Run game for Buccaneers set to see a return to glory in 2020
By Rob Leeds
The run game for the Buccaneers has been abysmal since 2015, but all of that could start to change in 2020 with a new running back room in place.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been known for one thing offensively for the majority of the 2010s, throwing the football.
The Buccaneer passing offense has been dominant under the leadership of Jameis Winston and partially under Josh Freeman. Other than in 2012 and 2015, running the football has mostly been an afterthought for the Bucs.
Tampa Bay has been a predominantly pass-first team for the better part of a decade, but a shaky run game has led to some disastrous moments. Running the football is not nearly as important as it used to be, but having a consistent runner is still often tied to NFL success.
Having an established run game to pair with a stingy defense was one of the biggest reasons why the Buccaneers have a Super Bowl title. Players like Mike Alstott helped shape the Bucs as an unstoppable force on the ground, and he had a big hand in most of the greatest successes of the team.
The last excellent running performance for the Bucs was in 2015 by Doug Martin. Martin was an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, yet the Buccaneers still only finished 6-10. Clearly, in the modern NFL, the ability to run the football even at a dominant level does not immediately lead to improved quarterback play or team success.
Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, keeping Doug Martin on the roster was akin to playing a game of Russian Roulette. The former starting running back for the Buccaneers had two great seasons against four awful ones.
Regardless of his inconsistency, Doug Martin is a counterargument against the belief that the Bucs were entirely neglecting the running back position. Martin looked great and played well enough to receive an extension, but his regression after 2015 was backbreaking for Tampa.
Besides Doug Martin, the Buccaneers have their share of successful running backs that have been a vital part of the team. Mike Alstott (listed as a fullback), Warrick Dunn, and James Wilder are some of the most recognizable offensive Bucs of all time.
While the Buccaneers have struggled to find their replacements for these greats, other than with Martin briefly, Tampa Bay could see a return to better run game in 2020. It may not be as important now as it used to be, but an improved run game can’t hurt the odds of success for the upcoming season.