Mike James’ Days Numbers?
June 28th, 2015
This summer could be stressful for Bucs RB Mike James.
Yes, Joe knows one could argue the Bucs have a deep stable of running backs. Cynics would suggest it’s deep all right, and not for the right reasons.
(Think: Landmines that dot a cow pasture.)
The Bucs are so low at running back, they couldn’t even muster one guy that ran for 500 yards. Not one! All the so-called talented backs and not even the best could some how, some way find a way to run for 500 yards? Can you imagine?
So this is why Joe understands the skeptics.
The Bucs went and added a couple of guys in the offseason and that usually spells doom for the low man on the totem pole, Mike James. Luke Easterling of Bleacher Report is of the mind James’ days as a Bucs running back could be limited.
James averaged 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie in 2013, flashing playmaking ability in relief of an injured Doug Martin through the first eight games of the year. But an injury of his own ended that season for him as well, and he’s yet to regain his form.
In 11 appearances last season, James carried the ball just 19 times for 37 yards, averaging a measly 1.9 yards per attempt.
As the 2015 season approaches, James will not only have to compete with the likes of Martin, Charles Sims and Bobby Rainey for touches, but his chances of sticking as a short-yardage back are dampened by the addition of two rookies—seventh-round pick Joey Iosefa and undrafted free agent Dominique Brown—who have the bulk and skill set to fit that role more effectively.
James is a good guy and he is taking this challenge as a positive, not a negative. The key here — and for every bubble guy — is to make your mark as a special teams stud. Once you establish yourself as a valuable special teams guy, teams aren’t as inclined to turn a bubble player loose.
When given the opportunity, James has been a pleasant surprise. His problem was health. If James gets dinged up in training camp or preseason, it could spell doom.
June 28th, 2015 at 8:25 am
So virtually not having an offensive coordinator and having an offensive line that resembles Swiss cheese doesn’t spell disaster for even talented running backs??? All these running backs to me have looked gifted in the past. You mean that ALL of our RBs have busted out???…..ALL of them? We have made an excellent choice in bringing in a seasoned accomplished OC (great job), but that oline needs continued attention….those teams with a core of excellent linesmen can’t keep them all for the regular season….Hope Licht is vigilant at the waiver wire…to help our running backs reach their potential.
June 28th, 2015 at 8:34 am
Sadly, I’d have to agree with you Joe…as much as I like Mike James he’s got an uphill battle ahead of him…especially if we only keep 3 running backs; if that’s the case Martin, Sims, and Rainey would be locks…also FB Joey Iosefa is a definite wildcard in the Mike James scenario…I loved everything I saw from Joey on tape…he has short-yardage/goal-line specialist written all over him…
June 28th, 2015 at 8:38 am
Joe are you putting us on this morning?
As P’cola Buc says above, no OC and possibly the worst OL in NFL history, with playing calling, run up the middle on the first two plays and then let the QB give it way on third down to save the punter from a short punt, and you are talking about the RBs.
I for one am waiting to see what Koetter gets out of them with the pads on, astute play calling, a better OL and a much better QB. Then we will see what they can and cannot do.
June 28th, 2015 at 8:40 am
thats too bad. i think he is our second best rb not counting the rookies because i havent seen them play yet. he did show he could carry the load when he was healthy as a rookie, can block and sure handed. no running back could do well with the offense we had last year. especially if your not allowed to get in a rhythm with such low carries
June 28th, 2015 at 9:18 am
If you believe the offensive line is solely to blame for no running back running for 500 yards, how do you explain a worse offensive line than the Bucs, the Jags, had a quarterback who was converted to running back rush for over 500 yards?
June 28th, 2015 at 9:27 am
I don’t know Joe. How many carries did he have?
June 28th, 2015 at 9:29 am
Oh I see he had 135 carries for the Jags….
June 28th, 2015 at 9:51 am
Its time to realize that at best the RB on this team are average, and more than likely below average!! If it was not for the numbers on their backs its hard to tell what below average talent is in the game!!!
To read some of the comments around here you would think that the Bucs was the most talented team to finish as the worst place team in the history of the NFL!!!
year 7 and the rebuild continues!!!
June 28th, 2015 at 9:59 am
No one ever had a worse offensive line than the Bucs had last season!
June 28th, 2015 at 10:16 am
Not sure what 2014 really tells us about Bucs RBs. OLine play was terrible as so many have already noted. OC play design was even worse … Bucs had to have been the most predictable team on offense in the NFL.
All of the Bucs RBs were banged up at one time or another last season. Rainey played in the most games (15) but was really never featured (94 carries for 406 yds and 4.3 yds/carry average). Martin played in 11 games but only got 135 carries for a 3.7 yds/game average. Mike James also played in 11 games but only got 19 carries on the whole season (barely 1 carry/game). Charles Sims was rushed back into service prematurely far as I’m concerned, but did get 66 carries in his 8 games.
How do you really predict what any of them will do this year with inconsistent use like that?
The one RB who interests me most right now is Dominique Brown. Might turn out to be a dud, but might also turn out to be a hidden gem in this year’s new additions.
June 28th, 2015 at 10:21 am
So, Mike James to be replaced by 7th round pick Joey Who? I don’t think so. I mean a FB from the powerhouse known as Hawaii is a shoe in to make this team and beat out a veteran who has shown talent in the past against NFL competition? I would not wager on that happening. Nothing against Joey Iosefa, but I think he is practice squad material if anything.
June 28th, 2015 at 10:24 am
I like James and his past effort also. Some other team will probably get his future best. The Hurricanes put out some good talent. I’m thinking about the landmines that dot a cowpasture.
June 28th, 2015 at 10:29 am
I like James and his past effort also. Some other team will probably get his future best. The Hurricanes put out some good talent. I’m thinking about the landmines that dot a cow pasture. Back in the 70’s a group of us decided that is where the shrooms grow up in Pasco county. We had the book with the pics in it. Bad mistake, everybody got sick, two had to have their stomach pumped, the gluttons. That was the last attempt at that.
June 28th, 2015 at 11:08 am
Setting the OL criticisms aside for a moment other than to give all RBs a mulligan for last year, James showed me he was as good, if not better, than Martin until he broke his leg. I really don’t know what the brass sees in Sims, he runs way too vertical and his cuts are more often too subtle to be effective.
Would love to see Martin be the runner who turned the Raiders into the Faiders as he single-handedly ran them off the field in ’13, but if he’s not that guy anymore than I would go with James & Rainey as my no. 1 & 2 RBs.
June 28th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Buccfan37…I went shrooming in Pasco years and years ago too. Small world. lol
June 28th, 2015 at 11:41 am
i can’t blame any of our running backs for last season, they had nowhere to freaking run.
June 28th, 2015 at 11:45 am
87… To this day I can’t even look at any kind of mushroom without getting queasy.
June 28th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Pete:
Jags o-line gave up 20 more sacks last year than Bucs. That is not a typo.
June 28th, 2015 at 11:55 am
Rainey would have gotten at least 500 yards if coach hadn’t benched him for the rookie. This falls on Lovie as usual.
June 28th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Doug Martin was 6 yards short of 500.
June 28th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Give Mike James some blocking and let’s see what he can do.
June 28th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
James get’s outa here he’s gonna blow up! Straight up! I was very excited when we got him and he hasn’t been in a good system (an NFL system) yet. If he stay strong he’s gonna kick azz. He runs with an attitude and I like it.
June 28th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
He’s my favorite rb we have if he gets a real opp i think he can b just as good as Edjerrin James was.
June 28th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Some team will end up with a good versatile RB if James get cut.
But so far from the OTAs and coaches talk it looking like they will keep;
RB- Martin, Sims, Rainey and Brown.
FB- Lane (just got resigned).
*The other FB options do have an upside. Joey can play RB and QB in a pinch and Josh Baker can play TE/ he is a true H-back.
June 28th, 2015 at 4:41 pm
In my opinion…..anybody thats going to judge the skill level of any single individual that played on our offense in the 2014 season is a complete moron…
Horrible offensive line
An offensive coordinator that was not and offensive coordinator.
Judging running backs that were asked to be miracle workers.
Always playing from behind. with zero chance of ever outsmarting the defense.
It blows my mind that people dont look at all of those things that contributed to the teams failure last season. They think its just a bunch of excuses. See what tom brady or marshawn lynch would think about marcus arroyyo coming in and calling plays next season with our offfensive line…….smh
June 28th, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Can’t disagree.
June 28th, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Last season during week 2 Bobby Rainey shredded the Rams and the BEST D-Line in the NFL for 144 yards on 22 carries and he caught 3 passes for 30 yds. And he was never heard from again,i’m would bet my life if Bobby Rainey had got 20 carries a game last season he would have went over 1100 yards. You can’t blame the 0-Line for the Bucs offensive woes from last season, blame Jason and Lovie for tanking the season because they had a man crush on Jameis Winston. Lovie spent 2013 in his basement watching FSU and Winston and he develop a man crush on him.
June 29th, 2015 at 8:31 am
Joe Says:
June 28th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Pete:
Jags o-line gave up 20 more sacks last year than Bucs. That is not a typo.
Well maybe they stunk as a pass blocking unit, but in run blocking they were effective!? Just a thought.
June 29th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Typo in the title?
June 29th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Our OC loves big backs as his bell cow. He used Jackson effectively against us last year, remember? Dominique Brown is a big back at 235 pounds and knows how to block on third downs (could be a backup at FB if needed) and runs hard, and has great soft hands as an outlet on third down, and he is not a fumbler. He can play special teams too. Plus as a rookie he would not need a big contract that soon either. I like Mike too and loved what he did against Seattle his first year, but since his injury, he has not looked that good, and now there is a durability issue to be concerned about. I know he will give his best effort, but if Dominque Brown can out produce him between the tackles in Preseason, I think our OC will go with Brown.
June 30th, 2015 at 10:43 am
i dont understand how people can say he hasnt been right since his injury. that may be so, but how can you tell when he played like 20 snaps on the worst offensive play calling ive seen in a while. some rbs need some carries to get in a rhythm