Sims enjoying second season with Bucs

Versatile Sims enjoying second season with BucsGreg Auman, Times Staff WriterMonday, December 21, 2015 5:43pmSecond-year Bucs running back Charles Sims has shown promise this season while splitting time with starter Doug Martin, putting up numbers that rank him among the best pass-catching running backs in the NFL."I'm just doing what the coaches ask me to do, to capitalize and make plays," Sims said Monday. "I'm trying to get better every week. That's the main goal."Sims is one of only four running backs in the NFL with at least 400 yards rushing and receiving, along with Atlanta's Devonta Freeman, New Orleans' Mark Ingram and Cincinnati's Giovanni Bernard. He's tied for the Bucs' team lead with three touchdown receptions -- only three running backs in the NFL have more scoring catches than he's had.Sims ranks second on the Bucs behind receiver Mike Evans with 39 catches this season, ranks second in rushing yards with 469 and third in receiving yards with 415, and he's made considerable progress from his rookie year, when he missed the first half of the season with a foot injury. After averaging 2.8 yards per carry as a rookie, he's averaging 4.7 this year, and after having a long play of 24 yards in 85 touches last season, he has five plays longer than that in 2015, including a 35-yard run in Thursday's loss to the Rams.Sims needs just 116 yards in the final two games to reach 1,000 yards in total offense for the season -- Martin is already past that milestone, and the Bucs have had two running backs top 1,000 yards of total offense just once in their history -- Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott in 1999.