Todd Bowles Responds To Pouty Lenny Report
November 7th, 2022
The massive TV audience for yesterday’s Bucs-Rams game heard a live report of Leonard Fournette being a me-first guy on the Tampa Bay sidelines in the second quarter.
CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said the following: “Fournette was extremely frustrated during that last drive because he didn’t see the field. Rachaad White came off the field, went over to him and said, ‘We need you.’ Such respect between these two guys.”
It was disturbing to hear in real-time. It was early in a close game and Fournette hasn’t looked like a stud player in weeks. Was he really having a loud pity party because White got playing time and Ke’Shawn “Sneak” Vaughn got his first snaps of the season?
That’s a disturbing sign for Fournette, who was a volatile teammate in 2020 when it came to his attitude.
Head coach Todd Bowles was asked today about the report and said he knew nothing about it in any way.
Joe hopes it was a heat-of-the-moment reaction from Playoff Lenny strictly because he wants to win so badly and believes in himself — that it had nothing to do with putting himself before the team.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Gotta find that negativity
November 7th, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Lenny needs to ride the pine. White looks better and Vaughn may be better too. I was very worried about Lenny this off-season when I heard he came to camp overweight. That’s not a good sign. All I know is that if I was the coach of the team that was last in rushing I would try another running back
November 7th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Terd Bowels , knows nothing about it ? This guy is clueless. If we heard a comment on the national show, pouting lenny, pathetic ! How can Terd Bowels not learn about it. That is something Terd has to nip in the bud. T is clueless, doesn’t have his finger on the pulse of the team.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Player frustration is a real thing, which Lenny obviously isn’t immune to
November 7th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
Lenny did the same thing when rojo was balling. We should have let him walk!!!
Rojo is the better runner rojo white and sneak should’ve been the backs. When white gets the ball he hits the hole just like rojo with some juice. Lenny has poor vision and stop his own momentum for no reason. Tony romo highlighted a play last night where Lenny completely missed the hole and bounced it. We should not have paid him. I hope KC releases rojo like he’s asking come home rojo.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Sure player frustration is a thing but his performance hasn’t been that great either from his drops to his bad vision the hesitation on short down attempts shouldn’t be happening when you are trying to get a yard take the ball put your foot in the ground and move forward.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:45 pm
I still think giving him 7 million guaranteed for 3 years was idiotic, a poor judgment driven by all-in hysteria. I’m pretty sure we’d get more production from Ra White if he were the starter. It’s just a matter of time before he’s the starter anyway. Why wait? If Lenny pouts, then we unload him and take the cap hit.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:47 pm
White was more productive and had more juice
November 7th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Good old Tip toe showing his true colors
He still hasn’t got a first down since I coin him
Tip toe Lenny after week 2🤣😂.
Let’s not forget about “Devin Ice skates White”
He can’t diagnose a play if they told him ahead of time.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
There’s something for sure. R. White fits better With our current oline. Perhaps coaches want more of him imo but Licht dropped a nice extension to Lenny. And Lenny signed with us for cheap first year. Lefty needs to be more creative with runs and balance both guys and stay with the hot hand.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
Lenny is a beast yall are Hating lol
November 7th, 2022 at 1:51 pm
Lenny should have a new nickname, “0-yard” Lenny. ENough of the “playoff Lenny”. He is slow, does not see the openings and most especially, overrated.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
I named him Lasagna Lenny in the preseason. I think it suits him
November 7th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
He’s definitely lost a step. Should be our third down back at this point. We need more burst and elusiveness from our backs and Lenny doesn’t have it.
November 7th, 2022 at 1:58 pm
A tiger never changes his stripes. He is who he is. Bench him and see what happens again. He will cause dissension in a hurry. Lenny is good as long as things go his way. And he won’t accept that he’s playing like ass
November 7th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Our O line us not a good at run blocking… .nobody on earth would be a stud runner with that run blocking.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Call up the A Train
November 7th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
This is very simple and it’s real — because the offensive line isn’t run-blocking well, Lenny (a big back) can’t find holes.
White is a smaller, more elusive guy and he can find holes better than Lenny can. And he is finding them.
Everyone knows this, including the coaches and both backs.
The reality is that with the current lack of good blocking, White is the guy you must use more. And the coaches are realizing that, and Lenny doesn’t like it.
Lenny just got paid. He needs to relax and take one for the team.
Rachaad is a real talent. He’s going to be good for a long time. Lenny is better than Rachaad right now, but Lenny is not better than Rachaad given the struggles of our offense.
Lenny has to calm down and step back. If Jensen comes back, that might make the holes bigger for Lenny to run through. Until and unless that happens, then Rachaad needs to be used more. Particularly on run plays (rather than screens).
November 7th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
If rachaad White gets 15-20 carries/game we’ll be a different team. I’ll put a case of big storm on it.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:23 pm
with our current O-Line , Rashad is the better back
November 7th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Bowles needs to jerk a knot in some players…….
These problems are coaching problems
November 7th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
It’s not just the line. I like Lenny, but to suggest that we wouldn’t be a different running team with a true elite talent like a Nick Chubb is curious at best. Blocking isn’t always going to be perfect, elite talent at the RB position would get the job done. Other than strength, Lenny’s attributes such as vision, quickness, elusiveness, etc etc are painfully average. On top of that, he will always be a guy that gets a little c^nty the second something doesn’t go his way. It seriously takes some nerve to get mad about getting another guy reps when you’re averaging like 1.1 ypc. This guy.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Sasquatch, agree about giving Lenny that deal. Licht should’ve let the Patriots sign him. White sure looks more explosive and allusive. Let him pout. It’ll either motivate him, or white and Vaughn take the workload. Win win.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Mr butthole toilet bowl
November 7th, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Lenny needs to remember how big he is and on short yardage hit the Damn los hard and stop with the tip toe or studder stepping that he constantly does.
I wanted us to go after Kareem Hunt years back and he’s not happy in Cleveland. That’s the type of back we’re missing. He’s a danger to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. Maybe we’ve got that in White but he’s just getting started. He definitely deserves more touches just wish BL could get better and more creative with his play calling.
November 7th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
Lots of issues with this team that BA covered up and handled well. Bowles didn’t really learn much apparently
November 7th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Fournettee needs to feel “threatened” to perform….if there’s no perceived competition, he’s doesn’t play as hard. This isn’t new to the Bucs….Arians almost sent him home in 2020. He lacks the necessary motivation to operate like a professional. That’s why I would start White and then supplement Fournettee in 2nd half
November 7th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Run with White on 1st down.
Use Fournette to run on 2nd downs, when the opposing defense actually isn’t expecting it, due to Leftwich’s clockwork predictability.
Either is good on 3rd down, as both can catch passes well. But Lenny seems to find the ‘spots’ for Brady a little better due to his experience.
I honestly think Lenny has been injured all season as well. He got hurt week 1 but has played through it.
November 7th, 2022 at 3:17 pm
Tony Romo said last night, there was a big hole right in front of Lenny ( they even have a still camera shot) but he went the wrong way. ANd as usual, he got a negative yards again for “zero Yard” Lenny.
November 7th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
i dont disagree with everyone saying White needs to be on the field more and Lenny less..
but if you really think the ‘solution’ is simply that, you are delusional. The actual scheme and plays suck! White is no McCaffrey or Kamara…he isn’t THAT athletic and dynamic. If the scheme and plays don’t change maybe we get 3.5 yds/carry with White…but it still would suck!
Get creative in the backfield, get White more touches in that revised scheme, and play action off of that – and then we are cooking with heat!!
November 7th, 2022 at 3:33 pm
He came to workouts after summer reportedly weighing close to 260 lbs. Of course he’s a “me first” player. What “superstar” player does that? He is “Self-Preservation” Lenny.
Brady and the coaching staff need to embrace the youth at the skill positions on this team or they may as well have gone ahead and lost yesterday to improve draft position. Lenny, Julio, Perriman, Brate,….they all need to have limited snaps. Julio and Perriman shouldn’t even be active on game day. Lenny is a 3rd down back, and that’s being generous.
November 7th, 2022 at 3:33 pm
I think it is a bit if Lenny missing holes and tip toeing. Mostly the play design project where the play is going. Definitely need more creativity in the run game. BL is running an offense from early 2000s.
November 7th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Playa wanna play.
November 7th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
It would be awesome to have 3 healthy backs, with experience, for our supposed play-off run later this year.
Lenny obviously has the experience so we need to get White and Vaughn more reps. It’s for the good of the team in the long run.
November 7th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
Macajina. Exactly. Hoping he was just saying that to keep it in house. If not wow start learning your team coach. Guys reminding me of Lovie about now. Afraid to speak his mind and fire someone. Grab your bag coach!
November 7th, 2022 at 4:39 pm
Alls i know is went gone all year without a single run of 20+ yards. The running backs on this team so far have been completely ineffective. If Lenny should be pouting about anything should be how lousy he is at running the football.
November 7th, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Let White be the primary back he’s the better runner right now
November 7th, 2022 at 4:51 pm
Remember that Lenny can catch as opposed to RoJo and yeah Tom trusts Lenny. Whatever went on it must stop and resume BAU
November 7th, 2022 at 5:04 pm
And I’m frustrated with watching Lenny tiptoe up to where there is no hole, stop for a moment, and then go ahead into the back of his own line.
If you want the damn ball, play like you want the damn ball.
November 7th, 2022 at 5:08 pm
Running game is a laughingstock, might as well let TB-12 toss it 85 times.
November 7th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Ryan Jensen could transform the entire offense’s attitude.
November 7th, 2022 at 6:18 pm
He looks like he did in Jax right before he got cut – slow, lack of vision, me first attitude – no BA to keep him in line
The inmates are running Todd’s asylum
November 7th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
I think Lenny knows he’s under-performing. Add being told to stay on the bench to let another back get snaps just adds to the damage to his ego. Problem comes when you can’t handle it and take it as a personal affront.
Look at Dallas. Zeke (big star back, the MAN for the past few.seasons) is taking a back seat to Pollard who is the more effective every down back. Zeke comes in on short yardage or to spell Pollard. No whining and they support each other. Lenny should show the same maturity and teamwork.
I’d still LOVE to see Vita Vea be our short yardage/goal line running back ala the Fridge. Hell, let a big ol’ o-lineman line up with him as a lead blocker.in the backfield. 600+ pounds coming at you. Stop that
November 7th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Remember, he is called play off Lenny cause he didn’t do much till the playoffs. He came in the end of the year splitting carries with fresh legs in the playoffs
November 7th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Of course he knows nothing about it this is the same guy who handles players by motivating them with sarcasm. A complete moron.
November 7th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
The OL don’t help the running game.
November 7th, 2022 at 9:28 pm
Sit Lenny. Lose him at the next opportunity. Play everyone else. Good chance the running game improves just from that.
There is still no feature back on this team. There is no power back on this team. Vaughn is a backup with potential. White is a glorified gadget. Gio is useless and should be gotten rid of.
A big offseason priority.
November 7th, 2022 at 11:45 pm
Playoff Lenny WANTS to be Great, and I respect him for that.
He’s just not at this point in time.
What happened to modern NFL adages like ‘Every team needs a good 1-2 punch at RB’ and a good RB rotation etc
I’m totally cool with keeping a guy in there the entire time, as long as it’s ‘Feeding the Hot Hand’….
Who the h*ll wants to continuously feed the slumping guy/cold hand?!??
Lenny hasn’t done anything since Week 1.
Ooooh, put me in there coach, so I can get stuffed on 3rd on short 99 out of 100 times qt 240+ lbs and the ability to run 20+ mph.
Wtf, Lenny.
I like you, bro, but WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY.
November 7th, 2022 at 11:46 pm
*at
November 8th, 2022 at 7:46 am
And, the emotional ticking time bomb is getting ready to explode. The locker room is irreparably divided in multiple ways. You wonder why they can’t play effectively? You’ll get ALL the info at season’s end. This has been festering since the end of last season, now it’s eating the team like a cancer. Joe is getting close with his investigating. Hopefully, he’ll be able to report on it at some point before it collapses.
November 8th, 2022 at 8:28 am
richbucsfan,
You peaked my interest, I’d love to know the issues.
My contact info is on my website in my hotlink if you felt like sharing with me directly via phone/text/email
November 8th, 2022 at 8:32 am
Here’s a surprise…. a RB that has six years in the league and a whopping grand total of two 1000 yard seasons and two seasons were he averaged 4.0 YPC or more, is struggling. Maybe it has to do with the fact that he is an average at best runner and has never been anything more than that. Considering Fournette was replaced the year after he ran for a career best 1152 yards an his second best YPC of 4.3 by an undrafted rookie who ran for over 1000 yards and posted an even better 4.5 YPC tells you everything you need to know. he isn’t that good… never was.
The dude is a straight line runner. Ask him to move his feet laterally and he stops and can’t get restarted. His legs usually go dead on contact and he simply dives into tacklers. He can’t run laterally and stick his foot on the ground and get upfield… ever. And this isn’t new… this is who he is and has always been. That being said, he is a dependable, but far from spectacular receiver, and a pretty good blocker. There are two better runners on the roster… and we let another guy go that was a far better runner. Ronald Jones was 100x better runner than Fournette. The team let the wrong guy go.
November 8th, 2022 at 10:05 am
@ Brandon
Preach, brother. You’re exactly right.
November 8th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
“we let another guy go that was a far better runner. Ronald Jones was 100x better runner than Fournette. The team let the wrong guy go.”
At least someone recognizes My Momma’s greatness. She told you, long ago, Joe.
November 9th, 2022 at 2:17 am
Lenny used to bounce outside, shoot through a slant, now he chooses to run up the backs of our lineman most of the time. That’s why there are others at his position. Duh!. White did run around more, but still managed to avoid a lot of contact the whole game. He also avoided coverages. Our defense plays with 1 less player most of the time.