“Eye-opening” From Leonard Fournette
January 11th, 2021
Saturday’s 23 touches from Leonard Fournette left one former Buccaneer glowing about the ex-Jaguars star, and a lot of Bucs fans wondering where Fournette will play next season.
Given the starting nod at the last minute, Fournette busted out multiple spin moves and his former-stellar hands returned, catching all four balls thrown his way. He was smooth on the screen pass and had a combined 115 yards from scrimmage.
Yeah, he slipped for now good reason and missed a two-point conversion, and he shied away from contact with a defensive back (Joe will spare Fournette the video), but he was a willing blocker and certainly looked like a quality starting running back.
Fournette turns 26 next week and he caught the attention of former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht.
“An expected offensive player that did a great job, [Leonard] Fournette, I mean I’ve been very adamant about, you know, RoJo being the guy. And here you go: Fournette steps into the role,” Becht said on WDAE radio this morning. “He’s kind of been up and down all year and he really played a really good game.
“It was eye-opening to me what he did and what he brought to the table in that football game.”
Becht calling Fournette’s showing eye-opening is sort of eye-opening to Joe. This was just about what Joe expected from Fournette when he was signed just prior to opening day, but Bucs fans didn’t get the Fournette of 2017 and 2019.
Regardless, Fournette has to now be steaming with confidence and hungry to be rumbling hot toward a multiyear contract somewhere. Joe hopes it’s not in Atlanta replacing Todd Gurley.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Dude was MONEY! If Rojo drops a screen…..put him in!
January 11th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Rojo is the better pure runner but Fournette isn’t that big of a step down AND I believe he’s more versatile. I really think Fournette being in there all the time keeps the defense guessing. He can run, catch, or block….he’s a nice chess piece for Brady to toy with. Rojo simply is not a receiving threat….cant say he’s the most polished blocker either. No matter which you choose, i believe they both accel with more reps. Backs have to get a bit of a feel for the tendencies of the defense and need the opposing team to wear down a bit. That takes patience which we tend to run short on at times.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:44 pm
it could go back to playing both and going with the hot hand or who wants it more…
hungriest, frothiest dude wins………………maybe
it’s the playoffs – whoever is beasting is who you stick with
January 11th, 2021 at 12:47 pm
Here is the reason Fournette did so well. Washington opened the game with two former Alabama standouts at defensive tackle – Jonathan Allen, a first-round draft choice in 2017, and Daron Payne, a first-round draft choice in 2018
Fournette is from LSU, and ran all over these guys in College!
January 11th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
BA needs to be putting all that embarrassing footage up all over one buc place – on a loop – all week – of the saints dancing, partying and eating W’s after the last game in the locker room…
they even got fines for it from the league…
payton dancing with the team and acting like a playa…
jameis leading a “W” dance party…
jameis jumping in on brees’ interview to eat a “W’ nationally…
put that footage on a loop in the locker room…
if this doesn’t rile the team up nothing will…
i think they even had a strobe light blinking in the visitors locker room…
who the fugg pulls a mini strobe light out of a duffle bag in a locker room to party with ???
#NoStrobeLightAllowedAtRayJayLol
January 11th, 2021 at 12:52 pm
Rojo had a pass catch against KC down the sideline for a TD.
It was like 40 yards too.
We will miss Rojo if this Quad keeps him out this week.
How stupid is it to get an injury in pre-game warm-ups?
I mean do these guys even stretch?
Hopefully KV isn’t relegated to the bench now.
We could also use a Shady from 5 years ago in this game.
Better have some trick plays ready too.
NO is great defensively, but we saw them overpursue against Chicago and if Mims could catch TD.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Any updates on RoJo’s quad Joe?
January 11th, 2021 at 12:56 pm
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa
Check the stats…he did not rum over Alabama. In fact his final game against the Tide cost him the Heisman trophy.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
also i loved donovan smith’s presser…
the big man was not even smiling…
he’s prolly got the saints and cam jordan on his mind…
donovan looked crazy focused at the presser…
#DonovanLooksStrictlyBusinessRightNow
January 11th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
if rojo is 100% then go with rojo….bring fournette off the bench to give him a breather….vaughn may be in the dog house….lol…
fournette did his job when his # was called….time for rojo to do the same IF he’s healthy….
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 11th, 2021 at 1:00 pm
PREACH Adam from ny!!!
That’s all the fans and writers, bloggers whom ever
Should be talking about so that it can get to the buc players.
Any true football player that would burn, it hurts me and hadn’t
played in 25yrs. Good on u Adam👊🏾
January 11th, 2021 at 1:09 pm
Rojo would have had 150+ yards
January 11th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Id we cant afford Godwin or Shaq might ad well sign Fournette, Brown and Gronk.
January 11th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
I think RoJo has been a much better runner this year, but the offense started flowing when he went out. This whole switching RB because RoJo can’t block or catch has really made us predictable (although fournette hasn’t been a good receiver). Not having to change RB has really helped keep things moving. Personally I’m out on 5wr too.
January 11th, 2021 at 4:04 pm
That double spin play was SOLID. Would like to see more run plays when it’s 2nd and 2.
January 11th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
Fournette has always been big and fast but he hasn’t been running hard. He’s also been easy to tackle. That hasn’t changed but at least he fell forward. Rojo is still way better.
January 11th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Fournetter looked super this past week. If he can run like that against them Saints? We got a shot. Because you know they comin after Brady. The biggest key to the game is our O line. They gotta really bing it come Sunday.
January 11th, 2021 at 5:36 pm
He looked at his best all year for sure, but ROJO is a better running back. Quicker, more explosive, more powerful – we need him back badly for Sunday and Fournette to thrive in the 3rd down/relief role – to me its about having a starter level player on the field at all times – Vaugh may not get a snap if both are healthy
January 11th, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Fourtnett did a good job. That 2 point conversion call was dumb. He didn’t stand a chance.
January 11th, 2021 at 6:47 pm
That was a great call. Fournette slipped or he goes in untouched . Perfect counter play.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Definitely looked like the guy out there which, from a dude who carried Jacksonville all year the season before (except of course playing the Bucs) and was a clear starter, and likely going to be but, like B.A. said its Rojo’s job to lose Mr. MojoRisin clearly has the job, and getting it done played like a beast possessed! Yet, Fournette went in looking like the Tazmanian-Devil, and racked the yac, in his place.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:30 pm
LF played very good and great heart props to him..we need rojo also for a 1 2 punch with a balanced attack run game….keep up the play action as well that is working…we need AB more envolved….keep up the extra GRoNK blocking for tom…we need to play with INTENSITY ON DEFENSE comeonguys were so close to the SB !!! Play like your life depends on it!!! We can beat NO we got this!!!! Jeep up the blitzes we did in the end of the game against WFT hold back a bit then sprint in Alabama was doijg it and it was working as well TAMPA BAY ALL THE WAY
January 12th, 2021 at 7:33 am
Rojo got ASCARED and faked the injury.
January 12th, 2021 at 10:33 am
Did anyone notice Fournette’s game-clinching TD celebration? To me, it resembled a Native American dance. If so, was that dissing the former name of the WFT, or was it respect? Not sure, so I’m curious if anyone else saw his dance and wondered what it meant, if anything? GO BUCS!
January 13th, 2021 at 6:50 am
Who would you prefer to tackle? I like jones but if nfl has taught those backs don’t hold up. Trade him and draft another in the 3rd round. They’re a dime a dozen