Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2018 NFL Draft Profile: Running Back, Ronald Jones

In our continued NFL draft profile series, we go back to potentially the top position of need for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … the running back, and take a look at a possible second day pick out of USC in running back Ronald Jones.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expected release of running back Doug Martin occurring this past off season, and their inability to pay or find a running back they liked in free agency they are left with promising back Peyton Barber and change of pace back Jacquizz Rodgers.

Meaning that finding a bell cow back who can do it all in this year’s NFL Draft becomes priority number 1A in my opinion (with finding a corner 1B) because although Barber showed promise when he got the opportunity I do not believe that he is an “every down do it all” back and they need a solid run game to take pressure off of Winston.

As the NFL Draft quickly approaches there is some hope as more teams try to trade up to grab one of the top quarterbacks that maybe the top running back in the Draft, Saquon Barkley, could be there when the Buccaneers pick at seven. More likely though he will be gone and the Buccaneers will look for a running back in the second round or a trade up into the back of the first round.

If Barkley is gone at seven then you take the corner, defensive end, guard, or if they are all gone then you trade back and acquired more picks, but it is critical for them to get the running back at the end of the first round if acquired more picks with a trade back or in the second round. Last year they attempted to grab a running back but waited too long and got stuck with Jeremy McNichols who did not make the team.

This year they cannot wait even though this is supposed to be a good running back class they have to get one who can contribute immediately, so let take a look at one of those day two running back options in running back Ronald Jones out of USC.

Ronald Jones’s College Career

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Coming in as a freshman with the USC Trojans Ronald Jones burst onto the scene as mainly a backup but saw action in all fourteen games and broke Charles Whites 1976 freshman record for most rushing yards in a season at USC with 987 yards.

In his sophomore season he was giving the chance to start in six of the Trojans thirteen games and flourished as he rushed for 177 carries with 1082 yards (6.1 yards/game) and twelve touchdowns.

Last season he finally got the full running back workload playing in thirteen of their fourteen games he rushed 261 times for 1550 yards (5.9 yards/carry) with nineteen touchdowns, and had his best receiving season with fourteen catches for 187 yards and one touchdown giving him a total of twenty of the season.

He finished his college career with a very impressive 591 carries for 3619 yards (6.1 yards/carry) with 39 touchdowns, and had 32 catches for 305 yards and three touchdowns.

At the combine in February he measured in at 5’11” and 205 pounds and was only able to complete one disappointing 40-yard dash for a time of 4.65 and injured a hamstring in the process ending his combine weekend, and he did not do any drill at USC’s Pro Day on March 21st.

Pros

As a runner he is very elusive and has the ability to make all of the moves that you want out of your top running back giving him the ability to find the holes through the line and to cut on a dime when he needs to take it to the outside.

With the ability to make all of the moves that a team would want in a running back he also showed that he can do them while basically remaining at full speed, and can stop on a dime and reaccelerate to full speed very quickly.

He has an average ability to pickup blitzers but can still do it well enough to help protect the quarterback and give him enough time to make a play.

Showing very good ball security having only two fumbles on his 591 collegiate carries.

Cons

At 5’11” 205 pounds he is a little small for the average NFL running back at his height (215-230 pounds), and has a smaller body mass with a smaller base making it easier for him to go down on the first contact.

At times he doesn’t appear to know where to go while rushing and gives himself little time to make a move when the defenders is coming, and at times has a hard time finding another route if the first hole is blocked.

While rushing he takes a lot of extra hits while trying to gain the extra yardage and for a bit smaller and potentially slower (pending 40 time redo) running back this could cause him to get injured by larger NFL linemen/linebackers.

At time he showed that he would try to run too full speed immediately and not wait for his blocking to develop.

Must Read: Where does Winston sit among other top overall picks?

Why the Buccaneers Need Ronald Jones?

Well after letting ineffective Doug Martin walk at the start of free agency and just having running backs Peyton Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers as the only experienced running backs on the roster acquiring any quality running back in the draft is a must.

Now obviously they have a certain type of running back in mind after deciding not to get in on any running backs in free agency (after hearing the price of Jerick McKinnon that is) and decided that there is plenty of running backs in the draft that may fit their type.

In my opinion that type of back that they are looking at is one who can do what both Martin and Charles Sims did for them which was have the ability to rush and catch passes out of the backfield. This type of back would add another weapon for Winston and the offense that would not give away what they planned to do if one back was in the game as compared to the other.

Obviously giving Winston a run game will majorly help his passing game so that the whole offense doesn’t just revolve around the pass game but will be more balanced as a whole.

Will the Buccaneers Draft Ronald Jones?

With Jones being graded out as a second day pick and one of the main needs of the Buccaneers being running back. I believe that if they do not land Barkley in the first that any running back will be in the running for the Buccaneers in the second round.

Now do I think that Ronald Jones will be that choice at running back for the Buccaneers in the second? I am going to say no because I believe that if they don’t get Barkley at seven and they can acquired more draft picks due to a trade back. That instead they will trade back into the first round to grab a running back before other teams can in the early second round.

Even though Ronald Jones has his pros and cons that the Buccaneers may like or dislike I believe that he will be a mid to late second round pick and thus the Buccaneers will look for another back at the end of the first round or the early part of the second round.

Next: Winston and Jackson Should Do Better in 2018

Continue to check back each day for a daily draft profile to see whether or not these players should, would, or could be the next member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Tell me your thoughts on running back Ronald Jones out of USC and his chance of being selected by the Buccaneers in the draft in the comments section or tweet me directly @ND1Bucsfan and continue to read and enjoy all of the draft profiles.

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