When running back Peyton Barber left the Buccaneers for the Washington Football Team in free agency, Tampa Bay knew it needed to add more depth to its backfield, which now featured 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones as the starter.
The Bucs used a third-round pick in April’s NFL draft on Vanderbilt running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, hoping the pass-catching back can compliment the play style of new quarterback Tom Brady. Tampa Bay also went out and signed veteran free agent LeSean McCoy this week, adding even more versatility to an already potent offense.
So, should Jones be worried about his place on the depth chart? Not according to head coach Bruce Arians.
"RoJo's the main guy. He'll carry the load," Bruce Arians says of Ronald Jones being the Bucs' primary ballcarrier. Said the rest are fighting for who comes in and when.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 5, 2020
Jones had a bounce-back season in 2019 after a miserable rookie year where he ran for just 44 yards and one score. Last season, the former USC star had 724 yards on the ground to go along with six scores. He also added 31 receptions for 309 yards.
It’ll be interesting to see how the running back situation progresses throughout the season. If Jones struggles out of the gate, don’t be surprised if Arians decides to give more touches to either McCoy or Vaughn.
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