Sims’ Job Security
May 15th, 2017
Lauded by dubious source.
With the exception of a couple of games, Joe is just not won over by Charles Sims.
Joe has nothing against the guy, other than he sure seems replaceable. Sims has made some eye-popping plays in the passing game. For Joe, those have been too rare.
In Joe’s eyes, Sims has proven to be a one-trick pony (when healthy). He’s a talented target out of the backfield but is a whole lot of meh as a runner. He cannot run between the tackles, and when trying to turn the corner he does a really bad Beyonce impersonation.
Joe understands winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter likes him. And there is another outfit that likes Sims. And Joe isn’t certain if it is a good thing or damning.
The PFF tribe has anointed Sims as one of the most efficient pass catchers for a running back in the NFL the past two seasons. They rank Sims with David Johnson and James White as the best running backs with something called yards-per-route, which Joe is guessing is a twisted geeky term for yard-per-catch (“Hey, let’s come up with a weirdo term just to make us look smart!”).
Here’s the thing: Sims is in the final year of his contract. In 2014 and 2016 he played in eight and seven games, respectively. That’s bad.
If Sims gets hurt again and misses a bunch of games, he’s all but gone. One didn’t have to read too far between the lines after AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Koetter gushed over how well fifth-round pick Jeremy McNichols has world class hands and is a crushing blocker, yet both seemed to gloss over his rushing skills.
Jacquizz Rodgers isn’t the one who has to worry about McNichols. The man who best be concerned is Sims.
May 15th, 2017 at 7:29 am
3 tool back > one trick pony.
Both Sims and Barber have limitations and defenses read can the play from Clearwater. We need for McNichols to succeed.
Factor in what Koetter wants to do out of a two TE set and limitations at RB will severely hamper a balanced attack.
May 15th, 2017 at 7:32 am
“If’ he can stay healthy – and get back to his 2015 form.
We’ll have a stacked backed field.
May 15th, 2017 at 7:45 am
What no more cook articles. I’m surprised Joe’s aren’t starting a Vikings site lol. I kid guys but it’s true
May 15th, 2017 at 8:04 am
I think we can clearly say especially with players that were drafted after him that this pick was a C minus but more like a D
May 15th, 2017 at 8:05 am
Sims is explosive (let the league in yards per touch the year prior)….we need all the explosive guys on offense we can get on offense. Use Simms ala the way Seahawks did with CJ Proise last year and he will be very productive. Injuries are flukey things and guys get labeled “injury prone” too easily, IMO.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:15 am
@feeltehpewterpower
Except for CM98 (clinton mcdonald) who is going into his 8th year and has never been available for 16 games!!!!!!!
May 15th, 2017 at 8:17 am
I think Sims may be due for a big year this year. In year’s past, we were a run first team, with the purpose of setting up play action. While of course we are still going to want to run the ball effectively, it is clear that we are going to air it out this year, and run the ball much less. Couple that with Doug being on thin ice, Sims is probably going to get a lot more touches in the way that fits his game. With all of our monster pass catchers out there, Sims is going to be 1 on 1 with LB’s all day long, which is no contest. Unless McNichols beats him out, I think Sims is going to have his best year.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:47 am
I can’t predict who is going to have a good year and who is not. I see a group of backs (Rodgers, Martin, Sims, McNichols and Barber) that will benefit from our new high octane passing game and improved OL. We need to keep them all to offset injuries and suspensions. We have to learn from past experience that we could lose two, possibly three of these guys for various time frames over the course of the season so logic would be to keep the stable full. Our competitors in the NFC South are loading up with backs. That should tell us something. RB by committee.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:53 am
joe: is there anyway that someone could look into my moderation glitch or anything I can do on my end to correct the problem. Please, I am asking for help, not trying to be sarcastic.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:54 am
Carolina used the 8th pick in the whole draft to get maccafferty to hope he has sims 2015 production
Do people here watch other nfl games?
Use the archive and enter “kobe faker” and “new nfl normal”
“I dont know how to use the archive”
Kobe Faker
“I demand a Offensive Coordinator “
May 15th, 2017 at 8:55 am
I’d like nothing more than Martin and Sims to revert to 2015 form. If some of the new additions can take some of the pressure off the RB’s it’s all upside.
It’s the A word that’s the real question. Availability.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:15 am
“They rank Sims with David Johnson and James White as the best running backs with something called yards-per-route, which Joe is guessing is a twisted geeky term for yard-per-catch (“Hey, let’s come up with a weirdo term just to make us look smart!”).”
☝️ This is a pretty simple concept. You’re allowing your disdain for PFF to cloud your logical thinking.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Sims will be cut or traded for peanuts, JMac will be the new passing back, by midseason after Doug is either hurt or inefficient, probably both, JMac will be our 3 down back, with Quizz and Barber sprinkled in. JMac is just as fast and big as Joe’s RB man rush DC, don’t recall JMac having any ball security (he carried the ball as much as DC in college), definitely not any character concerns like DC. Boise competition is definitely much less than DCs FSU teams, but Joe can we get some more articles about JMac, any updates on JMacs recovery, how was his production versus big school programs (Boise played some good teams each year), each poster here knows everything you can imagine after the daily DC articles (click bait), but barely seen anything about JMac since the draft!!!!????
May 15th, 2017 at 9:48 am
Hawaiian Buc Says:
May 15th, 2017 at 8:17 am
I think Sims may be due for a big year this year. In year’s past, we were a run first team, with the purpose of setting up play action. While of course we are still going to want to run the ball effectively, it is clear that we are going to air it out this year, and run the ball much less. Couple that with Doug being on thin ice, Sims is probably going to get a lot more touches in the way that fits his game. With all of our monster pass catchers out there, Sims is going to be 1 on 1 with LB’s all day long, which is no contest. Unless McNichols beats him out, I think Sims is going to have his best year.
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Think how much more space Sims will have with all other weapons on the field at the same time. My lord, how many variations of plays you can run off just a single formation.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:52 am
Who are you won over by? Do you like anyone?
May 15th, 2017 at 9:53 am
Teams loaded the box as well in Winston’s rookie year knowing we were a run first team and essentially forcing Winston to beat them with mostly undrafted rookies. Perhaps that made it harder for Sims to run between the tackles. I saw on his highlights vs. the skins and bears (I know, both had horrible run defenses then but still NFL teams) that he had some nice gains up the middle. Sims is a lot like Dalvin Cook. Sure, you can run him up the middle but it is wasting his talent as he’s not going to make more yards after contact that away….both players can be outstanding when given space. Either running them outside, screens, wheel routes, split wide ala Proise, etc. al
May 15th, 2017 at 10:05 am
This is why they drafted McNichols. JMac can be a backup for both Martin and Sims. Or he could completely replace either of them. Jmac can run, run routes, catch, and pass block.
I have nothing against Sims. I think he does really well in the open field. But Jmac can run and catch. Sims can’t run very well.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:36 am
yards per route literally just means how many yards on average does a player run his routes lol. all it means is he runs deeper routes as a rb other than just screens and dump offs
May 15th, 2017 at 11:10 am
Just because McNichols can catch the ball out of the backfield and run great routes doesn’t make him Charles Sims. It means he has mastered a skill set that Sims possesses.
But unlike Sims McNichols is not a one trick pony. He’s a MUCH better blocker than Sims…he’s a MUCH harder runner…McNichols averaged exactly the same career yards per carry…5.6…as Doug Martin over their entire careers. McNichols scored one more rushing TD than Martin in one less year of attempts!!!
This is apples to apples…Boise to Boise…we can’t really know if McNichols will work out…but given his past achievements there is no reason to not believe he can become a functional part of our “committee”. Whatever…I feel certain Koetter sees McNichols as a three down back not a 3rd down passing back like Sims.
May 15th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Good read. I have been saying for months that Sims has a greater probabiliby of being off the team than Martin, for performance and contract reasons. Why re-sign him if McNichols turns out able to run and catch as advertised. Save the money, keep Martin, Rodgers, McNichols, and Barber. In two years, draft another one as Martin retires. I know Joe doesn’t think Martin will be on the team, but…
May 15th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
The RB by committee approach will have to work out this year, and I wish Sims the best for a breakout year. I was hoping that he would become a Matt Forte-type back, but injuries have derailed his career.
May 15th, 2017 at 12:38 pm
simms gets the ax
May 15th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
Sims is a giant part of the reason I think Doug stays with the Bucs. Doug doesn’t count against the roster limit of 53 for the first 3 weeks of the season. The team could carry four RBs, Rodgers, Sims, Barber, and the rookie. The way things have shook out for Sims in two out of the last three seasons, is that he was on IR before week 4 of the regular season. He goes on IR before week 4 of the regular season this year and then Doug gets activated. This suspension for Doug might actually prove to be beneficial for us. It’ll keep Doug healthier, it’ll open a roster spot in a position we have depth (but no, not a ton of talent), and when Sims gets hurt, the Nichols will have had all of training camp and the first month of the season to get handle on pass catching duties and he can step right in.
May 15th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
The addition of Desean Jackson will all but insure teams will not be as quick to stack the box against us.
This means it will make life easier for all of our running backs, including Simms, if he is still around.
May 15th, 2017 at 1:41 pm
If 2015 is who Charles Sims is – then he’s a talent you want to hang on to.
Its also easy to make that statement about DM22 – “If 2012 and 2015 is who Doug Martin Is – then he’s a talent you want to hang on to”
The parallels between Sims career and Martin’s career are interesting.
Neither seems capable of effectiveness when knicked or hurt.
Both have been knicked/hurt and thus ineffective for 60%+ of their NFL careers.
When both are healthy – Both are among the best in the NFL at what they do well.
When both stayed healthy for an entire year (2015) they led the league together as the best 1,2 RB combo in the NFL. Behind a patchwork Oline with 2 rookies up front who played surprisingly well under the amazing guidance of Mr BBQ miester himself.
The answer? Unfortunately it falls into the realm of crossed fingers, rabbits feet and praying to football gods. These guys have talent. We know its there. Its among the best in the league for their roles when they are healthy and the offense is executing around them. But how does one keep an injury prone RB healthy in the NFL? And how many years do you bring a player back and count on them to play a major role – once they have shown over a # of years that statistically, there’s more than a 50% chance this player will not be available for you because they get injured so often?
This question does not just apply to the RB position. There are quite a few starting and key role position players on this team who fall into the same or similar category. Demar Dotson, Clinton McDonald, Jac Smith, Robert Ayers, Luke Stocker, Doug Martin, Charles Sims. That’s quite a few talented players we are counting on to one degree or another to stay healthy and have a good year when history says they are all injury prone and not a very good bet to be available for the whole year if even half of the year.
Injuries are the thoughest part of the NFL. There’s no way to predict them. Some players like Brett Farve and Ronde Barber and Derek Brooks play entire extended NFL careers without suffering one major injury. Other players like quite a few on our current team seem to get hurt as or more often than not.
May 15th, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Pickgrin
Exactly. Everybody wants to diss Sims for his injuries but look the other way when it comes to Martin who hasn’t been healthy for 60% of his time with us.
I have a sneaking suspicion that an improved OL and a crazy scary passing attack with lots of targets…improved blocking at TE and RB…our offense is going to make our backs including the rookie look good.
May 15th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Contract year…stick with him and see if he produces. If he plays for the money this year, then the Bucs benefit for 2017. Then decide if it is worth taking a chance on him next year.
May 15th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Maybe that is who Sims is – a 3rd down / 2min pass catching back. If he does that really well – that’s his role. Pay him accordingly and move on – if he thinks he’s more of a 3 down back and wants to test the market. He can have that right…
He ran so well a couple of years ago – I wonder if he got popped really good and now runs a little scared. I still love his talent as a pass catching RB. Hopefully, he learns to embrace that role and can stay a Buc.
May 15th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Why not make him the #5 receiver???
May 15th, 2017 at 6:03 pm
I’m glad the Joe’s (one of Joe’s?) has come around and got off of pushing Doug Martin out of town. Martin provides a much higher talent level than any other RB we have. Sure his reliability is a huge question mark. But when healthy he can terrorize a defense. If there is any chance Martin comes back in 2015 form. We have to keep him. Sims is a complimentary back. He can be a weapon. But he needs space. Last season the LOS was crowded and there was no where to go. It was like that for all of our backs tbh. But it gets worse for a guy like Sims that needs some open space to get his legs moving.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Hes no bellcow, and he can’t play guard or rush the QB, but he’s a good role player out of the backfield when healthy and I don’t know why the Joes are so down on him. He proved he could be valuable in 2015, and I think he’s closer to that player than the one that was banged up last year.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:22 pm
I have always liked Sims though his highlight film is a bit short. He has decent size and I hope he makes the final roster.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:14 pm
Bucs are now getting rid of Martin…and Sims.