Projecting Ronald Jones
July 15th, 2018
Gazing into a crystal ball. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Yes, the Bucs drafted a running back high in April, No. 38 overall.
But it is a leap of faith to think that just because Ronald Jones was picked in the second round that he will somehow become a bellcow back. Jenna Laine of ESPN takes a look at how the Bucs may use Jones in his rookie season.
The Bucs believe they have found the home run threat in Jones that they had lacked over the past two years. … Jones’ 19 rushing touchdowns in 2017 were tied for fifth most in college football. Jones had 39 rushing touchdowns in 40 career games at Southern California, with 18 of them coming off explosive plays. “You can see the guy has got juice,” Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said. “When he touches the ball, he’s got a gear that we don’t have on our team right now.” [Peyton] Barber started four games for the Bucs last year, so he also will challenge for a starting role …
Guessing here with training camp a little over two weeks away, Joe would say Jones will average 10 carries a game.
Remember, Jones wasn’t thrown to much at USC, catching just 32 balls in 40 games. Two things Koetter wants in his running backs are the abilities to block and to catch. Jones is a question mark with both.
Now if Jones proves in preseason games he is adept at catching the ball out of the backfield, then maybe he would get 13 or so touches a game.
July 15th, 2018 at 6:13 am
If he only gets 10 rushing attempts a game Koetter will be fired, and should be. Drafting a back that high, and then not featuring him is crazy. You’re living in the wrong decade. Look at Joe Mixon last year, 12 carries a game, Kamara was under 10. Derrick Henry as a 2nd-round rookie in 2016, he had like 7 or 8 carries a game. Wake up to reality. Heck, as a 2nd-rounder Carlos Hyde was barely used by Jim Harbaugh in 2014.–Joe He has to be the man, you really think UDFA Barber is a better option?
July 15th, 2018 at 6:33 am
Hodad-
Joe doesn’t trust draft picks, prefers free agents… — Joe loves draft picks. Joe also loves reality. Peyton Barber is the guy until Koetter, who is the one who doesn’t have a ton of trust for rookie RBs, believes in ROJO.–Joe
If RoJo stays healthy and OL does it’s job, running game will be much improved
July 15th, 2018 at 6:34 am
I think he will get 15 carries per game…..at least…..they didn’t draft him that high to sit him on the bench…..RBs need touches to break explosive plays….I think we will see some from RJ right away.
July 15th, 2018 at 7:07 am
I agree with Hodad…if he isn’t the featured guy, then fire everyone. We needed a RB and got one so now you need to USE him. RBs and that includes rookies need touches to be effective.
July 15th, 2018 at 7:28 am
One of the RBs who fascinated me last year was the Saints’ Alvin Kamara. I thought when Bucs drafted Ronald Jones that we were looking for someone with a skillset similar to Kamara’s. Not sure if that’s true or not, but IF it is Joe, your prediction of 10 rushing carries per game is probably very close.
In 16 games last year, Kamara rushed 120 times (7.5 rushes/game) for 728 yds (6.1 yds/carry). Fairly evenly matched by his passing usage: targeted 100 times (6.3 targets/game), caught 81 passes (81%) for 826 yds (10.2 yds/catch). Interestingly, he was on the field for 464 offensive snaps (46.4% of Saints’ total 1,000 offensive plays). Kamara was on the field about 29 offensive plays/game.
Excellent ‘stats’, but it’s his results that are most impressive: 8 TDs rushing & 5 TDs receiving, against only 1 fumble. 1554 total yds from scrimmage … not too shabby for a RB who was only ‘featured’ about 14 times/game total (focus of the play). And when he was on the field, he was ‘featured’ almost 50% of the time. That’s quite high for a RB it looks like … Charles Sims had somewhat comparable results in 2015 BTW, but was ‘featured’ in less than 40% of the Bucs’ offensive plays that year.
I agree totally with the gist of the article Joe that IF RoJo expects to become a ‘featured’ back he’ll need to become the complete package. He can’t just be a ‘tote the rock’ RB & become a featured back. He needs to at least be a viable receiving threat as a minimum. Being able to pass block would also be nice to keep our QB from getting killed while RoJo’s on the field.
July 15th, 2018 at 7:46 am
I’m fine with using him mostly for checkdowns when it comes to passing. I just hope he can block fairly well and hold onto the ball when he’s handed it. The Bucs have no choice but to say they think he’s fixed the lacking run game problems and open up the options for passing by Fitz and FFF (Former Face of the Franchise, Jameis Winston). More than anything we need a RB whom when you giveit to him on 3rd and 2, he’ll get the yards. Good God, let’ get rid of Sims. To me, RoJo is the wild card on the offense that can pleasantly surprise this year.
July 15th, 2018 at 7:50 am
I think 10-15 touches per game is about right. I think Barber and even Rodgers can play a role in the run game to keep the whole load off of Jones. Keep in mind, about mid-season a guy who gets 25 touches a games gets worn down. The Bucs will need their legs deep into the season…
July 15th, 2018 at 7:53 am
He could start with 10 and will eventually get 20+ it’s the only way to stop America from turning the ball over lmao
July 15th, 2018 at 7:55 am
Thinking closer to 15 touches per game is the formula for success. The less we are running, the more we are passing and the higher the odds of turnovers for Winston. Have to keep Winston’s attempts under 30 per game.
July 15th, 2018 at 8:08 am
Joe Said: Koetter wants in his running backs are the abilities to block and to catch. Jones is a question mark with both.
Then why did they draft Guice?
July 15th, 2018 at 8:33 am
Wouldn’t waste my time drafting a rb if I’m only gonna let him tote the mail 10 times a game. He’s gonna get his chest knocked off anyway, there is kids in pop warner bigger than this cat
July 15th, 2018 at 9:07 am
“The Bucs believe they have found the home run threat in Jones that they had lacked over the past two years.”
The past two years? Somebody fill me in because I’m ignorant. But I know it’s been way longer than two years because the Muscle Turtle was a bell cow. He ran hard but he was NEVER a home run threat.
Can somebody here tell me the last Buc RB who was a threat to take it all the way? Seriously I can’t remember. Warrick Dunn maybe? Sims seem to offer hope but he couldn’t seem to stay healthy and it was up to Koetter to create space for him. At least in college ROJO is the kind of back with moves that can create his own space.
While I’m largely a fan of Koetter he has some old time…dad was a football coach…habits. He’s really…really…really conservative when it comes to giving some players OPPORTUNITY.
You can make an impact if the coach doesn’t use you!!! If he doesn’t play ROJO that will be a crime and I hope the high draft position forces Koetter’s hand.
I do not believe Barber has a true chance as a bell cow.
I hope this year we get to see a different (they are not as talented) but similar running game as Alstott and Dunn. A new poor man’s incarnation of Thunder and Lightning.
I’m not suggesting that Barber and ROJO are the next Atrain and Dunn so don’t flame me. Simply suggesting that the formula worked before and to a lesser degree it could work again. Barber and ROJO should get similar looks depending on the game situation and the particular weakness of our opponent as well as who gets the hot hand.
July 15th, 2018 at 9:23 am
If we go with a UDFA as our feature back opposed to a rookie that was taken early in the 2nd round Licht needs to be fired.
July 15th, 2018 at 9:47 am
I thought McPlaybook had pretty good numbers in college too
July 15th, 2018 at 9:49 am
StPete … Alstott & Dunn were a unique combo, and as I remember were often on the field together. Warrick was small but very quick & knew how to avoid direct hits, whereas Mike cherished running through people IMO (loved that about him). The two of them were a lot of fun to watch. Peyton Barber’s pretty good size (5’11” 225 lbs) but he’s no ATrain (6’1″ & 248 lbs). And although some JBFers consider RoJo small (5’11” & 208 lbs) he’s still quite a bit bigger than Dunn was (5’9″ & 180 lbs). It’ll be interesting to see if Koetter uses Barber & RoJo together this year. Might depend on how well our OLine blocks on its’ own (without RB & TE assists).
July 15th, 2018 at 10:14 am
With Barbers y.p.c I would hope Jones will see a healthy dose of passes his way. That is where the big plays are going to happen.
July 15th, 2018 at 10:42 am
“It’ll be interesting to see if Koetter uses Barber & RoJo together this year.”
Agree D.R. I’ll be curious about that as well.
July 15th, 2018 at 10:44 am
It seems obvious the Bucs want ROJO to be our primary back for several years to come. But he’s an undersized rookie so, as it should be, they will almost certainly allow him to acclimate to the NFL with a moderate amount of touches the first several games.
CLEARLY hoping to see that home run threat at least once or twice per game.
Pre-season will give us a good chance to see how he holds up to NFL level tackling as well as how dangerous his game speed is.
This kid has a chance to be a special talent for us (which we desperately need) so I’m fine with giving him a little bit of time to do just that. He doesn’t need to run 20+ times a game right away to be a difference maker. They just need to call the right plays at the right time and let him do his thing.
July 15th, 2018 at 10:46 am
Jones really does have take it to the house speed, however, lets not forget he came from a program with a gunslinger of a QB. He will face a lot more stacked boxes and linebackers with speed equal to his in the NFL than he ever did in College.
To his credit, he hits the line fast, no Doug Martin Disco behind the line. And, if he bursts through the line into the backfield, best to make sure you tackle him, or he is gone. He could become our Albert Kamura!
July 15th, 2018 at 11:06 am
10 carriers is about right since once again they will be forced to play from behind since gmc led defenses always give up the booty each week. Cant wait to watch the browns hang 40 on the gmc led soft defensive unit with no heart. Jpp 7 games and gmc 4… soft tissues injuries between the ears from those two clowns will ensure another cherised basement title for glazers
July 15th, 2018 at 11:33 am
Chris
Agree. And while he came from a gunslinger program he’s matriculating to yet another.
Nobody…not even those of us who are upset with his decision making…can ever say that Jameis is not a gunslinger. That’s part of his appeal.
But whether it’s Fameis or Fitz…with our group of targets let them stack the box against the run. That would be awesome…agree with you not for ROJO’s statistics but for Koetter’s offense it would provide some real advantages.
The NFL has become…perhaps always was…but a lot of focus now goes to matchups. We now have the offensive talent in place to be matchup nightmare if Koetter uses them wisely.
July 15th, 2018 at 11:44 am
The truth is, we won’t know if Ronald Jones will be any good for us for 2-3 years. Rookie RBs can have great rookie years, then do poorly the rest of their career, not to mention injuries.
We now have an offensive line built to produce. That combined with teams not being familiar with him should give him a good first half of the season. Same with Barber, since he’s had so little playing time.
The upgraded offensive line is going the be the biggest weapon the offense has. Joe once said that offensive linemen can’t win games. This year, he learns different.
July 15th, 2018 at 11:46 am
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:
July 15th, 2018 at 10:46 am
“Jones really does have take it to the house speed, however, lets not forget he came from a program with a gunslinger of a QB. He will face a lot more stacked boxes and linebackers with speed equal to his in the NFL than he ever did in College.”
Coundn’t that also be said of the buccaneers?
July 15th, 2018 at 11:57 am
It’s easy and I don’t get the over the top frustration.
Barber will be the “bell cow” and RoJo will be our version of Kamara. Simple as that really, so no need to get your panties in a wad.
July 15th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Go ROJO GO!!!
spbf says – “A new poor man’s incarnation of Thunder and Lightning.”
I like the sound of “Dash and Smash”
July 15th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
This is basically saying they chose the wrong RB. Any RB taken early that has to challenge Barber for the starting role is the wrong RB.
July 15th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Our coaching staff does not like big strong running backs and I don’t get it. THIS TEAM NEEDS THAT! But they refuse to do it. This part sucks about our coach! Figure it out and get a guy that can do it. There are guys out there but they never get the chance.
July 15th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
Both Hunt and Kamara are 5’10 & 215Lbs, ROJO is 5’ 11” & 208 Lbs. If I had to choose one of those two to compare ROJO to it would definitely be Hunt. I think the two best comparisons are Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson.
July 15th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Pickgrin
I like Dash and Smash. Let’s give them their own identity and besides the Atrain and Warrick are heroes and idols in this franchise…hard to compare anybody to them.
July 15th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
I wish the Bucs would add Darkwa before camp. Nothing again ROJO or Barber but we need more depth at Rb. I’m liking what we see out of Wilson so far but he’d be more of a replacement to Simms. I just don’t want to be one injury away from a starting backfield of Simms/Quizz & Barber. Or even ROJO and Quizz. NY Gaints OL was a mess last year and go look at Darkwa’s stats. Not bad at all.
July 16th, 2018 at 12:26 am
The last Buc breakaway back was Cadillac Williams who was so effective his rookie season they then put his shoes in the Hall of Fame! I like Rojo because he is the closest to the back I wanted the Bucs to draft, but was already off the board before the second round. Rojo will do fine this year.
July 16th, 2018 at 4:35 am
Crash and burn