“And That’s The Thing; He’s Not Afraid”
May 25th, 2018
Rookie running back Ronald Jones under the watchful eye of RB coach Tim Spencer
Dirk Koetter is a tough guy. No question about it.
But while he is one of the most fearless coaches in the NFL (hey, if you start Doug Martin like Koetter did in 2017, then you’re one fearless SOB), there is an element of football where Koetter will take no chances.
That’s pass blocking by running backs.
And Koetter has made it clear that he has little faith in rookie running backs being ready for Day 1 to get the blocking job done.
The critical nature of running backs pass blocking is a core belief of Koetter, one that’s paramount to his philosophy. It’s why Charles Sims is on the roster. It’s part of why Martin was playing over Peyton Barber. It’s a big reason why Jacquizz Rodgers is greatly valued.
Joe has gone here previously. So fans who think rookie Ronald Jones will be a three-down running back out of the gate, or be a guy who gets 25 snaps a game, should wake up. Jones will have to prove he can pass-block first.
Bucs running backs coach Tim Spencer offered encouraging words recently about Jones’ makeup.
“Watching the film he has done a good job. He’s not afraid. And that’s the thing. He’s not afraid and you can see he has the want-to in him. So all I need to do is teach him technique in terms of hand placement, feet and, you know, where his aim points [are] and things like that. But he has it in his heart. So that’s good. That’s half of it right there.”
Joe sure is pulling for Jones to master that other half and earn the trust of coaches.
With all the passing weapons on the roster, and a healthy Jameis Winston, Koetter is sure to value pass blocking as much or more than ever.
May 25th, 2018 at 11:38 am
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 25th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Warrick Dunn…was excellent at pass blocking
May 25th, 2018 at 11:56 am
Agree
But I have a feeling Barber is gonna be stellar next year as well. Barber is still a young kid who just got his shot at the end of last year and played pretty darn good
May 25th, 2018 at 11:59 am
Can’t wait for this kid to be the best blocking RB in the league.
May 25th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
I’d be surprised if it doesn’t take him at least a season or so to master it.
Which is fine because I still like Barber.
If I had to guess; the game plan will feature Jones/Barber on most all early downs all game; switching them out between series. On Barber drives he will likely stay in on 3rd down. On Jones drives he will likely come out for Sims or Rodgers.
If PA or a pass play with Jones in the field; it’ll likely be plays where Jones is an underneath option, either as a screen/dump, or out in space on a LB so he can make plays; whereas Barber likely stay in to pass pro.
Either way we have all the RB skill sets we need to run a variety of creative plays and stay unpredictable. Once the defense thinks Barber or Sims is just going to be pass protecting every 3rd down then we can dump a screen to them.
And hopefully by mid to later in the season Rojo’s pass blocking picks up and he starts taking games over as the Jamaal Charles/CJ2k clone I hope he is
May 25th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
A fatal flaw of Koetter’s if you ask me.
Starting Martin over Barber cost us games last year and is a borderline fireable offense.
Koetter needs to stop with the Lovie Smith stubbornness or he wont be a coach much longer
May 25th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Coaching is horrible #JIMSCHWARTZ2019
May 25th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Koetter stayed with Martin because he’s an idiot. If Jones ends up being that good, they can run the ball on third down. But again fearless Derp will probably punt on third down. I sure wish they would have fired him.
May 25th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
In a 2 back system, it will afford Jones time to learn the skill. Lets be real, he’s a rookie and there’s nothing that says he can actually play at the NFL level other than expectations. He’s got to prove he belongs there. When he does, he’ll get his touches.
May 25th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Dirk Koetter is a tough guy. No question about it.
Yes sir, saw Dirk ride into One Buc Place on a Harley with a big burly woman on the back. He was shirtless with at least a dozen tats. Put on his shirt dropped down in the parking lot and did 100 pushups…on his finger tips.
He then went inside the building. The female went to a local establishment of artistic dance expression where she worked the door as a bouncer.
Now that’s tough.
May 25th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Hopefully Koetter will trust Barber to pass block, because if Charles Simms leads the the running backs in offensive snaps again, I don’t think that the team can have a winning record!
May 25th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
@#$% That…I want to Jones running the ball. Other teams have had rookies come in and tear it up. If the guy is the best RB, put him on the field.
May 25th, 2018 at 10:37 pm
” But he has it in his heart.”
You really Can Not say more about a man as a man than that. Add maturity and improved skill honing and we are Talking!!!
May 26th, 2018 at 4:31 am
This is gonna be a sick ass one-two punch. Might be 50/50 on caries depending on RoJo looking like early. I-form and play action.
May 26th, 2018 at 10:37 am
I don’t think Sims will be handed the ball much. Catching the ball and peeling off yardage will be his specialty. I look to see that happening often for decent gains, potentially TDs.
May 27th, 2018 at 9:04 am
Must be a thin line between fearless and Klueless