Buccaneers passing offense can mask lackluster rushing attack

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushing attack has gotten off to a slow start. It may not matter if Ryan Fitzpatrick can continue to shred defenses through the air.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have enjoyed a rocket start to the 2018 campaign. Ryan Fitzpatrick has taken the league by storm leading the Bucs to a 2-0 record for the first time since 2010.

The Bucs boast the top passing offense in the league as Fitzpatrick has thrown for 819 yards. Behind Fitzpatrick’s arm, Tampa Bay is averaging a robust 37 points per game.

The only issue with the Bucs offense so far has been the running game. Peyton Barber hasn’t had much success on the ground, and Ronald Jones has been a healthy scratch in both games.

Over the course of the first two games, Barber has averaged a subpar 2.6 yards per carry. Similar struggles have affected the rest of the running backs as well.

Primary backup Jacquizz Rodgers has seven rushes on the year for 14 yards. While he hasn’t gotten a great look on the ground, he’s done a solid job as a receiver. Rodgers hauled in four passes on the year.

Jones, who hasn’t even worn his uniform in a regular season game yet, sits at the bottom of the depth chart. Undrafted rookie Shaun Wilson continued to get the nod over Jones due to his ability to catch the football and contribute as a return man.

While Tampa Bay continued to struggle on the ground, offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s scheme has turned Fitzpatrick into a star.

Monken has done wonders since replacing head coach Dirk Kotter as the play caller, unlocking a downfield passing attack Buccaneers fans haven’t seen in a while.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Through two weeks, Monken’s offense has banked on Fitzpatrick. Occasional downfield shots to players like DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard opens up the middle of the field for bigger receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Fitzpatrick has racked up 819 yards through the air while completing 78.7 percent of his passes. He’s taken home back-to-back NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and was the catalyst behind Tampa’s 2-0 start.

An offense that thrives with an aging quarterback surrounded by weapons isn’t something that happens very often. The 2008 Arizona Cardinals were the prime example.

The Cards had 37-year-old Kurt Warner running the offense, and he went on to throw for 4,583 yards that year.

The Cardinals also had three wideouts go for over 1,000 yards. Arizona featured one of the best aerial assaults in the league, propelling them to a Super Bowl appearance.

But what about the rushing attack?

The three starting running backs the Cardinals trotted onto the field combined for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns. Arizona ranked 32nd in the league in rushing.

The Buccaneers could be on the same path. Tampa Bay can excel in the passing game while the running game takes a backseat.

No, I am not comparing Fitzpatrick to Warner, and no I’m not comparing the NFC Champion Cardinals to this Bucs team. What you can see is that the Bucs rushing woes are not the end of the world and maybe the passing offense is the way to go for this Bucs team.

Obviously, it would be ideal to have a reliable threat on the ground, but there is a precedent for teams that have lived solely through the air.

Maybe the Buccaneers aren’t in that much trouble after all.