“I Feel Like I Used To Move Too Fast”
December 30th, 2021
Ke’Shawn Vaughn
NFL life isn’t an easy transition.
Some running backs and receivers come in and light up the field, others need years to blossom.
That’s been on display this season in the NFL like never before. Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle and Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts are on the cusp of new rookie records at their positions.
Bucs second-year running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn is a guy who has needed time to adjust.
At 24 years old, Vaughn is no immature kid and is older than four-year veteran Ronald Jones, but Jones acknowledged yesterday that he’s working on the mental side of his game.
Slowing down the game — and his brain — is key, he said.
“I feel like I used to move too fast,” Vaughn said. “Now, I’m more mentally healthy than I was last year, not overthinking as much, not thinking as much. I’ve kind a dived into reading more, so I’m kind of relaxing my brain more, is what I’ve been on.”
Vaughn noted the “expectations are very high” and immediate execution is expected.
Joe’s intrigued by Vaughn. He hasn’t had enough carries over two seasons to evaluate him thoroughly, but he’s certainly flashed and his running ability is always lauded by Bucco Bruce Arians. But Vaughn seems to have lost the passing-game hands that got him drafted in Round 3.
Arians said last week that he wished Vaughn “would trust his hands,” which implies a mental issue is having an effect.
Regardless, Joe is very eager to see what Vaughn can do with the golden opportunity before him with Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard injured.
Work ethic is not an issue with Vaughn, as Fournette explained so eloquently earlier this season.
December 30th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
He’s got all the skills. Hopefully it will all come together for him quick cause we need him.
December 30th, 2021 at 2:00 pm
I have more confidence in Vaughn as an every down back. He has great balance and is tough. He also wants to improve. Rojo, on the other hand, is either an idiot, immature, or just stubborn. Very talented, but can’t block or catch. To my eyes, the most frustrating part of his game is watching him plow into the backs of offensive linemen. Watching on TV, it’s easy to see the holes and opportunities he misses. He should pick Bell’s brain or study film of Alvin Kamara.
December 30th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
If you have a good offense, I think it’s pretty tough to be a bad NFL back. Yes, there certainly are bad backs, but for the most part, any NFL RB can get you a 100 yards with enough carries and any sort of decent blocking. So I don’t see how Vaughn would fall below that level, unless he was just flat missing holes or fumbling or getting his QB killed. So in that regard, I have trust that if needed, Vaughn wouldn’t have any issues being the guy for a few games, just like I don’t think Dare will have to many issues in Jacksonville (he won’t be anything special, but he’s not going to lose the game, I don’t think).
But everything able is also why you don’t spend a 3rd rounder on a RB, in particular on with a 5th or 6th round grade, where everyone in the NFL goes, wow, I didn’t see that coming. When Licht picks an offensive lineman too high, you should have faith he knows what he’s doing. But with RBs, I’m not sure what he’s going for. Rojo was picked higher than expected, and it was known he couldn’t catch the ball, and Vaughn was just kind of a blah, nothing special guy with decent, but not special hands. If you’re going to invest a 2nd or 3rd rounder in a RB, it should be for a special talent, someone who is a 3-down back, who can catch the ball really well (Cook, Taylor, Kamara all fit that mold).
December 30th, 2021 at 2:39 pm
I had forgotten about Lenny’s Katrina experience. Holy crap, that’s more intense than anything most people will experience in their entire lives… and he was 10.
December 30th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Arains thinks he has a mental issue with catching the ball, and Vaughn thinks he needs to relax his brain. After reading that I think I’ll go out to the garage and relax my brain with a B.H..
December 30th, 2021 at 2:48 pm
He isn’t a monster in ways of speed or power. He did need to slow some, let some blocking get in front of him.
He was a monster in college, nothing could stop him. At least he realized the NFL isn’t college. Good for him, I hope he can make it happen.
December 30th, 2021 at 2:59 pm
At this point we know that Rojo is a major headcase, but a good runner and bad at everything else, so I’m excited to see what Vaughn can do with more touches.
December 30th, 2021 at 3:01 pm
All he needs is reps and his receiving skills will return. He’s a natural, unlike Rojo. Really like his chances to splash down the stretch.
December 30th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
I’m sure being fearful of messing up comes into play. He knows if he messes up either Brady or BL will freeze him out like they do to Jones. Fear has a wonderful way of making our conscious nightmares come true. Nothing more of a football nightmare for a player than dropping an easy pass or fumbling the ball or getting the GOAT crushed on a missed blocking assignment. It’s not like he’s been allowed to play a whole lot. It takes time for a player to catch up with the speed of the NFL.
December 30th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Agree with the other comments in here saying he just needs more real game reps to get over the jitters, and also our offensive line and Brady make it almost impossible for him to fail.
He probably still has that critical fumble vs the Bears on a catch last year in the back of his head
He’s probably our RB1 next year
December 30th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
I like Ke’Shawn Vaughn, but I’m still hoping Rojo develops into an ‘every down’ back if Fournette moves on from the Bucs next year. Against Carolina, I was heartened to see Rojo out there on some third down plays (mostly third and short yardage situations, but still).
December 30th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
Paying Fournette in free agency will be a big question. Vaughn could be a starter next year. We’ll need to plan on drafting a RB again. Sigh…
December 30th, 2021 at 4:23 pm
don’t fumble and catch the passes from tom brady.
December 30th, 2021 at 4:36 pm
Wanted to like Vaughn but he still looks terrible I know he had the one good run but beyond that he looks bad still
December 30th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Makes me wonder about Harold Goodwin, Vaughn looked like a starter last game so what is Goodwin doing holding young backs hostage. I guess hes BAs old drinking buddy!
December 30th, 2021 at 8:00 pm
Hodad Says:
December 30th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Arains thinks he has a mental issue with catching the ball, and Vaughn thinks he needs to relax his brain. After reading that I think I’ll go out to the garage and relax my brain with a B.H..
I just joined you Hodad
December 30th, 2021 at 8:24 pm
RoJo is a great runner, and okay pass catcher, but for some reason a pretty bad blocker. Which means he’ll never be a true 3-down back.
I just find it weird that all our running backs have struggled with their hands, until Lenny found his groove around the midpoint of this season. Hopefully he doesn’t lose those hands while he’s healing up.
December 30th, 2021 at 10:05 pm
It’s called pressing. Let’s hope he gets past it. He seems like a nice guy.
December 31st, 2021 at 9:26 am
How many times will Rojo have to purposely run out of bounds just to avoid a HIT BEFORE the first down marker before the stubborn Rojo love here begins to fade? Could there be any OTHER single move that screams “I’LL NEVER BE A GOOD RUNNING BACK” than that?
And then there’s the unending WASH-RINSE-REPEAT cycle of immaturity of brooding on the bench like a scolded toddler after being pulled for any one of a number of brain farts and being then being unavailable because he’s STILL dwelling on the humiliation. On top of all his on the field glaring faults, will the Buc’s continue coddling such a high-maintenance head case who has never shown any interest in quickly processing his mistakes, making the needed mental corrections, and then setting all ego aside to look like a player just dying to get back in the game? Nope. Just sits alone sulking.
Who got time for dat when your team has a REAL once in a lifetime chance of running it back? That rare, nearly impossible feat which, if accomplished, would immortalize the 2020 and 2021Tampa Bay Buccaneers?