The Pewter Plank
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Biggest Off-Season Needs

By Brian DeFeo

Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; A detailed view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; A detailed view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) carries the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Running Back

After a season where the Bucs had the number two running back in the entire league, they are going to need a new bell cow back. Currently Doug Martin is still on the roster but he is suspended for the first three games of next season and no money is guaranteed on the rest of his contract.

Martin has only had two good seasons in his career, his rookie year and his contract season, and had the worst production for all starting running backs this season. Averaging less than three yards per carry, Martin disappointed almost more when he was on the field compared to when he was injured and off the field. Charles Sims is not a starting running back in the NFL. Sims is a good third down and pass catching back but his ability to run through the tackles is not suitable for a starting back.

Jacquizz Rodgers was the best back on the team last season after not being in the league for the first week of the year. Rodgers finished with 560 yards and two touchdowns starting only five games. He looked like a solid back but there was a reason he wasn’t in the league. Rodgers is a great back-up but I don’t believe he can maintain top back status in the NFL. Jacquizz is a free agent this off-season so the Bucs could bring him back but I don’t think they’ll give him number one back money.

This years list of free agent running backs is very top-heavy with nothing much behind it. Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount are the top two options and behind them are mostly back-ups or third down backs. Both backs are likely to remain with their current teams and unless the Bucs throw almost quarterback money at Le’Veon Bell free agency is not the best option this season. Could Eddie Lacy return to form? Is Latavius Murray really a number one? Personally I don’t like those options for Tampa Bay. The draft is where I want the Bucs to target the running game.

The Bucs are not in the best position for the top running backs in the draft but if they believe that they can grab a franchise changing difference maker I wouldn’t be disappointed in the move. Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook are the best available backs in the draft and can be franchise players. Fournette from LSU has been compared to Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook to Marshall Faulk. Both would look great in red and pewter.

If the Bucs decide to stay put they could find talent in the later rounds. The past few season have proven that all-star running backs can be had later in the draft. David Johnson and Jordan Howard were drafted in the third and fifth rounds the past two seasons. D’Onta Foreman, Texas, and Samaje Perine, Oklahoma, are two names I would look out for in the later rounds of this draft class. If you look at the Bucs offense when they had a productive running game they were able score points while this season the offense struggled at times.

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