Emergence Of Kenny Gainwell Mirrors Bucs’ Run Game Resurgence
November 5th, 2026
Bucs RB Kenny Gainwell.
Did KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles accidentally reveal yesterday a secret sauce to his newfound running game?
The way the Bucs ran against Atlanta, it looked to Joe like watching black-and-white newsreels of Red Grange.
Joe could have sworn the Galloping Ghost was on the field of The Licht House the way the rain seemed to turn normal colors into a black-and-white TV screen. The Bucs ran like it was 1920s college football — or so Joe has read and heard (Ira likely remembers).
And while the run game began to show up when the Bucs beat the Cowboys for their first win of the season in early October, the last two weeks the Bucs have absolutely bludgeoned defenses on the ground.
Has Kenny Gainwell been the secret?
The Bucs signed Gainwell to a $7 million/a year contract, yet he hardly got on the field until two weeks ago. Prior to the Carolina curb-stomping, the most carries Gainwell had in a game was four, and that was in Dallas.
Bucs suits had to be wondering why the hell they even paid Gainwell.
Then came the Carolina game. Gainwell had 14 carries for 88 yards. Last Sunday against Atlanta, Gainwell had 25 carries for 140 yards.
Bowles was asked if there is a “rhythm” in using both Bucky Irving and Gainwell. Bowles replied in the affirmative.
“Yeah, there is,” Bowles said. “I think we finally got to where we’re utilizing Kenny [Gainwell] more and more, and that’s kind of the 1A, 1B we were talking about when we first signed him.
“Like you said, not to the degree of the carries, 27 and 25, but at the same time, we know he’s a great running back and he can do a lot of things for us, and he put it on display Sunday.”
Joe doesn’t believe the timing of Gainwell finally being utilized in the run game is a coincidence. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN typed that Bowles had a sitdown with Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and the two brainstormed a way to transform the offense.
Gainwell had 9 carries in the first half against Carolina.
Joe is confident speculating Bowles finally put his foot down and not just ordered Robinson to start running more, but to put Gainwell on the field and start feeding him the rock.
November 5th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Mudder. Some harses can run in the mud.
November 5th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
Not only what to do but how to do it. It’s what the best coaches do, and the Bucs have that. Now the passing game will get into gear when Mike Evans gets unleashed.
November 5th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Bowles wanted a 1950’s style offense and that’s what he has now. The forward pass is retired in Tampa.
That’s why you pay the QB $165 million dollars!!! To hand the ball off and block downfield.
Mike Evans knows!
November 5th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Since theyre running well now hopefully they can brainstorm up some screen passes to gain well too. They dont work when hes on the field for 3 plays and gets 3 screen passes. Cmon boys keep brainstorming you can do it!
November 5th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
How to know what Todd Bowles discussed with Robinson with Todd Bowles being somewhat tight lip.
So whatever was said and done, the Buccaneers have been outstanding. Throwing the ball less has been a winning formula so far.
November 5th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
In the ATL game, Gainwell’s running style seemed to imitate Bucky’s style. A little less one-cut and plow ahead, and more dodging tacklers. Anybody else see this?
November 5th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Joe and his “speculation” – lol.
You must be Todd’s favorite “reporter”….. Who else does he have to tell us what he really means when he says things ?
What makes you confident that “Bowles finally put his foot down” and ordered Zac to do whatever ? That’s fan fiction if you didn’t hear it yourself or he didn’t verify it.
November 5th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Doesn’t fit Bowles style. The only thing I see Todd doing forcefully is pounding those Kit Kats. I see a glp 1 in his future.
November 5th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
JimBobBuc Says:
November 5th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
In the ATL game, Gainwell’s running style seemed to imitate Bucky’s style. A little less one-cut and plow ahead, and more dodging tacklers. Anybody else see this?
————————
Not an imitation bro. Kenny and Bucky are VERY similar backs.
Small, shifty, good hands. Moderate speed etc etc
Pointed this out when we got him – should be no tells depending on the back. Kenny is a plug and play 1b to Buckys 1a. Tucker, on the other hand, IS a different style/type of back – more suited to wide zone than B & K.
let’s go Bucs 😎
November 5th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
JimBob, spot on! It started during the game, towards the end it was difficult to distinguish between 7 and 1. Like Gainwell was anticipating and letting the blocks develop much more than early on.
November 5th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
Gainwell runs more angry…Should’ve found him alot sooner
November 5th, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Professer Von Doofus,
Mike Evans knows? With his 27 catches and 3 TD’s in 8 games, he is really tearing it up in SF. Compare and contrast that with his time with Mayfield in Tampa. Just do it Doofus.
November 5th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
I don’t get to watch games often so I hope this doesn’t sound stupid….have the Bucs had Bucky and Gainwell in the backfield at the same time? Like they used to with White and Bucky 2 years ago? That seemed to be when the outlet passes for big gains were most effective.
November 5th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Mike Evans Knows…The IR!
November 5th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Mike Evans left primaily for personal reasons. That’s what I keep hearing, anyway… go Bucs! I hope we rush 60 times on the Bears. For 400 yards.
November 5th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
we traded mike evans for evan klosky…
seems like a fair trade to me
🙂
November 5th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
@Gipper
Mike Evans is going to the playoffs and maybe the SB. Bowels and Mr Mid QB, they’re stuck in failure mode. If they go to the SB it’s because they bought tickets.
@Floormatt
Mike left because he was done with Toilet Bowels and Faker. Deal with it.
November 5th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
This is not the same running game that repeatedly ran straight dives up the middle the first 5 games. These runs are scripted and well orchestrated, like they brought in another offensive coach. Tight ends and linemen are pulling and blocking well at the point of attack. I’m not convinced that we can’t run on Chicago.
November 5th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Its funny that Pennis was the NFC player of the week before we molly whopped them.
November 5th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Professor ,, you may be right and I would never say a bad word about big Mike, but there is also a good chance we play SF in the first round of the playoffs (at Raymond James ) , I like our chances at home against them or Seattle ,,, smashmouth Jan football
November 5th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Would like to see Tucker involved also. 3 backs that can punish defenses all game long. When Tucker gets past the second level he is gone.
November 5th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
I totally agree with what “JimBobBuc” said up there. I saw the exact same thing….
November 5th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
McBay,
Are you always trolling, or are you just plain stupid?! Either way, your act is getting old dude!
November 5th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Buc4evr Give up the sean tucker talk. Canales,coen,grizzard and now robinson, seen enough of tucker to not play him. The couch coordinators know nothing
November 5th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
ProfessorRetard, is your last name Glazer? If not, I’m not sure why you mention salary in every single post. Who cares? As long as we can sign our players, free agents and draft picks, and balance the cap, which Greenberg does better than almost anyone, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what someone is making. And you shouldn’t either. But it seems to be a thing for you for some reason. I wasn’t a fan of signing Baker before this year, but the fact of the matter is, yes, the fact is he earned it in the minds of those that sign the checks. Again, I would have waited until the end of this year, but if you look at the service he’s put in here, and the numbers, he’s earned it. We all want more wins, but it is what it is and we can’t control it. So I choose to be a fan of the team. With minimal complaints. Why? Because there’s not a goddamn thing I can do about it. You either. So you can choose to continue to guzzle that half full glass of hate.
November 5th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
@Steve00Negative
If you don’t care about salaries and believe there’s nothing our opinions or comments make to determine outcomes of games, then why does it matter what I say on a blog post???
You’re a sensitive little chap I’ll tell you that much indeed. Perhaps the fact that we went 2-7 down the stretch last season and are starring 3-6 in the face has put some bees in your bonnet.
Only thing I guzzle is beer and the tears from the Pom Pom squad that can’t handle a different opinion than their own.
November 5th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Ha, funny thing is I am o negative. And oh trust me, it clearly does not matter what you say on a blog post. Just curious why you say it. That poor stretch you mentioned didn’t put a bee anymore in my bonnet than it did in yours. In fact, the evidence is it put it more clearly in your bonnet. So I appreciate you proving my point. Succinctly. And I think we can all handle opinions different from our own. I wasn’t commenting because I couldn’t handle your opinion. Obviously. I was commenting because I don’t understand it. Seriously. Your default to every post is to mention salary and to use the term pom pom. That’s all you got man. Get some better stuff and we can talk. Otherwise I’m just slumming it with you.
November 5th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Salaries do actually matter. Look at what paying Prescott $60 million a year has done to the Cowboys. They are terrible and have the same record we do by the way.
That’s why I care about the salary cap. It does actually matter in terms of ability to win games year over year.
We cannot win sustain this model of paying all the guys we like despite the terrible results.
One lone playoff win in nearly five years. How is that good enough???
November 5th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
First off, Gipper the Baker Gulper you are the epitome of a girlie man. You are such a female getting all in a tiff at the slightest slight of your love interest and your claws come out and nash your teeth calling people names. Why don’t you go stay on bakerfanboos.com???? You don’t belong here you piece of crap former Browns fan!
Don’t you guys understand how bad this looks on the coaching staff?? Gainewell never forgot how to run they couldn’t figure out how to set up a proper run game. He was fired by Atlanta and he had Bijan Robinson. When Mayfield had Cornales and Coen he was solid to breath but lost 2 seasons not so. This has got to tell you something. They recognized Bowles for what he is and got out of town as quickly as they could. They’ve turned out to be good head coaches.
Our coaching staff coaches scared, from Bowles fear of picks even though his defense choked away leads and Robinson fearing throwing the ball in the rain.
I hope for the Bucs that they’ve turned the corner but won’t hold my breath because Pittsburgh put some brakes on our run game. I have little faith in Robinson because he even had something exciting in Daniels but couldn’t scheme something better to take advantage of his natural running ability.
November 5th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Prof, of course salaries matter. That’s why you need a good cap guy which we do. I already stated that I would have waited until the season was over to see what I wanted to do with Baker. That didn’t happen and I have no control over that. Nor do you. But as a fan of the team, I just carry on and hope the decision makers continue to mostly make decent decisions. I’m not a fan of Todd. But he’s here. Nothing I can do about that. I’ve criticized them in the past but it doesn’t need to be part of every single comment I make. Just like the salary thing doesn’t need to be part of every comment I make. You seem to get high calling anyone positive about the team pom pom wavers. You have this deep well (I’m being sarcastic) of talking points: Todd sucks, and Baker makes too much. The team does well you imply are in spite of, not because of decent coaching or players. You can hate the coach and admit when he makes a good decision. But again, you seem to be so deeply steeped and looking at the glass half empty and I’m not sure why. As a fan, you can’t enjoy a victory like the rest of us without defaulting to all the things you hate. Mystifying to me. Obviously you do you too, but that’s why I call it out. Trust me, I’d rather have a decent give and take conversation like I do with many here. But you one note guys befuddle me. 165 million! Todd sucks! Baker sucks! I’d say give it a rest but I don’t think you’re capable. I agree that 165 million was too much. I agree that Todd is not a premier coach. But I also know that Baker has been a decent quarterback in the past and he’s obviously going through a rough time. Is he the answer? I don’t think so, but I’d love to be surprised. In the meantime, I will wave my pom-poms when I deem it appropriate. You can continue to drink your bitter beer while you watch the games.
November 5th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
There’s a lot to be scared of. Interceptions are killers, that’s why Bowles wisely had Brady take a knee against the Browns in regulation so they could win in overtime.
November 5th, 2026 at 7:42 pm
Professor Non! How bout voodoo!
Tampa Bay Rays!
November 5th, 2026 at 11:26 pm
why in the world would the OC need to have a talking to from the HC to make him utilise a RB that was brought in for $7m… Shouldn’t Robinson be leveraging all the tools at his disposal, without needing someone to tell him to do so?
Makes you wonder what it takes to be considered worthy of being an OC in the NFL…
November 5th, 2026 at 11:41 pm
At least Bowles ordered the sitdown. Probably knew if he didn’t, he’d be calling a moving company in January.