Entering Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season, there are a number of units that have made huge strides from last year to now. On Tuesday, Brian Baldinger of NFL Network highlighted one unit in particular that has made the most drastic improvement year over year.
Brian Baldinger Labels Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Rushing Attack As NFL’s Most Improved Unit
Baldinger believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rushing attack is this season’s most improved unit, raving about the job their offensive line and running backs are doing.
The Buccaneers’ run game was widely regarded as the worst in the NFL last season (and in 2022). Here’s where Tampa Bay’s rushing attack ranked in 2023 in several key stats:
Buccaneers’ 2023 Rushing Stats
- Rush Yards Per Attempt (3.6): 32nd
- Rushing Touchdowns Per Game (0.4): 32nd
- Rushing Yards Per Game (90.4): 31st
- Rushing First Downs Per Game (4.8): 29th
- Rushes of 10+ Yards (36): 29th
- Rush EPA Per Game (-4.22): 30th
- Explosive Rush Percentage (4.8%): 31st
Now, let’s compare those numbers to the Bucs’ current stats.
Buccaneers’ 2024 Rushing Stats:
- Rush Yards Per Attempt (5.1): 4th
- Rushing Touchdowns Per Game (1.1): 9th
- Rushing Yards Per Game (138.3): 8th
- Rushing First Downs Per Game (7.5): 8th
- Rushes of 10+ Yards (53): 6th
- Rush EPA Per Game (1.78): 3rd
- Explosive Rush Percentage (10%): 6th
Baldinger has raved about the Bucs’ offensive line (LT Tristan Wirfs, RT Luke Goedeke, C Graham Barton, RG Cody Mauch, and LG Ben Bredeson) and three-headed monster at running back (Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker) for much of the season. Today, he focused on just how much this group has improved.
.@Buccaneers were DEAD LAST in every rushing category a year ago. Today they are top 5. What a difference a year makes. Great challenge this Sunday @chargers. Looking gorward to being @SoFiStadium to call it live. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/b7LCAUpw5O
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 10, 2024
“Let’s watch this Bucs offensive line go to work. It’s the biggest improvement of any group in the league,” Baldinger said before breaking down film of terrific run blocks by Tampa Bay’s offensive linemen.
“In the run game, look, they’ve got three backs: Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and [Sean Tucker]. … They were last in every category in running the football last year; they’re top-five now. Nobody has improved more than the Buccaneers running the football.”
So, why is the Bucs’ rushing attack significantly better this year?
New offensive coordinator Liam Coen deserves a ton of credit. His creativity and unpredictable play-calling have played a huge role in the Bucs’ turnaround. When Coen took over as the Bucs’ third offensive coordinator in three seasons (after Dave Canales and Byron Leftwich), he stressed that improving the run game was his top priority, and he’s done exactly that. It’s not uncommon for Coen to play multiple backs at the same time and use fake handoffs and misdirections to keep the defense guessing.
With that said, there’s no question that the Bucs upgraded their personnel last offseason, too. Irving was selected in the fourth round (No. 125 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has emerged as the team’s best running back. He’s extremely explosive and capable of breaking off long runs whenever he touches the ball.
While Tucker was on the roster last season as an undrafted rookie, he was buried behind White, Chase Edmonds, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn on the depth chart and received just 15 carries in 2023. After Edmonds suffered a season-ending knee injury prior to the season and Tucker had a strong camp and preseason, the sophomore earned more touches, and he’s made the most of his opportunity.
After averaging 1.5 yards per attempt as a rookie, Tucker is averaging 7.2 yards per attempt this season — the highest average in the NFL among RBs with at least 25 carries. When White missed Week 6 with a foot injury, Tucker erupted for 136 rushing yards (9.7 YPC), 56 receiving yards, and two scores. Last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, Tucker turned three carries into 47 yards (15.7 YPC), including a 34-yard run to seal the win.
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Then, there’s White, who is averaging a career-high 4.2 yards per carry. Prior to this season, White had never averaged more than 3.7 YPC. Irving and Tucker’s success has lit a fire under the veteran, but he has also benefitted from an improved offensive line.
Tampa Bay’s offensive line struggled to run block in recent years, but they have been significantly better this season. That’s in part due to the Bucs using their first-round pick on Barton, who was widely regarded as the best center in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Duke star has been terrific, living up to the pre-draft hype. Goedeke and Mauch have come into their own and gotten more comfortable after struggling early in their respective careers, while Bredeson has been a solid free-agent signing who represents a significant upgrade over 2023 starters Matt Feiler (who is now out of the NFL) and Aaron Stinnie.
Perhaps what’s most exciting about the Bucs’ rushing attack is that it should only continue to improve going forward. Every key contributor is relatively young: Irving (22), White (25), and Tucker (23) in the backfield, and Wirfs (25), Barton (22), Mauch (25), Goedeke (26), and Bredeson (26) on the line. Not to mention, tight end Cade Otton (25) has improved considerably as a blocker in his third NFL season, which has helped too.
Also, Coen (39) is in his first season as an NFL play-caller, so he should only continue to get better as well. The Bucs’ rushing attack has been outstanding this season, and the future is incredibly bright.