Mike

James

We wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs made a run at Ahmad Bradshaw closer to camp, but for now speedster Smith (4.33 forty time) and bruising plodder James are the primary competitors. Brian Leonard is more of a fullback/third-down back. Per the Tampa Times, “some in the organization” prefer James to Smith.

James lacks explosiveness, but he can catch and block and is considered a disciplined runner with plus vision. There are people inside the Bucs’ organization who think James can immediately be Doug Martin’s primary backup. He’ll vie with Michael Smith and to a lesser extent Brian Leonard for the role.

Sixth-round rookie Mike James is the heavy favorite, and some expect him to win out over Michael Smith and Brian Leonard in a landslide. James lacks explosion as a runner, but he is very disciplined and can block. Smith, on the other hand, could potentially be on the roster bubble.

James won’t be a candidate for rookie-year carries behind Doug Martin, Brian Leonard, and Michael Smith. He’s being viewed as a hybrid tailback/fullback with special teams value. "[It’s] just who he is, a selfless player,” said Dominik of James, describing him as a “four down” contributor. “The personality, the traits, the toughness, all of those things that Earnest [had].”

It took the Bucs less than an hour to find their LeGarrette Blount replacement. James (5-10, 223) was a fullback/committee tailback throughout his Hurricanes career, rushing 304 times for 1,340 yards (4.41 YPC) and 17 touchdowns. He notched 67 catches. James ran 4.58 at the Combine with a 1.58 ten-yard split, though he doesn’t play as fast and generally only gets what’s blocked. He should be more a disciplined and effective runner than Blount.

Following the trade of LeGarrette Blount to New England, the backup job behind Martin is wide open. Brian Leonard will play a third-down and pass-protecting role, but he shouldn’t see many carries. That leaves James and 2012 seventh-rounder Michael Smith as the other options. Smith was a weekly inactive last season, and James is a bit of a fullback/tailback tweener with pedestrian speed.

He’s at 28 preseason carries for 113 yards (4.04 YPC) and four catches. James looked like the favorite for backup duties behind Doug Martin after the second preseason game, but FB/RB Brian Leonard played tailback ahead of him Saturday night and was arguably better. While James has intriguing potential, we wouldn’t waste a fantasy pick trying to handcuff Martin at this point.

James added three catches for 23 yards and also executed a two-point conversion. After Doug Martin left early with a head injury, James was the next man up and immediately ripped off an 11-yard scamper against the Patriots’ first-team defense. Through two preseason games, James has rushed for 96 yards on 21 carries (4.57 YPC). He looks to be the heavy favorite for No. 2 duties.

He’s been taken off injured reserve and is free to sign elsewhere. James spent last year on the Bucs’ practice squad. He’s rushed 79 times for 332 yards with no touchdowns in 19 NFL appearances.

James made the initial 53-man roster as the No. 3 back. One of Peyton Barber or Russell Hansbrough will likely be elevated from the practice squad.