Bruce Arians And Running Backs
August 12th, 2020
Running back chatter.
Yeah, a couple of weeks ago, Joe’s right eyebrow raised like Derrick Brooks can do so well.
Look, Joe had been pounding the table for months, before last season ended, that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht needed to draft a running back high and sign a veteran running back simply because you could not bank on Ronald Jones given his low-rent body of work.
There is not a sensible, objective NFL observer who would disagree with that. Of course, those same people are not part of the Cult of Ronald Jones.
So Joe’s not going to get indignant here and tar and feather a good guy like Bucco Bruce Arians. Just two days after Arians flatly told a pen and mic club Zoom conference call there would be no adjustments to the running backs, the Bucs signed Shady McCoy.
And given what McCoy told CBS Sports Radio in June, you don’t have to be working on PDLive to figure out McCoy was talking about the Bucs in retrospect.
So clearly Arians knew the Bucs were talking turkey with Shady when he told reporters there would be no adjustments — unless, Arians was under the belief that Shady wasn’t going to sign with the Bucs.
Well, a fantasy football guy Joe never heard put out an interesting Twitter. Someone by the name of Graham Barfield claims Arians has a history of running misdirection when discussing his running backs.
And this Barfield isn’t even factoring in the no adjustment/Shady McCoy signing.
Bruce Arians lying about how he’ll use his running backs. A four-part story. pic.twitter.com/QwFgDzRJ1D
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) August 11, 2020
Now last week, Arians gave every indication that RoJo would be his No. 1 back and go-to guy. If he’s that talented and has demonstrated that much improvement, then he deserves to get a spin at No. 1 back. Joe is all for it.
If RoJo is being gifted the position, then Joe has an issue.
But just the money spent and draft picks burned on running backs this year alone suggest RoJo is not going to be a full-timer unless he plays so well you can’t pull him off the field.
The Bucs burned two draft picks, including a third-round pick, on running backs and signed Shady. Joe is pretty sure Shady didn’t sign here just to sit on the bench and pick his nose.
Should or will RoJo be the Bucs’ go-to guy in the backfield? In the immortal words of famed 20th century philosopher Moe Howard, we shall see.
Should Arians have a quick hook if RoJo is faltering? You damn right he should.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:23 am
Sometimes BA throws out a lot of BS.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:51 am
Here is a stat that I just now discovered….
If Rojo was given just 15 carries per game @4.2 ypc….he would have gained 1008 yards…..
August 12th, 2020 at 9:24 am
I think all of the RBs will shine this season if we are able to stay healthy on the OL and run blocking should improve also with Gronk and his ability to neutralize a defender.
I am a Bucs homer. I usually am excited each season except last year I took a step back and just observed because I lost hope in the direction of the team. Other than that, I always drank the koolaid but this season, if it plays out, the Bucs are going to be incredibly dangerous.
Only team that will beat the Bucs this season is not the Saints, not the Chiefs, nobody but the Bucs can beat this Bucs team.
Now, If I could just get excited about this season…..lol.
August 12th, 2020 at 9:39 am
Rayjay1122
I always thought I was optimistic every year……but it took this year for me to realize that it wasn’t optimism, it was hope……this year….It’s optimism….
August 12th, 2020 at 9:47 am
There really is a Cult of Ronald Jones and I don’t understand it. He has shown **VERY LITTLE** on the field to make anyone think he’s an RB1. In fact, as some other person mentioned here, there’s a chance he may not make the team.
If RoJo was on another team and the same cultists watched every snap they would see the same thing most other people see, and that he’s done and shown very little. If he was something special, some sort of hidden gem, Arians would have used him like he used David Johnson.
August 12th, 2020 at 10:08 am
I started calling the winston crew cult followers. Now the joes are using for rojo 😂.
August 12th, 2020 at 11:18 am
I am not a cult fan of Rojo, but you have to look over all the games. How often did he have a great run and it was called back due to a penalty? He had some really good long runs that Dotson screwed up with a penalty and it happened again and again just like Shameis through the ball to the other team!!! He needed more touches as well because he barley got them at the end of the season. He spent time this summer working with Brady and working on himself, so give the kid a chance and stop throwing the ball on every down.
August 12th, 2020 at 11:36 am
Stop it! LOL
If you have to reach to defend a player claiming his numbers are low because of referees, you need another pint and a shot.
The referees aren’t going anywhere.
August 12th, 2020 at 12:24 pm
The reason why RoJo had a “great run” was because of the penalty. He didn’t have a great run and then the penalty ruined it.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:36 pm
I’m not in the cult of ROJO nor am I in the he sucks cult either.
As TBBF loves to point out ROJO ran well enough to get 1000 yards if he had been given just 15 run a game.
Another stat that surprised me is that ROJO has a HIGHER catch % than either David Johnson or Melvin Gordon. He worked on his catching this past off season to become a smoother receiver of the ball…he WILL be a weapon out of the backfield.
I think the wild card in which back gets the most touches will be pass pro. If our OL and talented TE’s can provided protection for Brady that doesn’t rely too much on the RB picking up loose defenders…then there won’t be any issues and perhaps all three backs will get enough touches for each of them to star.
If however the OL/TE’s can’t do the job by themselves pass pro or a lack thereof could keep one or more of the backs on the bench. ROJO seems like a prime candidate to lose snaps in this situation. Shady has been around long enough to see plenty of pass rushes…he’ll be fine…the two young guys?
August 12th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
So a coach is giving misinformation about players??? That almost never happens…..
August 12th, 2020 at 7:32 pm
Wow BS’s misinformation is so amazing just like his offensive genius of an offense- it’s led to one Playoff win!