Buccaneers
After an absolute disaster of a rookie season, Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones made major improvements in 2019. The former second-round pick finished with over 1,000 total yards and caught 31 passes. This offseason, Jones has focused on improving his pass-catching ability even more while bulking up even more to 225 pounds while training in Arizona.
“My hands are better,” Jones said via the Athletic’s Greg Auman. “Just catching more passes, every day. Like 300 a day on the JUGS (machine), and I’ve been working out here with high school and college quarterbacks and working with Brady, so I’ve caught every kind of ball you can imagine. I’m ready for that challenge.”
New Buccaneers QB Tom Brady‘s affinity for pass-catching backs is well-documented, and the Buccaneers were linked to some receiving backs in the draft and free agency. Jones, however, is looking to take on that role himself and was able to get back to Florida to start establishing a rapport with Brady.
“I just tried to soak in everything he was telling me, his attention to detail,” Jones said. “We were running against air, but just still, being out there with him, getting that chemistry down, I felt that was important and it’s going to help us when camp starts soon.”
Panthers
New Panthers LB Tahir Whitehead said he is eager to have a real offseason program to “get on the same page” with his teammates.
“From a concept standpoint, I’ve been able to grasp the defense’s scheme as far as what we’re doing,” Whitehead said, via Myles Simmons of the team’s official site. “But I think you definitely need those reps. And being on a new team with a bunch of new guys, you definitely want to have that to be able to get on the same page.”
As for retired LB Luke Kuechly still being around the organization as a pro scout, Whitehead said he plans on taking advantage of the former linebackers’ knowledge,
“I’d be a fool not to take advantage of him still being in the building,” said Whitehead. “He’s extremely smart. Heard nothing but great things about him over the years and I’ve always admired the way he played from afar.”
Whitehead added that his presence won’t affect how Panthers LB Shaq Thompson plays in their system.
“My thing is just coming in and just allowing him to still have that freedom to go out there and play the same way he’s been playing and not having him feel like, ‘Oh man, I have to play different,'” Whitehead said. “So I’m extremely excited about getting an opportunity to play with Shaq.”
Saints
- The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell writes that while the Saints roster is mostly set at cornerback, former XFL CB Deatrick Nichols could make the team as a slot corner.
- So far, Terrell says the Saints have been pleased with the return they’ve received from landing CB Janoris Jenkins off waivers. However, she notes Jenkins is someone who could need more management in the locker room.
- Terrell thinks the Saints will use CB P.J. Williams more as a safety and nickel defender in 2020 after the experiment went well late last season.
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