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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What they really got in this draft class

By Jerry Stalheim

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Ronald Jones II #25 of the USC Trojans cuts back on Jaleel Wadood #4 of the UCLA Bruins during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Ronald Jones II #25 of the USC Trojans cuts back on Jaleel Wadood #4 of the UCLA Bruins during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Second Round (38): Ronald Jones II, Running back

The Buccaneers run game last season was just plain awful as they averaged just 90.6 yards/game and eight rushing touchdowns. Prior to free agency the decision was made to cut injury prone and ineffective Doug Martin, and after not signing a back in free agency the Buccaneers went into the draft knowing they needed to take a back early. With the sixth pick in the second round they may have selected their back of the future in Ronald Jones II.

While playing in 40 games starting the last nineteen at USC he totaled 591 carries for 3619 yards (6.1 yard/carry) with 39 touchdowns and 39 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Last season he was given the starting job and took it and ran with it (pun intended) with 261 carries for 1550 yards (5.9 yards/carry) with nineteen touchdowns, and thirteen catches for another 165 yards and one touchdown. During his 591 total carries at USC he fumbled just twice and he rushed for 100 yards in thirteen of the nineteen games he started. At the NFL Combine he was projected to run around a 4.4 forty, but he tweaked a hamstring and ending up with a time of 4.65 and did not do any other drills (36.5 vertical prior to injury).

Jones shows great vision and elusiveness on the field and always keeps his feet moving with the ability to hit full speed very quickly. With great vision and ability to cut to the outside and find the opening to get to the next level. He Shows all the moves that a running back should have and has the elusiveness and speed to use them and make defenders miss.

In Jones the Buccaneers will get the elusiveness and explosiveness back in the run game that they have not seen in quite some time, and should help take pressure off of Jameis Winston. With Peyton Barber coming off of a promising end to the season the Buccaneers will have Barber and Jones sharing as the main backs with Jones eventually taking over the lead back role if he stays healthy, and the run game will be a weapon again.

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