Fight For The Right To Party (And Start)
March 29th, 2021
Playoff Lenny.
Last year the Bucs damn near had their first 1,000-yard rusher in what seems like forever, when Ronald Jones came a hair away by finishing with 978 yards.
(The main reason Joe thinks RoJo didn’t get 1,000 yards was a certain someone, a former tenant of a certain quarterback, had to have his touches for a cash bonus. But that’s neither here nor there.)
And when RoJo got hurt late in the season, Playoff Lenny took over. The former Jaguars top-five draft pick was effective and dominated in the playoffs, scoring a touchdown in each playoff game even though RoJo was active. Rarely do you see running backs score touchdowns in four postseason games.
So with Playoff Lenny back and RoJo entering the final year of his rookie contract, who gets the upper hand when the Bucs line up for the first regular season game in September?
Former Jets and Dolphins general manager Mike Tannenbaum, talking head at BSPN and the shot-caller of The33rdTeam.com, has an idea.
Leonard Fournette earned himself a new contract w/the @Buccaneers after having a great postseason
He scored in every playoff gm and had over 100+ total yards in 3 of their 4 gms
Now that Fournette is re-signed; the Bucs will have a majority of their offense returning in 2021
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) March 28, 2021
Tannenbaum didn’t quite type it, but it seems he would already have penciled in Playoff Lenny as the starting Bucs running back. It’s hard to argue. In the biggest of games, Playoff Lenny answered the bell. But then, you have a guy who should have had 1,000 yards last year.
Joe is of the mind there should be an open competition. Mano y mano. The best running back in training camp, controlled scrimmages (?) and the satanic preseason games should get the nod for opening day.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:08 am
Sounds about right to me too.
Just a question, do you still think it’s possible to draft a RB at 32? And for the sake of the argument, let’s assume that Etienne and/or Harris are available.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:15 am
Why would they draft a RB? I’m pretty sure they are high on Keyshaun Vaughn and they will resign Rojo. A RB at 32 would be a careless pick. I’d rather they go and get a DT or DE with that pick who will be the starter in the future. RBs can be had in FA.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:17 am
Yes.
RoJo is in the final year of his contract. And Joe doesn’t believe Playoff Lenny will be back in 2022.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:18 am
Something is wrong that fournette gets paid the same or less then a fg kicker.,
March 29th, 2021 at 12:24 am
lol@satanic
Do people still believe in Satan?
March 29th, 2021 at 12:30 am
I think they gotta draft an Edge rusher with the first round pick. If JPP (who is coming off knee surgery) or Shaq is injured they are paper thin at that position.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:51 am
If they can get a stud running back to give some juice, so be it. But it is always good to strengthen the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. A big reason the Bucs won the Championship was their dominance on both sides of the ball for the most part of the season. Their front 7 seven is basically as good as anyone, and the Oline is dominant also. Again if you can get a rookie running back that can give you an X factor, then go for it.
March 29th, 2021 at 12:54 am
They’ve got to sign AB. Just rewatched the Super Bowl, dude showed up when it counted all game long.
March 29th, 2021 at 2:00 am
Lambchop, they’re not re-signing RoJo. Signing running backs to big deals is stupid, you can get a commensurate runner on a rookie contract, oh, and RoJo can’t catch or block.
March 29th, 2021 at 2:29 am
Rojo cannot catch, that is he will not be counted in key situations.
March 29th, 2021 at 4:39 am
The starter thing is totally irrelevant. We’re a good team now and both of these RBs are going to play a lot and get touches. Some games Rojo will get more carries and some games Lenny will. Its not fantasy football where you have one guy in the lineup and the other is on the bench. Good teams use their players situationally.
March 29th, 2021 at 5:43 am
RBs rarely play all season. Besides, it’s a good position to be in regardless. We have 2 starter-caliber RBs.
As to whether they still draft a RB, Etienne is one of those guys that could be a cornerstone. We’re in a unique situation where we can be choosy. No other player they draft could have the immediate impact of a guy like Etienne.
Did I mention Etienne was a KR too?!
March 29th, 2021 at 6:10 am
Lol he got the touches I have no doubt Rojo is and will prove to be the better back he got hot no doubt but during the season he ran soft and tentative! I’m hoping Rojo win the job more consistent and explosive!
March 29th, 2021 at 6:44 am
Joe agreed on your points about RB in the draft. When they select one will probably depend on who’s still available at other positions. There are dynamic RBs available every year, so it doesn’t have to be this year if it doesn’t shake out.
I do think it’s funny that the royal tannenbaum states 3 obvious facts with no associated take or spin, and we are lead to read between the lines of what he didn’t quite type. But anyway, whoever starts will still split carries this year and if anything more touches will be given (if earned) to Vaughn. So the starter in 2021 is not synonymous with bell cow. I’m not saying you said it, you just didn’t quite type it.
March 29th, 2021 at 7:00 am
I believe if Harris, or Etienne fall to 32 that will be the pick. The key word is fall, because both are rated higher then 32 on talent alone.
March 29th, 2021 at 7:40 am
Jones is a better runner than Fournette. Fournette is a better receiver than Jones.
That’s the bottom line.
And Jones was still nursing a quad in the playoffs.
So the Bucs have TWO RB’s on “prove it” contracts, with a third waiting patiently in the wings. Vaughn just needs a solid pre-season program to catch up. He showed some power and wiggle in his few chances..and butterfingers.
March 29th, 2021 at 7:47 am
I see a lot of people want us to pick a RB with our 32 pick. We have 2 starters and a guy in development at RB. I DONT think RB is a need. We have plenty of weapons on offense. Our biggest need will be edge rushers. Jpp is old and the dude tries to play every down which is awesome but we need jpp fresh and if we lost either jpp or Shaq to injuries D.white can’t be our only sack master then. We deff need to go DE or DT with our 1st pick. Suh is old and will neeed to be replaced same with jpp. I know JOE doesn’t want to hear the word development but we can still develop some younger players while going for number 2. Also TB ISNT getting any younger either we will need to find someone to sit behind him and develop them so they are ready when Brady decides to hang up the cleats. Let’s play for 2 but still develop for the future both can be done
March 29th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Every team needs multiple RBs…….I don’t really think it matters who starts……both should get touches.
Aren’t we lucky to have a RB controversy,,,,
March 29th, 2021 at 7:59 am
Arians loves having two good RBs, and I doubt seriously he will just anoint one or the other as the 1st stringer. He’s said repeatedly, he’s going with the hot hand. I’m not particularly fond of that strategy, I’d rather stick with one back, as most good backs seem to get better the more carries they have during a game. But, that’s not the way Arians/Leftwich played it last year, and I doubt they will this year.
March 29th, 2021 at 8:14 am
build the trenches with the 1st round pick or trade down, collect more picks.
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 29th, 2021 at 10:01 am
I dont think they pick at 32. Not likely to get a starter with the stacked roster they have. Trade back, get more picks, and more opportunities to find value. Licht does well with his Day 2 picks. Can this guy pull off even more craziness and find us 2 to 3 more of these young pieces to contribute to a championship run this season? This does not seem like the team that is just trying to recapture lightning in a bottle. This team is likely to get better, and I am starting to wonder if this season will be more special than the last. Fire The Cannons !
March 29th, 2021 at 10:37 am
Rojo is by far the better runner. he just has bricks for hands. fournette acts like alstott would at times by dancing to much. when alstott stayed true and ran people over he was unstoppable. fournette can be that guy. he is not quick enough to dance. fournette ran at a clip of 3.8 ypc and rojo was 5.1 you take out the one big run and he still had 4.6 ypc. in the playoffs fournette 4.6 and a not 100% rojo was at 4.00…. if rojo and its a big if is able to run routes and catch better he is the starter. he has gotten better at everything every single year.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:01 am
First off I am not sold on Vaughn. Drafting a RB in 1st round, possible but depends on whose available at 32.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:26 am
Pick for DL depth. Those boys are old.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:41 am
I will make a bold prediction here, the bucs will have TWO 1000 yard runners in 2021. I.think they split carries almost down the middle and have a healthy year long competition.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:56 am
Not hating, the Bucs are #30 on run/pass ratio. Why I hate all these idiots that were dying for a RB round one Second, those people didn’t see him playing like Payton Barber all regular season apparently. Third, RoJo is such a better ball carrier up the middle. Easily 1,200+ yards with a #1 RB load. I’d be pissed just for not letting me get to 1,000 yards in game 17. Hoping for a little more Vaughn rotation at #2 RB if Lenny returns to the Barber ball. Still keeping the faith in a Bucs team that will be better in 2021.
March 29th, 2021 at 11:58 am
Mano a mano absolutely and may the best man win. We need depth at the position.
@ Cleanhouse, on AB, remember the game against Atlanta? AB played solid in many key downs throughout the late season. I think he is coming back and he deserves a pay raise still with a lot of incentives but the floor has to be higher so that we don’t spoil another 1000 yard season to cash bonus
March 29th, 2021 at 10:46 pm
Bullspit! There’s a better chance Rojo and his 5.1 ypc will learn to catch better than Lenny and his 3.7 ypc will learn to run better. Rojo is twice the threat at RB as Lenny. He will be the starter.
March 30th, 2021 at 4:11 am
Brady not trusting Rojo is why Fournette was featured in the post season. Do not blame the coaches,Brady is who ultimately determines who is in the huddle from down to down. We as fans can say this and that about a player, but if Brady does not trust you to be counted on, then you will not be featured, let alone in big games. I like Rojo, he is good guy and a hard runner, but this is about trust from the Brady. GO BUCS!!!