“Underrated”
March 9th, 2020
Hopping for RB bandwagon.
Joe would be a happy man if this happened. But for some reason, the more one thinks about it, this is likely a pipe dream.
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians doesn’t seem to like running backs. Well, that’s not fair. He likes below average to bad running backs a lot.
People think Arians went the extra mile to defend Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Ha! At least Jameis produced. Big time!
Bucs running backs were downright dreadful last year. Peyton Barber was the worst full-time running back in yards-per-carry. Yet Arians would get angry when people began pestering him about the running back.
In a column where he listed the most underrated/overrated players in free agency, one of the high priests of the PFF tribe, this Sam Monson, lists running back Kenyan Drake as “underrated.”
Underrated: Kenyan Drake
Drake has been an underappreciated player throughout his NFL career, and he shined in the second half of 2019 once he joined the Cardinals. He has yet to be given more than 200 carries in a season but has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over his career, 3.1 of which have come after contact. He has broken at least 28 tackles in each of his past three seasons and is a capable receiver on top of that rushing skill. If you’re going to invest in a free-agent back, get one who is inexpensive yet capable.
Here what impresses Joe about Drake (and Cam Akers coming out of Florida State): Drake produced despite playing behind a truly rotten offensive line.
This tells Joe that Drake has vision and can make his own runs. This is what drives Joe nuts about Uncle Ira. It seems Uncle Ira wants 10-yard wide holes each and every time a Bucs running back touches the ball. Hell, Joe can run through those kind of holes, too.
It seems The Almighty has brought down an 11th Commandment that Joe was unaware of roughly five years ago: Bucs running backs, thou shalt not run after contact.
Then again, Joe reminds himself of how Arians devalues the running back position. So, back to dreamland.
March 9th, 2020 at 9:35 am
OL run blocking < the RB's
every running play the OL was BLOWN UP !
March 9th, 2020 at 9:50 am
Dreadful? Starts with the dreadful run blocking. Our backs would thrive in KC, SF or TN. Their backs would fail here like all the others do that run behind this highly overrated oline. Fix the oline and all the major issues with rushing and Winston turnovers will be solved.
March 9th, 2020 at 9:53 am
Heh. It’s an annual tradition. Joe always wants a RB.
March 9th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Money to the Defensive free agents and a new QB…draft is for RB-QB-RT…big money to a free agent RB? don’t think so
March 9th, 2020 at 9:59 am
You got what you cried for. Get rid of Martin and give it to Barber. He would be a workhorse. Well?
March 9th, 2020 at 10:00 am
It’s funny how every time you write a negative article about the bucs running backs you mention peyton barber only you know the guy who got benched for rojo who was decent.
Care to mention rojo beat him in just about every statistical category there is including yards rushing. Kenyon drake has never rushed for more 650 yards in a single season
No hes never been given more than 200 touches in a season. His high is 133 touches in one season, Rojo just had 172 and you’ve been making fun of that guy since he got here. Maybe do a little research before selling yourself out this way
March 9th, 2020 at 10:04 am
Kenyon Drake is legit. He’s got so much potential, no ones given him tons of carries. Look at Derrick Henry. Once they started utilizing him and giving him majority of carries and utilizing him, titans offense turned around
March 9th, 2020 at 10:10 am
Hire Conklin when FA starts, and give Rojo a chance to prove himself.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:14 am
Agree with Dr J … “Kenyan Drake is legit”. Wanted him last year when he was on the trading block, but noooo. Very good rushing average with Miami & Arizona, but his receiving skills are just average at best it looks like. Might make him an excellent complement to RoJo, IF he can pass block as well as he runs. Big question is how much will he cost as a FA? Bucs may not have any choice but to draft a RB to save the $$$ for other NEEDS.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:29 am
Yeah i can get behind this. 6’1, 212, 26 years old. Better prospect than Gordon imo. Hows his catching skills?
Then draft that little bowling ball Clyde….thats a 3 headed monster at RB!
March 9th, 2020 at 10:31 am
Agree with DR; the bucs and incompetent GM licht could have had him last year for nothing and now he comes at a steep price. Heck licht could have drafted him; the guy is definitely special and a dual threat guy that did not get used a ton in college like henry and ingram.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:40 am
I think getting rid of Doug Martin was smart – I mean, what has he done since?
Putting too much trust in Barber to be a bell cow was the mistake. Go forward with Ronald Jones and Dare Ogunbowale – and maybe draft RB Patrick Taylor of Memphis – big guy (James Wilder sized at 6-3, 227) that can run and catch.
March 9th, 2020 at 10:42 am
Joe – You have mentioned concerns drafting o’lineman that have never really played in a pro style offense before. I think you’ve mentioned BA’s concern with lineman not being ready for the NFL because of this. Is there concern for drafting RBs that have never played in a pro style O too?
March 9th, 2020 at 11:21 am
Nice reference to Mel Brooks and History of the World Part I. So true with the Bucs. So true. Not sure why there is fear of running the football or drafting pass rushers. Those two items must have been on the scroll that was dropped.
March 9th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Why waste money on a free agent running back, which almost never gets value from a second contract!!!!!!!!!!
Would it not be easier to just get a new GM that knows how to draft???????????
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 9th, 2020 at 11:27 am
Just draft a RB…
the only FA we need and should be after is Conklin….
Draft everything else…
GO BUCS
March 9th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Key word, “vision”. Sometimes it takes more than competent run-blocking. How many times did we see Barber run into the a$$ end of an OL when there was a gaping hole just to the outside?
Why not have both a RB with vision, and a good run-blocking line? Demand better.
March 9th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Even 813buffoon has finally figured it out!!!!!!!!!!!!! Took him 1 year to go from “all they need is coaching up”, to finally “realizing” that the roster needs upgrade!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! What a dummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But we don’t blame you 813buffoon!!!!!!!! We blame the public school system that let you down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 9th, 2020 at 12:50 pm
You do not pay 2nd Contract money to RB’s.
Drake is Great & all…but would be a luxury at this point. RoJo is ready to take the reigns & carry the load. Draft a comp piece (or 2) to pair up w/ him…& you have both (potentially 3) for less than Drake will be worth via FA signing.
March 9th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
You do not pay 2nd Contract money to RB’s. Even good ones.
Drake is good & all…but would be a poorly spent luxury signing at this point.
RoJo is ready to take the reigns & carry the load. Draft a comp piece (or 2) to pair up w/ him…& you have both (potentially 3) for less than Drake will be worth via FA signing.
March 9th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
If the Bucs wanted Kenyan, they would have picked him up during Miami’s fire sale.
Better to draft one and get a couple undrafted FAs into camp.
March 9th, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Realist
Roster doesn’t need upgrading clown….RT needs upgrading….
Dirk and smitty couldn’t develop mud if you gave them dirt and water let alone develop olinemen….lol….
Pull your skirt down clown….
GO BUCS
March 9th, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Go grab AJ Dillon from Boston College. Him paired with Rojo would be a nice combo. Get rid of Dare and Barber.