RoJo Practicing With “Confidence”
May 29th, 2019
Stoked for Ronald Jones.
Bucs fans may be down on second-year running back Ronald Jones after he turned in one of the worst rookie running back performances in Bucs history.
But America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, is sure geeked for his running back.
Yesterday after underwear football practice, Jameis held court with the local pen and mic club. There, Jameis was asked about Jones by the King of New Port Richey, the Custodian of Canton, the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman.
Jameis was his usual giddy self. When he’s on a football field or a practice field, that’s his happy place. But when Ira asked Jameis about RoJo, Jameis lit up like a Christmas tree. As if someone flipped an “on” switch.
Jameis went from happy to excited, as if he wanted to go back on the field and start running a two-minute offense.
“RoJo has been showing out; he’s been showing out,” Jameis replied to Ira when he asked Jameis if there was a different RoJo this spring. “I think it is just his confidence — his comfort. RoJo is a smart guy. He’s getting comfortable in this offense.
“No one is breathing down his neck. He’s more relaxed and he is executing at a high level. You can see where he can really add to this team.”
Jameis believed all that RoJo lacked to turn the corner was confidence.
“I know how talented he is,” Jameis said. “That is why he was a second-round pick. My first year, shoot, my first game wasn’t how I wanted it.
“But you always have to continue to move forward. Always continue to grow and get better. And I see drastic improvements in him coming in this season.”
Joe is a read-between-the-lines kind of guy. And one word jumped out at Joe. That was when Jameis used the word “confidence.” That’s something Joe had heard through the grapevine that RoJo had destroyed last year.
Who knows why that is but as Joe has pointed out several times over the past year or two, former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter’s track record in developing young running back is, well, spotty. For example, Devonta Freeman at Atlanta, his worst year in the NFL was when he was a rookie playing for Koetter, then the Dixie Chicks offensive coordinator.
Could it be that some assistant coach (or others) simply just gave up on RoJo early on? And could that have been the reason RoJo’s confidence was blown, and he was a total non-factor last season?
May 29th, 2019 at 12:31 am
Yep, confidence went to sh!t after that very first series when he was constantly be wrecked behind the line of scrimmage. Some fugly blocking.
Ol’e
May 29th, 2019 at 12:54 am
Rojo’s best game was when he carried 10 times. He even scored in that game.
But all the other games he only got 1-2 plays. Of course he never got going!
I said it before last season was even over…writing him off was premature. As I said back then, some rookies need a year to process things. That second off season is the one that really determines whether they’ll bust or not.
Don’t be surprised when multiple draft picks from last year surprise fans.
May 29th, 2019 at 1:07 am
Yea it’s great to be confident and hopefully that’s all he needs to take off but we’ll check back on that when he takes his first real hit this season. No one is allowed to touch him yet
May 29th, 2019 at 1:17 am
What if he gets voted to the pro bowl? Will he get a cute nickname?
I’m rooting for the guy.
May 29th, 2019 at 1:37 am
if he is pressing on barber’s time and carries, we will be in good shape at running back…otherwise he’s the best pad carrier in the biz to this point…
however, he’s prolly a bust and jameis is being a good dude and supporting his guy from jump
May 29th, 2019 at 1:46 am
jameis looks different…i saw jameis talk…his head looks a bit different, his expressions are more mature…his demeanor has shifted a bit…he looks more manly and less boyish…quite simply he’s maturing…he looks good with the few extra pounds too…i have a good feeling about jameis – his focus seems good from what i could see…
he seems more like a veteran now than ever…he always looked so wet…he is no longer wet…might be a big year for jaboo…
arians might already be rubbing off on jameis…it looks like it to me…we shall see
May 29th, 2019 at 3:39 am
His entire body has transformed. I know what you’re talking about Adam he’s got this muscle on his above his brow now that he didn’t have a year ago.
May 29th, 2019 at 4:12 am
Richie Incognito is no longer a FA. Those Raiders are getting tougher and tougher let’s see how this works out.
May 29th, 2019 at 4:21 am
The word I would use is blocking… just go back and watch every single run by Ronald (including the ones called back) and tell me exactly what he did on those runs that made him a bust. Sure, on like maybe 2 runs he could have taken a different hole – but on nearly all of them he’s getting hit 3 yards behind the LOS.
May 29th, 2019 at 5:45 am
I’m admittedly a pessimist as it pertains to Rojo. I stand by my belief that good RBs will always show flashes of brilliance regardless of opportunities.
That said, it’s incumbent that we give him the benefit of the doubt for two reasons. One, our run-blocking was flat out awful. And two, COACHING.
I mean outside of the “stick carrier” comment, did Koetter ever inspire you as a fan? Imagine as a player.
Prove me wrong Rojo. Please prove me wrong!
May 29th, 2019 at 6:27 am
I’m with Bucsfanman. I never saw the flash. Hopefully it’s there this year.
May 29th, 2019 at 6:44 am
Two words, Dirk Koetter.
May 29th, 2019 at 7:41 am
Rod Munch is on point. Watch the film and tell us all what RoJo could have done better. I’ve said it before here, it was almost like rookie hazing making sure he got hit as soon as he got the ball. I honestly have no way of knowing if the kid has any talent or not based on last years horrible sample.
Here’s to hoping they give RoJo a chance to show off so we can see what we have.
May 29th, 2019 at 8:19 am
Showing out?
Yeah….
May 29th, 2019 at 10:36 am
ndog
bingo!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 29th, 2019 at 11:26 am
Destroyed confidence under Koetter=getting chewed out because he wasn’t a great pass blocker.
May 29th, 2019 at 11:30 am
@Rod Munch: you are correct, and I have seen it with my own eyes.
Jones never had a chance running with the ball last season. He got hit in the backfield as he got the ball even more than Doug Martin did.
Koetter had a brilliant deep passing game, but the rest of his offense was just bad.
Jones having a break out year will help this team immensely.
May 29th, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Dirk Koetter sabotaged this kid plain and simple. When he stumbled out of the gate Koetter decided to label him like he did Jeremy McNichols. Can you imagine how good our offense would have been if Koetter built this kid up instaed of tearing him down??? A wasted season and thank god Koetter the supreme poor talent developer is with Atlanta. Luckily they have some RB’s in place or they might be in the same boat.
May 29th, 2019 at 1:15 pm
I hope Jones shows something this year. Barber is a hard runner. It won’t be enough without some help.
May 29th, 2019 at 6:42 pm
Of course he is showing out… playing in underwear against our defense.
June 1st, 2019 at 8:02 pm
If I were Bruce Arians, and what I think he will do, is give Rojo a lot of touches…maybe even the “Start” to boost his confidence quick and early week 1. Once he breaks loose one time he’s going to shine.