The Transformation Of Ronald Jones
August 10th, 2020
Added dimension? (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)
Joe has written this but it bears repeating. Joe has had an epiphany on Bucs running back Ronald Jones.
Based on recent history alone, the Bucs cannot and should not bank on Jones. Of all the running backs this century who have rushed for 50 yards or less in their rookie seasons, the list is grim.
Jones had 49 yards rushing as a rookie two years ago.
Last year Jones was better, but that’s not saying much. No objective NFL observer believes Jones to be a top-20 running back currently, based on his first two seasons. And as Joe has written, if you are not in the top-20 at your position, then what the hell are we talking about here?
Then Joe studied Jones’ YAC (yards after catch). And it was quite good last season at just under 10 yards a catch. So Joe started to wonder if maybe the Bucs had something on their hands with RoJo as a receiving back.
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians said last week that RoJo is his No. 1 back. This comes only months after Arians said RoJo is not a back to be on the field on third down.
Why the change in heart with Arians? Because in the offseason Arians said he saw how much RoJo worked, and more importantly, Arians has seen the results. Simply put, RoJo has learned how to catch the ball, a key element to being a third-down back.
RoJo spoke about this in a Zoom conference this afternoon.
“Yeah, I can attest to that,” RoJo said of how he needed to learn how to catch. “A lot of times they said I wasn’t absorbing the ball; I was letting the ball hit my body. So just working in the summer with Coach [Luke] Neal on the extension of the hands, finding that diamond [tip of the ball] and being able to control the ball. [You can’t be] slapping it or trying to look up field, you’ve got to just secure it.
“Those are the kinds of things I focused on this summer. I’m just trying to elevate my game each and every day.”
Now is RoJo dangerous if he gets in the open field? Yes, but he needs to be consistent.
Is RoJo dangerous catching the ball? His numbers will tell you yes, so long as he can catch it.
If RoJo can contribute in the pass game, Joe’s just going to guess short passes to a running back should be wide open because of how deep teams are going to defend the Bucs pass game that. That means if RoJo can hurt teams catching short passes and turning up field for chunks of yards, RoJo just may take this scary Bucs offense to a flamethrower level.
August 10th, 2020 at 3:04 pm
Buc underwear football has produced a ton of HOF preseason players; it just didnt work out in the real season, hope it does for ROJO
August 10th, 2020 at 3:10 pm
What I find encouraging is that he sounds like he is working very hard daily on his trade. And is taking instruction to heart. Seems he has the speed, the movement, and the vision. If he can hone those parts of his games that have been weaknesses to at least average, he should be a good back. Or possibly better than that.
August 10th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
It’s like Rojo Appreciation Day on JBF.
August 10th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
All Rojo needs is to get through the hole clean and he’ll be Gone !.. the few times last year he was called back on penalties. The Bucs have not had a RB clear the hole clean in a very very long time!
August 10th, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Hes a beautiful athlete.
Nobody could run behind Pamphile, Benenocht or Cappa.
We need a legit guard.
We were top 5 with Mankins.
Bottom 5 with Pamphile, Benenocht and Cappa.
Licht should not force draft picks on the field.
August 10th, 2020 at 3:44 pm
More important than catching the ball, learning to pick up the blitzer is how a RB gets on the field on field 3rd down.
August 10th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
“No objective NFL observer believes Jones to be a top-20 running back currently.” I’m not sure that I’m objective but…I believe RoJo will be a top twenty back.
August 10th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
The guy can run and he was a top 100 meter sprinter in college so this guy had the burners. I cant wait to see the Brady-Rojo connection eclipse what James White did for the Patriots. Those are the passes that Brady can make and Jameis was careless with (anyone remember the pass to Dare against the 49ers to end the game????) Brady wont make that ill advised throw that cost us that first game.
August 10th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
@theodore,
CMC was a terrible blocker his rookie year, but his ability with the ball kept him on the field. They are called “running backs” not “blocking backs”. A coach that bences a good runner beacuse he cannot block is a bad coach imo.
August 10th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
How about Joe’s epiphany including the 4.2 YPC projected to 15 carries for 16 games equaling 1008 yards…..
Now that is an epiphany…..catching passes will simply be a bonus.
August 10th, 2020 at 5:06 pm
I’ve said it before. When RoJo becomes that guy that opposing teams and fans do NOT want to see come into the game on 3rd and 4, then just maybe he’s a worthy feature back–even an all-down threat.
But I don’t see it. Late bloomer? Yeah, sure, maybe. No bloomer? Yeah. That’s where I’d bet. Hope he proves me wrong.
August 10th, 2020 at 5:41 pm
Wasn’t ROJO the youngest back coming out of college football in 2018. 2018 was a lost year for him and I clearly thought it was appearing he was a wasted pick.
But boy, he improved last year and clearly looked solid enough to me.
So glad we got him instead of Penny, or Michel, or Guice for that draft.
Getting better instead of getting injured.
August 10th, 2020 at 5:47 pm
Paris Warren or Larry Brackins needs to give him some pointers!
August 10th, 2020 at 6:46 pm
The kid is young. Probably needed one more year of college. But he will be fresh and strong. Any semblance of a running game extends drives, especially with TB.
Less TOs, longer drives equals increased time of possession. Fresher defense. Lower points.
This season shapes up as a huge opportunity.
August 10th, 2020 at 7:29 pm
Rojo will be fine, especially with Shady complementing him.
August 10th, 2020 at 7:48 pm
I think the running backs receiving totals were affected more by Winston’s inability to be consistent on screen passes. He was downright terrible to be honest. Winston would overthrow or throw a 95 mph fastball at them in close range. Winston had problems with the finesse arch throws.
August 10th, 2020 at 9:00 pm
The Young back’s rookie season humbled and seems to have put a fire in him! Which says a lot about him!! I believe he is younger than our rookie Vaughn!! Rojo is gonna light it up for the rest of his career! Rojo and Vaughn are both going to have Solid careers!! Bout time we hit on some RB’s
August 10th, 2020 at 9:21 pm
That’s true!
August 10th, 2020 at 9:58 pm
Joe, I hate it when you hold his rookie year against him. Everyone knows Koetter wanted to give Barber his shot, and Koetter was loyal to the point of getting fired.
Last year, Jones was thrown to 40 times. Only 9 of them were not caught.
He was not even the starter, but he STILL had a 1,000 yards. All because Arians gave him more of a shot.
His rookie year should not count at all because he wasn’t given a true opportunity. Even still, this is his 3rd year, the year when players are supposed to prove themselves. At least give him that!
August 10th, 2020 at 10:01 pm
BTW, something strange happened today. I got cast for a show on a streaming network. It was not expected at all. I didn’t even try for it. The producers of a well known network show got wind of a project I’m working on with some other folks, and they made an offer to film it weekly.
I don’t want to jinx it, so I won’t give details yet, but man, life is strange!
August 10th, 2020 at 10:02 pm
And no, it is not football related. I just had to tell someone, somewhere. I’m kind of freaked.
August 10th, 2020 at 10:13 pm
Why? Like we should pretend it never happened? And let’s not get carried away here. Jones has yet to crack 800 yards in two seasons of play. That’s really, really weak sauce.
Why do you think Koetter benched him? Only Lovie is dumb enough to get rid of good players.
The Bucs are gunning for a Super Bowl. Jones has yet to demonstrate he’s middle-of-the-pack No. 1 back. Exactly why should the Bucs trust him to magically turn into Warrick Dunn? Based on what exactly, playing against Oregon State???
August 10th, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Joe, Jones cracked 1,000 yards last year. All purpose.
And I said above the reason Koetter benched him.
As to the rookie year…I’m pretending! Join in! 😉
August 10th, 2020 at 10:30 pm
And they are trusting him. Join them too!
August 11th, 2020 at 12:20 am
49 yards= Dirk Diggler
August 11th, 2020 at 12:24 am
Agee with Teacherman 777
August 11th, 2020 at 6:26 am
@TBBF, Ronald Jones was 24th in “touches’ (172) in the NFL last year, but 31st in ypa at 4.2. Using your logic, McCoy will be the bell-cow bc of his 4.6 ypa on only 101 carries. I am not suggesting that should be the case, but with McCoy’s experience, it certainly isn’t our of reach.
August 11th, 2020 at 9:44 am
If Rojo can go from below average to good, I will be freaking estatic.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:18 am
Yea Joe we’ve been telling you this since last season ended…
Welcome to the party 😜
August 11th, 2020 at 6:25 pm
If they can get Rojo to the second level its a home run. Give the guy 17 to 20 carries a game he will EASILY have a 1000 yard 10 td season and then some. The guy has never displayed and INABILITY to catch the ball, it was just assumed he couldn’t catch the ball. His first year Koetter was a complete bust and he never got any opportunity, last year was basically a typical rookie year in his second year so….thats on Koetter.
Last season Leftwich preferred to us his least talented back the majority of the time. NOT Rojos fault. Best man with get the majority of touches with Brady in town.