The league doesn't change as much as it cycles through trends. A fews years back it was "a passing league" and RB could be anyone. This year, Eagles win with a heavy contribution from RB
Bowles was asked recently about running and he highlighted a truth about BALANCED football that never really left the game . . .
“So we need the run game, for sure. That’ll take some of the double teams off of Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin],” Bowles began. “With our offensive line coming together last year and the continuity between those guys and the way Bucky and Rachaad [White] ran the football was great. It helped us immensely in the passing game and Baker will tell you that right there.
“And you know, as far as the runners coming into the league, I think Saquon [Barkley] and Derrick Henry had a lot to do with that, the way they played last year. So it was a big uptick in the running game.
“The whole league was on notice and like, ‘Hey, we need to run the ball.’ So that takes the pressure off young quarterbacks and it helps keep time with possession and it helps everybody win ball games. So I think the change in that, and again, I credit Saquon and Derrick Henry … [coaches Nick] Sirianni and [John] Harbaugh and, you know, a lot of guys are following suit.”
At the end of last season Mayfield channeled Canales (who was always channeling -copying- Carroll):
"The biggest difference is the run game," Mayfield said, via the team's website. "When we've needed to run the ball to win games, we've been able to do that. That's a physical mentality and everybody being on the same page with that and understanding that when you get to a certain mode late in the game when you're having to run the clock out, we're able to do that. To me, that's the biggest difference. Skill player-wise in the pass game, yeah, we're connecting quite a bit but the biggest difference is the run game."
Spytek's Raiders hired Carroll. Last year the Raiders had the worst running YPG. First pick of the draft . . Jeanty.
The Bucs are ahead of the curve, for once?
For successful teams, I am not sure the running game ever left the equation. The key, and yes this still holds true. Is to have multiple running backs. The bell cow RB worked last season for the Eagles but, Barkley won't have that same success this year, if history is any indicator. The Bus have multiple backs with a leader in Bucky. It's the best approach for all involved. Not sure good running ever really went away.
Yeah it did under Leftwich. Canales brought it back, he was going to run even if it meant two yards and a cloud of dust. That's what he got. Coen was a good play caller and also benefitted from an offensive line that was vastly improved and a great running back. A good passing game helps the running game as well. So it all gelled together last year. Lets hope we can repeat that success with the same players and the same system but a new OC.For successful teams, I am not sure the running game ever left the equation.
Why didn't the article mention our best RB? It only brought up White and Bucky.
Yeah it did under Leftwich.For successful teams, I am not sure the running game ever left the equation.
Leftwich and Brady.
The 2019 Bucs were about 61% pass, but when you get the best qb ever AND an unbelievable number of great receiving options (Gronk, AB, Evans, Godwin) the passing goes UP up and up . . until it pops because the talent is also going down, down and down.
2020 - 62%
2021 - 67%
2022- 68%
I am sure Canales appealed to Bowles because he was a Carroll disciple who believed in BALANCED attack, especially as a way to make it easier for the QB. He just didnt really know who to do it with the running game, at least compared to Coen, and as you mention the O-line got better.
2022- 68% pass plays
Mike Evans TDs
2020 - 13
2021 - 14
2022 - 6
2023 - 13
2024 - 11
There is a correlation between running and passing in the NFL. Bowles makes this point in the quote in the first post.
Mike Evans highest snap count in that date range is 2022
Mike Evans TDs
2020 - 13
2021 - 14
2022 - 6
2023 - 13
2024 - 11
There is a correlation between running and passing in the NFL. Bowles makes this point in the quote in the first post.
Mike Evans highest snap count in that date range is 2022
Mike Evans scores almost TWICE as many TDs in. 2024 over 2022 with almost 255 LESS snaps
Opposing defenses were forced to deal with the run, less double teams, more guys close to the LOS
@bucsbits 100%! But also remember we got our running game going because of our passing game. Watch the first 5 games of 2024 and watch how much we threw the ball early and often. It led to successful running game as those games went on. The only game we didn’t come out throwing was the Broncos game. And our offense never got going the whole game.
Only three teams out of 32 had more than 50% rushing plays in 2025. Even with the "balanced" attack of the Bucs they had over 55% passing plays. Whether Evans gets his touches or not depends more on the how he shares the load with the other receivers.2022- 68% pass plays
Mike Evans TDs
2020 - 13
2021 - 14
2022 - 6
2023 - 13
2024 - 11
There is a correlation between running and passing in the NFL. Bowles makes this point in the quote in the first post.
Mike Evans highest snap count in that date range is 2022
In the modern NFL era you need to run the football to close out games and shut the door for teams trying to come back. But for the Bucs they know their bread is buttered through the air which is why the invested a first round pick in Egbuka. Not a mystery really.
If the defense can force more turnovers and punts the Bucs can definitely run the ball more and play more TOP game easily or even build leads and then run the clock down.
I agree. Also, as different positions of a team age, you have to focus on whatever strengths you have on hand. The more success you have doing one thing, allows you to shift into something else. A few innovators have shifted the game, because defenses get built to stop some aspect of that is being exploited - an innovator with cap space and high draft picks starts loading up talent, but the process/attrition keeps happening - so you go with your talent.
But yeah, you start with one aspect, then you balance it, then you have to shift again within the window you have. It’s another reason to appreciate what Jason Licht has done. He transitioned to BA & Brady, and when that window closed, he didn’t blow it up, he saw that he had a bit more window of talent and shifted to utilize what was available in Mike & Chris, the o-line, now running backs. While he had that going on he had to shift to the other side of the ball that had been the team identity, but had to re-build the aging defense…and has found success doing it.
OK, I may be in the middle of comin’ down from a post-draft high…but I am jacked up for this season to start!
…could also be that I’ve been listening to ZZ Top “I gotsta get paid”…
Only three teams out of 32 had more than 50% rushing plays in 2025. Even with the "balanced" attack of the Bucs they had over 55% passing plays. Whether Evans gets his touches or not depends more on the how he shares the load with the other receivers.2022- 68% pass plays
Mike Evans TDs
2020 - 13
2021 - 14
2022 - 6
2023 - 13
2024 - 11
There is a correlation between running and passing in the NFL. Bowles makes this point in the quote in the first post.
Mike Evans highest snap count in that date range is 2022
i think we are making different point. Evans gets lots of catches and yards in 2022. He only scores 6 and I think 3 in one game where the Panthers played him man. Mostly he faced safeties over the top and zones because no one feared our run
compare that to 2024 or 2021 where opponents have to defend the entire field, 2024 because we have a viable running game. If you look at his tds how many are in man, on first down, or play action.
a decent balanced offense keeps defenses off balance, leads to explosives etc
Why didn't the article mention our best RB? It only brought up White and Bucky.
Bowles talking about how great White ran the ball was cringe. He's bottom of the league is almost every analytic. Meanwhile Bucky and Tucker are off the charts. Pissing away wins by not running the offense through them. The one game we saw it they only combined for 300 yards and 3 TDs.
Why didn't the article mention our best RB? It only brought up White and Bucky.
Bowles talking about how great White ran the ball was cringe. He's bottom of the league is almost every analytic. Meanwhile Bucky and Tucker are off the charts. Pissing away wins by not running the offense through them. The one game we saw it they only combined for 300 yards and 3 TDs.
12-13 posts, new topic . . . CoenDS sets in?