Two Passes To Running Backs Against Green Bay
October 5th, 2026
History clashes with Zac Robinson’s game plan.
So Bucs officials have crowed about how Bucky Irving is back to his 2024 self and how fellow running back Kenny Gainwell is a natural receiver and a dangerous one at that.
Yesterday, in a must-win game with a rookie quarterback starting his first game, the Bucs found just two targets for those playmakers. Gainwell caught both for 22 yards and 1 touchdown.
Only two throws to running backs, Joe thinks that might be close to an NFL record for a rookie QB starting and finishing his first full game.
Joe went back to the history books.
In Jameis Winston’s starting debut in 2015, the Bucs threw seven times to running backs. It was the same total for Josh Freeman’s first start in 2009, ironically a 38-28 win against the Packers in Tampa. When QB Chris Simms made his inaugural start, he threw 10 times to running backs/fullbacks. It was similar for QB Bruce Gradkowski in 2006; he threw 8 times to Bucs running backs in a 24-21 loss to the Saints.
But yesterday, Zac Robinson, a guy without the pedigree of those past Bucs playcallers (Dirk Koetter, Greg Olson and Jon Gruden), thought it was a great idea for first-time QB Jalon Daniels to barely throw to his running backs.
Joe finds that very interesting, especially considering how everyone at One Buc Palace raves about how Irving is fantastic at making the first defender miss. He didn’t get a target yesterday.
October 5th, 2026 at 10:46 am
AI could do a better job
October 5th, 2026 at 10:47 am
JOE PLEASE FOCUS ON NEW COACHING FOR THIS TEAM
October 5th, 2026 at 10:49 am
Does Licht still have Josh Grizzardās phone number?
October 5th, 2026 at 10:53 am
Must be tense in the offices of One Buc āŗļø
October 5th, 2026 at 10:57 am
Stop the madness!
October 5th, 2026 at 10:59 am
This offense has more problems than not throwing to the backs. No ryime, or reason to it. Not a running team, not a passing team, what do they do well? No identity, and a passive as their HC.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:02 am
i see why they call him Z ROB
October 5th, 2026 at 11:03 am
One of many mysteries.
The biggest one.
If Zack Robinson sucked horribly in Atlanta.
Why did Jason Licht think he would suddenly become intelligent in Tampa?
Robinson. Has sucked. Sucks now.
And I can say with no hesitation,
He will suck in the future.
And Licht sucks for hiring him.
Nuff said
October 5th, 2026 at 11:06 am
crazy stats :
Godwin has more rushing yards (15) than Tucker (10) –
Daniels put up more than twice the rush yards in his debut (64) than Gainwell has rushed ALL SEASON (26) –
Otton has more yards (157) than Egbuka (154) Godwin (142) Hurst (128) Tez (74)
McMillan has zero and Kam Johnson has three
October 5th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Now thinking about it, the only time Zac Robinson’s offense was successful was against Todd Bowles. All other times it was average to mediocre. No wonder Falcons fans wanted him shift out of town.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Where was the blocking during the last Buc’s possession yesterday? Green Bay was loading up, sending everyone after Daniels, and the coaches did not put extra blockers in the help him.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Yet they were totally utilizing their speedy big play maker TE Cade Otten. No jab at Otten, he has his place in the offense but he is definitely not a play maker or a Gronk, Kelsey, McBride or Kittle. This coaching staff absolutely Sucks, HC and OC need to walk the plank. I have had a enough with this terrible coaching. Dropping 349lb Vita Vea into coverage. Where is the common sense?
October 5th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Fire Todd Bowles immediately
October 5th, 2026 at 11:12 am
You are blaming the wrong people. You should be mad Ownership and the GM for not signing a veteran QB the way MN, NYG, Chi, and DC did. Daniels was thrown out and hung up to dry. The good news is Rypien played a year at Rams under Robinson. Start him Thursday. Spare Daniels the career ending confidence destruction. Look at Raiders not starting tHe number one over all pick.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Robinson’s play-calling is circumspect, but that’s almost irrelevant because OUR OLINE CAN’T BLOCK WORTH A HOOT. And if your OLine can’t block, your QBs are meat. I’m actually very impressed with Jalon in that he completed 19-of-27 yesterday (70.4%), considering that our receivers dropped at least 3 that I saw, and yes, 2 more were intercepted. He was quite accurate, particularly considering that at times he was running for his life (thanks again to the OLine).
On our last series, as best I can remember, the Packers had THREE defenders come in UNBLOCKED (1 on each of 3 separate plays). He only got sacked on 1 of those 3 plays, but it was amazing that he wasn’t sacked on the other 2 (he did however throw an INT on that last one, but under heavy pressure & on a 4th-and-11).
And BTW Joe, the LOS was on the Grn Bay 47 on that last play. McLaughlin would’ve had to kick a 65 yard FG for us to tie the game. I was pulling for Bowles to let him try it, because chances of the Bucs making a 4th-and-11 were non-existent. But of course Todd went with the lowest probability.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:16 am
EVERYONE should know by now why Mike Evans left in free agency just in case you didnāt figure it out in March.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Just gotta teach the pass rushers to cover better ……errrr
October 5th, 2026 at 11:19 am
@ Defense Rules
I always appreciate your insight.
If you were the Glazers and given full authority to make whatever decision you wish, today, what would you do?
Nothingās off the table.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:26 am
another crazy stat :
Baker and Jalon have more rushing yards combined (129) than the receiving yards of Gainwell and Irving combined (105) – why are Bucs QBs scrambling rather than dumping off to RBs ? – Rachaad White had 218 yds receiving last year and 549 in 2023 – Bucky had 669 receiving yards over the last two years – interesting
October 5th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Marky Mark I respect US veterans – you have stated that you were with Pattonās army which if you were 18 in 1945 would make you 99 years old – and I respect my elders – but putting in Rypien is unwise – he has started 4 games in 8 years – he is not Case Keenum – might as well see what Daniels has got
October 5th, 2026 at 11:38 am
2-11 in our last 13…….Ownership needs to seriously consider shipping Jason Licht out of here with Coach Defensive Specialist, this is going to be a season of embarrassment, so bring a barge in that’s large enough to hold both of them, and ship them out of here and start over…….a reset is needed.
“We gotta coach it better” – Bowles
“Chris Braswell is going to shock the world” – Licht
October 5th, 2026 at 11:39 am
Cant pin jack on an offense with a QB in his first start. O gets a break across the board. Anyone (even Joe) brought up TWO fourth down conversions given up by Bucs D on a GB TD drive. Two. WTF
October 5th, 2026 at 11:42 am
The real knee slapper of comedy during this off season were the IDIOTS that thought the Bucs WR Corps would be just fine without Mike Evans. All you need to do is look at the paltry numbers below to really begin to understand what ME13 meant for the production of our other WR’s. Evans always drew the other teams best corner , therefore meaning the rest did not get covered by the best, Thanks Mike for all the memories and you are sorely missed. BTW Cade Otton is your leading pass catcher , that should tell you something about your WR Corps. Also ME has 2 TD’s this year as many as all your WR’s and TE together.
Player GP Rec Yds Avg TD Long
Emeka Egbuka 3 20 141 10.8 1 21
Chris Godwin Jr. 3 11 111 11.1 0 30
Ted Hurst III 3 13 103 17.2 1 40
October 5th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Zac Robinson got a guy with over 45,000 passing yards, 309 TDs, run out of Atlanta
Kirk Cousins looked like crap in Zac offense, and people said he was washed up
I wasn’t expecting much from a green UDFA
October 5th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Todd … ‘If you were the Glazers and given full authority to make whatever decision you wish, today, what would you do? Nothingās off the table.’
This might sound strange, but unfortunately EVERYTHING’S OFF THE TABLE because the Glazers have painted themselves into a corner. Historically NFL teams don’t replace Head Coaches or Coordinators DURING the season UNLESS it’s with someone already on the coaching staff.
Take a good look at the Bucs’ coaching staff. Is there ANYONE you’d want to promote to replace Bowles as Head Coach from either the offensive, defensive or S/Ts sides of the ball? Me neither. And if we did pick someone to replace him as HC, who then runs the defense?
This whole mess kinda reminds me of a jerky circle (for those of us who are dyslexic?).
Oh and BTW Todd, Todd will be let go at the end of this season, along with his full coaching staff. I have no doubt that the Glazers have been ‘getting their ducks in a row’ in terms of who they’ll hire as a replacement HC, and may already be talking to him (several are ‘taking a year off’ like McDermott & Tomlin). Could well be that their real goal now is to get a Top-5 Draft Pick so they can grab a franchise QB. Baker certainly isn’t the long-term answer, but he’ll probably suffice as a ‘bridge QB’ through 2027.
October 5th, 2026 at 11:49 am
We just got to do better- WJGTDB
October 5th, 2026 at 11:53 am
ā Defense Rules
Painted in the corner is an issue, unless you donāt mind getting paint on the bottom of your soles.
I wouldnāt mind the Glazers saying screw it, and make a generous offer to Chucky to come back for the rest of the season ā¦ knowing it truly is āinterimā. Imagine Chucky working with JD.
Defensively, who cares? Itās time to tank.
October 5th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Robinson only shines against the Todd Bowles Swiss cheese defense.
That’s why he was hired. He is the Todd Bowles of offense.
We now have the perfect tandem of brains and ability.
How else would we have such a championship level record of 0-4.
It just keeps getting better and better around here.
Sometimes you just have to stand up and clap for the people in charge.
October 5th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
I’ll tell you what I would do. I would fire Bowels on the plane ride back from Dallas. Then I would hire on temp basis someone who knows football and the Bucs to come in for the remainder of the season (Barber?). Then hope they DON’T start winning and screw up long term plans of new coach next year.
IF the new HC does start winning it shows just how stupid it was to keep Bowles for all this time.
At season end I would immediately fire JL and put the 2027 HC plan into effect (what ever it is) and then collaborate with new HC and pick a new GM.
Some one needs to get this post to the Glazier’s.
BTW, Tomlin is NOT the answer for HC>
October 5th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
@ captain Tim:
Jason hired Zac because Jason thinks our roster was much better than Atlantaās therefore concluded Zac could be better here. Iām telling you they didnāt have a lot of options to fill the OC role, no one wanted it.
October 5th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
I canāt imagine these offensive players having to come into the building every day knowing that Zac Robinson doesnāt know what he is doing. Donāt tell me they donāt know, they live with his game plan every week. Mike Evans leaving is making more and more sense. For everyone squawking about how on earth could Mike leave us. He doesnāt have to tells us, we can see it every game the Bucs play. Mike is not going to throw anyone under the bus, but he doesnāt have to we can all observe every lousy game.
October 5th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Clueless
October 5th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
It’s really hard to look at the ‘Big Picture’ when you’re 0-4, but this Bucs’ team actually is doing some things reasonably well. Well, maybe it’s more that we’re doing REALLY TERRIBLE at some things (cough, cough, offense?).
Look at our defense. Currently ranked #19 In Points Allowed (96 pts … 24.0 PPG average). But subtract the Fumble Return TD & the Punt Return TD (14 pts total) and that 96 comes down to 82 Pts Allowed … 20.5 PPG average). And that doesn’t count how many times our offense turned the ball over in Tampa territory but our defense held them to FGs (several). Even using the 82 Pts Allowed, we’d be ranked #10 defensively if not for those 2 TDs when our defense was sitting on the bench. That’s A BRIGHT SPOT when your record is 0-4, especially considering we’ve got so many new players on defense.
Along with that, we rank #3 in Run Defense (only allowing 314 yds rushing … 3.2 YPC) and rank #9 in Pass Defense (only allowing 817 passing). That’s very good too apparently, since Joe hasn’t been screaming too loudly how bad our Pass Defense is.
Stopping offenses on the ‘money downs’ is critical, and we’ve done well there too. Our 3rd Down Conversions Allowed is 17-out-of-52 (for a measly 32.7% and a #6 ranking) and our Red Zone TDs Allowed is 5-out-of-11 (an acceptable 45.5% and a #5 ranking). Might add to that that we’ve only allowed 65 first downs, to rank #3 in the NFL.
And look at out Special Teams. That aspect has improved dramatically IMO, although that punt return really ticked me off. The hero has to be Chase McLaughlin, who’s a PERFECT 100% through 4 games (9-for-9 on FGs and 7-for-7 on XPs). Coverage has been decent and returns have been decent.
Point being: It’s true that the ‘Licht at the end of the tunnel’ in our case is normally the train coming in the other direction. BUT … this team is doing a number of good things that can be build on for the future. This coaching staff ISN’T THAT FUTURE, but the experiences many of our players are getting WILL pay dividends in the future.
October 5th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Someone correct me if I am wrong but when many of you bash the OL (rightfully so, they have been garbage) arenāt we just bashing Robinson?
Doesnāt Zac scheme the protections? Dont him and Carberry teach/tell them what to do, how to set up and who to block on any given play they call?
The DL canāt get to the QB
The OL canāt pass block
The QB looks terrible
The WRs canāt get open quick enough
Itās all coaching. We have seen each and everyone of these players and position groups look good. The Bucs have been failed by coaching for the past 5-6 years. Many of us knew it but the offensive coaching kept the team and Bowles afloat. Now the coaching on that side of the ball is just as bad and you have a terrible team at 0-4.
This isnāt a coincidence.
October 5th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Not defending Zac at all since I don’t think he’s doing a good job, however, Green Bay was likely sitting on the idea that the Bucs would have a bunch of easy dump off passes / screen passes to RBs, and I wonder if they took that away.
Also, the Bucs were likely expecting to be blitzed to death and possibly wanted to keep the RB’s in for blocking (which is a bad idea since none of them can block).
Will have to see the ALL22 to see what was going on, if they open and Daniels didn’t throw to them – or if they were covered or perhaps weren’t even running routes. I will say, watching the game live, I didn’t notice many outlet passes for hot reads on blitzes – I didn’t really see slants and drag routes and RB flares to help the QB on the overload blitzes. Bowles claimed they were there, but live, I didn’t notice it.
October 5th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
No it is NOT all coaching—The talent level for every position group on offense is below average–you cannot coach up a lack of talent.
October 5th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Clearly the coaches want their running backs to do other things.
October 5th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
I actually thought about this yesterday, while seeing Buffalo having James Cook split-out during that late 2pt conversation. It was also a HUGE issue I thought last season. Especially, with RWhite. And, another thing, on the very few occasions that we used BOTH backs together, we were VERY successful in doing so. But, then they almost NEVER used it. Makes ZERO Frickin Sense. And, I donāt know WHY it would not ever occur to them to get both RBās a lot more involvedā¦ Especially, when you are struggling soooo BAD moving the ball and sustaining drives. Get the ball to them in space. Thereās just NO TIMING WHATSOEVER, whether itās Baker or whomever.
October 5th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
We need to make speed in space.
October 5th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
There is not a single Bucs assistant coach qualified to be anointed as an interim HC. That was the plan. We are stuck with Bowles for the rest of the season. And who in their right mind would want the job?
October 5th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
@ Todd Says: āNo it is NOT all coachingāThe talent level for every position group on offense is below averageāyou cannot coach up a lack of talent.ā
They can definitely be coached up to look a lot better than they are right now, BUT this is absolutely the #1 MAIN reason. Cause, it wouldnāt matter WHO coached THIS team with THIS current roster right now, they still would never be a legit contender. Now-Way! Not even CLOSE. I donāt care who it isā¦ Competing for a NFC South Title, is THEIR absolute ceiling. Like I said before the season startedā¦ Itās a āBottom-5ā ROSTER in the NFC (being generous, bc itās if itās not ābottom-5ā in the entire league, itās awfully close). And, thereās just nothing else that you can do about it. It is what it is. This roster has been horribly mismanaged in the very worst way possible. Itās really THAT BAD. All aroundā¦ Just look back at the moves and the anoint of MONEY just completely WASTED and thrown away! Itās HORRENDOUS. Total incompetence.
October 5th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
When Robinson beat the Bucs last year it was because their tight ends had a banner day. And you wonder why Otten is being targeted so much. He’s just like Bowles. If something worked once you should win with the same scheme forever.
October 5th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
There is something disturbing about how the O-line can’t pass off stunting defenders, can’t pick up blitzers … too much video of an O-linemen blocking air while a defender comes in untouched. This is likely a coaching issue
October 5th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Oldschool1976,
Atlanta 1-2. Tampa 0-4.
Money makes people go where they might not want.
I still believe Mayfield planned to leave- but the Glazers knew they had to keep him- and poured money on Mayfields agent! Too much to turn down.
Bet Mayfield regrets it now.
He has a long term contract with a horrible, old team in full rebuild mode.
But if we had limited options- itās because of our Coach and GM
October 5th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
@ Optimistic Says: āThere is not a single Bucs assistant coach qualified to be anointed as an interim HC. That was the plan. We are stuck with Bowles for the rest of the season.ā
Good. Force Bowles to have to finish the season, before he gets his vacation, and 2-FULL YEARās worth of his remaining contract. Make him EARN-IT. Donāt give him what HE WANTS, by letting him get out of this s easily. Make his ass have to walk up there after EVERY postgame. The #1-Overall Pick, is farrrr more important at this point, anyway!!!! Itād be just OUR LUCK for them to make a change to someone weāve never even heard of before, that the players loveā¦ And, then have them actually WIN 4-5 more games than they would have otherwise. Then, weāre picking 9th or some spit! Now, THAT would just be running more salt into the wound, at this point in the game.
October 5th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Do you think he wants to jump ship too?
October 5th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
“Point being: Itās true that the āLicht at the end of the tunnelā in our case is normally the train coming in the other direction. BUT ā¦ this team is doing a number of good things that can be build on for the future.”
DR, you have made many good points in all your posts today. As you and I said before the season, I think there is good talent on this team. The problem is coaching, especially on the O side of the ball. This is an offense we expected to be in the top 10. I believe it has the talent to be, and that is how bad the coaching is.
Now on the D side of the ball, I want t clarify I was NOT praising Todd’s genius. Simply saying the D is improved. Todd still sucks. I don’t need to point out the horrific use of Bain and Walker.
So on the bright side, when we get that top 5 pick in ’27, imagine the talent we can add to this team and maybe grab some additional picks by trading some of our older vets.
October 5th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
No way to know for sure how much that is on Robinson versus Jalon. But the fact that the offensive line is healthy and looks worse than I can remember in the last eight years is quite the indictment of Robinson.