The Pewter Plank
FanSided

3 Buccaneers starter standouts in preseason opener

By Cory Kinnan

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is grabbed in the second quarter by Carl Nassib #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is grabbed in the second quarter by Carl Nassib #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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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) /

The Running Backs

It was a breath of fresh air to see both Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones finding lanes to run in yesterday’s game in Pittsburgh. After both failed to even muster four yards per carry behind some dreadful run blocking, they tallied a total of 36 yards on seven carries. Barber averaged six yards per carry, while Jones averaged four and a half.

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As the Buccaneers continue to prep for the regular season, if they can rely on the running game, spearheaded by Jones and Barber, like they did last night, then they should have no problem lighting up the scoreboard. Jones showed great burst, while Barber put his vision on display making cuts into open running lanes.

Once they get a full game of playing time, it will be a great indicator of how well they can stay gassed up throughout the entirety of a football game. One preseason game in, however, it was a promising start to the revenge tour of Barber and Jones.

Even backup Dare Ogunbowale got going with the backups. While only averaging a little over three yards per carry, he got the bulk of the carries behind the shallow backup offensive line and still found the endzone twice.

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