The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had one of the league’s most high-powered offenses again in 2019, averaging 28.6 points per game, tied for third-most in the NFL. Much of the Bucs’ offensive success can be attributed to their passing game, with star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin carrying the bulk of the load.
As fun as it is to see Tampa Bay air it out time and again, the fact remains that their backfield is a major area of weakness. The addition of a dual-threat running back who can run and catch would add a new dimension to this offense, and likely take some pressure off the quarterback, whoever that may be in 2020. Jeremy Bergman over at Around the NFL wrote about Tampa Bay’s strange backfield, and why they are in need of an upgrade this offseason.
Per Bergman:
“One of the league’s strangest backfields is ready for a re-do. Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay’s leading rusher from 2018, is hitting free agency, leaving 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones to front the Buccaneers’ backfield. RoJo enjoyed a sophomore bump last year (203 touches, 1,033 yards from scrimmage) and looked good doing it, but the 22-year-old isn’t ready to shoulder the load. Tampa Bay should be active in free agency and the draft’s early goings in its search for a pass-catching back, like Chris Thompson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jonathan Taylor or potentially even David Johnson, if Bruce Arians’ old bell-cow were to become available.”
Jones had his first-career 100-yard rushing game in Week 17’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons to close out the 2019 season. A high second-round pick in 2018, Jones hasn’t lived up to his billing yet. In fact, Todd McShay predicted in his post-combine mock draft that the Bucs would use the 14th pick in April’s draft to take Georgia standout running back D’Andre Swift.
Tampa Bay could certainly use help in the backfield. We’ll just have to wait and see whether the team makes upgrading the position a priority come free agency or the draft.
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