“Most Unsung” Leonard Fournette
December 8th, 2022
Joe thinks Leonard Fournette is about to get his starting job back.
Fournette didn’t start against the Seahawks in Germany, and then he missed the debacle in Cleveland with a hip injury. He returned Monday night when again it was rookie Rachaad White getting the start — and the rock — to open the game.
Fournette, however, got the majority of the work and was more productive than White on the ground with 10 carries for 49 yards. (White was 9 for 28.) Each had six receptions, but it was Fournette who got the most love during a running backs chat during Todd Bowles’ show on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“I thought it was a good one-two punch. You know, Leonard came in and did an outstanding job,” Bowles said. “I think he’s one of the most unsung players of that [Saints] game. He ran it well. He caught the ball well. He got upfield. He got some timely yardage when he just caught three-yard passes and turned up and got eight, got nine, made it 3rd-and-short. He was part of the reason we were decent on third down.”
Bowles went on to talk about how White showed great resilience coming back strong from his critical third-quarter fumble.
Joe thinks that fumble is in Bowles’ head a bit. Joe knows how defense-focused head coaches freak out when it comes to turnovers.
Joe would be surprised if Fournette doesn’t get the starting honor on Sunday at San Francisco, even if the White-Fournette workload doesn’t change.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Ya forget about the winning TD White scored. When did Lenny develop the stutter step in open field? He’s always had it approaching the line but now where he used to bowl DB’s over he is trying to dance around them.
Bowels is going to embarrass Brady in front of his friends and family Sunday with his watching the paint dry offense. Here’s an idea, stick to what you know best and it’s obviously NOT the offensive side of the ball.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Who really cares who the “starter” is… It doesn’t affect his salary and we need both these guys contributing in every game.
Plus – health is a factor. L.F. had some injury concerns the past few weeks and I’m sure that figures into the equation.
I think White is a better fit for this offense but L.F. has performed admirably over the past few seasons…
December 8th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Everyone salivating over Rachaad got a big wake up call . Fournette has 4 fumbles in his career . Two of those were in his rookie season . Calling upon a rookie to take snaps over a veteran like Fournette will lead to this more than not . Fournette has been good for us and a few bad games behind an awful offensive line seemed to make people forget that .
December 8th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Decent set of backs we have. Use them both each game for fresh legs.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Nothing wrong with a 3rd down back that can run like a starter.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Run it up the gut on the best rushing D in the NFL. That’ll fool em. Here I’ll give you the play signal. 🖕
December 8th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Nice to have two, Rachad is going to bust some great runs before the season is over.
Makes me forget about the last guy from USC
December 8th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
I’m sitting wondering how on earth we even score a point on Sunday. Pick six, maybe?
December 8th, 2022 at 2:36 pm
He was fighting for yardage on third and long that he was never going to make anyway. Perfect punch out by cam Jordan as well. I think the kid gets a pass with that fumble.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
49ers have the number one ranked rush defense, giving up 75 ypg. IMO, the only chance the boys have is to go gun 5 wide hurry up. The defense will have to ball out too. It doesn’t matter who gets the start at RB, they’ll need both.
December 8th, 2022 at 2:46 pm
I don’t really care who starts, they need them both
December 8th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
It was White who caught the winning TD Pass, not Fournette.
I really do not care who starts, as long as we win.
December 8th, 2022 at 3:06 pm
For Lenny to be great again, he needs to stop indulging on donuts,,,, it slows you down and make your knees week…. come on man!
December 8th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
White and Fournette are totally different backs with different styles & strengths……I like using them both…..
December 8th, 2022 at 3:44 pm
Is it just me, or does it look like Fournette has gained a bit of weight (look at the pic above)? During the game I commented that he looks heavier to me (and not necessarily in a good way). If so, it may make him a bit more of a load to bring down but I suspect it would also slow him down a bit. I’d like to see him in as a half back with White as the scat back. Come on Leftwich, try designing some running plays with two RBs in the backfield. Couldn’t hurt.
December 8th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
“Seems like we run up the middle on first down every series. We are so predictable. The OC is horrible because if I know it, other teams know it…yada, yada, yada” Wrong. Check your numbers. Only 1 other team throws on first down more than the Bucs. The issue is execution and “effective” running regardless of the down. Get a different narrative or put “seems to me” before your post. As posted…balderdash. Go Bucs!
December 8th, 2022 at 4:01 pm
Run it up the gut off the left side. First play in each half. You can’t get any more predictable than that.
December 8th, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Please stop. He is so slow. And cost the team points on the first drive with how slow he was on third and goal. The turnover was a nothing burger on third down and maybe cost them 10 to 15 yards of field position. White should be the starter. Enough of this.
December 8th, 2022 at 4:17 pm
Reach87 – That first down running Stat needs context. The key is looking at when the pass on first down in neutral situations (take out two minute drills and the end of the last few drives when the Bucs were down two scores). The Bucs then move more to the middle or lower of the pack when it comes to first down passing when most effective when the defense does not expect it as much. I think the Bucs ran about 60% of the time on neutral first downs vs the saints. They have been really bad with this since after the Ravens game. This team is still too predictable in when they pass and run. And I think they almost always run with keift in the game. I mean why not just announce you are running on the loudspeaker.
December 8th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
I am not defending bowles but this whole notion that only defensive coaches care about turnovers is a load of crock. the point of the game is yes to score points well hello!! turning points = 0 points for you and gives the ball back to the other team to have a chance to score more points. forgetting aside the deflation and momentum change which is real in a football game. turnovers provide short fields as well so even if you are kevin occonnell on the vikings, yes you care about fumbles and INTs. LOL this is not even an argument.
I am not defending white or bowles or anything but just stating that turnovers do lose games and yes affect points. i actually think his fumble (albeit annoying) wasnt that bad considering it bounced around and got recovered at the 31 yard line. we would have punted anyways and probably would have had a touchback so it would have been 11 yards back if so. not a crazy loss of field position but something we need to watch out on. it was the same type of fumbles against green bay and oh yeah, that cost us the game!!!!
December 8th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Are we over-estimating the importance of being the “starting” RB?
It seems to me that the guy who starts the game often ends up with less carries that the #2 guy. I like both of these guys – different skill sets is nice!
Also, lots of people on this forum have been taking shots at Lenny lately but I think he had a couple of very key plays in the last 5 min. on Monday night. Also, I’m not sure the 2021 Super Bowl run would have been a success without him.
There are many bad things a player can do to undermine a team but I don’t think a guy wanting to play/contribute is one of them!
December 8th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Don’t forget the ST fumble from White in KC game.
December 8th, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Would love to see both White and Lenny in formation for the same play, and have Lefty call a counter run. Wishful thinking?
December 8th, 2022 at 7:15 pm
I definitely think Fournette likes his food but then again, I think a lot of our guys are not in good conditioning
December 9th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Gimme a break, Fournette was awful for 98% of that game, getting tackled easily up high by defensive backs several times. Watch the freaking games, Fournette is a huge liability as a runner, exhibiting the balance of a toddler combined with the speed of an old man with a walker. He plays hard, runs hard, catches and blocks well… but he’s well below average with the ball in his hands and anybody that can’t see it is blind or doing it deliberately.