Opposing Defenses: Beware of the Pitt, Otherwise Non-Threatening

As we continue our look at the Bucs’ offense and see really just how effective Jeff Garcia could be for the team, the running back position might be the most vital. A ground game can open the door for the passing game, and can also wear down defensives, but more so than not the backs in the system must be able to be a double threat to run and catch, something incumbent starter Carnell Williams has had struggles with, so do the Bucs match up?

We’ll begin with the 2000 49ers, of course, this team was lead by former Buc and Raider Charlie Garner, who would rush for 1,142 yards, second best in his career only to the 1999 total of 1,229 yards, as well as fullback Fred Beasley. The two would combine for a DPAR rushing of 14.2, with Garner accounting for 13.4 of it, and a DPAR receiving of -11, Beasley takes that blunt with a -10.9 reading.

In 2001 the Niners would see a larger stable of backs; Garrison Hearts, Kevan Barlow, Terry Jackson, and Beasley would combine for more than 1,800 ground yards in replacing the free agent departure of Garner. Hearst would achieve a 34 DPAR rushing and a 3.2 receiving, Barlow an 11.8 and 8.4, Jackson a 7 and 5.6, and Beasley a 1.1 and a -4.5. The trio of Hearst, Barlow, and Beasly would become mainstays in the Niners’ offense and would account for 37 DPAR rushing in 2002, and -2.3 DPAR receiving, setting up the stage for 2003, Garcia’s final season by the Bay.

The running backs wouldn’t disappoint, Hearst had another fine year with 16.7/-4.4 , Barlow 18.4/-4.6, NFL Europe’s leading rusher Jamal Robertson even got in on the action with a 0.8 rushing DPAR, but didn’t register enough catches to qualify; Beasley meanwhile was the opposite, only qualifying for receiving, and only at a 0.6 rate.

As previously mentioned, the common statement concerned Jeff Garcia’s career is that he needs great supporting casts to be successful, and although that could be said about almost any quarterback, at least to the point of needing a competent helping hand, it seems to be magnified when you consider Garcia’s age. I’m not sure why, it’s not like people look at the older Brett Favre and say things of the such? Well no, and Garcia isn’t Favre, he’s not a Hall of Famer, and I doubt he whines if he doesn’t get a player or two, but I digress.

2004 and 2005 were the years Garcia bar hopped from San Francisco to Cleveland to Detroit, and there should be no surprise that both of these team’s units at running back were horrible. Lee Suggs and Willie Green, 1.8/-0.7 and -1.6 worth of fun combined with fullback Terrell Smith’s -1.7 catching DPAR; yes folks, they had a combined net in the negative, but this is Cleveland we’re talking about, did you expect Garcia to walk with Jesus?

The Lions were much better, although not as good as previously encountered; Artose Pinner stunningly had a combined DPAR of nine, 4.6/4.4, Shawn Bryson also contributed, at least running the ball with a 5.5/-0.8 split, and rookie Kevin Jones was actual detrimental to his team’s passing game, -3.5.

That team wasn’t very good either, the 2006 Eagles however were one step from the NFC title game before being bounced by the New Orleans Saints. Everyone knows about Brian Westbrook and his stunning 34/12.7 split, but even Correll Buckhalter contributed a total of 13 points, 7.4 of them receiving, Ryan Moats had 1.1 running; in other words the stable had a stud and some very nice ponies for Garcia to take advantage of, but how much better were they then the Bucs? Well…

Carnell Williams had a disappointing year and it shows, -2.5/-0.9, but fear not, for not everything from the stable will proceed to vomiting, Michael Pittman was really, really good; 4.2/5.8, to give you an idea of how good that receiving DPAR is, Reggie Bush had a 5.9, and in fact Reggie only had a rushing DPAR of 5.7, albeit in more carries. Pittman was truly a diamond in the rough last season, and in my eyes has solidified himself as a legitimate number two back. Oh and of course there’s fullback Mike Alstott who had a 0.4 rushing DPAR…and a -7.3 receiving, which was second worst in the league for running backs only ahead of Mack Strong also his -6.9 DPAR net is the second worst for any running back Garcia has ever worked with, hopefully like Fred Beasley in 2001 he’ll bounce back from a horrendous -10 and improve by 5.6 points, although I wouldn’t count on a man of Alstott’s age and wear to have such a large gain, not with newcomer B.J. Askew who posted only a -0.2 DPAR receiving.

My advice to Gruden and company? When you’re looking at those big of splits, do everything you can to make sure at least one of Pittman or Askew are on the field in passing situations, otherwise you may want to keep two extra blockers back, it’s not as if Cadillac or Alstott have shown they could catch and produce last season.