Best Bucs Rushing Season In NFL History
May 18th, 2021
Only one full-time Tampa Bay running back since the Bucs took the field in 1976 accomplished what Ronald Jones did last season.
Joe is not exaggerating or twisting numbers.
RoJo averaging 5.1 yards per carry in 192 attempts is the best single-season mark in the history of the franchise for a full-time ball carrier.
In 2005, Michael Pittman had 70 carries for a whopping 436 yards (6.2 yards per carry) as a complement to Cadillac Williams. But that’s just five carries per game, whereas RoJo had the 12th-greatest running load in the NFL last season despite missing two games.
So feel free to laugh at anyone who suggests RoJo isn’t a strong starting running back or he should be looking over his shoulder. Yes, there’s a load of competition in the Bucs’ backfield, but RoJo is indeed coming off the best season a Buccaneer ever had running the football.
Once that handoff happens, it’s all about production. And no Bucs fan has ever seen production like RoJo delivered last season.
May 18th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Helps when you have a deep stable of elite skill position players to worry about, all orchestrated by the GOAT.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
And a really solid OL.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:05 pm
Yes. Watch him run. I think in the past there have been holes there for backs including Rojo but their vision wasn’t there. In 2020, Rojo’s vision was simply outstanding, except for mayber 3rd and 4th downs from the one yard line against KC in the SB. Otherwise he was special good.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:07 pm
And a stout D that gets the O back on the field.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
I do not get that casuals don’t see the running talent Jones has. Every time he carries the pill he has a chance to break a long one.
I predict he will really explode in 2021 causing one more cap dilemma…
Jones > Fournette as a runner.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:16 pm
come out strong, fast and healthy rojo!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 18th, 2021 at 2:16 pm
I would like to see the median yds. per carry in addition to the mean yds. per carry. Not saying that happened here but a few long gainers greatly affects the mean – with no effect on the median. That would be an issue with a small number of carries – probably not too much of one here. Still, got to be a little careful with stats.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Dude runs hard. problem is that his hands are just as hard.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
I recently learned that Ronald Jones first 400 carries are nearly identical to Jim Browns. Statwise.
So that means theres no way in hell we can let RoJo go. Would you let Jim Brown walk out tge door? I didnt think so.
May 18th, 2021 at 2:55 pm
i love rojo
(also pretty sure it would be 4.6 yds/carry if that 99 yarder hadnt happened…which it did, of course 🙂 )
May 18th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
okay Joe, go ahead and laugh “RoJo isn’t a strong starting running back or he should be looking over his shoulder”
May 18th, 2021 at 3:18 pm
Rojo is MUCH better runner than Lenny.
More explosive, quicker, faster… Hell, if you really pay attention, he’s even more physical when he gets tackled.
I’d like to see him get 15-20 carries a game with Lenny getting about 10. Bernard blocking and receiving on third downs b
May 18th, 2021 at 3:29 pm
How soon we forget that Rojo was one of Licht’s busts….
May 18th, 2021 at 3:32 pm
He’s improved every year. I’m assuming he got a Jugz machine this year and is working like crazy on his hands.
May 18th, 2021 at 3:58 pm
I can’t stop thinking of the Superbowl mini movie when the Honey Badger said ” Somebody needs to tattoo #27 he got too much juice he running like he Walter Payton or somebody” hilarious. It just shows me that the defenders in the league fears him or at least respect him
May 18th, 2021 at 4:01 pm
I love how he didn’t let his rookie season destroy him like a Dexter Jackson. He confidence but put his head down and put in the work. Any team that gets him if he leaves us is getting a steal. Clearly watching college Fournette was a once in a lifetime talent but Jones has gotten better and better to the point where it’s who should start. That’s a huge credit Ronald who was a 2 rounder.
May 18th, 2021 at 4:02 pm
U never understood Dirk Koetter he would not let rojo get on the field because he couldn’t pass protect or would not hang on to the ball. So why did he continue to field Winston at the most important position. I guess you love and you learn
May 18th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
Robert Says:
May 18th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Dude runs hard. problem is that his hands are just as hard.
True story
May 18th, 2021 at 5:37 pm
Ah yes…… but do the Bucs give him his 2nd contract????
May 18th, 2021 at 5:46 pm
I like Jones and hope we keep him for a long time.
May 18th, 2021 at 6:05 pm
Buc em,
You think koetter made that decision? Or the one with Martin?
May 18th, 2021 at 6:42 pm
Our backfield log jam is a beautiful problem to have. Basically have three stallion horses ready to hit the track at any time. And KV chomping at the bit for his opportunity.
Haven’t been as optimistic about the teams future success since we dropped the creamsicle in the dirt.
May 18th, 2021 at 6:45 pm
I always laugh at that too Bucemup84.
That and when Ward had Marpet bearing down on him like a Mack truck.
“I’m just a cornerback, what am I supposed to do against a lineman?”
He did what he could- stepped aside and allowed a TD. Funny sht.
May 18th, 2021 at 6:53 pm
My favorite back I said it last year these guys have been competing there entire football life why stop now, cream will always rise to the top!!
May 18th, 2021 at 7:33 pm
Joe what was The A-trains numbers ?
May 18th, 2021 at 8:00 pm
He was robbed by the Bucs last year. With the return of OJ with Gronk I hope to see more runs. We got great RBs to eat up yardage down field. RoJo would show great flashes early in games and then benched. Fournette was not Lombardi Lenny in the regular season. He had 97 touches and 367 yards and six TD. RoJo had 192 carries for 978 yards. Couldn’t get 1,000 (smh Bucs). Probably will have a heavier run ratio in general with Lenny’s playoff run.
Yaaaar two! GO BUCS!!!
May 18th, 2021 at 8:14 pm
RoJo and Lenny are both such fast, powerful runners.
Again, Brady shows his genius.
Those two together, just beat down a defensive front.
Just hammering them, over and over.
It causes the back 4 to creep closer to the line of scrimmage.
Plus, our line is strong- and particularly aggressive.
Just dealing with our running game is a long, hard days work.
And we also have a passing game!
May 18th, 2021 at 10:31 pm
Go RoJo. 1k plus this year.
May 18th, 2021 at 10:34 pm
Rojo is a pretty good runner, but he’s an absolute liability in the passing game. He’s come a long way and he’s worth keeping after this year at the right price, but given his limited skill set, I’d always be looking for an upgrade/complementary piece. Luckily, Licht did the right thing by signing Gio.
May 18th, 2021 at 10:58 pm
He will be even better if he can learn to catch simple passes out of the backfield.
May 19th, 2021 at 7:05 am
Ok but what are the stats for the top 10? I am sure far above Rojo. He runs hard can’t catch a naked lady in a phone booth, he just lacks something can’t put my finger on it. Maybe just a maturity thing, let’s see what he does this year, he should be the featured back.
May 19th, 2021 at 12:02 pm
Everybody quick to give props to everyone but Rojo and fail to realize that Fournette played with the same guys during the regular season and averaged 3.7 YPC. Rojo is a truly special runner.
May 19th, 2021 at 12:45 pm
To me Rojo has a much quicker burst of speed to hit the line than Lenny. Lenny takes a bit longer to hit his stride gains speed if he gets past the line. Rojo has a nice balance of speed, power and shifty cuts. He often looks like one busted tackle from breaking off a long gain. Lenny seems a little better at finding an open lane but gets stuffed quite often. I like Rojo better but playoff Lenny was awesom. If playoff Lenny shows up in the regular season we got two excellent backs!
May 19th, 2021 at 1:56 pm
voice of reason Says:
May 18th, 2021 at 2:55 pm
i love rojo
(also pretty sure it would be 4.6 yds/carry if that 99 yarder hadnt happened…which it did, of course 🙂 )
You can pull the highest production run from every RB in the league and askew their yards per carry average. You can not discount any play just to throw shade because not every RB would have the same result of that play.