The Bucs And Kareem Hunt
December 3rd, 2019
Offseason target?
The display the Bucs run game demonstrated in a very public forum Sunday in the second half against the Jags was sorry. Joe was not surprised.
And a national NFL observer thinks help could be on the way, but not until March.
If a truly impotent run game against what was the worst NFL run defense missing a stud starting linebacker doesn’t open eyes at One Buc Palace that the run game needs to be upgraded next season, well, Joe can only conclude the powers that be have brainwashed themselves no matter the mound of visual and statistical data to the contrary.
William Pitts of TheBigLead.com is of the mind that Browns running back Kareem Hunt, a Pro Bowler two seasons ago, won’t be retained because the team is not expected to have much cash next season. So Hunt, 24, will hit the free agent market, Pitts believes.
So Pitts looked at the potential top landing spots for Hunt and he has the Bucs among the top potential suitors.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This offseason, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians expressed some interest in Hunt before the Browns snatched him. Depending on how things go after 2019 wraps up, Arians could get a second chance at Hunt, and not a moment too soon for his Bucs offense. The backfield combination of Ronald Jones II and Peyton Barber hasn’t exactly worked out, as neither runner has reached 500 yards rushing. While quarterback Jameis Winston makes strides toward improvement – the Buccaneers have the fourth-best offense in the NFL, even with their sub-.500 record – one great running back could make the system complete.
Joe has been hollering this for years but to no avail: adding a solid running back (no, not a blocking back) could make this offense lights out.
You know one reason the Jags succeeded in shutting down the Bucs’ run game? They didn’t bite on play-actions because they were not the least bit afraid of Peyton Barber (who is having the worst year of his meh NFL career) and Dare Ogunbowale.
Ronald Jones was so ineffective Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians benched him.
Of course, it is fun to think of the Bucs trying to land Hunt, but last year was the year to do it because he would have come cheap. Not so much anymore.
Besides, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may have to max out Team Glazer’s Amex trying to sign the Bucs’ own free agents. So it is a slight stretch to think the Bucs will get into a bidding war for Hunt.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Draft best available RB!
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Hunt is a top 5 RB talent in this league. He also likes night clubs and drunk women, both in abundance in Tampa.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Please get this guy, he is definitely a top 10 running back at least, we will have cash to get him, we can even release brate and have his $$ be replaced for Hunt this is a must Joe
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:12 pm
My big thing was they should’ve really pursued him this past offseason. A true talent in the backfield is needed. Everyone yells at Winston to take the check down and let the back make a play, the problem is, the backs really don’t make plays unless everything is set up for them. This is a need but I don’t see it coming from free agency. RT, DE, DT, RB, WR3 and CB4 (I like Dean but he needs to stay on the field and when Ryan Smith comes in, the easy completions start up again) all are huge needs.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Pass due to character concerns. He hasn’t gotten in trouble in Cleveland because there is nothing to do there. My evidence is that I just saw Benjamin Watson speak at a benefit and he said that there’s so much to do in Cleveland that he and his wife had four kids in three years….
There’s too much temptation in Tampa for him to screw up again. Hard pass.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:13 pm
If we would scheme for more short and intermediate passes it would help whoever the QB much more but the stubborn coaches don’t believe in that. according to real analytics not the PFF tribe short passes are more valuable then running overall.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:15 pm
ALASKAN
What professional athlete in their 20s doesnt?….lol….
SIGN HIM!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Yeah, let’s continue to build a Character Team…..smh
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:20 pm
RoJo was benched because he sucks at pass-pro. Joe seems to think it’s not important, but multiple coaching regimes seem to think it’s pretty important. So does ya boy Ian Beckles. Ima go with them.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:22 pm
riverboat ron out…..CAM will probably follow….
DQ will probably be out….
Brees getting older(not like thats stopped him)
BUCS window is starting to open….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Jones wasn’t benching for being ineffective, he was benched for not picking up a blitz.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:29 pm
Mitch Says:
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Pass due to character concerns. He hasn’t gotten in trouble in Cleveland because there is nothing to do there.
he got into a dispute with someone in cleveland and the police were called…no charges were filed and he wasnt disciplined by the league…..
imo, its all in the pass…..we have JW whos no angel….
GO BUCS!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:40 pm
honestly, if the bucs pursue and pay a stud veteran RB, they probably must choose between Evans and Godwin shortly after. can’t have it all in the cap era, and i think Bruce and the bucs should keep mining for RB diamonds in the draft and among the castaways to keep the elite passing game intact.
unless i’m thinking of someone else, there’s more in hunt’s past than just the thing he got in trouble with the league for. there’s a chance he’s past everything now, but problem players tend to have their problems come to light in tampa
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:40 pm
No thanks! I’ll take a pass on this idiot woman beater.
The Bucs need a better online and more commitment to actually establishing a running game.
– Until they get that done, it won’t matter who is toting the pill.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:41 pm
Assuming the Bucs take care of their own free agents first, they either need to sign Kareem Hunt or someone of his stature – or take a bruising RB at #2.
Then again with less than optimal (yeah, under performing ya think) tackle play they need a top tier left tackle @ #1 in order to give Donovan Smith a better chance to succeed at right tackle.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:51 pm
@813bucboi
I see your point. However I am not looking for angels either. I like edge and nasty. However their needs to be consistency in behavior. This young man already has assaulted people on three different occasions at the least. Now I’m all for second chances ( JW), but that to me reads as a dangerous pattern of behavior that I wouldn’t personally like to see on this young Bucs team.
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:59 pm
It is fruitless to trot out every possible FA RB…..especially the expensive ones when we have so many other players to sign for big bucks……it’s also a bit too early…..but have at it…
How about Dee Ford?……Maybe a few other high-dollar DEs…..
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:01 pm
imo, winners can be picky….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:08 pm
let’s sign Ray Rice!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:14 pm
I still believe Rojo could be a 3 down back for the team if he gets the pass blocking down and we give him a true starter’s amount of touches each week.
It’s hard for a RB to get a rhythm with less than 10 total touches. In games in which he gets 10+ carries he averages 4.15 YPC, and is at 3.9 YPC for the season.
In games where he got at least 14 total touches:
Atlanta – 12 carries 51 yards 1 TD / 3 receptions 16 yards
Arizona – 11 carries 29 yards 1 TD / 8 receptions 77 yards
Seattle – 18 carries 67 yards 1 TD / 2 catches 15 yards
Rams – 19 carries for 70 yards 1 TD / 1 catch 12 yards
Giatns – 14 carries for 80 yards / 1 reception 41 yards
Considering he has yet to break the big run, and has had a few held back by penalties, not sure why we don’t think we can get more out of this guy.
Especially if you consider the jump he made from year 1 to year 2. Melvin Gordon comes to mind. He didn’t average better than 3.9 YPC till year 4 but was solid along the way.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Heard GMC aka coach killer has struck again. Good luck Riverboat Ron.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:31 pm
Another way to look at it and some other context:
15 touches = 67 yards
19 touches = 106 yards
20 touches = 82 yards
20 touches = 82 yards
15 touches = 141 yards
89 touches for 478 yards (5.3 Yards per Touch)
Christian McCaffery has 310 touches for 1811 yards (5.84 yards per touch)
Alvin Kamara has 189 touches for 1031 yards (5.45 yards per touch)
And those are the cream of the crop in terms of what people consider elite RB’s.
We might just need to unleash this guy more. Or he just needs more time still getting his pass pro / route running down. His run game is 100% fine with me as it is given he is still hitting about 4 YPC even with bad run blocking and no big TD run yet.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:35 pm
I think the headline of this story should be, “Bucs have the 4th best O-line in the NFL!”
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Don’t sign the turnover machine and they’ll be plenty of $$$ to go around. Exchange one high character guy for another.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:39 pm
why would he be a lot of money? his stats this year are not great and people will still remember what he did. i dont think his market has increased tremendously. definitely should be affordable.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:39 pm
You got Rojo draft Dobbins OSU, Clyde Edwards-H LSU, or Kylin Hill Mississippi State. You don’t another off field f__k up the team.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Bucs should have had the guts to pick him up when he was initially released.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:57 pm
More stats lol:
Ronald Jones – 4.8 yards per touch
Peyton Barber – 3.6 yards per touch
CmAc – 5.8 yards per touch
Kamara – 5.4 yards per touch
Jones in 14+ touch games – 5.3 yards per touch
In the games Barber has 10+ carries he averages 3.15 YPC. In the games Jones gets 10+ carries he averages 4.15 YPC.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Why not O. J. Simpson? No really, draft a clean young kid with potential…
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Excellent RB’s can be drafted in the 3rd round, a la, David Johnson –
No need in wasting mega cash at that position – they have a shelf life of 1, 4-5 year contract more often than not
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Pass on Hunt. The market value for beasts like Derrick Henry is way too high ($11 mil plus) so I’d rather see the Bucs draft a stud RB to pair with RoJo (who’d do much better BTW if the Bucs spent the $$$ to improve their OLine BEFORE worrying about signing FA RBs). Barber would make a respectable #3 RB, and Dare is toast. Hope that they bring back TJ Logan; he’s been very solid I think in the return game.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:28 pm
Speaking of money, read an article earlier today that the Falcons & the Rams have some real money issues next year. BOTH teams have a BUNCH of money invested in their Top-5 players, and there’s too much dead Cap involved to just move on from them (Rams have almost $109 mil tied up in Goff, Donald, Gurley, Cooks, Ramsey while the Falcons have $101 mil tied up in Ryan, Jones, Matthews, Jarrett, Trufant). Neither team will most likely make the playoffs this year, and next year doesn’t look that good either.
Bucs are in MUCH better shape than either of those 2 teams, with almost $65 mil already designated to our Top-5 (ME13, D Smith, Marpet, LVD & Jensen). Plus our dead Cap situation is much better, giving us more flexibility to move on from players IF that’s what we choose to do.
Still, the only reason the Bucs appear to be in decent salary Cap shape for 2020 is because we hae so few players under contract compared to most other teams (we’ve only got 35 right now versus most teams having 40-45 under contract). In reality our salary Cap situation for 2020 looks to be about as bad as it was this year, if not worse (we’ve got to sign a QB, several expensive DLinemen, plus several other high-cost positions). This will be tricky.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:24 pm
Unchain Rojo. He would be close to 1000 yards if a lot of his big runs weren’t called back by penalties. Put the dude in BA an forget about him blocking let him run or catch the ball. Our DBs are benefiting from the more playing time. Do the same with Rojo. Get another guy cheap in FA or draft a back later. Or put a Oline man back there wen you need him to block duhhhh
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:26 pm
We don’t spend big dollars on th RB position. And we shouldn’t.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:32 pm
Mitch Says:
“… Benjamin Watson… said that there’s so much to do in Cleveland that he and his wife had four kids in three years…”
.
.
Mitch wins the Internet today. Or at least this corner of it!
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:51 pm
BridleOaksBuc Says:
“I think the headline of this story should be, “Bucs have the 4th best O-line in the NFL!””
pelbuc Says:
“Don’t sign the turnover machine and they’ll be plenty of $$$ to go around. Exchange one high character guy for another.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 pm
Top 3 back for the Bucs System ,,,,, Licht is like most nfl meatheAd GM s asleep at the wheel. Hunt would be worth giving a late rounder ( Cleveland would take it ) and signing to a medium deal, you have to have star talent on the cheap at several positions to go to the championship or at least it sure helps !! Hunt is a proven talent and can be had for cheap but you have to have a GM that has a , I wil make it happen and I want to dance in dance attitude. I truly believe Licht has never had the Dance in his sights, dreams or expectations but he does want to be recognized as this smarter than other evaluators and scouts Savant !! He does wanna make the playoffs !!!
Look what Lynch and Snead achieved in 2 years , please slap the livin dog shart outta the next clown that says Light is a good GM !! Licht is a meathead jock , talent evaluator that hits a few and misses a bunch ( more totally blown second round picks in last 4 years than prob any GM ever ) . He has as much GM skill as Matt Millen. Again look what two determined GM s did in two years With less of a qb cap advantage that Licht had !!! Hunt is a no brainer !!! Def keep Jones the Kid can Play just needs to mature !!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 pm
BridleOaksBuc Says:
“I think the headline of this story should be, “Bucs have the 4th best O-line in the NFL!””
pelbuc Says:
“Don’t sign the turnover machine and they’ll be plenty of $$$ to go around. Exchange one high character guy for another.”
.
.
LOL EVERYONE wins the Internet tonight! Or maybe I just have a perfect buzz that makes everyone hilarious. Both possibilities count!
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:00 pm
Defense Rules says:
“Rams have almost $109 mil tied up in Goff, Donald, Gurley, Cooks, Ramsey while the Falcons have $101 mil tied up in Ryan, Jones, Matthews, Jarrett, Trufant.”
.
.
Possibly a situation where you can snag a trade for a player with half his salary already paid by the old team. More common in baseball, but it could happen. Depends how desperate they are to free cap space.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:00 pm
I was not aware we had any excess cash lying around.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:59 pm
How about A.J Dillon from boston College he’s probably gon fall to the 5th or 6th round and what are we gonna do bout Jameis… is he staying or going??
December 4th, 2019 at 8:43 am
I agree with that move!
This is exactly what we need to help this team. Not only in situations but to help relieve pressure from the QB.
This should be our FA second priority next to signing a vet DB.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:10 pm
We have to get an elite rb. both carolina and new orleans have elite rb’s. our division has been an arms race for a while now. We have the WR, TE’s, and now we need the rb. Qb is debatable, but I’d hang on to him for one more year under BA.
I’d draft oline, dline, db in that order, if we were able to secure a Kareem Hunt in free agency.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:29 pm
He Joe football starts in the trenches. Are oline isnt that great at run blocking. Barber had a nice hole to run threw on his way for a td. Fix the oline are you will make the best rb look average.