Top Priority For Zac Robinson: Fix The Running Game
February 20th, 2026
Solve the run game puzzle.
Joe doesn’t know what or who to blame the Bucs’ running game on. But it sure would help if the Bucs had a run game this fall.
Two years ago under Liam Coen, the Bucs had an outstanding running game. Part of that was then-rookie running back Bucky Irving was on fire.
Coen gets a head coaching gig in Jacksonville and Josh Grizzard took over and if you ask Joe, the run game never did look good. Didn’t in training camp, didn’t in worthless preseason games and that continued through the entire regular season.
OK, sure, you can blame the injuries to the offensive line. You could argue Rachaad White wasn’t used right. You could suggest Bucky took a step (or two?) back. Or maybe Grizzard just didn’t know how to craft a decent run game.
How bad was the run game for the Bucs last year? One of the worst types Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football Analysis.
[Bucs] Running backs gained 10 or more yards on 7.8% of carries, ranked 29th.
And now, you have Bucky coming off shoulder surgery and Rachaad White flipped the Bucs a double-bird on his way out of the locker room and out of town. Joe’s pretty confident White won’t be wearing Bucs gear this year.
So yeah, running back is a big question mark, whether anyone wants to embrace that fact or not. Sean Tucker is a restricted free agent, White is gone and Bucky is trying to overcome injuries.
Yes, Joe is confident the Bucs will bring in a running back, whether by free agency or the draft. And if you ask Joe, new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has one key task: Revive the Bucs’ run game.