Different Run Plays

May 3rd, 2019

Bucs OL coach Joe Gilbert.

Feel free to read into this what you wish but changes are coming to the Bucs’ rushing attack.

What those changes are is unclear to Joe. But Thursday when Bucs offensive assistants spoke to the local pen and mic club, they said changes will be coming.

First, running backs coach Todd McNair already said how he is changing how Ronald Jones handles the ball and catches the ball. Not sure what that will do for Jones but anything is a welcome fresh look from the Jones’ invisible rookie season.

And though he was not specific, Bucs offensive line coach Joe Gilbert also said changes are a comin.’

“At the end of the day I think we also — our priority of run plays will be different than what they’ve done last year,” Gilbert said.

Again, he offered no concrete details.

This is the way Joe looks at it: The running game of the Bucs was so terrible last year that, if you aren’t going to change personnel, something has to change

The Bucs seem hellbent on believing they have the necessary pieces to a running game already on the roster as they did nothing to address running backs in free agency or the draft (unless you call dragging Andre Ellington out of mothballs to be something).

The Bucs running game, like the ghastly defense, can only improve it was so terrible.

31 Responses to “Different Run Plays”

  1. Phil Says:

    We could have sign Kareem Hunt but instead we did nothing. Maybe we can trade McCoy for a running back.

  2. K2 Says:

    If Le’Veon Bell would have run behind the Bucs line last year he would have average about 1 yard per carry. Bell likes to hesitate… look for a hole then accelerate. However, when he initially hesitated three guys would have hit him in the backfield. Then he would have been labeled a bust.

  3. Nutterbutter95 Says:

    Everywhere he went, Dirk Koetter was never able to establish a run game. It was one of the big issues the falcons had a hard time in his first tenure. Even with Michael Turner, they turned into a one dimensional offense that forced Matt Ryan into throwing the ball more than he should have (anyone seeing parallels to the bucs circa Koetter era).

    I think Barber has what it takes to become a serviceable Rb1. Our offense runs through the passing game and we do not need him to be Zeke Elliott. All we need to do his keep him effect to force defenses into a split second longer decision making process. This is how we are going to reduce picks from Jameis, a more effective run game and more points on the board.
    If you look at Arians offences in previous tenures, they all had that attribute. Besides David Johnson, Arians used good, but not great running backs to produce high octane attacks. THE RUN GAME WILL BE FINE PEOPLE

  4. Casual Observer Says:

    Still seems to me that the main problem with the running game was that the OL didn’t open holes very often. Maybe the blocking scheme needs some changes.

  5. 813bucboi Says:

    switch the run scheme to what they ran back in 2015 and we’ll be good to go….

    GO BUCS!!!!

  6. JabooBuc Says:

    I would be willing to wager that at least one new lineman will be added prior to Game 1. I suspect we will add a RG as cuts begin. I can’t believe we would begin the season with Cappa or Caleb Missablock as a starting RG. This season goes as JW goes and having either of those 2 starting puts him at extreme risk.

  7. Joe Says:

    We could have sign Kareem Hunt but instead we did nothing. Maybe we can trade McCoy for a running back.

    Could have signed Hunt… could have traded a second round pick for Dee Ford… coulda, coulda, coulda, coulda.

    Now every Bucs fan is praying JPP is not the next Kendell Beckwith.

  8. stpetebucsfan Says:

    We coulda…shoulda…woulda…C’mon man. Can’t we get past all the freaking second guessing. It accomplishes…literally nothing.

    I remember being interviewed for a job as a program director at a rock station and the owner asked what I thought I needed to succeed there. I didn’t ask for much and his comment enlightened me.

    Great he said…I get tired of hearing if I had this…a new jingle package…the best morning man in the country..great promotions.

    It’s winning with what you have!!!

    Here’s a note of meaningless optimism to counter the meaningless negativity. One thing I’ve noticed through Joe’s pics of the Pressers is that all of these guys “LOOK” like football coaches. That’s at least as effective as whining over who and which position we didn’t draft.

    Imagine…JW came out with MM and there was quite a debate over who to take. How many freaking draft choices could we have landed by trading that #1 pick away and simply getting multiple HIGH draft picks? There were some who actually wanted to do that. Not me because I didn’t believe it was the long term answer but short term…as in JW’s first three years..our team would have definitely had more talent.

  9. JabooBuc Says:

    I really do believe that there is not much difference in most of the starting RB’s in the NFL. Sure, there are a small minority that are head and shoulders above others. However, the majority need the line to do something. Bell may have been successful here with the line currently as is but I don’t think Hunt would be.

    Fix the line and Barber is a 1K RB.

  10. stpetebucsfan Says:

    What Jaboo just said!!!

  11. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I like all this could have signed Kareem Hunt stuff…..as if Hunt didn’t have a choice in the matter……

    Agent to Kareem “Hey, the Bucs, Cleveland and a host of other teams wanting to sign you.”
    Kareem to Agent” Tell all of them but the Browns to take a hike”

  12. Bob in Valrico Says:

    looking back at the 2015 successful rushing attack under Koetter,reminded me of a things. Not only was Logan Mankins on the team but Luke Stocker and
    Kevin Pamphile as a swing tackle were also key cogs. My point is if this line
    continues to struggle,we need to add extra personnel or replace the weak link.
    I thought the patriots got a lot of mileage from their”heavy package” in the
    Super Bowl.

  13. Rod Munch Says:

    Have you people that called for Hunt actually watched him play? He’s nothing all that special – he’s not Barry Sanders, he’s not even Doug Martin. That’s was my memory of him but just to be fair, in case I missed why people think he’s special, I watched some highlight films – to see his “special” stuff – and it’s nothing. He’s basically the same level as Barber, he’s fine – won’t hurt you but isn’t special either. He has like one or two “nice” moves in like about 7 mins of watching, otherwise it’s just standard plays with good blocking. If he has good blocking in Cleveland he’ll put up nice numbers, if he doesn’t, then he’ll look extremely average.

  14. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    I too agree with Jaboo and BA. Barber is one hell of a running back, and with a good line and good playcalling can easily be a thousand yard back.
    I still have not given up on ROJO completely.
    All of us need to remember, he is the 3rd highest gaining back in yards, in the history of USC.
    Think about that for a minute …….

  15. c-spann Says:

    I think a lot of the problem was that the run plays were predictable based of the formations being presented. It would be nice to run out of shotgun a bit more and use different formations that dont scream run

  16. AtlBuc Says:

    I think a hint to what the changes are may be found in something BA said a while ago while discussing the strengths and weaknesses of Demar Dotson. He talked about how at 6′ 9″ Dotson is not able to make certain blocks in the running game. From these words, we can ascertain that the new regime is going to create a running game that’s based on the strengths of the Oline and the running backs.
    The former staffs, especially Lovie, were so in love with their schemes that they tried to change the player to fit the scheme instead of the other way around.

  17. CChead Says:

    D’Ernest Johnson. Sign him!

  18. Joeypoppems Says:

    Peyton Barber averaged 3.5 YPC on zone runs last year and 4.4 YPC on power runs. Yet we ran more zone than power.

    Scheme change
    +
    Bigger workload
    +
    Improved OL by coaching
    __________________

    A path to Peyton Barber being a top 5 RB

  19. BucEmUp Says:

    The biggest problem wiyh the offense aside from vecoming predictable was how slow they ran the plays from tge snap. The rbs , the qb….everyone did everything one second too late. You know why? THE COACHING SUCKED!!!!

    The REAL fans know!!!!!!!!!!! The DUMMIES blow!!!!!

  20. Dumb dumb Says:

    Everyone is down on Ellington but the guy was going to be a star before he got hurt

  21. Joe in Michigan Says:

    I have confidence in the run game being better, along with better O-Line play. Why do I have confidence? The starting Left Tackle in Arian’s first couple years at Arizona was Bradley Sowell, and they won a bunch of games. Bradley Sowell’s NFL comparison would probably be Leonard Wester or Alex Cappa.

  22. James Walker Says:

    At the end of the day the Bucs had the #3 offense. When you are playing from behind you have to leave the running attack behind as well.

  23. SenileSenior Says:

    OK all of you guys who know something more, I have a question. Who is reputed to be or even known to be the better run blocker between Watford and Cappa?

    This is important for Barber, ROJO and anyone else that might be brought in as a running back. I heard a comment from BA to the effect that Dotson is a great pass blocker but weak as a run blocker.

    Maybe, BA is high on Barber precisely because he was able to get a few extra yards in spite of poor blocking on the right side. I think we know that Marpet is noted for his run blocking contributions as a guard on either side.

    Maybe this is why OL was not addressed in the draft this year. Maybe, the new regime saw the deficiencies among the DBs as the higher priorities as a result. Maybe, BA and staff can fix the OL well enough for this year and look for Dotson’s replacement during our next off season.

    What do you think?
    _________________
    Go9 Bucs!!!!!!!

    P.S. I did see where BA( and Arizona) drafted Watford initially so I guess he knew what he was getting.

    P.S.S.
    I also found this online. “2013 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about EARL WATFORD: James Madison, 6036 300 5.06. Three-year starter. A zone blocking guard who is athletic. Can run on pulls and is effective blocking on the perimeter. Drives legs on contact and gets movement in the run game. Bends his knees and plays in a football leverage position. Uses his long arms to his advantage in pass protection. Flashes a quick punch to control opponent”
    Ourlads Scouting Service

  24. D1 Says:

    Bob in val,

    Damn solid take. Best and most accurate account of that season.

    Bob, reading some of the fans attempts to remember that long ago and offer a cognizant summation of the run game has me believing that the opiod addiction crisis is growing and will ultimately consume large swaths of tampons. …..hopefully.

    Before your post, it was either No memory or deeply rooted bias that created an alternative reality about the team. All absolutely sucked…

    Bob in Valrico. …yeah..right…Bob in witness protection. …too smart to be from valrico..

  25. ButtMonkey Says:

    The stupid is strong with you dumbasses

  26. Barack's Crack Pipe Says:

    The Bucs seem hellbent on believing they have the necessary pieces to a running game already on the roster as they did nothing to address running backs in free agency or the draft (unless you call dragging Andre Ellington out of mothballs to be something).

    The problem with the running game is not the runners.

  27. Bob in Valrico Says:

    @ D1
    thanks, Bro. Enjoy your posts. Defense Rules once suggested ,it might be something in water. Just a longtime football fan that’s a bit analytical.
    As for the memory thing,I just wish I could remember why I went in the garage.

  28. ButtMonkey Says:

    Crack pipe, maybe it’s not with the line either. Maybe the biggest problem with the team as a whole was to JV coaching we had and always expecting the square pegs to fit in the round holes. Maybe they didnt address it because the lineman we have now will be just fine with Arians scheme?

  29. Isaac haggins Says:

    If Cappa were to turn into a good starter , he will hv come farther in progress of any lineman I have ever seen . I have never ever witnessed someone so overmatched as Capps was last year !!! Blown 3 and 4 yards back over and over and over and just abused at first contact

  30. Bucsfanman Says:

    BTW, what rb totes the rock during Hunt’s suspension?! How would signing him have helped the first 4-6 weeks?!

  31. Tony LA Says:

    You guys put waaaaaaaaaay too much emphasis on the Rb position. It’s like minds are stuck in the 1990s. The problem is the O-line, the scheme, and the play calling variety. Two of those 3 are changing this year which leads to a tad bit of optimism on my part.