Only two NFL teams didn't have a 500-yard rusher last year. New England won a Super Bowl without one. Tampa Bay won two games without one.
The Patriots can get by without one. The Buccaneers not so much, which is why new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter channeled his Jacksonville Jaguars past by opening the preseason with four consecutive running plays against a Vikings team that ranked 25th (121.4 yards per game) against the run a year ago.
A leaner Doug Martin, who led the Bucs in rushing with 494 yards and a 3.7 average a year ago, used his cutback ability to gouge the Vikings with consecutive runs of 5, 8 and 7 yards.
"It was a little bit of a concern because you don't want to start like that," coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday. "But we had the point of attack taken care of. They were just cutbacks and we overpursued a little bit."
On the first run, Martin's initial target was over left guard. Nose tackle Linval Joseph occupied two blockers while middle linebacker Audie Cole stood up the fullback in the hole.
Martin cut right and found an opening because weak-side linebacker Chad Greenway had moved too far into the strong side of the play and was tied up when the left guard came off Joseph.
"I don't think I want to read too much into those first set of plays," Greenway said. "But obviously we don't want to give up that kind of yardage either. Our discipline was pretty good. And at the end of the day, we gave up one first down in those first two drives" with all the starters, except Anthony Barr, in the game.
The second run started straight ahead. Joseph again was stout at the point of attack, causing Martin to improvise with a cut off left tackle. Defensive end Everson Griffen had played the initial point of attack well but was trapped inside on the cutback as Martin slipped free for 8 more yards.