“The Holes Really Haven’t Been There For Him”
September 28th, 2022
Coach wants more production.
Todd Bowles doesn’t seem happy right now with his offense.
At least publicly, Bowles isn’t one to unload on players. Rap their knuckles with a ruler? Maybe. Destroy them in a press conference? No.
However, Bowles’ displeasure with the run game came out a little bit today.
Playoff Lenny is currently No. 33 in the NFL in yards-per-carry at four yards a crack. Not good if there are 32 backs getting more yardage per attempt.
While Bowles said Playoff Lenny must get more production, Bowles admitted it wasn’t all his fault.
“The holes really haven’t been there for him,” Bowles said. “He’s productive, doing the little things as far as catching it out of the backfield and picking up blitzes and chipping defensive linemen.
“We have to get back to running that. When we run the ball we want to get three or four yards a pop. And [Playoff Lenny had] been effective at that the first game. We just have to get back to it.
“I don’t think we are executing at a high level on offense and that has to change.”
So what is the root cause? Is it defenses know what plays are coming? Are defenses concluding the Bucs aren’t going to pass that much because of the upheaval on the offensive line so they load up for the run?
Could it be with all the receiver injuries, defenses aren’t scared of the backups and as a result defenses are only worried about stopping the run?
Very interesting comments to Joe about the blocking, or lack thereof. Especially when Derrick Brooks is saying something very different about the lack of production.
September 28th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
After Dallas Fournette took it down a couple notches back to his style of self-preservation running. He doesn’t look willing to put his body on the line anymore again. He looked like a 3rd down back against Green Bay.
The holes are there, they’re just closing up by the time he’s done pu$$y footing around in the backfield.
At least we’ll have the Parsons chip block as a fond memory.
September 28th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
I’m surprised he even has 4
September 28th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Blocking coupled with the timing of the runs……we had some additional blockers out Sunday…..Evans & Otton…..Godwin……..I don’t think Scotty blocks very well….
September 28th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Joe, you answered your own question. No, teams aren’t afraid of 4th and 5th string recievers. Most of the running game woes are because of that. Also, this offense isn’t exactly innovative in the running game.
September 28th, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Bring Back rojo way better vision
September 28th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
“Holes? We don’t need no stinkin’ holes. We RB’s make our own holes.”
September 28th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
So what is the root cause?
Gage, Miller and Darden ain’t Evans, Godwin and Jones.
And Walton ain’t D Smith.
September 28th, 2022 at 1:33 pm
No jump cut ability, poor vision.
Should weigh 225 to 230.
September 28th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
Need to get White, and Vaughn involved. Most teams use at least two backs usually three during a game. No other back touched the ball for us last week. Part of predicable.
September 28th, 2022 at 1:47 pm
No push off the LOS will get your RB turned to mush. Our run game thrives on two things, the ability to stack two double team block up front which directly effects Lenny’s ability to read the key player which is usually the defenses’ Mike back and cut based off his read. If you’re interior isn’t getting the drive off the ball, it muddles the ability of the back to make a read and get downhill if there’s a cut to be made. Our run game can’t even be servicable with out those two elements working in concert.
That’s why Ryan Jensen being spotted in Indiana last week presumably to see a medical specialist he’s dealt with since 2014 is encouraging to hear, and as soon as he’s ready to come back, I wouldn’t hesitate/complain about sliding Hainsey to LG to replace Goedeke.
September 28th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
If you have no respect for the WR’s (except for maybe Russell Gage), how much attention to the pass are you going to spend if you are a DC?
September 28th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
ROJO
September 28th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
SUH
September 28th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
GRONK
September 28th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
*OFFENSIVE LINE*
Smith
Marpet
Jensen
Cappa
Wirfs
Bucs will never see that caliber, again.
September 28th, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Beer whisperer
Yup. Thats the problem. Should have brought in a Vet Guard. Didnt.
Pissed around. Now we have 3 first time starters. The entire left side of the line.
Bowles wants to know the problem with the Offense??
Tell him to stand next to Licht, in front of a mirror.
They can blame RBs and WRs all season long.
But its the Coach and the GMs fault.
No one else.
“”Its all about Blocking and Tackling”.
Vince Lombardi
We aint Blocking. All other excuses are BS.
September 28th, 2022 at 7:25 pm
Predictable playcalling + a patchwork o-line + injuries.
Fournette is doing what Doug Martin had to go do many years ago: make chicken salad out of chicken chit.
Go watch some of these 3 or 4 yard runs, where Lenny is literally dragging / pushing through defenders to get a positive gain after initially being hit in the backfield. And with a bad hammy taboot!
September 28th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
Lenny’s hamstring might be bothering him some, but the bigger problem is our OLine. You just can’t expect 4 replacements (3 of them 1st year starters) to have the same chemistry and be as effective at run-blocking and pass-protection as the highly-experienced line we had in 2020 & 2021.
More than likely that’s what Todd Bowles was mostly referring to when he said … “I don’t think we are executing at a high level on offense and that has to change.”
September 29th, 2022 at 12:26 am
Am I the only one that wants to see a change of pace here and there with an improved Vaughn? White hasn’t looked impressive to me. Give him a touch or two but bring in Vaughn for a change of pace. Vaughnis faster and may be able to help switch up the running game from Time to time. Heck, line Forunette as a HB and let Vaughn run behind. Got try something different if the blocking doesn’t improve for Lenny.
September 29th, 2022 at 8:47 am
Don’t blame Lenny! Bucs offense (always run on 1st down) way too predictable.
September 29th, 2022 at 9:21 am
This has always been the problem with Lenny. He is an inconsistent hand-off to hand-off runner. His only value to the team is being well rounded and a good leader. RoJo was always the better runner for this reason, too bad, he is a liability when he isn’t running. Vaughn might be our best option at the moment. He ran with authority during the preseason. Lenny does not run with authority, he tries to weave between the defenders like he is a scatback.