Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Peyton Barber sees himself as underdog
By Cory Kinnan
After leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in rushing a year ago, Peyton Barber is not looking to get comfortable as he is penciled in atop the depth chart.
The first practice of training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is today, and before practice running back Peyton Barber spoke to the media. He had an insightful time behind the microphone and let the rest of us in for how head coach Bruce Arians plans to use him, and how he views himself as he enters camp penciled in as the starting running back.
According to The Athletic’s Greg Auman, Barber is not looking to take advantage of being on top of the depth chart, but instead will take every day like he’s unheard of despite the encouragement and confidence from Arians. Auman writes on Twitter “4-5 guys going after his job, and he isn’t planning to give it up.”
Last year Barber fell just 129 yards short of 1,000 yards rushing and found paydirt just five times on the ground; he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry as well. Barber knows where his shortcomings were and is looking to correct that this season.
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"“I have a lot of expectations for myself. There are a lot of things I felt I didn’t accomplish last year that I definitely want to accomplish” (Barber via Auman)."
The fourth year running back revealed a few more things, including how Arians plans to use the running backs in his offense in 2019. Barber points out that Arians’ offense is much more complex and the running backs are asked to do much more than they were a year ago under former head coach Dirk Koetter.
More pass protection, different protection schemes, and also much more involvement in the passing game is to be anticipated by the running backs this season. This includes being “more likely to be flared out as a receiver and more involved in the passing game” (via Auman).
Next. Buccaneers: 3 takeaways from Bruce Arians’ presser. dark
Barber signed a one-year contract extension this summer with the Buccaneers for just over $1 million. If he excels as a runner, blocker, and receiver like he has the chance to do under Arians this year, he could be looking at a substantial pay raise.