Running Game Better Improve If This Happens
March 13th, 2022
Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
There is one reason why Joe often talks Bucs with Sean Sullivan, the general manager of Bill Currie Ford, Tampa’s first family of Ford. Sean lives, eats, breathes Bucs football. He has a two-track mind: Ford vehicles and Bucs football.
And this week while Joe was in Las Vegas, Sean spoke with Joe from Tampa and had a great insight.
Before Joe goes there, skimming through a story on the Bucs’ 2021 season typed by Kyle Dvorchak of NBC Sports Edge something caught Joe’s eye. The Bucs were 26th in the league in rushing yards per game. This despite having Playoff Lenny and Ronald Jones.
Of course, one reason is Tom Brady was throwing the ball so much. And hey, when you have the best passer in the game, use him! So Joe had no issue with this at all. Brady throwing all the time worked. Never fix something that is not broken.
So back to Joe’s conversation with Sean. He asked Joe, “Don’t you think if the Bucs are going to start Blaine Gabbert or Kyle Trask they need something more than just Ke’Shawn Vaughn?”
Excellent point! The best way to help and protect your quarterback is a running game. We can all agree that Gabbert might need as much help as he can get. Trask? He’s going to need a lot of help since he is as green as well-watered St. Augustine grass.
Is Vaughn up to the task? That’s another question for an offense that is now loaded with questions.
So maybe drafting a running back at No. 27 isn’t so crazy? Provided the Bucs indeed go with Gabbert or Trask. All of this is under the guess that both Playoff Lenny and RoJo won’t be back.
So when you walk into the showroom at Bill Currie Ford, demand to talk to Sean and ask him what running back he’d like to see in the Bucs’ backfield. After about 20 minutes of Bucs talk, you two might get around to talking about a Ford truck or car.
March 13th, 2022 at 8:06 am
Do you think the Desean Watson sweepstakes gets decided today?
March 13th, 2022 at 8:09 am
This is like watching Rojo highlights from USC…..gapping holes, no contact, that’s not going to be the case in the NFL. He also doesn’t change the ball over to the appropriate side when running. I think RBs that need development can be signed as undrafted FAs. The top tier guys rarely stay healthy to warrant a high pick….seems like there’s better value in other positions with a longer shelf life.
March 13th, 2022 at 8:12 am
But if we go with DW we won’t be drafting anybody in the 1st round. Or the next year or possibly the year after that and a year or maybe two with no second rounds pick either, but we would have our franchise QB.
March 13th, 2022 at 8:24 am
Vaughn would have some success running if you used that pick on a top O lineman instead of a RB. There’s good value backs in the mid rounds of this draft. No need to use our first pick on one. We’ll have to run the ball more without Brady, but I doubt it will be that much more. Arains is a throwing offense no matter who the QB is.
March 13th, 2022 at 8:42 am
I’d rather build the OL.
We’ll be glad we did later on.
Plus, Carlos Hyde is still available Joe!
March 13th, 2022 at 8:49 am
Agree with Dooosh – OL rounds one ane two. Good running backs can be found in later rounds.
March 13th, 2022 at 8:56 am
Failure of coaching to not have a good run game- plain and simple
March 13th, 2022 at 8:58 am
Get ome of those linemen.
March 13th, 2022 at 9:35 am
We need to sign Jensen or Cappa…probably can’t do both…..draft a DT & CB to replace Suh & Davis…..
Can get a running back in rounds 4-7….
March 13th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Vaughn is ready and capable. The kid from ND can take over for Jensen. This team will find a balance. Do not spend tomorrow’s capital on a misshapen, morally bereft or ancient QB to make another run. Build a long term team. Draft. Key free agents. Patience.
Is that not what last year bought? The world will not end of it takes 2 years to get back to the Super Bowl with Trask at the helm and KV as the primary back.
March 13th, 2022 at 9:44 am
Arains likes to throw the ball, so we will never be a top rushing team, as far as total numbers go. Most of the teams that lead the NFL in Rushing are run first teams like the Titans and the Colts.
LOL, we are a “Throw First” Team !
March 13th, 2022 at 9:44 am
Blocking tight end accomplishes both tasks. Those, and pass-catching running backs, are huge targets for green qb’s
March 13th, 2022 at 9:46 am
I was wondering when someone would suggest an RB in the first round. Lol. There are no RB’s projected to be first rounders this draft, so yes I could see Licht going off the board and drafting a DIv 3 RB.
Ugggh. They are 4th rounders at best!
March 13th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Where they draft in the 1st is a prime spot for a Center or RB, so we’ll see how it goes…
March 13th, 2022 at 10:00 am
The Raven center is a possibility in free agency. Assuming Jensen leaves. And obviously we won’t get a running back in the first round. Too many homes to fill. Can get a decent one in the middle rounds.
March 13th, 2022 at 10:07 am
The 1st round, especially in our spot, is too early for RB or TE value. The bears don’t have a 1st round pick this year, but have two 2nd rounders. If they (or someone else w 2 second rounders) want to trade up so that Licht can pick a RB and a TE, plus a G or CB, in round 2, I wouldn’t argue w that trade.
March 13th, 2022 at 10:49 am
Cleanhouse, the Bucs have a history of lousy running backs regardless of the coaching staff. Blame the line or blame the running backs. Coaches don’t play the game.
March 13th, 2022 at 10:52 am
Vaughn is NOT a starting RB.
March 13th, 2022 at 11:57 am
@Joe … ‘So maybe drafting a running back at No. 27 isn’t so crazy?’
Quite the opposite; it’s looney bin crazy on a team that has so many much higher NEEDS like OLine, DLine, CB, WR, even TE. The easiest position of all those to fill is … RB.
Vaughn isn’t a starting RB like Thomas just said. He’s maybe a #2, but more likely a #3. Bucs best move there is to re-sign Lenny Fournette. Spotrac shows him as having a Market Value of $6.1 mil based on a 2-yr contract ($12.3 mil). We all know how good he can be; offer him a 3-yr contract for $20 mil with half guaranteed.
After that, re-sign Gio Bernard to a 1-yr contract (he made $1.2 mil with us last year, so about the same should do). Then draft a power runner in Rnds 5-7 (who could double as a FB) and we’d have a strong RB position group for a total of less than $10 mil. We’ve got too many other problems to solve to overlook the obvious fix here.
March 13th, 2022 at 11:57 am
Joe … ‘So maybe drafting a running back at No. 27 isn’t so crazy?’
Quite the opposite; it’s looney bin crazy on a team that has so many much higher NEEDS like OLine, DLine, CB, WR, even TE. The easiest position of all those to fill is … RB.
Vaughn isn’t a starting RB like Thomas just said. He’s maybe a #2, but more likely a #3. Bucs best move there is to re-sign Lenny Fournette. Spotrac shows him as having a Market Value of $6.1 mil based on a 2-yr contract ($12.3 mil). We all know how good he can be; offer him a 3-yr contract for $20 mil with half guaranteed.
After that, re-sign Gio Bernard to a 1-yr contract (he made $1.2 mil with us last year, so about the same should do). Then draft a power runner in Rnds 5-7 (who could double as a FB) and we’d have a strong RB position group for a total of less than $10 mil. We’ve got too many other problems to solve to overlook the obvious fix here.
March 13th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
I honestly don’t know if I can think of a dumber idea than drafting a 1st round running back. Are we really going to have to read this nonsense again all the way up to the draft?
Every single offseason, “should the Bucs draft a running back in the 1st round?”.
Even if Vaughn is the only running back on the roster come draft time you still don’t use a 1st round pick on one.
Name me the last team that drafted a 1st round running back and it made them a contender.
March 13th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Drafting an RB early would be folly because this team does not feature the run. Oh, and good luck finding a RB that doesnt get featured AND puts up solid passing yards like Lenny. Taylor and King Henry would be pedestrian in this offense. What is even sillier is this team has a run game coordinator and met on fridays to figure out exactly how to be so underwhelming on the ground.
March 13th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
Seems smart to either get Watson or get a running game and a stout defense. Leave Gabbert on the side line and coach up Trask.
Rather go all in on the Watson sweepsteak but our #27 is not going to appeal to Texans. Watson would have to waive his no trade clause for every team except our Bucs and not sure he feels that strongly about us, don’t know why not with our no income tax state and other perks. We will know soon. Jason Licht is more than capable in the personal negotiations.