The Tampa Bay Buccaneers routed the Carolina Panthers 32-6 on Sunday. One of the keys to the victory was an outstanding run game, as Tampa Bay ran for 159 yards without Leonard Fournette. Ronald Jones and Ke'Shawn Vaughn led the way for the Buccaneers, prompting head coach Bruce Arians to say that he believes one of the two is the lead dog.

Via Sports Illustrated's Zach Goodall:

“No, I think he's a lead back,” Arians claimed. “He has great running skills, excellent jump-cut ability and he's worked on his hands. His hands are better. He dropped [a pass on Sunday] – it pissed him off – but he has worked on his hands hard. I think he's a lead dog.”

That is quite the statement from Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians. Arians was asked if he feels that Ke'Shawn Vaughn could make for a good third-down back and he flat-out said that he believes Vaughn is a lead back!

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Arians cited Vaughn's running skills, which were on full display during a 55-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Panthers. The Buccaneers halfback, per Arians, has “worked on his hands” after he had issues with drops in the past.

Vaughn initially went to Illinois but made a name for himself after he transferred to Vanderbilt ahead of his junior year, as he ran for over 1,000 yards with nine-plus touchdowns in each of those seasons.

Arians has utilized fellow Buccaneers backs Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones — and even Giovani Bernard — ahead of Vaughn, though perhaps Fournette's absence made him realize what he really had in Vaughn.

Either way, it sounds like Bruce Arians will be utilizing running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn more often in the future.