Even though Sean Tucker had seven rushing touchdowns and impressed when Bucky Irving went down with an injury last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't used him much this season. They retained him with a restricted free agent tender in the spring, but after signing Kenny Gainwell from the Pittsburgh Steelers to be the 1B in the 1-2 punch with Irving, Tucker pretty much became an afterthought.
But it's time to think about the big man in the backfield again. The Buccaneers have always been better with a running back who can bruise in between the tackles, and while Bucky is not a bad pure rusher on the inside himself, there are times when Tucker's size and strength fit a matchup better to both move the pile and even potentially open up the Bucs downfield passing attack.
The Buccaneers are leaving a lot of yardage on the table, and they are having trouble moving the ball, as evidenced by their 0-4 record. This week, on Thursday Night Football, the Buccaneers will be going up against arguably the worst defense in the NFL, and Tucker has a great chance of being the secret weapon who helps open up the Tampa Bay offense further against a ghastly Cowboys defense.
Sean Tucker needs more touches in Buccaneers offense
Sean Tucker also has a great matchup of his own to get serious yardage. After a huge touchdown and a fourth down conversion in the tough 17-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Tucker gets to face an abysmal Cowboys defense that has been allowing 4.8 yards per carry and the second most total rushing yards in the NFL this season.
The Buccaneers can't forget how good they looked on the ground with Tucker carrying more of the load last season, and they have to see the opportunity they have in front of them. Dallas' defense stinks. If there is any hope for a get right matchup for this Bucs offense, then this is it, and Todd Bowles and Zac Robinson have to do whatever they can to support Jalon Daniels and take full advantage.
Dallas have two players with four tackles for loss in Quinnen Williams and Jaishawn Barham, but, outside of that, the Cowboys defense is really weak, especially when it comes to getting the pile moved on them as a unit.
The Cowboys rush defense got smoked for more than 160 yards in each of their first three weeks, including nearly 200 yards against Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens. That's the style of runner they struggle against, especially if Tucker can be just a little bit like Henry and break off a few runs into the third level, where the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs just don't have the beef to bring him down.
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