Bucs May Have Found Their Secret Rushing Weapon

Final yr the Bucs ranked first within the NFL in move makes an attempt.  With Tom Brady main the way in which the group tried 731 passes. This was 56 greater than the subsequent closest group. On the identical time, the Bucs ranked thirty first in speeding makes an attempt. Most groups discuss striving for stability, and whereas new head coach Todd Bowles didn’t explicitly say he was placing stability as a significant aim in 2022, he did notice that it will be good.

“If we now have to throw the ball 50 occasions to win, that’s nice. If we now have to run the ball 30 occasions to win, we’ll take what they provide us,” Bowles mentioned. “We’ll at all times have photographs for giant performs. Clearly, Brady is a superb passer. We wish to equal that with the operating recreation if we will but when they’re taking away the run and we now have to throw the ball 60 occasions and he throws 5 – 6 touchdowns, I’ll take the win. If we’re operating the ball fairly good and we get going about 25-30 occasions, I’ll take the win. No person is placing handcuffs on the offense from that standpoint. We’re going to do no matter we now have to do to win the sport.”

Trying on the Bucs offseason strikes, and you may see that there was a concerted effort to assist the operating recreation get higher. The group introduced in guard Shaq Mason, who is likely one of the greatest run blockers within the league. They re-signed their prime operating again from 2021 in Leonard Fournette to a deal that averages $7 million per season. And so they drafted operating again Rashaad White to switch Ronald Jones because the group’s backup operating again.

However with all of these strikes to bolster the operating recreation, might the group have been overlooking somebody already on roster?

If I had been to ask you which ones quarterbacks logged a PFF speeding grade above 75.0 final yr, what names would you throw out at me? Lamar Jackson? Positive. Kyler Murray or Justin Fields? Appears affordable. Josh Allen? After all.

How about Tom Brady? He most likely wasn’t on the prime of your record. However there he’s in twelfth place with a 77.5 speeding grade. And who can overlook a few of his spotlight reel moments akin to this primary down run in opposition to the Giants on Monday Night time Soccer?

Have a look at the grace and mobility as he breaks a sort out whereas choosing up chunk yardage! You may’t train strikes like these.

Might Brady Be Trying At His Operating As The “X-Issue”?

Earlier within the offseason Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds checked out areas that Brady might enhance in for 2022. He even requested Brady the place he noticed locations for enchancment. And in true Tom-like style, Brady evaded specifics. Might that be as a result of he has been engaged on increasing his function within the run-game?

Final yr he ran for extra yards than any season within the final 10 years. And whereas Brady mentioned he didn’t wish to give something away to his opponents, he hasn’t precisely been shy about bragging about his operating potential. Brady had a 13-yard run versus Miami, a memorable 10-yard in opposition to the New York Giants, a 12-yard jaunt versus Buffalo and an 11-yard sprint in opposition to Carolina in 2021.

“Each time I see him run the ball, I’m identical to, ‘Please, get down,’” Bucs vast receiver Chris Godwin mentioned after the Giants recreation. “The one man got here and dove at his leg. I’m like he’s undoubtedly going to slip right here – nope, he does slightly Tom hurdle, or no matter that was. It was dope to see him get that first down and the group beloved it. That was an electrifying second. It’s thrilling, however I’ve acquired to verify my boy will get down. He was gassed up. I feel that is essentially the most operating he has performed in his profession. I’d have an interest to see what these stats are, however he’s most likely acquired 30 or 40 yards – he’s attempting to interrupt a document or one thing.”

Brady rushed for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 28 carries (2.9 avg.) final yr after having knee surgical procedure within the offseason. That 81 yards is essentially the most speeding yards by Brady since he ran for 109 yards with New England again in 2011.

Not dangerous for a 44-year previous man.

Essentially the most yards Brady has ever rushed for in any season was 110 yards in 2002. He’s eclipsed the century mark thrice in his 22-year profession.

And essentially the most quantity of speeding touchdowns Brady has scored in any season was 4 in 2014 with the Patriots. Brady, a grasp of the QB sneak, ran for 3 TDs in 2020, his first season in Tampa Bay.

People, we may very well be seeing an entire new offense in 2022 from the Bucs. Not that Brady shall be featured with learn choices and quarterback powers this season. However we might see a 100-yard speeding season from the 45-year previous first poll Corridor of Famer – maybe with 4 or 5 speeding scores in addition.