2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, -228.1Dropping off: The offensive attack was set to be built on Doug Martin after his stellar rookie year that saw him force the fourth-most missed tackles of all running backs. But even before injury ended his season, things weren't looking quite as peachy for Martin. He was averaging a full yard per carry fewer, had dropped the highest percentage of catchable balls of any running back and was something of a liability in pass protection. He was experiencing a real sophomore slump.Mirage or makeover: It's easy to fall in love with big numbers, but Martin did pick up 54.6 percent of his yards in just five of his games, suggesting something of a boom-or-bust runner. So while we wouldn't necessarily expect the same shoddiness from him as we saw this year, the jury is very much out on how consistent a player he'll be, especially if the team shoehorns him into an every-down role where his protection and receiving abilities will be exposed.Must address: You could pick any number of units, but the run blocking was terrible throughout most of the year. If you're looking for the chief reason why, then focus on the return to fitness and form of Davin Joseph, one of the most overrated players in the league. A constant underachiever despite what the contract and Pro Bowls may indicate, he's never converted his tools into even solid performances. In 2013, he posted the lowest run-blocking score among guards. With Carl Nicks possibly having to retire because of complications from MRSA, it's incredible how much money Tampa Bay has invested at the guard spot and how little the Bucs have received in return.
I wouldn't say the run blocking was terrible all year.Mike James and Bobby Rainey had some really good games.I do want to overhaul the line though....just because those guys are aging and underachieving. Only going to get worse, not better.
I wouldn't say the run blocking was terrible all year.Mike James and Bobby Rainey had some really good games.I do want to overhaul the line though....just because those guys are aging and underachieving. Only going to get worse, not better.
Im all in for rebuilding the line as well. Bad QB play also played a part along with poor play calling. When you are a one dimensional team in the NFL, you arent very hard to stop.
I really thought the only good run-blocking games were in the Miami and Seattle games. Otherwise the backs were mostly on their own.
I really thought the only good run-blocking games were in the Miami and Seattle games. Otherwise the backs were mostly on their own.
The first Saints game too. Otherwise you're right, the interior oline just didn't do their job very well. It's the biggest weakness on the team other then defensive end because their performnace directly affects the passing and run game. QBs are supposed to be able to step up into the pocket if there's pressure from the ends, and that's really necessary for someone like Glennon, but that option just wasn't available. A lot of the awkward looking side stepping/back tracking he did was because of pressure from the interior. The run game needs to be consistent as well, and that isn't going to happen if the interior oline doesn't do their job. We played some very good defenses this year though, but even then shouldn't be beat that badly. To me the situation is actually worse than DE considering how much money we have tied up into the interior oline. Clayborn/Bowers/DTN/Gholston are cheap. The interior oline is making 18 million dollars a year. Another reason too is that we were just too reliant on power running formations with a fullback. Lorig was inconsistent, but Rainey didn't follow blocks that well either.
