Anyone have 2022 and 2023 flashbacks tonight?
Joe sure did. Joe actually did earlier this week when Bucs icon and insider Rondé Barber himself fired some shots at the former Bucs run game of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Tonight in Pittsburgh, the Bucs first-team line started with Charlie Heck replacing Tristan Wirfs at left tackle. Joe’s not blaming Heck, but the Bucs couldn’t run the ball to save their life with the first team. Brutal.
Bucky Irving had 8 carries for 12 yards. Yeah, you read that right.
“That’s a heck of a defensive front over there [for the Steelers,] ” Bowles said. ‘They were like that in [Thursday] practice, as well. We gotta find different ways of opening up the run game and moving the pile a little bit and get going. They did a good job deciphering us.”
Right guard Cody Mauch said the Bucs were shaking off rust. “Pass pro felt good, but obviously still some things to fix in the run game. We didn’t have a very good day doing that,” he said.
Mauch acknowledged the Bucs ran the ball better on offense in Thursday’s practice against the Steelers and were better overall. But they also had their big dog, Mike Evans, who rested tonight.
“Yeah, I thought Thursday was a really good day all around,” Mauch said. “We were running the ball. Bake was slingin’ it. I mean, watching Mike was do his thing, which is always just fun to watch. For a joint practice, it was pro ball, good team to go against.”
Mauch said he doubts having a new starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, affected the run game but he said he’d have to check the film.
Center Graham Barton said the Bucs had “live-action bumps” in the run game: “little assignment things, little discipline things and they’ve got a couple of talented guys in there.” He added that his targeting and his eyes needed to be better tonight.
Barton said he’s not concerned and the Bucs’ first-team run game shouldn’t be judged on less than 20 snaps, especially after strong work against the Steelers on Thursday and a several very good practices.
Like Bowles, Joe’s going to go watch the film.