Fournette Will Have A Role
September 8th, 2020
Expectations for Sunday.
If someone read Rob Gronkowski’s Instagram today, new Bucs running back Leonard Fournette could have a role. Or a roll.
(Joe prefers Pillsbury Grands, preferable with butter or strawberry jelly — or both! Of course, we all need rolls to wipe ourselves with.)
Joe assumes Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians was talking about a “role” for Fournette. Yes, Fournette had his first practice with the Bucs this morning. And his partial knowledge of the playbook and how the game develops will determine his touches, Arians said.
Yes, Ronald Jones is your starting Bucs running back — for now. How much he will play basically will be determined by both RoJo and Fournette.
“He will have a solid role in this plan,” Arians said. “he’s a bright guy. He picked it up quick today. So yeah, obviously he can’t do everything. But he will have a solid role for the week.”
Arians noted that he has not determined a set amount of snaps for Fournette. The hot hand may determine that.
“If [a hot hand] were to develop, yeah,” Arians said. “It is going to be situational too.”
Arians noted what everyone has guessed, that Fournette doesn’t know the playbook so he’s not (yet) a starting running back. But Arians explained he doesn’t need to know the entire playbook in order to play.
Arians said Fournette only needs to know this week’s gameplan which includes “about a third” of the Bucs’ offensive playbook.
September 8th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
I like the fact that we have 2 guys who the coaches have confidence in. NOTHING wrong with a 2 rb approach as imho there are only 4 maybe 5 real workhorse #1 backs anymore in the Nfl. Nowadays you need 2 guys who can carry the load. I like Rojo, but If Fournette gets hot or getts rolling then leave him in there and same goes for Rojo, I just hope that they work out the rotation a little better than last season, It seemed to me that Barber was brought in at the wrong times or like Rojo wasn’t really given opportunity to get going.
September 8th, 2020 at 1:43 pm
not very hard to run the ball up the gut…….cmon now Bucco Brucie
September 8th, 2020 at 2:00 pm
The only real issue is pass protection – so don’t have him pass protecting. When he’s in there it’s a run or he swings out for a pass. If Josh Freeman can start a national MMF game at QB 5 days after signing with a new team, Fournette can run between hole 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
September 8th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
If he gets 5-10 touches in Week 1, that will be good. Once he gets up to speed, I would expect a fairly even split in touches with Rojo, with Shady as the 3rd down and 2 minute offense back.
September 8th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
So is it too early to name our stable of running backs Cerberus?
September 8th, 2020 at 2:46 pm
Joe, why the hang up over who starts? Both Fournette, and Rojo will be splitting carries, and you can believe McCoy will get some too. You sound as if being the starter makes the other guys expendable, or won’t be playing much. Fournette himself says he doesn’t have to take a beating every week now. He’s embracing sharing the ball why don’t you?
September 8th, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Put in the flea flicker Bruce! Bombs away baby. Blow em out and the place will be empty by halftime!! Oh wait
September 8th, 2020 at 7:42 pm
So he will he play week 1? Tiki Barber said it may be a few weeks before he plays… It sounds like Tiki is wrong!!
September 9th, 2020 at 7:59 am
If ROJO can play up to half of his predraft status, and with a proven bell cow stud in Fournette. Throw in Shady along with Vaughn, the backfield would easily be one of the best in the NFL. GO BUCS!!!