Sleeper Running Back
April 4th, 2020
Overlooked?
Just about everyone in the world believes the Bucs need to find a running back who can catch and (keyword here) produce from the draft later this month.
But the bigger question is, do the Bucs share this urgent belief?
Look, after Peyton Barber left to join the Redskins, the Bucs were left with Ronald Jones, at best a subpar running back, and Dare Ogunbowale. Is there a worse, more impotent one-two punch in the NFL?
And with the addition of soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, who loves to throw to running backs, even Stevie Wonder can see the Bucs need to address this position.
So Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today jumped on the pile and compiled a list of running backs Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should target in the draft. Pass-catching is a key element of all of his candidates’ skillsets.
One running back caught Joe’s eye as a sleeper.
Zack Moss, Utah: Though he more closely resembles a traditional bell-cow back than many of the ball carriers who previously have worked with Brady, Moss still might be attractive to Tampa Bay. He took on a larger role in the passing game last season and has the capacity to continue his growth in this area. With his penchant for eluding defenders or bouncing off them, Moss can help squeeze more yards out of simple dumpoff passes.
Of course we all remember how another PAC-12 running back absolutely tore up his conference and has thus far dropped an egg in his NFL days. That would be Jones. So maybe it may be best for the Bucs to shy away from a PAC-12 running back?
Interestingly, Middlehurst-Schwartz has Moss as his No. 6 option for the Bucs.
Joe turned to good guy Emory Hunt, the Czar of the Playbook, and went to his site Football Gameplan and read his 2020 draft guide (only $10!) to get his take on Moss.
Strengths:
– I’m a big fan of his vision; I feel like he’s able to see the entire field and has a great understanding of the run game.
– Very good receiver out of the backfield, and does a good enough job in blitz pickup.
– Footwork is quick, which helps him quickly get to a backside lane or evade a defender.
– Does seem to always fall forward.Areas of Improvement:
– Marginal explosiveness will hinder his ability to turn the corner in the NFL.
– Could increase quickness and explosiveness if he got down to about 210.
– From a ‘true speed’ perspective, he’s average in that regard.
– Takes on too much contact.
The way Hunt describes Moss, he sounds more like a fullback who can catch the ball. Remember what Pat Kirwan said about the Bucs getting a fullback?
Joe likes how Hunt describes Moss as a guy with good vision and always falls forward, good for an extra yard or two every run. But he will struggle to turn the corner in the NFL which screams “fullback” to Joe.
The crowd over at WalterFootball.com seems to think Moss is a second-day draft pick.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:10 am
His play speed is much faster than his 40 time speed. Think he’ll be a serviceable RB in the NFL for sure.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:11 am
The film looks like a good north/south runner. And boy does he finish off his runs!
These clips were fun to watch.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:19 am
Moss is a tough runner, he reminds me to much of Barber though. If we’re looking to get a RB early I like Taylor. He has the size, vision, power and hands to be a every down back. I voted OL in RD1 but wouldn’t be mad if they took Taylor
April 4th, 2020 at 8:19 am
Moss is 5’9”, 223 with 4.65 speed. He may carve out an Earnest Graham-type role for himself in the NFL. There are several other RB’s I’d rather draft this year, including Antonio Gibson.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:26 am
Joe in Michigan. I was just going to say we could a new version of Ernest. Hopefully pick someone in rounds 6 or 7 or even undrafted like Ernest was.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:37 am
When I watch RB highlights one of the things I look for is how the player carries the ball. When I see a RB not holding ball tight to his chest/body 100% of the time…it worries me. This guy is pretty good, but he has got to stop swinging that ball away from his body. Fumble just waiting to happen.
April 4th, 2020 at 8:41 am
Injury prone buyer beware
April 4th, 2020 at 8:42 am
Thats why hes a sleeper
April 4th, 2020 at 8:44 am
I remember Gruden talking about “Cadillac” Williams in the 2000’s, and saying the Bucs also had “Dodge Ram” Graham and “Datsun” Watson (Derek Watson, who I don’t think made the team).
April 4th, 2020 at 8:44 am
Dayton Furuta…..the fullback
April 4th, 2020 at 8:47 am
I wouldn’t get too excited about this guy’s highlight reel, remember Ronald Jones highlights, coming out of the same conference?
April 4th, 2020 at 8:54 am
an earnest graham with a little more burst and wiggle…
these guys in college always look so good against sheety slow defenses…
then they get to the pros and get stacked up…
when drafting a back, you wind up with so many more jeremy mcnichols types than expected…
(remember mcnichols – drafted to replace doug martin in the 5th a few years back from boise st.)…
you just don’t know how they will deal when leveling up to nfl speed defenses…
we haven’t been able to get the rb thing right for quite some time now…
but it’s a must now with brady being older and all…
he needs a couple reliable sidekicks back there with him to take the heat off…
April 4th, 2020 at 8:57 am
Any new RB better be able to block well.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:03 am
Adam from NY: A lot of the highlights I saw, it looked as if the defenses were allergic to tackling.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:04 am
D’Andre Swift
April 4th, 2020 at 9:15 am
AJ DILLON, TAYLOR, SWIFT, DOBBINS, HELAIR’E, AKERS
April 4th, 2020 at 9:34 am
Ronald Jones had 7 games last year where he gained 609 yards rushing and receiving. – 49ers, Giants, Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals, Texans, Falcons.
That projects to 1300 yards over a season if he shows consistency.
He has potential to be very good , although young, he is not sub par.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:39 am
I would prefer AJ Dillon in the 4th or Taylor Jr later. If the Bucs feel like they must take a RB early, go with CEH.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:43 am
Pass! There are other backs that better match the skill set needed to compliment Brady’s game, and those candidates played in tougher conferences. We don’t need a sleeper. We need someone that is a consensus NFL player and producer on Day 1.
April 4th, 2020 at 9:56 am
I do not know why Joe goes after ROjO like he does, when it is obvious the Bucs has subpar coaching to develop players.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:07 am
gotta get another quality back in here…
but if rojo separates himself and proves his worth as a feature back, so be it…
however, he hasn’t quite done that yet…
his first year under koetter was a wash…
last year was sort of his first season…
let’s see what he does this year, if there is a season at all with covid19…
if brady gets a special connection with him, you never know – he could be the guy
April 4th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Why should Joe write about something he doesn’t believe will happen? Joe isn’t convinced the Bucs will draft a running back at No. 14. Swift will be gone by the time the Bucs draft at No. 45.
Should Joe start writing how the Bucs will trade up for Joe Burrow as well?
Unlike many mock drafters, Joe tries to keep his stories rooted in some version of reality.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:12 am
james west,
Taylor Swift plays football?! :p
Sorry, I couldn’t resist, haha
April 4th, 2020 at 10:25 am
You’re not giving Rojo a fair chance. He looked good last year. His hands are improving as well. Running back is not a position of desperate need. Both lines, secondary depth maybe a starting safety, and receiver depth. Miller isn’t big enough to last a full season. Go after these areas and we are going to be tough to beat
April 4th, 2020 at 10:52 am
There are a ton of good pass catching runners that will go later in the draft. Guys that have a ton of speed and catch like a WR like Antonio Gibson or Killins from UCF. Moss will probably go 2nd or 3rd round and I wouldn’t invest that much in an old fashioned running back.
April 4th, 2020 at 10:54 am
Dang Joe I get and support your banging the drum for another running back..in fact I want two in the same draft…a combo of Dillon and then Akers or CEH.
But Alan and TIOY point out ROJO is NOT a subpar running back.
If you simply compare his numbers last year…when he was just beginning to get an opportunity to those of David Johnson or Melvin Gordon you’ll see he’s far fromm sub par unless you consider those two subpar.
We’ve had this debate before and you responded to me that ROJO had only done it for one year where the other two have done it more often although Johnson clearly has durability issues…I concede that ROJO has to back up last year. If he does…he’s an incredibly value asset to this team.
I will say this…if I was ROJO…his catch % btw is BETTER than Johnson or Gordon…I would be down in Bradenton or somewhere working with the best blocking back he can find.
It should be incredibly clear to ROJO and his agent that no blocking ability means no snaps with Brady back there.
April 4th, 2020 at 11:16 am
Nor do you (unless this is Jason Licht’s burner account).
What Joe can tell you it is unlikely the Bucs draft a running back at No. 14. In another words, if Vegas was open, Joe wouldn’t lay a red cent the Bucs will draft a running back at No. 14.
Could they? Sure. Just like any one of us could win the lottery tonight.
Would Joe be happy if the Bucs draft Swift at No. 14? Hell yes.
Joe isn’t Cowturd. Not going to write about something happening Joe doesn’t believe will happen.
April 4th, 2020 at 11:33 am
ANTONIO GIBSON
April 4th, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Jason Licht’s burner account? Hahaha, more like BA’s.
April 4th, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Seems like there are a lot of us AJ Dillon fans here! Moss doesn’t look like a bad back…..but Dillon ran a 4.5 speed at 6”1’ and 247lbs! He’s Derrick Henry 2.0 and worth a 2nd or 3rd round pick!
April 4th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
How about the thought of Antonio Gibson coming out of the backfield, with a LB or S on him? How many defenders are as fast as him (4.39 in the 40)?
April 4th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Antonio Gibson is compared to possibly being like David Johnson (a young, healthy D.J.)…If BA heard this, he’s going to pay attention.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kni81Bi9ngg
April 4th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Too slow
April 4th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
I was promoting him a while back as a 3rd/4th rd. I think we’re going RB in the 2nd though and thats why i stopped.
April 4th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
My moderated comment, which was reasonable the first time around, apparently went to the bit bucket for unknown reasons. I’ll try again.
Joe says Rojo is “at best a subpar running back”… Let’s take a look at the 2019 stats…
* 172 carries, 724 yards, for an average of 4.2 per carry. Very solid APC.
* 6 TDs. Nice. Usually a question of opportunity.
* 31 catches, 309 yards, for a healthy average of 10.0 yards per catch. Pretty much well above average per catch at RB position.
Seems to me he’s pretty effective and just needs more opportunity. Am I wrong?
I don’t disagree that we need to draft another RB though. You need at least 2 good backs. We currently have only one. And maybe sign Freeman.
April 4th, 2020 at 5:38 pm
NFL.com compares this kid to Marion Barber, who was no slouch. Day 2 is too rich for my blood, but I’d take him with one of our 4th rounders all day long.
April 4th, 2020 at 7:17 pm
This kid is south fla tuff man
Would love to have him
April 5th, 2020 at 1:25 am
I think Ronald Jones was much improved the whole year and flipped the switch at the end of the year. The problem wasn’t Jones in those games… It was the Pick 6’s and other ints…
Cant run it if you are forced to throw. Trade back, get picks, draft 2 new Rbs and load up! I hear LSU and Ohio State and Wisconsin have a guy each in the draft.
If you’re going to get serious… trade back once, maybe twice in Rd1… take the guy from LSU AND Wisconsin even if you have to trade back up in Rd 1 with a couple of the extra picks to do it. Oh, and draft an Ot in Rd2.
April 5th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
I like Moss. He runs behind his pads and can be a load. He has enough burst to make the edge. He’s a solid 3rd round guy. I prefer Antonio Gibson as a receiving RB in round 3 followed by AJ Dillon to be the pounder in round 4.