Drafted in the second round by the Rams to take a load off/complement Steven Jackson, Bucs running back Brian Leonard has built a career as a backup.

He got some starts in that 2007 rookie season with Jackson hurt, and Leonard had a 100-yard game (18 carries for 102 yards), but there haven’t been many big opportunities since. Leonard spent each of the past four seasons as a third-down back playing behind a 1,000-yard rusher in Cincinnati.

Then he joined old friend Greg Schiano this year as a backup to Doug Martin, and recently as a complement to surprising rookie Mike James.

Now, with those two injured, Leonard will get a clear shot to carry the load. Leonard’s 20 carries against the Dolphins were a career high, and the 57-yard total wasn’t as bad as it seems. Leonard’s final two carries for -4 yards were simply to run out the clock.

Bucs newcomer RB Bobby Rainey grabbed headlines Monday night with his breakaway run and game-winning touchdown, but Joe has not doubt it will be Leonard that will get as much work as he can handle Sunday. Schiano believes Leonard’s “a winner,” and Joe is sure Schiano want the ball in the hands of a guy he trusts, considering his head coaching job is on the line.

Leonard’s a guy that has made big plays on special teams this season, and he’s done will with his opportunities in the backfield. (You can also see here Leonard making what probably was a touchdown-saving, win-saving tackle on the return of Mike Glennon’s interception Monday.)

Joe’s pulling for Leonard, a real team-first guy in the Bucs locker room.

Joe talked to Leonard this week about how fired up he must be to get another shot to be a No. 1 back. It took Leonard a good while to stop giving the team-first, I-know-my-role answers and admit he’s relishing this opportunity.