RoJo Among The Best
November 15th, 2020
Joe finally, finally, finally got to see it after waiting nearly three seasons.
Joe had big expectations for RoJo but after two years Joe was begging for the Bucs to move on. RoJo had done little to nothing in the NFL as a No. 1 back.
RoJo was so little thought of, Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL Network said before the season that RoJo was his No. 32 starting running back.
And even the Bucs had serious doubts about RoJo. Don’t think so? Then why did the Bucs acquire three new running backs in the offseason including a former first-round draft pick.
Joe had always hoped to see RoJo take a run to the house, especially like Leonard Fournette did the first time this season the Bucs faced the Stinking Panthers. But that never happened.
Until today.
After coughing up a football on a reception early in the game that led to a Carolina touchdown, in the second half RoJo took a handoff from the Bucs-2, burst through the left side and broke three tackles and housed the damn thing. It is the longest offensive play in Bucs history.
Arians said backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert told him, upon the play being sent in and the Stinking Panthers defense line up, he thought RoJo had a chance to break one.
Arian said he thought RoJo had a chance too on that play. Then — BOOM!
That’s what Joe wanted to see. No, Joe didn’t expect RoJo to rack up a 90-yard touchdown. That’s terribly unreasonable. But damn if RoJo didn’t show he can do it.
Arians told the Buccaneers Radio Network he had to make sure RoJo didn’t get down in the dumps after his early fumble.
“That stuff happens,” Arians said he told RoJo. “You are our guy and I expect big things every time you touch the ball. You are not coming out of the game.”
And Bucs history was made.
Ronald Jones II, now at 192 yards, has tied Errict Rhett (192 on 12/4/94) for the fifth-most single-game rushing yards in Buccaneers franchise history.
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) November 15, 2020
November 15th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
i have been stating for 2 years that there is NOTHING wrong with Rojo. Joe continues the narrative that he was sub-par last year…..just wasn’t so….
Let me remind Joe & the rest of the naysayers……If Rojo simply carried the ball 15 time per game last year….he was projected to gain 1008 yards.
November 15th, 2020 at 4:52 pm
some are slamming rojo…go figure…
let’s just hypothetically subtract the 98 yard run from his day…
he was 22 for 94 yard…
i’ll take that every darn sunday from a starting back…
let rojo run…
run rojo run !
November 15th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
No Risk It No Biscuit!!!
November 15th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Thank god he didnt get caught I was having a flashback of Vincent Jackson losing gas and blowing a 98 yard td as he got tackled at the 2 yard line. RoJo is having a strange career seems like hes getting better every season which is unusual for a RB.
November 15th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
Said it earlier this morning, better with RoJo.
November 15th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
TBBF
I like ROJO as well and I can testify yes you were banging the ROJO drum all last year and used stats to make your point. For some reason Joe wasn’t convinced.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:00 pm
You and Joe have FAR different definitions of “subpar” then.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
Nor were the Bucs.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:02 pm
LOL You too?
(Remember Schiano called four straight plays up the gut and failed on each attempt? smh).
November 15th, 2020 at 5:10 pm
I’ve been wanting to see Rojo get in the open field and show his speed. Can we run him on some sweeps as well. I think we’ve ran 2 all season and both have been to Fournette who to me is looking like he doesn’t like contact. Maybe I’m wrong but I think Rojo is the more complete runner. If he gets his hands on order he’ll be a complete back
November 15th, 2020 at 5:10 pm
I was one of the ones screaming for Arians to pull him. His patience is why Arians stands during the games and I sit on leather. I was wrong.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:12 pm
Maybe those that don’t know the game can finally STFU about Fournette being better than Rojo. Better at what… I dunno. Fournette runs like a toddler. Not impressed. Taking Rojo out for Fournette is giving defenses a break.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Joe wasn’t impressed with Rojo last year while he averaged 4.2 ypc while talks about Cadillac Williams like he was special when he averaged 4.1 ypc… also failing to realize that Cadillac couldn’t catch a ball to save his life early in his career AND after starting his career with 3 straight 100 yard games and had a grand total of 7 for his career plus his rookie year was the kne of his career to average at least 4 ypc.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:20 pm
Williams averaged 4.1 ypc his rookie season, the only season in his career he went over 1000 yards and also the only season where he averaged 4 ypc or more. Williams was 23 his rookie season…. Rojo is 23 right now.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:21 pm
RoJo instantly put himself into All-Pro talk. Quietly he was churning 4 yards a carry. Now he is over 5. I bet
Ronald has a huge game coming up! He has a chance to carry us on his back and win us another game!!!!! Ronald could instantly become a wordwide celebrity overnight next week.
We witnessed something very very special today from Ronald Jones. Legitimatly he is up there with Sapp/Barber/Lynch/Brooks with his performace today. Brooks & company found an ability to repeat a great performance. Them guys would do it 3,4,5 games in a row. Brooks and Co would start feeling a great groove in early November and start really destroying our oponents!!!
Ronald Jones is hiting that groove right now. And so is Tom and all 8 of his recievers. The Bucs will be scarry good if they can repeat this next week……And it amazing because its not all on Tom…….Ronald has legitimately proven he can become our best player. Our defense has also shown they can win us the game. Bowles and the defense were a big reason why we took conrol of todays game.
I 100% expect a win vs the soft Chiefs next wek. The Bucs are too good
November 15th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Ro Jo is the starter no more Fournett he’s done .
November 15th, 2020 at 5:32 pm
@TBBf:
IMHO, you have been right all year, and kudos to you!
Right about ROJO.
Right about “penalties, turnovers and special teams”.
tickrdr
November 15th, 2020 at 5:36 pm
I wasn’t convinced…until today!
November 15th, 2020 at 5:43 pm
Joe,
I think you had every reason to believe Rojo was a bust after his first two years…
Putting on more WEIGHT has turned Rojo into a different player. There’s no question about it. He’s tougher and stronger, and probably gave us some of his topline speed because of it — but that’s what is needed more in the NFL; strength over speed.
Anyone that thinks Rojo just got better with more training time is underestimating how career-changing his decision to put on more weight was.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Thank you Brady.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:53 pm
I liked the RoJo pick since he was drafted. Reading the game comments RoJo was dumped on heavy early on and generally this reflects most fans are clueless.
November 15th, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Can we be done with the Fournette chatter now? He was a high draft pick, and thats the only reason why some of these clowns automatically think he’s great.
He might be better than what he’s playing like right now, but he looks to me like a guy protecting himself for free agency.
Every carry not given to Ronald Jones is a waste.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Bradybuc.
100% correct. Rojo just needed his ”grown man” body. Some people are just late bloomers.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
Just curious, but what are the most carries Rojo has had in 1 game?
November 15th, 2020 at 6:05 pm
Even great players like Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, etc. look like crap when the game plan is so predictable: up the middle in first down. That is why we had a fumble at the very start of the game.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Good gracious, I remember the Vincent Jackson play. A terrible memory.
November 15th, 2020 at 6:43 pm
Errict Rhett was a weekly FFL gold mine. Every week 28/96/2.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:04 pm
Rojo top 3 rb in the nfl no 🧢
November 15th, 2020 at 7:25 pm
We should have been running Jones . I never really knew how good he was because we never ran him that much .
November 15th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Rojo’s carrier start is similar to OJ Simpsons. It’s possible for a back to get off to a bearish start and become bullish!
November 15th, 2020 at 7:54 pm
That was what RoJo needed to hear from BA.
November 15th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
There was good reason for Joe and the fans to say Rojo should be dumped at the beginning of the year. For a high draft pick to take 3 years to come around it’s understandable. I’m still calling him butters until he learns how to catch and not fumble the ball. Good news for him is he only has Fournette behind him and the way he’s been running with no heart Rojo is safe. Biggest thing that has helped this year is putting his foot down and hitting the whole. Last 2 years he was dancing around instead of just going. Good job butters, keep improving!
November 15th, 2020 at 8:08 pm
Ya gotta go back 50 years??? Besides, didn’t Lou Saban start him out as a WR?
November 15th, 2020 at 8:49 pm
That was the turning point of the game. If we have a quick punt that’s an automatic three points for panthers. Hell of a run
November 15th, 2020 at 9:16 pm
admin…Pig skin still a pig skin baby, weights the same…and OJ started as a full back NOT a WR Lol
November 15th, 2020 at 9:43 pm
Drunkinybor Says:
“RoJo is having a strange career seems like hes getting better every season which is unusual for a RB.”
.
.
Good point. On average, year 3 for running backs is about the apex. RoJo seems to just be getting comfortable.
November 15th, 2020 at 10:12 pm
I have to admit I was yelling and laughing as Jones motored 98 yards, the last 20 on sheer guts and will.
Maybe one of the greatest moment in Bucs history.
JUst imagine the psychological impact on not the Bucs team, but demoralizing the Kitties. 98 yds. goes in their record books, too…
November 15th, 2020 at 11:42 pm
“the team should get whatever they can get for Rojo at this point because the guy is never going to be a good running back” — Joe bucs fan 2019
November 15th, 2020 at 11:44 pm
@Joe
Rojo had over 1,000 all-purpose yards last year…so he became a 1K RB last year. You should have seen it sooner 😉
A few of us certainly did.
November 16th, 2020 at 12:30 am
panthers one of the worse Run defenses in the league before todays game. Stop with the rojo is good non sense
November 16th, 2020 at 12:50 am
A few of you *wanted* to see it. It wasn’t there.
(Hint: The Bucs went out and acquired three running backs prior to the season. So they didn’t see what you wanted to see either. And they’ve even got practice tape to watch.)
November 16th, 2020 at 6:25 am
rbs get cold. Rb committees are counter productive with some guys. He is the type who gets hot the more he carries the ball. Keep feeding ROJO
November 16th, 2020 at 8:12 am
Great game ROJO! We will need all of our backs to get to where we want to be. Perhaps (just a thought) we shouldn’t slight any of them. Team game. Go Bucs!