The Pewter Plank
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4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their last straw in 2019

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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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

RB Ronald Jones

Running back Ronald Jones will not get a third chance with the Buccaneers if he flounders the way that he did during his rookie campaign again in 2019. He is off to a good start to win the trust of his new coaching staff, but he still has to put the pads on and beat out last year’s leading rusher Peyton Barber for touches.

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Especially in Bruce Arians’ offensive system that requires a lot of downfield shots, running backs will be asked to catch more passes out of the backfield. Neither Jones nor Barber are adept at this, so the Buccaneers will not justify keeping two backs who struggle to catch the ball.

The former second round pick back in 2018 appeared in just nine games last season for the Buccaneers; he recorded just 23 carries for 44 yards and one touchdown. Jones’ longest carry in 2018 was just nine yards, and he averaged just 1.9 yards per carry.

Barber is in the last year of his contract, so the Buccaneers could let him walk, but if Jones does not improve this year, then he will be out the door. Year two will be a big year for Jones and for the Buccaneers, who had one of the worst rushing attacks in the entire league last year.

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