The Bucs’ ground game has just about ground to a halt through the first five games of the year. After rushing for a league-last 75.6 yards per game last year, 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’s been a work in progress with very limited results.

The Bucs have the league’s 29th-ranked running game after a 20-6 loss to the Lions on Sunday, averaging 78.8 yards per game. Not much better than a year ago, and certainly not good enough to win with as Tampa Bay fell to 3-2 on the season.

Starting running back Rachaad White ran for just 26 yards on seven carries against the Lions, and has 232 yards and one touchdown on 70 carries for the season. That 3.3-yard average is lower than last year’s 3.7-yard average.

White has looked tentative at times trying to find holes. Sometimes there aren’t any, and sometimes he has trouble spotting them and missing opportunities for big plays. White, last year’s third-round pick, lacks the burst that upper echelon running backs have, and is not a routine tackle-breaker that can pick up yards after contact.

With Chase Edmonds on injured reserve nursing a knee injury, the Bucs are left with fourth-year veteran Ke’Shawn Vaughn and undrafted rookie free agent Sean Tucker. Neither has been impressive at all, and both are last in the league in terms of rushing average among players with at least 15 carries.

Bucs RB Chase Edmonds – Photo by: USA Today

After rushing for just nine yards on six carries (1.5 avg.) against Detroit, Vaughn has 25 yards on 15 carries (1.7 avg.) and Tucker has 23 yards on 15 carries (1.5 avg.). Edmonds had 20 yards rushing on five carries (5.0 avg.) with a 14-yard run, which is the Bucs’ longest of the season, before injuring his knee against Chicago in Week 2. Edmonds could return to action in a few weeks.

Vaughn, a former third-round pick in 2021, is just a guy. He’s a less talented version of White that lacks burst and tackle-breaking ability. Tucker, an undrafted free agent, had a few bright spots in the preseason, but has been equally as disappointing in the regular season as Vaughn.

“He had a good week of practice,” Bowles said. “He’s had a good couple of weeks. Sean got a couple plays in the game, and we wanted to see Ke’Shawn more. He’s taking advantage of his opportunity, so it’ll probably flip-flop like that the entire season. We’ll see.”

Neither Vaughn nor Tucker have inspired much confidence as a legit threat to defenses while backing up White so far.

The Bucs Will Hold Off On Looking For RB Help – For Now

The Bucs would be wise to look elsewhere for a true starting-caliber runner. Philadelphia’s Rashaad Penny spent his first five years in Seattle’s system and knows Canales’ offense. He would come cheap and is buried on the Eagles’ talented running back depth chart.

Eagles RB Rashaad Penny – Photo by: USA Today

Denver’s Javonte Williams is a tackle-breaking back that runs with a sense of urgency. He was a second-round pick in 2021 but new head coach Sean Payton has no allegiance to him, and the Broncos might be on the verge of a fire sale, trading away players for draft picks for next year. Like Penny, Williams would come cheap as he’s on the third year of his rookie deal.

When asked if the Bucs would look elsewhere for running back help or even the practice squad where Patrick Laird resides, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said no.

“Not at this time, no,” Bowles said on Monday.

That also includes a “no” on bringing back free agent Leonard Fournette, who remains unsigned, and former Bucs running back Ronald Jones II. Tampa Bay will not consider re-signing either back.

Bucs Have Faced The Top 2 Rushing Defenses So Far

Perhaps one of the big reasons why Tampa Bay may hold off on acquiring running back help is a realistic look at the competition it’s faced.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Philadelphia was the league’s leading run defense when Tampa Bay played the Eagles in Week 3 and held the Bucs to only 41 yards on 17 carries (2.4 avg.). Detroit came into Sunday’s game as the NFL’s third-best rushing defense.

But after limiting the Bucs to just 46 yards on 16 carries (2.9 avg.), the Lions now possess the top-ranked run defense, surrendering just 64.7 yards per game. Now Philly’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 back – along with a new system and a new play-caller – have gone up against the top two rushing defenses. Predictably, the Bucs run game hasn’t had success.

But Tampa Bay did find some success running the ball against the Saints in New Orleans, posting 114 yards on the ground against the league’s ninth-best run defense (96.3 avg.). The Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs’ next opponent, are the 11th-best run defense, surrendering an average of 99 rushing yards per game.

But if the Bucs can’t get their ground game going against the Falcons next week, it may be time for Todd Bowles to rethink getting another more capable back in Tampa Bay’s stable. The Bucs need better, more consistent blocking up front from not only the offensive line, but the tight ends.

“I don’t think it’s their fault that we’re in the bottom of the NFL as far, as rushing,” Bowles said in defense of his running backs. “I mean it’s a group thing. We’ve got to run the ball better, we’ve got to block it better, we’ve got to rush it better.

“We’re not getting it done. Sometimes it’s a technique thing. Sometimes we miss a block here and there. As a group we have to do a better job.”