NFC South Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

One of many jobs for the new Buccaneers coaching staff this offseason was figuring out what was wrong with RB Ronald Jones. Last year, Jones averaged a shocking 1.9 YPC on 23 attempts as a rookie. His confidence waned and he looked nothing like the speedy back Tampa Bay drafted in the second round who averaged 6.1 career YPC at USC.

This offseason, the coaches have made it a priority to rebuild Jones’ confidence from the ground up and return him to the big-play threat they saw on film in college. 

“A player always wants to hear that his coaching staff has confidence in him,” RB coach Todd McNair said via the Athletic’s Greg Auman. “Some guys are harder on themselves than others. With any player, you want to hear that vote of confidence. He’s a humble kid, and last year was a humbling experience. He probably never had a season like that in his life. Sometimes that can act as a psychological rudder going forward, knowing that can happen, you have to stay on the grind, stay focused. He’s lived it and knows what can happen if he’s not on point.”

• Buccaneers LB Lavonte David, DT Vita Vea, TE Cameron Brate and LB Anthony Nelson all returned to practice Tuesday. (Rick Stroud)
• Recently-acquired RB T.J. Logan will step in immediately as starting kickoff returner, per Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians. (Auman)
• Arians said that cutting DE Noah Spence was one of the hardest decisions he had to make this year: “Oh it’s hard. This guy gives you everything. You’re pulling for him from day 1. The number of snaps he was out there and the production just didn’t match. But nobody worked any harder than him.” (Jenna Laine)

Falcons

• The Falcons hosted S Jamal Carter (practice squad), WR Brandon Powell (practice squad), FB Keith Smith (signed) and TE Cole Wick for workouts. (Howard Balzer)
• Falcons signed TE Carson Meier to their practice squad.

Panthers

• The Panthers worked out RB Justin Davis on Tuesday. (Howard Balzer)
• Carolina also hosted OT Chidi Okeke for a visit. (Balzer)
• The Panthers worked out OT Willie Beavers and C Brad Lundblade, signing the latter to their practice squad. (Aaron Wilson)

Saints

Saints DE Carl Granderson received a reprieve from his six-month jail sentence and served only 43 days in prison after a judge suspended his sentence for sexual battery. Now on supervised probation, Granderson has rejoined the Saints.

“I’m thankful for my opportunity,” Granderson said via NOLA.com’s Herbie Teope. “I’m just thankful for a second chance to get back out there and work as hard as I can to be on the team.”

• The Saints hosted UDFA LBs Tre Watson and Tre’ Crawford for a workout Tuesday, per ESPN’s Mike Triplett.
• Both would be candidates for the Saints’ practice squad.