Transformed?
September 12th, 2019
Reborn.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Joe knows it was one game. And we should know more tonight when the Bucs face the Stinking Panthers in Charlotte.
Just judging that game, it seems Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians may have been on to something.
Many folks, including Joe, howled for the Bucs to upgrade the running game. Arians said early and often he liked his running backs. And whattaya know, Ronald Jones rose from the ashes and turned in a damn fine game to open the season Sunday.
In fact, he was so impressive, that Chris Wesseling of NFL.com deemed Jones one of Wesseling’s 10 transformed players.
Absent confidence and any semblance of effectiveness as a rookie, Jones was trending toward bust territory this offseason. On the heels of glowing camp reports, however, he was barely recognizable in Week 1. Last year, he was slogging through tar pits. This year, he’s breezing through corn fields. Last year, he was Cyril Figgis. This year, he’s Sterling Archer. Twenty pounds heavier yet somehow noticeably faster, Jones showed sharp jump-cuts, explosion to and through the hole and power to break arm tackles on 13 tantalizing carries versus the 49ers. This coaching staff can’t deny the obvious play-making difference between their 2018 second-round pick and holdover Peyton Barber. Keep riding that red-hot hand, Bruce!
Joe almost expects this tonight, that Jones will be the bellcow.
Look, we all know America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, was hot garbage Sunday. Do we really expect him to improve that much in just four days?
Think about it: The Stinking Panthers gave up 5.2 yards a carry last week against the Rams, whose best running back has an arthritic knee. And that’s even with Luke Kuechly in the lineup.
Joe would run, run and run some more with Jones until the Stinking Panthers prove they can stop him.
September 12th, 2019 at 5:13 am
In complete agreement – if we run the ball 40 times, we win – it will mean we controlled the clock and the ball – that will take tremendous pressure off said QB
Grind it out until the O gets in sync
September 12th, 2019 at 5:23 am
@everyone
I’ve watched every single Bucs game since 1987 so those idiots calling me a fake fan can go jump off a bridge. I laugh because of the blind support of the FSU homers.
I would like nothing more than to see this team succeed but I also know Winston cannot take this team to a Super Bowl.
He DOES not elevate the play of those around him and it’s becoming clear he is holding the team back.
Hopefully tonight good Jameis will show up but every throw me and most other fans hold their breath.
Most turnovers by any QB in the league since he was drafted. Blame whoever you want but those numbers don’t have asterisks beside them.
AND he is being passed up by other younger QB’s that were drafted after him.
He does not look after game one like he is any different than previous years.
Hope I’m wrong. I love the taste of crow. A little salt a little pepper. Some gravy. Mmm mmm. But unfortunately I’ve seen enough of a pattern to not believe he has changed. Still a long season and we will see.
Not good enough to win a Super Bowl but just good enough to make you think (next year will be THE year).
September 12th, 2019 at 5:44 am
If he can do that from the beginning of the game, maybe. He was getting yards against a spent DL
September 12th, 2019 at 5:58 am
Figures Says:
September 12th, 2019 at 5:23 am
@everyone
I would like nothing more than to see this team succeed but I also know Winston cannot take this team to a Super Bowl
When we won a Superbowl it was not the quarterback that took us there. Winston doesn’t have to take us to the Superbowl just he has to not keep us from getting to the Superbowl. A great defense and a good running game is the ticket without getting killed by penalties and turnovers.
September 12th, 2019 at 6:23 am
I would keep the same running game as vs the 49ers. Use both rbs.
Go Bucs!!!
September 12th, 2019 at 6:34 am
I don’t know, the Panthers added a run blocking machine in the center….
September 12th, 2019 at 6:38 am
Run the dam ball an keep it out of Winston’s hands. It’s not all Winston’s fault last game but he doesn’t seem to get it. Your not supposed to throw the ball to the other team maybe he didn’t get the memo last week
September 12th, 2019 at 6:41 am
LESS Jameis=More wins. Run the ball coach.
September 12th, 2019 at 6:45 am
play qb ryan griffin
September 12th, 2019 at 6:47 am
I hope OJ learned his lesson. Ice Cream duties make you SOFT!!!!!
Give it up! Dogs don’t need Ice Cream. Get your mind straight. C’mon Man!
We need you!
Petal to the Metal. Let’s have a complete game. Let’s make this nationally televise regular season game better than the Monday night game vs the Rams.
Go Bucs!!!
September 12th, 2019 at 6:56 am
We all wanted JW to be successful he wasn’t. Play RG tonight. Time to
move on. Bucs fans have been through two failed first round draft picks at QB. I wonder if Glazers re-evaluate the mandate they gave Gruden.
September 12th, 2019 at 7:08 am
Well let’s hope we don’t have to Peyton Barber tonight. Let’s hope we only see Ronald Jones & Dare Ogunbowale. Also we should trade OJ Howard for whatever we can get. He makes more messes than he does plays. I would like to see Brate & Tanner Hudson in our two tight end set.
September 12th, 2019 at 7:20 am
They need to use his speed in the screen game and they need to start running slant routes with the wide receivers but Stu Stu Stu Stu stutter slow minded first-time offense of coordinator Byron Leftwich is going to make this offense look just as bad as when Josh Freeman and Raheem Morris we’re here. If earrings were calling the plays this team would be scary for anyone to face with Leftwich calling the plays we’re going to get bulldozed tonight
September 12th, 2019 at 7:24 am
Hopefully a light went off in Winstons head as he reached out and collected his 11% of the cap paycheck this past week. I’d be looking over my shoulder at all the players making the league minimum playing better than he is. There will be a quick mutiny on this pirate ship if he keeps gifting games to the other team.
September 12th, 2019 at 7:33 am
Trade OJ Howard for whatever we can get?! My god, you guys are absolutely clueless
September 12th, 2019 at 7:34 am
We will likely know if we have the good Jameis in the first series on the first two or three throws…..If they are not good….don’t expect him to improve.
I agree that we need to run the ball often…..and we need to find a way to stop McCaffery….if we do, look out for Olsen….
September 12th, 2019 at 7:40 am
Carolina has the ability like most teams to shut down one aspect of most offenses. I’m sure they’re game plan is to make Jameis have to beat them. They’ll stuff the run, and put the game on Jameis. At some point your franchise QB has to strike fear in the other team, and go out, and beat someone. As Jaws was fond of saying, you can’t hide your QB in the NFL. The running game won’t get going if Jameis can’t make them pay for loading the box early. If we come out run, run, we’re going to lose, lose.
September 12th, 2019 at 7:40 am
“Let the truth be told
Tough Love
My Dad shamed ROJO the player formerly known as 199lber into whom he is today”
Son of Kobe Faker
September 12th, 2019 at 7:52 am
Seems like a lot of posters want Jameis benched. Why? At this point, it would be the dumbest thing this staff could do. They aren’t tied to Jameis. Arians isn’t in a win-now situation. They aren’t operating from a place of desperation. It would be a mistake to not evaluate Jameis in the new offense.
Let’s look at what Jameis was working with on Sunday: new offense, lost his no. 3 receiver, ME13 with the flu, OJ giving the ball away.
Let’s look at his interceptions: 1-OJ should’ve caught the ball, 2-Barber was definitely supposed to run an out route, 3-Jameis overthinking.
I’m not making excuses for the turnovers but it’s irresponsible to not look at them objectively. We’re 0-1. So is half the league. Last year we looked deadly the first 2 games, what happened? Nothing. 10-6 record means you lose almost HALF the games you play.
September 12th, 2019 at 7:53 am
Bucemup,
This offensive scheme doesn’t run slants. I know lots of people have called for it but it’s doubtful.
September 12th, 2019 at 7:54 am
Buc in CLE, you’re right but don’t waste your breath man. These ppl just want him out of here no matter what
September 12th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Coaches need to take some flack for not playing starters enough in pre-season and as a result putting an unprepared and out of sync offense on the field. Evans, Jameis, OJ all clearly needed the work on a new playbook for all of them
September 12th, 2019 at 8:15 am
Fairminded, a lot of teams looked sloppy on Sunday. Cleveland had almost 20 penalties. Tony Romo mentioned during the broadcast that next preseason coaches will probably play starters more than this preseason. I mean, even Brees threw an UGLY pick that was just a horrible decision.
September 12th, 2019 at 8:20 am
bucem
rojo still hasnt proven he can be counted on catching out the backfield….we all know barber is not the rb you want catching passes out the backfield….
BL called a good game sunday….we wouldve gotten the same results if BA called plays….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 12th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Lmao Kobe son tell daddy to shame more especially QB/OC
GO BUCS
September 12th, 2019 at 10:00 am
I have been pretty tough on 27 but I give him credit, he certainly looks like a different dude this season so far, I hope he keeps it going.
September 12th, 2019 at 11:57 am
I compare jameis to my golfing.Hes like that one pure shot you make that leads me to believe I can go pro.Just not feasible!
September 12th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Run it at McCoy!!