28 Carries For 22 Yards
August 30th, 2018
Not there yet.
You can make all kinds of excuses for the struggles of rookie Ronald Jones this preseason.
But there is no denying that the No. 38 overall pick in the NFL Draft has been more of a disappointment than most could have imagined.
Joe is typing this in the third quarter of tonight’s Bucs-Jaguars preseason finale, and after a rough first half tonight, Jones appears to has completed his first NFL preseason with 28 carries for 22 yards. That’s tough to do no matter who you are.
It’s preseason. It doesn’t count. Jones has been behind all varieties of offensive lines, and rarely the first-teamers. But still, 0.8 yards per carry is brutal. The other Bucs running backs tonight, Shaun Wilson and Dare Ogunbowale, had no problem recording respectable showings.
Again, it doesn’t count. But Joe is worried about Jones’ confidence moving forward.
Unlike Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber, Jones wasn’t rested tonight, presumably because he needed the work and Bucs coaches wanted him to get a jolt of confidence.
Joe thinks Jones’ learning curve will lead to Tampa Bay seriously making a move on a veteran running back when cuts come leaguewide on Saturday afternoon.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:31 pm
Disappointment is when reality doesn’t meet expectations. We all wanted to plug him right in right away because the backfield needs it, but I had tempered expectations so I don’t feel bad moving forward. He will learn and be fine. Good call on something I hadn’t thought until mentioned, the effect on his confidence.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Never was on board with this pick. Just hope that I am wrong. Seems like the only time he can do anything is “in space”. Hope we can get him there.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Will he be a bigger bust than Dexter Jackson (WR 2008)?
August 30th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Nice hit by Chichy there.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
He got mauled behind the line of scrimmage all night. Some perspective, line blocked like ladies.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:38 pm
He’ll be fine
August 30th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
Jags Wilds looked big and tough don’t know a thing about him
August 30th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
I will refrain from making any kind of evaluation on this kid until I see him not hitting holes that are actually there.
And I absolutely refuse to judge him for tonight’s performance where he was literally getting hit in the back field AS he was being handed the ball.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
I was a little concerned going into tonight, and now that has been bumped up to slightly worried about ROJO.
We need him and Vea to do good things this year if we are going to be the team we all want to see on sundays.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:43 pm
I’ve seen no power and decisiveness to hit the hole.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:45 pm
@Bigz
What holes?
August 30th, 2018 at 9:45 pm
Time to cut bait on this guy.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:45 pm
Hindsight makes it easy for anybody to say “oh what an awful pick”. At the time of the draft I was really hoping they did not pick Jones. I am nowhere near an expert and won’t pretend to be one. But I just did not see anything special about him that would help him be anything beyond mediocre in the NFL. It was definitely a case then and now that I would not mind to be wrong and he develops into at least a nice compliment to our passing attack and helps move the chains efficiently, and keeps the defense fresh. I will trust Q and the scouting staff that they saw something in him.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:47 pm
I wonder if we can have our 199lber go against Nowhere Spense?
At least 1 will look good?
“Probably Cappa will jump offsides ”
Kobe Faker
August 30th, 2018 at 9:48 pm
@Joe … “Joe thinks Jones’ learning curve will lead to Tampa Bay seriously making a move on a veteran running back when cuts come leaguewide on Saturday afternoon.”
Talk it up Joe. We need a veteran big back desperately. They’ll be out there when the cuts happen.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:49 pm
Jones needs more time to develop. He will show flashes this year and rip off a few long runs, which this team desperately needs to build confidence.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:50 pm
I think Jones will turn it around. It’s a case of pressing. He will get there.
August 30th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
At least we got a sample of Ronald unlike our first round pick.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:01 pm
Noah Spence playing this late in the game concerns me.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Noah Spence playing this late in the game and not really doing much or even flashing is what concerns me.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
Kinda what I am saying Schwifty…….no reason a second rounder should be playing in the fourth quarter of the fourth preseason game.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
…
August 30th, 2018 at 10:08 pm
Some guys take time but dang he has that one catch for the entire camp and preseason games
To high a pick not to show something. Looking more like no mojo or mo bozo
August 30th, 2018 at 10:09 pm
Well………..I will just button up the 2018 off season as of now and get ready for Week One!!!
GO BUCS!!!
August 30th, 2018 at 10:09 pm
Another GREAT 2nd round pick by Jason Licht!
August 30th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Spence is too small for the NFL 1s. 2nd round bust IMHO on Licht and Scout dept. Ive seen enough.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
I am not ready to give up on him Bird but Dam!……….I know the Pac 12 isn’t D strong but the kid isn’t showing me ‘natural escape’ instincts.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
spence rojo = adios amigos, both are busts look forward to next years draft
August 30th, 2018 at 10:15 pm
Im not sure he makes the team but I understand why you don’t want to give up considering the draft pick value and Bucs desperation for DE help.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:17 pm
They’re not going to give up on a 2nd round pick already, donuts.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:24 pm
just an observation but it seems like a lot of the players we have drafted in recent memory from the west coast/PAC 12 have been a bit disappointing. Honestly, it was one of the reasons i was hesitant about Vea.
Don’t want to hang a bust label on either of these rookies yet but so far, not much to speak of.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Should have drafted Guice
August 30th, 2018 at 10:25 pm
USC hasn’t put any NFL caliber RBs since Marcus Allen. Jones ran well because he played in PAC12. PAC12 = garbage. He won’t translate to the NFL. I was baffled with this pick and I’m not surprised with the outcome so far. Licht thought he was going to steal a good RB flying under the radar in the PAC12 and Aguayo’d himself into another potential high pick bust. The other two RBs tonight had no problem running the ball. So don’t give me this nonsense he was running behind a bad online. The online was bad but the other 2 RBs got their yards.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:28 pm
That kid is the third RB on the depth chart right now. Give him time to improve at least. Sheesh.
And yes, they had to take a RB…they were dropping like flies at that point in the second round.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:31 pm
Feel free to point out the All Pros the other running backs had blocking for them tonight. Yet they produced.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Haven’t seen him bounce to the outside once in preseason. WILSON>JONES. You might have f#cked up with the Jones pick in the second, but Jason might have picked up another diamond in the rough in Wilson. He could be what you thought PB and Jones were gonna be with a one-two punch.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Jameis has a 130 passer rating in the preseason… so if we get less than 1.0 per average, I guess Jameis is locked to have the greatest season in pro football history if we go by preseason numbers…
August 30th, 2018 at 10:34 pm
^^But also not saying Jones is a total bust like others.^^
August 30th, 2018 at 10:37 pm
Joe, every play is different. I didn’t get to catch the entire game tonight but did DVR. From what I did see, Rojo was getting hit behind the line almost every time he got the ball. Didn’t look like any holes were available on most of the plays I saw. Hell, kid could be just incredibly unlucky.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:38 pm
Just another poor draft pick, nothing new here,
August 30th, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Wesley, i hope you notice that it appears at this point, every pick from this years draft will make the team. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing but seems hard to accuse them of having a bad draft.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:48 pm
He hasn’t earned the Rojo nickname yet. Until he rips off a few sweet runs I’m calling him Ohno.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:50 pm
Why did you mention Vita, oh my head.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:53 pm
JabooBuc
I think he’ll improve over time but it’s not like JL and Dirk can say how awful that Cappa pick was in the third round.
August 30th, 2018 at 10:57 pm
I don’t know about the rest of you but I didn’t see any fire from anyone on the Bucs tonight or for the entire preseason. Am I missing something. I know the Bucs are playing vanilla offense and defense schemes during the preseason but Geez Louise, other teams (including the Jags) played much more inspiring football than the Bucs.
I hope I am wrong as I do NOT want to see a huge coaching and front office turnover, but the Bucs will be lucky to go 8-8.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:00 pm
@ Rick
If yo never saw anything special in ROJO before to make you think he would be anything but mediocre in the NFL, well that tells me youve never seen any of this kids games @ USC.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:04 pm
RoJo should be behind Wilson on the depth chart
August 30th, 2018 at 11:06 pm
Scotty in Fat Antonio
No roster with gmc on it will ever play with heart or passion. That loser bum Sucks the life out of the entire organization. Winning and playing 4 qtrs is clearly frowned upon under captain blowouts tenure
August 30th, 2018 at 11:08 pm
SOEBuc- Cappa was my least favorite pick this year and I’ve see little to impress me thus far. I think he’s more of a T than a G but thought he looked slow and lacked athleticism. I think a lot of people thought he was the second coming of Marpet but Ali is an athlete.
As with Rojo and Vea, I am trying to be patient. Can’t really say anything about Vea but like the other picks.
August 30th, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Is it me, or does sh aun Wilson look better than Ronald jones?
August 30th, 2018 at 11:23 pm
Whats he going to look like behind a 350lb fullback… hmmm?
August 30th, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Right now it’s looking like the Glazers will clean house at the end of a losing season. Picks like RoJo, Aguayo, N. Spence and Hargreaves will be why.
Yet another new coach and GM to continue a 20-year curse for firing Dungy.
Alternately, the Bucs could surprise the league pundits and have a winning season.
Which result are you betting on?
August 30th, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Yeah, I was on record as being underwhelmed on draft nite. It wasn’t a lot of wiggle, not that big, speed/burst wasn’t mind blowing, not that difficult to tackle, mediocre vision (against mediocre opposition). I didn’t even care about his hands. OH BUT HIS 40 DRAFT HIM. Licht just can’t draft RBs (& most scouts miss on em too, mostly because they require the most creativity as a player).
August 30th, 2018 at 11:41 pm
Where are all the big mouths on this site that called me out for staying this kid shouldn’t have been the pick?????????
August 31st, 2018 at 12:24 am
Jason Licht has yet to draft a RB that looks like he belongs in the leauge. Peyton Barber was undrafted so he doesn’t count.
Sahun Wilson looks to be another good UDFA so there is that.
August 31st, 2018 at 12:27 am
gp Says:
August 30th, 2018 at 11:23 pm
Whats he going to look like behind a 350lb fullback… hmmm?
August 31st, 2018 at 12:27 am
Unless it’s the second coming of O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, or Reggie Bush avoid PAC-12 RB’s. The defense they play over there in that conference will have any half decent college RB looking better than he is.
August 31st, 2018 at 1:15 am
Trade this SOB before he blows whatever value he has left. Trade him, Noah Spence and DJax and a first round pick to Chucky for Khalil mack.
August 31st, 2018 at 2:28 am
Can we let the regular season start before getting cold feet with Rojo? I’ve seen a couple times where his vision could have been better and he made the wrong cut but 97% of the time he was running behind an overwhelmed 3rd string O Line. I want to see him with our starting O Line. It will be a huge difference.
August 31st, 2018 at 4:02 am
Bust
August 31st, 2018 at 4:30 am
O Line is the blame for this as well as Austin Allen not having a clean pocket. Allen was basically a punching bag or crash dummy back there with this line tonight.
August 31st, 2018 at 6:58 am
But, but, your starting RB is supposed break tackles when he’s met 5 yards deep in the backfield!
You can’t solely blame Jones, BUT as I have pointed out you’d like to see SOMETHING, anything! Heck #44 had a nice run around the outside for 17 yards. Same line. He flashed, Jones didn’t.
I hope he comes around because so far, I’m not impressed.
August 31st, 2018 at 7:05 am
Right now Wilson seems to be the more ready of the two backs.
August 31st, 2018 at 7:06 am
I said it before n I will say it again you don’t draft USC quarter back or USC running backs they never do anything in the NFL. We need to find one in itfree agency now . Not a 28 or 30 year old running back but a 22 to 26 year old running back now . Let’s not wait ……
August 31st, 2018 at 7:52 am
Joe saw that camp meat running back Dare Ogunbowale do just that last night. He dodged a guy who damn near hit him the same time he got the ball and ran for nine yards.
A dude that’s going to play for the Memphis Barbeques of the AAF can do this but a second-round pick from USC can’t?
August 31st, 2018 at 8:02 am
And there were plenty of 2nd round legit NFL rbs last year & this year that would stick their nose in the hole and get you 4-5 yds in college against bama, clemson,etc but the bucs have one that was scared against bama and shined against portland st
August 31st, 2018 at 8:17 am
Joe- Yes, and that is what I expected to see from Jones. Something, ANYTHING! He just does not look impressive at this point.
August 31st, 2018 at 8:24 am
Just look at the tackles in backfield, a few times the DL was there as he go the ball , no block on those plays , Any back would have lost those yards. L arm patients on players and we might build roster !!!
August 31st, 2018 at 8:32 am
Spence played 4Q of football and had 1 pressure and 1 pass deflection against 3s and 4s. I am saying that for a second round pick in year 3 to under perform in the last preseason game is telling. I hear some of ya and I am not saying cut him but I am saying his play is not making him worthy of the roster after the FA investment on the DL.
Licht cant hit on every pick but these weird ones that dont work out tend to be markers in his history. GM is a tough gig…even fans think they can do your job.
August 31st, 2018 at 10:22 am
Another Licht 2nd round special. Geez. We needed a RB to come in and help right away. Barber is serviceable. Nothing more.
August 31st, 2018 at 10:25 am
yep, those are some bad numbers but I just don’t see the team waiving there first second round pick. Hopefully RoJo will find himself.
August 31st, 2018 at 10:58 am
With that average and Joe’s 550 yards prediction this morning, that’s 34 carries a game average. RoJo gonna be tired.
August 31st, 2018 at 11:01 am
Right on @schwiftyBucs
Jags had Dante Fowler in there blowing up the OL. I saw him make some nice cuts just to get 2 yards. Rojo has been a bit disappointing so far but I’m confident he’ll shine when he gets to some daylight.