“I Mean, They Just Putting So Much Confidence In That Kid”
October 1st, 2019
“Erin, if you have a minute, could you please tell No. 27 that he’s special?”
The mind games are flowing.
It was obvious in the winter that Operation RoJo was in full effect at One Buc Palace. Bucco Bruce Arians had watched the 2018 rookie film on Ronald Jones and, rather than vomit and demand that his general manager draft a good, NFL-ready running back, Arians decided to stick with the struggling youngster.
And Arians didn’t just retain him, the Bucs started talking up RoJo and it felt like his every move in underwear football was celebrated to the extreme.
Today, Jones is the 17th-leading rusher in the NFL through four games, and his 4.7 yards per carry is impressive.
Right tackle Demar Dotson has seen it all as a Buccaneer since 2009 — many coaches and approaches. So it stood out to Joe when Dotson said yesterday — twice — that he’s impressed by how coaches have been working on the mental side of Jones.
“”I think the coaching staff is doing a good job of putting that confidence in his head,” Dotson said. A minute latter Dotson added, “I mean they just putting so much confidence in that kid and you can see him, you know, growing from it.”
Telling take there from Dotson, who witnessed the Dirk Koetter regime effectively give up on Jones. To be fair, Joe was told Jones was an extraordinarily immature rookie, so perhaps Koetter good reasons to bury Jones in a lost season.
Now comes the tricky part for Arians: keeping RoJo confident. Joe thinks that’s one reason RoJo isn’t the starting running back yet. He’s been successful in his role and Arians doesn’t want to do anything to tinker with his mentality.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:49 am
Isn’t it amazing what better OL play does for a RB’s confidence?
October 1st, 2019 at 10:51 am
Same OL. Just saying.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:55 am
Whew.. I thought you had been hacked for real. Glad you’re back.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:56 am
This is quintessentially JoeBucsFan. This is the type of journalism I come here for. Great articles lately!
October 1st, 2019 at 10:56 am
JOE,
Saw you got hacked. Stay off the porn sites.
October 1st, 2019 at 10:57 am
Ricky
Agree…largely the same line but I do not wish to diminish Cappa’s emergence.
I see two fundamental differences. The first obvious one has been discussed frequently here…new coaches…new system..work better than Koetter’s crew.
Secondly and too often overlooked but pointed out by Moose Johnston on our game about the Rams…last season the Rams did not miss a single OL starter the ENTIRE season. This year the Rams have been forced to make some changes and the line is not jelled yet.
It’s been well documented that OL’s that have played together a few seasons learn each other’s tendencies…they bond and as a consequence OL’s that play together for awhile tend to be better.
Except for Cappa(and even he played on this line a bit last year) we now have not only some experienced players on our OL but guys who have now played together since the beginning of last season’s OTA’s. Our guys are just now hitting their stride.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:00 am
He runs very loosely goosey with the football in the open field. Saints are are good at stripping the ball. I predict a Rojo fumble.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:00 am
Cappa, simpler scheme, better coaching, better play, more confident rb
October 1st, 2019 at 11:02 am
It’s pretty crazy how drastically more effective the run game has been with the same personnel.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:04 am
The Running Back Whisperer
October 1st, 2019 at 11:07 am
R.O. is right. That final long run of his had me yelling at the TV and the replay showed just how carelessly he was carrying the ball. High and tight man! I’m sure the coaches are telling him the same thing.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:14 am
Ricky, except the major liability of last years line has been replaced with solid play from Alex Cappa. Oh and Jensen has been playing lights out this season where last year he was average.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:22 am
@AsShbucs
Yeah Cappa has been huge actually, but Cappa was on the team last year and so was Jensen.
Jensen’s improvement has as much to do with a new blocking scheme/attitude/run scheme as anything.
October 1st, 2019 at 11:35 am
Cobraboy Says:
October 1st, 2019 at 10:49 am
Isn’t it amazing what better OL play does for a RB’s confidence?
_____________________________________________________
1000%
The last 2 weeks have been the best play from our o-line we’ve seen since 2015.
October 1st, 2019 at 12:38 pm
not buying the immature excuse…..
the previous staff didnt know how to develop players….and once their jobs were on the line they kicked aside any young player that didnt produce ASAP….
imagine what this team would look like if BA BL and TB were here in 2016 instead of dirk…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Maybe just maybe thinking you know more than coaches isn’t working out well for you and a lot of fans. Yea same o line and same guy who is being given a chance, only way to gain confidence in the nfl is through experience and playing time so dont know how the tricky part is keeping him confident if hes getting playing time. That’s kind of weird to say and never heard that about any other player not even noah spence. Give dude his credit for hard work in the offseason and admit you were calling him a bust in his rookie training camp like all other media. Koetter sucks and this would never have happened to him under a credible coach.
October 1st, 2019 at 1:48 pm
@813bucboi – I agree completely. The prior regime’s lack of success in developing young players, including our #1 overall pick QB, kept this team in the cellar the last few years. Add complicated blocking schemes, defensive “communication” responsibilities, and a one dimensional passing-oriented game plan that put extreme pressure on the o-line and QB, and you have a recipe for underachievement.
October 1st, 2019 at 2:19 pm
I agree. It took me until mid season last year to realize this. I am no football genius.
I agree that Winston’s progress was retarded by his situation here also. I have also been watching every move the new regime has made since January. I am impressed to think that the quick turnaround is real.
In BA I trust.
October 1st, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Suddenly in 2019 we have a run game and Atlanta is 27th in rushing. Hmmmmm………
October 1st, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Has anyone except Cam Brate, Evans, or Godwin gotten better with Koetter and his staff?
October 1st, 2019 at 6:53 pm
Thanks for the good laugh Joe! did not even read the story, just the picture of BA and Erin Andrews–tell #27 he is special–yeah right! Lol!