Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lovie Smith loves it: 'Running game is the quarterback's best friend'

Published Oct. 14, 2015 1:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

The success in the run game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an obviously massive impact on the rest of the offense. Specifically, it made quarterback Jameis Winston's life a whole lot easier, something that head coach Lovie Smith couldn't say enough about.

After rushing for 183 yards, their most of the 2015 season, Smith called the run game a quarterback's "best friend," according to Andrew Astleford of ESPN.

"We were in two-back [formations] a lot of the time. They had eight men in the box. We're running it. They know it, and then you can still run it. Yes, that just sets up everything else. And of course, the running game is the quarterback's best friend. ... We were able to get all of that going yesterday." Smith told ESPN.

Smith wasn't the only one raving about the run game, as Winston himself opened up about both Doug Martin, while giving some praise to Charles Sims as well.

"He's a great asset to this team," Winston said of Martin on Sunday, "and I believe the way that he and Charles Sims, how they helped each other out, is special."

If the Buccaneers can continue to run the ball how they did on Sunday, it'll make Winston's life easier and should absolutely lead to more wins in the very near future.