Dominating. It is the one word that can be used to describe Tampa Bay’s run game so far in the season. In week 1 against division rival Carolina Panthers, they rushed for over 300 yards. Dominic Gulley ran for 173 yards on 37 carries, the other part to the monster Domanick Davis ran for 131 on 19 carries.

Fluke?

Well next week against the Kansas City Chiefs they did it again. Gulley rushed for 182 yards on 35 carries, Domanick Davis rushed for 124 yards on 19 Carries. The following week against the St. Louis Rams they ran for far less, Domanick Davis rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries and Dominic Gulley rushed for “only” 84 yards on 17 carries.

So what exactly is going on here? These are amazing numbers….what is Tampa Bay doing right?

Tampa Bay currently has the top two rushing leaders. Just let that settle in, their backup has more yards than every single running back in the league. It’s not just taking your vitamins kids, it’s hard work and a dedication to the run not seen since the old days of real smash mouth football.

Well it starts with the 5 guys up front. Their center John Wade is one of the best in the league and excels at both run and pass blocking. He’s only allowed 7 sacks in the past 5 years, although he was injured for much of 2007, but this guy is a beast. To the left of John Wade you have All Pro Guard Toniu  Fonoti, arguably the best run blocking guard in the league. He’s been phenomenal in 2008 and don’t expect his production to veer off one bit. At left tackle you have Pita Elisara, scouts feel he didn’t have the strength to be a starter. Well he’s proved plenty of people wrong, he only allowed 2 sacks last year and laid out quite a few players to make holes for the Tampa Bay Running backs. The RG is Floyd Womack, who isn’t good at anything BUT run blocking. Then all the way to your right you have 16 year veteran Derrick Deese, who is the weakest link in this chain.

But it’s easy to see what Tampa Bay has done here. With the solid anchors of Fonoti and center Wade, they have hired players to fit their system...run blocking, run blocking, and a little more run blocking.

What?

So the running backs don’t have skill?

The RBs aren’t anything special, they are solid veterans, it’s the line that makes them look so good. Davis hasn’t had an 1000 yard season his whole career, Gulley hasn’t either. Nevertheless, both are on their way to 1500+ yards this season, something that’s never happened in the history of the NAFL.

Unfortunately it gets harder and harder to do as the weeks go bye. Teams have noticed what Tampa Bay is doing, so they will focus on stopping the run more and 

More. As the weeks pass their bodies will hurt more and more, but only time will tell.

Tampa Bay knows this, which is why they just traded for long time veteran Kurt Warner from Cincinnati...who was placed on injured reserve for a minor injury the following week. So what the hell do they have planned up their sleeves?

 

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