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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 heated camp battles to watch closely

By Cory Kinnan

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 9: Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball past the out stretch arms of Marcus Davenport #92 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 48-40. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 9: Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball past the out stretch arms of Marcus Davenport #92 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 48-40. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Running Back: Peyton Barber vs. Ronald Jones

Offensively the Buccaneers are fairly set with their supporting cast around quarterback Jameis Winston, and while Barber and Jones are likely to split carries at a less lopsided ratio this year, who will be the lead back? Will Jones bounceback after a terrible rookie year and explode onto the scene in year-two or will Barber hold down the fort?

Neither of these backs managed to eclipse four yards per carry in 2018, but the Buccaneers did not draft any running backs this year and only signed veteran and Arians’ player in Arizona Andre Ellington and undrafted rookie Bruce Anderson. It, again, looks to be down to Jones and Barber to spearhead the backfield in Tampa Bay for the second straight year.

The Buccaneers recently tweeted out a video of Jones’ only touchdown from a year ago, insinuating we would see more of him this year. Is this just blind hope or a bit of foreshadowing to the use of Jones in 2019?

One thing is for sure: the running game must get better in 2019. The Buccaneers believe that a change in the blocking scheme up front will make the difference and have instilled confidence in both Barber and Jones. The question remains: who will lead the charge on the ground between the two?

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