The Ronald Jones Mystery
October 19th, 2019
Reason for lack of carries found?
One of the more pleasant surprises this season has been the awakening of Bucs running back Ronald Jones.
Joe had the glue ready and the magic marker and the paper all set to go. Joe was “this close” to slapping the “BUST” label on Jones after his horrid rookie season. Very, very few running backs who played as awful as Jones did his rookie season are able to salvage their careers.
While Jones hasn’t quite yet made people forget Walter Payton, and he’s far from a Pro Bowler, Jones has proven he’s the best running back on the Bucs.
Despite this, Jones has six fewer carries than plodding Gale Sayers Peyton Barber, who is averaging a full yard less than Jones.
Many Bucs fans are grumbling more about this than when they cut a check to their auto insurance company. But — alas! — we may have found out why.
In their weekly Sunday live blog, the crowd at Football Outsiders speculated why Jones is not getting the bulk of the Bucs carries. It makes about as much sense as anything Joe has heard.
The Bucs may have Jones somewhat lassoed because, per Andrew Potter, Jones can’t pass block.
Amazing play by Jameis Winston to gain 17 yards on the first play of the Bucs’ third possession. Ronald Jones completely whiffs on a block of blitzing safety Eric Reid, but Winston escapes and throws while running to the left and hits Chris Godwin. This was Jones’ first series of the day, and seeing that play, I’m curious if his pass protection is keeping his playing time in check. As a runner, he has been much better than Peyton Barber.
So it isn’t just Bucs fans who can’t figure out why Jones isn’t getting that many carries.
Look, since Demar Dotson and Alex Cappa got hurt, it seems the Bucs have issued an all-hands-on-deck plea to help with blocking. Already we know stud tight end O.J. Howard isn’t running as many route because he is being asked to block more.
And it seems with the injuries to the right side of the line, now your best running back can’t get on the field because the Bucs are in such a dire need to pass block.
Are Arians’ moves with Howard and Jones basically him saying his offensive line is dreadful? And in turn, is this why Arians isn’t killing America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, like fans are because Arians believes Jameis is in a no-win situation?
October 19th, 2019 at 4:40 pm
It’s what the stats say. OJ Howard is playing more this season than he did last year, he’s just blocking more. People like to overreact because they probably drafted him in fantasy football.
October 19th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Jameis is in a no-win situation. Uh huh.
Yeah we already know that RoJo is not a good pass blocker, that is why Dare and Peyton get most of the snaps on third.
He has gotten better from last year but still not good enough( I don’t know maybe we should have known this before we drafted him, what say you Jason)
Jameis knows this as well, yet he doesn’t protect the football.
Arians is not going after Jameis because Jameis understands the offense, Jameis bust his rear end every day, but…
He is not careful with the football. He takes unnecessary sacks when there is a pocket he can slide into, and doesn’t take the throw away or sack when he needs to and that leads to negative plays at best and turnovers at worst.
Oh and congratulations to Buccaneer Coaching Alum Lovie Smith on upset win over No. 6 Wisconsin. Deserved to be fired here, but glad to see he is starting to have some success up there in Illinois. Good man, and a good coach. (Bad with front office personnel, no doubt about that. )
October 19th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Then run him on 1st and 2nd down and have Barber pass block on 3rd. Just do something to keep #44 off the field.
October 19th, 2019 at 4:48 pm
No one made a big deal about his pass blocking. We all knew he had more potential than barber and yes joe you lied because you came close to calling him a bust in training camp however you did slap that label on him in season. Why make things up? Look, Joe thought Jones had a “bust” of a rookie season for his draft status and Joe would have looked to replace him in the offseason. That doesn’t mean Joe ever said the guy at 21 years old had no future and was toast after not even 50 NFL carries. –Joe Check the tape lol
The only issue with this is we knew barber and jones weren’t good at pass blocking and BA in all his arrogance decided to hitch his wagon to Arizona castaways and an undrafted guy in dare who’s also a horrible blocker.
BA is getting exactly what he deserves for not going out getting a proven veteran or drafting a back but wasting picks on corners having the worst pass defense in the nfl.
October 19th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Ronald Jones is only 22, he will continue to improve with additional coaching and ultimately, he needs reps and experience to continue to grow.
Same goes for the secondary.
Murphy Bunting is playing better, if Edwards and Dean could stay on the field that would be nice.
October 19th, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Joe – having the pitch fork out for the tiny sample size and defense predicting plays on the kid last year (getting hit in the backfield during the handoff) is ridiculous. For being a guy ‘in the know’ you sure seem to carry a significant blind spot or ignorance.
Jeesh….
In BA I Trust!
Jones has had a nice start. Still, Joe would have invested in a running back this offseason. And as Joe said in the offseason, Joe will believe in Jones after he has a couple of 100-yard games. –Joe
October 19th, 2019 at 5:06 pm
We need him to get touches, he can block on play action plays. But for him not to have touched the ball when the score was manageable is just not good. He has a better chance of long gains on screens than our other RBs.
October 19th, 2019 at 5:14 pm
The o-line is Ariana fault, the dumbest quote I’ve ever heard came out of his mouth “we don’t draft o-line because your preparing them for the next regime” or whatever the hell he said. With that look for the line to continuously regress. I said it before, Jones should be getting 18-25 touches a game.
October 19th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
Rojo should absolutely be the primary back here. Barber is no threat to go the distance.
October 19th, 2019 at 5:22 pm
lots of OL were available when the 2nd rd started. There are 5-6 drafted in ghat round starting for their teams….. all better that out RG And RT!
October 19th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
This is mostly on Licht and his utter incompetence in regard to forming an quality O-line with proper NFL depth
October 19th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Pewter Power … “BA is getting exactly what he deserves for not going out getting a proven veteran or drafting a back but wasting picks on corners having the worst pass defense in the nfl.”
I pushed for signing a proven veteran RB too, or even drafting a RB in the 3rd or 4th Rnd, BUT … I don’t think the cards were there to play that hand. We had NO MONEY to buy any groceries; that’s not on BA. And I understand the focus on the defense in the draft (still convinced that was the ‘cost’ of getting TB to sign on). With no money, we had little choice but to draft to our NEEDS. And the Secondary was certainly our greatest NEED in our defense (we’re kinda seeing that now?). There’s just no way to start a bunch of rookies & 2nd year DBs & expect perfection right off the bat.
I’m not as discouraged about the Bucs’ pass defense as many seem to be. We’ve got talent back there. Starting VHIII outside was a mistake IMO; I would’ve rather start SMB & let him take his lumps. VHIII certainly took his, but he won’t be here next year. Give the starts to those who will. We’re in a little better position salary Cap-wise NOW, but there are no groceries out there to buy. Thank you Jason Licht. You screwed us yet again.
October 19th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Hopefully he’ll learn how to block soon so he can get more playing time. It makes no sense to put him in when the defense know he’s in the game for one reason n one reason only cause he can’t block n he’s not that good at receiving.
October 19th, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Must be a wonderful locker room.
Imagine how many talented players are having crappy seasons because the playcalling has to be curtailed to provide maximum protection for your turnover machine.
Brate has seen less than 30% of the offensive SNAPS!
October 19th, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Big reason why he didn’t get on the field under Koetter
October 19th, 2019 at 6:25 pm
He and Howard should be MUCH more involved. Having doubts about Leftwich.
October 19th, 2019 at 6:28 pm
It doesn’t matter who’s in our team is trash! Another season I had hope and they gave up again! They seriously make me want to stop watching NFL all together!
October 19th, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Great observation. Could also explain Dare getting as many looks as he has since he IS very good at blocking
October 19th, 2019 at 6:43 pm
He ain’t gonna shine unless you let him run. Don’t fxck him up too.
October 19th, 2019 at 7:15 pm
I would love to watch a full Bucs game with you Jameis haters to actually teach you the game of football. And no I am not all knowing I just clearly know waaaaaaay more than you guys.
October 19th, 2019 at 7:57 pm
More screens.
More draws.
They have worked.
October 19th, 2019 at 7:57 pm
Ndog stop being a internet phony. There are well advertised watch parties at Buffalo Wild Wings where you are welcome to attend and go and tell Bucs fans how stupid they are. But we both know that’s not gonna happen…….Stick with what you’re good at which is nuggling JW & spare us this phony big boy act. It’s pathetic
October 19th, 2019 at 8:00 pm
ndog
That would be an experience I’m sure.
Would you be able to teach us all while tending to your erection?
October 19th, 2019 at 8:21 pm
“You Guys actually think the organic BL is going to change?
Our unqualified QB coach intern is sooo lost
He has turned our top 5 offense and turned it to the 1970s Tom Osborne Nebraska Cornhuskers
He is dreaming of running 40 yard routes to our new 3rd reciever from the practice squad
This idiot was a unpaid QB coach 2 years ago”
Son of Kobe Faker
October 19th, 2019 at 9:42 pm
You’re correct JimmyJack I should have stated I would love to watch a game AFTER THE FACT cause I would probably want to go at it with all you idiots if I had to watch a game with you morons. I hate people talking when they have no idea what they are talking about and that pretty much is everything you and your CLUELESS crew says.
That’s why going to games is starting to suck, just listening to drunk clueless morons blame the wrong people for stuff that goes wrong the entire game.
October 19th, 2019 at 9:46 pm
We will be fine.
October 19th, 2019 at 10:38 pm
So you give Dare Ognibbawaba (Massacred the name) the MOST SNAPS OUT OF ALL THEE BACKS???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
BULL CRAP!!!! MAYBE GIVE YOUR BEST BACK THE BALL MORE OFTEN AND THE BLITZERS WILL HAVE TO BE MORE HONEST DUMBAZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is just stupid. Doubt I will even watch next weeks game. I’ve got som many other things to look forward to than being disappointed by this crap show. I have NEVER not watched a game live but going forward….I will just DVR the dumpster fire and/or read about it the next day. I have more important things to do it the coaching really doesn’t give that much of a sh!t !!!!! Arians is the big the biggest disappointment of my days as being a fan because he is so talented as a coach and it pulling a dirk koetter and blowing leftwich just like Smitty. Screw this team. As much as I love them I hate them.
October 19th, 2019 at 11:39 pm
Fair enough Joe. This new offense is still a work in progress.
Jamie’s turnovers and penalties (which he would have easily gotten 2 weeks ago) and probably blocking are hurting the kid getting those 100yd games.
He’s progressing. Which is more than I can say for our QB.
Identity is brewing though – Run Defense! It’s a start. If we could just be average in pass defense and eliminate turnovers/negative yd plays (sacks) on offense we will be respectable.
In BA I Trust!
October 19th, 2019 at 11:47 pm
You alright bro?
October 20th, 2019 at 12:29 am
People need to stop making excuses for O.J. he runs routes. He just doesn’t get open and doesn’t have great hands.
October 20th, 2019 at 9:54 am
Imo Ronald Jones is the future face of the franchise, not Jameis…
Even if Jameis returns I feel like we should transition to more if a run first team… Offensive line I’m hoping is our first 2 picks in the 2020 draft …Rojo is still very young he’ll get better at blitz pick ups and catching out of the backfield…He’s a home run hitter that needs at least 20 touches a game…If you put this kid behind a solid Offensive line he has the juice to lead the league in rushing…
October 20th, 2019 at 11:15 am
This whole scene is pathetic. These are the conclusions I have drawn from this discussion:
1. Rojo can’t block.
2. Rojo is our best runner.
3. We need our best runner in there, especially when behind.
4. Our best blocker (Dare) is our worse runner.
5. Dare plays the 4th qtr. when behind.
6. Dim-bud drafted this crew and BA put it together.
Meanwhile, Ndog is trashing everything about the Bucs is his unbridled quest to uphold and promote our very flawed, albeit occasionally successful, Famous Jameis. Yeah, we are surely on the doorstep of the playoffs.
October 20th, 2019 at 11:17 am
Has anybody seen or heard from (10-6) NOSBOS? I fear for his (mental) health.
October 20th, 2019 at 11:46 am
Is it just me, or does RoJo look like an actual pirate?
October 20th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
I was supportive of Ronald Jones all off season. A few others were too. Not everyone gave up on him.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:09 pm
By the way, Mike Alstott was not a good blocker at first either.
October 20th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Oregonbucsfan
LOL You are right; this has to be one of the most disjointed threads I’ve read in a while. Comments all over the place like a battered wind sock.
Running backs in college rarely need to become good blockers, so it’s a crapshoot whether or not the guy you draft will pick up the skill quickly or not. I share Koetter’s frustration on this point.
October 20th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
This close? You slapped bust on him more than once. I get it tho gota get out those articles.