The Bucs’ offense will look a lot different going forward after the season-ending ankle injury to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out for a couple of weeks after re-aggravating his hamstring.

Not only does that shuffle the depth chart and push wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, and Trey Palmer to the top, but it puts an added emphasis on establishing the run game and getting each of Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Sean Tucker going.

In the aftermath of a tough Monday night loss and losing two of the offense’s best players, the team will have to get creative and find new ways to keep defenses on their toes.

Todd Bowles: “You Never Know What You Can Do Until You Know What You’ve Lost”

Not having Chris Godwin or Mike Evans for a tough upcoming stretch of games will test offensive coordinator Liam Coen and force him to find new ways to generate points with the remaining offensive talent he has at his disposal. Fortunately for Coen, the Bucs’ run game has gotten off the ground over the past three games.

Week 5 against the Falcons: 26 carries for 160 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry average

Week 6 against the Saints: 35 carries for 277 rushing yards and two touchdowns, 7.9 yards per carry average

Week 7 against the Ravens: 30 carries for 125 rushing yards and a touchdown, 4.2 yards per carry average

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

It has been a collective effort to revive a rushing attack that had been dead last for the past two seasons. As of late, each of Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Sean Tucker have had success pounding the rock.

Expect to see all three running backs more over the next few weeks, perhaps on the field together.

“Yeah, those three guys are going to play a significant part of the offense,” Bowles said on Tuesday. “We’re going to have to be a little more creative in the way we do things. We may use one, we may use two, we may use all three at the same time. We’re going to have to be creative and that’s what we’re here for as coaches. You never know what you can do until you know what you’ve lost. We’ve got our work cut out for us and we’re excited to see it.”

Before Monday night’s loss, Baker Mayfield had gotten off to a torrid start this season. Without Godwin and Evans in the picture for the foreseeable future, it will change what Mayfield has been able to do and force everyone, including the running backs, to help carry the load.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“Yeah, running back room, tight end room, and the rest of our receivers,” Mayfield said on who will need to pick up the slack. “Everybody has to step up. Obviously those two guys are a huge part of our production on offense.

“Yeah, we’re going to have a lot of guys step up and find a way to do this. It’ll be interesting and exciting to see how we get creative with this thing, understanding a lot of our passing game runs through those two guys. Yeah, see how it goes. Yeah, everybody has to step up.”

Each Bucs RB Is “A Little Different”

Against a vaunted Ravens’ run defense that had only allowed 59 yards a game before facing the Bucs, they were not as successful containing Tampa Bay’s backfield.

They allowed 259 total yards (125 rushing, 134 receiving) and three touchdowns to the three-headed monster that is Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Sean Tucker. Each provides a different element to the offense, and they will need to do much of the heavy lifting at least until the team’s bye week when Mike Evans hopefully returns.

Right tackle Luke Goedeke told Pewter Report his thoughts about how the running backs fared in Primetime.

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“I think all three of them did a great job,” Goedeke said. “I mean, all three of them are a little different, they have their different running styles and everything. That really plays nicely. As long as we sustain our blocks upfront, it keeps a defense guessing.”

Goedeke and the rest of the Bucs’ offensive line had one of their better performances this season, creating plenty of lanes and giving Baker Mayfield plenty of time in the pocket. With the offensive gameplan needing to change, it creates even more emphasis on establishing the run game in the hopes of piecing together the passing game.

“It puts a substantial emphasis on establishing the run game,” Goedeke added. “Obviously, it’s a blow to our pass game. Whether it’s getting receivers open or sustaining our blocks longer in pass [protection], it’s going to come down to sustaining that run game and our blocks in the passing game.”

Expect a different kind of Bucs’ offense for the rest of this season.

One that is unlike any in recent years.

After relying heavily on the passing game since the days of Doug Martin, expect Liam Coen to be drawing up creative ways to keep the revamped run game going.