What To Do At Running Back
February 17th, 2019
Eyeballs Bucs running backs.
The way a former Bucs offensive lineman looks at it, there are three options for the Bucs to fix the running back position.
Former Bucs guard and popular local sports radio personality Ian Beckles believes the current Bucs running backs are just a bunch of JAGs.
(Just A Guy.)
So in a recent edition of his podcast, “In the Trenches,” Beckles looks at three ways the Bucs can improve the running game.
The first of course would be to add a running back or two via free agency and go with a running back by committee.
“Tevin Coleman’s name has come up, an Indiana grad so I have love for him,” said Beckles, a product of Indiana University. “So if you look at a guy like Tevin Coleman, often injured, he’s not an everydown back. He’s a change-up guy. So if you have a Tevin Coleman, you are going to need a Peyton Barber as another change-up guy in there.”
The next option for Beckles is for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht just bite the bullet and go get quitter Le’Veon Bell. This, Beckles implied without saying so, would mean the Bucs have thrown in the towel on running back Ronald Jones.
“If they get Le’Veon Bell whoever else they have is going to be irrelevant because he’s a three-down back,” Beckles said. “Peyton Barber? Eh, not so much. Tevin Coleman? Eh, not so much.”
But Beckles is much more open to the Bucs not getting any running back. Instead, Beckles wants the Bucs to throw a vault of Team Glazer loot at Belicheats left tackle Trent Brown.
“To me you don’t break the bank on running backs, you break the bank on offensive linemen,” Beckles said. “You go out and you break the bank on big ol’ Trent Brown and his 300-pound arse and you run whatever running back you want behind his ol’ 300-pound arse. That’s my philosophy.”
Well you know what, the last time Doug Martin had a decent season, which was the last time the Bucs had a decent season running the ball, Martin did just what Beckles was suggesting running behind a large rookie at left tackle named Donovan Smith.
Then, Martin got paid, fooled around with a banned substance, and was never the same. So maybe the Bucs don’t need Brown? Maybe that have that guy already on the roster (Smith) and only need a competent running back?
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages readers to forward Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
February 17th, 2019 at 10:20 am
Donovan Smith was fine – playing on a rookie 2nd rd contract.
But paying him $12 or $13M per year as he is reportedly seeking? Yea – not so much….
And paying Trent Brown the same or more certainly isn’t the proper answer either.
Let Smith walk in FA and net a 3rd rd comp pick next year.
Trade down from #5 and draft the best OT prospect available. Draft a Guard in rd 2 or 3.
Rest of draft and any decent FA signings go to defense….
Keep developing Cappa and Rojo – and get them some playing time….
Bring in Adrian Peterson for 1 year…..
Done!
February 17th, 2019 at 10:20 am
Chicken or the egg.
I’m in the o-line camp.
February 17th, 2019 at 10:22 am
You have to ask yourself is Bell that good or is it the Steelers Offensive line. Seems whatever RB they use has success behind that line.
February 17th, 2019 at 10:24 am
Fix the trenches and all other positions will benefit from it. The OL/DL is the foundation of the team after the QB. It should be the main priority for the Bucs. Do whatever it takes with high draft picks or even trade if needed to find the best players available.
February 17th, 2019 at 10:27 am
Quite honestly, I’m in agreement with Beckles and that is somewhat rare. Just watch each and every draft and see how many O Linemen are taken in the 1st round. Why? Because it’s one of the 2 most important units on a football team. The other is the D Line. The NFL is won in the trenches. Our D Line needs only a little work but we have issues on that O Line. We got our center and we have Marpet who should slide into RG which is clearly his strongest position. Bell is a stud and I don’t simply credit the Steelers O Line, however if you have a strong O Line, you could have virtually any RB having success running behind them. You set the trenches first but with all of that said, we need to be in on what’s up with Bell.
February 17th, 2019 at 10:40 am
D. Smith in a contract year didn’t produce as well as he did as a rookie. Don’t throw the cap to reward highly penalized and loafing Turnstyle Smith. Instead drop down a few spots in the first round and grab a 325 LB. OT who is 6’5” and a smooth long athletic LT from Mississippi which was not a spread team like BA doesn’t want to draft rookies from. Let Smith find some team who hasn’t watched his dreadful film to reward him. Don’t waste your cap on a RB either. Jr. is a great RB who has been overlooked and should fall to the lower rounds, See him run all over the Gator Defense on tape. He can do it all! Save the cap for Iupati OG, Honey Badger SS, and a top CB, and resigning our players!
February 17th, 2019 at 10:42 am
LJ Scott please. Good value pick
February 17th, 2019 at 11:08 am
This sounds just like what I want. Hell no on breaking the bank on another diva like Bell. I like Joe’s article before on Isaiah Crowell. I think he’d be a nice addition for splitting time with a power back like PB. RoJo is a very high risk with his stats last year, but we have to give him another chance and at least turn into a good third string RB. Donovan Smith is FAR from as good as the money he wants. Guys never come close to a pro bowl. We need to trade down in the first, stack the trenches 1-3 and get a ILB in the second round. Pick up a good CB in FA. Iupati a one year
February 17th, 2019 at 11:24 am
The game is won in the trenches.
Generally, the majority of resources should go to qb and trenches.
75/25
75% towards lines and qb
Remaining 25% for the rest.
February 17th, 2019 at 11:28 am
Fix the RG and RT position and you are set on the OL. Barber wasn’t the problem at all.
February 17th, 2019 at 11:35 am
Who else was Doug Martin running behind in that magic 2015 season? An inspired Logan Mankins, an over achieving Joe Hawley, a supremely talented and motivated rookie in Ali Marpet, as well as Dotson in his prime before he got injured/ a very respectable veteran version of Gosder Cherilus.
That was by far the best Oline the Bucs have had in years and it showed. But keep your head in the sand there Joe and continue to blame it on the running backs just because you played Oline in high school and refuse to blame them whatsoever.
February 17th, 2019 at 11:45 am
Also need to fix LT. I’d rather keep Dotson than pay lazy ass Smith big money. He is not worth it . Better ways to spend 13 or 14 mil. No, I don’t mean Bell.
February 17th, 2019 at 11:49 am
Not one 1st round pick on our Oline……not one…..it shows.
February 17th, 2019 at 11:49 am
After Dwayne Haskins @5…..built the trenches !
February 17th, 2019 at 11:56 am
I really hope Ronald Jones really isn’t the next Dexter Jackson! Hopefully BA can figure him out and the focus is on the OLine.
February 17th, 2019 at 11:58 am
OL OL OL OL OL OL OL
February 17th, 2019 at 11:59 am
The Bucs can’t afford to spend an early round pick on another RB. They will continue to develop ROJO, but Barber needs help now. BA is partial to Temple players and could draft Ryquell “Rock” Armstead/Temple in the 7th round or sign as a UDFA. Rock is 5-11 223 4.56.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFHY9E14nb0
Look for an affordable experienced FA RB as well (T.J. Yeldon/Carlos Hyde/Isaiah Crowell). Todd McNair, Bucs RB coach played under Arians at Temple and was the running backs coach at USC, guiding Reggie Bush to a Heisman Trophy in 2005 – hoping he can help develop ROJO.
February 17th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Beckles’ quotes reminded me why I stopped listening to his opinions. Way to promote your alma mater Ian … “you look at a guy like Tevin Coleman, OFTEN INJURED, he’s not an every down back. He’s a change-up guy.” Exactly what the Bucs need, another injury-prone player. And signing Trent Brown? Hmmm, first off he doesn’t weigh 300 lbs (more like 380 lbs). A 7th Rounder drafted by San Fran, and they for some reason let him get away to the Pats (I wonder why). One year of starting with the Patriots … and the Pats could very likely franchise tag him this year. With Donovan Smith’s experience with the Bucs, what’s the real incentive for paying Trent Brown probably in the $15-$20 mil a year range … assuming that he becomes available at all.
Peyton Barber’s a very serviceable RB, and not all that costly. There’ll be plenty of other quality RBs on the market soon enough at reasonable costs. Some might not even carry the ‘injury-prone’ tag hopefully. Agree with all those who stress fix the OLine … franchise tag Donovan, sign a quality FA veteran G/T (versatile) and then draft a 1st or 2nd Rnd OT after (hopefully) trading down to gain an extra pick (several quality OTs available in Top 2 Rnds).
February 17th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Agree with Beckles, breaking the bank at RB is a luxury the Bucs can’t and afford, nor should they if they could. A better o-line and a better defense will help the run game. Look no further than the Patriots and you’ll see a franchise which has dominated the better part of two decades featuring the RB position on a shoestring budget. David Johnson was drafted in the third round, how’d that work out for Arians and the Cardinals? $15 mil for an RB? No thank you.
February 17th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
RB is wayyyyy down the list on needs. You need OT’s, a OG, corners, safety depth, LBs… and then maybe after all of that is taken care of you worry about a RB.
February 17th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Trade GMC and a pick for Leonard Fournette.
February 17th, 2019 at 12:34 pm
Oh and I forgot defensive line too…
February 17th, 2019 at 12:44 pm
What to do at RB? I would start with not drafting the worst two RBs in the entire draft two years in a row.
February 17th, 2019 at 12:48 pm
Exactly Season is over!! Also get a good OLINE that can freaking block, that’s how. A running back is only as good as his OLine.. learned that in elementary playground.
February 17th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Beckles is a buffoon. Loud, obnoxious blowhard. Pointless. No scouting/talent analysis prowess whatsoever.
Shocker that he selects the young stud LT from the Patriots in Brown, way out on a limb there Heckles.
Next.
February 17th, 2019 at 1:30 pm
When u can’t draft these are the games u play
February 17th, 2019 at 1:33 pm
I don’t always agree with Beckles, but I do agree with most of his points here. Go get Brown for LT if possible. If DSmith is willing to switch to RT or RG do so. If not, let him walk.
If QWilliams, Allen or Bosa is there at #5 you take them. If not, trade back. We need too much. First 3 or 4 picks must be OL and DL. I would prefer DE, OT, DT, RG. There are solid RBs, LBs and CBs available in rd 4/5 or FA. You can also pick up some of these in FA for depth w/o breaking the bank. This also gives ROJO one more year w/o a cap hit (though I’m not a fan). I’m guessing Rogers will depart for ATL with Koetter, though I wish he would stay.
Love the philosophy of get one in FA and another in the draft.
February 17th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Keep in mind that Trent Brown also has plenty of experience at RT being that it’s the position he played in SF before being traded to the Pats.
February 17th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
Which would make him an ideal replacement for Dotson who is 33…
February 17th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Enough with this nonsense of drafting OL with our #5 pick. It a awful plan.
It doesn’t match BPA and it doesn’t match our biggest need. Unless you are just fine trotting out the worst defense in NFL history. Why anybody would put LT ahead of defense for team needs is baffling.
Confident the Bucs not be reaching with a top pick and will focusing on a elite defender. It will actually be the easiest pick in franchise history.
February 17th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
AwShbucs…….T.Brown would demand a huge payday and require a multi-year contracts.
If the best he can do is be a RT that would be a massive failure.
This is why I like D.Smith under a franchise tag because it gives you more options moving forward. If you sign T.Brown you are basically stuck with him, which may not be a bad thing.
February 17th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Trent brown isn’t that great. Brady getting rid of the ball in under 2 seconds will make any olinemen look good. If Bruce and Jameis don’t have plays to get the ball out quickly then the vultures will be circling around one buc ready to call out Licht on another free agent miss
We def need ok but big Trent brown ain’t the guy you think he is. But he does have sb exp so Jason will def try to sign this guy
February 17th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
I’m with Beckles. It sounds terrible when you say $18m for a left tackle, but that’s not the right way to look at it. We have to pay Smith somewhere around $13m anyway, so a great left tackle is only a Beau Allen more than what you pay for a Smith. At key positions you don’t want average or okay.
Alternatively, you could get a really good right tackle and right guard and roll with Smith on an Ftag.
As for the running game, new coaching will help. For all the creativity in Koetter’s passing game choreography, our running game was pedestrian and unsophisticated. I joked last year that it looked like we only had one running play. And we were sooooo predictable.
February 17th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
I love the pot-shots at RB despite the overwhelming evidence that we have an inferior run-blocking offensive line.
All we need is a FA complementary back or a 3-down stud in the later rounds of the draft. Fix the O-line FIRST. A competent O-line should be able to free Barber to get 1,000 yards. We need to find his complement.
February 17th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
They are too concerned with this offensive line imo. I don’t think they should draft anymore offensive line either. Somehow though I feel Titus Howard and Khalen Saunders will be drafted by Licht though. I feel like Cappa should be starting and will be next season but Dotson will need to be replaced soon and they’re going to draft for that and the pick is Titus Howard. They need LBs period. I think if Kwon returns he will be moved outside and they will move LVD inside which they have already said is the plan meaning JPP will line up outside next to David making N. Spence a reserve because our first pick D. White MLB from LSU. As far as running back goes I feel TJ Yeldon would be an upgrade since we can’t Bell. I think ROJO will show some flash as well next season with the new coaching. Remember Dirk Koetter didn’t believe in D. Freeman either.
February 17th, 2019 at 2:59 pm
@JimmyJack … “Enough with this nonsense of drafting OL with our #5 pick. It an awful plan.” Not many (including myself) see any OTs in this year’s draft class worth a #5 pick JimmyJack. BUT … use the #5 to trade back for a lower Rnd 1 slot AND an extra Rnd 2 pick and we now have the POTENTIAL to fill an extra need (say pick up a OT, DT & DE in those 2 rounds, then use the 3rd & 4th rounds for a RB & LB … it’s all a crapshoot after that anyways). Who gets drafted where is really dependent on how this draft unfolds.
And Trent Brown MAY be the real deal as a LT, but the Bucs would have to spend a LOT of money to find out if that’s the case. And we don’t need a $15 mil a year RT. Franchise Smith, draft an OT high (preferably one with LT experience who could also play RT), pick up a FA swing T/G and we’d have lots of flexibility moving forward. Wester, Liedtke & Cappa MAY be fine as backups for now (until they gain more experience), but I’d also keep Evan Smith in the fold. He’s not great I acknowledge, but we need some ‘senior’ presence on the OLine & he didn’t do that bad filling in.
February 17th, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Longing for the days of Jeremy Trueblood & Kenyatta Walker?
February 17th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
We need size and strength up front. Don’t waste team Glazer loot on a high profile back that’s just gonna run into a brick wall. Build up the line and we will find out what our backs are capable of. They’re not the hapless bums that some of you think they are.
February 17th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
JimmyJack
I fully understand that Trent Brown won’t come cheap. And wasn’t suggesting he should be signed to replace D Smith because I too want us to franchise Donovan and keep him at LT.
But I what you seem to fail to realize is that having a very good RT is also extremely important. Just ask the Eagles who chose to pay Lane Johnson top shelf money to play RT and were rewarded with a SB.
And I also agree the biggest area of need by far on this team is defense. But the Oline is also in need of a massive upgrade, namely in the running game. That’s why I want us to address the Oline in free agency and spend pretty much every pick of the draft on defense.
If we can come away with Trent Brown and say Mike Iupati or Ramon Foster to replace Dotson and Benenoch, we could then turn around and draft BPA on defense for the entire draft. Personally I’m wishing o n a star that we can land Quinnen Williams or Josh Allen, but if neither is there we could do a lot worse than Devin White who is drawing comparisons to Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis.
And as IRA would say, that’s high cotton. But wtfdik right?
February 17th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
FA and potential trades will determine everything. Owners’s meetings should be very interesting this year.
There is no T worth the #5 pick in this year’s draft. Unless QWilliams, Allen or Bosa is still available (doubtful), trade back with a QB hungry team and get 1st and 2nd rd picks (Jax, Wash or Miami). Now get a DL with your #1, trade up to late #1 for a T using whatever you can get by trading McCoy and/or DJAX and pick a DT with your other #2. Get your G in the 3rd (unless you want to get him late 2nd). That should provide 4 solid DLine/OLine picks.
Follow up with BPA in LB, RB and CB. May also want to grab a speedy late round WR.
Bring in a ufafrom college at P and K to compete.
February 17th, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Also want to put it out there that these are just my suggestions and not at all indicative of what Licht will actually do. So I’m not getting my hopes up.
February 17th, 2019 at 3:37 pm
DR….I guess my gripe is the notion that LT is the biggest need on the team.
Not sure why fans are overlooking the fact that we are the absolute worst defensive football team league wide.
If the goal is to win it’s never going to happen with the worst defense in football. It won’t even be possible. Having barely any playmakers(zero over 30 years old) is easily the biggest thing holding our team back. It is our biggest need.
Furthermore there isn’t even any consensus Top10 OL in this draft so it dont even make sense from a BPA standpoint. OL with that first choice is just a bad idea all around.
One elite All-Pro type player on that defense could have a massive impact on this team. It could spark a total reface and culture change on that entire side of the ball. No OL in this draft is capable of doing that and none has been touted as such.
February 17th, 2019 at 3:51 pm
AwShBucs……Can’t say I hate that plan but I just don’t think it’s very feasible.
I think if you get This.Brown you gonna release D.Smith. T.Brown will probably be the highest paid LT in football, or close to it. Jensen is the highest paid C. Marpet ain’t cheap and D.Smith surely won’t be cheap on a franchise tag. Plus you still need a guard.
That’s a lotta cheese for just that one unit. It would wind up givving you less options at other positions.
Gotta let Smith go if you get Brown.
At some point you gotta developement lineman. If the new staff can’t develope players they are doomed for failure. Buying a team is really only an option in MLB. And it doesn’t even work that great in baseball.
February 17th, 2019 at 4:33 pm
If we cut everyone who needs to be cut we can afford to sign both Smith and Brown and Iupati/Foster with money left over. Not saying we will but we absolutely should. Cap is going up every year and Mike Greenberg structures contracts to where we never have more than a couple years worth of guaranteed money allocated to a guy so the cap is literally of zero concern to me.
I’m concerned about this team actually winning.
February 17th, 2019 at 4:38 pm
After five Jason drafts this is what we have?
What makes anyone think after 5 more we will be better situated
February 17th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
@JimmyJack … “If the goal is to win it’s never going to happen with the worst defense in football. It won’t even be possible. Having barely any playmakers(zero over 30 years old) is easily the biggest thing holding our team back. It is our biggest need.”
Well put and I agree with you. But I don’t think folks are overlooking that “fans are overlooking the fact that we are the absolute worst defensive football team league wide” at all. Bucs have MANY NEEDS, and there’s certainly no consensus on PRIORITIES.
IF the opportunity presents itself (and I think it will), would love to see us trade down & pick up an extra Rnd 2 pick as I said earlier … PROVIDING there’s not a generational player there at #5 like I think Quinnen Williams will be (in that case, no trade down).
February 17th, 2019 at 6:31 pm
The Bucs need to bring the kicker Fry (S. Carolina GC) for ORL Apollos. He’s 7-7 banging 50 yarders right down the middle.
February 17th, 2019 at 7:11 pm
DR Q Williams would be awesome. But what about Allen or Bosa?Those three guys are all getting major hype. Not to far behind them 3 is D.White. A lot of people are putting him in the same class as the Top 3. If the Bus believe White will be a All-Pro type player they better not trade him away.
There’s a good possibility that 2 of those Top 4 are sitting there at 4 and I wouldn’t mind seeing us trade up a slot to get them.
To me trading down is a worst case scenario if no QBs ho ahead of us. Thats not a bad worst case. The Bucs are sitting pretty at #5.
February 17th, 2019 at 7:23 pm
@JimmyJack … “There’s a good possibility that 2 of those Top 4 are sitting there at 4 and I wouldn’t mind seeing us trade up a slot to get them.” I agree with you, primarily because other teams may also be interested in trading up for QBs. You never know.
Bosa, Williams, Allen … all 3 have potential to be generational players. Hard for me to See the Bucs using their #5 pick on a MLB, given all the other NEEDS that we have (and especially in the trenches). And yet … as I look at various mock drafts (Walter Football, etc), guess what. More than 1 of them has us taking a RB or a LB or a Safety with our #5 pick. Personally I think they’re just mocking us though.
February 17th, 2019 at 7:35 pm
@Defense Rules
If Devin White is what people are touting him to be, the 2nd coming of Ray Lewis or Pat Willis, then we absolutely should pick him if Williams/ Bosa/Allen aren’t on the board.
A dominant MLB can transform a defense in the NFL and the evidence of that is plentiful. Trust me I’m in the camp of upgrading both trenches as much as we possibly can, but if there isn’t a trench player on the board that’s better than White, he should be the pick.
February 17th, 2019 at 7:43 pm
If there was a Corner or Offensive lineman who was definitively better than Devin White I’d be singing a different tune. But there isn’t one.
February 17th, 2019 at 8:05 pm
I can’t stand Ian Beckles.
He thinks he’s so much smarter than everyone.
Thinks he knows everything about everything and his opinion is the right opinion and everyone else is wrong because he played football (and completely sucked at it).
Half the time is spent on talking about anything except sports. I drive 30 minutes to get home from work 8 minutes is commercials about 5 minutes is actual sports talk and the rest is just babble about movies or whatever else they can dribble about to kill time.
620 is getting worse by the day.
February 17th, 2019 at 8:14 pm
LJ SCOTT and fix the trenches.
February 17th, 2019 at 8:53 pm
My thinking is that our biggest need is not one specific position. We just need a elite playmaker on defense.
Right now when you look at our roster we don’t have one player you would call elite at any level. To me it don’t matter which actual position they play. It just needs to be somebody who can consistently be a game changer. It also has to be somebody who can pressure the QB.
I might rethink LB if we were still gonna run this Tampa2 BS. But Tampa 2 is dead and this defense will center more around the LBs.
February 17th, 2019 at 8:59 pm
I don’t even listen to 620 no more. Them two guys they hired for the noon shift was my final straw.
Beckles is good in his podcast.
It’s not hard to find a decent podcast and they don’t run 12 minute commerical breaks. It’s easy to see that talk radio will become close to obsolete very shortly.
February 17th, 2019 at 9:10 pm
@jimmyjack
Yea the commercial breaks are brutally long.
Just not enough substance on the shows.
All the shows on 620 suck but it’s funny cause they all act like they’re important.
Their analysis is terrible and they talk about things that are obvious to anyone with eyes and act like it’s groundbreaking material.
It’s pathetic really.
February 17th, 2019 at 9:27 pm
He is right about the o line. I just think with the center and guards they have they should have a good running game. Peyton barber, when given the chance, did well. They just got away from him a lot.
They tried to draft a change of pace back in Ronald Jones and it has not panned out but I can’t imagine they’re going to give up on him after one season.
I do think they will sign a running back and draft a running back but not a huge name and not someone in the first round or two.
I’d be fine with that. Filling the holes on both lines and getting a cornerback should be priority
February 17th, 2019 at 11:19 pm
The only bigger joke than Beckles opinions are Maurice Jones-Drew’s mock drafts, my lord.
The numbers say we need better run blocking and that’s the OL job not RB. I think people really forget just how terrible and overmatched Benenoch was. Dotson is no road grader over there.
Basically we need to keep D. Smith, as much as I don’t believe he is worth what he will be paid, we know what he can do, and we have bigger fish to fry. His deal will be middle of the pack in a few years if you go long term, or just franchise him on one last prove it year. If he sucks, that’s two years of lower level play and it might hurt his bank account in the future.