Another Defensive Back
April 30th, 2011
The Bucs again drafted a defensive back in their second-to-last pick of the draft with Anthony Gaitor from Florida International.
How far down the radar are teams in their selections in the seventh round? Gaitor didn’t participate in the NFL combine.
Gaitor is originally from Miami and was this season an All-Sun Belt Conference first team member as both a junior and a sophomore. He had 45 tackles as a junior and 52 last season.
The kid is a burner and wanted to play for the Bucs, so reported the Miami Herald this week.
Gaitor wowed scouts at FIU’s pro day by running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, prompting talent evaluators to give his collegiate game tape a second look.
What they saw was a player who held Troy wideout Jerrel Jernigan, who could be drafted as high as the second round, to just 32 receiving yards in a crucial FIU road win.
Gaitor also limited Toledo All-American Eric Page to just five catches for 24 yards in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in December — his final game in an FIU uniform.
Since the season ended, Gaitor has drawn the interest from the Dolphins, Bears and Jaguars, among others. But if Gaitors had his druthers, the Buccaneers, who also had him in for a visit, would take him. And preferably earlier rather than later.
“He has tremendous instincts on the defensive side of the ball,” FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. “A tremendous ability to cover. In the NFL, you have to be tough enough to take on the backs. Gaitor is that.”
Per the Herald story, Gaitor projects to be a nickel corner. The Bucs have plenty of those, but maybe Raheem Morris sees something special.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Big ups to the commenter who put up the YouTube video of Anthony Gaiter a couple days ago. That youtube video was sick. I really like this pick.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
mike mayock loves this pick and so do i as i live across the street from fiu. he is a beast in my opinion and was the reason on defense for their success this year
April 30th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Ballhawk!
April 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
hello new ej biggers
April 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Time to let Mack go. Always gets beat in coverage.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Mike Mayock just commented on this player and had high praise for him. He said he watched one tape of him and was so impressed he watched all the tape he had on the kid… that’s enough for me to be sold on the pick. Great draft this year, can’t wait to see the improved Bucs D!
April 30th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
anybody know anything about this guys measurables?
April 30th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
I thought the Commish said the Bucs were high on Greg Romeus. They’re avoiding this guy like he has leprosy. What’s up?
April 30th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
5’9 and 175lbs….plays bigger then he is. mid 4 40’s.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Greg Romeous got taken a couple picks later. Would of lived to take a flier on him. Hope this pick pans out
April 30th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Romeus? Umm, we already drafted two Defensive Ends if you recall. Yes, he could end up being a steal. I wasn’t disappointed that we didn’t pick him, but I was disappointed that a team in our division did (Saints).
April 30th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Sold!!!
April 30th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Well sideline scouting bothered to write-up a scouting report on him so thats a good sign. They had him 27th of 45 at the position. Said he was fast enough to stay with most recievers and would be an ideal cover 2 corner with exceptional short zone coverage and route jumping abilities and some pop in run support despite small size.(Poor mans Ronde Barber anyone?) Not as good in man coverage. Route-recognition is below average and so he will probably be a project if he makes the roster at all. He will probably be forced to always be a nickel corner because he is just overmatched against outside recievers with that 5’10” 175 lb. frame. This is the first pick I worry about making the roster and being a contributor but hey what can we expect from 7th round picks. They aren’t going to find a Cody Grimm in rd.7 every year.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Still if he even beats out Mack for the dime corner spot than I guess thats a win for a 7th rounder.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Like the pick. The tape looks great and hear nothing but high praises for the kid. and I really would like to get Kendrick Burney at pick 238. Can’t believe he hasn’t been drafted yet. He had a bad 40 time. But put in his tape and all he does is make plays. A combo of Lewis, Biggers, Gaitor, Burney would go great with our new D Line and Safety positions. Still need another LB in FA and Offensive Line help.
April 30th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
All tall WRs should seriously think about becoming CBs, unless they are Calvin Johnson type WRs… Because these guys in the later rounds are all short little runts.
April 30th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Hunter Says:
April 24th, 2011 at 9:59 am
I think if Anthony Gaitor was at least 6’0, he would be going in the 2nd round……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_p4MmYdF4Q very impressive highlight video.
=======================================
Look at this JBF.com reader making the call!!!
April 30th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
i hate being an armchair scout, but the youtube vids on this kid is sick! he shows great instincts and quick closing speed. i think we got a good player that flew under the radar!
April 30th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Thanks to Hunter for originally posting the video, and thanks HGO for reposting. I was very impressed when I saw the highlights. Seems to he very well rounded…good ball skills, good play recognition, solid run support and a willingness to be physical. Let’s see if Raheem can coach him up
April 30th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
Watching this guys highlights i can tell he has a knack for reading offenses and being around the ball. A player with very good instincts. With that being said i think he needs a little more time to develop to the speed of the nfl being that he came from a smaller college. I think with training camp and ota’s and reps he can get up to par with the nfl speed and this guy can be a real steal in the 7th round for us.
GO BUCS!!!
April 30th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
p.s. I like that he played in a similar defensive system to ours in playing 3 deep and zone coverages.
April 30th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Thanks for the link, HGO. The kid looks really impressive. Looks like a great pick!