Overlooked RB Drama
July 15th, 2019
Interesting move.
For folks who don’t believe the Bucs’ running back situation needs an upgrade, Joe has swampland in Arizona for sale. Cheap asking price!
The Bucs were just awful running the ball last year and have been most of this decade, save for too-brief stints by LeGarrette Blount and the Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin.
Despite this, the Bucs willfully ignored any upgrade to the position this offseason.
Now everyone (including Joe) seems to be hyperventilating over Chargers Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon threatening to stiff-arm Los Angeles into giving him a new contract. The major hangup here in a potential Bucs’ trade for Gordon is whether the Chargers even want to get rid of one of the more dangerous backs in the game? It’s not like the Chargers are in a rebuild.
Well, one running back who has been making noise about wanting out from under the boot of his current employer, Duke Johnson with the Browns, took a huge step last week toward maybe getting his wish.
Johnson, an OK runner, is versatile and a dangerous pass-catcher coming out of the backfield. He’s also lined up plenty as a slot receiver. He’s surely an upgrade over invisible yet beefed up Ronald Jones. And Johnson has been barking loudly for months he wants out of Cleveland.
Last week Johnson, a Hurrigangsta and their all-time leading rusher, hired superagent oily Drew Rosenhaus to represent him. As we all know, Rosenhaus wields significant clout in NFL circles.
Why does Joe think this move is good for the Bucs? Well, Rosenhaus has a track record of getting his clients out of Cleveland. As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com points out, Rosenhaus worked behind the scenes to set up a trade for former Browns defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. Additionally, Rosenhaus weaseled a deal to coax the Browns into releasing receiver Breshad Perriman from of his $4 million pact.
And where did Perriman wind up?
So with Rosenhaus obviously having a strong working relationship with Browns shot-caller John Dorsey, could Johnson hiring Rosenhaus be the first step in what could be Johnson coming back home to Florida and potentially playing for the Bucs?
July 15th, 2019 at 9:05 am
Johnson would be an upgrade for the RB’s. Good but not great. Need all the help we can get.
July 15th, 2019 at 9:18 am
He may be average, but he may fit perfectly into this offense. Joe can I list my ocean front property in Arizona here.
July 15th, 2019 at 9:18 am
Heard ocean front property in Arizona nice this time of year. Hope bucs get johnson but the mismanagement of this team is sad from the draft to FAs and being 5-11 and no money to spend. Has Devin White been signed yet?
July 15th, 2019 at 9:22 am
Sadly, I think one reason the Bucs didn’t address RB this year with more gusto is Licht…still in his job (with full endorsement of new HC “help a brother out” BA), is to do something major in that position is an admission he whiffed on Jones (and Barber, etc). And add the other Licht draftees here that are question marks after a few years of play. Hmmm.
Not to take away from the successes of Licht…and he did man up and draft more DBs (that I thought was a bad idea of DEs)…but maybe RB was not a big enough train wreck yet. As I expect was the guidance last year, I think Licht was told not to mortgage of the future (next GM’s draft picks) to win now.
July 15th, 2019 at 9:23 am
Johnson, an OK runner, is versatile and a dangerous pass-catcher coming out of the backfield.
^^^This right here, as we all know is so important in BA’s offense. Good heads up Joe/s!
July 15th, 2019 at 9:23 am
I am hoping that Ellington has some gas in the tank. Maybe so is Licht.
July 15th, 2019 at 9:23 am
There will be some Arizona oceanfront property available when California breaks off and falls into the Pacific (as many hope)
July 15th, 2019 at 9:24 am
Bejesus belt Says:
July 15th, 2019 at 9:18 am
He may be average, but he may fit perfectly into this offense. Joe can I list my ocean front property in Arizona here.
^^^Beach front in Arizona?! Im in! where do I sign?
July 15th, 2019 at 9:29 am
Thanks Diggler!
July 15th, 2019 at 9:50 am
At THIS point in the preseason, I’d much rather see the Bucs focus on adding a quality, starting-caliber OLineman (as in ‘someone who can play RG’?). Even a 2nd OLineman would get me excited (as in ‘someone who can play Tackle’?). Bucs don’t know yet what we have in the RB stable ASSUMING that we beef up the starting OLine so that it can run-block more effectively than it did last year. Add the RB as the LAST piece of the puzzle, not the first piece.
July 15th, 2019 at 9:56 am
I’m not disagreeing that signing another running back would be a good thing, but the Bucs need to focus on getting a RG and an RT that can run block first. Duke Johnson is not even close to Barber and it would be suicide to waste cap money on this guy. Look at his stats….not worth the hassle.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:10 am
Why not sign Jay Ajayi?
Duke to expensive for his production. Me personally would call Marshawn and cox him out of retirement but wtfdik.
#Boutthataction
#Itsamentality
July 15th, 2019 at 10:11 am
Duke Johnson is Peyton Barber but with better hands and route running. Is there enough value there to absorb a larger contract and give up a pick?….We could have just signed Hunt on the cheap without risking much…I want to believe there’s legit confidence in Barber and Jones.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:21 am
Doesn’t matter who is running if the blocking doesn’t improve upfront
July 15th, 2019 at 10:22 am
Rojo will be a compleltey different player this season and should easily out play barber with REAL COACHING, but Duke Johnson would be a nice addition
July 15th, 2019 at 10:35 am
Well Joe I know an NFL head coach labeled a “QB whisperer” and a (IMHO) really Clueless GM who just might be interested in that land.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:36 am
More important than the Rosenhaus influence on contract negotiations is the relationship between Arians and Browns HC Freddie Kitchens. Kitchens worked for Arians on the Arizona Cardinals staff from 2013 to 2017. Difference between influencers and deciders! Nah, GM Dorsey calls the shots over there. –Joe
July 15th, 2019 at 10:36 am
Rosenhaus would really be earning his money if he could engineer a trade, Rojo for Duke.
The Bucs could have added the best RB in NCAA history (8.2 YPC) who scored 27 TD’s last year in 11 games from a back up role. He was rated the best receiving back in the draft and was used to being brought for 3rd down situations.
Henderson also had 57 runs of 20+ yards. 2300 yards total.
As a 3rd round pick, DH would have fit nicely under the salary cap.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:37 am
NEED OLINE BEFORE YOU CAN RUN ANYTHING
July 15th, 2019 at 10:38 am
What could we give Cleveland, picks? They are so stacked and we are so thin I can’t imagine a player being targeted by Cleveland. If we are gonna give up picks i would hope nothing earlier than a 4th, anything else is giving up too much for too little. He’ll either be a rental for 1 year and then get paid (1 more year on his contract?) or we will pay him and have even less cap room next season for maybe a top 25 running back for a team that probably won’t go to the super bowl. Waste not, want not
July 15th, 2019 at 10:45 am
You can’t run the ball when your down by 3 scores in the 3rd quarter.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:46 am
Boy.. MG one of the most dangerous? 1 1,000 yard season. Man… then trade for a RB that can’t start for Cleveland? Yet you like to point out how Carl Nassib got cut by the Browns? At least we gave up nothing, nada for Nassib. C’mon man…
July 15th, 2019 at 10:54 am
Guess what, Joe? During and after Melvin Gordon’s rookie year, there was talk that he might be a bust, with 3.5 yards per carry and 6 fumbles. You know what he did the following 2 years? 3.9 yards per carry. Not exactly inspiring. It wasn’t until last year that he broke out. How’s about David Johnson, supposedly one of the best RB in the game? 3.6 yards per carry last year, but everyone blamed the coaching. Meanwhile, Peyton Barber, with no holes in sight, managed 3.7. RoJo barely got used, getting hit behind the line most plays, confidence shaken. But you saw what he could do in college. All the gloom and doom about running backs is a joke. We have guys, it’s just about using them efficiently. Everyone knows RB is an overvalued position, it’s more about game planning.
July 15th, 2019 at 10:58 am
He has a chance to play with Baker Mayfield and he just signed a big contract with Browns and now he wants out … sounds like a headache Bucs should avoid.
July 15th, 2019 at 11:11 am
He would help, but at what cost?
July 15th, 2019 at 11:30 am
Instant upgrade if we can get him. Instead on have to teach Jones how to catch, pit this guy in there and he is a legitimate threat out of the backfield. Do it!
July 15th, 2019 at 11:47 am
I still would rather roll the dice on RoJo being the guy that we saw at USC, only better now that he added more muscle/weight. It’s way to soon to give up on this young man being worth the pick. Now if he sucks this year season then it’s obviously time to cut losses and move on…I just think it’s no BS that BA (and staff) think they’ve got a solid RB core that they can develop.
July 15th, 2019 at 12:12 pm
I love the philosophy the fans have. One year of bad performance and you’re a bust. Yet, our Quarterback is on his 5th year still trying to prove his worth and most of the fanbase believes he still has so much potential. Now I’m not suggesting that Rojo will ever be any better. It’s just funny how it’s diffrent strokes for different folks.
July 15th, 2019 at 12:14 pm
I’m in the boat with the folks calling for a better O line. It seems crazy to me that we need a better line when we’re already paying a Kings ransom for the one we got. With what we’re paying right now we should have a 90’s Cowboy line that even Joe could be running behind! So unless the last few years have been coaching…. the Bucs really do need to find some line help. Both the running backs and Winston will be a lot healthier at the end of the season.
July 15th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
“Last week Johnson, a Hurrigangsta and their all-time leading rusher..”
SMH do better JBF
July 15th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
No RB “upgrade.”
If you’re gonna fork over some cash, spend it on the OL.
The second coming of Jim Brown couldn’t average more that four yards a carry when getting hit immediately after getting the ball.
Only a crazy person would think a good RB could make a difference with no blocking.
It will be interesting to see if Arians and his team of 200 coaches can teach these guys to block. Guess we’ll find out come September …
July 15th, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Ha ha JA.
Good post. True too..
July 15th, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Easy pass.
Duke Johnson is not what we need. Melvin Gordon is not what we need.
All this talk about pass catching backs? We have plenty of pass catchers! What we lack is an actual RUNNING game. Neither one of those guys will provide that.
I remember how so many of you gave up on Vita Vea before he even took the field. Now you’ve practically given up on Rojo. No one here and be sure that anyone brought in will be an improvement over Barber OR Rojo.
Maybe over Perriman.
And, btw, those rumors about Alex Cappa are completely false. Know how I know that? Because linemen cannot be accurately judged during OTAs! So either the person who started that rumor was lying to stir up a story, or a staff member wish to see if he could add more motivation.
Ride with who we have in the backfield. Keep developing Cappa. Start training Leidtke to replace Dotson next year.
Draft RB and OL next year.
July 15th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
Rojo and VH3 for Duke and sign free agent Jeff Allen for guard competion.
July 15th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
I’m not sure why everyone is so jacked about Johnson. His stats are almost as pedestrian as Barber’s.
Unless you consider last year a breakout and believe he can duplicate that this season…Johnson’s career stats are very similar to Barber’s with the exception of pass receiving. Barber has not really had the opportunity. Johnson has been targeted more times in each of his four single seasons than Barber over his entire 3 year career.
Johnson has a career catch % of 77% Barber’s 75%. That is a statistical tie so why does Barber have a reputation as no hands while Johnson is seen as a stud?
Perhaps Johnson gets the edge over Barber but he’s not really all that and had four years to gain his yards.
Johnson is perhaps a better back than Barber but it’s not an overwhelming difference. Barber is two inches taller and 15 lbs heavier he’s supposed to be able to pound for us and wear down defenses.
The player Johnson would replace is ROJO and while that sounds great to many of you it could be premature before seeing what ROJO produces. Johnson may be slightly better than Barber or ROJO but he’s not the difference in the Bucs reaching the playoffs or not. That will fall on the shoulders of JW-ME13 and Vea/Suh and White and LVD.
July 15th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
What we do need is a big, healthy, hard-hitting back for short yardage situations. Someone strong enough to plow over the defense for a few yards every time. That would come very cheap, if we can find one.
Otherwise, go with OL.
July 15th, 2019 at 1:23 pm
I think ROJO’s problem was he need to put on some muscle…based on his Instagram pics this summer, he’s looking kinda swole. I think he’s gonna be a beast this year
July 15th, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Allbuccedup, Jeff Allen got his shot and blew it. Pass.
July 15th, 2019 at 1:57 pm
Bonzai I agree, but the days of Alstott type backs seem to be gone. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a real FB that could move the pile on 3rd and 2 or 4th and 1 ? It would sure help inside the 5. Dirk never seemed to learn that pitch backs on 4th and 1 never worked…..
July 15th, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Buccaneers Bonsai who do you get Donald Penn?
July 15th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
When did Duke Johnson become Gayle Sayers?
July 15th, 2019 at 3:09 pm
OL first!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 15th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Stpetebucsfan for the win! You missed one key component in our path to glory.
Matt Gay busting kicks through the uprights!
Go Bucs!!!
In BA I Trust!
July 15th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Duke J. is a great Rb that’s been stuck on a crappy team. Anyone that compares his running style to Barber clearly has never watched him play. The Bucs need depth at Rb no matter how you cut it. This doesn’t mean I want to trade Brate (DR). I have high hopes & am looking forward to watching Bruce Anderson in camp/preseason. I’m also rooting for Rojo to develop and show he belongs in this league. I think Ellington is only here to teach the system. If He and Dare O. are on the 53 quad you don’t have quality depth at Rb.
July 15th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
The dots are there but I don’t think they connect with us landing Johnson. And no not Gordon either.
July 15th, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Even an OK runner, good receiver is better than anything we have. No more than a 4th rounder though.
July 15th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
Can’t wait for the season to start so I can..Numb myself every Sunday. And my wife actually approves of it. The 1st thing she says is, Ohhh You’re watching Your Bucs? Have another shot…You need it.
July 15th, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Brate to NE for a RB. Cap relief and team better with one move.
July 15th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Don’t understand why everyone thinks Rojo is a horrible bust off just 23 carries an was hit consistently in the back field. If he gets multiple opportunities this season an does horrible well then I understand but as a rookie with poor blocking an running game scheme poor coaching doesn’t make sense. You could of put Adrian Peterson or Barry Sanders back they prob would of put up the same number like barber did as a starter. One player can’t do it all by I’m self it’s a team sport
July 15th, 2019 at 7:22 pm
You know you suck when you begging for Clevelands 3rd stringers as an upgrade!
July 15th, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Duke Johnson and a decent guard would be worth a 4th round pick. You have to get some talent on this team. Not be settled for garbage players that Jason Licht seems to like. How long are we going to be catering to garbage players like Alex Cappa.
July 15th, 2019 at 11:49 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“What we do need is a big, healthy, hard-hitting back for short yardage situations. Someone strong enough to plow over the defense for a few yards every time. That would come very cheap, if we can find one.”
.
.
We already have Vea on our roster, so he wouldn’t cost us anything. Played running back in high school. I bet he can lead block, too. And I bet that he is lighter on his feet than Refrigerator Perry.
July 16th, 2019 at 4:17 am
4.3 yard average THATS BETTER THAN OK !!when used and has little wear and tear. GREAT HANDS , he would instantly make out backfield along with barber and above average 1-2 punch in the league. He can play all 3 downs and has breakaway speed