“They’re Kind Of Very Similar In Ways”
September 24th, 2020
So who’s the Devin White of the offense?
Our beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not the team they were in August.
There’s a major reason for that.
No longer is football-immature Ronald Jones, a rather quiet man, the beast of the Bucs backfield. That throne was taken over by Leonard Fournette, and Joe has learned there’s a lot of love and appreciation for Fournette pulsating through the Tampa Bay locker room.
So Joe asked Sean Murphy-Bunting about it yesterday.
“Leonard brings a lot of energy. He’s a really funny guy. Him and Devin [White], they’re kind of very similar in ways,” Murphy Bunting said. “And he’s kind of similar to myself in a way, too. You know he’s always having fun, but when it comes to locking in and playing ball, that’s what he’s going to do. He’s a baller. He’s going to say what’s on his mind. He’s going to say what’s on his mind. He’s going to say how he’s feeling. He’s going to have guys behind him and he’s going to lead. Very, very good player. Very good human being off the field.”
The Bucs didn’t just score a super talented running back for a change, it seems they also landed a powerful locker room presence in Fournette.
September 24th, 2020 at 2:45 am
God, that uniform White is wearing is so much better the the last one. –Murphy Bunting? To each their own, but not a big fan of the two last names thing. Is that a pain while writing Joe? I envy those who have short, easy to spell last names.
September 24th, 2020 at 5:16 am
I’m still a fan of RoJo. Not so much for what he has done but rather for what I believe he will do. I believe he is “Robin” to Fournette’s “Batman”. What’s not to like about that?
September 24th, 2020 at 5:33 am
Well, whaddya know? Word was he was a bad seed. Turns out the apple, Jacksonville, was rotten and the seed is good.
Can Licht get a little credit for landing this guy for free?
September 24th, 2020 at 6:37 am
I could care less who starts. If you produce, you get playing time. Rojo is running harder this year. LF had a solid game. We have options and the ability to keep both of them fresh will create solid results in the 2nd half.
The binary conversation about LF – RJ is false, it’s choice C… BOTH!
Sure we may have issues paying for LF next year, but that will sort itself out in March. It’s September and we need to worry about getting a win in Denver!
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
September 24th, 2020 at 6:44 am
He’s played well and he’s played mistake free, so he’s getting more playing time and everything’s great.
If he makes a mistake and gets temporarily benched like Rojo, hopefully he’ll keep a good attitude and not start bitching until he gets back in the game.
September 24th, 2020 at 6:53 am
Eh, that’s fine and all but the best predictor of future performance is past performance. What have you seen over the past 2+ years that makes you think RoJo will be something significantly more than what he has been? By “signifiantly more” I’m talking about consistently putting together performances that are similar to Alvin Kamara or what we saw from Fournette last Sunday. Fournette has had many performances like that in his first two seasons.
September 24th, 2020 at 7:23 am
I understand the love for Fournette & I’m good with thqt.
I don’t understand the constant disparaging of Rojo
Let things play our….I suspect we’ll be very glad we have both of them.
September 24th, 2020 at 7:25 am
Good to have some winners floating around that locker room.
September 24th, 2020 at 7:25 am
We need both of them. We’re not going to win anything with just one of them. They are not opponents. They are teammates. At some point in time ROJO will break off a huge run without a penalty having the play called back. It will happen.
September 24th, 2020 at 8:12 am
Slip sliding away… another pick of desperation by Jason Lite… I forget the name of RB taken just before RJ that year the Bucs were high on… RB is one of the the easiest positions to transition to in the NFL … that said the OL run blocking is below average and has been that way for years of film for DC’s to study. IMO the run blocking will greatly improve after no preseason… so there is still hope for RJ but he is not a natural top tier NFL running back and we are SO fortunate to have Fournette on the roster !!!!!!
September 24th, 2020 at 8:15 am
I’ve said this many times…..real recognizes real. These guys know who are legit and who isn’t. The Bucs have been force feeding Rojo to this team no different then they did with Winston. Rojo isn’t “the” guy….its that simple. He’s an all around avg back that might squeeze 5 yrs out of the league. He doesn’t play special teams, he’s not a third down guy, he never bust any long runs….he’s avg. We’ve heard the maturity story, then it was a new offense and pass protections, or teams daring us to throw….there’s no more excuses. Fournette comes in and makes plays. Has he mastered the offense or pass protections?….No. But somehow, some way….he makes an noticeable impact.
September 24th, 2020 at 8:21 am
@ Rome – I see your point. Watch though…RoJo will continue to grow and get better. Clearly LF is the Alpha but every Alpha needs a Beta.
Rojo ripped off several nice runs last year and just this past week he showed good vision and speed on his TD run. We are about to have a very nice one two punch and to me that’s exciting stuff!
September 24th, 2020 at 8:24 am
@Sport … “I could care less who starts. If you produce, you get playing time.” B-I-N-G-O !!! With 2 quality backs (and actually 3 counting McCoy) Bucs now have a great capability to be extremely creative in game planning AND execution. All 3 primary RBs compliment each other in a myriad of ways, and provide us great flexibility. It’s up to BL & BA to capitalize on that.
September 24th, 2020 at 8:37 am
Fournette played special teams on Sunday, which is a very good thing for him and all involved.
September 24th, 2020 at 8:56 am
I like Fournette…but he hasn’t even gotten the playbook down yet. All three running backs are critical to the success of this team. Glad to see Arians feels that way. Some seem to fall in love with some guys too quickly, and put some guys down too quickly, for whatever reason. Giving a guy like Jameis five years before looking for an upgrade is an example of being fair, whether you loved him or not. Glad coaches seem to have a different perspective.
September 24th, 2020 at 8:57 am
All 3 primary RBs compliment each other in a myriad of ways, and provide us great flexibility. It’s up to BL & BA to capitalize on that.
you’re right….
i believe they will….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 24th, 2020 at 11:12 am
I’m proud of our defense so far !!! Defense wins championship !!! Go Bucs !!!
September 24th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
I like Rojo but he should have been way better in his second year. Great backs don’t need three years to stand out. He still rates as a dam good backup to Fournette if it comes to that. Hard to go 16 games with just one good running back. I feel the need for exceptional speed in next years draft. Rojo, Fo and a burner in rotation!!
September 24th, 2020 at 2:43 pm
Fournette is a runner very similar to Emmitt Smith. He tries to avoid you but if you are in the path of least resistance, he will blow through you so fast that you can’t grip him or square him up. When a defender puts his hand on a powerful runners leg in stride it will spin the defender around. If he squares up to run through someone they are going to get popped hard.
I believe using RoJo and Shady to bust up the defense and tire them out, then releasing Fournette on them will work wonders
GO BUCS!!!
September 24th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
Omg AGAIN, he had ONE GOOD RUN!!! God you are such a sucker for the glits and glamour stuff!!! Again, ONE GOOD RUN!!! Before that he was grading out NEGATIVELY!!!!