Three-Time Pro Bowl RB Buries Ronald Jones
July 19th, 2020
Last summer, NFL rushing attacks were analyzed by a retired stud running back and he reached a firm conclusion about the Tampa Bay run game: Ronald Jones would emerge as the top rusher but would represent the least productive No. 1 back in the NFL.
Again, that call was made one year ago.
Maurice Jones-Drew was the analyst typing up the breakdown for NFL.com.
He performed the same task again last week and, whaddya know, Jones-Drew picked Jones again to rank No. 32 in the NFL. Rams rookie Cam Akers placed one spot ahead of Jones, just behind plodding but punishing Jordan Howard, who is now with the Dolphins.
Somebody has to be last, but why did Jones-Drew pick RoJo?
Joe’s not sure, but perhaps it’s the same reason Byron Leftwich and Bucco Bruce Arians gave RoJo just 80 carries in the last eight games of 2019, despite him desperately needing experience and more confidence.
Joe hopes somebody shows RoJo his back-to-back annual projections at NFL.com. Maybe that would give RoJo some extra juice.
July 19th, 2020 at 9:35 am
Hopefully this prediction is as spot on as his mock draft!
July 19th, 2020 at 10:43 am
Sometimes players just need to be put in the right situation and they flourish. I believe this is the case here. Expect that this year from Ronald Jones.đź‘Ť
July 19th, 2020 at 10:49 am
Had hi hopes for Rojo but the simple truth is ” he just ain’t got it”…
July 19th, 2020 at 10:57 am
dirk koetter was a disaster.. i dont trust draft decisions.
July 19th, 2020 at 11:04 am
There was a reason the Bucs drafted KeShawn Vaugh and it wasn’t to be number 2. Also interesting is the fact he was one of the best blocking RB in this year’s draft, a huge vulnerability of Rojo. Ke’Shawn is an all purpose RB, a trademark of BA’s past RB.
July 19th, 2020 at 11:12 am
Maybe it’s because the left tackle is going to sit out, we have two NAIA division 3 interior linemen and a rookie tackle on the other side.
The center can’t do it all.
July 19th, 2020 at 11:14 am
Thank God the brainchild mastermind Licht is an offensive line guru- give this guy a lifetime contract!
July 19th, 2020 at 11:17 am
He had a number of great/long runs called back last year…. Our running game will be just fine…. #Gobucs
July 19th, 2020 at 11:38 am
How is Kamara and Mixon rank higher than Henry??? This looks more like a best friend list. Kamara didnt even crack 800 yards rushing. Mixon had 1100. Henry had 1500/16 TDs. RoJo is a top 25 back who is still growing. Lets be honest, Koetter never gave him a real chance so last year was his rookie year. Winston didnt know how or when to check down to the back. RoJo is most dangerous in space.
July 19th, 2020 at 11:45 am
Winston was terrible at Play Action. Say what you want about the actual pass, but nobody believed the PA because he doesn’t SELL IT.
Brady on the other hand not only sells it, but then will use the quick screen pass as an actual play, not just a bail out.
All these intangibles help a running game.
With Gronk and OJ on the line doing post and out patterns, no way the LB sits in the box.
Rojo will be top 10.
July 19th, 2020 at 11:47 am
It’s Jamies fault some kind of way with this fan base and the media that’s what I been hearing since Jamies came on the team . So if he couldn’t run the ball good or if the line ain’t blocking it was all Jamies fault . Lol ….
July 19th, 2020 at 11:49 am
but, but…..Mr. 5000 did his thing!
July 19th, 2020 at 11:51 am
BILLY 43 SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PATRIOTS LAST YEAR ? WHY WERE THEY A MORE DEFENSE OF TEAM ? WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR RUNNING GAME LAST YEAR AND WHY BRADY COULDN’T MAKE THEM BETTER AT RUNNING THE BALL ?
July 19th, 2020 at 11:54 am
This Tampa fan base has too many “you people” in it!! I CAN’T BREATHE!!
July 19th, 2020 at 11:55 am
Former athletes opinions don’t mean much to me. Only a few of them do the hard work to stay up to speed on what’s really happening.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Rojo did his thing last year his film speaks for it self. On top of that some online penalty’s wipe out huge runs he is more than ready.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
The fields will do the talking!!!
July 19th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
If there isn’t significant improvement he’s another 2nd round BUST.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Oneilbucs it’s ok if you hate Brady he doesn’t care.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:26 pm
BIG “IM THE PROFESSIONAL VICTIM” HOG!!!
What’s good?
July 19th, 2020 at 12:38 pm
RB is generally plug and play…..it happens all over the league every year with rookies and undrafted players. He looked like a slightly more explosive Peyton Barber but less polished in pass protection. That’s not really saying much. It’s year 3 which in the NFL you better have a niche carved out for yourself or you’re replaced by cheaper/younger players.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Joe what is the training camp schedule? When do rookies report? QB’s?
July 19th, 2020 at 12:44 pm
Veterans are supposed to report (for now) July 28. Rookies are eligible to report (for now) as early as July 21.
The Bucs have not released any training camp info. To be fair, hard to release a schedule if you don’t know when or if to schedule a practice.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
That would be news to the Bucs.
July 19th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Youngbucs you must be a little kid because Jamies doesn’t care if you and the rest of the haters hates him .
July 19th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
So now people have resorted to blaming referees for RoJo being a low-rung running back. smh
What next, blame his horoscope because the Mars is behind the moon too much?
July 19th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
Mark it down young men and ladies…”RoJo fittna xplode in 2020!”. Dude is talented and with the tweaks to the offensive personell and plays he is gonna be awesome. You heard it here first!
July 19th, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Joe says:
What next, blame his horoscope because the Mars is behind the moon too much?
@ Joe..actually I think Mars is behind Uranus.
July 19th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Jury still out on Rojo. He’s still very young, has continued to improve (easy to do with a redshirt rookiecyear), and is doing and saying all thecright things two offseasons in a row. If a breakout were to ever happen, this is the year. Tbd…..
July 19th, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Joe – don’t run me…you know that was funny!
July 19th, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Romo will be top 10 RB this year they just got to give him the ball used rt an he should have over 1000 Yrds that rt 1000 yrds this year the Bucs will set NFL records on offense you just got to give him the ball plus if you catch a lot of passes out of the backfield from tb12 the bucs will run over teams this year and probably score more points than any team in NFL history that would be one of the records probably most touchdowns in a year or two it just goes on and on if they play at the half of their ability they’ll beat most teams if they play the full potential it’s going to be hard for anybody to eat them Kansas City who San Fran who they all going to take a licking
July 19th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
I agree that the tight ends will open things up for the running game, both with improved blocking and with the passing threat.
July 19th, 2020 at 3:37 pm
I want dis RoJo until I see how he plays under a different QB. I still believe it was Winston and his inconsistency that hampered the offense. Too many times the game morphed into throwing the ball on almost every down. That’s what happens when Winston would spot the other team the lead, it would change our approach. I believe under Brady’s leadership and skiillset, RoJo will breakout.
July 19th, 2020 at 4:27 pm
His college tape never impressed me. I’m not sure what they saw that made them think that running sweeps to the sideline and outrunning the PAC 10 was going to translate to the NFL. His claim to fame was speed and i have yet to see him just flat out run past NFL defenders.
I don’t think he’s a horrible back, but i think alot of things need to work out beyond his control for him to be a good NFL running back. He’s not the kind of athlete that can make big plays on his own. We would have seen that potential by now.
July 19th, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Wirfs was such a giant steal at 13. So huge and versitile. Do not think the rookie with too much milage, whatever the hell that means but it sounds stupid, is not going to get his opportunity to shine in the rushing game. Excited to see Vaughn’s all around ability.
July 19th, 2020 at 7:36 pm
Bucsfan951: we never ” played” victim…we lived their it and now we will take what is ours …I CAN’T BREATHE!!!
July 19th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
LIVED THRU IT!!^^^
July 19th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Any running back can be a decent running back for the Buccaneers all they have to do is block form give the guy a chance get off his back Maurice Jones-Drew did you ever win a Superbowl I think not so before you criticize the next man about his running ability from your couch remember when you were on the field you could make the grade either seems like you still playing ketchup cuz you couldn’t cut the mustard
July 19th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
Gotbbucs…a desperate pick needed at RB in the second round. One more year of prove it for me. I believe he can be much better with more carries and some blocking.
July 19th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
He has to get better at pass blocking and picking up the plitz….that’s not Mr.5000 back there anymore!!!!!!
July 19th, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Maurice ranked a running back that has only proven that he is not very good last in the league?!? Crazy talk!
July 20th, 2020 at 12:55 am
Why do you continue to knock this guy and give articles of people who do. His real rookie year was last year and he did pretty good splitting carries. He also had 2 or more long runs called back cause the tackle you consider all pro Mr Smith probably held on the play. His first year he had 28 carries you can’t judge him on that and joe how many times did you say kotter doesn’t play rookie RB. You said it with barber first year. If jamies has 28 throws his rookie year and looked inconsistent as he did all
His career would you be calling him bad no you would still think he is the greatest since joe
Montana.
Let Rojo grow from last year up swing that’s what you want to see yearly. That’s called development. You always bitch about players no being developed not that we see it you still knock him.
July 20th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
I told yall someone one in some kind of way was going to blame Jamies for the runningback and the offensive line play . Lol lol lol ..