Bucs To Sign Running Back Robert Hughes
April 19th, 2012Out at One Buc Palace today, Joe had a chance to ask rockstar general manager Mark Dominik whether he felt pressure to draft a running back given there are only two on the roster and the Bucs want to pound the football.
As part of Dominik’s answer, he said a third running back would be signed by the end of the day, a young man that “really impressed” him this week.
Dominik didn’t offer a name, but Joe has learned the player is Robert Hughes, who was on the Bears practice squad last season and was undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2011. Hughes is listed at 5-11, 245 pounds.
Hughes played tailback and fullback for the Fighting Irish. Joe doesn’t expect the signing will make Bucs fans feel at ease about the running back position, but undrafted backfield gems are discovered every year around the league.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Nice Ernest Graham replacement.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
It is funny how the Bears and Bucs are trading players this week.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Until I see him on the field I’m just going to assume he’s camp fodder. We’ll see I guess.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
interesting story on the guy…his brother was shot and killed and he was at practice the next day. they compare him to Bettis. big, strong and fluid runner. Well done Rock Star !
April 19th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
I agree with OptimistTroll, this sounds like a replacement for EG, a versatile player (RB/FB), just a little bigger. Anyone know what kind of hands this kid has?
April 19th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8YOlWdwxXM
April 19th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
probablt a camp body
April 19th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Nice C-span. Looked a lot like EG in college. N/s runner. Good hands. Solid looking player.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Who cares. We still better draft a running back. We should re-sign Graham as our 3rd string RB.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Haven’t we had enought of trying to field a team with practice squad players? Keep those moves to a minimum.
April 19th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
@1:21 in the video you can watch Mason Foster(#40) catch up to and tackle him.
and then @1:31 Mason Foster and the entire Washington team gets pushed back 4 yards into the goalline in what must be my favorite highlight from that video. It is ridiculous the way the pile keeps going forward.
April 19th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
bucfanjeff: isnt that what Blount was? A practice squad guy.
April 19th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Awesome addition to the Bucs.
I hope this guy has a better skill set than Lumpkin.
April 19th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Way to set the bar low, SteveK
April 19th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
We gotta start somewhere 🙂
April 19th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Don’t forget that they just signed S Ron Girault today as well, according to the Bucs facebook page.
April 19th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Looks like Ron Girault was an UDFA out of Rutgers and formerly in some association with the Jets.
April 19th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
damn he’s slow…4.89 FB at best
April 19th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
The guy could be a good pick up for Tampa.
April 19th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
WOW!! 245!!! Talk about Schiano power running game…..moved the whole defensive line….into the endzone with him. Hopefully he will do big things for us
April 19th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
@Patrick, Graham isn’t coming back to the NFL dude.
April 19th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
He’ll be good to compete with E.Lorig. Also when running the ball having Hughes as a FB blocking and Lorig who lines up at TE to block on running plays alot will be awesome.
April 19th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Sure …. And you sheep were acting like Allen Bradford was the next Earl Campbell last April as well. Lol
On a related note, Dom sure sounded humbled today during his press conference about his lack of draft success, from the 09 draft only Free is a starter, the disappointments from Gerald, Price, Benn (the first 3 picks) in 2010.
I think this is a good sign for Dom, while the sheep are still trying to save face by creating new evaluative criteria for invisible statisticsl players (ie “disruptive), Dom is acknowledging his mistakes.
That is a positive sign. I actually think he sounded more seasoned today, not these pie in the sky dreamy fantasy speeches.
I hope Schiano isnt a hand draft picks jobs coach, I hope that he allows Okoye to compete even up with Gerald – if Schiano allows that I’ll take Okoye all day.
April 19th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Bucs now have their short yardage back.
April 19th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Thomas,
I’m curious, what did midwestsportsfan.com say about Okoye? I’ve been wondering where you got your information, I guess now you let the secret out. Sports journalism at its best!
April 19th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Just added depth and a blocker and special teamer if he makes it. Nothing more, but needed.
Blount’s complement will come via rounds 2-3
April 20th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Earnest Graham 2.0
April 20th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
He’s got a spark and handles the ball like a pro. No way will I write the kid off, especially behind what our line is turning into. The Graham comparisons are right on. A less injury prone and better-utilized EG is nothing to cry about.