of The Bucks’ ground game is nearly at a standstill. Through the first five games of the year. After rushing for 75.6 yards per game last year, last year in the league, new offensive coordinator Dave Canales was supposed to bring a better run game and a more balanced attack from Seattle to Tampa Bay. So far, it is a work in progress with very limited results.
After Sunday’s 20-6 loss to the Lions, the Bucs have the league’s 29th-ranked running game, averaging 78.8 yards per game. It wasn’t much better than it was a year ago, and it certainly wasn’t good enough to win as Tampa Bay fell to 3-2 on the season.
starting running back Ratchard White He rushed for just 26 yards on seven carries against the Lions, but this season he has 70 carries for 232 yards and one touchdown. This average of 3.3 yards is lower than last year’s average of 3.7 yards.
White looked hesitant at times as he tried to find the hole. Sometimes there is nothing, and other times you have a hard time finding it and miss out on big play opportunities. White, a third-round pick last year, lacks the explosiveness of top-tier running backs and isn’t an everyday tackle breaker who gains yards after contact.
With Chase Edmonds on injured reserve with a knee injury, the Bucks are left with four-year veteran Ke’Shawn Vaughn and undrafted rookie free agent Sean Tucker. Neither has been impressive at all, ranking him last in the league in carries, at least in terms of rushing average among players with 15.
Bucks RB Chase Edmonds – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Vaughn rushed for just 9 yards on six carries (1.5 avg.) against Detroit, while Bourne had 25 yards on 15 carries (1.7 avg.) and Tucker had 23 yards on 15 carries (1.5 avg.) did. Before Edmonds injured his knee in Week 2 against Chicago, he had rushed for 20 yards on five carries (5.0 yards average), the Bucs’ longest run of the season with 14 yards. Edmonds could return to action within the next few weeks.
Bourne, a former 2021 third-round pick, is just a guy. He is a less talented version of White, lacking the burst and tackle-breaking ability. Tucker, an undrafted free agent, had some bright spots in the preseason, but was just as disappointing in the regular season as Bourne.
“He had a good week of practice,” Bowles said. “He’s had a good couple of weeks. Sean made some plays in this game, but we would have liked to have seen more of Ke’Sean. He’s taking advantage of his opportunities, so he’s probably going to keep this up throughout the season.” Let’s see.”
Neither Bourne nor Tucker have inspired much confidence as legitimate threats to the defense so far while backing up White.
Bucks hold off on finding RB help – for now
The Bucs would be wise to look elsewhere for a true starting-caliber runner. Philadelphia’s Rashard Penny spent her first five years in Seattle’s system and is familiar with Canales’ offense. He would come cheap and would be buried in the Eagles’ talented running back depth chart.
Eagles RB Rashard Penny – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Denver’s Javonte Williams is a tackle-breakback player who runs with speed. He was a second-round pick in 2021, but new head coach Sean Payton has no loyalty to him and the Broncos are on the verge of a fire sale, trading the player for next year’s draft pick. There may be. Like Penny, Williams is in the third year of his rookie contract and could be bought cheaply.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said no when asked if the Bucs would be looking for running back help or elsewhere on the practice squad with Patrick Laird.
“At this point, that’s not the case,” Bowles said Monday.
That includes no to bringing back unsigned free agent Leonard Fournette and former Bucs running back Ronald Jones II. Tampa Bay won’t consider re-signing either player.
The Bucs have played against the top two rushing defenses thus far.
Perhaps one of the big reasons Tampa Bay is holding off on acquiring a running back is because they are realistic about the competition they face.
Bucks RB Rathard White – Photo courtesy of USA Today
When Tampa Bay played the Eagles in Week 3, Philadelphia boasted the league’s top run defense, holding the Bucs to just 41 yards on 17 carries (2.4 average). Detroit entered Sunday’s game with the third-best rushing defense in the NFL.
However, after limiting the Bucs to just 46 yards on 16 carries (2.9 average), the Lions now own a top-ranked run defense, giving up just 64.7 yards per game. Currently, Philadelphia’s run defense ranks second in the league, allowing just 65.8 yards per game.
So in the first five games of the season, Tampa Bay’s revamped offensive line and first-time starting running backs, along with a new system and a new play-caller, faced off against a top-two rushing defense. As expected, the Bucs’ run game hasn’t been successful.
However, Tampa Bay had some success running the ball against the Saints in New Orleans, gaining 114 yards against the league’s ninth-ranked run defense (96.3 yards per game). The Bucs’ next opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, have the 11th best run defense, giving up an average of 99 rushing yards per game.
But if the Bucs can’t get the ground game going against the Falcons next week, it might be time for manager Todd Bowles to reconsider adding another, more talented player back to Tampa Bay’s stable. The Bucs need more consistent blocking up front, not only from the offensive line but also from the tight ends.
“I don’t think it’s their fault we’re at the bottom of the NFL in terms of rushing,” Bowles said in defense of his running backs. “So, it’s a group issue. We’ve got to run the ball better, we’ve got to block better, we’ve got to poke better.
“We’re not getting it done. Sometimes it’s technique. Sometimes we just miss a block here or there. As a group, we have to do a better job.” ”
