Hands Work
October 15th, 2020
Catching woes addressed
You could hear a masked-up Ronald Jones smile at times while talking to Joe and other local media types yesterday via Zoom.
RoJo was feeling it — the confidence and adulation that comes from back-to-back 100-yard-rushing games after a long road to cementing himself as a quality starting running back.
Good for RoJo, he should feel great.
But RoJo the pass catching running back is poor. He’s just not very good at it.
After asking RoJo about those back-to-back stud rushing games, Joe asked RoJo about what he’s doing to keep his confidence up in the passing game and to step up a disappointing season in that area.
“Yeah, definitely. You know, I was just working on the Juggs after practice today,” RoJo said, referring to the machine used to catch multiple passes one after another. “Just got to be consistent with that stuff, you know, because it’s going to help take my game to the next level. It’s really what I worked at all summer, too. So when I get the opportunity I got to make all those plays. You know I can’t let any one go to waste.”
Joe has reviewed all of RoJo’s drops this season and Joe can’t pinpoint any major issue other than he looks out of synch and uncomfortable.
Maybe RoJo just isn’t a pass-catcher and won’t ever be? There’s no great shame in that.
With Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy still healing, Sunday could be RoJo’s last chance for awhile to prove his hands to Tom Brady.
October 15th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
” Maybe RoJo just isn’t a pass-catcher and won’t ever be? There’s no great shame in that. ”
No shame but, in today’s NFL, if you’re not a game changing runner like King Henry or Zeke you need to be a plus player in the passing game as well or you’ll be quickly replaced. Hopefully he can get better at it just like he’s gotten better at running the ball, but quicker.
October 15th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
Steady dose of Rojo and Fournette running on the 4.8 yards per carry allowing packers is the recipe..not rocket science
October 15th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
On a separate note, anyone else get a very uneasy feeling whenever scooter is targeted .. so god dam little I can’t wait to see Godwin back on the field
October 15th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
It is a SHAME!!!!!!!!!!! Then why is he running routes then!!!!!!!!!! What happened to ole stale biscuit saying that he will not ask players to do things that they are not capable?????? That ole stale biscuit would only call plays to the players strength??????????? Looks like Joe just setup another example of what a liar bruce arrogance really is!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for exposing the truth once again Joe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
RoJo has had a bigger opportunity to see if he can catch consistently because he was the only healthy running back on the roster. Especially during the bears game. This week might be his last shot to show some consistency in the pass game as the rest of the RB’s continue to get healthy. I hope he does because I am enjoying the way he is running this year.
October 15th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
His hands are ok. Not great, not terrible. He is not the type of guy you ask to catch a seam route over a linebacker. (anyone see kamaras catch?) But he is godd enough for a swing route, checkdown, or screen pass (most of the time). He should be out of the game in the 2 min offense and 3rd and long, but in for most every other situation.
October 15th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
Maybe Vaughn on 3rd down?
October 15th, 2020 at 3:22 pm
I don’t know Joe. That was a damn good catch Jones made then rolled into the end zone. Replay showed what a great catch it was. He didn’t get the TD because they blew it dead, but tough catch. He needs to be consistent, but showed good hands there.
October 15th, 2020 at 3:52 pm
RoJo has always had stone hands and I’ll believe it when I see it he has improved. If Fournette is good to go Sunday that’s your powerful pass catching RB on third down.
October 15th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
Realist…ya can’t find out if he’s improved at catching if he’s not even running routes.
You still need lots of help.
October 15th, 2020 at 7:13 pm
Pound the rock. If it’s working then keep pounding. Make the defense tired and hit em with some play action. Keep the foot on the gas pedal. Let’s goo Bucs
October 15th, 2020 at 11:41 pm
You do realize that Cadillac Williams was one of the worst pass catchers I’d ever seen when he was a 23 year old rookie. He was noticeably worse than 23 year old 3rd year RB Jones. Seems Williams stuck around here in his last years specifically as a 3rd down RB. Rojo will improve.
October 16th, 2020 at 10:38 am
To be fair, at least 2 or 3 of his “drops” this season were really poor passes from Brady. Either wobbly, or behind him, etc., the kind that only guys like Godwin could catch.
But he also dropped a few easy ones too. Then again McCoy and Fournette have also had some easy drops.
October 16th, 2020 at 12:51 pm
He just has to catch the easy screens and dump offs. They have 3 guys to run routes out of the back field.