“I Think For Him It’s Just More Of A Confidence Issue”
December 4th, 2018
Rookie running back Ronald Jones returned to the field Sunday and it wasn’t pretty.
Prior to the Bucs’ beating of the Panthers, a teammate of Jones gave an interesting assessment of his struggles.
That was before the No. 38 overall pick racked up two yards on four carries.
Adam Humphries was a fantasy football show guest on SiriusXM last week and was asked about Jones.
“Unreal talent, unreal speed,” Humphries said quickly before explaining that Jones’ issues appear mostly mental.
“He has made some pretty incredible plays in practice. But I think for him it’s just more of a confidence issue,” Humphries said of Jones. “And I think the more reps and the more looks he gets, and you know obviously some health issues as well. I think the future could be bright for him. He just has to continue to work and to continue to get better.”
It would be easy to say Jones is just a rookie slowly adapting, but his running has been so poor, even going back to preseason — 28 carries for 22 yards (and that’s no typo) — that it feels like he’s a bust.
Hopefully, Jones gets a load of carries when/if the Bucs are eliminated from the playoffs this month.
December 4th, 2018 at 12:09 am
He isn’t anything like former 2nd rounder Dexter Jackson by any chance? Nah…
December 4th, 2018 at 12:34 am
I’ve been saying he has tremendous talent, he just needs to shake the rookie jitters. The guy showed he can run and break tackles at a high level in college. He hasn’t had many holes to work with but when he has it’s like Doug Martin used to do. He barrels forward instead of trying to use his eyes to find lanes.
I still think he will be a really good RB. I am not ready to say this guy who just turned 21 and has 23 carries a bust. 23 carries! Way too small a sample size, RBs need the rock to get in a rhythm.
December 4th, 2018 at 1:13 am
He is hit frequently 3-5 yards behind the line of scrimmage… I see this more as a run blocking issue.
December 4th, 2018 at 1:20 am
That photo is the product of an organization so inept that it fails its own players. Imagine turning a viable player into a laughing stock. Licht hand-picked this guy for immediate production in Koetter’s offense to save their jobs. Haha.
December 4th, 2018 at 1:22 am
Even Barber isn’t doing that great behind this oline
December 4th, 2018 at 1:42 am
Barber gets 50 yards and averages 2.7ypc and everyone thinks we have arrived. Just about any RB in the league and more than a few from college could do what the Bucs RB have done this year. Barber has failed to run the clock out numerous times this year while also struggling in many short yardage situations. This is of no help to a team that hopes to succeed in the playoffs. RB will be another top three pick in draft again this year.
December 4th, 2018 at 2:22 am
When are some folks gonna stop making excuses for Ronald Jones and relize that he’s bad? I’m done with the no run blocking argument. Saquan Barkley has 0 run blocking and look what he does. This guy is trash.
Where’s this tremendous talent Alaskan? The guy is slow, has no explosiveness and looks like he is about to fall over every time he gets in open space.
December 4th, 2018 at 2:29 am
When are some people gonna stop making excuses for Ronald Jones and realize that hes bad? Im done with the no run blocking take because Saquan Barkley has 0 run blocking and look what hes able to do. Heck, even Barber has looked good at times behind the same Oline.
Wheres this tremendous talent Alaskan? This dude has has slow feet, 0 explosiveness, and looked like hes about to fall over everytime he gets in open space. Plus he shows 0 emotion and has terrible body language. This guy is trash.
December 4th, 2018 at 4:09 am
Coaches have jitters so it reflects players
Fire Koetter
December 4th, 2018 at 4:28 am
Bucs need to give the man a lot more carries in a row if they wanna see what he’s got. Any back would look bad with this few carries the way our garbage line blocks.
December 4th, 2018 at 4:51 am
The OLine coach , RB coach and Head coach are the busts-
No running game going on 3 years!!
December 4th, 2018 at 5:00 am
The same Joe who says the DB coaches can’t develop secondary players continue to give a pass to coaches who can’t develop running game.
True, pass blocking is somewhat better but very inconsistent- lots of sacks and pressures, but run blocking is for the most part terrible- 2-3 decent runs per game don’t make up for the 10-15 runs of 3 yds or less…and putting it all on the RB or Olinemen is just not facing reality.
The coaches stink at creating running game , period.
December 4th, 2018 at 5:08 am
I think in their first year, they called Mark Ingram(122 carries for 474 yards) a bust, Marlon Mack (93 caries 358 yards) pretty much did nada. You saw those teams address their offensive line and you see the coaches give them the ball and outside of Mack being injured this year his stats improved. Evidence, when Martin was out and Barber played well, who got back into the starting role, and in that Green Bay game he barely ran PB in the second half, it’s Coach K or the RB coach
December 4th, 2018 at 5:33 am
I think if they featured him more as a passing option we would see his talent take off…
The other teams load up like a spring and shoot the gaps hard when he is in the game.
I bet we can take down the Saints this week with 2,3 or 4 hugh screen plays to ROJO.
Than just when they fall back into coverage with him in the game. Send him up the gut for 20 plus… BAM
Thats how to be a fan
#12thManRising
December 4th, 2018 at 5:34 am
#RojoOnTheYoyo
December 4th, 2018 at 5:37 am
I agree about the o-line but we should see something, anything. There’s been nothing about this kid that makes you gasp when he touches the football. Truly talented backs are supposed to make something out of nothing.
December 4th, 2018 at 6:20 am
I see Jones as a balloon… and the NFL as a pin….. the two just dont go together.
December 4th, 2018 at 6:39 am
Com on man this kid just turned 21 in August. He’s a gallon of milk away from finishing high school. I blame poor coaching on developing this kid. With a KID this young u go get a mentor n running backs coach to work with him one on one individually. He has the skills but can u imagine what Bellicheat, Andy Reid n Sean Payton would do to maximize his skills…it’s called creativity Koetter!! Then once he’s comfortable n confidence after making a few explosive plays out in space, u can now put in position in the back field to play his game to his strength. Only the Great coaches would take this approach.
December 4th, 2018 at 6:52 am
B-U-S-T buccaneer/ until specified time, i will tolerate you until i can replace you, imho he sucks
December 4th, 2018 at 6:53 am
The problem is not the RBs, but rather the o-line. They are pathetic either run or pass blocking. When do the Buc QBs get to stand in or step up in a pocket? Hardly ever. They are almost always scrambling to make a throw.
The running backs are often hit in the backfield, even at the point of hand off. Doug Martin is averaging 4.2 Y/A on an anemic Raiders team.
December 4th, 2018 at 6:57 am
This is yet another example of how Koetter doesn’t understand how to work or deal with people. He doesn’t handle Jameis well, he doesn’t handle Jones well, he doesn’t handle Djax well, he didn’t handle Chris Baker well, he doesn’t handle kickers well. He just treats everyone the same which in life is not a reality. He knows football but he doesn’t know people and as a leader of men that is not good enough.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:02 am
Quinton Nelson was a generational pick for the O-Line and had they traded their number 1 and the Jones pick to move up and get Nelson ?????? Imagine our O-Line with Nelson in and Benenoch out.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:11 am
I’ve been saying the coaches who need to be replaced on offense are the RBs, QBs and OL coaches.
Seriously, Koetter gets all the blame if Jameis doesn’t progress, but it’s actually the job of the QB coach to fix any of those issues. A head coach doesn’t have the time to focus on teaching one position.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:17 am
Ndog Says
“This is yet another example of how Koetter doesn’t understand how to work or deal with people. He doesn’t handle Jameis well, he doesn’t handle Jones well, he doesn’t handle Djax well, he didn’t handle Chris Baker well, he doesn’t handle kickers well. ”
You just named 5 different positions, and each has staff devoted to it. It isn’t Koetter’s job to fix them, it is the job of his assistant coaches. Koetter is an administrative man. He’s lucky if he gets a few minutes a day with any one position group.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:17 am
To get him going – next season draft left tackle 2nd round. Move Donovan Smith to right tackle. Get Cappa going at right guard or free agent one.
OR
Sign Kareem Hunt. He can room with Jameis in a spare bedroom. Then Jameis can mentor him. LOL.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:30 am
Just try giving the guy more carries, let him get into a rhythm.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:39 am
So far as Rojo, it’s nice to point at his 23 carries for 44 yards (Joe’s numbers were off), but what isn’t mentioned is that Jones hasn’t been given the ingame reps he needs to get going.
Against the Bears (4th game), his first NFL game, he had 10 carries. The only time he’s had sufficient opportunities. Since then?
1, 6, 2, 4 opportunities to carry the ball over the season. They made him inactive for 7 games. No RB is going to shine with 1, 6, 2, and 4 carries in games.
Season Is Over Says
“Barber gets 50 yards and averages 2.7ypc”
He actually had 45 yards rushing, 2.8 ypc in the game…but his season average is 3.8 ypc. And only 1 fumble on the season (and that should have been ruled a touchdown instead).
Still not good enough.
December 4th, 2018 at 7:43 am
Rojo was not drafted to be a bellcow RB. He was drafted to replace Sims. The RB of the future is not on this team yet.
It might be hard to decide between RB and DL in the first round next year.
December 4th, 2018 at 8:18 am
^^ All due respect Bonzai.. always love your posts. But you have to say that if this guy was only intended as a replacement for Charles Sims, than the 2nd round is WAY too high to draft that type of RB. — High 2nd round picks should be impactful, potential starters.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:22 am
He looks like the 2016 version of Todd Gurley and we now know it wasn’t Gurley. It was the OL and the play calls. Hmmmmmmm……………..
December 4th, 2018 at 9:26 am
Bonzai
“It isn’t Koetter’s job to fix them, it is the job of his assistant coaches. Koetter is an administrative man”
But Koetter doesn’t mandate anything…
We don’t really gameplan
He really doesn’t have any input about the defense
DJack can return punts “whenever he wants to”
Couldn’t even get the team to pick captains.
Doesn’t have anything to say to a losing team at halftime
Doesn’t really know how to fix anything…etc..etc
December 4th, 2018 at 9:41 am
(sorry forgot to sign in before)
^^ All due respect Bonzai.. always love your posts. But you have to say that if this guy was only intended as a replacement for Charles Sims, than the 2nd round is WAY too high to draft that type of RB. — High 2nd round picks should be impactful, potential starters.
December 4th, 2018 at 9:58 am
I really think this guys is a bust, but hope I am wrong. It is hard to judge as our Oline can’t run block for nothing. They are pretty good pass blockers but we suck at opening holes. We need to remake the right side of the line. For this reason, I will give a life line of hope to Rojo.
December 4th, 2018 at 10:16 am
I hate to say it but I also think ROJO may not have it. I do believe when the Bucs are eliminated that he should be the featured back & see what he can do. Also that goes for another bust Bennoch. Let Cappa start rest of year. D. Smith-Liedke, Dotson-Wester. Also sit Grimes & let the young DBS finish out the season. Godson instead of DJax. Wow! I know where does it end?
December 4th, 2018 at 10:31 am
Rojo can’t show it til Warhop walks the plank. Any RB getting repeatedly hit behind the LOS will look like a bust. That isn’t Licht’s fault. Warhop is the culprit!
December 4th, 2018 at 10:31 am
Not enough reps for the kid. Gets hit in the backfield too often. I do agree he’s tentative. The other thing is, when he’s in we try a sweep. We suck at those. The line is awful at them and if you think the rest of the league doesn’t know what’s coming, I got a bridge to sell you. That said, the Broncos O-line is flat garbage but look at Phillip Lindsay. The #1 rushing rookie isn’t Named Barkley, Michel, or Guice. It’s Lindsay, an undrafted FA. 31 teams missed on this guy in the draft and FA. It ain’t an exact science, and before you can be a bust, you gotta get more chance than the handful he’s had all season.
December 4th, 2018 at 10:47 am
I can’t think of a running back that sucked and became very good. Running the ball comes natural to the great ones. Run forest , run!
December 4th, 2018 at 11:07 am
From my observation as a couch dwelling fan, RB is prob the only position that if you don’t look like you have ‘IT’ out of the gate, you may NEVER have ‘IT’ at the NFL level.
All other positions require precision on routes and coverage, scheme and technique.
Yes, blocking is #1 when it comes to running the ball, however the RB position is all about running to daylight.
See the hole, hit the hole. Make a man miss.
They can either do it at this level, or not.
December 4th, 2018 at 11:29 am
It only takes ONE 60 yard scamper for a TD – and everyone’s opinion about ROJO changes…
Give the young man some actual opportunities to make plays and we might just see something good happen.
December 4th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Meanwhile Doug Martin is averaging 4.2 YPC out in Oakland, but we can probably still blame him for our pathetic running game…
December 4th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
@unbelievable- Yep, all Martin’s fault!
@Pickgrin- That’s exactly the type of play that I’m talking about. Problem is, we haven’t seen it. I hope he comes around.
December 4th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
RoJo needs to add at least 10lbs of muscle, really really really work on breaking tackles and learn how to catch and block. And THAT is a 2nd round talent? Nah.
December 4th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
There were a couple nice big holes that the OLine opened up for Barber on Sunday (what a concept- can we see more of that PLEASE) – which as usual resulted in 12 yard “breakaway” runs.
Give ROJO some open space like that and watch him tap into that sprinters speed and flash those devastating cuts that are all over his College highlights tape – turning that mundane, minimal 12 yard “breakaway” run into a dynamic 45 yard “explosive” for a TD.
It’s coming. Jones just needs opportunities to have success and gain confidence. Unfortunately – Koetter is barely giving him any chances – and the times he is in there – the OLine has not opened one decent hole for him to run through….
#FreeROJO
December 4th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
giving this carries is like takin a 3 and out