Todd Bowles Credits Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry
May 1st, 2025
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles loves running the football.
That’s a damn good thing considering the Bucs have a great young running back, Bucky Irving, and two quality backups.
As NFL fans know, the run game across the league became more prominent last season and teams are starting to invest more (salary and the draft) into the position.
That makes a somewhat old school guy like Bowles smile. And he told SiriusXM NFL Radio this week that he has no interest in seeing the Bucs take their focus off the run.
“So we need the run game, for sure. That’ll take some of the double teams off of Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin],” Bowles began. “With our offensive line coming together last year and the continuity between those guys and the way Bucky and Rachaad [White] ran the football was great. It helped us immensely in the passing game and Baker will tell you that right there.
“And you know, as far as the runners coming into the league, I think Saquon [Barkley] and Derrick Henry had a lot to do with that, the way they played last year. So it was a big uptick in the running game.
“The whole league was on notice and like, ‘Hey, we need to run the ball.’ So that takes the pressure off young quarterbacks and it helps keep time with possession and it helps everybody win ball games. So I think the change in that, and again, I credit Saquon and Derrick Henry … [coaches Nick] Sirianni and [John] Harbaugh and, you know, a lot of guys are following suit.”
Joe loves the revived value of the run game in the NFL, and Bucky Irving might just jump into the same class as Barkley and Henry this season.
It’s still a passing league, however, and obviously the Bucs know it based on their 2025 draft haul.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Like Beast mode so the the Seahawks.
The NFL is trendy. They also dont want to pay running backs big money.
But as Henry, Barkley and Bucky show.,
Breaking tackles is a rare skill.
I still don’t think our offensive line was that great.
Baker avoided about 20 sacks with his jukes and scrambling.
Bucky was also getting hit or almost hit in the backfield all year.
Our offensive line is not as good as we think.
Bucky had crazy YAC. Why? Because he was getting hit in the backfield all year.
I hope Klein and Sua are healthy. If Brederson or Mauch go down, we will need a good guard to step up.
Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of offensive lineman go down.
Many times just guys rolling on them.
We need to improve our offensive line in my opinion.
Too many defenders got into our backfield last year.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:45 pm
I just watched Bucky’s season highlights reel. I think he could lead the league in rushing this year if he gets enough carries. Man is he elusive. If that draft were a do over he would probably be in the top 10 picks
May 1st, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Irving is great, but he’s just not built like Barkley or Henry. I don’t even wanna try to make him the exclusive workhorse. White and Tucker are super valuable to this team, which is why I could not understand the people who were talking about trading Ra White. That’s nuts. We’re trying to win.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:56 pm
I think we should give Nick Chubb a call.
We could use a veteran in training camp.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:57 pm
And I really want to rest Bucky some weeks.
And feature White or Tucker.
Also, if we get some big leads, rest Bucky.
We will need him fresh for the playoffs!
We ran Doug Martin into the ground.
I hope we don’t over-use Bucky. Even if he wants it.
May 1st, 2025 at 1:01 pm
“Joe loves the revived value of the run game in the NFL,”
Amen! The game is mature now and gone through many iterations from 3yards and a cloud of dust to Air Coryell and everything in between.
Sometimes today’s game reminds me of sand lot football..snap the ball and go long and the QB runs around until he finds an open man or tucks and runs. That’s ok when done in balance. I also like defense.
Most of all I like WINNING without having to sell your soul with douchebag players to do it. Right now the 2025 Bucs shape up to be my dream team!
Balanced running and passing, improving D, and quality human beings.
IT’S ALL GOOD!
May 1st, 2025 at 1:08 pm
I’m not a White fan at RB. He fumbles too much.
Great pass catcher but it isn’t enough.
Tucker needs more touches to see what we have in him.
If we keep a balanced attack going it will open up the run and the pass.
Plus, we’ll need to outscore all the points given up by a lousy, soft as butter, Swiss cheese defensive scheme.
May 1st, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Tucker and White fumble at the same rate in the NFL —- once per every 77 touches. Both could do better.
Tucker clearly misses his key reads more than White or Irving in pass protect or late release outlet for the QB. Maybe he improves on that in his 3rd season. But some running backs never get the hang of that. Hoping he will.
May 1st, 2025 at 2:07 pm
I love it…but…I would love someone huge to put the fear of impact into defenders.
May 1st, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Between the receivers and the pass catching RBs on this team, the sky is the limit for Mayfield and the OC. An excellent young OLine and TEs doesn’t hurt either.
May 1st, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Really wish Tucker would be more involved in the run game. The one game he was actually given a chance (only because White was injured) dude went absolutely bonkers on the saints with 150+ rushing yards and even had a 30+ TD thru the Air. Then we he barely seen the field after that once White got healthy…SOMEONE PLS EXPLAIN THE THEORY BEHIND THAT??
May 1st, 2025 at 3:37 pm
It’s funny to me that Swiss cheese brain completely omits Bucky Irving because he knows there is no way he can complain about our best RB. Straight to complaining and whining about the backups & D proves he is the epitome of negativity and has nothing noteworthy to say. Imagine what is pinballing around that Swiss cheese brain of his.
May 1st, 2025 at 3:47 pm
@Esteban85
I’m the negative one? I’m complaining and whining?
Check yourself fool. You can’t handle any opinion that doesn’t match your own.
That’s when you lash out like a spoiled child not used to the word No.
You have nothing to offer this discussion besides Ad hominem attacks on those you don’t agree with.
For the record, I was a huge fan of the Bucky Irving pick and he is our RB1.
Even got to sit next to his family at opening day. Very nice people.
May 1st, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Yes, you son. Read your own comments on every post and then think about who is the one that sounds like a petulant child. Seems like I struck a nerve there eh? I find your negative posts and the pounce on them from everyone else quite amusing. Please don’t change.
A little praise for this franchise and the turnaround we have seen over the years never hurts though. Cheer up buckaroo
May 1st, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Esteban85 = Weird guy in gym class snapping towels at the other guys
Don’t worry kid, I’ll keep pumping out gems to live rent free in all your tiny brain pans.
“We can’t solve today’s problems with the mentality that created them.”
– Albert Einstein
May 1st, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Two things I know. We can fling the ball around with the best of the best in the league. Todd Bowles would run the ball every single play of the game if he could. Reality is you need to do both with this offense they’ve built. Complete 6 of 8 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown opening drive I promise the DBs and linebackers aren’t attacking the line of scrimmage the next time we get the ball. Then our running game pounds a bit and then we pass right on until the middle of the 3rd quarter. Oughta have a solid lead by then, especially with this improved defense. Then we run it down their desperate throats right til the gun. Todd is old school and I love it but to make this work our passing game sets up our run game and we can’t ever forget that.
May 1st, 2025 at 4:31 pm
@swisscheese said
“I’m the negative one? I’m complaining and whining?”
YES, yes you are 🤣
You should have used ! Instead of ?
It’s all you do …. You’re a whiny old miserable sob. And a racist maga fool that has been forced to change names over and over again just to keep saying the same old shlt.
Peace be with you 🙏🏼
Todd Bowles/Tampa Bay = NFC south champs 3 years in a row and improving every year
May 1st, 2025 at 4:32 pm
“teacherman Says:
May 1st, 2025 at 12:56 pm
I think we should give Nick Chubb a call.”
I agree with this…..there’s a video out 2 days ago of him working out. he was jumping and at one point hit his head on the ceiling. Looks like the legs have recovered…..
May 1st, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Need Bucky to stay fresh all year and into the playoffs- no more than 20 overall touches per game. They have quality back ups.