Ronald Jones Seems To Have Answered Bruce Arians
September 12th, 2021
Responds to Bruce Arians?
After Ronald Jones had a costly fumble Thursday night in the Bucs’ win over the Cowboys, he seemed to vanish.
Did Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians quickly lose faith in him? Arians was asked about running back usage in his day-after presser.
No, Arians apparently didn’t lose faith, but Arians suggested RoJo lost faith in RoJo.
“He struggled mentally to get over it,” Arians said of post-fumble RoJo.
Well, whatever got in RoJo’s head, it seems to be gone, at least that’s what Joe gathered from reading RoJo’s Twitter this morning. The message seemed to be a response to Arians’ suggestion that RoJo lost his confidence after the fumble.
I’m always ready when my number is called … just call me ☎️
— RoJo ひ “The Breeze” (@rojo) September 11, 2021
Joe doesn’t know what to make of all of this. Joe would understand it more if Arians parked RoJo on the bench to send a strong message that he needs to take care of the football.
The Bucs, since the Arians’ gang arrived in Tampa, have made a concerted effort to get RoJo’s mind right. Apparently, he was a mess between the ears after a year with former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter (not that RoJo offered the coaching staff much of a reason to bolster his confidence).
So if the Bucs have tried to boost RoJo’s confidence for two full seasons, and at the first sign of struggle on opening day after winning a Super Bowl RoJo gets all twisted in the head, well, that’s hard to understand.
Is the fact that Playoff Lenny had such a good postseason still gnawing at RoJo in some way?
(Joe always loved the Bobby Knight story about confidence when he coached Indiana basketball. Knight famously would juggle starting lineups like a mad scientist trying to find a perfect potion. When a reporter asked Knight if a specific player would lose confidence because he didn’t know if he would start from one game to the next, Knight, always armed with a one-liner, angrily shot back, “What about my confidence?”
This is all very interesting to Joe. And depressing at the same time.
September 12th, 2021 at 2:54 pm
Smoke and mirrors
September 12th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
I really don’t understand what Arians was doing there, unless Ronnie was literally having a mental breakdown on the sideline, which I do not believe is true. Rojo wasn’t being careless with the ball, he wasn’t doing something wrong, the ball got punched out. That shouldn’t result in you being punished, in my opinion. But many old school coaches do work that way, guys like Belichick do the same thing, so it’s not unusual, I just disagree with it unless the player is being careless.
What I don’t get is saying Rojo is a basketcase – unless he is, and if he is, then cut him. But if it’s not, then I don’t understand saying he is. If Arians just said ‘I benched him because he fumbled’ – again, some people would disagree, but we know why he did it. But saying Rojo is a emo cupcake who can’t handle the pressure, I don’t know how that helps anyone.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
Ron is a headcase now & Len was a headcase last year. Both of these imbeciles are OUTTA HERE next season.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
You best believe that the Buccaneers coaching staff will be conducting ball protection drills and focusing on stripping the ball from opponents. If not then they are just looking at the pretty lights and the pretty sreamers.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:10 pm
Just a message to Rojo. And if he has a problem with it, it is his problem. We can only probably keep one of the best two next year anyway.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Yup Lenny had his issues last year and Rojo this year. Can only hope it has the same impact it did o. Lenny’s game. He did look like he was sulking a bit, but hard to say. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and that he was disappointed but ready to make up for it (even if it was a good defensive play)
September 12th, 2021 at 3:29 pm
We haven’t had a ‘Beast’ running back here since Blunt
September 12th, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Blunt was a finesse runner, not a ‘beast’.
People just thought because he was fat, he must be a ‘beast’ — but that wasn’t the case in the least, thus the reason he’d hit the spin move and jump over guys. Remarkably agile for such a big guy.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Im nearly certain that fans are chasing fools drama here. The way I see it Bruce knows exactly what hes doing here and when he goes to use RoJo we are going to see a player laser focused and high burst of energy.
Look no further then Lenny last year. He went through his issues and Bruce found a way to motivate him and look at the end result…..playoff Lenny.
Hes doing the same thing with RoJo. Using a different technique because, newsflash, Rojo has a torally seperate mindset the Fournette. Finding how to motivaye players is absolutely not an exact science. Anticipating good performance for RoJo to be the end result here.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:35 pm
Rojo’s body language didn’t look any worse than Godwin’s did, infact Godwin seem to be more affected by his fumble. You gain confidence by being given a 2nd chance or the coach showing some confidence in you.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
JimmyJack – yeah, but I don’t think you needed any games. All reports I heard said Rojo looked great in camp, and again, Rojo had the ball punched out — he wasn’t being careless or doing something wrong.
I just don’t get why Arians didn’t just say he was benched because he fumbled. I don’t agree with that, but it’s understandable. But saying the guy is a mental lightweight who crumbles under pressure, I don’t get how that is helpful, and I don’t understand how it’s motivating him since it’s not like he was playing like garbage like Fournette was.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:48 pm
I don’t care that Rojo set a Bucs record last year for ypc, the dude has proven to be nothing special and is an obvious head case to boot. Unless he has a dramatic turnaround, he’s not worth a second contract. Seems like we always hang onto folks like Winston and Muscle druggy too long. Gotta let em go man.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
Who cares. All this talk about “feelings” is crap. All this back rubbing because some pampered athlete announced she felt stress is ridiculous. Toughen up. You’re paid good money, show up and play.
September 12th, 2021 at 3:52 pm
ModHairKen – well I’d agree, but the issue is there isn’t actually a single bit of evidence that happened. That’s literally what the conversation is, Arians made it sound like Rojo is a quit-first millennial gutless d-bag with no heart – but that’s not what it seemed like, his body language didn’t say that, and if what Arians said is true, then he should cut him since you don’t want people like that on your team.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:02 pm
He should feel very good about the superbowl. That ground and pound drive to eat the clock in the 4th quarter was all ROJO
September 12th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
What MIGHT have helped was not running such a predictai play on first down
September 12th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
He gets to play the Tweety Birds next week.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Rod most are worried about the actual benching. Seems strange youre more worried about press conference sound bytes. Bruce has a long history of calling players out. Its obviously intentional. Weanwhile he will use the media to prop some players up. Its all by design dude.
Different players are motivated differently and Bruce is well aware to the psychology behind it.
He called out Brady last year and media used it as a drama story. Same thing here and the best bet is RoJo bounces back and performes.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Arians statement was insulting bs. A defender trailing the play slapped the ball out of his hand. Rojo was focused on the defender in front of him. He probably should have used both hands just before being tackled but he didn’t see the guy coming from behind. So take your best back out of mm the game for that? Th a t was Arians being mental.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:17 pm
JimmyJack – Calling out a player is, ‘hey you need to hold onto the ball or you’re riding the bench’…. But saying he couldn’t go back into the game because he’s a mentally weak coward that can’t handle the stress of the game, that isn’t calling him out, it’s say he’s nuts and unreliable. If that is true, cut him.
But, again, I don’t think that is true. If it’s not true, why did Arians say it? It’s like he was deflecting blame from himself when I don’t think most people would have blamed him.
The whole thing is weird and unnecessary, unless Rojo really is nuts, in which case trade him for anything because calling him out in public.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:41 pm
The Pigeons look terrible. Let RoJo get his head right against them next week.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
It’s football. If BA ran a franchise QB out for not protecting the football, then screw RoJo’s feelings.
Take care of the rock or sit your ass down.
September 12th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
If we are even talking about this…. The future is elsewhere at the RB position
September 12th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
Coach Arriangance speaks out both sides of his neck. Everybody calls him a straight shooter because he talks tough and how many think a coach should talk but he’s anything but. You question a man’s manhood basically calling him a coward again on air like that you deserve an impromptu and unexpected conversation away from anyone who can help you. No player is allowed to come out or ever speaks about the mental mistakes he’s made so that kind of statement should be kept in his mouth. If he is such a head case cut him then won’t
September 12th, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Lest folks forget, RoJo is a pretty good running back who averaged over 5 yds per carry last season (almost 1,000 yds in 14 games). He fumbled twice in 192 rushing attempts plus 28 receptions. That’s too many fumbles for my taste, but it’s an improvement over what he did in 2019 (3 fumbles in 203 total rushes & catches on the season). BA & Todd McNair will toughen him up soon enough.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:07 pm
He punishes ROJO whenever he makes a mistake that has been painfully obvious the last two seasons. Just get a better rb if that’s the case
September 12th, 2021 at 5:13 pm
Stop playing around make rojo rb1
September 12th, 2021 at 5:15 pm
Trade him to Baltimore please…
September 12th, 2021 at 5:16 pm
DavidBigBucFan99 – Yeah, for whatever reason Arians doesn’t like Rojo — which is fine, it might be for a legit reason we don’t know. But I’d trade him. I think, for certain, you could call Indy and get Marlon Mack for Rojo straight up. I think at this point Rojo is better, but Mack is a 1000 yard rusher too and can catch better, and if you don’t want Rojo, get something of value back who can play right now.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:18 pm
Architek – He’d be a faster, better Gus Edwards. It actually would make a ton of sense of Baltimore to try to trade for him. In that offense, Rojo would probably average like 5.5 and get 1100 yards even as not being a full-time back. You take advantage of the Ravens, try to get a 2nd, then the Bucs flip a 5th for Mack, helps everyone.
Also, no, one one would give up a 2nd for Rojo right now — except for maybe the Ravens because their season is going to go to waste.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:19 pm
RoJo should be the starter Lenny ain’t better than Rojo!! Rojo proved that he should be the starter but BA don’t like Rojo if I’m Rojo I would ask for a trade.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:27 pm
He’s not gonna be here next season so I hope we sign a good Vet or draft a legit RB.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:36 pm
Godwin fumble at the goal line. Why not punish him ?
It was more stupid of godwin play than rojo.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:37 pm
Pats rookie RB, Rhamondre Stevenson, who had a huge preseason and is the #2 back, he fumbled – and he’s not been back in the game, and likely won’t be. It’s not uncommon for old coaches to bench guys.
It’s just uncommon for coaches to say the player went full emo and couldn’t handle reentering the game. To me that’s the only reason it’s a story.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Whoa whoa whoa kids. He sat Vaughn for fumblitis so Rojo is no different Fumble the ball? Ride the pine. Sitting him will wake him up to not make that error again. Brady with targets that drop passes. He stops passing to them.
September 12th, 2021 at 5:53 pm
Buck stops st the top….. Arians….. look to see more Gio nxt wk. Kids got soft hands, quick feet and knows the game. He just needs to get in tune with TB12 and watch the magic fly
September 12th, 2021 at 6:34 pm
It’s just the first game kids. I’m more worried about the secondary.
September 12th, 2021 at 6:48 pm
DavidBigBucFan99 Says:
September 12th, 2021 at 5:07 pm
He punishes ROJO whenever he makes a mistake that has been painfully obvious the last two seasons. Just get a better rb if that’s the case
______
Probably because of his skin color, huh?
You know how “we” are don’t you?
September 12th, 2021 at 7:09 pm
Rojo cannot catch, so he needs good receivers to set up for him. I suggest BA should use him only after few deep catches of receivers, the defense cannot dare to commit to a running defense.
September 12th, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Maybe Ro was just “beating himself up” on the bench instead of being gung ho and putting the loss of the ball behind him. Did you guys ever think of that?
September 12th, 2021 at 7:19 pm
Rojo, Godwin, and Leonard lost me 500$.
I thought for sure we’d beat the spread.
September 12th, 2021 at 7:22 pm
Ronald Jones wasn’t screwed up mentally after fumbling the ball. Dudes been playing the position for a long time. He isn’t going to go mental from coughing up a fumble.
This is Jones calling bullsh!t on Arians comment. I said it before the season, Arians and Leftwich need to sit back and shut up and let this season play out. You accomplish nothing good by throwing players under the bus, and Arians has a long history of doing it.
Ronald Jones has every right to be salty about how this is getting played out in the media.
Jones fumbles the ball – immediately in the dog house
Fournette bounces a ball off his head for an interception – no big deal
September 12th, 2021 at 7:24 pm
gotbucs,
I don’t know man, seems like Rojo, although talented, is mentally fragile.
Fournette seems to have more dog in him and probably us able to shake off mistakes a lot easier.
September 12th, 2021 at 7:40 pm
Ha ha dooshie laroo roo nice bait! You guys got no problem with bringing it up in your veiled ways but got a problem when “others” do it. If you all would leave your “woke” statements and whryte wing ideologies out of here you’d see alot less of it from me, but of course you all can’t you can’t help yourselves
September 12th, 2021 at 7:48 pm
It’s really simple BA is justifying why he kept garbage I mean playoff Lenny out there all night!
September 12th, 2021 at 8:40 pm
It wasn’t a big hit, it was a loose grip. Bench him, but Arians may have went a little too far with his statement.
September 12th, 2021 at 9:03 pm
When Romo was on the bench after the fumble it was obvious he was fretting a out fumbling.
May e he should have been lobbying arians about getting back in to make up for the fumble instead of sitting on the bench with a long face.
I’m sure he cares about fumbling but no use crying over spilled milk.
Pick yourself up a d get going.
September 12th, 2021 at 9:08 pm
This is not jus smoke & mirrors. BA is infatuated with Fournette for some reason. RoJo is the BETTER rb!! They both crap hands, but RoJo IS the better runner
September 12th, 2021 at 9:09 pm
Fournette is nothing special, I’d much rather see RoJo with ball in his hands.
September 12th, 2021 at 9:12 pm
DooshLaRue ur pushing it 😂
September 12th, 2021 at 9:17 pm
Not a Jameis fan, but do you want to backtrack on your earlier post?
September 12th, 2021 at 9:57 pm
LeGarrette Blount, like his predecessor Mike “A-Train” Alstott before him, had his share of fumbles while playing for us.
Don’t write Rojo off yet!
Go Bucs!
September 12th, 2021 at 10:12 pm
The defenders helmet hit the ball, even the best RB’s ever can lose the ball that way. It wasn’t like RoJo was being careless.
September 12th, 2021 at 10:40 pm
I think Rojo is just a pretty calm guy. I think BA mistakes his calm demeanor for lack of confidence.
September 12th, 2021 at 10:55 pm
Gio should be starting.
September 12th, 2021 at 11:09 pm
Gio is a 3rd down back, and is not as good of a runner as Rojo or Fournette. But he is certainly a better receiver, and is supposed to be a better blocker as well. Thus the reason he’s on the team.
If he was a 3 down back, he wouldn’t be here on a vet min contract.
September 12th, 2021 at 11:24 pm
It’s a week one win so I don’t care at all at the moment. But Playoff Lenny looked like regular season Lenny last year. RoJo is the much better RB if they’re trying to gain yards on the ground. How long is it gonna take for these guys to learn how to catch the ball?
September 13th, 2021 at 12:05 am
Tired of hearing it. Minus the playoffs. Rojo has been better.. He hits the holes faster and with more power. He is faster than fournette, and has more wiggle. If he can ever get a fair shot will be a great back.
September 13th, 2021 at 1:04 am
Maybe, just maybe – carrying the ball technique may have been an issue during training camp and since the punch out happened because RoJo didn’t have the ball secured against his body or arm- perhaps Arians is just making a point to all the RB’s about technique.
September 13th, 2021 at 1:40 am
Rolando Jones tried to make a play. Defender made the play. It happens.
A learning lesson. Will never happen again. Rolando Jones is just getting started. Bucs had a short field, defense crowd the box. Rojo wanted a touchdown against Cowboys. Wouldn’t any running back want that. If you can do it once, you can do it again. All these comments; it’s about the RING.
The Tampa Bay Bucs just got to stay healthy. Rojo got speed and moves.
Add another TB12 pliability 5 pounds. Final lesson, let the GOAT win the game
until the season spreads out. Rojo is going to get his performances.
Bucs running back room is just fine.
September 13th, 2021 at 4:33 am
everything is back to normal next week…rojo will get some run…
as per the commissioners memorandum to bucs and cowboys team hierarchy:
“play and feature all your freakin’ stars under the opening night spotlight as you’re featured on a national stage – this game is not about you and your up and comers – feature your star power players – it’s about the nfl – understand that – you work for us”
September 13th, 2021 at 6:17 am
I’m not sure why everyone is running to defend him. I question the call of pulling him completely but Rojo needs to man up. PERIOD.
If he’s legit, he’ll bounce back.
If not, he doesn’t belong here. And frankly, ONE good season does not make this guy untouchable.
BA knows what he’s doing.
September 13th, 2021 at 6:56 am
Arians getting old if he think Fornette is a starter in this league
September 13th, 2021 at 7:04 am
ROJO gets benched due to the defense making a play(they do that sometimes). Eournette botches an super easy catch with no defensive influence on his mistake , and ROJO gets the pine for the rest of the game. Sure smells like a coach playing favorites. If there was any mental suffering on the part of ROJO , a smart coach deals with that behind closed doors not with the media, BA should learn when to zip his lip.
September 13th, 2021 at 7:18 am
DavidBigBucFan99 Says:
September 12th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
Coach Arriangance speaks out both sides of his neck. Everybody calls him a straight shooter because he talks tough and how many think a coach should talk but he’s anything but. You question a man’s manhood basically calling him a coward again on air like that you deserve an impromptu and unexpected conversation away from anyone who can help you. No player is allowed to come out or ever speaks about the mental mistakes he’s made so that kind of statement should be kept in his mouth. If he is such a head case cut him then won’t
^^^^^^^^^
Sorry if Arians hurt your feelings with his comment.
September 13th, 2021 at 7:44 am
BA is mistreating Rojo and if I’m Rojo I will ask for a trade . BA stop him from getting his 1,000 yards and could have gotten more than that if it wasn’t for Lenny. Rojo is a better runningback than 7 all day !!
September 13th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Rojo would have had a 1000 yard season last year but Brady wanted AB to get his bonus. Not saying Rojo is a top tier NFL back but he sure is a better runner than Lenny. Lenny is good once he gets past the line but too slow getting up to speed. ROJO has way faster acceleration from the get go. If there is a momentary opening he is thru it in a flash. What coach said was inexcusable and demeaning. The comment said more about Arian’s character than Rojo’s ability. I wonder what the other players thought about such a low blow comment about a fellow player who always gives a maximum effort. Arians should applogize!
September 13th, 2021 at 9:02 am
Boy, a whole lot of drama for nothing IMO. Suddenly BA can’t coach?! “Mistreating Rojo”? C’mon.
Maybe, just maybe they retained Lenny for a reason. Perhaps a little more to the story than what we see?
We won the game folks.
September 13th, 2021 at 9:27 am
I’m no head coach or anything but while watching the last few plays of the bears and rams game, the rams ran the inside zone from the gun. Rojo use to make house calls when he was at USC. I know there’s a difference in the speed of the game, but have we ever tried the inside zone run from the gun ?
September 13th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
If Brady and BA trusted ROJO, he would have been featured in the post season last year. It is not just about ability, it is about trust, not turning the ball over, and do not miss assignments and let Brady get hit. TRUST
Brady runs the huddle, not the Coaches, so get mad at Brady if you want.
But if things just seem to go wrong when you touch the football, then you will be on the sideline. Whether the ball was punched out like Thursday night, or how ever you end up being part of a turnover, it does not matter, Trust is earned not just given. And ROJO is the one who has given coaches and players a reason to not trust him with the football.
So anyone can talk about ROJO’s ability, if you keep on being part of turnovers, then just stay on the sideline, or maybe they could trade him and get someone you can trust to not screw up.
I do not care what the name of the player is, just step up when called upon.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 13th, 2021 at 8:05 pm
That’s a b.s. answer!! He just couldn’t say to send a message that we don’t make turn overs because the very next drive Mr playoffs did the same thing…. Give..rojo … THE BALL!!! He wears teams down with his hard running style and maybe you wouldn’t have had to give up on the run so soon and force a 44 year old to throw it 50 times in the very first game of the season!!
September 13th, 2021 at 8:06 pm
Is it bad that I’ve felt better when Fournette is running the ball since last season? He doesn’t fumble alot..RoJo had 14 in 2020, 15 in 2019.
September 13th, 2021 at 10:14 pm
It’s not about Lenny vs. Rojo to me. If one or the other plays well- we win. It’s about poor coaching. 5 Buc players dropped/fumbled during the Dallas game. No one was benched but Rojo. So who is BA sending a message to? Because his teammates didn’t get the same memo. This happened in the 1st quarter other drops happened afterwards. BA isn’t a good coach. Techniques outdated and we all know Brady is now the head coach. Brady got lucky with all this talent in Tampa. BA protects AB fighting and punching out a Detroit Lions violently but isn’t protecting Rojo’s image. If you don’t trust him – trade him.
September 15th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Beeejsays is right on point about the predictable first down plays! Rojo will be okay. Still maturing as a player.
September 19th, 2021 at 11:33 am
Isn’t that 9 STRAIGHT GAMES we have won now? Not stressing about this, just get into the game and make a play.