Mayfield:
"“The run game always helps out your pass game,” Mayfield said. “When you’re able to control the line of scrimmage, when your guys are breaking tackles like our guys are and those holes are opening up, so it opens up the pass game.”
Particularly relevant when you consider the recent trajectory of the team:
The 2022 team basically abandons running and the team UNDERPERFORMS
The 2023 team tries to FORCE running where it can and the team has a little success
The 2024 team FEATURES (successful) running and the offense is on fire and the running game actually carries the team through a couple games where the passing game is struggling with injuries.
Massive credit to Coen for the way they have handled the running game
PR:
"A big reason why the Bucs have come out of their bye week with two straight wins (outside of the weaker schedule, as the wins have come against the 2-10 Giants and the 3-9 Panthers) has been the run game. After ranking dead last in the NFL in both 2022 and 2023, Tampa Bay’s run game has risen all the way up to eighth in the league at 137.2 yards per game. Part of it has been offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s scheme. Another part has been the combination of rookie Bucky Irving and third-year back Rachaad White. And another element has been the improvement of the Bucs’ offensive line.
All of those parts have worked together to create a rushing attack that is driving the offense right now. In the win over the Giants, four different players ran for a touchdown: Irving, White, Sean Tucker and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Then, in the victory over the Panthers, the Bucs leaned heavily on the run in the second half and saw Irving post a performance worthy of NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors."
Bucs are 8th in rushing despite being 16th in rush attempts. This is a huge disparity and evidence Coen needs to be running more. Especially with the 6.3 ypc back he's leaving in the garage.
evidence Coen needs to be running more
He probably doesn't have much choice at the moment, but with a full receiving corp its not run more as much as it is what Mayfield says, which is that the two play off each other.
Coen's success is tied to keeping a defense off balance, with things like running and passing from similar looks. Josh Q just mentioned the other day, if I can find it, their run/pass balance on 1st downs.
I do not think the Bucs need to run the ball more overall because the short passing game and screens are an extension of the running game but adds a layer of complexity that defenses must prepare for.
But from play action the Bucs need another reliable target other than Evans, White, and Irving in the passing game. Otton has bee on and off but I bet he catches fire at some point.
Yes, need to rest Bucky a bit more - and while Otton may have been banged up after filling in admirably for a couple game after Mike & Chris go down - then dropping off the radar lately…would be nice to see him turn it back on.But from play action the Bucs need another reliable target other than Evans, White, and Irving in the passing game. Otton has bee on and off but I bet he catches fire at some point.
Still think we need to get JMac more involved this week.
I do not think the Bucs need to run the ball more
Bucs are tied for 2nd in yards per carry (only behind Baltimore with Lamar Jackson boosting that) but 16th in rush attempts. That SCREAMS run the ball more, especially vs these garbage run defenses we're playing.
But from play action the Bucs need another reliable target other than Evans, White, and Irving in the passing game. Otton has bee on and off but I bet he catches fire at some point.
this would be great. They need him to catch fire
