The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Breaking down depth at running back

By Cory Kinnan

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stiff arms Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys on a carry in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 23: Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stiff arms Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys on a carry in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Andre Ellington #38 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football against the Dallas Cowboys during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 25, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Andre Ellington #38 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football against the Dallas Cowboys during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 25, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Bucs need a receiving threat. Do they have one?

While Jones and Barber will lead the charge on the ground for the Buccaneers this year, there may be one small hiccup with this plan: Neither of the two are especially equipped to catch the ball out of the backfield. Do the Buccaneers have a running back adept at coming in on passing downs to act as a threat to be targeted by Winston?

More from The Pewter Plank

Arians brought one of his veteran running backs from Arizona with him to Tampa Bay in Andre Ellington. During his time with the Cardinals, Ellington thrived on mismatches out of the backfield and occasionally lining up in the slot. However, he is 30 years old, so was he brought here to compete for a job or to help the young backs learn a new system?

During his time in the NFL, Ellington has started 18 games in five years while sitting out the entire 2018 season without an offer on the table. Ellington averaged over 50 yards per healthy season in Arizona and has caught 151 passes throughout his career.

The Buccaneers also added Shaun Wilson as an undrafted free agent a year ago. While he was briefly on the 53-man roster in Tampa Bay, he played only sparingly and did not produce much for the pewter and red in 2018.

Wilson proved during his time at Duke to be a threat through the air and on the ground for the Blue Devils, running for 818 yards and six scores and adding an additional 36 catches for 263 yards and four scores as a receiver. Last season, he was targeted five times and landed three catches in a limited role for the Buccaneers.

Outside of Ellington and Wilson, the Buccaneers have a couple of young options in a handful of undrafted free agents. We will look at them, see what they could potentially bring to the table, and identify what it could take for them to make the final 53-man roster.

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