Is It The Coaches?

October 23rd, 2023

Bucs run game coordintor and co-offensive line coach Harold Goodwin.

Head coach Todd Bowles loves to say his team “has to play it better and we have to coach it better.”

So what about those coaches? The run game is suffering mightily and the guy with the title of run game coordinator, co-offensive line coach Harold Goodwin, had the job last year when the Bucs owned the NFL’s worst rushing attack.

Goodwin also works closely with co-offensive line coach Joe Gilbert. It’s an uncommon relationship in the NFL. Gilbert works with the tackles (and he’s done a hell of a job) and Goodwin handles the interior linemen.

Then there’s new assistant coach Skip Peete, in his 26th year coaching NFL running backs. He must be wondering what he walked into in Tampa following stints with Cowboys and Rams.

Joe has to point a finger at Peete and Goodwin. They have to bear some of the blame. Rachaad White and Ke’Shawn Vaughn look like they’ve regressed and the Bucs’ run game is neither innovative or fresh.

And how the hell is it that the Bucs can’t find ways to get rushing yardage behind beastly Tristan Wirfs at left tackle and 6-6, 335-pound Matt Feiler at left guard?

Eight days ago, Joe called for the Bucs to hire a run game consultant in a hurry, fresh eyes to watch film of the past two seasons and make recommendations to the current crop of coaches.

After Sunday’s debacle, Joe is even more adamant about this. What’s the harm, other than to egos and a relatively small check from Team Glazer’s stash?

49 Responses to “Is It The Coaches?”

  1. DS Says:

    It’s the coaches stubbornness to play a player who ain’t producing, also defensive coaches love low score a games it’s almost like they enjoy losing a low scoring game than winning. I would love to know when the last time a running team won a Super Bowl ground and pound sounds good but doesn’t get you anywhere #PassingLeague

  2. Oneilbuc Says:

    No Joe your boy Baker Mayfield is trash just admit it!! Lol 🤣🤣

  3. Kgh4life Says:

    It’s a combination of a variety things. The interior oline and the tight ends are not blocking well, the RBs are not physical and lack great vision to find the running lanes.

  4. Carter Says:

    It’s the coaches, it’s the defense, it’s the running backs, it’s the offensive line, it’s the cheerleaders, it’s anyone but Joe’s boy Bakey!

  5. HC Grover Says:

    Joe, they are confused. Cabales said so. It is hard to pick which hole to hit once Baker calls the play. Maybe a secret code in the huddle would help? He could call..Gut A,B, or C for the left holes and Gut 1,2, or 3 for the right ones…. Even White could figger it out. …Gut Zero for right up the back of the center.

  6. StormyInFl Says:

    Baker ain’t playing great, but he’s the least of the issues.

    Playing Trask isn’t gonna magically solve anything. Likely the result would be even worse. He’s a Brady like statue, without Brady’s ability to diagnose a defense and get rid of the ball quickly. As Joe stated elsewhere – playing Trask (for reasons other than a Mayfield injury)is sending a signal that you’ve given up on the season. Vets will start making ‘business decisions’ on the field. Ans Bowles and his entire staff would be dead man walking for sure.

  7. Bucko72 Says:

    Yes!!!

  8. First Name Greatest Says:

    Bucs haven’t run the ball consistently well since 2015, Bowles kept Goodwin here after the ineffective run game the last few years for nothing.

    Should’ve cleaned house with all the offensive coaches.

  9. Oneilbuc Says:

    I can’t believe that people are giving Baker Mayfield a pass lol 🤣🤣 . You talking about a quarterback that’s on his 4th team in 6 years. He can’t see over the line he’s missing wide open receivers. He had Mike Evans on a 99 yard touchdown and the pass got nock down. He’s short and slow and who fault it’s going to be Thursday night? Baker Mayfield is the problem with this offense and teams are forcing him to throw the ball. If I’m a DC I will focus on the running game more just to make Baker Mayfield beat me . I’m not blaming our defense for nothing they got 4 turnovers and our offense only scored 13 points. If this was Jameis or Kyle Trask they would be the only reason why we lost. And look at how Joe refused to blame Baker Mayfield for anything because he hates Kyle Trask so much. Lol 🤣🤣

  10. DBS Says:

    Carter . Back with another new name? You are so easy.

  11. Mike Johnson Says:

    I think I will get drunk early Thursday. That way when the 1st qtr starts, I am comfortably numb.

  12. StormyInFl Says:

    Baker may be short, but he isn’t slow.

    His mobility is one of his assets.

    You want to see slow, put Trask in.

    If he’d shown the coaching staff anything, he’d be starting.

  13. Bojim Says:

    Baker shouldn’t be dumped on because they can’t run. He plays hard. I’m sure all the witty guys calling him too short are probably………short.

  14. Jason Says:

    If he’d shown the coaching staff anything, he’d be starting – bs. This was never a competition. Bucs signed Mayfield and would’ve never sat him, no matter how good Trask performed. They wanted a flashy name, hoping this will solve everything. There’s a reason this guy is on his 4th team in 6 years…

  15. rrsrq Says:

    In the words of Bill Parcells, if i have to cook in the kitchen at least let me shop for the groceries. I understand the time constraints on assistant coaches, but I seriously doubt that any had a hand in the draft choices on the interior offensive line and the RB room.

  16. SlyPirate Says:

    SUGGESTION: PULL A RICH BISACCIA

    For those unfamiliar, Rich Bisaccia was our ST Coach like a billion years. We had a top 5 ST year after year. Awesome coach. He got hired by Gruden when he went to the Raiders. When Gruden got released, he took over as HC and crushed it. Took the team to the playoffs.

    Maybe we need to fire Bowles and Canales and give a promising assistant an opportunity. Like, Larry Foote.

  17. Duane in Sanford Says:

    Its the personnel. Jensen was a last minute scratch two seasons in a row, and our most capable players are taking the snaps. I dont believe Hainsey was ever picked to be our center or even backup center. Still feeling the effects of Marpet’s retirement as well. Marpet would have likely taken snaps at center last season. Its an uphill climb to replace a pro bowl guard and center. We got lucky that our bookend tackles are holding up.

  18. HC Grover Says:

    Bowles is a guru to figger this out…’They have to play and coach better’…how profound.

  19. Timothy Raymer Says:

    @Mike Johnson. Agreed! We’ll be riding the storm out in perfect isolation. 😉😁😄

  20. HC Grover Says:

    Baker may have vision problems like depth perception. Would glasses help> he can not hit moving targets and throws too low or high.

  21. Schindlers Lisp Says:

    Hey Joe when are you gonna walk back the “let’s lay off Ryan neal” post… he’s lost 2 games singlehandedly and obviously has a future bagging groceries at your local publix… thoughts? Less is more in this situation- we need a little addition by subtraction

  22. TURBO 808 Says:

    They should try running more gap scheme, we obviously suck at zone schemes. Try to get a consistent 3.5 yds would be wonderful at this point

  23. Since76 Says:

    We need a passing consultant. This is a passing league. We can’t run or pass. Please hire a passing consultant first. Because this is a passing league…….

  24. TonySoprano Says:

    Seriously, what does Harold Goodwin do all week? The one thing he is responsible for is, by far, the worst in the league. It’s also clear he’s not busy developing any new schemes or strategies or run plays. It’s the same simple crap – the same 4 run plays every week. Can you imagine only having 1 responsibility at your job, failing at it miserably, and still taking home a massive paycheck?

  25. Fansince76 Says:

    The run game is becoming an epic monster that needs to be slayed!
    This is ridiculous, WTF is going on and why have the Buc’s not traded for an actual RB1!
    BUC’S FRONT OFFICE GET THIS DONE, GET A FREAKIN RB1!

  26. WyomingJoe Says:

    ONEILBUC: You’re correct. You know nothing about Baker Mayfield; certainly how he got to Tampa. He came into the NFL in 2018 and broke Peyton Manning’s record for most passing TDs by a rookie. And he did it in 13 games. He was second in Rookie of the Year honors. Before he started his first game for the Browns they were 1-34. 1-34! He won 7 games for them while throwing for 3600 yards. And with a lousy defense. He threw for 3700 yards the next year with 22 TDs and was voted as one of the Top 100 players in the NFL. In 2020, he was 11-5 with 26 TDs and 8 INTs and went on to beat the Steelers in the first playoff game. The next year he injured his shoulder in the second game, but gutted it out playing in pain for the rest of the year. Not great for his career, but he pushed through it for his teammates. Then the Browns thanked him by trading him to the worst team in the NFL, the Panthers. Then he asked to be cut and signed with the Rams. So don’t tell me he can’t play! He’s had a tough couple of games but he’s a starting level NFL QB. Stop giving up on him so soon.

  27. TonySoprano Says:

    I truly believe we could spin a wheel with all 31 other teams listed, and whatever team we land on has a better RB on the practice squad than Vaughn.

    C’mon Licht, wake up. I’m in the “blocking is the bigger problem with this running game” camp, but finding a better RB on a practice squad can’t be that hard, nor cost prohibitive.

  28. Bucfan37 Says:

    I want to see Trask playing and do not understand why he has not been seen in a game that counts. this year. Is he seen as too fragile to man the position? Saving him to dump in a trade situation down the line? Let Trask play, this team needs a shot of something different.
    .

  29. Joe Says:

    Hey Joe when are you gonna walk back the “let’s lay off Ryan neal” post

    When Joe starts hearing from folks at One Buc Palace that Neal sucks.

  30. Jerseybuc Says:

    😂😂oneal whatever is name is little cockroach is back out still talking about jaymiss 12 years later. Beat it man saints play every Sunday 2 n guess what he still don’t play

  31. Dan Naughton Says:

    Open up a running game opens up the passing. But you need a heavy runner to exceed your game. Third and one use a lineman as a back.

  32. Mike C Says:

    Joe…….Neal sucks….. bad

  33. NE Fan Says:

    Joe if Bowles doesn’t believe in stats what would ever make you believe he would hire a consultant? This team has bad coaching from the top down. Crap flows down hill. The I love Baker post earlier in this thread is a little over the top. Clevelands D was never that bad and the O was loaded with the best rushing game in the league and two great WR’s and a pretty good TE. Baker didn’t have to do too much. His last playoff game loss was to the Chiefs. Mahomes was hurt in the game and his backup beat Baker. So if he lays an egg Thursday why not try Trask just to see what he’s got?

  34. Pelsbuc61 Says:

    Yes Baker has missed some throws but Evans has dropped a lot of crucial passes. Baker has no running game, a clueless HC and OC and runs for his life behind a questionable Oline and has no TEs. What could go wrong.

  35. Steve-O Says:

    The Bucs were 7-5 three years ago and we know how that ended up. Give Baker a chance to adjust and improve. He can do it.

  36. Rod Munch Says:

    “And how the hell is it that the Bucs can’t find ways to get rushing yardage behind beastly Tristan Wirfs at left tackle and 6-6, 335-pound Matt Feiler at left guard?”

    ———

    I’d guess because Feiler misses about every other block is why you can’t run behind him.

    Seriously, he’s been pretty awful this season. He does fine when he actually is making contact with his guy, but the issue is way too often he’s either picking up the wrong person, or just completely whiffing on who he’s supposed to be blocking.

    Personally I’d put Stinnie back in there, unless there’s something I don’t know about. I’d trust him to at least block his guy correctly most of the time.

  37. Pelsbuc61 Says:

    It’s the coaches, players, GM, owners, water boy, etc… Thank you Tom Brady for bringing 3 yrs of relevance, respect and accountability to this listless franchise.

  38. BillyBucco Says:

    What we need is a HC consultant. I bet that’s what BA is pushing for.
    Also, somebody get Bowles a really HOT secretary. Pay one of the cheerleaders.
    Maybe if he thinks LESS, the team will play better.

  39. BillyBucco Says:

    I think this team would have equal or better success, with Pete Davidson pulling plays out of a hat. Or maybe even Kate Beckinsale. I bet fans would come then.

  40. Woodenman Says:

    Pelsbuc61 you are a idiot. I am bucs fan could careless about Brady. He will always be just a footnote in bucs history . You and NE Fan need to start your own Brady fan boy site.

  41. sasquatch Says:

    They know what’s wrong. A consultant isn’t gonna help when they don’t have the personnel to run the ball effectively, which appears to be the case.

  42. BUCS4LIFE Says:

    If I hear “we gotta do better” one more freakin time after a game, I’m gonna flip out. Really? Well no $hit!

  43. Esteban85 Says:

    I wish it was just the running back. The problem really is multi faceted; first the line is getting blown up almost to the point of suspicion. Has Canales thought of some nuance on the snap count? Second of all the back is definitely not elite and cannot make a man miss to save his life. He is a decent 3rd down back, White has shown that he can make someone miss in open space, just not when being blown up at the line. Third, and most appalling is the play calling from the coaches. There is too much emphasis on RW and the running game & not enough emphasis on first down passes and the 2 studs we have lining up outside.

  44. tbc 1 Says:

    wonder how much it would cost for Henry we could use neal as a trade think they could be that stupid?

  45. garro Says:

    I started thinkeng about Goodwin a while back Joe.
    I know he and Bowles were a package deal really and he was considered as HC material. But how he survived the Leftnut blunder is beyond me. If he can’t pull this run game together he may be one of the first to roll. Some of this run game looks alot like Leftnuts to me.

    Go Bucs!

  46. Jeff’s grandpa Says:

    Put in Kyle Trask that’ll solve all this teams problems right gaytor bois

  47. Badbucs Says:

    If the coaches know and the defenses know that our main weakness is interior line, why are we always running up the middle? Are we trying to outsmart the defense? Surely they won’t run there. Or is it some foolhardy dedication to proving they can do it? Definition of insanity. If the OC can’t see it, certainly Bowles should. Where is the innovative new scheme? Somebody needs to be fired. Goodwin maybe?

  48. dasaazter1 Says:

    you dont get a name like todd bowel for nothing you cant coach a team when you suck at your job

  49. Couch Fan Says:

    Todd Bowles is a good D coordinator but is bad at every part of being a HC. Compulsive bad decision maker. The team is highly undisciplined. Constantly getting out worked, out hustled, and out coached. I’m a Trask guy, Mayfield is growing on me but nobody is going to win with these coaches. the GOAT couldn’t do it. Is it the coaches? Lol Duh…