Ronald Jones Is “Progressing”
December 6th, 2018
Ready for more work.
When it comes to a second-round draft pick that was supposed to lift the Bucs’ running game, Bucs fans are bitter, frustrated, angry.
Ronald Jones brought a lot of hope but his impact has been, well, invisible. Casual Bucs fans might even be surprised to learn he’s on the active roster.
When Bucs fans watch other games on TV and see recent draft picks at running back making contributions to their respective teams, they understandably ask, “Where’s Ronald Jones?”
To hear Bucs Bit-O-Honey-snacking, Ozark-watching, yams-eating coach Dirk Koetter talk today, Jones is a work in progress and it would be irresponsible to throw the towel in on him so soon.
“I just think Ronald is coming along,” Koetter said. “I think that’s just the best way to say it – he’s coming along. He’s improved tremendously in two areas, in catching the football and in pass protection, but he just really hasn’t been able to break out as runner. Let’s face it, that’s what he was brought here to do.
“Part of it is we haven’t been able to get him to any open grass. It seems like he’s always running into the back of the O-line. Part of that is luck of the draw, part of that is defense and blocking, part of it might be him. It’s hard to say.
“One thing I have learned in my experience is it’s hard to coach a runner that you’ve seen do it and tell him to do it different. These guys got to where they are by being naturally gifted. Some of them have speed, some of them can break tackles, some of them have vision, but I think it’s tough. I’ve been around some really good players and I’ve just seen it enough to know that I think you’ve got to let it work itself out. I’m a big believer that if you’ve seen it on tape consistently in college – which we did – that it will eventually show up in the NFL.”
Koetter also mentioned that both the way the season has shaken out and the way the Bucs offense is built, getting Jones enough carries has been difficult.
“Now, part of that is the way the season’s gone we’ve been behind a lot,” Koetter said. “Our team is built to be a throwing team right now. That’s where our bread is kind of buttered right now. Like I said, I don’t think you’ve seen the true Ronald Jones yet, and for now I’ll just put that on me. Know that he’s progressing.”
Joe hates to crap on the guy, and of course, Joe hasn’t seen an important part of practice since training camp (media is only allowed a short window when practices are open for viewing and the team generally only does stretching and position drills during this window). But there was nothing at all in training camp that jumped out to make Joe believe Jones is anything special. Of course, a lot could have changed since August.
And for Jones, it could be as simple as this offense isn’t built for him. And it could be that Jones is simply an odd man out.
As Nick Saban said he learned years ago, it’s not about plays, it’s about players.
If you have Mike Evans, Cam Brate, O.J. Howard Adam Humphries, Chris Godwin and DeSean Jackson along with a struggling rookie, well, who are you going to give the rock to, one of the receivers/tight ends who are proven NFL ballers or the rookie who hasn’t shown anything yet?
December 6th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Just once, I’d like to see him not get hit 2 -3 yds behind the line! Seems that as soon as he gets the hand-off, he’s already getting tackled. C’mon O-line, open a hole for this guy and let’s see his speed!
December 6th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
i wont call him a bust just yet…..this staff has made many look like bust…..
imo, guice shouldve been the pick…..a hard nose physical north and south runner…..but dirk likes finesse players…..
but its not a good look if dirk can only say he’s coming along….
i want to see what wilson can do in the last few games…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
December 6th, 2018 at 4:42 pm
I don’t remember 2 picks that I was more excited about at the time of their drafts… and more disappointed by now…
than Noah Spence and Ronald Jones.
Both 2nd Rounders… and both… just…. well, just.
December 6th, 2018 at 4:43 pm
This is what drives me crazy about Koetter! Freakin scheme the guy open! Call plays that fit the personnel in the game. It shouldn’t be that difficult with all the long routes. Try wheel routes or scrapes. Get him touches.
December 6th, 2018 at 4:45 pm
@813
On a side playful note,,, I half expect to be driving down the road and see a guy holding up an election-type sign with “Kris Richard Bucs 2019″…
and I would shout out “Hey! That must be 813!”
😉
December 6th, 2018 at 4:54 pm
Dirk has a history with this type of situation. An assumption can be made he wants his RBs to develope. It goes again st the norm of how most coach’s handle their rookies & we have to suck it up as a fanbase and be patient.
He may or may not be a bust but we will never know until he can get on the field and give us a full workload.
December 6th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
Lol@ Demon! He sure is campaigning, ain’t he! ✌
December 6th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Another Jason Licht miss. Fireeee Licht!
December 6th, 2018 at 5:09 pm
Ronald Jones is coming along? Really Dirk? A lot of us fans are thinkin he’s a straight up..BUST. High 2nd rder and the man xan’t get past a linebacker in the NFl. He’s comin along alright..and runnin straight into BustLand.
December 6th, 2018 at 5:17 pm
demon
your right….lol…
you’ll see me on 01/01/19 in front of OPB…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
December 6th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
bucsfanman
i agree….lol…
dirk acts like he cant get creative or create a play for someone with his skill set…..perfect example of trying to fit a square into a round hole…..
but we’ve seen this before from dirk….d.freeman blow out once dirk left….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
December 6th, 2018 at 5:24 pm
Shame on koetter for throwing this young kid under the bus. This kid just turned 21 this past August n Koetter expect him to learn on his own! Y aren’t u looking for creative ways to build up his confidence level to use his skill sets. Get a coach to work with him as a mentor. Someone need to take him under their wings. Koetter u r failing this kid without giving him the tools n resources he deserves. DSmith n the OL should serve as a big brother for this kid. I can imagine what Logan Mankind would do for this kid if he was still on the roster. This is a coaching problem. This kid is still full of butterflies facing professional men (Drew n Tom)old enough to be his dad. Let him run some jet sweeps or as bucsfanman said some wheel routes. Heck… let him run back a kick or two to get him in his comfort zone. The patriots,bears, eagles, n Saints would know just how to use this kid. No one other than Buc fans would know who Tarek Cohen is if he was playing for the Bucs. Koetter is clueless, he’s gotta go… n now!!
December 6th, 2018 at 5:31 pm
^^^ @dmatt,, you just made a TON of great & compelling points about RJones, man, and how that confidence could be built.
December 6th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Koetter’s RB mentality. Learn to pass protect and then maybe we will let you start thinking about runnng again.
RoJo needs to purge his brain of all of the info that is slowing him down and just hit the hole. Play more instinctive. Don’t worry about hitting the “explosive plays” (even tho that’s what the HC covets). The explosive plays come after repeatedly putting the foot in the ground and decisively attacking what you see. Nothing kills speed faster than thinking.
December 6th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
How about the series last week where Kuechly blew up back-to-back run plays to Ronald?
Our coaches basically got schooled by a LB on that series. He was obvisously keying on RoJo on the 1st run. He was unaccounted for on that play.
Next 1st down we give to RoJo and again let Keuchly go unaccounted for. This is a simple example of being unprepared and being unable to adjust.
December 6th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
By progressing you mean he can dress for games?
December 6th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
I like that last sentence Tnew.
That’s a solid statement.
December 6th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Once again, oline is #1 priority. I feel for him and I’m definitly gonna give him another chance. Kids in his rookie season a bit banged up trying to run up the middle with spinning rims Benenoch in front of him.
December 6th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
He’s progressing like this football coach in his 3rd season is progressing in wins I don’t care what this coach says anymore
December 6th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
The trouble with this kid is we are not even seeing glimpses of talent. He is playing like a guy who came off the street.
December 6th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
JimmyJack
Yeah! The classic Koetter calls. He’s so freakin obvious the defense knows what the next play is going to be after the play they’re running right now. HE NEVER SHAKES ANYTHING UP! That’s why we don’t score points in the red zone. He’ll try to run it with RoJo on first and second down on the fifteen. Very large part of why I think he needs to be jettisoned.
December 6th, 2018 at 7:02 pm
He had a nice run last week that got called back on a holding penalty, which had nothing to do with the run. Anyways the good part was that he for once had decent blocking and a chance to get up to speed and he looked good there. The issue with him, so far, is he reminds me so much of Gary Anderson – a guy who runs sort of upright and while he was fast he needed an opening and a step or two to get up to speed, he wasn’t a stop and guy go, and wasn’t particularly agile, and so far Ronald reminds me of all those things. Difference was Anderson was a great pass catcher, and Ronald clearly isn’t that, but if he can get decent at that, I think he’d be good in particular on swing passes. Then again Charles Sims was exceptional at pass catching, pass blocking, ran upright, wasn’t agile, and he was free and the Bucs dumped him.
Anywho I agree with Ronald not being a fit for this offense, if he was in an offense where the blocking was for more of a slashing downhill runner I think Jones would do OK, but in the Bucs offense where the running game is Dirk calling a run straight up the gut on 1st down and everyone in the stadium knows it’s coming and you have to stop and go because there’s 5 defenders in the backfield the moment you get the ball, well he’s a poor fit (as is everyone else not named Barry Sanders).
December 6th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Okay. I just looked it up and they put Shaun Wilson on IR instead of booting him like I thought they did. He has talent and no doubt progress if we get a better oline. He could be the good type of one-two punch the Bucs thought they were gonna get with RoJo and PB.
December 6th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
I’m sure all the OHNO supporters are waiting to come out of the woodwork to support this guy. He will eventually have a decent game and people will think he has arrived while forgetting that he contributed absolutely nothing to the team all year after being chosen in the top of the second round. Who hasn’t seen this story before?
December 6th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
fire licht
December 6th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
SOE……I’m sorry to hear that. I have been high on Shaun Wilson.
I dont recall him doing much as a returner. I felt like there was something there when he touched the ball as a Runner. Don’t think he had any splash plays but if you watch all of his runs I think youll agree there was a spark.
I thought he deserved more touches. He didnt get enough opportunity to explode.
BTW when was the last time a runner took one to the house? From the wrong side of the 50?
December 6th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Thanks for looking that up by the way.
December 6th, 2018 at 8:01 pm
Season is over asks how many times we saw this before……..Bucs fans have a bad answer.
I suggest you ask Falcons fans the same question. You might like the answer. They will tell you about Devonta Freeman.In his rookie year he was in a near identical situation as RoJo.
For me the similarities beg a question…..Did Freeman suddenly get to a high level because of new coaching(Dirk was 🔥 after the rookie season)………OR……..Did Dirk do great work in developing Freeman which helped him explode onto the scene in his Sophmore ssn?
December 6th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
RB position busts at a high rate in this league.
Is there a possibility that many of these busts are a result of poor developement? The follow up question is if our coach has the ability to develope quality RBs?
The only only way to answer this question might be to follow Ronald’s developement.
Off the top of my head these are the RBs who have developed under Dirk……….P.Barber(great job & was an UDFA)……..S.Wilson(was doing fine for an UDFA……….McNicols(colossal failure).
I’m going to call for patience with Ronald. Im not hating what I’m seeing from that position just yet. Especially if you include Freeman.
December 6th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Shaun Wilson:
6 Car
29 Yards
4.8 Avg
0 TD
Not bad for six carries. I know I remember him picking up an important 10 yard first down. He’s fast as hell and can get through holes. Like to see him with a good RG.
RoJo:
23 Car
44 Yrds
1.9 Avg
1 TD
December 6th, 2018 at 9:21 pm
Koetter doesn’t have time to prove he can put together a young RB. If they’re going to bring him back next year, they need to give Wilson a lot more carries to battle it out with RoJo so they can see if they can at least get one sophomore RB going.
December 6th, 2018 at 9:45 pm
Two weeks ago Vita was a bust also? Relax the kid will be fine..
December 7th, 2018 at 4:59 am
Problem is, his limited abilities in pass protection and pass catching mean that defenses know what type of plays he’s put out there for. IMHO, he won’t get much of a chance to translate his “natural ability” to the NFL level until he succeeds on enough plays as a pass-play blocker and pass receiver out of the backfield that teams start respecting that possibility in their defensive game planning and play calling
December 7th, 2018 at 5:54 am
Joe,”I hate to crap on the guy, but…” Ha ha, that’s all you do. Just do it to their face. Or not…
December 7th, 2018 at 7:34 am
Another licht Bust, how many more draft picks are the Glazers going to let him waste???????
December 7th, 2018 at 10:31 am
At this point, smart players like Keuchly will see tells in our offense when RoJo is out there with the limited situations that Koetter puts him in. We need to give him an entire series to give him some game time exposure. There are a ton of RBs, past and present, that need a quarter or two to get their swag on. If he’s a homerun hitter, then you gotta allow him some negative plays to see him pop one off. It’s not like he’s running behind 5 pro bowl linemen. But, we’re in a win now mode to save coach and GM jobs at the moment. So, I don’t see it happening.
RoJo had a great tackle on special teams last Sunday so he needs to use that to get himself going. I’m guessing he gets more reps in practice than game day and the coaches just aren’t seeing it in him.
December 7th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Joe, how are there so many on here that think Licht can’t draft? That’s what he’s best at.
“Another licht Bust, how many more draft picks are the Glazers going to let him waste???????”
-Vita Vea (rising)
-Jordan Whitehead (rising)
-OJ Howard
-Chris Godwin
-Kendel Beckwith
-Kwon Alexander
-Ali Marpet
-Cameron Brate
-Adam Humphries
-Mike Evans
-Jameis Winston
Idiots think Round 1-7 is suppose to be a slam dunk. Just Noles fans that wanted Dalvin Cook and Derwin James I suppose.
December 7th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
SOEbuc
For every 10 players that Jason Licht misses on, he drafts 1 above average player. Whoopdy freakin doo. Thats just basic odds that your bound to make some shots if you shoot enough.
Good GMs make calculated decisions, Licht and his crap scouting department just throw money around to these mediocre players.
Good GMs draft superstars, Licht in 5 years has 1 borderline superstar to show for in 5 years. Thats unacceptable in a 5 year span.
And can you tell me that Dalvin Cook and Derwin James arent absolutely lighting it up in the league? I just want great players, I could give a you know what where they went to school, clearly you do. Thats a loser mentality.
December 7th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
We drafted a RB in the 2nd round, who is light in the pants, cannot block and cannot catch. But he is coming along? Whatever!