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Buccaneers: “Extra Points”: A Week 7 to week 8 Review

By Jerry Stalheim

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles the ball after being sacked by Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter of a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles the ball after being sacked by Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter of a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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TREND: LACK OF A RUN GAME

RUNNING GAME STRUGGLING TO GET GOING

During the first three game that Doug Martin was suspended the Buccaneers run game averaged 84.66 yards per game for 254 yards on 66 carries (3.8 yards/carry) and one touchdowns, and everyone thought with the return of Martin the run game would pick up greatly but that has not happened.

With Doug Martin back for the last four game the Buccaneers have averaged 78.6 yards per game for 314 yards on 87 carries (3.6 yards/carry) and two touchdowns.

With a total on the season for 568 yards on 153 carries (3.7 yards/carry) and three touchdowns and an average of 81.1 yards per game giving them the 29th worst run game in the NFL.

Now a lot of the lack of a run game has been due to the team’s offensive slow starts causing them to be behind in five of their seven games thus causing them to abandon the run game and revert to the pass in an attempt to try to catch up.

Still waiting until the fifth round in a running back heavy draft last season may have been a mistake especially with such surprise star running backs as Kareem Hunt and Marlon Mack still available in the third and fourth rounds, so most likely in next year’s draft the running back position will be addressed early instead of waiting until later rounds because without a good running game the offense cannot be a balanced super offense.

Next: Buccaneers Round Table: Draft Options

Well those are my “Extra Points” comparing what the Buccaneers did better or worse compared to the week seven game against the Bills and the lack of offense week eight game against the Panthers, and some trends that I have noticed in most of the games so far this season. With the Buccaneers already at five losses if they still want any shot at the playoffs they probably can only afford to lose two more games out of the next nine, can they do it?

So StickCarriers now you tell me what you think that the Buccaneers did better or worse between the week seven Bills game and the week eight Panthers game did I miss anything or what trends have you seen so far this season? Also can the Buccaneers win seven or eight of the next nine game and still be a playoff team?

Feel free to comment on the site or to me directly on Twitter @ND1Bucsfan.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy all the PewterPlank articles and keep coming back for more. So, Bucs fans,  it starts with this week against the Saints win one at a time and make the playoffs so let’s do this. As always GO BUCS!!!

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