Sean Tucker, Josh Williams And Job Security
August 25th, 2025
How safe?
Todd Bowles had very interesting words Sunday morning. And they got Joe to thinking.
Before training camp, Bucs types whispered that if there is a player on offense that might rise through the chafe of camp meat players and make an impact, it is former LSU running back Josh Williams.
Then on Saturday night, Williams had a nice game. On Sunday in his day-after presser, Bowles went out of his way to praise Williams (and Tez Johnson) for having a really good game.
“It wasn’t just special teams, he’s a good running back as well,” Bowles said. “We think he can catch. We think he’s a heck of a pass protector.
“We know he can run the ball as he showed us on special teams, but he also made some tackles. So, you know, a lot of that goes into the evaluation. He can do multiple things.”
Two things about those comments:
1) Joe was told by an NFL general manager years ago that if you cannot start, you better be able to play special teams or you are an endangered species. So after the starting 22 players, being a special teams ace gives a player a leg up on making the team.
2) Pass protection. That is a way-overlooked element of a run game. If a back can block, he’s going to get time on the field at some point. Coaches don’t like getting quarterbacks blown up because a running back has an ole’ block.
Bowles citing Williams’ play on special teams and blocking caught Joe’s attention. This brings Joe to Sean Tucker.
Joe likes Tucker and thinks he’s a good running back. Joe doesn’t expect Rachaad White to remain with the team after this season and Tucker seems like he would be a perfect replacement next year.
However, Joe has noticed a few times in training camp practices Tucker badly whiffing on a few blocks that in real football would have gotten the quarterback leveled. And Joe doesn’t know how good of a special teams player Tucker is, though Todd Bowles has praised his kick return game. Tucker had a 53-yard return last season and averaged 27.3 yards per return, about a half-yard below the NFL average.
Tucker played in 85 and 178 special teams snaps the past two seasons. That amounts to 30 and 37 percent of the Bucs’ special teams snaps, respectively. Saturday night in the Backup Bowl, Williams had eight carries, Tucker had three.
Tucker is a solid runner. He has proved to be a steal since as an undrafted free agent like Williams is.
Are the Bucs going to keep four running backs? They didn’t last year.
Is Williams that much of a special teams wizard? Or with Tristan Wirfs out for at least the next handful of games, do the Bucs now have a heightened concern about pass blocking that may see Williams push out Tucker just because he can block?
August 25th, 2025 at 12:29 am
I like Rashaad White, but I think his best value for the Bucs at some point this season will be in a package deal trade. Watching Williams reminds me of watching Bucky early on last season. You could just tell the kid was gonna explode at some point. If the Bucs are foolish enough to let Williams walk, he’ll be a starter somewhere this season.
August 25th, 2025 at 12:38 am
white can wr keep four
August 25th, 2025 at 12:47 am
Is Bucs let Tucker go. Tucker will flash with another team and will makes Bucs regret not keeping him.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:15 am
Rachaad White is a good receiver and blocker and we need that right now, doubt he will get alot of carres, more 2 back personnel
August 25th, 2025 at 1:27 am
Tucker also had 308 yards on 50 carries last year.
His 6.2 YPC is hard to overlook, especially for a backup.
Also found this from AI: In 2024, Tucker had 48 pass-blocking snaps with no recorded sacks allowed, according to advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:46 am
JA Says:
“Also found this from AI: In 2024, Tucker had 48 pass-blocking snaps with no recorded sacks allowed, according to advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus.”
.
.
Just to test for AI consistency (not knowing which LLM you are using), I asked Brave AI about this. Here is the answer:
As of now, the 2024 NFL season has not yet taken place, so there is no available data on how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running backs performed on pass-blocking snaps during that season.
LOL
August 25th, 2025 at 2:01 am
Jeffrey Becker Says:
August 10th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
would you take a first round pick for Tucker right now? dude’s a baller.
——————————–
Just trade Tucker for a 1st round draft pick. LOL!
August 25th, 2025 at 4:47 am
Hard to believe we’d keep 4 RB, but I’d find a trade for White rather than let Tucker or Williams go.
August 25th, 2025 at 5:18 am
Tucker isn’t just a “solid runner”. He led all RBs in rushing EPA/ play min 50 carries. His film and rushing analytics are off the charts while White’s are in the toilet. If you or anyone else thinks the Bucs will be able to pass their way to wins the first month without Wirfs, Godwin and McMillan you’re wrong. But they can run their way to them. White should be the odd man out. He’s a BAD runner and the Bucs score less the more he touches the ball, rushing and receiving.
August 25th, 2025 at 6:53 am
tuck is super safe imho…and he will be here next year too…
and believe me gee…brady & spytek are watching and coming to raid the cupboard
August 25th, 2025 at 7:38 am
The only number that’s sacrosinct is 53; how we get there is up to the Bucs’ braintrust, no one else. If we choose to keep 3 QBs, that’s our call. Keep 4 RBs? Again, our call. Same with WRs, TEs, OLBs, Secondary … just as long as we don’t exceed 53.
Obvious I know, but that’s when RISK rears its ugly head. Some position groups tend to get beaten up more than others. For the Bucs, WRs & Secondary come to mind (I wouldn’t skimp there given our recent history). Our QBs & RBs & TEs have been quite sturdy though, as was our OLine last year.
Still, with us eyeing a possible Super Bowl opportunity, and with our OFFENSE being our primary strength, I’d personally prefer that we keep at least 25, and maybe even 26, offensive players to provide maximum flexibility & mitigate any risk of retrograde in the event of injuries. Might be worth it to go as high as 3 QBs, 4 RBs, 6-7 WRs, 3-4 TEs and 9 OLine (more than likely 8 though). Can’t exceed 26 (preferably 25) in any event.
Bucs have some excellent youngsters, but they’re not really proven, and that’s the problem. Everyone raves about Sean Tucker and his 6.2 YPC average last year, but his catch % was down at 75%. And in 2023, Sean only had a 1.5 YPC average. Not to mention his medical history, which could change overnight (take it from one who’s been-there-done-that). Rachaad doesn’t have Tucker’s break-away speed, but his catch % (89.5% in 2024 and 91.4% in 2023) is suberb, plus his running perforance improved substantially last season (from 3.6 YPC in 2023 to 4.3 YPC in 2024). I’d think twice before letting him walk.
August 25th, 2025 at 7:57 am
Keep Williams and cut Ko Keift
August 25th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Good point Dewey!
I think we keep all four RBs Williams is White’s replacement next year. The RB group is good to go. Good job Licht. Ko Keif is odd man out.
August 25th, 2025 at 8:39 am
I luv Tucker but he just cant block. On 3 down in 11 Personnel Offence our standard set up you cant have Tucker on the field
August 25th, 2025 at 8:54 am
We could trade White. Issues solved. He’s a good back and someone needs him.
August 25th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Better to keep 4 RBs than a 4th TE that can’t catch.
August 25th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Here is the thing about White though. Is he a good runner? No. He is good at catching passes and he is a decent blocker. Not great, just decent.
With White on the field, it’s not a tell. Tucker sort of tips pitches because he’s a running back, mostly. Not bad at catching passes. Not bad at all.
Teams don’t think the Bucs will put Tucker on the field on third downs (usually).
August 25th, 2025 at 9:19 am
Tucker stays. Be real sorry if someone else gets him.
August 25th, 2025 at 10:08 am
“With White on the field, it’s not a tell. Tucker sort of tips pitches because he’s a running back, mostly.”
Eh, that has more to do with how we’ve used Tucker as opposed to being an indicator of what he’s capable of and it’s not like Coen gave him a ton of opportunities last season. 5 games he didn’t register any offensive reps and even in the playoffs he was on-field with the offense for two whole snaps. I don’t buy the “he has to improve his pass pro” when our offense is built on quick passes in the short and intermediate pass game.
August 25th, 2025 at 10:27 am
@ Joe said:
As of now, the 2024 NFL season has not yet taken place, so there is no available data on how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running backs performed on pass-blocking snaps during that season.
*****************************
You might want to read your comment again. The 2024 season is documented and done.
August 25th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Don’t count out White. He is really dangerous in the open field. Great near the goal line and as a blocker. We don’t know how durable Bucky is. Doubtful he can carry 20 runs a game. Experience counts. Bucky had a bad fumble against Atlanta or we would have won that game. We need White’s skill set.
August 25th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Tucker + the 1st team O-line is one of the best RB’s in the league.
If we cut him, we are absolute morons.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
We need to keep all 4
August 25th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
I’d say point #2 carries even more weight, given how both Bucky and Tucker were liabilities in pass protection last season.
August 25th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
Get Rachaad re-involved (run and pass)!
Tucker has shown more of what we knew… He’s fast, ok contact balance, limited elusiveness. Ok hands.
I thought Williams looked better in the limited snaps we’ve seen of him.
Really hard to judge RBs with 2nd and 3rd string O-line players being mixed and matched. I hope blocking is going to look much better in the regular season cause we will be in trouble otherwise.
August 25th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
Williams will get cut and added to the practice squad. It is far less likely that another team will snag him with no track record, one preseason appearance and being ungrateful.
Tucker might have gone in the third round last year if the heart condition didn’t crop up. His numbers last year were stellar when he got the chance to play, which would make him far more likely than Williams to be snatched up by another team.
August 25th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
Not sure why they’d keep Williams on the active roster, it’s not like he’s going to get snatched up by anyone. Watch preseason games, nearly ever team has a rookie or 2nd year RB who looks fantastic and they almost all end up getting cut on put on the practice squad, because, again, everyone has one of those guys, and they’re going to bring up their own guy because they spend a roster spot on a new guy. Williams did look good, but not so good that another team is going to steal him away – and if they did, it’s really not a big deal as there’s tons of guys out there the Bucs could steal if they needed to.
As for White, I’ll completely disagree with Joe, he’s way beyond just being a serviceable blocker. Go back and watch those games where Sucke was starting, and watch as DE’s are running over him like he’s not even there, and it’s White who more than once was saving the day and keep Baker off the IR. The guy is fantastic as a pass blocker, and obviously an exceptional receiver as well. Also, last year when he actually got decent blocking and wasn’t in a completely predictable offense, he showed he’s a good runner as well (Bucky would be exceptional – White meanwhile looked good, putting up well over 4ypc).
Tucker meanwhile, he’s fine as a depth RB. But that’s all he is. He lacks vision, can’t block, and his receiving skills really haven’t been tested but he doesn’t stand out either way in his limited looks there. As a #3 RB, you could do a lot worse, but as #2 RB, you could do way better (that would be White, who is way better).
August 26th, 2025 at 8:04 am
I can see Tucker & Williams as 3A & 3B. You either have to gamble on your starters staying healthy and losing one to another team or keep all four. If Irving or White go down early in the season, that will pay off. Statistically it is a crap shoot. Tampa has a notorious recent history of injuries in the secondary being the biggest concern. Because of that, Bowels will probably cut Tucker to keep more room on the active roster for the secondary. As much as I love Tucker, Williams just seems to bring a little bit more to the table