The Leonard Fournette Mystery
December 19th, 2020
Bucs talk from former Bucs QB.
When the Bucs signed surprise free agent running back Leonard Fournette just before the season started, if you could find one Bucs fan unhappy happy with the move, Joe wants to know who this guy is.
That has almost been the highlight of Fournette’s days with the Bucs. Take out a wonderful 46-yard touchdown run against the Stinking Panthers to seal a win in Week 2, and you will be hard-pressed to remember any play of his outside of dropping passes.
As much as rookie Tristan Wirfs has been a surprise with his Pro Bowl-level play, Fournette has been that much of a disappointment.
Well, former Bucs quarterback Shaun King, one of only three Bucs quarterbacks in history to lead the Bucs to the NFC title game, may have a theory. But to be honest, Joe thinks King has Fournette mixed up with another Bucs player.
King appeared with popular local sports radio personality Ian Beckles on his pod, “In the Trenches” for a lively 40-minute discussion of Bucs football.
Fournette, King said, has been a disappointment as an NFL player, not just with the Bucs.
“If you asked, coming out of college, who would be a better running back, Fournette or Derrick Henry? A lot of people would have said ‘Leonard Fournette,'” King said. “Straight out of college. So my thing is, I want to see that running back that has so much potential and so much excitement.
“It seems to me he doesn’t run the ball with the same kind of violence that he used to.”
King added that Fournette is still a guy the Bucs need down the road and into the playoffs.
Beckles wondered if Fournette just took too many hits in college and it has caught up with him.
Then King dropped a total bomb on listeners. And doing research, Joe thinks King got Fournette confused with Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
“He had to miss multiple weeks when he first signed because he had the COVID,” King said of Fournette. “And then he was injured. … We are going to need him in these cold-weather games to be the Leonard Fournette of old, I’m just telling ya.”
This is the first Joe ever heard that Fournette had The Sickness. Joe knows for a fact old Bucs players are still tight and talk amongst themselves often. The NFL would likely find this more than a bit interesting that Fournette had the COVID.
Joe can not find anywhere that Fournette was on the COVID/Reserve list. In less than a week after he signed, he played against the Saints to open the season and several games after that.
Joe thinks King mixed up Fournette with third-round draft pick Vaughn, who was on the COVID/Reserve list right away when training camp started. He probably innocently confused the two running backs.
King was correct when he noted Fournette was dealing with injuries. Fournette got a bum ankle against Denver in September, a game in which he botched a handoff with Tom Brady.
Joe will bring more tidbits from King’s sitdown with Beckles later.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:10 am
Anything involving Beckles is really not a good piece to read. King’s info is apparently no better. Yeah, I know both played the game and have some insights, but doesn’t make them right all the time.
And truth be told, King didn’t “lead” the Bucs to anything. He simply didn’t wreck the opportunity for playing in the NFC championship via mistakes. The HC and OC during his time knew how to diminish weaknesses (King as a meh, new QB) while capitalizing on strengths (D, and game planning superbly for running game and special teams). BA and BL take note.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:18 am
Fournette’s problem has been his vision on hitting the hole- Joe even posted a video illustrating this.
Hopefully, he, McCoy and Vaughn can pound out 100 yards plus these next 2 games.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:35 am
I have a feeling we will see Fournette produce tomorrow……playing for a big contract usually brings out the best in players.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:38 am
Good insight from Shaun Kingofthebuffet.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:42 am
Lol, it was a mistake by King. Nothing more Joe. Don’t understand guys like Roy always bashing Beckles. He is spot on most of the time with his analysis.
Played poker recently with King and he is a funny dude! Definitely the type of player that most poker players like to be around. Keeps the table loose and doesn’t mind gambling.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:43 am
Derrick Henry came in the same draft class with Zeke.
I said back then that I would rather have Henry and people laughed.
I am 🙂 now.
December 19th, 2020 at 8:49 am
In many ways fournette and rojo are one in the same. They both seem to have maturity/character issues…..at least early in their career. They both have a ton of talent but haven’t come close to expectations. I think they both need lots of reps to get going or they just never get into sync. I personally dont think the RB rotation is the most effective approach for establishing the run game. It wont shock me to see Fournette find his mojo and ball out now that he is definitely the #1.
December 19th, 2020 at 9:21 am
Me thinks it is SK’s too many accumulated hits before arriving in Tampa… he is still serviceable with maybe some in the tank… he’s to a can of Octane booster for Auto Zone Lenord
December 19th, 2020 at 9:44 am
The next game or two are definitely Fournette’s audition for his next contract. If he stays here it will by necessity be for league minimum.(not enough to go around). Hopefully he balls out, we need the wins, and the larger the contract he gets in FA, the better the comp pick we get in return.
December 19th, 2020 at 9:47 am
Fournette is just a bell cow back who needs to get going- he’ll be just fine. He’s an excellent RB, top level talent. He’s had no momentum this year and it must mess with his head riding the pine even being inactive. Hopefully they feed him the rock this weekend and hopefully he’s ready to run with a vengeance. Guarantee that if he doesn’t stay with us he will be tearing it up for some smart team that knows how to use him. We should be playing two back sets with play action like the old days. I’ve never seen that concept once from these unimaginative coaches.
December 19th, 2020 at 10:10 am
Maybe Fournette is not that good. Maybe there’s a reason Jax didn’t want him anymore.
Aside from one or two plays, the guy has not been particularly impressive.
I hope for the resurrection of his talent.
December 19th, 2020 at 10:17 am
Bobby they are not the same at all. Go back and watch Fournette’s college film highlights. He played like a generational back and his been mostly underwhelming in the NFL. Rojo was a bit of a reach early in the 2nd round. He is about to rush for over 1k yards and has had several 100 yard games this season and one amazing 98 yard run. I would say this year Rojo is showing that he is a quality back that was worth a 2nd round pick. LF has never looked like a back that was worthy of an early first round pick.
December 19th, 2020 at 10:25 am
U can’t compare RoJo n Fournette. RoJo came in the league at a young 20 yrs of age. Koetter failed this kid. I see no character issues with him especially coming from a military family. Fournette is another former Bucs bust Charles “Tango Toe Tapping” Sims.
December 19th, 2020 at 11:05 am
It looks like Fournette is trying to avoid contact and not get injured. Shady even at his advanced years reads the holes better than either Jones or LF . Hopefully Rojo is learning from Shady . He needs a little patience at times instead of barreling into the line . Shadys jump cut to switch holes would serve Rojo well. Feast or famine with LF. Mostly famine lately.
December 19th, 2020 at 11:15 am
Wow Shaun King has gotten fat. Considering his minimal work ethic as a player, no surprise that he can’t be pulled away from the buffet line.
December 19th, 2020 at 11:33 am
I’ve got Fournette on my fantasy roster and even with him expected to start, he’s staying on the bench. Doesn’t doesn’t seem to like contact and way too much pu$$y-footing at the line of scrimmage for such a big back. Would love to see him prove me wrong tomorrow.
Go Bucs.
December 19th, 2020 at 11:59 am
The film doesn’t lie. Leonard Fournette is running like he is blind and misses gaping holes you could have driven an F150 from Bill Currie Ford through.
December 19th, 2020 at 12:21 pm
A back like Fournette neds carries and lots of them. Bucs are spot playing him and he’s the kind who does not play well in those situations. Anything coming from , Buying a lady a drink Beckles and King of the Buffet line I read with a grain of salt.
December 19th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
It’s almost like any good running back needs touches to get going.
Gee, how come no one ever thought of this?
December 19th, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Never understood the fascination with Fournette. Got to the NFL with not much tread left.
December 19th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
To be fair I didn’t like the signing since he was just cut it wasn’t like the guy was a world beater and yeah he had lots of yards but he lost a lot of his muster after the jags run in 2017
December 19th, 2020 at 3:54 pm
I was that guy, Joe.
I hated the Leonard Fournette signing.
December 19th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
Watching Leonard’s college tape, I’m not sure he’s much more of a physical runner than Rojo. It looks like Leonard has a lot of wide open running lanes where he housed it hardly being touched. Are we sure he’s as physical a runner as we’re making him out to be? He def showed off his speed more than his physicality.
December 19th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
Fournette needs to be a feature back, like he was at LSU.
He is not well suited to splitting carries.
December 19th, 2020 at 5:48 pm
He just needs to get a rhythm going on offense. And that part of the band will be hitting those notes tomorrow and how……..enjoy the show
December 19th, 2020 at 11:03 pm
People always fall for size and speed with runners, but runners are the most “jazz” of all positions: they have to have creative vision and superior athletic ability (not just straight ahead). This is why a ton of first round backs don’t work out but the lower rounds do. My favorite runner is Fred Taylor (after Sweetness)…he was a size/speed demon, but his feet were constantly making little adjustments as he moved. Fournette just…runs. No jump cuts, no stutter steps in traffic. You could see all this in Fred at Florida as a part-timer, and you *didn’t* see that in Four as a hype beast at LSU. And then the ultimate x-factor…do they push the pile and scrape for every yard. Freddie (and Sweetness) did, Fournette does not.
December 20th, 2020 at 12:15 am
Roy T.. have you forgotten the dilfer mess? Shaun King played buc football during that playoff run. I sat in section 125 back in the day and we steadily rooted for King!