal, the guy is an NFL player and that is an incredible accomplishment, I would just like to see him go be average elsewhere. Or maybe the coaches can actually scheme to his strengths and he will become a good slot guy. Just stop running him from a 1 back set. I am a firm believer that you get Cook (if avail) and Mack or Perine in the 3rd or 4th. If Cook is gone and so are C Davis and M Williams, I go O-Line immediately and pick up Ramsczyk. I love Wisconsin O-linemen. Move D Smith to R tackle and be done with it. I still would sign Mangold, I think he has 2-3 more years in him. All my opinion as always.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:15 am
All I know is for a five to six week stretch last season our defense lead the entire league inn three major categories. Defense isn’t our issue. A lack of WeaponsforJameis was last season.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:20 am
And yes SB his stock seems to be falling right around where he’ll be available if we so choose to aquire him. Wonder how much what he said at the combine is playing a role in that fall???
April 6th, 2017 at 11:24 am
Our defense got shredded by Prescott and Brees. Becuase they had all day to sit in the pocket and throw to ooen recievers down the field.
We win those games and we woulda been 1st place over atlanta.
Oh btw, Coughlin was also quoted saying they absolutely must improve thier running game, and that they needed to become more physical. Sounds to me like they are very interested in Fournette.
And exactly NosBos, most scouts are enamored with Cook. That’s precisely why he will be long gone before we pick. And we will not be trading up. Not this year. Not in a draft this stacked.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:24 am
tmaxcon Says
“70’s want their philosophy back.”
lol…Dude, are you telling me teams do not abandon the run when behind? Get real.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:28 am
Buc1987 Says
“Don’t mind Bonzai.
He considers the current stable of rb’s adequate. Loves the current rotation, expects Drug Martin to be back and ready to go.”
NOT TRUE. I do think we need a new RB, but not in the first round. I do not expect Martin to remain here, I just do not discount the possibility. And there are 4 other needs higher than RB on this team.
“The sugar on top. The CFL wr is going to light up the NFL this season too.”
YOU LAUGH NOW, but watch and see. It amazes me how you people swear by non-pro players from college, but you scoff at a player who has fought his way into the NFL by playing for a pro league other than the NFL. The Bucs thought enough of him to outbid competitors AND give him a guarantee. His production is nothing short of remarkable in the CFL, so I don’t see how anyone with a brain can just assume he’d fail in the NFL.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:36 am
And for the record, I never said Walker would ‘light up the NFL’ this season. I said he would have better stats than Desean Jackson.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:36 am
Fournette showed up to combine at 240lbs bro. Lost 12lbs for his pro-day. Could his weight be an issue in the NFL after having been given 10 million dollas??? I think yes. I think he might not be as big a commodity as you think he is. The NFL game is big on versatility as you are aware. He is quite one dimensional in his game.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:37 am
The other position I would not touch in the 1st round is TE. There are almost more 1st round flop TE’s as there are RB’s. No need to go there, we have the slot reciever TE, they just need to add a blocking TE that can stay on the field without getting injured every year. 4th or 5th round is the highest I would take a TE for this team, even that seems too rich in this draft.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:38 am
I’m not sold on any of the RBs in the draft being a value at #19
April 6th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Blake what were stats of our prized DT in those two games???
April 6th, 2017 at 11:40 am
Now if thats your position I can accept that Brandon. You include them all.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:42 am
My thing is tho,if one against RB in the first then you should also be against DE in the first. They wash out just as fast if you miss. I mean quite a few went early in last years draft. How many 1st round DEs from last years draft had a year impact??? Spawn,Bosa.. Who else???
April 6th, 2017 at 11:44 am
Any way you try to slice it, Fournette is still regarded as the best Rb prospect in the 2017 draft. No one cares about his weight. And I don’t think that Jacksonville cares about his perceived lack of versatility. They are looking for a guy to take pressure off of Bortles.
Handing the ball off 25-30 times a game to a sledgehammer like Leo Fournette will do just that. And he is without a doubt the most physical runner in this class.
Cook will be a top 10 pick. You and Lee need to come to grips with that soon. All you’re doing is setting yourselves up to be disappointed.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Nole, remember the owners and GM prefer developed talent, not that they wouldn’t take an instant success. They are willing to give players a little time to get things together in most cases. At least when taken in the first half of the draft.
Spence is the most recent example. Not a hug impact last year, but I bet he earns a starting role this year.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:50 am
How long do so called sledgehammers last in the NFL. And look it up week 15 93 0 tackles O sacks against the boys. Week 16 2 tackles 0 sacks against the saints. Both single digit loses. Maybe if we got more from the self percieved leader we wouldn’t have gotten torched and won at least one of those games thusly making it into playoffs.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:51 am
Oh make no mistake Bonzai I feel Spawn gone be beastly. I also feel Fournette is Eddie Lacy 2.0.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:53 am
He like to eat. And is injury prone. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if teams pass on Fournette.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:56 am
When you drop weight that fast you usually make it easier to regain weight. We already talking about his weight an he hasn’t carried a ball in the nfl yet. That’s a red flag.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:58 am
He had ten weeks to prepare for the combine. If it wasn’t an issue why did he see fit to show up to his pro day 12lbs lighters??? He a selfish pre madona.
April 6th, 2017 at 11:59 am
Blake someone had to have cared about his weight. Because he saw fit to lose it.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:02 pm
So because he lost 8 pounds of water weight that means he likes to eat? Thats almost as silly as people making a big deal out of Jameis’ weight.
And idk Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore, Steven Jackson and Legerratte Blount lasted quite a while.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
*YOU* are talking about his weight.
As far as I know most people shut up about it after he ran a 4.51 at 240 pounds. With a better 10 yard split than Cook btw.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
I just watched a program saying he lost 12lbs. He an Lacy were born in Louisiana. Trust me bro them folks like to eat.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
if we draft cook, we would have 3 rbs with the same exact skill set….quick and elusive…cook, Rodgers and sims all have success running outside….when Rodgers got banged up, it was because we were trying to make him the bell cow….running him between the tackles…didn’t work…too light in the pants…same with cook and sims….4th and inches, who are we giving it to?….sims?…cook?…Rodgers?…barber?….I’ve seen all 4 get stuffed because they are not hammers….barber is the only one on the roster that would fit that bill and he’s more of a pure runner than a hammer…we need a hammer like foreman, j.conner or perine to get those tough yards and wear down defenses….GO BUCS!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
240 at 21 22 years of age might not be a BIG deal to you. But if you think that weight will be maintained by this pre madona when he 25 and paid you fooling yourself bro.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Out of Fournette Foreman and Perrine. Give me Perrine anyday.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Eddie Lacy 2.0. Just Wait On It.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
This could work against my team drafting my guy. But I was watching Joe Klatt on FS1 this morning. He stated that teams when drafting in the first round are looking for reasons not to draft you. Like it is the responsibility of the player an agent to convince the teams.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
NoSBos,
I’m with u on that.
Perine and Dalvin are my 2 favorite RB.
April 6th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
give me the rb that had over 2000 yards, 6’1 235 and ran a 4.45….GO BUCS!!!!
April 6th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Well you just said he weighed 232. 240-X= 232
Solve for X.
April 6th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 6th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Look, it is really this simple…
…if we cannot keep the opposing team’s score down we will fall behind in score, and if we fall behind in score, the running game is abandoned…which means we’ll be passing more.
————————–
That’s not true in all cases. Take the Patriots for example. They attack an opponent’s weakness regardless of the score. If opp. d’ is weak vs a power running game, they’d go power. If they could stop the run and could get to the QB quickly….ala the Jets, they will pour quick passing routes vs. that defense all day. Most offensive teams fail in that they don’t attack the weakness of an opp. d’. by trying to play to the strengths of their offense whether it is running or throwing…which might also happen to be a strength of the opposing defense they are facing that day as well.
April 6th, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Must’ve been one of my many typos. He weighed inn at 228 yesterday. My bad bro.
April 6th, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Also…look at the Falcons in the Super Bowl….they stuck to their gameplan they had been doing all year long. The Patriots were by no means a great run defense and you could run on them at times. The Falcons needed to run the ball but instead threw the ball because it was their perceived strength and what “worked” for them all year long until they met up with a formidable opponent in the Patriots.
April 6th, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Power that’s why I always say Belichess is running circles astound the rest of league. He has no problem breaking conventional wisdom to get a win. Why other HCs seem to be so rigid and stubborn is beyond me. Now the rumor is they may be trying squire Shernan. I’m like C’mon man.
April 6th, 2017 at 3:12 pm
McCaffrey to my eye looks off – he runs way to upright and is going to have to get bigger for the NFL or he’s gonna get broken in half – and getting bigger will mean losing some of those agility traits everyone brags about. If he doesn’t add weight he’s going to have to change his running style, he runs way too upright and eill need to make himself a smaller target. The last star running back I recall that ran an upright style like that was Eddie George and he was a much larger guy. McCaffrey Seems to my eye to be much closer to Charles Sims than anyone else I can think of – and we already have Sims on the team. BTW if you look at combine numbers it’s remarkable how close Sims and McCaffrey’s numbers are. Sims is much stronger, McCaffrey is a bit more agile, but the numbers outside of strength are ridiculously similar.
April 6th, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Yeah Rod he won’t be the pick.