The Bucs should be pl34sed with their recent performance in the run game. Or is it pl44sed? But I digress. Following up a 200-yard performance against the Bills where they averaged 5.2 yards per carry, they put up 123 yards against the Rams in Week 12.

Tampa Bay has posted a positive EPA/rush in five of their last six games with a success rate of 43.5%. That was without Bucky Irving and Cody Mauch. And with a rotation of guards that has both included and excluded Ben Bredeson, the Bucs are finding a way to run the ball.

Sean Tucker And Explosivity

With Bucky Irving’s extended absence due to injury, the team has had to rely primarily on Rachaad White as their primary running back. White is a capable back who can be relied on to reduce negative outcomes and keep the train on the tracks. Add in his abilities in the receiving game as both a pass catcher and a pass protector and you get a quality back. But he lacks explosivity. He has just two runs of 15+ yards over 104 carries this year.

Contrast that with Sean Tucker, who has three such runs over 63 carries, and there is a clear delineation in terms of big play ability. His quick burst, impressive acceleration and high-end speed bring a big-play element that White doesn’t have in his toolbox.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

This component was missing from the Bucs’ offense from Weeks 5-7, when they had just three runs of 10+ yards. But since offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard started incorporating Tucker more, they have 10 such runs over the past four weeks.

When asked about Tucker’s recent performance and keeping him involved in the offense, Grizzard acknowledged his modified place in the Bucs offense.

“Even two to three weeks ago when I think the question was posed in here on that – he had been doing a good job and he continues to play better,” Grizzard said. “I think you see in the game, he had 19 carries and Rachaad [White] had 10 or so. So, without giving away competitive disadvantage in terms of those guys’ roles, I think what Sean has proven is that he deserves more carries. From the time that he’s been playing more with ‘Buck’ (Bucky Irving) out, he’s really gotten more carries essentially each week.

“And I expect that to continue because he’s played really well – and Rachaad [White] did as well. I think it was over five a clip from Rachaad [White]. So, when both those guys are going and you can really have a two-headed monster when it comes to that, then it’s a really good thing for the Bucs.”

Tucker’s ability to pop big runs is a game-changer that complements White’s reliability. And Grizzard is finding a way to marry the two in recent weeks.

Pulls, Counters, And Weaponizing The Offensive Line

It has been well-documented that the Bucs’ best running game is one where they are moving their offensive linemen by way of pulls. The mid-zone heavy strategies of Dave Canales and early-Tampa Bay Liam Coen didn’t manifest successfully. Credit to Coen for changing his scheme mid-year in 2024 and unlocking the best version of his run game and offense behind a gap-heavy, counter featured strategy.

Former Bucs OC Liam Coen, RB Bucky Irving and Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Corey Perrine/USA Today

Grizzard has continued those strategies this year. The rookie offensive coordinator is calling gap plays on almost two-thirds of his designed run calls, according to Pro Football Focus.

Against the Bills, he went full mad man on his pull-counter game script. He used tackle-center, guard-guard, guard-center, guard-tight end, double tight end, and tackle-tight end pulls throughout the game, working both right to left and left to right.

Even with two backup guards in Michael Jordan and Dan Feeney starting, the strategy worked as they successfully pinned nose tackle Deone Walker and got some of their most athletic players – tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, as well as center Graham Barton, on the move to overwhelm second-level defenders on the move.

Wham bam, thank you Graham pic.twitter.com/2gVK0tPuGE

— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) November 21, 2025

And as Cade Otton has quietly developed into one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, Grizzard continues to lean on him in a multitude of roles to help unlock the run game.

If you say Cade Otton is mid I will fight you. pic.twitter.com/GaSZh7xakG

— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) November 21, 2025

Grizzard even pulled out one of his first designed quarterback runs of the year with a QB zone arc read to help get Baker Mayfield feeling alive, as he often does when he gets a chance to run through a defensive back.

pic.twitter.com/P1rLQ8d10d

— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) November 21, 2025

The re-emergence of the Bucs’ run game helped them put up 32 points in Week 11 and stands to take a load off of Mayfield or Teddy Bridgewater and the passing game’s shoulders going forward. The improved balance should help keep opposing defenses off balance, open up the play action passing game and re-introduce explosivity to the offense.

With White’s consistency, Tucker’s big-play ability, and the potential return of Bucky Irving and a rapidly healing offensive line, Tampa Bay’s offense looks to be getting better right when the team needs them the most.