“Hard Nosed Runner” Is “Coming Back”
August 27th, 2014
Tasty Bucs nuggets were dropped during the appearance of center Evan Dietrich-Smith on SiriusXM NFL Radio last night.
Of course, Joe was paying attention.
Longtime Colts personnel guru Bill Polian was behind the microphone and asked Dietrich-Smith about who was carrying the football for the Bucs and who impressed him.
A couple of things stood out with his long-winded answer:
First, Jeff Demps was not mentioned. Joe considers that another red flag on Demps’ chances of making the 53-man roster. Dietrich-Smith mentioned every other running back, including injured Charles Sims.
Second, Dietrich-Smith specifically said the following about injured Mike James: “Mike James is coming back from his shoulder deal going on. He’s a hard nosed runner, too, man.”
This was great to hear about James. Lovie Smith hasn’t revealed anything about James’ status since he banged up his shoulder against the Dolphins 11 days ago. Teams aren’t required to disclose injuries in preseason.
Joe is a James fan. The guy runs hard and looked fantastic in limited action last year. Just ask the Seahawks, who were thanking Greg Schiano profusely for mysteriously stopping handing the ball to James halfway through the fourth quarter of Seattle’s overtime victory.
With a healthy Doug Martin, Bobby Rainey and James to start the season, plus maybe versatile fullback Jorvorskie Lane, the Bucs would have a solid backfield.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:03 pm
James is my favorite bud back. He is the best pass protector, that sticks out to me most from the other backs. He doesn’t take losses like the other backs. Not to be too harsh on DM or Rainey but he is a tough tough runner.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:11 pm
@ brendon
I second that…always goes forward at the end, not fancy but gets the job done, good pick up by the former regime
August 27th, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Let’s Go James!
August 27th, 2014 at 9:17 pm
Can you fix the Duemig podcast please? It is playing a 14 second Rays clip.
Station is having a tech issue. Sorry. We’ll get it done.–Joe
August 27th, 2014 at 9:18 pm
He’s not spectacular, but he’s still a solid running back. We’re definitely going to need him this season.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Couldn’t agree more, James is a helluva player.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:19 pm
All James does is produce every time he’s given the chance. Can’t ask for more than that from a player.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:20 pm
all 3 RB’s are good guys. And you can throw in the FB. However it will be D.Martin That will lead all these guys in yards from scrimmage.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:25 pm
I’m stoked to hear EDS mention James like that. I too really like James and hope he sticks around for a while. Maybe become the next Earnest Graham.
“… plus maybe versatile fullback Jorvorskie Lane, the Bucs would have a solid backfield.”
I really hope Lane makes the team. I think a good running game can still use a good fullback. Plus, Martin seemed to do so much better running behind Lorig. I can’t help but think Lane could have that kind of impact too.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
I love mike james, dude runs balls too the wall and hardly ever takes a loss of yards. Always falling forward, pretty good hands too.
August 27th, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Jumping on the Bandwagon- but I love to watch Mike James running the ball.
He is electric, and always seems to turn nothing into something.
I hope he gets a lot of touches this season
August 27th, 2014 at 9:48 pm
There goes joe again…Hate on Demps..
You really have some personal bias that should be checked at the door, if you are a “journalist”.
August 27th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
MJB!!! Mike James, B****!!!
August 27th, 2014 at 10:05 pm
Martin looked pretty tough against the Bills. Spikes met him full speed as soon as Doug got the bal and martin planted and leveled Spikes. Terrible example, maybe but I saw a pretty “hard nosed” 22 on Saturday.
not to say I don’t really like mike James as well… Just wanted to make sure Martin still gets a little credit for his toughness as a runner.
August 27th, 2014 at 10:35 pm
Martin, James, Rainey…love all three.
August 27th, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Wow… It’s so refreshing to read so many positive comments! It’s refreshing in contrast to the normality of negativity. Go Bucs!0
August 27th, 2014 at 11:51 pm
I have been called a lot of things before, but I honestly think that behind a bad O-line James would probably do better than Doug as he runs so damn hard. Even when a tackle seems imminent he tries to juke, shove and spin to get that extra yard or two. Doug seemed to play a little stiff last year and often seemed to give up a little too quickly.
August 27th, 2014 at 11:55 pm
Like our top three backs and Lane at FB. We have the skill players at all positions if we cut Glennon and keep Kafka. Our Defense and Special Teams will shine, and the OL will come together in the real season. Go Buc’s!!!
August 28th, 2014 at 5:27 am
Here’s your chance to watch the great Mike Kafka tonight Owlykat. It’s amazing how you and the rest of us in the public have only seen him take a virtual handful of snaps in the final few minutes of meaningless pre-season games and you’re ready to outright cut a guy with actual starting experience who, in spite of his flaws, is certainly a serviceable back-up. Bucs could save a lot of money evaluating prospects by employing you. You are able to basically do nothing more than take a quick peek to form an opinion. You would do well at speed dating.
August 28th, 2014 at 6:41 am
James is the best yards after contact back we have. I would like to see him get some goal line work he is tough…
August 28th, 2014 at 7:18 am
@Buccanr1 — Since the 1800s, journalists have been writing opinion in newspapers. If fact, those opinion journalists are the highest paid writers at those publications. Back in the very old days, a newspaper had a lot more opinion and bias in it than it does now.
You may not like Joe’s opinion, but please don’t pretend opinions are somehow not part of journalism and that somehow Joe is violating some sort of sacred code. And if you haven’t noticed, this is an opinion-driven site that also keeps fans informed with news. If Joe removes his opinions and, subsequently, his bias, then there’d be no point.
August 28th, 2014 at 7:46 am
Joe, keep doing your thing. I have no problem with your opinions and I find your third person references to yourself quite amusing.
Kevin, I think you may have missed how often Doug Martin shrugs off tackles and takes off down field. James best trait is reading the line and setting up blocks. He is a hard nosed runner but he has pretty good vision when selecting holds and rarely takes negative yardage. He also runs with great rythym, knowing when to plant, cut and accelerate.
I’m not crazy about Rainey. To me, he and Demps are expendable especially when Sims returns.
August 28th, 2014 at 8:13 am
I like Mike James a lot too! Even though our O line is improved, It’s going to take some time for them to gel as a unit. I think Jorvorskie Lane will make the team, before Jeff Demps, to help Doug Martin and Mike James do their thing.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:00 am
@ owlycat
Your Glennon hatred is truly epic my fellow Bucs fan. I hope you don’t become a fan of another team when Glennon takes over the QB duties, he is after all the Bucs QB of the future
August 28th, 2014 at 10:02 am
@ a few people bashing Joe for “hating on Demps” – its not biased to report the guy hasn’t done anything and might not make the final roster. It looked to me like everytime he has gotten an opportunity he’s run into the back of his blocker or dropped the ball. It is what it is, yes he is super fast, doesn’t matter much if you don’t get any results.
August 28th, 2014 at 10:04 am
On topic…tough to really say what the Bucs have in James. He looked real good during the small sample of games he played in when DM got hurt, so he at least has promise. I don’t see him replacing Martin as the lead dog anytime in the foreseeable future, but he proved he can show up when his number is called upon
August 28th, 2014 at 3:33 pm
james is the kind of guy you’d probably like on your depth chart for 6-7 years if you are a coach. but if he spends an extended period of time as your #1, your season probably took a bad turn somewhere. solid in relief\committee, versatile, and probably a willing special teamer. kind of like a kevin faulk or earnest graham
August 28th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Darn that Dominik for gutting our running back stable. Well there’s always the draft next year.