Bucs Could Steal A Running Back
March 5th, 2019
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
The way Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians raved about Bucs running back Peyton Barber (the same man who averaged 54 yards a game last year) in Indianapolis last week, you would have thought Arians was talking about Gale Sayers.
Of course, we all remember how former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter remarked during the 2017 season that he didn’t have Sayers on the roster.
Let’s just say Joe is leaning more towards Koetter’s pessimism than Arians’ optimism when it comes to Barber. Joe thinks way too many people equate effort with production. Joe loves effort but it doesn’t mean a damn thing without production.
This leads Joe to running backs in the draft. Of course, when Joe was at the NFL combine last week (as opposed to the combines that harvest the many cornfields surrounding Indiana’s capital city), Joe spoke with quite a few people who traffic in NFL drafts for a living and Joe found no one to say there will be two running backs selected in the first round.
In fact, Joe talked to one plugged-in NFL reporter who said he doesn’t see any running backs picked in the first round.
What Joe is getting at is if the Bucs are so inclined to draft a running back in next month’s draft (yes, next month — we are slowing inching closer!), the Bucs not only might get a steal if they draft a running back in the second round, but there could be real value at running back early in the third round when the Bucs are on the clock (barring a trade).
Joe just cannot imagine the Bucs or Arians are banking on entering the 2019 season with Barber, Ronald Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers as their top three running backs.
Could this finally be the year the Bucs find a reliable running back in the draft who can actually read a playbook?
March 5th, 2019 at 5:03 am
Who?
March 5th, 2019 at 5:16 am
After MULTIPLE chances, what makes you think that Jason Gump can draft a potential RB that could be a difference maker?
March 5th, 2019 at 5:24 am
Screw the second round, steal one in the fourth!
#devineozigbo
March 5th, 2019 at 5:40 am
Im still holding out hope they sign Tevin Coleman, or any starting caliber RB, in FA.
March 5th, 2019 at 5:43 am
I recall a year when we drafted the first running back of the board in Charles Sims. Some years the draft just isn’t full of talent at one position or another and I would argue this year isn’t the year to go looking to find a running back.
March 5th, 2019 at 5:48 am
I like Sanders from Penn in the 3rd
March 5th, 2019 at 5:57 am
There are some quality backs to be had outside the draft too. I’d grab Ryan Nall off the Bears practice squad. The Browns are also likely willing to deal Duke Johnson now that they picked up Kareem Hunt. Grab them and save the draft picks for offensive and defensive line.
March 5th, 2019 at 5:58 am
@Joe … “Joe thinks way too many people equate effort with production. Joe loves effort but it doesn’t mean a damn thing without production.” Now you’re talking my language Joe. But there are a LOT of other Bucs that ‘effort without production’ would apply more to rather than Peyton Barber. I don’t personally see him as a lead dog, but as a complement to say an Alvin Kamara type RB he’d be fine.
Tandem RBs with complementary skillsets seem to be the way more & more NFL teams are going. Martin (1673 Yds from Scrimmage) & Sims (1090 Yds from Scrimmage) fell into that category IMO back in 2015 … they complemented each other well. Not quite as well as the Saints’ Ingram (1540 Yds from Scrimmage) and Kamara (1554 Yds from Scrimmage) did in 2017, but quite well nonetheless. Bucs problem is that Licht tried to get cute with the RoJo pick (explosiveness like Kamara?) and it bit us in the butt last year.
March 5th, 2019 at 5:59 am
O-line THEN RB!
March 5th, 2019 at 6:00 am
3rd or 4th is a safe bet since the defense needs so much. I mean licht can’t keep striking out right? Lol
March 5th, 2019 at 6:11 am
bennien snell and lj scott look like good picks. I want a big back. A bruiser wiyh speed and agility.. Rojo biggest downfall are his small hands
March 5th, 2019 at 6:20 am
I am with Bucsfanman – Oline then RB.
March 5th, 2019 at 6:26 am
Hopefully Arians will choose the running back not Licht
March 5th, 2019 at 6:42 am
So if Barber had rushed for 1,000 yards behind that horrid run blocking unit we fielded last year, would you still be so pessimistic? Because that would only be an average of 62.5 yards per game. A mere 8 more per game. That’s literally just giving Peyton 2 more Carrie’s a game
Gotta love how when Doug Martin was still here both Joe’s were screaming for Barber, and when he got his shot to be the starter and performed to the exact same level he was, now he’s a nothing special bum.
Fix the Oline and you fix the running game. It really is that simple.
March 5th, 2019 at 6:58 am
I thought we picked up Andre Ellington to replace Jaquizz Rodgers.
And, as far as drafting a RB in round 2 or even 3….only if we get extra picks for trading down……otherwise, I’d use that 2 or 3 for an OG/T
March 5th, 2019 at 7:08 am
Pay Bell over 3 smart-but-player-friendly… years. If BA is truly in “win-now” mode. And if BA can’t influence Bell into playing here for him, and taking a bit less in a no-state-income-tax state….well, then pass. My guess is Bell would, for close contracts with other bidders.
Then tender Barber. Maybe take a flier on a RB like Scott, or Sanders in the 5th or beyond.
BA better show the Buc faithful if was he is saying about “win now” is truly…WIN NOW. Actions.
Go Bucs!
March 5th, 2019 at 7:10 am
*if what he is saying
March 5th, 2019 at 7:13 am
The Bucs could have stole a running back if they had of signed Kareem Hunt. But they didn’t bother with that. They let Cleveland steal him instead.
March 5th, 2019 at 7:19 am
2 nd round. Best OL available.
March 5th, 2019 at 7:25 am
Pretty sure the good NFL gms are using football reasoning to steal RBs from Tampa and jason licht using the draft a kicker philosophy or a Tackle from Humboldt philosophy to evaluate and draft/steal their RBs. Hope licht is not in charge of the draft this year and Arians drafts “football players” not building projects from naia schools
March 5th, 2019 at 7:34 am
Not gonna matter when the rb has to break 3 tackles in the backfield
Bucs o line can’t run block
March 5th, 2019 at 7:35 am
Yeah! Steal one in the 5th round. BA is partial to Temple RBs. RB Ryquell Armstead 5-11 220 4.45. Seattle did it with Chris Carson in the 7th round. Bucs can too. Don’t waste another early draft pick. Value in later rounds.
March 5th, 2019 at 8:32 am
Wasn’t JW hit more often than just about Any QB in the NFL?
Didn’t our Run Game SUCK ?
What is the one thing those two factors have in common????
OH Yeah that thing they call an Offensive Line
It was downright Offensive
March 5th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Yes if BA is really in win now mode you at the very least try to make a deal with Bell.
March 5th, 2019 at 9:34 am
Insanity = doing same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Bucs have invested high draft picks on skill players over and over and they are 5-11 back to back.
Time to invest in trenches and linebackers with high picks.
March 5th, 2019 at 9:39 am
This looks like it will be a talented year for free agency and no player will impact the Bucs like Leveon Bell.
But hope Jason “Bargain” Licht doesn’t keep doing what he usually does in free agency. 5 bargain players is not better than 1 Leveon Bell.
March 5th, 2019 at 9:49 am
no RB in the 2nd round!!!!!!!
too many high quality oline/dline players in rounds 2&3….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
March 5th, 2019 at 9:59 am
Bruce is a workhorse back coach, David Johnson had over 300 touches, CJ2K was getting 20 plus carries a game, Miles Sanders would be the only back I’d want, the guy is a stud playing in a horrible offense, should be available in the 3rd
March 5th, 2019 at 10:00 am
Oh….and don’t forget about Mike Davis out there on the cheap, now UFA from Seattle. Like the way that cat runs hard, no wasted movement in his feet before hitting the hole. Young at 26, low tread on tires, but has learned the craft well from a …..stout…run-game-focused enterprise like the Seahawks! By far, the most rushing attempts per game last year.
Maybe Mike Davis, on the cheap!
Go Bucs! Land Quinnen!
March 5th, 2019 at 10:21 am
I wouldn’t take any of these RBs top of R2 – even Jacobs.
R3 at the earliest if the value is great
Ideally R4 or later.
March 5th, 2019 at 10:44 am
All high picks need to go to OL and DL this year!
March 5th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
I like tevin Coleman or the Alabama running back. Anyone else will not be a difference maker. Coleman is cheap and proven, while still young. Also, hurt falcons by signing him.
March 5th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Watch the film. If you think the lack of running game is on the running back and not the o line then you just don’t understand football. If you think signing D Smith is a good move then you don’t understand how far attitude and mentality go in this game.
March 5th, 2019 at 4:34 pm
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE DEFENSE
March 6th, 2019 at 3:21 am
You had me until “running back.”
For the millionth time, talk about “offensive line.” when that becomes something that needs nobody to worry about it, then running back discussions will be much more meaningful.