As the Bucs begin to shift their full focus to the 2024 NFL Draft next month, one position that they may look to address is the running back position.
While Rachaad White had a solid year leading Tampa Bay’s backfield, the team should be looking at ways to lighten his workload. Chase Edmonds re-signed on a one-year deal to remain as the veteran presence and potential spark in the room, but there is one player who remains an X-factor – second-year running back Sean Tucker.
After receiving minimal run last season, with just 15 carries for 23 rushing yards, how he goes through and approaches his first NFL offseason will determine a lot about his role going forward.
For Sean Tucker, It’s About Slowing Down And Getting Back To The Fundamentals
It is no secret Sean Tucker is fast.
During last season’s draft process, he posted a training video on X showcasing his 4.3 speed. Tucker takes pride in his impressive wheels, but if he wants to continue developing into an NFL-caliber running back, he knows that will mean slowing down and analyzing the game.
“I would say just going back to the fundamentals of everything,” Tucker told Pewter Report on what improvements he’s looking to make this offseason. “Working on my speed, making sure I’m always prepared and at my fastest, but when it comes back to football, just studying the game more and being more technically sound.”
There are perhaps no better teammates to help him along this path than Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds. Tucker leaned on those guys plenty last season as a rookie.
“Definitely got a good relationship with the whole running back room,” Tucker added. “Throughout this whole season, those guys taught me what it’s like to be at this level and what it takes to become that guy and have that role on offense.”
In particular, Edmonds spoke on what progress Tucker made last season and how next season poses a great opportunity for him to showcase his talent and take advantage of the opportunity of complementing White as a power back.
“Tuck, you know, he has it all in terms of talent,” Edmonds told Pewter Report. “I think for Tuck, it’s just about making sure that he can slow the game down. I think this year is going to be important for him, just for his growth mentally and cognitively on the football field. Next year I think you’ll be able to see those leaps and bounds. It’s a unique opportunity for him just because he has a guy right now in Chaad, who’s going to be the guy going forward.
“Take advantage of those opportunities and just learn from him in terms of what he’s doing, how he sees the field, how he runs with the field. Just continue to grow man. In the NFL bro, everybody has their own journey. Some people start off super hot and then fade, some people kind of always stay middle ground and gradually grow, and some guys don’t start off hot until year four and they blow up. You just have to keep continuing to grind bro. It’s a long journey, it’s always long seasons and there’s always going to be opportunities coming your way as long as you continue to work hard.”
Sean Tucker Needs To Take A “Big Step” Up To Compete In Bucs’ Backfield
As Sean Tucker continues to work on his game this offseason, Bucs general manager Jason Licht admitted at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that he will need to improve from where he was last year to have a fighting chance and role in Tampa Bay’s offense.
“He needs to take a big step,” Licht said. “He missed all of the offseason OTAs because of a heart [issue] that he was dealing with, so that’s always hard when you miss all of that stuff. He was a little bit behind the eight ball. So, he will be ahead of it this year, hopefully, because he’s got a lot of talent. A lot of speed, size, all of the things you look for in a running back, so we’ll see where we’re at. We’re hopeful.”
Standing at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, the “Baby Nick Chubb” moniker that Tucker obtained still holds weight. His size-speed combo is what allowed him to produce big numbers for the Syracuse Orange in college. It was there that he flashed his potential, and if not for the heart issue that popped up in the pre-draft process, he would have likely been a Day 2 pick last year.
As it currently stands, Sean Tucker is one of the four running backs on the Bucs’ roster. With that opportunity, he still has every chance to make the most of it and become a factor in the running game. A curve ball could be thrown at him if Tampa Bay selects another running back in the draft, but he is already in offseason training mode and looks ready to compete.
Time will tell if he will have some new competition in the backfield, but if he steps up, don’t be surprised to see him get more carries and playing time next season.
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