Analyzing Sean Tucker’s Solid Preseason

The Bucs are banking hard on rookies this year. That includes a plurality of undrafted free agents. One of the more heartwarming stories among them is that of Sean Tucker. He was projected by many to be a mid-round pick in an overall strong running back class during the 2024 NFL Draft.

By now most know that a heart issue discovered during the NFL Scouting Combine forced Tucker to abandon the testing process and seek medical advice as to whether he could continue to play. This sunk his draft stock leading to him going undrafted.

The Bucs convinced Tucker to sign with them as an undrafted free agent in the hopes he would eventually be cleared to play football again. There was very little downside to their bet. He was not counting against their offseason salary cap obligations, required very little in the way of financial obligations (he signed for just a $5,000 signing bonus). The most significant asset the Bucs were sacrificing in the deal was the opportunity cost of giving the roster spot to another player.

The gambit paid off when Tucker was cleared to play earlier in the summer. General manager Jason Licht had secured the services of a talented back who otherwise would have required a fourth- or fifth-round pick for the low, low price of a $5,000 guarantee. This is how savvy GMs win at the margins.

Since then, he has steadily impressed while climbing up the Bucs’ running back depth chart. The culmination happened earlier this week when the team released its unofficial depth chart.

Here’s your Week 1 Bucs unofficial depth chart. Sean Tucker listed as top backup at running back: pic.twitter.com/ER04uVm4F3

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 5, 2023

Now, firmly embedded in the RB2 role, how did Tucker get here?

Sean Tucker Had A Solid Preseason With A Spectacular “Unofficial” Moment

Looking through the surface-level statistics you will find Tucker had 23 carries for 74 yards. That’s just 3.2 yards per carry. Not very impressive. Then I came across this on social media.

the Bucs are going to absolutely fascinating to watch on offense this year, but I’m curious where the Sean Tucker hype comes from. Only 1 of his 19 rushes on 1st/2nd down this preseason went for an efficient gain.

a 5.3% success rate that was dead last among all RBs. https://t.co/OMjIKEspsI

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 4, 2023

Nate Tice isn’t wrong. His 26-yard run against the Jets was the only run of the preseason that would qualify as efficient. Efficient would be defined as gaining at least 50% of yards needed for a first/touchdown on 1st down, 75% on 2nd down and 100% on 3rd/4th down. Many of his runs went for less than three yards. So why all of the excitement? Why do the Bucs have faith in him to assume the RB2 job?

Look a little closer and you will see Tucker did more with less. Per Pro Football Focus, he averaged 2.57 yards per carry after contact. On a 3.2 yards per carry average that means his blocking was only allowing him a hair over half a yard before he was engaging a would-be tackler. Compare that to what the other Bucs running backs faced throughout the preseason.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Average Yards Before Contact – (0.24) – Average Yards After Contact – 1.52

Patrick Laird – Average Yards Before Contact – 2.07 – Average Yards After Contact – 1.86

Ronnie Brown – Average Yards Before Contact – 1.25 – Average Yards After Contact – 1.42

Rachaad White – Average Yards Before Contact – 1.29 – Average Yards After Contact – 4.29

Chase Edmonds – Average Yards Before Contact – 2.00 – Average Yards After Contact – 1.00

As you can see, Tucker was second in the group in generating yards after contact. He also forced five missed tackles on 23 carries for a 22% rate. That’s the best rate in the room.

It’s supported by the tape with runs like this:

And this:

And this:

Sean Tucker’s style of running works well with the Bucs’ new mid-zone system. He displays good-enough vision to find holes and then plants and explodes into them. This makes it difficult for opposing defenses to rack up tackles for loss.

Tucker is constantly pushing up field. When you combine that with his impressive open-field speed you get a quality back who will be a good complement to Rachaad White. I question whether he has the true upside of a RB1 due to his lack of true tackle-breaker ability, and I think his vision is limited. But for an undrafted free agent who can provide a bit more than what is blocked up for him, Tucker will deliver – and then some.