Chris Long: Bucs Need To Run The Ball To Be Successful
January 12th, 2026
Two-time Super Bowl-winner Chris Long.
When a smart guy who has two Super Bowl rings to his name, one when playing for Bill Belicheat, talks football, Joe listens.
And recently, former NFL defensive end Chris Long was talking Bucs football on his podcast “Green Light.” This episode published before Bucs coach Todd Bowles decided to make a change at offensive coordinator, dismissing Josh Grizzard.
To hear Long talk, a good bet for the new Bucs offensive coordinator would be a guy with a demonstrated ability to establish a run game.
“I didn’t love the scheme,” Long said of Grizzard’s offense in 2025. “That offense needs to be able to run the football.
“Last year [in 2024 with Liam Coen], when they lost guys [to injury], they gave the ball to Sean Tucker, they gave the ball to, you know, Bucky Irving. Obviously, to [Rachaad] White, and they didn’t miss a beat.
“And this year, it felt like they were a lot more fragile.”
Joe gets what Long is suggesting but the numbers don’t fully bear him out. The passing game completely broke down after the bye and the only thing that makes sense is that Mayfield was so injured that he wasn’t close to his normal solid self.
(If you want to argue the passing game broke down because Grizzard couldn’t adjust in-game, Joe’s very open-minded to that discussion.)
For example, before the bye the Bucs ran the ball for over 100 yards five times and the Bucs were 4-1 in those games. The one loss came in a 31-25 game to the Eagles when the Bucs’ not-so-special teams melted down.
After the bye the Bucs ran for over 100 yards six times, losing five. The lone win came in the final week of the season when the Bucs beat the Stinking Panthers.
So Joe gets what Long is saying that the offense needed to run the ball, but after the bye, the Bucs did run the ball sufficiently and were losing.
And there is no doubt Mayfield did not play well after the bye.
But knowing how much Bowles wants to run the ball, Joe thinks Long is onto something.
Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs are going to roll the dice on a first-time playcaller again for 2026. Because if that novice fails, it’s a good bet there will be a new head coach for 2027.
The Bucs were red hot out of the gate… then collapsed and missed the playoffs. What needs to change? pic.twitter.com/uF6jcXKPTI
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) January 5, 2026
January 12th, 2026 at 7:03 am
The real question is why was there such a precipitous drop in Bucks YPC this year compared to last? Buck is not big enough to be a bellcow back.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:15 am
I listened to his latest podcast yesterday. He had a line in there that was telling. They were talking about where McDaniel will end up and he said he is done with the Bucs because they aren’t trying to win. Pretty sure he came to this conclusion because they retained Bowles, but he didn’t elaborate. Last year he loved the Bucs going into the bye.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:15 am
I wouldn’t say red hot, they won most of their games in the final minute. They didn’t blow anyone out. They won some nail bitters.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:15 am
I dread coming to JBF now…there is still hope that the owners wake up!
There will be coaches still on Playoff teams becoming available every week now.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:23 am
Todd … ‘The real question is why was there such a precipitous drop in Bucks YPC this year compared to last?’
Our ‘standard’ for run-blocking was set in 2024 when we averaged 5.3 YPC as a team. During that year, Wirfs (1016 snaps), Bredeson (1128 snaps), Barton (1065 snaps), Mauch (1133 snaps) and Goedeke (907 snaps) were healthy for almost all games.
Things changed drastically in 2025 as we all saw. Wirfs (777 snaps), Bredeson (622 snaps), Barton (1134 snaps), Mauch (138 snaps) and Goedeke (675 snaps) virtually never started together as an OLine. Instead we filled in backups like Haggard (251 snaps), Heck (473 snaps), Jordan (717 snaps), Feeney (677 snaps), Klein (87 snaps) and Chukwama (151 snaps). Six different backups, and none of them came close to performing like our regular starters did.
Add to that a new OC (who didn’t seem to have a great touch for the run game), and our lead dog getting hurt (Bucky only played in 10 games), and all those factors together provide pretty good reasons for our Run Game average dropping from 5.3 YPC in 2024 to only 4.1 YPC in 2025.
How do we fix it in 2026 is the real question. Better OC who understands the Run Game for starters. Hopefully much fewer injuries to our regular starters, PLUS signing some quality backups. And I agree with you BTW Todd that Bucky isn’t the bellcow RB we need. And with White AND Tucker BOTH being FAs right now, we’ve got some work to do in that RB room.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Waiting for the Bucky mystery to be brought to light this offseason.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:27 am
“If we had ONLY…”
I HATE hearing that crap over and over. It’s pointless and unproductive. Todd is here for at least one more season, begging for him to be fired yet aNOTHER 437 times won’t alter it
January 12th, 2026 at 7:31 am
Run the ball more? He obviously didnt watch any Bucs games. The offense is built to pass considering how many resources went into the WRs.
Sigh…I cant wait for yall to come to the realization thats injuries really didnt derail the team. They lost games with the roster at or near full strength and people still want to cling to that narrative. This roster isnt that great, and when they play just as bad next season while being healthy, what excuses will you come up with then?
Smh…one more year of this mess of HC and roster….
January 12th, 2026 at 7:38 am
DR
I was more referring to Bucks YPC being 3.4 compared to Tucker at 3.7 and White at 4.3 than the overall success of the running game as a whole , but it is important to remember that the 2024 Bucs did rush for a franchise record at 2536 yards, so hard to set the record 2 years in a row.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:45 am
Two third string guards and a struggling center there is no running the ball. Long should have at least included this in his statement. Not to mention the fact that the Bucs have the best group of WR’s in the NFC South.
Teams that like to run the ball also usually have great defenses
January 12th, 2026 at 7:51 am
bucinjom
Need to draft or sign a REAL CENTER
January 12th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Maybe i am wrong but isnt that the case for all the teams?
January 12th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Beeej, I agree. Bowles is here for another year and all this stuff about who’s coming available and the hope that the Bucs will still fire Bowles this week or next is just water under the bridge. The Glazers are not stupid people. I think they had a reason for what they have done. As I say all the time, 1. we as fans don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. People call off all these names like Harbaugh and the Bucs should go all at to get him, he may not want to come to Tampa like several OC candidates last year turn down that job. 2. If owners listen only to fans they would be changing HC every 2 years
January 12th, 2026 at 8:11 am
Bee Says:
Sigh…I cant wait for yall to come to the realization thats injuries really didnt derail the team. They lost games with the roster at or near full strength and people still want to cling to that narrative. This roster isnt that great…”
Smh…one more year of this mess of HC and roster….
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I agree that it’s not the injuries that derailed the team. The team had significant injuries before the bye, when they started 6 -2. And that was during the toughest part of the schedule. We beat 3 different playoff teams during that stretch. The collapse happened during the weaker part of the schedule, during a time when we began to get some players back.
As far as next season, NO team has the same roster in consecutive years, and the Bucs won’t either.
There is plenty that can be done to improve the team that has nothing to do with the HC. If the Bucs bring in the right OC, bring in a good special teams coordinator, hire some great defensive coaches to replace the ones who were let go, and upgrade the talent on the defense via free agency and the draft, we can be back in the playoffs next season. Obviously, there is no guarantee all that will happen, but it IS doable, and it’s not rocket science.
January 12th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Gee whiz, that video makes me even sadder about losing so much after the bye. And unfortunately, Chris is correct. “Everything didn’t break right.”
January 12th, 2026 at 8:16 am
@Defense Rules
Tucker is a restricted free agent, so they can retain him by matching any offer he gets from another team. That concern is probably far down on the list of things that Licht has to be concerned about this off-season.
January 12th, 2026 at 8:20 am
BFS1996
From your mouth to God’s ears. Its definitely doable and I admire your glass half full approach. It most certainly can happen but considering the leadership in place and their decision making thus far, I only forsee the same results the team has had.
Who are the coaches that want to risk their career on Bowles, Licht and the roster for possibly one year? We’ll find out soon enough.
January 12th, 2026 at 8:38 am
I don’t like letting Rachaad White go….
January 12th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Watching what Vrabel has done in ONE off-season is amazing. He took the Pats from the 22nd ranked defense to a top 5 unit that just completely shut down the Chargers in the playoffs.
The Pats defense was void of much talent and it’s not like they went out and spend big money on FAs. Goes to show what a huge difference a defensive HC can make that has a good scheme, holds players to a high standard and can game plan.
Everyone wants to say this team lacks talent, and sure they need upgrades and a few more players, but the HC is so much more important (see Vrabel, Coen, Johnson).
Is Todd still here? 😕
January 12th, 2026 at 8:46 am
@Bee
As far as identifying and bringing in quality coaches, Bowles has had mixed results in this area. He seems to have too much loyalty to those he worked with in the past. On the other hand, he is the one who brought in both Canales and Coen. And both of them have started well as head coaches. Not many people thought that Canales could have success in Carolina. But the Panthers just gave the Rams all they could handle last weekend.
If a great OC were to come to Tampa, he might not see it as risking his career. He might see it as an opportunity to take over as the Bucs HC if Bowles doesn’t fix the defense in 2026.
Licht and the Glazers have to be aware of how the fans feel at this point. I predict they’ll make one or more splash moves in free agency to generate some excitement. The salary cap should be in better shape, enabling them to do that.
January 12th, 2026 at 9:01 am
The Bucs definitely missed Bucky Irving’s explosive runs and catches he had his rookie season.
Without his one or two big plays per game our offense was boring and predictable – even after Godwin, Evans and McMillan returned.
IMO the injuries to Bucky (along with our two starting Guards) were far more detrimental than the injuries to Evans, Godwin and McMillan.
The proof was in the pudding…
January 12th, 2026 at 9:24 am
When Mayfield was injured in Cleveland he continued to play which started his down fall. He came to the Bucs and reserulted his career under Cannales and blossomed under Coen.
Mayfield was injured in 2025 and played like he did in Cleveland. Bowles chose to play him instead of resting him and we all witnessed the Cleveland scenario deblockal again.
Had Bowles rested him 2-3 games after the bye week we would have witnessed a healthier Mayfield and the Bucs reaching the playoffs.
Hopefully, Bowles has learned from this. If Brighwater was incapable why are we keeping him
Find a decent backup quarterback and pay him. That’s what good playoff contenders do. That is on Jason Licht and the Glazers to Stop talking the walk and actually walk the walk.
January 12th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Tampabaybucfan Says: “I don’t like letting Rachaad White go….” Agreed, however for him it may be best with a perfect team he fits better in and knows how to utilize him.
Allen Lofton – In agreement. They had no what-ifs for a backup QB. They had Trask and Bridgewater. Both could not take over for Baker when hurt. And he was hurt. I was rooting for Teddy at first, but he was a waste of money. We did nothing at the trade time. This has to be a priority now.
January 12th, 2026 at 9:47 am
It was the Houston game where I realized we had a pass happy newbie at OC. Ironically enough it was Rachaad White on that sequence he got about 4 touches straight in that game for >30 yards on those few runs. Got us all the way down to the redzone. Both RBs got sidelined and we went empty WR sets 3 times straight and settled for a FG.
I don’t want to hear about injuries. In fact the smart way to mitigate injuries and allow your depth to get loose is to let them go hunt. Easier to ask depth to go put a hat on a hat than it is to ask them to hold up >3 seconds in pass pro. Especially with how gap heavy we were with our run game.
We flashed on the grounds. We had good games rushing the ball this season, with those same injuries. Our issues were partly on the talent, but mostly on the mindset applying the talent. Don’t just run the ball because you’ve got 7 different screen plays to pop off the end of it.
Now we’ll likely have to replace Rachaad, and they better tender Tucker. I think we draft an OG day 2 this year along with taking a flier on a day 3/UDFA like Jalen Buckley 😉
January 12th, 2026 at 10:19 am
BFS1996
All valid points. Its still a risk for the OC that he could get fired with Bowles or by Bowles at the end of next season. Lol…but life is a risk right?
Man, I really dont know how attractive the Bucs situation is for anyone, player and coach. But money talks and the Bucs aren’t the worst team in the league so there’s definitely hope.
Not much hope with Bowles in charge, but some hope. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
January 12th, 2026 at 11:11 am
I think what Long is trying to say is that unless the Bucs have Barry Sanders alongside Earl Campbell in the backfield, they’re not winning, because Baker sux.
January 12th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
@Show me the TD’s, now that’s Funny and True……
January 12th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Marine Buc … ‘IMO the injuries to Bucky (along with our two starting Guards) were far more detrimental than the injuries to Evans, Godwin and McMillan.’
Interesting position, but I’m not sure. Bucky played the first 4 games in 2025 before being hurt; he got 71 rushes & 237 yds for a 3.3 YPC average. In the last 6 games (after he came back from being injured), he got 102 rushes & 351 yds for a 3.4 YPC average. So on the season that gave him 173 rushes for 588 yds … 3.4 YPC average. In 2024 he averaged 5.3 YPC, so even while healthy, he was waaay down. Not only that, he scored ONE TD rushing in 2025 as opposed to 8 TDs rushing in 2024.
In 2025 Bucky’s longest rush was for 32 yards, and the next longest was 16 yards. In 2024 he was ‘Mr Explosive’ … his longest run was for 56 yards. But he had EIGHT runs OVER 16 yards in 2024 for a total of 263 yards on those 8 runs, whereas in 2025 Bucky only had ONE run over 16 yards for a total of 32 yards.
IOW Marine Buc, Bucky was NOT the same explosive player in 2025 that he was in 2024 … while he was healthy. Was that because of Bucky, or was it because our OLine was decimated & wasn’t nearly as good at run-blocking in 2025 as it was in 2024? Actually could’ve been because of BOTH. We know how badly our OLine performed in 2025. But at the same time, lots of RBs do great 1st time out of the barrel, but once the league learns their tendencies & gets film on them, their 2nd year may not be nearly as good as their first.