The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have to lean on the run-game a bit more this season as they're playing without Tom Brady for the first time in three seasons. With Baker Mayfield succeeding the starting quarterback role, the offense will have to find production in a variety of ways.
According to JC Allen, Sean Tucker will be the team's No. 2 running back, backing up Rachaad White.
Not only did Tucker make his way from an undrafted free agent to the 53-man roster, but he did so in a way that allowed him to become a rotational player.
The team is going to be able to utilize both backs, and, evidently, it may not be much of an option. Again, Mayfield is taking over under center. No knock on Baker, but he's no Brady. When a team takes a hit by losing the greatest quarterback of all time to retirement, whoever has to follow that up is in a losing position.
Utilizing both White and Tucker may ease the pressure on Mayfield, though. The team can play through both backs more and let Mayfield make plays to his receivers, headlined by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Every skill player will be incredibly important this season. If Mayfield plays clean football and avoids a high rate of turning the ball over, the rest of the weight falls onto all of the skill players, and Tucker will now be a part of that.
Tucker had an incredible three-year career with Syracuse. He amassed 3,182 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns in those three seasons. In Tucker's second season with the Orange, he rushed for 1,496 yards, the most in a season in Syracuse history.
Undrafted due to medical concerns, Tucker has high upside. He's 21-years-old and has plenty to prove. Being RB2 allows him the chance to get game action while he continues and develops as a talent.
With his heart condition, Tucker had to sit and wait to be cleared for some time, but coming into the league at his age and in this position will allow for Tucker to overcome those issues and potentially carve out a bigger role for the Buccaneers.
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