How can Buccaneers fix run game? Todd Bowles reveals key

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might sit at 6-2 and coming off their bye week, but not all is well with the offense.

With Bucky Irving in the lineup for the first month, the Buccaneers surpassed 100 rushing yards in all four games. Since the running back has been on the sidelines, the unit has passed 100 rushing yards just once in its last four games.

That isn't ideal, and with Irving still working his way back from injury and not practicing on Wednesday, according to reports, how can the run game improve if Bucky can't go?

Head coach Todd Bowles knows the formula.

"We got to block it better," Bowles said. "At the same time, we got to understand that we're not going to hit our head up against a brick wall. If they got too many people up there, we got to throw it and loosen it up as well. So, we got to coach it and scheme it up, and at the same time, the guys got to block it, too."

More: 'Blocked his number' - Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield offers incredible bye week response

Buccaneers need reinforcements on offense

Irving and Godwin are "progressing" according to Bowles, but both are in doubt for Week 10 against the New England Patriots, which means Baker Mayfield, yet again, will be asked to do more with less against a stout Mike Vrabel defense.

At 6-2, Tampa Bay does have a nice cushion to play with while awaiting reinforcements, but this team has Super Bowl hopes, so the No. 1 seed is the goal in the conference to make the Super Bowl go through Tampa Bay.

The Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams are the Buccaneers' next three games, and it is here where we will truly find out about Bowles' team. There is hope that Godwin and Irving will be back by then, because the offense will need all hands on deck if it is to emerge from this brutal three-game stretch in good standing.

And one way to do that is to have a competent run game doing the heavy lifting.

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