Who are the five best running backs in Buccaneers franchise history?
In talking about the Buccaneers, both of yesterday and today, we often talk about the defense. Through the years, whether the team has been successful or not, there have been dominant players on defense. The Bucs have always been noted for a strong pass rush, even back when they weren’t winning any games. That trait was there when the Super Bowl finally came to Tampa, and is there even now with young players like Noah Spence.
The offense, at times, has been a bit harder to come by. Make no mistake about it, we are not used to having the weapons we currently have in Tampa. This is the type of wealth we don’t normally get. It typically is the defense helping the offense through, and the offense scoring enough points to get the job done. Brad Johnson and company changed that a bit when we held up the trophy, but that was a blip on the radar screen of the Bucs history.
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But that makes posts like this one all the more interesting. Even in dark times, there were bright spots. Someone had to carry the day for the offense. In the past, we have looked at the five best quarterbacks in franchise history. Now, I know that’s a lot easier said than done. There were five, however, that stood out above the rest.
Today, we are going to move along and look at the players that line up behind the quarterback. Doug Martin has had two seasons that could eventually propel him onto this list, if he remains with the Bucs. But as we all know, he has been far too inconsistent.
So who makes it? Who are the five best running backs ever to wear the Bucs uniform? Let the debate begin, as the countdown starts now.
5. Errict Rhett
The number five choice didn’t have a long-term impact, but made himself known in the short-term and propelling himself into the team’s top ten all-time rushing charts.
Errict Rhett was a second round pick of the Bucs back in 1994. In 1993 they put up a mere 80.6 yards per game, and were ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing. They needed the help. Rhett debuted against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, running the ball 11 times for 49 yards. His first touchdown came in the third quarter of a win over the Lions when he scored from one yard out to make it 24-14 in favor of the Bucs.
He really came on in the second half of the season. In the last seven games, Rhett went over the 100 yard rushing mark four times, including a 192 yard performance in a win over the Redskins. He finished the year with 1,011 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up with an even better second season, when he posted 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns. Rhett went over 100 yards four more times in that 1995 season, including once again against the Redskins and a 144 yard performance in a loss to the Lions.
The Bucs made modest gains in their running back rankings over those two seasons, moving to 22nd in 1994 and 19th in 1995. Hey, I already said that success never came easy for this team. You all know that, though. After two years that didn’t live up to the same potential, Rhett was gone, but for a two-year span he was dominant. He ranks ninth on the team’s all-time rushing list, and his touchdown numbers earn him the number five spot on this list.
4. Michael Pittman
Our number four selection is not an original Buc, but he made his mark in Tampa while he was here.
Michael Pittman was actually a fourth round selection of the Arizona Cardinals back in 1998. After four years in the desert, he moved to Florida to join the Bucs, and it was a good thing he did because he was a big asset. He started out as the lead back when he arrived in 2002, rushing the ball 204 times for 718 yards and one score. As a versatile, three-down back, he added 59 receptions out of the backfield as well.
His shining moment of the year came in the Super Bowl against the Raiders. That glorious night, Pittman carried the ball 29 times for a game-high 124 yards, helping the Bucs to the 48-21 victory.
After a 751 yard performance in 2003, he put in the best performance of his career. In 2004, Pittman ran the ball 219 times for 926 yards and seven touchdowns, career highs in both yards and touchdowns. That season he added 41 receptions after a career best 75 the year before. He went over the 100 yard rushing mark four times in 2004, the best being a 131 yard performance in a loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Pittman took on more of the role of a fullback in the ensuing years, but when he did carry the ball, he never averaged less than 4.2 yards per carry, taking advantage of every opportunity he got. His 284 receptions rank him seventh in team history, and his 3,362 yards rushing rank him sixth in team history in that category.
3. Warrick Dunn
Is this not a face that every Bucs fan loves?
Warrick Dunn was a local boy, drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 1997 draft out of Florida State. In the spirit of honesty, I wasn’t sure about this guy. Being only 5-9 and 180 pounds, it was hard to be sure that he could stand up to the pounding that an NFL running back takes. Luckily for the Bucs, they disagreed, because he was able to stand up to it and then some.
As a rookie, Dunn made the Pro Bowl, the first of two appearance in a Bucs uniform. In that 1997 season, he ran the ball 224 times for 978 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 39 receptions for 462 yards and three scores. All through his career, Dunn was able to make plays both on the ground and through the air, making him a tough to defend back on every down.
Right away, Dunn showed the world that he belonged, eclipsing the 100 yard rushing mark three times in the first six games. That second season in 1998 was the first that saw Dunn go over 1,000 yards rushing as he posted 1,026 and two touchdowns, along with 44 receptions. The next year saw a drop off in the rushing totals, but saw him post a career high at the time of 64 receptions for 589 yards and two touchdowns.
In the year 2000, Dunn was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time after he rushed for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns. Unfortunately, that was the final time he rushed for over 1,000 yards in Tampa. After one more year where he spent time at fullback, Dunn spent the next five years with the Falcons. His final year was spent here in Tampa and he ran for 786 yards and two scores, adding 47 receptions, giving fans a final taste in 2008 of what once was.
His 4,986 rushing yards rank Warrick Dunn third on the team’s all-time list.
2. Mike Alstott
Mike “You’re in good hands with” Alstott. Chris Berman may never have had a more appropriate nickname. Am I right, Bucs fans? He was also known as “A-Train”. We can just call him great.
You all love him, let’s just look at some film to get things started:
Alstott had a unique combination of sheer strength, which he used to run people over, and speed to run past people. He was faster than defenders thought he was simply based on his size. Fullbacks aren’t supposed to be that fast. How great is it to watch him run people over? Tacklers? What tacklers?
Another major quality that defined Alstott was the ability to adapt to any role. Whether he was the lead back or not, Alstott played well. As a rookie, he only carried the ball 96 times, but also caught 65 passes, a mark that ended up as his career-high. The following year started a stretch of six straight Pro Bowl appearances for Alstott. He also was selected first team All-Pro in three straight seasons (1997-1999).
In four out of those six seasons, Alstott posted at least seven touchdowns, and in 2001, he hit ten touchdowns. From 1998-1999, Alstott was the lead back, rushing the ball 215 times and 242 times respectively. In 1998 he posted 846 yards and he posted 949 yards in 1999. This doesn’t even take into account the impact Alstott made as a blocker. He really was a unique player.
His 5,088 rushing yards rank him second in team history, and make him well-deserving of the second spot on our countdown.
1. James Wilder
It’s a trip down memory lane for our number one choice. This one goes out to the fans that were “fortunate” enough to remember this team back in the 1980’s. Kids, ask your parents about this guy.
James Wilder was chosen in the second round of the draft way back in 1981. These were not the best of times in Bucs history, as the team was only a few years removed from a winless season. Wilder was the guy who was going to get the running game going after Ricky Bell‘s departure.
From 1981-1983, most of his impact was made as a pass-catcher. He never ran the ball more than 161 times for 640 yards during that time. However, his receptions went up steadily each season from 48, to 53, and finally to 57. 1983 was the first year Wilder put up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage with 1,020. That set the stage for 1984.
In 1984, Wilder became the workhorse, and the Bucs were rewarded for it. He ran the ball a league-high 407 yards in ’84, and gained 1,544 yards on the ground, good for third in the NFL. If it weren’t for some guys named Walter Payton and Eric Dickerson, he would have won the rushing title. He scored 13 rushing touchdowns and added a whopping 85 pass receptions, earning him his first and only Pro Bowl berth. That year, Wilder went over 100 yards rushing five times, including going back-to-back twice. Not bad for a team that went 6-10.
He followed that up in 1985 with 1,300 yards and ten touchdowns on 365 carries. The numbers went downward from there but again, for a short period of time, James Wilder was as good as anybody in this league. His 5,957 rushing yards rank him best in franchise history, and sit him securely at the top of this list.
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What do you think? Is this list good, or is someone missing? Sound off in the comments.