Protecting RoJo’s Confidence
September 7th, 2020
Joe wrote last year about Operation RoJo, a choreographed effort at One Buc Palace to prop the confidence of second-year running back Ronald Jones.
Bucs officials and Jameis Winston started talking up RoJo in April of 2019, and it felt like his every move in underwear football was celebrated to the extreme.
In October, it really was magnified. RoJo was, at the time, the 17th-leading rusher in the NFL. And Demar Dotson, who had seen it all as a Buccaneer since 2009, said twice that he was impressed by how coaches were working on the mental side of Jones.
“”I think the coaching staff is doing a good job of putting that confidence in his head,” Dotson said. A minute later Dotson added, “I mean they just putting so much confidence in that kid and you can see him, you know, growing from it.”
Indeed in worked. RoJo went from garbage rookie to productive running back. But Bucco Bruce Arians only gave RoJo 80 carries in the final eight games and then said third down is not for RoJo.
Then in marches LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette, plus Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the draft — all while Arians keeps saying it’s RoJo’s No. 1 RB job to lose.
Joe wonders about RoJo’s confidence and how the Bucs will manage it. It smells like it could be a huge challenge. RoJoe was a mentally fragile/immature rookie, Joe was told many times in many ways.
Frankly, keeping RoJo on the right track could be a key to the season.
September 7th, 2020 at 1:44 pm
RoJo in the first half, Fournette in the second.
September 7th, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Oooor, if he stinks out loud, you have some proven legit RBs right behind him learning the offense more every day.
September 7th, 2020 at 1:51 pm
Arians said what he had to about it’s his job to lose.
Rojo is going to miss a block where Brady gets sacked and we are never going to see him again.
September 7th, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Who cares future be damned, right?
September 7th, 2020 at 1:56 pm
In other words , ole stale biscuit has once again, only proved that he is a liar!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best “kick” of the buc’s season will be the day after the season is over, when they “kick” ole stale biscuit to the crub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 7th, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Hey you cant wait forever on RoJo. At some point you gotta make a firm decision and choose a direction.
He had a whole year last year. And he gets the ball as RB1 to start this year. He will have to make something of his opportunity and earn his way like all others before him………And it will be fun to watch as a fan knowing if RoJo cant do the job there’s a great chance somebody else in our backfield can.
No matter what happens the Bucs should definently be able to choose the future direction of our backfield. Somebody is going to step up and shine……Hopefully we can get multiple RBs gashing and making huge plays!!
September 7th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Fournette and McCoy are proved RB’s. To be honest I do not foresee RoJo in Tampa next year. You already got a much better one and Ke’Shawn Vaughn in development mode. I know that RoJo is too young, but a NFL Team cannot be babysitting players.
Cheers from Guadalajara, Mexico !!!!
September 7th, 2020 at 2:03 pm
Ndog what future??………please I freaking dare you to tell me what this great big future we had for our backfield that we threw out the window.
Tell me what this future was 3 months ago. And then tell me how we dammed it all. Back up your statement little man.
You cant cause you wont. Like always.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Four talented RBs. It’ll all sort out. Other teams would love to have such a problem.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Look at all the RBs on pats team every week it’s someone else going off same happening here imo
September 7th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Rojo needs to ball out and have an All-Pro season while staying healthy for a full season plus playoffs. If he can’t we have someone else who can. Period. Get the job done or move aside.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Who cares…RB is probably the easiest to transition into production at the pro level. He’s had two years to lock up a position that most secure from day one.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
The one thing I gotta worry about RoJo with is he has been bad at both run blocking and as a pass catcher………..This puts him behind the 8 ball with Fournette. We know Fournette can make some plays ass a pass catcher……I’m not sure on Fournette as a blocker. I’ve heard good and bad.
Seems to me like RoJo must pick up one of the other elements of the RB position…..Either that or really tear things up as a ball carrier……….If not I easily see Fournette beating him out and taking over as the lead back……..I actually think it makes an exciting situation for RoJo and I cant wait to see what he does in New Orleans.
To be honest I’m looking first to see what Ronald does before I see Brady.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
At some point it is on the player to produce, Rojo will determine his position by his play. So regardless if it is lesser than the other backs he still needs to produce at his best rate as this is a team sport and effort and each yard and possession determines a game and the flow of it. Fournette by size and running style is a lead back somewhat like Ezekiel Elliot and just with the attitude he is coming in with looks like he is ready to show his real potential. We are fortunate to have him and Shady both are great examples of what productive backs should be. Rojo has the ability to shine if he focuses on what is given him and relaxes and stays within his abilities knowing this is a team not of individuals but of purpose.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
You finally get it Jimmy Jack we have no future with this plan or lack thereof it’s all about what happens this year after that none of these people that are in charge give crap. Haven’t you learned that by now, well I guess now you finally are because you’re asking the question same question as I what future?
September 7th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Feeling…. Bwahaha… winning is the only feeling in football!
September 7th, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Let’s all get together and name the players this organization has developed the past 5 years.
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and…..?
It looks like Carlton Davis Jamal Dean Sean Murphy Bunting all could be players that develop but still way too early to tell and even if they are that’s a grand total of five players in the last five years.
That’s not exactly awe inspiring. So what does this organization do let’s go out and get the old man retirement club. So after this year when Fournette leaves for big money we will have no number one running back because Ronald Jones never was developed, we will have no third down back cuz we wouldn’t develop Darr and put old man McCoy in there, and of course we all know we’re not going to have any quarterback cuz Brady’s going to be useless by the end of this year if he’s not already.
The future looks so bright I gotta where shades right JimmyJack????
What future????
September 7th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
September 7th, 2020 at 7:31 am
Expecting to win is much better than worried about losing…….for a fan and especially for a player.
…………
Best comment of the ………………. maybe lost decade?
September 7th, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Ndog when we start winning will you just please go away?
Please.
September 7th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Y’all let’s ignore the 🤡 it’s football time!!!!
September 7th, 2020 at 2:56 pm
Competition makes players better. If RoJo wants to remain #1 on the depth chart he needs to keep getting better as a runner. If not, Fournette and Shady will be our backfield duo.
I wish RoJo good luck, but my belief is that Fournette is too talented to keep on the bench for long and cracks the starting lineup by mid-October.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN! This is the most excited I’ve been for Bucs football since year one of Gruden….and we all remember how that worked out!
September 7th, 2020 at 2:57 pm
Ndog I asked you what future for our running game you saw 3 months ago. And I’m asking how the Bucs damned that future this offseason.
You said future b me dammed so tell me about this grand future and how it was ruined? Your avoiding the question.
I didn’t see any future with this Running game. I have no idea how you think they dammed it. The young guy we had with RoJo is still here. And we invested a 3rd rounder into another RB and he is also still here. What future did we dam? The future coming of Dare O. And that 7th rounder?
Explain you absurdity
September 7th, 2020 at 2:58 pm
Yes just ignore both the clowns. it’s a new year starting this week. let them enjoy their negativity by themselves.
September 7th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
Ndog you are so wrong even if we lose you will still be wrong.
You are so wrong that realistico is even more right then you……..And I never though I would say that……but alas
September 7th, 2020 at 3:15 pm
Careful NDog. JimmyJack may double-dog dare you! 😎
September 7th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
“Blah, blah, blah, biscuits and sheep, blah, blah, blah”, said El Buco Dicko!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“I want my #3 back, whaaa, whaaa, whaaa”, said BabyDog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 7th, 2020 at 3:20 pm
A dog and a sheep getting it on.
September 7th, 2020 at 3:21 pm
And they ain’t never leaving till six’ in the morn
September 7th, 2020 at 3:44 pm
BA says a lot of BS. He don’t give a sh_t about Rojo or Tojo as soon Rojo screws up hes riding the bench.
September 7th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
Future what future, there is no future. Bruce Arians is not worried about anything if it doesn’t involve making himself look good baby.
No risk it no biscuit right, now I know what that actually means It means HE is going to risk OUR entire future for HIS personal biscuit.
September 7th, 2020 at 4:45 pm
These guys compete their entire life RoJo know as long
as he does what he suppose to he is going to play period!
September 7th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Wow….80 carries the last 8 games…..how generous……let’s see….that’s not even one 3 down series per quarter….
September 7th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
We’ve had almost 2 decades of losing, we may finally get a playoff birth and a SB and some dog and pony show is harping on a future just to grind an ax because his lover isn’t part of it.
Much ado about nothing.
If the Josh Rosen signing isn’t about the future, I don’t know what is. If working on Lavonte’s contract isn’t about the future, I don’t know what is. If putting Shaq on a Franchise Tag to see if his one year wasn’t a fluke, and not investing a lot of long-term loot prematurely isn’t about investing in the future, I don’t know what is. If getting Antoine Winfield and a bunch of 2-3 year secondary guys in the fold isn’t about the future, I don’t know what is. If having 2 guys like Tom and Gronk in as players, mentors, and seeing what it takes to win isn’t about the future, I don’t know what is.
September 7th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Why are we coaxing RoJo like a kicker? If you don’t have confidence, maybe you need to play better and generate that confidence. Grow a pair and hold your own against Fournette.
It’s a bad sign if RoJo still has confidence issues and is mentally weak. He won’t last long, if that’s the case.
September 7th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
Mexico…I don’t see Shady on the roster next year. I think he will retire or lose that step and we will wish him well. I see Rojo and Fournette or Vaughn. But then, I don’t have dreams about such things.
September 7th, 2020 at 6:46 pm
How can our GM and scouts not pick up of that lack of confidence and immaturity in the pre-draft process?
September 7th, 2020 at 7:40 pm
This is a freakin joke, just get rid of the guy, who the hell drafts these head cases, one after the next- it’s incompetent nonsense-
Fire Jason Licht yesterday- He’s terrible- a trained chimp can make transactions- this guy should be banned from drafting
Aguayo, Spence, McNichols, VH3, RoJo and even Winston-
If theyre head cases just get rid and cut your losses
RoJo is a bust and and now we have to hear the same song and dance as we always hear- Peyton Barber is the starter- blah blah RoJo is the starter….
Licht needs to be held accountable-
These clowns always figure it out half a season too late, which is about the time at which the team is finished.
What a disgrace
September 7th, 2020 at 7:41 pm
At least Winston flashed
September 7th, 2020 at 8:32 pm
Yeah Clean House! He flashed NDog!! NDog enjoyed that so much he can’t stop dreaming of it!! Ndog’s IN LOVE!!!
September 7th, 2020 at 10:04 pm
Jones is basically the same age as a 5th year senior. He came into the league at the age of 20, having excellent physical ability but needing to develop the mental side. The time is now.
September 7th, 2020 at 11:34 pm
The immaturity element is a fair point. It seems RoJo’s confidence developed from Dirk Koetter giving up on him so soon and not wanting to develop him.