Sims Poised For “Major Role”
June 4th, 2014
The Bucs’ rookie running back will get his shot
Yes, offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford was in on scouting rookie running back Charles Sims, so Tedford told Joe yesterday.
And now that Tedford has focused his microscope even further, he’s extremely impressed.
Heralded for his smooth hands route-running, the third-round pick is a lot more than that, Tedford explained.
“Charles Sims has done an excellent job. You know he’s a bigger back who can run between the tackles. He runs with low pad level. He catches the ball really, really well,” Tedford said. “Assignments, you know, he’s coming along with that. He’s a good learner that way. And then, you know, you can’t really tell right now as far as pass protection but he looks like it, and on tape it looked like he can pass protect. So you feel pretty good.”
Tedford also explained his goal is to have a second running back that’s “not a dropoff” in skill and he expects all the 2014 draft picks to play “a major role.” Tedford, however, mentioned all the picks individually except the two offensive linemen in the fifth round.
So just what might Sims’ “major role” be?
Joe’s confident Sims will get a huge load of preseason work. If he can prove himself, then the sky is the limit. Tedford and Lovie Smith surely have no spiritual connection to Doug Martin, though Sims will have to be awfully impressive to oust Martin as the No. 1 back.
June 4th, 2014 at 11:26 am
Tedford said it would be a 2 back system where both backs would be spelled to keep them fresh and hopefully avoid injury. I think that’s smart and with Martin and Sims it should be fun to watch.
June 4th, 2014 at 11:40 am
Pablo thinks Sims will have a Reggie Bush type role. Hopefully Sims get better at return duties..
June 4th, 2014 at 11:45 am
This guy has sick vision and nasty explosion on his cuts.
I am so excited about this team and my honest expectations are to just compete and move in the right direction.
I would like to see consistency and growth in all phases.
June 4th, 2014 at 11:46 am
Pablo!!! Montoya?????
Robert thinks Sims will be the steal of this years draft, and Muscle Hampster will still get his 1000 yards.
June 4th, 2014 at 11:47 am
Sims & Martin you can call them Double Chaos. Defenses will have to cross their “T”s and dot their “I”s against us.
I’m really not worried about our o-line. For Lovie & Licht not to have a plan for completing the o-line is like going to work without shoes at One Bucs Palace. It is not happening. In Lovie & Licht you can trust…
June 4th, 2014 at 11:58 am
Why does everytime someone is mentioned as possibly exceling that means another person has to be ousted? Can it be the bucs may want to keep a talented roster? What is wrong with having a roster full of talented players? Please. Enough with all this getting rid of a player because another player is also good. It is idiotic.
June 4th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
there is probably room for each guy to get 10-15 touches a game, with sims getting more action in the passing game. i can live with the bucs not having a fantasy stud RB, i see this as a positive. let’s not forget how badly we were burned by the gap in quality after the #1 guy went down at multiple positions last year. i think Sims may actually be more involved than Austin Sefarain Jenkins who was drafted ahead of him by the bucs
June 4th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
I can’t wait to see this young dude work in space!
June 4th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Pick6…
We didn’t drop off after Martin went down last year.
There is plenty of work for two quality backs. The only issue I see if we telegraph a passing play when Sims goes in. He’s needs to be effective ruining between the tackles too.
June 4th, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Tiny Tim, I agree with the exception of the OL this year. The drop off in talent at center and tackle is an elevator failure. It’s much less so at guard given the projected starters are ready below sea level.
June 4th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Biff Barker: ” The only issue I see if we telegraph a passing play when Sims goes in. He’s needs to be effective ruining between the tackles too.”
I agree totally, seems to me, unless you also pass to Doug Martin (screens, in the flat or a mismatch) and use play action between him running the ball, otherwise defenses will know it’s a run when #22 is in the backfield, so I feel they need to really prime the Muscle Hampster for catching his share of passes this year.
June 4th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Martin, Sims, Jeff Demps, Mike James, Rainey, & Brendan Bigelow are all on the roster now, but who is going to be the odd man or men out? Demps is too fast not to try to get in the game and James, Rainey, and Martin are all proven to be capable when healthy. Sims seems to be a lock to make it, so I really wouldn’t want to cut any of them except my Bigelow and that’s only bc I’ve never seen him play. What do you all think?
June 4th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
I don’t know why but is anyone else getting the feeling that this kid is going to be a star? I questioned the pick the moment we made it but after watching highlights of the dude that night. I think a lot of his skills translate very well to this level. I know it’s just highlights but just a hunch.
June 4th, 2014 at 1:34 pm
Not only do I think he has a chance to be a star, I think he also has as good of a chance to be ROY as Evans or ASJ.
June 4th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Hmmmmm… I seen Martin do a good job pass protecting. That’s another possibility…
June 4th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Very smart to have 3 very good running backs. There is usually a large drop off on most teams after their #1. RB usually are injured at some point in the season, so having 3 means never having a large drop in talent.
June 4th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Bucfever40,
We’re on the same page. Martin had over 45 catches and almost 500 yards as a rookie. Passing to Martin then running Sims is sure to give a defense heartburn.
June 4th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Sims will get his share. Our off will get a couple td’s due to our def creating turnovers/short field. Sims will be helping Martin with ball control in the 2nd half trying to run the clock out. something we haven’t seen in a while. go Bucs!
June 4th, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Touch_Down_Tampa_Bay Says:
I hate to be negative, however realistic. Both Chicago and Arizona have had two of the worst o-lines under both of their watches. I hope all goes well and gel but to blow off the o-line IMO is not smart. Without at least an average line were doomed with our running game.
I think the swing passes will keep them honest but our guards need to dominate and IMO that’s my biggest concern this offseason.
June 4th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
The Bucs are ‘over’ stacked at RB.
*If* Sims shows that he can ‘do it all’. *If* Rainey, Martin, and James show they are 100% healthy and still have ability to terrorize defenses.
*Then*, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bucs trade Martin for a veteran O-lineman. James and Rainey do not have enough film/experience to get a good trade.
I am NOT saying that I favor this scenario. I’m just saying that *if*…
June 4th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
This team is not done adding guys. Training camp is a WAYS off. We are so loaded with running backs I can realistically see a trade happening. Now that they have Sims it doesn’t sound so crazy to trade Martin huh? Not that I don’t like him but he wasn’t Lovies pick. I would actually prefer to see Martin stay with Sims in this offense and trade James. We won’t get ANYTHING for Rainey. Don’t understand why people speak so high of his play when he did nothing.
June 4th, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Buc1987 poised for major cheering.
June 4th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
What part of this below spells trading Martin away? And don’t tell me well Lovie said this and that about Revis and then look what happened. That line has been used over and over again. You can’t pull that card every time.
“Doug’s our starting tailback,” “He’s on most of the billboards around here. He’s an All-Pro running back. There’s nothing to dislike about Doug Martin. At the same time, we want Doug around for many years. By that, you need to have some other guys. He can’t carry it every second of the way. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. We couldn’t be more pleased with him.”-Lovie Smith
Again I ask you. Does it look like they want to trade Doug Martin or have any interest in it what-so-ever? Keep up people. Listen to what they say and how they say it before you go off and speculate something that is probably the farthest thing from their minds.
June 4th, 2014 at 9:26 pm
@biff barker, the depth comment was about the roster overall, this year vs last year (everywhere but OL)….but the running game did disappear after bobby rainey’s 2 big initial games. we had no standout rushing performances at the end of the year, and the last big statistical game we had was one 80 yard run on the opening play and a whole bunch of nothing after that
June 5th, 2014 at 1:23 am
Doug Martin is under no threat. Two back system. Not hard to figure out.
Not to mention Simms looks good when he cannot be tackled. Lets wait to see him live.
June 5th, 2014 at 6:36 am
Sims will spell Martin and get those 3rd down back catches ala Kregg Lumpkin/D.J. Ware, yet with actual running ability