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Buccaneers Extra Points: A Review of 2017 So Far

By Jerry Stalheim

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the sidelines of the game agains the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the sidelines of the game agains the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Charles Sims #34 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Charles Sims #34 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

THE RUN GAME

OFFENSIVE RUN GAME

In week two against the Bears, the Buccaneers had a good run game that they were able to utilize with the lead for the entire game. With Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber getting nineteen and ten carries for 67 and 47-yards for 3.93 yards/carry and a touchdown by Rodgers.

While being able to control the flow of the game with the run, Jameis Winston only had to attempt 30 passes giving him little chance to make mistakes.

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Then came the Vikings game in week three where the Buccaneers struggled mightily on offense and were down 28-3 before then even knew what hit them. Which caused them to change their offensive game plan and in doing so the rushing game struggled and was pretty much abandoned.

Rushing nine times for a total of 27 yards or 3.0 yards/carry with Jacquizz Rodgers leading the team in carries with seven and the Buccaneers as a whole having a rushing long of four yards.

I thought the Buccaneers would struggle rushing the ball during the three games that Doug Martin would be suspended, and at least in the Viking game that was proven to be true. Although, the Vikings currently do have the third best run defense giving up an average of 62.7 yards/game, while the Bears have the eighth best run defense giving up 83.7 yards/game.

After two games the Buccaneers as a whole are ranked 26th in rushing averaging 71.5 yards/game with an average of 3.3 yards/carry, and are 31st in rushing touchdowns with one. Martin can’t return soon enough if he looks as good as advertised during the off-season he may give an immediate boost to the offense.

DEFENSE AGAINST THE RUN

In week two against the Bears, the Buccaneers played outstanding run defense giving up just twenty yard on sixteen carries for an average per carry of 1.25 yards while containing one of the top running backs last season in Jordan Howard to seven yard on nine carries for a 1.28 yards/carry average.

The Buccaneers were also able to contain rookie sensation Tarik Cohen to thirteen yards on seven carries for a 1.85 yards/carry average with a long of nine yards.

The Bears attempted to rush ten times up the middle and were held to fourteen yards with Chris Baker, Gerald McCoy, and Kwon Alexander manning the middle.

Granted, the Bears were behind the entire game and had to give up on the run game around the midpoint of the second quarter but still it was a great defensive showing for the Buccaneers to contain the run game.

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The Bears currently have the eighth ranked rushing offense averaging 122.3 yards/game with a 5.0 yards/carry average after rushing for 216-yards against the Steelers defense in week three including the game winning touchdown in overtime.

During week three against the Vikings it was a whole different story as the Buccaneers were missing Chris Baker (illness) and Kwon Alexander (hamstring) in the middle of the field. The Vikings exploited their absences rushing for 125-yards on 37 carries for a 3.37 yards/carry average with one touchdown.

With rookie sensation Dalvin Cook, whom the Buccaneers passed on in the draft, rushing 27 times for 97-yards for a 3.6 yard/carry average and one touchdown, and is currently second in rushing in the NFL with 288-yards on the season with an average of 4.7 yards/carry.

Here, the Vikings led the entire game and were trying to control the clock but without Baker, Kwon, and McCoy (left game twice) in the middle the Vikings rushed 24 times up the middle for 87 yards and one touchdown.

With Kwon and now Lavonte David expected to miss the game against the Giants this week it will be up to rookie Kendell Beckwith (who has shined for the most part) and Adarius Glanton to help stop the run game up the middle, and Baker should also be back from his illness, but there is a distinct possibility that McCoy maybe out.

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