Bucs’ Running Game Showing Signs Of Life
November 14th, 2025
Warming up?
Did Luke Goedeke give the Bucs’ run game a shot of juice to look alive?
It’s quite possible.
Now whether you want to blame the constantly shuffling offensive line as the root of the Bucs’ problems with the ground game, or Bucky Irving’s injury or a combination of both, the result is the same. The run game this year has been a shell of last year’s top-shelf run game.
Bucky struggled before he got hurt against the Eagles and only returned to practice this week.
Goedeke also returned to practice last week. And he started Sunday against the Patriots, who were downright stingy against the run.
Still, Sean Tucker ran for 53 yards. And the Bucs ran 21 times for 113 yards without a Baker Mayfield scramble. Impressive.
Tucker became the first running back this season who has run for over 50 yards against New England. Biills QB Josh Allen, who the Bucs face Sunday, had been thhe only player to run for 50 against the Patriots before Tucker, and Allen too had 53 yards.
Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis had a nugget on just how bad the Bucs’ rushing attack has been this season.
Tampa Bay running backs have a run of 10 or more yards on 7.2% of their attempts, 31st in the league.
That’s brutal.
If the Bucs are to beat the Bills on Sunday, they must be able to take advantage of the soft Bills’ run defense. Bucky could help if he’s healthy. If the Bucs get the run game churning, that keeps Allen on the sidelines.
Allen cannot hurt the Bucs one iota if he’s watching. Play keepaway from this guy (and James Cook) and the Bucs should be in good shape.
November 14th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Tucker needs more carries. I like White but he runs like he is sneaking up on the Easter bunny.
November 14th, 2025 at 9:17 am
Grizz doesnt believe in committing to the run…
would like to see Grizz run more 12 & 21 personnel, but he’ll have baker try to throw his way to MVP
GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2025 at 9:19 am
BUCS should have no less than 15 runs per half…
wake up Grizz!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Pound that rock
November 14th, 2025 at 10:24 am
just snap the dam ball with 10seconds, 6 seconds etc !! Not 1 or 2 every time outside of hurry up !!
You’re adding 15 percent to some d line players get off .
I know there are allot of factors but switch it up !!
I sure hope the Griz Whiz is doing some film break down in person with Arians !!
November 14th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Backup’s playing both guard spots. Doesn’t bold well for interior runs especially with Barton getting beat frequently up the middle. Hope for the best I guess.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Dacake
Perfectly said.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:50 am
I’ve been a believer in Sean Tucker. I’m hoping to see an explosion in production this week in Buffalo. He’s getting more touches. He needs capitalize. If he can, it’ll create a three headed monster for us at running back, which will help us the rest season and hopefully deep into the postseason.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:52 am
There is an article here on JBF describing how much better Barton is playing.
He isn’t getting “beat frequently up the middle” any more.
November 14th, 2025 at 11:49 am
Hard to tell completely due to injuries but Grizzard just doesn’t seem to have a clue what to call at times. This team has no real identity offensively. Run game looked questionable even before Bucky went down. Passing game looked good at times when Baker was able to scramble to keep plays and drives alive. I question whether Grizzard is able to scheme and call good plays to get guys open.
November 14th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Probably, not 20-minutes before Tucker had that 18-yards run, I was sitting there wondering how long it’d been since the Bucs has had a 20-yard run from scrimmage (by a running back)!? I didn’t really care enough to actually look it up (if I could even find-it), but I wonder how long it’s been!? Seems-like a very long time. I’m afraid James Cook is gonna hurt us… They have the freakin blueprint on how to attack us and our ‘second-level’ defense. On the other hand, especially after last week, the Bucs should be extremely aware of this. They know who HE IS. And, he is key. They have a good shot IF they can contain HIM. They have to stop Cook and not allow him to get him goin. Over the past couple of seasons, he has more gashers than ANYONE… He’s been doing things that hasn’t been done by ANY ‘running back’ in the past 15-20 years. Can’t let him get loose. Gotta be locked-in, and fill the gaps to shut him DOWN. Or, it’ll be a very looong cold night.
November 14th, 2025 at 11:58 am
I like White to catch a few more passes. He got a nice one for positive yards last Sunday. And I’d like to see Bucky and Tucker split carries evenly until Bucky gets really going… if he plays.
The reason for not so many 10 yard plus runs is that is Bucky’s forte and we haven’t used Tucker wisely IMO.
November 14th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Surprised Rod Munch hasn’t come in here with one of his routine terrible takes about Sean Tucker. Is there an optometrist in the house?
November 14th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
were in big trouble with a loss sunday this is the game of the year
November 14th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Baker not running of late is what’s killing this team and its playoff hopes we have to fight every year just to get in to the playoffs,why isnt this team getting any better
November 14th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
enough with the Tucker love what has he done? He has been given plenty of chances he has had like one big game he is what he is a back-up. some people on here think is the next Saquan
November 14th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
One thing Grizz did in the pre season if starting with the run wasn’t there he switched to passing, short, intermediate which softened the run up and keeps the D guessing, that’s why I had high hopes for this season BUT injuries happen. That still doesn’t mean that you can’t employ the same mindset with back ups, they get paid too. If you can keep the D guessing, which is what has been said they want to do, then do it.
November 14th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
It seems to me that the screens and flare-outs to the backs aren’t effective this year because they’re planned. These plays worked so well last year because the RB was Baker’s third or even forth read. Even I can tell when a screen pass is coming and I’m certainly not a professional.
November 14th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
Another loss for Todd. 6 and 5 Buccaneers coming soon
November 14th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
I’m a Tucker fan. Really feels like a throwback Rb from previous decades though and he needs big TE, lead blockers, play action etc to thrive. He’s built for 20 plus carries too and like those old backs get better as the game goes on. It just represents a game plan we are no longer interested in as a league and aren’t going to commit to. Sadly, Baker is actually very good historically in those sets. We also don’t really have the skill position talent left anymore to do anything else….but we aren’t going to do it. Grizzard has do what he knows, I guess.
November 14th, 2025 at 10:32 pm
I love Rachaad White…I really do, but he is not a starting NFL back.
Example: our anemic rushing attack when he was the starter in 2022 and 23. And now for the last few games. Sean should obviously be our #1 with Bucky out then slide to backup.
White is a terrific 3rd down back…play to his strengths!!
November 14th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
B. If we ran Tucker 20 or more times a game we’d win alot of games. He’s the best rusher of the football we have and if he could run for 100 yards 16 or 18 carries Sunday he might run for 100 yards a game the rest of the year. I don’t think Bucky or Racchad are horses who can do that. They can still do playmaker damage in all sorts of ways. But Tucker is what you said. Gets stronger later in the game as you stated. If that happened Sunday and we win, then I’m sure it would represent a game plan we would be interested in.
November 15th, 2025 at 3:00 am
This team isn’t getting better because the injuries are worse. Imagine our complete starting O-line with Evans, Godwin, Ebuka and McMillan/Tez at WR and Bucky at RB. We would be scoring WAY MORE POINTS. A couple defensive slip-ups here and there would no longer matter. THAT’S what we should have had this year but things haven’t worked out that way yet. It can still be salvaged if we can find a good guard and Bredeson comes back soon as well as our offensive stars. This is bound to happen eventually as long as we don’t get any more major injuries!