Drafting working backs extremely has been a debate within the league lately. This development, to some extent, took a reversal within the 2023 NFL Draft, as each Texas’ Bijan Robinson (No. 8) and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs (No.12) had been taken within the high half of the primary spherical. The explanation for the talk is that loads of backs have been taken later within the draft, or not drafted in any respect, and have discovered success within the NFL. The Bucs are hoping Sean Tucker may be a kind of undrafted free agent stars in Tampa Bay.
Going again to 2010, Tampa Bay has found two undrafted backs and located surplus worth. LeGarrette Blount (2010) and Peyton Barber (2016) each carved out roles with the workforce, with Blount even having a 1,000-yard rookie season. Different notable backs on this timespan embrace Austin Ekeler (2017), Phillip Lindsay (2018), and James Robinson (2020).
In what was a deep working again class on the place in 2023, may one other identify be added to those respective lists? The Bucs hope it’s Tucker, Tampa Bay’s latest addition to the working again room.
Sean Tucker Put Up Very Good Stats At Syracuse
Sean Tucker put up massive numbers and a formidable spotlight reel prior to now two seasons at Syracuse. He was seen as a High 10 school working again prospect and had a mid-round grade coming into the draft course of. Right here’s a have a look at his dashing numbers from his time with the Orange:
2020: 137 makes an attempt, 626 yards, 4.6 avg., 4 TDs
2021: 246 makes an attempt, 1,496 yards, 6.1 avg., 12 TDs
2022: 206 makes an attempt, 1,060 yards, 5.1 avg., 11 TDs
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Picture by: USA At this time
Of observe, he set Syracuse’s single-season dashing file in 2021, and after simply three seasons, he ranks third on Syracuse’s all-time profession dashing file checklist with 3,182 yards.
Not solely did he have elite manufacturing at Syracuse, however at 5-foot-9, 207 kilos, he’s compact and explosive. These had been famous strengths of Tucker, who Pewter Report’s J.C. Allen profiled in his undrafted free agent evaluation. That is what he listed as being Tucker’s strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths: A former monitor star, Tucker possesses excellent velocity and imaginative and prescient as a runner. He’s affected person on the line of scrimmage, sees a gap and hits it, and shows good contact steadiness. He’s a succesful receiver out of the backfield and makes crisp cuts with the ball in his fingers as a one-cut runner.
Weaknesses: Whereas he put up 29 reps at his professional day he isn’t a robust rusher and isn’t going to run over defenders. He may also have to make vital strides as a move blocker if he desires to see the sector early on in his profession. He may be restricted to simply first and second downs initially.
Finally, what led to Tucker being undrafted was his medical background. Due to this, he neither participated on the NFL Scouting Mix nor at Syracuse’s Professional Day. It was later decided to be an undisclosed coronary heart situation.
Whereas this led to him not being drafted, the Bucs have taken an opportunity on him as an undrafted free agent. When he’s cleared medically later this summer season, he has the potential to make the roster and slot in proper behind Rachaad White if he efficiently climbs the depth chart.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn has didn’t take the function of a secondary again in his Bucs’ tenure, whereas Chase Edmonds was signed to a one-year deal to fill the room. Patrick Laird stays on deck to spherical out the depth chart, however he was on the apply squad for many of final season.
The Bucs put a considerable funding into Tucker, hoping that it pays off. The $155,000 they assured to him is definitely the next bonus than what Edmonds, a veteran, obtained upon signing ($152,500).
From what new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales mentioned about him this week, it’s clear that Tucker is considered extremely and has an incredible probability to commerce within the orange for pink and pewter.
Bucs OC Dave Canales: “[Sean Tucker] Reminds Me Of Thomas Rawls”
Syracuse RB Sean Tucker – Picture by: USA At this time
Having labored in Seattle for 13 years, Dave Canales is aware of a factor or two about profitable working backs. He noticed firsthand the dominance of Marshawn Lynch in his “Beast Mode” days.
In 2015, Lynch’s reign as one of many league’s high rushers ended and he wouldn’t be the identical after his yearlong retirement in 2016. Nonetheless, the workforce continued to search out success with unheralded backs.
Thomas Rawls and Chris Carson had been the 2 most distinguished examples. In 2015, Rawls, an undrafted free agent, stuffed in Lynch and had 830 dashing yards on 147 carries, which equated to a league-leading 5.6 yards per carry.
After he was injured and fell out of the image, Carson adopted. The seventh-round decide had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and had a productive profession in Seattle.
Seeing how they had been in a position to emerge within the backfield, Canales sees related traits in Tucker.
“Sean Tucker from Syracuse – improbable runner – he jogs my memory of Thomas Rawls, who performed nice for us for some time,” Canales mentioned. “However he has that bodily run fashion that we liked that we’re going to like right here – he’s going to deliver just a little punch and perspective to what we do.”
Can Tucker be the most recent story of an undrafted working again establishing himself within the NFL? Coming right down to Tampa Bay, he could have the very best probability to as soon as he will get medically cleared.
