Colts Learned The Hard Way: Thou Shalt Not Run On Bucs
November 29th, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
Nearly everyone Joe spoke to expected the Colts to try to run on the Bucs all game. Why not when the Colts had ridden beastly Jonathan Taylor to become one of the hottest NFL teams?
So in the first quarter, the Colts ran Taylor a bunch and he got stonewalled. The Bucs defense in the opening quarter was just outstanding!
And then into the second quarter, apparently frustrated they were getting nowhere fast on the ground, Colts coach Frank Reich decided to air it out. This didn’t shock Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
“I mean nobody runs the ball on us,” Arians said after the game. “I don’t care who the hell you are. I mean you are going to end up throwing it because if you’re going to run it all day, you’re not going to get much, and they did that last drive. We were a little bit playing pass defense and they ran it on us. I’ll take our run defense versus anybody’s run offense anytime.”
Joe is convinced a big reason for the sudden change in attack mode by the Colts was Jamel Dean leaving injured. All of a sudden the Bucs were vulnerable in the passing game. So why keep knocking your head against the wall running when you can throw?
Reich’s strategy was on the mark. Reich didn’t commit the five offensive Colts turnovers. Props to be Bucs for making key, timely plays. That saved the game.
Joe wrote this in a different post, an NFL analyst (Joe can’t remember who) said Antoine Winfield’s pick reminded him of Ed Reed. Joe thought that was pretty cool.
November 29th, 2021 at 9:54 am
Reich’s strategy was on the mark until they got the lead…..that’s when he should have gone back to a more balanced attack….continuing to pass led to the turnovers…….
The only time teams can run on the Bucs is when we let them.
November 29th, 2021 at 9:57 am
It must suck this morning for you guys that were hoping the Bucs would lose to Indy. So what excuses do you have today?
November 29th, 2021 at 9:59 am
On Colts’ 4th quarter td drive, Taylor ran 8 times for 58 yards and td.
Reich didn’t make the turnovers, but his decision to abandon the run in 3rd quarter led to Wentz mistakes that cost them.
November 29th, 2021 at 10:18 am
Great game by the BUCS yesterday. Playing against a red hot COLTS team in their stadium and getting the “W” is awesome. GO BUCS!
November 29th, 2021 at 10:25 am
Alan, BA said during his presser what I had suspected which is that the Bucs obviously thought that Indy would pass since they were behind and adjusted their defense accordingly which led to more rushing yards. And though they obviously gained some yards on that last drive, I think it was a terrible gamble because it ate up the clock. As for the often cited complaint about playing zone, I think Alan also noted in another thread that the reason we did that was to limit big plays due to not having our main guys back there. I completely agree and it’s actually rather obvious. When we’re fully manned in the backfield we play far less zone. Bowles is doing what he needs to do.
November 29th, 2021 at 10:29 am
Colts saw a lot of zone once Dewin White got reinjured. Once he returned Boles went back to man coverage. That’s what I saw. Comparing Winfield to Ed Reed is high praise indeed, and accurate, too. What a gut-check for our manly men. I’m proud. Great game, you could tell color analyst Greg Olen was stoked, too.
LFG Bucs!
Let’s Go Brandon!!
November 29th, 2021 at 10:36 am
I get all that but in the third they had a 10 point lead and did not run the ball to Jonathan Taylor at all. I understand you’re not getting much but we in Tampa know better than most that you have to run a little to keep the defense somewhat honest.
Other than DBs being injured, my biggest concern is the offense right now. Yes they’re still putting up points but teams are playing 2 hi safeties with tight coverage underneath on Godwin and Evans… Basically double teaming both of them.
It’s forcing very short passes to tight ends and running backs and a lot of running plays. They’re good enough to make that work but it must be getting frustrating. Brady and BL and Evans and Godwin need to figure it out
November 29th, 2021 at 10:46 am
All hail Playoff Lenny indeed. Still, IMHO the all time greatest run remains the game against the Vikings where Mike Allstott rumbled 10 yards into the end zone with three DBs draped across his back. Just freaking awesome! Interviewed afterwards one of them admitted “His will was greater than ours.” I mean, what else could he say? I have worn a red #40 jersey for four decades in his honor.
LFG Bucs!
November 29th, 2021 at 11:03 am
I think Arian’s mentioned this during the post-game presser. The only reason Taylor was able to run the ball so well in the 4th Qtr was because the Bucs were more in a pass defense mode. They were playing the pass, not the run. When we’re playing the run, no one’s going to pick up that many yards, regardless of who’s the RB.
November 29th, 2021 at 11:22 am
Hell if Dean was still the game they would’ve thrown it and been just as successful so cut it out!
November 29th, 2021 at 12:56 pm
“All of a sudden the Bucs were vulnerable in the passing game.”???
All of a sudden? The Bucs have been vulnerable in the passing game for yearrrssss!!
November 29th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Topscore_78
You are 100% correct, it didn’t matter whether Dean was in the game or not, they would’ve test him to see if he’s all what some folks think he is. He’s not a shut down corner nor remotely close to being one. He still look confused as if he’s surprised when he does make a play. With his height n speed I would expect him to play on the level on AWinfield n MEdwards.
November 29th, 2021 at 9:51 pm
Why run when you can pass all day on this team?
November 30th, 2021 at 6:29 am
Teams have been trying to follow the Cowgirls’ blueprint in beating the Bucs since Week 1.