Bucs Need Running Game to Get Defense Going
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The focus for Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans over the last couple of weeks has been on the putrid defense, and for good reason. They haven’t been able to slow down anyone. Heading into this weekend’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs (which isn’t going to be any easier of a matchup), the Bucs’ scoring defense is ranked 28th, giving up 26.6 points per game.
After being one of the top-ranked defenses over the past few years under Todd Bowles, this season’s version hasn’t been close to good enough, and there isn’t a magic switch the team can try to try and kick-start it (especially with Todd Bowles continuing to call the plays).
With few answers to solve the defense, the Bucs need to figure out another solution: Limiting their exposure to the league’s top passing games. That’s where the running game comes in.
The Buccaneers currently have a time of possession of 31:39 per game, which isn’t awful, looking across the NFL. The way the defense has played, though, they need to try and shave off even more time for their opponents to have the ball.
Luckily, Tampa has the personnel to do that. The Buccaneers have a three-headed monster in the backfield with Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker, and they’re not using them nearly enough. As a team, the Buccaneers are averaging 131 yards per game, which is 10th in the NFL. That’s impressive, given that they’re 21st in terms of rushing attempts per game (25.9).
All three of their backs have been impressive when they have been on the field, though splitting 26 carries three ways means their stats might not pop off the page. Irving has shown the most flashes so far, rushing for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns on 76 carries. Irving spoke recently about how he’s adjusting in his rookie season, and how his adjustments have made him even better as the season’s gone on.
“I think it’s slowed down for me a whole lot,” Irving said. “When I first got out there, it was going pretty fast, but I feel like the more you play, things pretty much slow down — that’s on every level that you play in… once you get the groove on how defenses are playing, how fast things are going, you just get a groove and everything slows down for you.”
Being ranked ninth in terms of time of possession looks good on paper, they’re leaving valuable minutes on the table by not pounding the rock even more. Last Sunday was a perfect example, with the Bucs establishing the run game early, then abandoning it late. With 7:19 left in the second quarter, the game was tied 7-7 with the Falcons, and the Bucs only ran nine more times from then on. The game was within one score until the end of the third quarter, so this wasn’t a game situation where they had to air it out.
Remember when earlier this month, when Bowles had rave reviews about Tucker and how he was coming into his own? Well, it turns out, it’s really hard for a player to get going when they are only rushing two times, which Tucker did against the Falcons.
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles on Sean Tucker:
“He’s got a lot of speed. This is the Sean Tucker we thought we’d get when we got him last year, and he’s coming into his own.” pic.twitter.com/3cPKkOCPkX
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) October 13, 2024
Obviously, Baker Mayfield has been impressive, and although there are still one or two mistakes a game, the stats still speak for themselves. In the last game, against the Falcons, Mayfield completed 37 of his 50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Sure, the Buccaneers were down late in the game and they needed to pass to try and get back into it, but it wasn’t always that way. What if the Bucs focused on chewing up more clock between halftime and the end of the third quarter? We’re going to wonder about that for a while, especially if the Falcons game ends up making the difference between making the playoffs and not.
It’s clear that the Bucs’ defense isn’t going to help themselves out, so the offense needs to start carrying the load even more. Unfortunately, it’s not getting any easier, especially with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers coming up. If the Bucs want to stop the slide, they’ll need to start deploying their three-headed monster much more than they’re used to.
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