If Bucs head coach Todd Bowles gave new offensive coordinator Liam Coen an inventory of targets when he employed him this offseason, fixing the group’s league-worst run sport was certainly on the prime of the record.
It’s solely been a few weeks of coaching camp and one preseason sport, however early returns are constructive. Bowles stated as a lot after Saturday’s preseason-opening 17-14 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati.
“It was encouraging to get going,” Bowles stated. “We moved the ball fairly good after the primary collection. And, you already know, we bought into form of a circulate and somewhat run, little cross, in order that was encouraging.”
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photograph by: USA Right now
There was lots for Todd Bowles and Liam Coen to love about Tampa Bay’s run sport within the preseason opener. General, the Bucs ran 32 occasions for 136 yards, which was good for a mean of 4.3 yards per carry. And keep in mind, this was with out beginning operating again Rachaad White, who was one of many many starters who was held out of motion at Paycor Stadium.
It was rookie operating again Bucky Irving getting the beginning within the backfield for Tampa Bay, and he showcased plenty of the attributes that the Bucs noticed in him once they drafted him within the fourth spherical of this 12 months’s NFL Draft. He ran six occasions for 28 yards and a landing, averaging 4.7 yards per try. After the sport, Todd Bowles was lots complimentary of his rookie operating again.
“He had no jitters,” Bowles stated. “He wasn’t nervous. He hit the holes properly. He caught the ball properly. He cross blocked properly. I’ll examine the tape for every thing else, however I believed he had a very good first outing.”
KEEP IT A BUC 😤
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Sean Tucker adopted Irving, and he was among the many most spectacular gamers on the sector all night time. The second-year again ran 10 occasions for 68 yards (6.8 avg.), with an extended of 26 yards. He did an entire lot to assist his case for making the 53-man roster, however he’ll must hold issues going as the remainder of the preseason unfolds.
Undrafted rookies DJ Williams and Ramon Jefferson chipped in late, even when their total numbers don’t bounce off the web page. Williams had 10 carries for 29 yards, whereas Jefferson ran twice for six yards, together with the 3-yard game-winning landing with 57 seconds to go.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving and C Graham Barton – Photograph by: USA Right now
Rookies Graham Barton and Elijah Klein, in addition to second-year guard Cody Mauch and veterans Ben Bredeson and Justin Skule have been all key in serving to the run sport get going. It actually was the dashing assault that opened issues up for Tampa Bay on Saturday night time. Quarterback Kyle Trask, who began rather than Baker Mayfield in Cincinnati, echoed Todd Bowles’ reward for the efficiency of the run sport.
“That’s superior,” Trask stated. “I imply, when you will get the operating sport going like that, that’s all you may ask for that opens up the complete offense. And that’s all simply project and communication, going to the proper ID factors, getting all the proper checks in… I believed we did an excellent job of that every one night time.”
A Lengthy Method To Go, However Todd Bowles Is Proper To Be Inspired
The Bucs had the league’s worst run sport in Todd Bowles’ first 12 months because the group’s head coach, which was a part of what ended Byron Leftwich’s time as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. Dave Canales labored wonders with Baker Mayfield when he was employed in 2023, however the run sport – whereas barely improved – nonetheless completed final within the NFL. So, when Canales left to take the Panthers’ head teaching job, Bowles wanted a brand new coordinator who might repair that side of the group’s offense.
Bucs GM Jason Licht, HC Todd Bowles and OC Liam Coen – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Liam Coen, who comes from the Sean McVay teaching tree, has the profile that Bowles was searching for. His scheme is extra various, with a large set of performs that come out of the identical look. That retains the protection guessing, which ought to remove a few of the predictability the Bucs had with their run sport underneath Canales in 2023. Offensive and defensive gamers alike have pointed that out as the large energy of the scheme all through coaching camp to this point, and early indicators on Saturday night time have been good.
And it’s additionally necessary to understand that that is nonetheless the preseason, and there’s an extended approach to go. With that stated, although, Coen – like all coordinators – was maintaining issues fairly vanilla in opposition to Cincinnati on Saturday and sure will proceed to take action because the exhibition slate continues. The evolution of the run sport, mixed with the eventual introduction of Rachaad White to the combo, ought to result in even higher outcomes.
So, sure, there’s nonetheless loads of work to be finished and plenty of floor to cowl given how dangerous the dashing manufacturing was final 12 months as Tampa Bay completed thirty second out of 32 groups. However Todd Bowles is true to be inspired by the beginning on Saturday night time – and you have to be, too.
