Jason Licht Evaluates Ronald Jones
August 21st, 2018
Joe and the Buccaneers’ big shots haven’t always agreed on the evaluation of the running back position.
See Doug Martin 2017.
You could also go back to the end of the 2015 season, when Joe was widely called a moron for a demanding the Bucs slap a 2016 franchise tag on Martin because he was an unreliable running back who could use the extra motivation of a short-term deal.
And one could go back to the Kregg Lumpkin days or the goofy three-headed committee back in 2009, the one that inexplicably gave Derrick Ward eight times more carries than Earnest Graham.
Now Joe is confused by another Bucs running back assessment.
Tonight at the Buccaneers Women of Red event at One Buc Palace, general manager Jason Licht addressed the crowd and, per Buccaneers.com writer Carmen Vitali, assured fans that rookie RB Ronald Jones has been having a strong training camp.
And the kicker in the Tweet below was Vitali noting that Licht seems to disagree with the media’s summer evaluation of Jones.
Jason Licht is now up for Chalk Talk – assuring fans that @rojo has been doing real well in camp… despite what media reports you may hear/see. I’ll second that 🙋🏻♀️
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) August 21, 2018
Joe’s not here to bash Jones, who has been catching the ball better in practices recently and has been lauded for his work ethic. But Joe can’t imagine the Bucs are getting what they expected so far from the No. 38 overall pick. No way.
Joe’s eyeballs see Jones having a nothing-special camp, which is why Joe was not stunned to see Jones with 12 carries for 11 yards through his first two preseason games.
Hopefully, Licht was referring to a recent uptick in Jones’ practicing that will show up Friday against the Lions. What a great confidence boost it would be for the kid to bust a couple of runs.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:25 pm
I think Jones is the type of back that will have 10 run for 8 yard, but then that 11 run he will turn into a 60 yard TD and we forget how the other 10 runs all sucked.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Yah. The bucs running back coach confirmed he is not surprised that USC did not throw ball to him in backfield cause hands so bad.
Now a running back doesn’t need to have best hands. However , I rarely hear name except for when he is messing up. It’s early and some backs take time but ROJO is probably keeping licht up at night.
Probably needs to put on a few. Again , we should have heard more from a second round pick , especially running back
August 21st, 2018 at 10:35 pm
Which rookie RB’s have torn it up this preseason…besides Guice tearing his ACL.
Sorry bad joke for an unfortunate injury.
Saquon has also been hampered by injury…although it’s minor and he’ll play this year unlike Guice.
ROJO does not have enough carries in just two preseason games to be passing any truly definitive opinions about his future.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:35 pm
NO MOJO
August 21st, 2018 at 10:36 pm
At least he works hard at his craft so he eventually gets there ! Probably won’t be this year though
August 21st, 2018 at 10:39 pm
Well he can’t get worse right? Right?
Sit Peyton Barber these last two games. The talent divide between Peyton and the other running backs is so massive that might be the worst injury we could get outside of Fitzpatrick these first three games. Added benefit is that RoJo can get all the reps he needs these last two Preseason games and hopefully rip off a good run or two to build up his confidence.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:57 pm
The guy has like 12 carries, there is no way to really say what type of back he’s going to be, not to mention that in preseason games there is no game planning just plays being called. During the season hopefully they’re not running basic dive plays with ROJO, clearly he’s a outside back….. So lets see how they game plan and use him before saying he’s a dud already.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:27 pm
Welcome to the team young man regardless of what your draft position.
I bet RoJo will be more worthy as a 2nd ..than let’s say a recent kicker?
August 21st, 2018 at 11:30 pm
There’s nothing that says you have to burst on to the scene and be an all pro from day one to have a great nfl career see Cadillac Williams.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:52 pm
Give him time. Rogers my #2 going into game one. We’ve seen how Peyton”s improved so maybe we start off this week with Barber/Rogers/Jones, and after a bit just Rogers/Jones. No point in risking PB with all these injuries we’ve already stock piled.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:59 pm
R.E.L.A.X
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:25 am
There is also a Rojo article where he goes into detail about his training camp where he said in the 1st 2 preseason games, there wasn’t a game plan but for the Detroit game they are game planning.
Let’s wait and see what he does in these next 2 games.
I’m betting he busts one and everybody calms down a tad.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:31 am
The Bucs have become much poorer at drafting since losing some top brainpower to the Titans. RoJo may one day develop into a decent 3rd down back, if he can ever learn how to catch. It is so obvious to anyone with a decent football IQ that he is not a starting NFL caliber RB.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:49 am
Yes he needs to learn to let plays develop. I also haven’t seen any big holes for Rojo to run through and all it will take is probably one. I say give it some time. Season hasn’t even started yet.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:47 am
Everyone chill. The kid is 20 years old, with 12 carries.
August 22nd, 2018 at 5:55 am
@jJones…My blood pressure is normal because it seems the Bucs are who we’ve known them to be, a highly talented team that underperforms on a yearly basis. is. Is it coaching? Is it the players not picking up a system? Who knows? Opinions abound. It’s preseason. We’ll see shortly. I do think the gurus in Las Vegas may be correct.
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:02 am
Bo Jackson wouldn’t get many yards running behind this backup offensive line, it’s freaking preseason, just wait till he gets some run with the first team, which will probably be next year with the new coaching staff
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:41 am
StPeteBucsfans is right!!!!!!!!!!! what rookie tears up training camp and preseason anyways????? unless they are a top 5 pick they probably should not!!!!!!!!!! Years ago, during dark times, when talk show dominik was gm, ROJO would have been gifted the starting job, as many other draft picks!!!!!!!
The “real” fans like that the coaching staff is developing the rookie and telling him look at peyton barber, you will have to train and practice harder to take away snaps from him!!!!!!!!!! Here is a question sheep!!!!!! Would Chris Godwin be as good if he did not sit behind DJ11 and had to learn to out work and out practice to become the player he is this year!!!!!!!!!!!!
The roster is developing!!!!!! Give it time!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:54 am
I’m not sure about you but he looked horribly slow in that video above wearing the parachute. =)
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:00 am
Rojo just needs to be more patient allowing his blockers to open up the holes. He seems to give up too quickly and run outside of the box. I think once he adjusts to his blockers he will be more effective running between the tackles. He is one of the fastest running backs in the league and it will only take time before he breaks a long one.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:18 am
AlabamaBuc- That’s one aspect and he can work on that.
My issue with Jones is that he hasn’t had ONE play that makes you go, “Oh yeah, that’s what we drafted him for!” Not one. I feel like by this point we should’ve seen something.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:44 am
@Bucsfanman – My beef with Rojo is his hands. He wasn’t much of a pass catcher in college and he has been awful in preseason. Not sure if he has small hands or if it is eye to hand coordination.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:27 am
Jones is not the type of back that can be successful in the NFL. He had a great career in the PAC 12, but in the NFL, there are not lanes the size of a 6 lane highway. At times in the NFL you have to BYOB (be your own blocker) and break tackles. Jones goes down too easy and has poor vision. One of the knocks on him coming out of college (other than his lack of passing game skills) is he runs into the backs of his offensive linemen too much. That’s not good for a RB that goes down at first contact.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:08 am
What were the bucs scouts looking at when they evaluated this guy and passed over 10 stud RBs that they have missed on in the past 2 years, SMH
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:11 am
You guys are hysterical. I think some of you actually think you know more than Rojo or Licht. Hysterical.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 am
Jason gets too heavy at positions
We have 100 wide receivers and defensive tackles and tight ends
So yes we have depth at those positions
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:16 am
I can’t think of a back that came into the league who sucked and then became great. Running back is one of the positions that if you are good you show it immediately like the ones that come in and show greatness right away.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:32 am
Tc 100% right on, prime example is Cadillac when he was here, dude was a stud from the get go
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:45 am
lets not forget – the coaching staff is not going off 2 pre-season games alone like some posters here.
They have seen him for weeks in TC, OTA, Rookie mini camp and miles of tape while evaluating him pre-draft.
I have a feeling when he gets his chance he will be just fine
2 cents
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Some of you guys are truly comical.
Alvin kamara 1st 3 regular season games
Game 1 7att. 18 yrds rushing. 4 rec. 20 yrds
Game 2 1att 3 yrds rushing. 3 rec. 51 yrds
Game 3 2att. 37 yrds rushing 3 rec. 5 yrds
But sure lets be the idiot fan base we all know we are and panic after 2 preseason games. You cant make this stuff up.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Yea, but Kamara was making noise in camp Webster. Not to mention they had this guy named Peterson on the roster for the 1st 4 games!
But OK, lets call other people idiots! Your takes are incredible! I don’t see a single post where someone has called him a “bust”!
I’m not panicking but don’t you want to see flashes from time to time? When Martin was a rook, he was tearing it up at least in camp. Hopefully, it’s just a learning curve. What AlabamaBuc stated was a lack of patience. That makes sense.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Look at the positive: Peyton Barber has established himself as a clear #1. Great! Barber has the tools to be a 1K runner. He’s good in pass protection too. That gives the Bucs and RoJo time to learn and develop.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:39 pm
The Doug Martin bashing is idiotic, the guy had no blocking last year, all you had to do was watch the game instead of looking at the box score to see that. As for Jones, I don’t really like what I see so far, but he too has had very little blocking so far, it’s not like he’s getting open holes to accelerate – and the OC isn’t helping him by running him in obvious situations and doing stuff that are mostly to the outside where he’s getting hit 2 yards behind the LOS. I’d like to see Jones running some plays with the first team offense and not being ran on obvious running plays – which is the issue since so far Jones has shown he can’t catch the ball. Personally I hated the draft pick, I said Barber is good enough to be the starter, don’t waste a 2nd round pick on a RB and certainly not on this runningback, but I’m not going to condemn the guy to being a bust based on in-game performance so far since we’ve seen so little, and what we have seen has mostly been terrible blocking in obvious running situations.
Also this might be a bad example, I just haven’t seen enough of Jones to stand by this, but he sort of reminds me of Gary Anderson so far, a guy that was super smooth, had excellent acceleration, but took a few steps to get moving and didn’t make sharp cuts. Gary Anderson however was an excellent receiver, so I guess that comparison falls apart, but Gary Anderson was himself sort of like a poor man’s Marcus Allen. No, it’s not a perfect comparison, it’s a rough outline.
We shall see on Jones, what he does, but I can say as a general rule of thumb you don’t draft guys with the first name of Ronald – and on draft day if you recall he was in a room with what appeared to cult members, it was very very odd and somehow unreported. In any case I expect he’ll be just fine, but with a high 2nd round pick you expect a lot more than just fine, so hopefully we see that.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Jr.3 Says:
August 21st, 2018 at 10:25 pm
I think Jones is the type of back that will have 10 run for 8 yard, but then that 11 run he will turn into a 60 yard TD and we forget how the other 10 runs all sucked
_______
this could be true, but unfortunately, it isn’t the way you build a consistent offense. See-Sanders, Barry for explanation.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:20 pm
I think as the games go on, Barber and Rojo are gonna be a dynamic one, two punch. The threat Barber is gonna bring early on will open up Jameis, which will open up Rojo as we march up and down the field. This kid is going to be a good one.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:20 pm
Gary Anderson. Great pull Munch.
August 22nd, 2018 at 5:51 pm
We had a shot at a top tier db and Derrick Henry and we draft a bust then a bust then TRADED UP for a bust at kicker.