Adrian Clayborn Rescued From Cornfields
April 28th, 2011
So Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik got his defensive end, the stud from Iowa, Adrian Clayborn.
Two years ago, Clayborn was a man possessed, terrorizing quarterbacks and opposing offenses. Joe vividly remembers Clayborn playing like a one-man team, single-handily tearing apart Penn State on a chilly Saturday night in Happy Valley.
The thing Joe likes about Clayborn is his quick hands. Once against Michigan State at Iowa City, Clayborn was blowing up his blocker but Clayborn was able to get pressure. This Michigan State left tackle was shoving Clayborn to the outside of Spartans quarterback Drew Stanton.
Clayborn was already past Stanton but had the presence of mind with his left hand to reach back and flick the ball out of Stanton’s hands.
Fumble. Loose ball. Iowa ball.
To Joe, that wasn’t just quick hands to pull off that move, but it showed savvy and intelligence.
Of course, who could forget Clayborn the way he went wilding on Georgia Tech in the 2010 Orange Bowl, receiving the game’s MVP?
Here’s what Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 had to write about Clayborn for Joe earlier this spring.
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
6-3, 281-pounds, 4.83
1st/2nd Round
Why The Commish would take him: I think you take Clayborn because of how well-rounded he is and how good he is in multiple areas. Clayborn has been a 3-year starter for Iowa, a captain, had a great work ethic, been productive, and has shown fantastic instincts. He has excellent technique against the run and in getting to the quarterback. Clayborn can be very good with the bull rush, but also shows many different moves to get to the quarterback.
Why The Commish would stay away: There are a few concerns with Clayborn. First, it?s been reported that he has one arm shorter than the other arm which has forced him to only play RDE in his collegiate career. It?s also been reported that he has Erb?s Palsy that some teams are concerned about. In 2010, Clayborn saw his production really fall off after a great 2009 season. I?ve heard people say that opposing offenses were keying on him, but you could say the same for Ryan Kerrigan and JJ Watt, and they were both very productive. There are also some character concerns as Adrian Clayborn was arrested for assaulting a taxicab driver.
Commish’s Final Say: There are obviously many positives and negatives with Clayborn. I do think the Bucs have a good amount interest in him and he could end up being the pick. I do think there is risk, but Clayborn does have the talent to end up being very good in the NFL.
Comparison: Charles Grant, New Orleans Saints
April 28th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
The Iowa Captain, couldn’t believe he was still there!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
So we’re cutting a guy who punched a cab driver (Talib) to get another guy who punched a cab driver?
April 28th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
As many will be, I am very surprised they picked him over Jordan and Bowers. I really liked Jordan.
Time will tell if they are right.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
You were kidding about the cabbie crack werent you?
April 28th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
in Dom i trust!!!!they have plenty of choices and plenty of options to trade uo if they want it!!!! im fine with that but i think we can trade up in the first again!!!! and grab another one
April 28th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Bowers knee must be really messed up. Not happy with the pick, but hope Clayborn makes me eat crow.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Not sure Joe…with Cam Jordan sitting there. Heard rumors that they asked him to put on weight this year for a 2 gap system, hopefully they can slim him down to his junior year weight. While I would have gone with Jordan, I trust Morris/Dom. They are the ones who had him in for a visit, not any of the fans. People were skeptic about the Freeman pick as well…say that’s out alright! Go Bucs! Welcome Adrian!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Incidentally, I hate this pick — serious character questions, and I hate the fact that his productivity fell off the table in 2011. Opposing teams keying on him? What does he expect is going to happen in the NFL every week? And this is going against inferior Big 10 competition.
Oh, and he might have a nerve condition too.
Great. Where do I sign?
April 28th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Hey, I was unaware he beats Cab Drivers up! Well, now Talib will have a partner to hunt Cab Drivers with, LOL
Just kidding, of course. I like the pick. Welcome to Tampa Adrian!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
I was really thinking Jordan and with Rah’s super mancrush on him. But I will have to say, not disappointed in the pick. I feel like everyone will look back on this pick like they did Freemans. Dude is a baller. Hes tough, physical, good against the run, and I think last year, with the change in def coordinator and vanilla schemes, him and the entire Iowa DL suffered. Next to McCoy, should be a great DL front, and good chance we double up on a DE in round 2. Loving the draft so far. So many surprises!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Would love to know why if cameron jordan was still available why he was not picked. I dont know how much of a difference between the two are, but everywhere mock i seen, jordan went before clayborn. Maybe im missing something but can someone bring this to light for me. JP are you there???
April 28th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
LOL Why would you want JP’s feedback on this? JP hates the draft. You don’t want to ask JP about the draft. Hell, he has even taken the past few days off.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
This is clearly a move to represent the Nickle, Dime, and Quarter this defense is heading towards. I bet we pickup a mixture of 4 players at DB, DE, and LB. Raheem is all about a 3 man front. Considering his ties to Tomlin, it isn’t surprising at all.
I trust what they are doing because they have yet to draft badly(nicks Bowden last year and possibly Moore).
April 28th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
No one else is concerned that:
A. The dude punched a cab driver (don’t we have enough of that already?)
B. He has nerve damage in his shoulder/arm? Isn’t that the most important part of a quality DE?
Red flags all over this pick.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Buc40 and anyone else wondering why they picked Clayborn over Jordan-
Adrian Clayborn is a true pass rushing AND run stuffing right end. Jordan is a left end only. He does not have even close to the pass rushing technique of Clayborn as a 4-3 right end. The only real concern with Clayborn is that he had a down year in sack numbers in 2010. He was still a stud run stuffer in 2010 and its commonplace for DE’s to have a down year in sack numbers from time to time but make no mistake that he will INSTANTLY upgrade the Bucs run defense as a day 1 starter at defensive end and he has the potential to be a dominant pass rusher.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
41 – you named two, not “all over” and Blount punched someone on the field, mad about that pick up? And he’s played his whole life with the condition, including his all american junior season…
April 28th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@number 41 The nerve damage has been the same his whole life. He did extraordinary for a regular man let alone a man with that disease.
I don’t think your attitude is genuine of a fan, albeit, a troll.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Well he hasnt taken the last 30 days off prior to the draft off, has he??? Last I seen he had 900 mock drafts, so why take off in crunch time. I’d fire his ass if i was his boss. lol …So s@$# yeahhh I would love his feedback on this. Joe, you should fill in for him then and give us your feedback on this pick
April 28th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@ac3
Blount was an UDFA — that’s a calculated risk on character. 1st round is the time to roll the dice with a character-issue pick.
There’s another giant red flags too:
– Declining production (fell off the table) from junior to senior year. Can he take the pressure of being “the man” on a line at LDE if he can’t even handle the Big 10?
April 28th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
@GITARLVR, thank you for that feedback, but isnt it a red flag that he went down rather than up last year, just saying..
April 28th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
@Muha Deeb
I’m a fan, not a troll — I’m just a fan that’s saw character issues with the Talib pick blow up in the team’s face, and now character issues with ANOTHER 1st round pick (for doing the same thing Talib did — punching a cab driver in the face).
I’m a fan that watched Gaines Adams underachieve his entire time in Tampa and now sees the team picking a guy who underachieved badly in his senior season.
I’m not a troll, I’m just not liking what I see here.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
buc40:
Huh???
JP has never written anything about the draft for anyone unless he was complaining about it. Dude loves to talk about how much he hates it. He makes no secret about it. JP has never written a word for Joe, even though he’s a cool guy.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
I hate this pick. I hope Dominik is right, but I hate it.
5th year senior with one year of very good production and 3 marginal ones(and he didn’t exactly play in the SEC). One arm is shorter than another. A nerve condition. Oh and just for fun he punches cab drivers.
While Bowers is a country mile better player than Clayborn I can understand them avoiding his knee even though they could regret it. Cam Jordan is just a better overall player than Clayborn, so I don’t see why you pass on that guy. But honestly, I just don’t get spending a first round pick on Clayborn. I don’t. He’s average at best IMO.
Sealing the deal is that Joe likes the pick. You know a player is in trouble when he gets the Joe “Derrick Ward Seal of Approval”
April 28th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
LMAO…hahaha thank you @number41. but he is talented and lets see what happens.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Cameron Jordan seemed like the best option for us. Now we’ll have to face him twice a year because the Saints just picked him.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
I really like this guy! And he seem genuinely happy to be q BUCS, Lots of speculations and people not happy but truth is we all have to wait and see! Go Bucs!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@ac3
Blount was a undrafted FA signing…not a 1st round pick!!! think that one through!!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
For what it’s worth – NFL.com’s draft tracker initially had our Clayborn pick graded as a 2.0 out of 10. It was just updated to 7.9.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
And now announcing the newest Pewter Partner- Yellow Cab Company!
April 28th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@JOE, my apologies…I thought JP was justin Pawloski…Thats why im saying what is going on here.lol. My fault…;)
April 28th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
This was obviously their guy the whole time. I feel good about the pick because I know Dominick put a ton of work into checking Clayborn out. They like to draft captains, and here is yet another team captain. He has excellent size, not too tall, and not too skinny. That is what I would worry about with a guy like Aldon Smith. NFL OT’s are big and strong and often beat up thin fast DE’s with speed. They seem to go flying back 5 steps behind the QB with a thunderous push. Clayborne seems to be strong with a good low center of gravity.
That damn Rick Stroud. I’m telling you he is connected to Dom or someone high up in some tight way. He nailed this pick again. I just hope Stroud was wrong about Aqib or blowing a smoke screen for them. I know with Raheem’s rough upbringing in the hood, that he can relate to Aqib, and hopefully take enough of his money to get him to straighten his act up.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
I just think we all should trust Rah and Dom, they have done amazing so far so why not support them now? I will wait and see for this guy hoping he become one of the best and can help our Bucs right away..
April 28th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Clayborn is very good against the run but he’s not that good at getting to the quarterback and we BADLY need a pass rush!! Trade up to get Bowers before it’s too late!!
April 28th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
@BigMacAttack
lol let’s just hope he’s wrong about them wanting to dump Talib.
April 28th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Achetti813 :
Call Joe stupid, but when someone writes “JP” Joe assumes that person actually means JP.
Joe is sure if someone asked about Justin, it would not be unfair to believe that person does not want to know about JP.
JP is not Justin; Justin is not JP. If someone is asking about Justin, how about actually typing his name, you know? What a novel concept!
Joe’s pretty damn sure if someone called 620 and asked to speak with “JP,” they’d get hung up on.
April 28th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Buc40 listen to 620 if you want to here what Justin thinks. He will be on until the end of rd 1.
April 28th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
buc40:
No harm, no foul man. 🙂
JP is a good guy and has a decent radio show, but he really does hate the draft, which Joe just cannot comprehend coming from a red-blooded American male.
April 28th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Joe let it go…I feel where your coming from but some people are just dumasses. can’t help that.
April 28th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
@JOE, no prob, not from tampa nor florida area so I dont many on-air personalities in the area. But good people on this site, love the debates…makes for good times…
April 28th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
@TCK…much appreciated, but dont live in area…
April 28th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
buc40:
Thanks for the compliments man!
Here is JP’s info. Joe refers to him from time to time. The Hovan stories came from JP’s show.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Happy-Hour-with-JP-Peterson/112214023462
April 28th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
A great pick. Great speed off the corner. Fast hands with good speed. This guy with bring it. An immediate help to the D-Line. Also stout against the run.great start to the draft! Bucs loved this guy for months. Thought Talib showing his ass might have changed their opinion, but Clayborn won’t have any character issues. He’s a good kid who works hard!
April 28th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
Thanks for the info Joe, i will figure these guys on the radio out eventually. Just got a place behind MUGSSSSSS on missouri for vacation spot so Im ready to fly down for opening game…
April 28th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
I don’t know how bad his knee is, but how great would it be if we could move up and get Bowers in the 2nd to pair with Clayborn….the Saints and Falcons made moves to bolster their teams, I would love to see us make a splash.
April 28th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Steve from Oregon:
Bone on bone.
April 29th, 2011 at 12:07 am
Bowers is young enough where a microfracture knee surgery could be fairly successful a la Amar’e Stoudamire. That said, you can’t blame teams for passing on him. Damn shame though.
April 29th, 2011 at 12:19 am
Joe…bone on bone…damn, I work in orthopedic medicine….that is a very bad and painful injury.
Its such a shame, I don’t usually see that type of an ailment in somebody so young…feel bad for the kid.
April 29th, 2011 at 8:39 am
People hating this pick are spending too much time reading stats and not enough time watching tape.
This guy is a blue-collar effort guy with superb instincts. Yeah he might not have freakish measurables but sometimes these blue-collar guys who just love football work out real well.
I’m trusting Dom on this, so far he’s drafted lights out.
April 29th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
The commish “I don’t think anyone in the tampa area predicted this one”. Props to me and gotbuc for calling this one. We both felt unless someone unexpected dropped to us (which almost happend) that Clayborn was the best fit and made the most sense. I will be honest though when the pick came up and I saw the kid from Cal there my mind wandered a bit. Now that we have made the pick I can only hope that Clayborn can be that guy we truly need on the edge, whether he is rde only or not.