Final Buccaneers 53 man roster predictions: Who makes the cut and who doesn’t?

Running Back (3)

There might not have been as much upheaval at any other position on the Bucs roster than there was at running back. That being said, Tampa Bay had the league’s worst rushing attack last year and drastic measures were taken in the offseason to change that.

Dave Canales was hired as the new offensive coordinator, bringing with him a run-heavy philosophy that worked pretty well in Seattle. The Seahawks collected running backs like rare coins and turned guys like DeeJay Dallas into impact players. That was largely Canales’ doing, and there’s hope he can work some of that magic with Rachaad White in his first year as a starter.

Beyond White, though, is one of the most exciting players to have made the roster this offseason. Undrafted rookie Sean Tucker not only played himself onto the roster but very much deserves consideration as White’s running mate in the backfield. Tucker outplayed every other Bucs running back in his three preseason appearances, and he has all the hallmarks of one of those guys Canales turned into a dude up in Seattle.

While there’s cause for celebration in regards to Tucker’s ascent, it comes at the expense of another back who is out of a job. Ke’Shawn Vaughn quite literally went backwbackwardards in his preseason reps, entering Saturday’s finale with -4 rushing yards. He ended the preseason on a much better note, rushing for 26 yards on six carries but he didn’t do nearly enough to convince anyone he deserves a roster spot.

Vaughn is talented and probably won’t clear waivers if the Bucs cut him, but he’s due for a fresh start somewhere other than Tampa Bay.

As for the Bucs, they’ll begin the season with a revamped running back group and the potential to completely flip the script on how things went last year.