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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bucs RB Ronald Jones may be on thin ice with the Tampa Bay coaching staff. Rapoport reports that Leonard Fournette will start for the Bucs in Week 3 against the Rams, after Jones started in Week 2. While the two backs rotating for the first snap of each game isn’t exactly news (Fournette started Week 1), the context is noteworthy.
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gearing up to play the Los Angeles Rams tonight, will make a change at running back for this week,” Rapoport said. “I’m told Leonard Fournette is expected to be the starter. This is all because Ronald Jones had a frustrating couple weeks, including one play last week that drew the ire of the coaches, when he went out of bounds right before the first down marker. It’s now expected to be Fournette carrying the load for the Bucs.”
From @NFLGameDay: The #Bucs are expected to start RB Leonard Fournette today — a change — while the #Packers will try to protect Aaron Rodgers vs. the #49ers with a third-string left tackle. pic.twitter.com/cV2TmCgkDS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 26, 2021
The news is not overly surprising, but it’s the first official word we’ve received of the coaches’ frustration with Jones. Despite clear talent, inconsistency and mistakes have riddled Jones’ brief NFL career. In a disaster drive last week, Jones had the aforementioned transgression, an inexplicable bounced run that ended in no gain despite a clear hole where he should have ran, and a missed blitz pickup. The mistake in pass protection got Tom Brady sacked and put the Bucs in an impossible 3rd-and-27.
Fournette has already out-snapped Jones 73 to 32 this season. Jones has 10 carries for 41 yards and one catch for nine yards on the year. Also, Fournette has more than doubled him up in rushing yards, with 20 attempts for 84 yards. The former top five pick also has nine catches for 51 yards. Neither back has scored yet this season.
Arians made his disappointment with Jones clear on Monday.
“Yeah, it speaks for itself,” Arians said. “‘Ro’, that’s his guy. He’s got to get out of those types of situations. I thought he ran hard and protected the ball but, again, you can’t have those mental errors.
“This is his third year, man. It shouldn’t be a problem and at times it is. It’s just attention to detail, like missing that blitz. He is a great runner. [He] caught the ball well. I would have liked to have seen him run for the first down. His mind is fine, it’s just his play isn’t as good as it should be.”
