FAB 3. Rodgers Winning The Battle vs. Sims For A Roster Spot

When Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter put out the first official depth chart earlier this week there was one big surprise on offense as Jacquizz Rodgers was the backup running back behind Peyton Barber and ahead of Ronald Jones II, who was the team’s second-round pick.

Take this depth chart with a grain of salt, as Jones has been getting more carries in practice than Rodgers, and for good reason. Jones is a rookie and Rodgers has been in Koetter’s offense for five years dating back to his days in Atlanta when Koetter was the offensive coordinator there under head coach Mike Smith. Rodgers knows this offense inside and out, which is why he has dazzled in practice as both a runner and a receiver.

Bucs RB Jacquizz Rodgers – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

And because Rodgers has performed so well – albeit in a third down capacity with the second- and third-team – Koetter rewarded him with the backup spot on the first depth chart.

So what is Rodgers doing about that? He’s trying to help RoJo learn the offense as quickly as he can so the rookie can pass him on the depth chart.

“I’ve been in this offense for most of my career, so I have knowledge of the offense so I just try to make sure that those guys know their stuff and give them all the help they need because if the guys that are going to be on the field most of the time don’t know their stuff then it won’t help the team, so it’s always good to give off knowledge,” Rodgers said.

“That’s what I pride myself on. Knowing what to do and being available and going out there and doing your job. So they can trust you when they need you and they can count on you when that time comes. Stay ready. That’s always been my motto my whole career. Know your stuff and when your number is called, go play. Ball out.”

Entering his eighth season in the league, the 28-year old Rodgers has become the consummate teammate, in addition to being the seasoned veteran in the running backs room at One Buccaneer Place. He’s the one that the other running backs go to when they need help with the playbook or tips and tricks to help stay in the league for close to a decade.

“In a group, as long as we’re competing with each other it only elevates everybody’s game,” Rodgers said. “If we’re out there making plays, the next guy is going to want to come in and make plays. As long as we, as a running back group, help each other, come together and make plays on the field everybody is going to level their game up.

Bucs RB Jacquizz Rodgers – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“The craziest thing is that as a rookie, you spend so much time learning how to be a professional and take care of your body. That part right there, taking care of your body, is the most important thing because your body is your tool and if you’re not available and you’re hurt, there’s no way you can last in this league.”

Not only does Rodgers plan on sticking around the league, he’s going to be sticking around in Tampa Bay this season. With Barber and Jones locks to make the 53-man roster, there is a four-way battle between he, veteran Charles Sims, newcomer Dare Ogunbowale and undrafted rookie free agent Shaun Wilson for the remaining two roster spots. Due to his versatility and his effectiveness, Rodgers has the early lead for the role as the team’s third down running back ahead of Sims.

Sims spent several years in that role, but saw his production drop mightily over the past two years. Sims is also limited on special teams, which hurts him from a versatility standpoint and gives Rodgers an edge over him due to the fact that he can also return kicks and he’s spent time as the personal protector on Tampa Bay’s punt team, too.

With the Bucs high on Wilson for his return ability and receiving skills, it seems likely that the team will choose between Rodgers, Sims and Ogunbowale for the final spot in the backfield. Rodgers experience, versatility and the fact that he was the team’s leading rusher in 2016 with a career-high 560 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry should give him the edge.

“He’s just a savvy vet that knows what he’s doing, he knows what’s going on,” Bucs linebacker Adarius Taylor said. “He’s always alert and he’s played a lot of games so he’s got that experience, and with his skill set he can do a lot. He’s versatile. He can run the ball. He can catch the ball. He’s shifty and then he can do anything on special teams that you ask him to.”

And Taylor said that at a compact 5-foot-6, 205 pounds, Rodgers is also quite hard to tackle.

Bucs RB Jacquizz Rodgers – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

“First of all he’s short, so it’s hard to see him,” Taylor said. “But he’s just a smart guy and knows how to set up his blocks and run behind his pack so that makes anyone hard to tackle or just play against.”

With his experience in Koetter’s system dating back to his days as a Falcon, Rodgers is like an extra coach on the field, which helps running backs coach Tim Spencer out quite a bit.

“He’s a quick, explosive guy,” Spencer said. “Our two rookies are very, very fast guys, but Quizz is a guy that could return kicks, too. I’d say the main thing is, as a third down back, you get everything thrown at you. And the running back motto is, if you can’t protect, you won’t play. So the main thing is picking up protections and knowing your protections, and he does that. Also, just knowing when the defense is blitzing and things like that that help you play fast when you’re in on third down because defense nowadays will throw anything at you that can confuse you.”

With a $1.6 million salary this year, Rodgers is actually the highest paid Bucs running back on the roster, earning twice what Sims, Barber, Jones, Wilson and Ogunbowale are paid in salary. He’s also entering the final year of his two-year deal with Tampa Bay. Making the team is Rodgers’ primary goal, but earning another contract and remaining a Buccaneer in 2019 and beyond is another.

Bucs RB Jacquizz Rodgers – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I haven’t really set any seasonal goals as far as yards or touchdowns or anything, but my main thing is to bring it every day, whether you’re tired or not,” Rodgers said. “Because it’s so easy to fall off when you’re in camp because there’s so many things. The heat, the days, the pads, you’re sore. So as long as you keep a strong mindset it’ll keep you through camp because this is the toughest part of the season right here. During the season the practices aren’t as tough and it isn’t as hot as it is now, so keep the mindset of punching that clock every day and don’t take a back seat to any one.”

So far, Rodgers is doing just that in Bucs camp.