In relation to the Bucs shedding to the Falcons, 31-26, on Sunday, the offense wasn’t the issue. Positive, Baker Mayfield threw for 2 interceptions, however the huge query after the sport was can the Tampa Bay protection can cease anybody? If the offense did have any questionable components it revolved round working again Sean Tucker – and why he was used so little.
Sean Tucker had simply two dashing makes an attempt for 3 yards and made one catch for 12 yards within the recreation. The dashing statistics are undoubtedly poor however probably the most egregious factor of all was that Tucker was solely used on seven snaps all through Sunday’s recreation. That may be a ridiculously low and makes it tough to beat a gradual begin like Tucker had.
Why Did Sean Tucker Barely Play vs. The Falcons?
In Monday’s press convention Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles tried to clarify why Sean Tucker wasn’t concerned a lot, and admitted that they wanted extra of him.
“I believe it’ll change each week,” Bowles stated. “You understand, after we received behind, that was most likely much less Tucker’s factor. However he’s going to get extra touches, he’s going to get extra performs and extra reps.”
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
What made it more unusual was how the scenario going into the sport after which how every little thing unfolded. On the primary drive, Rachaad White fumbled the ball on the second play of the sport, which was recovered by the Falcons they usually scored a landing shortly thereafter to right away put the Bucs in a 7-0 gap. Understandably, Tampa Bay didn’t need to quit on White that early, however wouldn’t that current much more of a cause to deliver give Sean Tucker an earlier look?
Then we’ve to contemplate what was happening with Bucky Irving. It took till Friday within the week to search out out whether or not Irving was going to play due to a toe damage that Bowles described as an damage that Irving has handled relationship again to his faculty days. If a participant needed to do miss two practices simply to be prepared by recreation day, wouldn’t the workforce need restrict the reps he will get in a recreation to maintain him wholesome for the remainder of the season?
What’s additionally scary is the precedent that the Bucs are setting on this working again room. It was described as a three-headed monster by Bowles simply three weeks in the past, however that may’t be stated anymore if that is going to be the rotation. Three weeks in the past Sean Tucker accounted for 192 yards of offense and two touchdowns in a win over the Saints, which gained him NFC Offensive Participant Of The Week honors.
The Bucs are exhibiting that irrespective of how effectively a participant play, that’s not going to present him extra snaps within the following weeks. What else does Tucker must do to earn extra handoffs and targets within the passing recreation?
Out of these three working backs, Tucker is the one one to win that award. Does his manufacturing imply something if Tampa Bay simply reverts proper again to hardly involving him within the offensive assault? That may’t be the case transferring ahead.
What Occurred To The Bucs’ Recreation Plan Of Operating The Ball?
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: USA Right this moment
In equity to Rachaad White and Bucky Irving, they did have strong video games by way of manufacturing in opposition to Atlanta. The Bucs, as a workforce, rushed for 102 yards. White had 29 dashing yards on six makes an attempt (4.8 avg.) and made 5 catches for 38 yards whereas Irving was the very best of the group, having 9 dashing makes an attempt for 44 yards (4.9 avg.) and receptions for 40 yards within the passing recreation.
What was very stunning is that Tampa Bay kind of deserted the run even whereas the sport was inside attain. In a tie recreation at 14-14, the Bucs received the ball with 7:19 to go within the second quarter. For the remainder of the sport, the Bucs ran the ball 9 occasions.
This included a kneel down by Baker Mayfield on the finish of the half, the failed faux punt dashing try by Tavierre Thomas and a scramble by Mayfield. The Falcons didn’t construct a two-score lead till 14 seconds remaining within the third quarter. Tampa Bay might’ve caught with the bottom recreation.
“A few of the issues they began doing type of received us away from it a bit of bit,” Bowles stated. “And we began altering to a few of the passing recreation.”
Tucker was not used within the fourth quarter both because the Bucs attempt to come again. The weak spot of his recreation is cross blocking, so Tampa Bay began with Irving firstly of the quarter and White completed the remainder of the way in which. Regardless, it’s inexcusable to not get the ball to somebody that’s proven flashes of high-level velocity and high-level manufacturing this season.
Hopefully Todd Bowles is true his phrase concerning the workforce utilizing him extra down the stretch.
