Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones had a very disappointing rookie season, but Bruce Arians is giving him a fresh start. After getting drafted in the second round last April, expectations were high for Jones.
He struggled in camp and was buried on the depth chart, only getting on the field in nine games last year. He received just 23 carries, which he turned into only 44 yards. Old coach Dirk Koetter was fired after the season though, meaning that everything went out the window and everybody would be getting a clean slate under Arians.
So far, Arians has been impressed with what he's seen from the USC product.
“He’s an explosive player,” Arians said, via Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. “He’s going to be a heck of a player for us. He’s going to make big plays for us. … He’s probably best between the tackles, but he took that one around the end and nobody could catch him. He’s got that breakaway speed and the size. His best runs have been tackle to tackle until that one.”
Arians has said that Jones will be given the chance to take the starting job back from Peyton Barber. Fortunately for both of them, the Bucs didn't use an early draft pick on a running back like many expected.
Arians also said that no matter who won the competition between Jones and Barber, they'd both play. “It's going to be a heck of a 1-2 punch, and whichever one is the one and whichever one is the two, they're both going to play,” he said. It sounds like Jones has a great chance at a breakout sophomore season.
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