The Myth of 2nd Down Runs

There were regular complaints from some fans about the team running too consistently on second down.  Even though the HC and OC have been relieved of their duties, I still wanted to take a look at the actual numbers regarding the play selection on second down.  Well, get ready for a wall-o-text.  Here are facts of the matter:Game 1:  The Buccaneers had 19 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 9 times and ran it 10 times, for pass/run percentage of 47%/53%.Game 2:  The Buccaneers had 20 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 10 times and ran it 10 times, for a pass/run percentage of 50%/50%Game 3:  The Buccaneers had 22 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 13 times and ran it 9 times, for pass/run percentage of 59%/41%.Game 4:  The Buccaneers had 24 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 16 times and ran it 8 times, for a pass/run percentage of 67%/33%Game 5:  The Buccaneers had 25 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 18 times and ran it 7 times, for pass/run percentage of 72%/28%.Game 6:  The Buccaneers had 27 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 16 times and ran it 11 times, for a pass/run percentage of 59%/41%Game 7:  The Buccaneers had 25 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 19 times and ran it 6 times, for pass/run percentage of 76%/24%.Game 8:  The Buccaneers had 20 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 6 times and ran it 14 times, for a pass/run percentage of 30%/70%Game 9:  The Buccaneers had 23 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 7 times and ran it 16 times, for pass/run percentage of 30%/70%.Game 10:  The Buccaneers had 25 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 8 times and ran it 17 times, for a pass/run percentage of 32%/68%Game 11:  The Buccaneers had 17 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 6 times and ran it 11 times, for pass/run percentage of 35%/65%.Game 12:  The Buccaneers had 16 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 7 times and ran it 9 times, for a pass/run percentage of 44%/56%Game 13:  The Buccaneers had 22 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 8 times and ran it 14 times, for pass/run percentage of 36%/64%.Game 14:  The Buccaneers had 16 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 10 times and ran it 6 times, for a pass/run percentage of 63%/37%Game 15:  The Buccaneers had 19 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 12 times and ran it 7 times, for pass/run percentage of 63%/37%.Game 16:  The Buccaneers had 21 second downs in this game.  They threw the ball 14 times and ran it 7 times, for a pass/run percentage of 67%/33%Totals:  The Buccaneers had 341 second downs this season.  They threw the ball 179 times and ran it 162 times, for a pass/run percentage of 52%/48%So, not only did the team not "consistently run" on second down - they didn't even mostly run on second down.  After this myth was disproved, the next thing the myth'ers claimed was "consistently" running on second-and-long.  Here's the facts from 2nd-and-long:Game 1:  The Buccaneers had 16 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 8 times and ran it 8 times, for pass/run percentage of 50%/50%.Game 2:  The Buccaneers had 14 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 8 times and ran it 6 times, for pass/run percentage of 57%/43%.Game 3:  The Buccaneers had 11 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 6 times and ran it 5 times, for pass/run percentage of 55%/45%.Game 4:  The Buccaneers had 16 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 11 times and ran it 5 times, for a pass/run percentage of 69%/31%Game 5:  The Buccaneers had 16 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 11 times and ran it 5 times, for pass/run percentage of 69%/31%.Game 6:  The Buccaneers had 14 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 7 times and ran it 7 times, for a pass/run percentage of 50%/50%Game 7:  The Buccaneers had 15 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 11 times and ran it 4 times, for pass/run percentage of 73%/27%.Game 8:  The Buccaneers had 8 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 3 times and ran it 5 times, for a pass/run percentage of 38%/62%Game 9:  The Buccaneers had 14 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 6 times and ran it 8 times, for pass/run percentage of 43%/57%.Game 10:  The Buccaneers had 14 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 5 times and ran it 9 times, for a pass/run percentage of 35%/65%Game 11:  The Buccaneers had 13 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 4 times and ran it 9 times, for pass/run percentage of 31%/69%.Game 12:  The Buccaneers had 10 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 4 times and ran it 6 times, for a pass/run percentage of 40%/60%Game 13:  The Buccaneers had 12 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 3 times and ran it 9 times, for pass/run percentage of 25%/75%.Game 14:  The Buccaneers had 9 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 6 times and ran it 3 times, for a pass/run percentage of 67%/33%Game 15:  The Buccaneers had 11 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 7 times and ran it 4 times, for pass/run percentage of 64%/36%.Game 16:  The Buccaneers had 13 second-and-long in this game.  They threw the ball 10 times and ran it 3 times, for a pass/run percentage of 77%/23%Totals:  The Buccaneers had 206 second-and-longs this season.  They threw the ball 110 times and ran it 96 times, for a pass/run percentage of 53%/47%The team threw more often on second-and-long they did on other second downs.