Leonard Fournette Ranks 35th In First-Down Runs
October 13th, 2022
This is one stat that made Joe do a double take.
Leonard “Lombardi Lenny” Fournette has 11 rushes for a first down this season. Despite being a workhorse running back through five games, that ranks 35th in the NFL. Yes, 34 players have more rushes for a first down this season than Lombardi Lenny.
It’s hard to believe, though a little easier when you consider his struggles in short yardage situations and the team bailing on closing out Sunday’s game on the ground.
(Joe swears the Bucs should bring Mike Alstott to a practice to teach Fournette how to hurdle the pile in short yardage to how to hammer low in those situations.)
Last season, Fournette ranked tied for 21st in the league when it came to rushes for a first down. So he’s definitely taken a step backwards this season.
Joe’s not sure what the fix is, or whether five games is enough of a sample size, but Joe does know the Bucs need to get Fournette moving the chains on the ground more often.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
D- Lenny
October 13th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
I mean, almost 70% of our first downs have come through the air and Lenny has caught some of those too
October 13th, 2022 at 3:28 pm
It seems to me that Rachaad White has more success on short yardage…..
October 13th, 2022 at 3:29 pm
Does allot of lil things very good !! Terrible runner up to the whole / line of scrimmage ( first several steps ) think opposite of Z Elliot ……. Pretty Good once he’s through the whole !! Maybe this staff is saving Vaugh but ole Sneak is pretty good if used properly !!
October 13th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Well that’s because Leonard gets runs on first down, not third.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Lenny prefers off tackle running or wide open holes we can run through. He does not find the crease and his visions pretty average inside the tackles.
He’s a really good player for us. Just an area of weakness I see.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:35 pm
Not that surprising, our ground game was non-existent weeks 2 – 4.
That said, I would obviously love to see him rip off some 10+ yard runs on 1st down, but that would require Leftwich to be a little more creative and less predictable with his run scheme, so I won’t hold my breath.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
He’s been on one leg and has a somewhat infantile run blocking group, and scheme, and Leftwurst forcing him to run left all the time.
But, yeah. He can do better. And he should. If Arians were still coach he’s be fixing it.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:42 pm
He’s been on one leg and has a somewhat infantile run blocking group, and scheme, and Leftwurst forcing him to run left all the time.
But, yeah. He can do better. And he should. If Arians were still coach he’s be fixing it.
Better be ready for a ferociously physical maniacally possessed Steelers team this Sunday.
But for some reason I expect the Bucs to look like a women’s flag football team once they get rocked a few times.
October 13th, 2022 at 3:49 pm
The thing that drives me nuts is on some of these “4th & 1 or less” plays is when Lenny gets it, he pitter-patters his feet looking for a hole instead of MAKING one.
Dude is 240 lbs…
Bro, use that weight & momentum and stick your face in there right behind the double-team that is taking place…
GUARAN-DAMN-TEE you make the 1sr down and keep the chains moving!!
October 13th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
I don’t think he’s had opportunity to put up better stats. We’re not a good running team. Whether it’s poor scheme, ill-timed play calls, or just inadequate blocking… it adds up to a bad running game.
October 13th, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Hate watching Lenny turn into a tap dancer behind the line of scrimmage but what’s even worst is that BL LOVES running the ball to the left. Whirfs and Mason are on the right get behind those hogs and get those 4th or 3rd and 1s. And Lenny if the hole isn’t there get low and make one. Smh
October 13th, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Impossible to know what opinion to have about our running game when only one running back has had any carries.
October 13th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
Let’s hope the D isn’t bored in the 1st & 4th qtr.
October 13th, 2022 at 5:02 pm
Our run game isn’t great. Like to see a stat on which down Lenny rushes the most often. Probably 1st down. He’s catching a lot more passes this year. Every one of those downs takes away a rushing attempt.
October 13th, 2022 at 5:09 pm
There’s multiple analytics out there that shows our run game is nonexistent. We’re putting way too much pressure on Brady. It’s not sustainable. I think that’s why the Packers have tried to alter their game plan to manage the game better with Rodgers at his advanced age. They’ve leaned more on the running game and quick game to take hits of Rodgers. The Chiefs have also helped Mahomes by having a respectable running game.
October 13th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
No matter who is running the ball, two rookie TE’s, a rookie LG, a second-year C, you cannot expect them to blow opponents off the ball. We do not see Brady calling his own number as he used to, I think that’s why. Lenny is still money catching the ball on third down, though, and I’ll take it.
October 13th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
I like me some Lenny. Like every football player, he has a few areas to improve upon, but unlike most players, he only has a few areas to work on. He’s a pretty solid 3-down back, but he’s no Barry Sanders.
October 13th, 2022 at 5:54 pm
Bowelswich could do a lot of good things with this roster. So far they haven’t.
The loss to the Packers in particular was egregious. Losing to the Chiefs? No way we were beating them this time. Reid and Bienemy schemed since the Super Bowl for that game and executed as well as I;ve ever seen.
Meanwhil Bowleswich came with plain vanilla, both sides of the ball, soft and slow. Like McDonald’s soft serve ice cream.
October 13th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Having decent running backs, and a weak run-game, *usually* points to one thing.
Is it Rocket Science?
October 13th, 2022 at 6:31 pm
I blame sub-par Tight End play, lol
October 13th, 2022 at 7:25 pm
No creative 3rd down plays. D seems to know what is coming.
October 13th, 2022 at 8:50 pm
I’ve been trying to tell my Y’all.
“Tip Toe Lenny” I would do a straight up trade for the
back up RB from The Vikings.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:41 pm
The Bucs are barely running the ball. Of course he doesn’t have a ton of runs for first downs.
October 13th, 2022 at 10:41 pm
When there’s no hole there’s no hole
October 14th, 2022 at 12:39 am
Short passing game makes up for it lately
October 14th, 2022 at 4:32 am
Skewed stat