Charles Sims Breakout In 2015?
January 9th, 2015
Can Charles Sims have a breakout season this fall?
If there was one player that played a lot of minutes in the second half of the season who maybe didn’t deserve it, it was rookie running back Charles Sims.
His play made Joe scratch his head as to why he got so many carries, and not Bobby Rainey.
Early in the season, Rainey fumbled. But after that debacle in Atlanta, Rainey never fumbled again. So Sims playing more than Rainey, well, you couldn’t pin it on fumbles.
In a mailbag to Buccaneers.com multimedia maven Scott Smith, a fan asked for a breakout player for 2015. Smith offered up Sims, among a few others.
The obvious choice on offense, from among the players currently on the roster, is running back Charles Sims, who will be going into his second year after getting about a half-season of exposure as a rookie. Sims missed the first eight games after having ankle surgery right before the season started, then was gradually worked into an increasingly prominent role on offense. The numbers weren’t overwhelming (185 yards and 2.8 yards per carry on the ground; 19 catches for 190 yards) but there were flashes of the two things Buccaneer management praised Sims for after the draft. Namely, the Bucs believe he can be an outstanding pass-catcher out of the backfield while also being a surprisingly tough and hard-cutting runner between the tackles.
For the past two months, Joe tagged Sims with the moniker of “mediocre” because he really didn’t offer up anything to hang your hat on. He really was mediocre.
Late in the season, Sims showed some flash plays. Ah, ha! Maybe this was why Lovie spent a third round pick on the guy?
And to be fair, Sims had ankle surgery in August and missed half the season. Perhaps Lovie force-fed him into the lineup to catch Simes up on lost time.
Maybe that is why Sims played better in the final two home games? If so, then there is hope Sims really could break out this fall.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:05 am
Sims didn’t look better than Martin or Rainey this year, no reason for him to get more carries than them next year. Forcing him the ball to try and justify the pick is moronic, feed the best running backs and those are Martin and Rainey. Sims is also a terrible pass blocker.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:07 am
Nobody can run without an OL
January 9th, 2015 at 11:11 am
We have only scratched the surface on what Sims could do. I believe it was his last coach on the West Virginia Mountaineers who said he was the best receiver on the team. We really didn’t utilize his pass catching abilities and we have to remember we didn’t have a back who excelled last year because our O-Line is dreadful. Sims will flourish under a new offensive coordinator who plays to his strengths rather than what we had last year with an OC who was in way over his head and struggled just to put an NFL game plan together. Book it!!!!
January 9th, 2015 at 11:15 am
Woulda left this on the “What’s to debate” article but its too long.
Joe says “But spread option quarterbacks just spook the hell out of Joe”
……………………………………….
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Didn’t we have Johnny Football Shoved down our throats ad nauseam last year?
January 9th, 2015 at 11:17 am
If it had been wrist surgery I might be a little more harsh. Ankle surgery is horrible for anybody who needs their wheels to succeed. Sims entire game is predicated on his wheels. Nobody comes back from ankle surgery 100% just in just 8 weeks. Getting fit enough to play and participate is one thing…playing up to a skill set when part of that set has been severely damaged is another.
Players I believe deserve another long look IF they can stay healthy in 2015
Sims
ASF
Michael Johnson (yeah that’ll produce groans and I didn’t say I’m optimistic but he was hurt and deserves a chance to be judged when he’s healthy.
Who else played hurt most of the year and deserves an honest look next year? I suspect I’m probably leaving somebody out.
And while I’ll give them a shot next year I’m like Joe. If they can’t get out of the hot tub and off the IR then it’s time to cut the losses. As Father Dungy says..the greatest ability is availability!
January 9th, 2015 at 11:20 am
He could not do any worse than he did last season behind that poor OL. If the OL is revamped this offseason perhaps we can see if this guy can make some plays out of the backfield especially with his receiving skills. Looks like we may see a platoon of Sims, Rainey and Marttin unless someone distinguishes themselves. Having a new OC will definitely give these guys a chance to become productive runners IF the Bucs can somehow piece together an OL that is not one of the worst 2 or 3 in the NFL as it was this season (I do not buy that #25 ranking that Joe listed in a post yesterday; whoever put that ranking together has to be spending a lot of time taking mind altering agents….)….
January 9th, 2015 at 11:27 am
Another prime reason why Sims could “break out” next year is if we get a rookie QB, he’ll be checking down often to who apparently is an excellent receiver as a RB.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:32 am
I’m more interested in our RB’s learning how to pass block. To many times they whiffed or their blocks were very ineffective. They need to sit down and watch some film of Cadillac Williams who turned into an excellent pass blocker.
They also need to spend more time on drills improving their effectiveness.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:37 am
i thought this guy was for screen palys?
January 9th, 2015 at 11:37 am
We have 4 uniquely talented RBs that will hopefully come to camp and compete for the right to be the #1, #2, #3, and #4 RBs.
Doug Martin, when healthy, has a nice combination of power, quickness, and acceleration as a runner.
Charles Sims has good quickness and speed as a runner and has excellent hands and route running skills as a receiver.
Bobby Rainey has excellent quickness and shiftiness as a runner and can create after the catch as a receiver.
Mike James is a no-nonsense type runner that hits the hole hard and runs with good lean.
A good OC, and Koetter is, will get the most out of these RBs, who individually might not be the best RBs in the league, but as a unit, are very diverse and with very valuable skillsets.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Sims college highlights are impressive. He can catch the ball and is elusive in space.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:47 am
If you have the right OC (which we may have now) and a decent OL we can design and cater some play-calling to suit his strengths.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:48 am
ChessMaster: everyone was expecting a Forte clone when we heard Lovie laud the kid after the draft last April. If we could get 50 to 75% of Forte’s production out of the kid, particularly in screen and dump off 3rd or 4th options on a passing down, I would be pleased…. Hard to evaluate the kid after last season given all the distractions with Arroyo, the qb, the OL and the fact the kid was shelved for well over half the season. Right now it is only fair to give him an imcomplete with a clean slate and a chance to prove himself under the new OC.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Believe that when I see it.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:49 am
I hope 87 is the breakout player in 2015….
January 9th, 2015 at 11:58 am
I think he’ll be more involved in the passing game, as in the slot. Watch and see.
January 9th, 2015 at 11:59 am
You know, we have nine picks in this draft. More than enough to move back up into the first or second round. I like that thought.
January 9th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Sims & ASJ will add dynamic options to our Koetter Mariota/Winston led offense……can you envison all the little dump passes to Martin, Rainey & Sims from Mariota….and with his threat to run….then you add ASJ to the mix with ME13 & VJax finally getting open because of all the options.
All is possible with an Oline capable of protecting and providing some running lanes.
We have lots of weapons but need to reinforce the bunkers….
January 9th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
The idiots running the buc’s wanted to justify using a third round pick on this guy. So they put him on the field even though he looked mostly mediocre. He will be pushed on the field next season as well.
January 9th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Sims will be fine but he has to hit that weight room HAAARRRDDD in the offseason. Hanging with the muscle hamster and getting into his workout routine would be my #1 priority if I were Sims.
January 9th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
As I see it…
it is likely to be Herron and/or Patton making big strides next year. The two positions that are hardest to transition (college-to-NFL), are QB and WR. They have three ‘problems’ to overcome.
#1) The change in ‘game speed’ is REALLY eye opening.
#2) Then there is the precision that is expected. A ‘ten yard out’ MUST be a TEN yard out, not nine or eleven.
#3) And finally, the complexity, of the game, is elevated to a mind-numbing level. Offenses AND defenses have very thick playbooks. QBs/WRs need to be familiar with ALL of the different defenses (and their disguises), so they will know how assignments change as the defense changes.
It is a lot to learn/absorb/ and react to for a rookie.
January 9th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
bonzai
what rounds are the extra picks in? I know we lost a 4th, didn’t know we got 3 others
thanks.
January 9th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
stop contradicting yourself joe…..is he mediocre or not? mediocre talent don’t have breakout season except if your name is mike glennon and your described as carving up an offense with 249 passing yards
January 9th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Why do a couple people on here think he was put on the field to justify the pick? And you know this how? Maybe they were getting him ‘football’ ready. Or trying to make up for time lost so he could hit the ground running this year. I mean it’s not like we were going to win anymore games. Oh well. Guess y’all know better than anyone.
January 9th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Robert,
We have the following picks:
1st round
2nd round
3rd round
4th round
4th round
5th round
5th round
6th round
7th round
January 9th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
only one 4th i think, traded for mankins…what i have:
1-
2-
3-
4-[from rams-barron]
5-[from Balt-zuttah]
5-[from NE-casillas]
6-[from rams-barron]
7-
January 9th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
You are right Bucco, I misread that one on the NFL draft site. We have 8 picks.
January 9th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Why would anyone object to Simms getting playing time in the 2nd half of a lost season?? The young man was drafted for a reason. L&L saw great potential in him and had him as the highest rated player on their board when that 3rd pick came last draft. Will he turn out to be anything like Forte? – who knows. But Simms certainly showed some flash on a few plays – enough to give hope that he will develop into a good player.
Lovie 100% did the right thing by “forcing him onto the field” as Joe and others are implying. Why wouldn’t you want to get the Rookie RB as much experience in real games as possible at the end of a lost season once he was healthy enough to get out there? They know what they have in the other 3 backs.
I will say this – if we can find some way to come up with an OLine that grades somewhere in the top 15-20 overall next year – everyone will see what a great stable of RBs the Bucs have. We have as much talent at RB 1>4 as a group of any team in the league IMO. Time to utilize that strength with some blocking up front to give these backs a chance to shine. All 4 are capable of making big plays in space – but they could almost never get to the 2nd level last year because of the horrible run blocking.
With adequate OLine play and a Heisman winner at QB – this offense is set to be dangerous under Koetter’s guidance with all the weapons we have on offense. Gotta Fix the line. Spend picks 2,3,4 and 5 on OL if necessary but get some talent in here up front. You can do it L&L!
January 9th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
There is no doubt he was still favoring the ankle when he first came back, he would very carefully plant on that bad wheel, the last two games he really started getting healthy and you could see the wiggle, the hands, the feet- all of our RB need a lot of coaching on pass pro- whiffed way too many times
Don’t give up on the muscle hamster- we have a stable of RB’s that should serve us well if we can fix that porous OLine
My concern is ASJ- I know he was hurt a lot, but he looked slow and deliberate after a few flashes early…
January 9th, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Scott Smith/ Lovie Smith brothers from other mothers?
I get that we need to provide ample opportunity for Simms to showcase his abilities. I just don’t want to see Lovie continue to shuffle out guys that were here before him to force his own picks in.
If we’re going to argue that Sims wasn’t able to perform because of a poor OL and injuries, then we need to be fair to Doug Martin as well. But don’t pull a Tim Wright (for ASJ), Donald Penn (Anthony Collins), Jeremy Zuttah (Evan Deitrich-Smith), Davin Joseph (Oneil Cousins) Derrel Revis (A Verner) on us again.
I know we’re going to see that when we let Glennon go in favor of McCown, who has no future after next year on this team.
January 9th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
can sims have a breakout year in 2015? no.
January 9th, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Man I can’t wait to see Simms play again next year. He had the play of the year.
He breaks one into the open field, no one around him, he got blocking ahead of him and BOOM he runs right into his own WR T. King. Hit him so hard he knocked his helmet off. Ahh man I can’t stop laughing. That was the funniest chit I’d seen all year. And I watched mclown try to play qb so that’s saying a lot.
There’s absolutely no justification for Simms to take carries from rainey, none whatsoever except one, FAVORITISM!!!!