“He’s Certainly Being Undervalued”
April 18th, 2024
USC Running back MarShawn Lloyd.
The Bucs need a running back. Anyone paying attention knows it, especially if they’re listening to Todd Bowles and understanding how much the man wants a solid running game.
On paper, it doesn’t appear to be a great draft for running backs next week, there’s no Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs. But paper can be deceiving.
Every year highly productive rookie running backs are selected midway through the draft. The Bucs rarely find that kind of guy.
Joe had high hopes for Mike James, Tampa Bay’s sixth-round pick in 2013. He had a strong rookie start (4.9 yards per carry) before injuries derailed his career.
Charles Sims (2014, third round) struggled big time as a rookie but was dominant in his second season before injuries short-circuited him. Yeah, Sims was that good. He averaged 6.9 yards per touch in 2015 (158 total touches), among the best season averages by a running back in NFL history. For perspective, Christian McCaffrey was at 5.97 yards per touch last season; Gibbs averaged 5.4. Rachaad White was at 4.2.
In 2024, the Bucs need to find that rookie runner who can hammer between tackles, make a shifty move occasionally and fall forward to become a 4.3 yards-per-carry dude. While that may seem like a lot in Tampa, 23 NFL running backs averaged 4.3 yards or more per carry last season, and that’s not counting the very part-time players that also did.
So what about MarShawn Lloyd out of the University of Southern California?
He’s projected by many to be a Round 4 pick. Joe watched Chris Simms of NBC Sports do a full running backs breakdown and Lloyd is Simms’ favorite RB in the draft.
At 5-9, 220 pounds, Joe sees Lloyd as a Doug Martin type with perhaps less ability in the passing game, a shade less elusiveness, fumbling issues and an injury history. But he still has plenty of power with twitchy moves and feet. Lloyd isn’t going to break home-run runs, but he will hit it up the gut and be able to move laterally.
“He’s certainly being undervalued,” Simms said, after rattling off how much Lloyd can do at a high level. “I saw a lot of unbelievable cuts.”
Simms added that Lloyd is the nastiest effort runner in the draft and was hurt by playing for a team that imploded. “Strong as hell, runs through a lot of arm tackles … stays square to the line of scrimmage … best route runner I thought out of the running backs.”
Lloyd averaged 5.2 yards per carry at South Carolina in 2022 and 7.1 with USC last year, seventh-best in FBS.
April 18th, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Interior offensive line
The running game will follow
That said I am not a huge fan of White’s running style
Lacks plant and cut
Lacks vision and set up his blocks and following cuts
He’s good but not elite
April 18th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Interesting class of running backs. It seems like no first-round talent but 11 guys that might be rated between 60 and 110 overall.
Seems likely the Bucs can get one of those guys with one of their two 3rd round picks. Just might not be Benson which will have some on this site suggesting the Bucs picked the wrong guy. But does seem perfect for a team, like the Bucs, looking for someone to split the carriers with R White.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Comon Jason Licht – can you finally find an above average NFL RB in the mid rounds?
Sims/White = good pass catching backs but I’m talking a pure RB beast that elevates the run game regardless of O-line.
There are great RB’s every single year drafted R3 or later. Just a matter of picking the right guy. Just from the last 5 years ignoring the top 2 rounds (and holy crap at 2019) and going off career YPC and guys who’ve had significant starting time:
23′ draft – De’Vone Archane – round 3 – 7.8 (!!!) YPA. On over 100 carries.
22′ – Brian Robinson – round 4 – 4.0 YPC
– Tyler Algier – round 5 – 4.3 YPC
21′ -Rhamondre Stevenson – round 4 – 4.5 YPC
– Khalil Herbert – round 6- 4.9 YPC
20′ Zach Moss – round 3 (after Keshawn Vaugh lol – Doh!) – 4.3 YPC
19′- Darren Henderson – round 3 – 4.2 YPC
David Montgomery – round 3 – 4.1 YPC
Devin Singletary – round 3 – 4.6 YPC
Damien Harris – round 3 – 4.6 YPC
Alexander Mattison – round 3 – 4.1 YPC
Tony Pollard – round 4 – 4.8 YPC
April 18th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
This draft give sme 2019 vibes in terms of the depth of guys we should see going in R3-R4.
Don’t f*ck this up man lol
April 18th, 2024 at 1:26 pm
I don’t have the stats on hand, but I’d like to add the following to the above list:
Isaiah Pacheco – 7th round
Kyren Williams – 5th round
Aaron Jones – 5th round
Raheem Mostert – undrafted
I love JL but maybe he should let Coen pick the RB lol.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
he is a fumble machine
April 18th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
Comon Jason Licht – can you finally find an above average NFL RB in the mid rounds?
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The YPC stat isn’t determined ONLY by the quality of the RB. There is more that goes into it then that. Upgrade the O-line and upgrade the OC and the YPC should increase with the exact same RB.
That said, White hasn’t reached his ceiling yet IMO. He’s got room for improvement. Hopefully we’ll see some this upcoming season. We do need to bring in some competition though, either via the draft or free agency. I’m also hopeful that Tucker can contribute this season but until he demonstrates he belongs here in the NFL we don’t know for sure. His recent workout videos were impressive though and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a breakout season.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:39 pm
JL needs to go full George Costanza when he picks a RB.
If everything you ever thought was right ended up being wrong, then the opposite must be right.
Use it, but only for a RB and ah, maybe an Edge guy.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Looking for a dude that averages 4.4 per carry for his career , runs a 4.2 40 , hits the hole hard as heck? Sign ROJO to a 1 year prove it deal , because he brings all of that to the table and has 2 Super Bowl rings.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Yes I like marshawn lloyd as well..would like to see him there at pick 125. Lloyd is also known for being a high character individual. I like him slightly over ray davis and estime, but would also be fine with those guys
April 18th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Because of Coen’s familiarity, I think the Bucs may be targeting Ray Davis from Kentucky in the late 3rd rd.
Also think they are looking at the Ky QB as a 7th rd or UDFA addition…
I expect between the draft and UDFAs – there will be at least 2 or 3 former Wildcats playing in Tampa Bay this year.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
I really don’t like picking a RB in the first 4 rounds. I’d much rather we invest the picks on O-Line and then get a fresh RB in the 6th. An elite O-Line can make any RB look elite. An elite RB with a mediocre O-Line becomes mediocre.
Same can be said for CB. A great CB, when QBs have time to throw, will give up catches and yards. But a ferocious pass rush makes an average CB look great.
I hope we keep investing on trenches, as Licht is used to doing. 3 out of our top 4 picks should be EDGE, IOL and IOL IMO.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
I
O
L
Nothing gets better until those are addressed, and I include Mauch. He was semi-OK at G as a rook but needs to bulk up and play much better.
April 18th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
“fumbling issues and an injury history”
(drops a black ball into the cup…)
April 18th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Cobraboy Says:
I
O
L
Nothing gets better until those are addressed
Cho Says:
“3 out of our top 4 picks should be EDGE, IOL and IOL IMO.”
Agreed – and Agreed.
Seems other than “that” Joe – we have consensus.
Jason Licht – FIX THE OLine!!!
April 18th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Pickgrin Says:
Jason Licht – FIX THE OLine!!!
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JL was thrown a major league curve ball when Marpet retired and Jensen was lost due to injury. It wasn’t something that could be instantly fixed due to the salary cap situation but he WILL fix it.
April 18th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
@ManzielMadness
Great other RB’s I missed! I love JL as well too. His RB picks and the whole Roberto Aguayo thing are the only biggest gripes I’ve really had with him, but he’s an awesome GM.
@BucsFansince96
Agree on YPC but those guys are just better runners to the eye as well IMO.
Also great point on Marpet / Jensen curve balls. I believe in Licht all day on the O-line evaluations.
April 18th, 2024 at 2:54 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
@BucsFansince96
Agree on YPC but those guys are just better runners to the eye as well IMO.
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I don’t deny that there are better runners but I do believe White will improve somewhat, and when the o-line is upgraded our running game should be more respectable. White is already great when catching balls out of the backfield and getting YAC. If our new OC and position coaches can get him to be just average as a runner it would be huge
April 18th, 2024 at 3:14 pm
The last 10 games of last season White hit 4.1. With the OL we have that was weak up the middle is incredible. I personally watched White get hit behind the los too many times. Upgrade the IOL and pieces of the puzzle will fall into place.
April 18th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
I want a 240 lb bruiser at RB. Someone that defensive lines fear impacting with.
April 18th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
White is fine for the type of rb he is. We just need to compliment him with a big bruiser.
April 18th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
BucsFanSince1996 Says:
April 18th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
“JL was thrown a major league curve ball when Marpet retired and Jensen was lost due to injury. It wasn’t something that could be instantly fixed due to the salary cap situation but he WILL fix it.”
This. 100%.
On the bright side, we got younger along the line 🙂
April 18th, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Wow 2021, the running backs were over drafted as a whole.
1st Najee Harris and Travis Etienne
2nd Javonte Williams
3rd Trey Sermon
4th Michael Carter, Kene Nwangwu, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Chuba Hubbard
Would we be excited in 2024 to have any of those guys?
In 2020, it was worse.
There were 15 running backs taken in the 1st four rounds.
Today, you want two. Swift and Taylor.
You’re ok with two others but they are not stars, Moss and Dillon.
The 11 others are total crap heap garbage at this time.
April 18th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Sean Sullivan of best in class likes Estime from Notre Dame. I’m with him! If we can also improve the IOL in the draft, and Liam Coen gets more creative (and doesn’t stubbornly try to jam it up the middle so often), our running game can quickly get to at least average.
April 18th, 2024 at 5:16 pm
“less ability in the passing game, a shade less elusiveness, fumbling issues and an injury history“
Not exactly a glowing review. I have to believe there are better options all over this draft class.
April 18th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
RB in the 7th or Undrafted
White and Tucker are killing the offseason. DE, DB, G, C, MLB, WR are more pressing.
That’s 6 needs and 7 picks.
April 18th, 2024 at 8:33 pm
It’s not 1970.
Throw the ball, don’t worry about the run.
April 18th, 2024 at 11:10 pm
Lol.
How many backs do we need- averaging less than 3 yards a carry.
According to some “experts”, one more
What a great idea! Can we please dpenf another season running the ball up the middle, watching our line collapse and our Back getting crushed?
Pretty Please! My favorite play last year. Just lived watching it over and over.
With Fournette. Then white.
Who can we run into the block wall this year?
April 19th, 2024 at 3:09 am
@Bucsfansince1996 – That was the best comment of the off-season about the Oline and what happened. Facts, not some silly opinion. Go Bucs
April 19th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Sounds like a great undrafted free agent lol