The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a topic each week that involves the Bucs.

This week’s topic: Which Bucs Player Must Step Up In December?

Scott Reynolds: RB Ronald Jones II

The obvious answer is quarterback Jameis Winston, right? He’s in a fifth-year option and it’s pretty important for the Bucs to decide whether or not he’s the team’s franchise QB going forward – or at least gets the franchise tag in 2020. I’ll let another member of the PewterReport.com staff tackle Winston and turn my attention to running back Ronald Jones II, who is coming off his worst game of the year, rushing six times for eight yards in Tampa Bay’s 28-11 win at Jacksonville before getting benched in the first half.

Jones missed a blitz pick-up that resulted in a sack-fumble by Winston and that infuriated head coach Bruce Arians, who subbed in backup Peyton Barber the rest of the way. It will be interesting to see how Jones bounces back from that this week when the Indianapolis Colts come to town. Jones has had a breakout year after an awful rookie season, rushing for 482 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Jones, who added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, has rushed with more confidence, power and tackle-breaking ability this year and has had three games with at least 70 yards rushing.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones II – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But those games came in Week 1 (75 yards vs. 49ers), Week 3 (80 yards vs. Giants) and Week 4 (70 yards vs. Rams). Over the last eight games Jones has rushed for more than 50 yards just twice – a 67-yard effort at Seattle and a 51-yard outing at Atlanta. Jones has rushed for less than 30 yards four times over the second half of the season, including two out of the last three games. It’s time for Jones to prove to the Bucs that he can continue to grow and be a feature back that could hit 1,000 yards next year. Jones needs to break off a couple of long runs (his longest run is 25 yards) and top 100 yards a time or two down the stretch.

If he doesn’t, Jones might be viewed as only a complementary back only capable of getting 600-800 yards a season by the organization, and that will dictate whether or not the team will need to draft or sign another starting-caliber running back. Jones beat out Barber for the starting job earlier this year. Now he needs to produce like one. The USC product needs to kick it into high gear and show he can be an effective pass protector and rusher in the month of December. If Jones can finish with 800 yards rushing this season then running back is one less primary need that Tampa Bay needs to address in the 2020 offseason.

Mark Cook: QB Jameis Winston

Obviously, it’s quarterback Jameis Winston, who needs to show up big over the last four games of his fifth-year option. Winston has shown improvement over the last two contests, and by no coincidence the Bucs have won those games. In fact, you can arguably say Winston’s five best games this season were the five the Buccaneers have won – at Carolina, at Los Angeles, against Arizona at home and the two latest road games at Atlanta and Jacksonville.

Winston supporters will say that the Bucs won the last two games because the Bucs defense decided to participate in the 2019 season – finally. And there is no question there is a lot of truth to that. Having a defense giving up over 30 points per game is not conducive to winning football. However, neither is throwing multiple interceptions and losing numerous fumbles. Winston had two early interceptions against the Falcons, but the Bucs defense was able to limit the damage, and last week against the Jaguars Winston was nearly turnover-free – only surrendering a fumble after a blindside sack.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Football is a team game without question and the defense being night and day better over the last two weeks helps Winston’s cause tremendously. Winston now knows he doesn’t have to try and carry the entire team on his back, and perhaps the turnover numbers drop. The Buccaneers have a legitimate shot at seven wins – maybe eight. And sure, I will say it – perhaps Tampa Bay can even win out. Even if the Bucs only get two more wins this season, it is a two-game improvement over the past two seasons and the arrow will be pointing up heading into 2020.

The Buccaneers franchise is at a crossroads with Winston, and his play over the next four weeks might not only get him a new deal and keep this job, but also keep many others from losing their jobs. There is a ton of pressure on the 25-year old, but no one said playing quarterback in the NFL wouldn’t come with these type of expectations.

No Tampa Bay-drafted quarterback has ever been re-signed to a new deal in the history of the franchise, which is a stunning statistic. Not Doug Williams, not Vinny Testaverde, not Craig Erickson, not Shaun King, not Trent Dilfer, nor Josh Freeman. Can Winston be the first? The last four games will provide the answers.

Trevor Sikkema: OC Byron Leftwich

Byron Leftwich may not be a player, but his importance to this team is just as noteworthy.

The Bucs’ young offensive coordinator has had an up-and-down season. This is to be expected for a first-time, full-time play caller, but where that curbs how damning some of his rookie mistakes may have been, it also opens the door for improvement. A strong month of December for Leftwich will go a long way for him, quarterback Jameis Winston and head coach Bruce Arians.

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Leftwich and Arians have stayed true to their plan to be a balanced offensive attack this season. When it’s going good, it has worked out well. But in the times in which it seems the Bucs’ initial game plan goes out the window, those are the moments where it seems you can tell Leftwich is still new at this.

With Tampa Bay moving the ball as well as it has over the last few weeks – the catalyst to winning three out of its last four games – there is faith that the Bucs’ play-caller and the players at his disposal are really starting to click.

I like where things have gone over the last few weeks. Let’s see if Leftwich can really string some good game plans together down the stretch.

Taylor Jenkins: CB Carlton Davis

Carlton Davis was thrown into the fire as a rookie, becoming an instant starter after being drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft. He had his struggles, as did many on the defense before general manager Jason Licht flooded the position, selecting cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting on Day 2 in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Davis was slotted in as a starter again this season, alongside Vernon Hargreaves III, and the struggles continued as the Bucs’ secondary raced to the bottom of the league’s rankings in pass defense.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis – Photo by: Getty Images

Now coinciding with the release of Hargreaves in November, the young secondary has improved, Davis included. Murphy-Bunting hauled in his second interception of the season against Jacksonville, Dean became an impact player after just one start, breaking up five passes and hauling in a game-saving interception against Arizona, while Davis added his first career interception and five pass breakups of his own against Atlanta. These performances found Dean on Pro Football Focus’ Team of the Week in Week 10, while Davis earned the honor in Week 11 and Murphy-Bunting in Week 13.

While Davis continues to start on the outside for now, the vast improvement from his two first-year counterparts have to put his role in possible danger for next season, assuming that Tampa Bay adds a veteran defensive back or two in free agency. Davis is in the driver’s seat and controls his own destiny, but this last month of the 2019 season will go a long way toward writing the story for his role in the future. Davis will have to carry this momentum through the Bucs’ final stretch, continuing to play fast, physical football while limiting the penalties that have plagued him this season, and start turning more of those passes defended into takeaways.

Matt Matera: TE O.J. Howard

O.J. Howard is coming off one of the best games of the season in Jacksonville where he made a season-high five receptions for 61 yards. In a year that has been a disappointment for Howard, it was good to see him take a step in the right direction. What’s very crucial for him now is to build on top of that with consistent production for the rest of the season.

It’s just as important right now to build up Howard’s confidence as it is to have him as the third passing option on the Bucs offense. For the lack of production Howard has had this year, it’s been crucial mistakes made by the third year tight end that has become most concerning. Howard has fumbled in big moments and has dropped passes that have turned into interceptions, which included the infamous reception that he bobbled behind his back against the New Orleans Saints that became a red zone turnover.

Bucs TE O.J. Howard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

What we saw last week in Jacksonville was Howard making difficult, contested catches that he just hasn’t been able to come up with that often during the season. As a first-round pick, Howard needs to to continue to make those plays that a player of his caliber is expected to do. He is too valuable of player not to show up in these situations.

Howard was predicted to be an integral part of the Tampa Bay offense this season, but it just hasn’t been the case with 23 receptions for 294 yards and only one touchdown. Hopefully for Howard and the Bucs offense, his performance in Jacksonville will be a stepping stone to get him back on track to a premier player that many believe he can be.

I think before anything else, restoring Howard’s confidence is what’s most important for him. His uncharacteristic turnovers have had to take a toll on him mentally, and it’s relegated him in the lineup to just being a run blocker at times. With four games left in December, Howard has a good chance to stack up some more impressive performances like the Jacksonville game and set up him up well for next season with a clean slate and the proof that he can get back on track for his Pro Bowl potential.