Today after the first day of training camp, Bruce Arians was asked if the team can be a consistent winner with a substandard running game. He answered sharply that they don’t, and in fact that it is a “damn good one.”
Bruce Arians, asked if he can win consistently with a substandard running game: "We don't have a substandard running game. We have a damn good one. I like our backs and they're the type of backs I like. We're going to commit to the running game so we have a good running game."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 26, 2019
It seems that Arians truly does believe in his running back corp. One which is headlined by backs Peyton Barber and second-year pro Ronald Jones; neither of which has instilled overwhelming confidence in the Tampa Bay area. There was much speculation in the offseason that the Bucs could look to bolster this unit via free-agency or the draft in a big way. Neither happened, though. That said, it’s unsurprising given that he threw his support behind Barber earlier this year. He has even has spoken highly of Jones as of late. It will take more than a mere vote of confidence though for a “damn good” running game to come to fruition.
Could the Bucs RBs shock the league and turn heads early in this season with a great running attack? Arians seems to think so, and is pinning the running game as one of his key ingredients for success.
