Flashback: Arians On Fournette
September 1st, 2020
Compared to healthy Todd Gurley.
It is rare when a 25-year old healthy player who accounted for over 1,600 yards of offense less than a year ago, and who isn’t looking at a prison sentence, is walking the streets looking for work.
But this is 2020 and there is Leonard Fournette. The former first-round draft pick from LSU was cut yesterday by the Jags, seemingly as a cap move to avoid his salary and begin the tanking to acquire Trevor Lawrence next year.
The Bucs have a mediocre run game at best, an upgrade from last year’s ugly run game. Joe’s being generous.
So if the Bucs are truly in win-now mode — and nothing screams “win-now” quite like having a 43-year old starting quarterback and a coach who will turn 68 in a month — then why not explore signing Fournette to fill what might be the lone weak link on the Bucs’ roster?
Yesterday Joe asked Bucco Bruce Arians about maybe bringing in Fournette. Arians sure didn’t sound like a man that has no use for Fournette.
“We’ll have to just wait and see where he fits.”
So Joe decided to do some digging. Last year the Bucs played the Jags and in the week leading up to the game, Arians was asked about Fournette. Arians reacted like a guy who is a big fan.
“He’s kind of like Todd Gurley,” Arians said. “He’s a big, one-cut guy who can take it to the house. Every game you turn it on, there’s a 40- or 50-yard run. And a leading receiver so he touches the ball a bunch.”
In fact, Fournette had 522 yards receiving last season, averaging a hair under seven yards a catch. He caught the most passes for the Jags last year (76).
This is a guy who doesn’t have to be taken off the field on passing downs. And Fournette honestly is coming off his best season averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
To be fair, Joe doesn’t know if Fournette can block.
If the Bucs are truly hellbent on making it to the Super Bowl in February, why not see if Fournette can be squeezed under the cap for one year and shore up the only weakness the Bucs have?
Let’s be honest here, who would you trust more, Ronald Jones or Fournette?
Joe wonders what Coach Tommy thinks?
September 1st, 2020 at 12:11 am
Why is the best ran professional team in the state of Florida a team that is played on ICE?
September 1st, 2020 at 12:12 am
Sorry. I am a ‘Bolts fan too.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:15 am
Maybe not an ideal fit. But he would still be a huge upgrade.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:27 am
And the Rays are melting the ice. Of course World Series, Stanley Cup, and the Super Bowl would happen to Tampa Bay fans:(:(
September 1st, 2020 at 12:53 am
He can run and he can catch, how is he on pass pro and can we afford him?
September 1st, 2020 at 2:44 am
If only for just one year … let’s “Pack the bowl for Brady”
September 1st, 2020 at 2:46 am
joe, you can use that if ya want, luv ya man!
September 1st, 2020 at 2:47 am
men???
September 1st, 2020 at 4:31 am
It’s kind like when a healthy 26 year old throws for 5,109 yds, Leads the NFL in total offense, passing yds, passing yds per game, and is #2 in the whole NFL in TD’s only trailing the NFL MVP.
It’s smart to toss them to the curb too right?
September 1st, 2020 at 4:42 am
Idk about him Devin white shut his ass down I don’t think he is a team player he might be trying to get more money than we could pay him pass
September 1st, 2020 at 5:10 am
Sign Fournette
September 1st, 2020 at 6:36 am
Are any jags players upset?
September 1st, 2020 at 7:18 am
Can he kick field goals?
September 1st, 2020 at 7:37 am
Clean house you forgot to mention him leading the league in interceptions and pick six’s.
September 1st, 2020 at 7:44 am
DislocatedBucsFan he also forgot to mention that same quarterback did those things with a broken throwing hand, a torn meniscus in his knee and three of his top four wide receivers down for the last quarter of the season but I guess all that’s normal right off all players do that I don’t they?
September 1st, 2020 at 7:45 am
I think its fair to ask if Fournette is better than Ronald Jones right now. Fournette was wildly inefficient last season and over his career so far. Plus there is only 9 days until the season starts. Are u really gonna bring him in this close to week 1? Plus who are you cutting? The cheaper McCoy or your 3rd round pick? You arent gonna carry 5 RBs
Just seems like Rojo and Fournette are on 2 different trajectories in their careers right now.
And I said this during the entire offseason. If they stuck with Rojo when he was struggling to get 2 ypc as a rookie then why would they give up on him after he got 1,000 scrimmage yards? Doesnt make any sense
September 1st, 2020 at 7:49 am
Feels like people just want to see the big name addition with Fournette. Fournette doesnt add anything to this group other than name value. He wasnt a good pass catcher last year. Sure he caught 76 but did nothing with them. He struggled in goal-to-go situations whereas Rojo scored on all his carries inside the 10.
He only brings name value
September 1st, 2020 at 8:01 am
Lagarette Blount was a total mess, much like Fournette. Under Brady and the Patriots tutelage has, he became a hell of a football player with multiple rings…
September 1st, 2020 at 8:16 am
He is a very boring running back, never breaks tackles or makes anyone miss. His long runs are wide azz open holes.
September 1st, 2020 at 8:23 am
If I were to guess, he’s locker room poison. Nobody on the team seems to miss him being gone. If he was all “that” they wouldn’t get rid of him. The only factor in his favor seems to be that JAX is intentionally tanking before the season even starts. Bad organization all around there. I doubt we have cap space to bring him in anyway.
September 1st, 2020 at 8:40 am
Stop it. Just stop.
If Ronald Jones wasn’t a Buc and was never drafted by the Bucs you would never say this. Leonard Fournette is a better running back than Ronald Jones.
There’s no need to ask the question. It’s fair to ask if Fournette is a good fit, or if he’s injured, or if he has off-field legal issues, ect…Those are fair questions to ask. It’s silly to ask if he’s better than RoJo.
September 1st, 2020 at 9:00 am
But how in the name of salary cap hell can we afford him?
September 1st, 2020 at 9:02 am
ndog
you also forgot to mention that after 5years he’s still making highschool mistakes like starring down a WR…
your words not mine….
Ndog Says:
December 22nd, 2019 at 9:06 am
Every throw that was picked was a predetermined throw that he stared down from the snap. Many of his picks are not due to this, as many claim, but this time it was 100% the issue. The worst one was the second pick cause that dude came from the opposite hashmarks to pick that ball cause he just read his eyes all the way which is freaking highschool stuff. The good news is that is fixable but the bad news is it’s year five so shouldn’t that already be fixed? I’m just at a loss cause if can learn to stop trusting what SHOULD be open and just read out the play the guy could literally be the best QB in the league. It’s so disheartening that we are in this situation this morning.
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 1st, 2020 at 9:14 am
With this guy and Brady, no offensive line will have more pressure on them than ours this year. And they’ll know it too!
Like our old QB, Santa Clause, used to say “Iron sharpens iron.”
September 1st, 2020 at 9:56 am
From what JPP has said and other rumblings from players like OJ it seems that JW was not seen as much as a leader in the locker room. Also that last pick 6 versus ATL was the nail in the coffin for Arians.
Anyway, if the Bucs can figure out that Fornette’s attitude is right and he wants to contribute to some winning football this year. Sign him.
September 1st, 2020 at 10:07 am
He is a stud RB, bring him in. A weakness would suddenly be a strength. If he starts any drama, just show him the door. No strings attached. GO BUCS!!!
September 1st, 2020 at 10:56 am
@D-Rome
Sure its fair. Ronald Jones was more efficient than Fournette last season. They had pretty much the same YPC and Rojo averaged about 3 more yards per reception than Fournette.
If you gave Rojo the same amount of touches that Fournette had last season, Rojo would have outperformed him. And Rojo is cheaper, younger, and knows the system and has improved year to year so far where Fournette has not.
Only thing Fournette improved at is catching checkdowns which litterally any RB can do. All the guy will bring is name value
September 1st, 2020 at 11:22 am
Fournette saved Foles and Minshews asses last year!! No they did not all perform to expectations, however, when you have your perennial RB listed as 4th highest Receiver (In Yds) on your team, something is wrong with the COACHING and System. Oh!! Not to mention the horrendous offensive line.Fournette spent ALL YEAR getting them into the Red Zone, then they caved when it came time to block for him to get into End Zone!! Or SHI**Y play calling!! Fournette is a BEAST who needs to be on a Team that’s FULLY COMMITTED to BLOCKING downfield. Hmmm. Lemme think!!???? I got it!!!!! THE BUCS!!!!!! GIMME DAH ROCK
September 1st, 2020 at 12:58 pm
There’s 4 minutes on the clock in the 4th quarter, the opposing team just scored pulling within two points. The Bucs have the ball on their own 25 yard line.
They need to get 1st downs, chew up clock, and make their opponents waste their 3 time outs. Everyone in the stadium knows what the Bucs will do. The defense is stacking the line of scrimmage.
That’s when Leonard Fournette will earn his $4.1 million per year. Four yards on 1st down, 8 yards on 2nd down. 12 yards up the middle clutching the ball tight with both arms. Then 25 more yards off tackle as Brady takes a knee the rest of the way.
BUCS WIN!! BUCS WIN!!! Fire those cannons!