Joe Haeg backup tackle, plays tight end and helps the Bucs win a Super Bowl!
Who the heck is Joe Haeg, many would ask? He's a backup offensive lineman who played sparingly during the regular season but in the playoffs was a major asset for the Buccaneers. They used him as a tight end in their 4 playoff games and he had a considerable number of snaps in those games. It helped them open running lanes and gave them a great blocker in 12 personnel. The other thing it did is it opened the deep crossing routes because the Bucs saw a tremendous amount of single high when Bucs went to the grouping. It really benefitted them in the Super Bowl and paid dividends throughout the playoffs.
They rushed 48 times for 230 yards in the four playoff games. It definitely helped them set a tone and gave them an added dimension in the playoffs. The personnel grouping with him at tight end accounted for 4.8 yards per carry.
Here is the 4 game breakdown with Joe Haeg in the game in the playoffs!
Wild Card vs WFT
Rushing 12 for 61 yards , 5 yards per carry when he was in the game
Passing: 2 for 2 for 46 yards. One big play is shown below to hit Godwin for a 27 yard gain. They get the single high look, Gronk runs an out on the bottom to open the middle of the field and they hit Godwin who gets wide open. Great design but again teams go 8 man front and try to take away the run and it opens the middle of the field.
Playoffs vs Saints The Bucs ran it 13 times for 55 yards against a very stingy Saints defense.
Heres are some highlights.
The first 2 times they run it they get 8 yards and 5 yards respectfully.
The Saints who love to be in nickel go 4-3 on both occasions. They played a ton of 4-3 on the day and I don't know if they were better off in it or being in a nickel.
1st play the saints go true 4-3 base personnel.The 1st time they are in 12 with Haeg as the other TE. The Bucs run it they go under except with a 2i and 6i rather than a shade and a 5.
The 2nd time they go base which allows the double team on 94 on Jordan. RB Fournette makes a nice cut and gets 8 yards as they seal the edge. Wr does a good job on his find block on the SS and it a nice design.
A few plays later on 1st and 10, they get another 7 yard gain that sets up a 2nd and 3 on another inside run play.
On 3rd and 1, the Saints go to a pro look and they run straight at them again. The nose guard loses his gap and the Bucs make them pay for a 44 yard gain. The play was called back on a very questionable holding call.
All in all, the Bucs adjusted from their last meeting and ran the ball very effectively on the day.Their running backs were 30 for 125. yards and over 4.0 yards per carry.
Super Bowl vs Chiefs 21 snaps 15 carries for 82 yards and 1 td.
passing 2 for 4 for 32 yards and a td. (other was a penalty). One he dropped on the tackle eligible! One of the passes the wr was wide open but Brady threw it late on another deep crossing routes vs single high. Him being in the game opened things up on the outside in the pass game.
Joe Haeg makes the catch in the super bowl, he's the MVP! Not for nothing but why the heck you wearing gloves!
Here's 2 runs vs the Chiefs, one for 27 yards and the other for 7 yards. They executed nicely and got great blocking at the point of attack.
But, more importantly it opened the middle of the field up as the Bucs got single high from the Chiefs defense when they went to this personnel grouping. It really opened up the middle of the field.
Heres a big 31 yard again in the pass game. Due to the heavy run tendency ,Spags goes cover 3 and they get burned for a big gain.
1st and 10 at the KC 37, Bucs up 7-3. They run play action with the deep crossing route.
Heres a video of the play.
People want to remember Joe Haeg as the guy who dropped the super bowl pass on the tackle eligible, but I remember him for the valuable asset he was to the Bucs super bowl season.
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