New coordinator Zac Robinson aims to revitalize Tampa Bay’s backfield by utilizing a healthy Bucky Irving and fresh depth to restore the unit's former dominant rushing form.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rushing offense was mediocre last season, but new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson could help the team regain its shine from 2024.
Tight end Cade Otton said the new coordinator has instilled confidence in the group, and the team is prioritizing improving the run game.
"We cannot let them (the defensive line) get vertical penetration," Otton said after Monday's training camp. "It's really hard, like, it takes some time to run off the ball."
Tampa Bay finished the year 21st in rushing yards (114.5 yards per game); part of that was a downgrade at coordinator and injuries. Liam Coen parted with the organization to coach the Jacksonville Jaguars, and second-year running back Bucky Irving dealt with lingering shoulder and ankle injuries.
Coen helped the Buccaneers finish as the fourth-best rushing team in 2024 (149.2 yards per contest). Irving had a standout rookie season, rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries.
Josh Grizzard filled in for his predecessor, but he couldn't replicate his success. Tampa Bay started the year hot with a 6-2 record, but cooled down tremendously, finishing 2-7 in the final nine games.
The Buccaneers fired Grizzard on Jan. 8 and found his successor two weeks later. Robinson, who was with the Atlanta Falcons, could revive the run game.
Atlanta had a talented running back duo in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allegier. The former Falcons coordinator is working with another gifted backfield in Irving, Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker.
Gainwell signed with Tampa Bay on March 9, giving the team much-needed depth if its 2024 third-round pick goes down with injuries again. The former Pittsburgh Steeler had the most versatile season of his career. He recorded 537 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 114 carries, and added 438 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 73 receptions.
Tucker is a productive, low-carry tailback who recorded a career-high seven touchdowns last season on 86 carries.
Running back coach Skip Peete sees the trio as every-down backs in their own right. Robinson may not need an adjustment period figuring out how to deploy the Buccaneers' deep backfield.
"The things they did with Bijan, things they did with Allegier, I think, are very similar to a lot of things we did with Bucky and with Chaad (Rachaad White) back when he was here," Peete said after rookie minicamp.
Players who were injured last year have entered training camp healthy. Irving made a surprise return ahead of his recovery schedule and has impressed over the past five days.
Robinson went from one talented running back core to another. He is instilling confidence in his players to step up into their roles to help revive a once-dominant 2024 run game.
