Run Game Needs to Help Jameis

The Bucs running game has struggled so far to say the least as they have missed Doug Martin's impact but their execution as an unit has been subpar. If the offense wants to get going and more importantly help Jameis play better, the ground game needs to be a focal point and must be an effective weapon for the team. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken spoke with the media today and shared his thoughts on the running game and how they can help Jameis more via buccaneers.com.

“We’ve hit it earlier, we’ve got to be able to run the ball better. We’ve got to be more precise in the way we run routes and come open quicker and I’m sure there’s some of those things he can be better at. So collectively, we’ve got to do a better job of that. Like you said, nothing’s good when you get your quarterback hit that often, but we’re ready to move on, we’re ready for the Panthers on Monday night and we’re expecting their best and they’re certainly going to get ours.”

Monken went on to say that Bucs need to do a better job of playing to their running backs strengths more and making it easier on them as well via buccaneers.com.

“I think that, again our sample size is really small, in terms of this year. I know over time – Charles is a very versatile player, he really is and a good football player. And we try to do a number of things with him and we expect him to continue to improve. We’ve got to do some things that schematically favors the things he can do and we’ve got to do some things probably better that take advantage of ‘Quizz’s’ talent.” 

Being more efficient in the ground game is going to help Jameis be more comfortable but also give him more opportunities to make plays down the field. This offense has to stay committed to the run game though and try to maintain balance throughout the game. Bucs should be averaging 30 rushing attempts a game regardless of how effective it is because it will keep the defense on their toes. Plus running the ball wears an opposing defense down which helps slow down the pass rush of the other team. Monday night, the Bucs need to run the ball with purpose and stay committed to it for the whole game.

Bounce Back Week Expected For Vincent Jackson

The Bucs offense had a pretty good game last Sunday against the Falcons as the unit put up 31 points and over 350 total yards. The best news is the unit can be even better as one of their top players had an off day. That would be all-pro receiver Vincent Jackson who was targeted seven times and ended up with two catches for 18 yards. Now this could be because of Desmond Trufant who was matched up against Jackson most of the game and is a great corner. The Bucs were smart by going towards the weaker corner in Alford and Mike Evans took advantage for 99 yards and a TD. Now heading into week 2 against the Cardinals, look for Vincent to have a bounce back week as he knows he needs to pick it up and OC Todd Monken believes he will as well.

"He's got to play better, and I got to coach him better. He knows that, and I got to find a way for him to play better, and he is capable, he is a darn good football player. We are counting on him to have a big game this week, and I expect him to bounce back."

This is called being accountable and the coaching staff and the players are doing a great job of that so far. Monken is right as Jackson should bounce back this week as he has a favorable matchup going against the Cardinals secondary which features a rookie corner in Brandon Williams who will likely be targeted again this week by the Bucs offense. Jackson needs to be a big part of this offense because he is still a very good player and can make big plays. Look for the Bucs to move their wideouts around this week to find the favorable matchups and stay away from Patrick Peterson.

Striving To Be Consistent

This year all the coaches seem to be in-tune with each other and preaching the same things and thats consistency. Wide Receivers coach Todd Monken spoke to the media last week and mentioned how the young bucs will start to learn to be more consistent.

There was a lot of points that were left off the board and when you do that then you add some consistency to you offense. So, sure you can average 24-28 points a game, but getting 10 in one game and 38 in another, thats not very good. Consistency comes from doing those little things. Plus as our young offense, our core nucleus of players gets better, you know the O-linemen, running backs, the receivers, the quarterback, then we should continue to be more consistent.

Yet again harping on the little things comes up. The bucs are a talented team on paper but you only produce wins when you perform those little things right on game day. All those close game losses the bucs have been in these past couple years can easily turn into wins just by fixing the little things. No more wide open dropped passes, no more missed blocking assignments, no more arrant passes leading to easy field position to the opposition.

This coaching staff seems set on fixing the little things so that the big things will be easier to come by. I see the coaching staff making sure the young bucs don't shoot themselves in the foot anymore and finally letting the other team beat themselves. Consistency is a habit of winning teams, lets bring that to Tampa.

Off-Season is Easy, Winning is Hard

It seems like the past few years the Bucs have been winning the off-season, but have struggled to transfer that into wins during the season. Coach Todd Monken brought up a great point yesterday in how the off-season is the simple part, and winning games is the difficult part.

"This is easy, winning is hard, It's not easy when you have to take the microphone every week and explained why this or that didnt work, or why we didnt do this or that in the game."

Monken went on to say this is a talented team and it's up to the coaches to make them the best they can be. He is right on about the off-season being easy which it is because the pressure is off where it is on all the time during the season. One thing is for certain the pressure is on the Bucs to win this year and its time they take that next step and compete for a playoff spot. The players and coaches need to be on the same page and get this ship on the winning track which it is more than capable of doing in 2016.

It Starts With Energy

The Bucs coaching staff has been upgraded this off-season especially on the defensive side of the ball. However, one addition was made on offense adding OC/WR coach Todd Monken who has a great relationship with Dirk Koetter. Yesterday, Monken spoke with the media and talked about how it starts with energy when he is coaching his players.

"If we don't bring energy, then what do you expect from the players?"

"We have the best job in the world where they pay us an unbelievable amount of money to make these players the best version of themselves, and that starts with energy.

Monken is very passionate and that shows when he speaks, he truly cares about what he does for his players. He wants to be the best coach for these guys to make them the very best they can be, and that starts by bringing energy and passion every day. Monken is a player's coach and it looks like he will do whatever it takes to get the very best out of them. This is great news for Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.

Draft and Develop

New Bucs offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Todd Monken might be my favorite coach just because his way of thinking is the right one. During his press conference, he talked about the process and how its all about the players, that its his job as a coach to develop them. He repeated several times explaining the process that its draft, develop, free agency, and coach better.

“This is a game about talent. I mean, it starts with having talent. You’ve to have talent. You’ve got to have people in position to draft talent. So my belief in the last couple of drafts and Jason (Licht) … my belief in Coach Koetter and Coach Smith and the staff that’s been assembled, all of that has been a big part of it.”

  “I love to be around players and see them achieve all their dreams. It’s always about the players; it’s what this game’s always been about. It’s about you helping them to become the best version of them. Plain and simple, that’s what it’s about.”

Monken is spot on here, and went on to talk about the key to having a good team is developing 4th,5th, and 6th round picks into good players because that's what you have to do to contend. If Monken can make Mike Evans into the best version of himself then the rest of NFL better look out because that will be bad news for 31 other teams.

New OC Is Going to Bring Fun

New Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken is fired up and wants to bring more explosive plays and have fun doing it. Monken who work with Koetter when they were with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007, was known for bringing energy and having fun with his players.  Now with Tampa, he wants to bring the fun back and a winning attitude as well.

"I like having fun. I don't know why it has to feel like such drudgery," Monken said. "I just don't. I've never understood that. I want a fight song. We don't even have a fight song, I don't think. I want a fight song. Is there a fight song? Cool. You get to sing a fight song. Call me a college guy. When I was in Jacksonville they called me a college guy. That's great, I love it. I love coaching, the excitement of it, why can't it be fun?

 "Watch the Carolina Panthers. They have fun! That looks like fun to me. I wanna have fun. I want our quarterback to have fun. I want our guys to have fun doing it together. I want the locker room to be fun. Is that harder in a pro setting? Yes, because of the change. You have so many different pieces that change, you gotta make that blend together, and guys that play for more than just themselves. Which is difficult in a pro setting because of the money, as we know.

Completely agree with coach, as this team can use some fun and why not copy a Superbowl team like the Panthers. So far looks like coach Monken will be great addition to the team.

Potential fight song for the Bucs?