Flashing RoJo
August 2nd, 2019
Turning the corner?
Uh oh, this could be the final piece of the puzzle.
In his rookie season, running back Ronald Jones, a second-round pick from USC, was about as terrible as a No. 38 overall pick could ever be as a rookie Just awful.
More than a few people muttered the word “bust” when thinking of RoJo.
But slowly yet steadily, RoJo is coming alive in training camp practice. He had a couple of good runs on Tuesday, and Thursday night at the Glazer Shed, RoJo may have had his best practice as a pro.
RoJo had two touchdowns from midfield. One was a run off the left side that had solid seal blocking by tight end Antony Auclair, a rare but pleasant occurrence for the Bucs offensive line this summer (which more often than not is getting worked over).
Then, RoJo took a dump off pass from a scrambling America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and turned on the jets to run for paydirt. (Jameis dodging pass rushers is a way too common sight this summer.)
The Bucs already have a lethal passing game. If this is not some mirage RoJo is showing, it might be just what the doctor ordered for both Jameis and the Bucs offense.
Let’s just say Joe is starting to see glimpses of a running attack for a change.
RoJo I pic.twitter.com/PM49Bhyflq
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 2, 2019
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:17 am
Only a complete jackass would think a player is a bust after a difficult rookie season. Especially with the fact the guy had players in his grill immediately after the handoff on 50% of his total carries in a tiny sample size.
Geesh…
In BA I Trust!
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:20 am
What I saw was a defensive player who should have and in real world situations WOULD have hit and probably tackled Rojo about 5 yards after he got thru the initial block.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:29 am
Probably bout a 15 yard gain there. Definitely wouldn’t have been a touchdown. Agree with Sport that anyone calling someone a bust after 1 year is a jackass.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:29 am
The run would have been an 8 yards but I will take that all day long. Great work Joe
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:32 am
Glad to see your optimism (guarded as it is) on the RB situation. I suspect you are on the mark with this observation. Bring on the pre-season.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:33 am
One more time for the crowd in the back, rookie running backs do not excel in a Dirk Koetter offense…
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:42 am
Rojo was NOT flashing in practice last year so to see him run with confidence gives me a hope for this year.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:42 am
I’m telling you guys.
Rojo will be Tampa Bay’s version of Jamaal Charles.
I love Peyton Barber as well, and they should make a great 1-2 punch, but Rojo is a generational talent.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:43 am
We need several of our younger players to step up…..Rojo, Cappa, Watson,
And some relatively young players to perform….Spence, VH3, Benenoch….
And of course we need to strike paydirt with at least 3 rookies….
I’m picking Devin White, SM Bunting & Mike Edwards as the three.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:44 am
Defensive miscue during a non-tackling drill. Still hoping to see Rojo flash.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:44 am
Is the run blocking good and ROJO excelling? Or are we in trouble with run blocking? Sounds like secondary is good at stopping passes. Just want to make sure this isn’t a scheme weakness that we are going to see other teams breaking off 60yd runs all season.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:57 am
Eh that would have been called back man, the WR was holding like a mofo. Ref missed that one.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:00 am
@Casual, Joe just has “BFS”…Battered Fan Syndrome , it has been spreading the last decade and can be quite severe in some cases. Some cases last a few games to a full year, some have lasted 10 or more. See some posters here for example. =)
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:13 am
The Bucs running game is like Obamacare repeal. You hear about it a lot, you get excited for it, you think it’s going to happen, then it falls woefully short of expectations.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:17 am
every young player on the roster gets a clean slate after playing for the incompetent twins dirk and smitty…..
seems like all the players are finally getting coached up on fundamentals and mental toughness….
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:19 am
OL is still the weak link…and will hobble the offense to hit and miss ,come up short at the end of the game…..the harsh reality
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:35 am
Holding on wr. 10 yard penalty
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:42 am
Been saying it since last year. Dont worry about Rojo. It’s a well established fact that rookie running backs struggle under Koetter. No matter how good they actually are.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:45 am
I’ll believe it when I see it.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:51 am
This is exactly why you don’t go into the offseason talking about what a guy will shop this year under a new coach based on what he did the last year as a rookie. It’s starting to make you do the slow walk back of everything you’ve said since BA got hired and especially after the draft.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:54 am
But can RoJo pass block? That is the real question we need answered.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:55 am
Kobe Faker reverse jinx paying off
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:59 am
Again, don’t judge a player solely on his performance in Koetter’s offense.
Anyone watch the Falcons play last night? Its fun predicting run plays when it’s no longer your team running them.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:03 am
We talkin about practice?
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:06 am
“We talkin about practice?”
Regular season is a few months out. Suggest you wait to watch Bucs news if it bothers you to read about practice right now because that’s all you’re gonna see.
ROJO sucked in TC last year per Joe, so for him to think he’s looking completely different/better this year is kind of a story.
GO BUCS
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:15 am
It would be amazing if ROJO came through and solved the running back problems.
Then the question would be, was that first year on ROJO or the coaching staff?
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:16 am
ONLY A COMPLETE JACKASS WOULD BE DRINKING THE KOOL AID FROM A TEAM THAT HAS NOT WON A MEANINGFUL GAME IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.
SPORT you do realize you will be looking like a fool when the bucs claim yet another basement title….
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:17 am
Maybe i’m a jackass but RoJo was so bad last year that i’ll call him a bust until he proves us wrong.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:25 am
Hey anybody mention how Koetter ruins rookie RBs yet? Lol someone call up Devonta Freeman and ask him how Koetter treated him as a rookie (spoiler alert: he was a special teamer). RoJo has natural talent. He needed a little extra motivation (and fans idiodically calling him a bust after 1 season probably provided all of that he’ll ever need) and some confidence (happily provided by Arians and this new coaching staff). It’s unfortunate so many people are still blind to the various issues that plagued his rookie season, many of which 100% out of his control. So it’s exciting to see him taking the next step in his development and hopefully easing some of the tension surrounding our RB situation for a while. Now if only we can improve the OL to make his life a little easier, that’d be great. But for now, hopefully the new scheme can open a little space for our backs to run and prove once and for all just how much coaching matters.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:45 am
ROJO is running with the 1s at practice last night and they had Barber with the 2/3s. It’s going to be interesting to see if that continues in practice later this week and into the preseason games. Has Rojo unseated Barber for RB1?
I’m disappointed we haven’t heard more from Bruce Anderson. They’ve talked up Dare O. a few times since camp started and zip on Anderson.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:52 am
Snook,a couple years removed from a Superbowl appearance and they’re about to miss the tourney again because they rehired that trash @$$ coach.
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:04 am
Funny thing about obamacare, most americans love it and that is why there is no repeal. Sorry some didnt get the memo
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:15 am
Why am I Just not buying it?
I hope he proves me wrong but I just don’t see it
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:30 am
Offensive line sucks again!
No RG!
Told you so! 3 seasons in a row!!!
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:44 am
Positive article – especially with Rojo? What’s up Joe.
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:45 am
Yeah that’s scary, Jameis has just about perfected the duck and weave move. Our O-line will get fixed the day Gump gets fired. Until then the Bucs are fertile ground for Division III recruits. Sad really….
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:46 am
RoJo will be better, it’s a given. No way he repeats last season.
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:50 am
Im not happy with that db back peddlinh 12 yards before the snap. Wouldve been no gain with press coverage. What db was that?
August 2nd, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Stanglassman, Bruce might be keeping his name low so he can stash him on the practice squad.
August 2nd, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Koetter… Koetter…. Koetter…my money is on his offense when the Falcons play the Bucs….. Talent > Coaching… at the end of the game
August 2nd, 2019 at 2:04 pm
WARNING!!! WARNING!!! This site has been hacked. This posting obviously did not come from Joe. Check your computer and stay tuned.
August 2nd, 2019 at 2:33 pm
But you still think our o-line is just fine, right?
August 2nd, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Nice to hear him do it in practice. But how will he react in a real game?
He wouldn’t be the first guy to clam up if that’s what happens.
If this dude makes just one big spash play then he will start getting major hype!!!
His story is probably the biggest one for next week’s game. It’s basically put up or shut up time…..Don’t get much bigger then that for preseason game 1!
Rooting for ya babe.
GO BUCS!!!!
August 2nd, 2019 at 2:39 pm
Altered how much money we talking? I’ll take the Bucs over the Falcons this year. Just let me know if you wanna back up that statement.
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:02 pm
You give any RB that kind of space and they’re going to look good.
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:24 pm
From all the tea leaves I’ve read Cappa hasn’t been bad but OT depth looks bad
August 2nd, 2019 at 5:20 pm
The worst part is if your coach dosent believe in you. When your young that could be the hardest thing to overcome. Its all about getting better for these players. Not reading to much in to who is doing good or bad. Its early and they have alot to learn. But it is coming together nicely.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:16 pm
Altered just let me know anywhere anytime. Falcons got a rookie/makeshift line versus our Suh/Vea. That aren’t lopsided. That’s called fun for Bucs fans……I beg you to bet me with your rookies.
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:59 pm
TMax – I’ll man up if needed. Been in the same trenches with you for a few decades. I won’t judge you being a Neg Nancy. You’ve earned the right.
I am in it for.the enjoyment. I learned 20yrs I don’t get paid by the Bucs and me being angry til Wednesdays was not fun.
I am also an optimist. Why? I find it more fun.
Also, because I truly feel different this year. Haven’t felt this confident in a coaching staff since Kiffin was here.
In BA I Trust!