The Bucs’ Third-Round Buffet
April 27th, 2011
Maybe Taiwan Jones is the speedster the bucs are seeking ... if they're seeking.
Don’t be left scratching your head when the third round of the NFL Draft kicks off on Saturday. NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620 has you covered. Just sit back and enjoy all his amazing draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com right here. And there’s still more to come all day and tomorrow! Below are Pawlowski’s possible targets for the Bucs in the third round.
Kendall Hunter – RB – Oklahoma St
5’7’’ – 199 lbs – 4.43
I view Hunter as the top running back after the top 3 (Mikel Leshoure, Mark Ingram, and Ryan Williams) are selected. He doesn’t have the best size, but he has the ability to do anything. He can run inside or outside, block, and is a very good receiver. I view Hunter as a slight sleeper and good value in the 3rd round.
Greg Romeus – DE – Pitt
6’5’’ – 264 lbs – DNP
I’ve been on the Romeus bandwagon since before the draft process even started. I’ve seen Romeus dominate games for Pitt when he was healthy. He dealt with a herniated disk in his back in the first two games of 2010 before he had to have surgery on it. In his first game back from the surgery in November, Romeus tore his right ACL in a game against UCONN. When I spoke to then head coach Dave Wannstedt before USF played Pitt on Nov. 20, he told me that Romeus deserved better then what he was dealt and that Romeus was one of the best players on and off the field that he had ever coached.
Chris Carter – OLB – Fresno St
6’1’’ – 248 lbs – 4.62
Carter is one of the many hybrid outside linebacker/defensive ends that the Bucs have shown interest in this offseason. After playing end at Fresno St, Carter projects to a rush linebacker in the NFL. The Bucs brought him in for a visit and have shown him a good amount of attention early on in this process.
Dontay Moch – OLB – Nevada
6’1’’ – 248 lbs – 4.44
Like Carter, Moch played end at Nevada, but projects as a rush linebacker in the NFL. Moch gained a sort of a cult following for rumors that he ran as fast as a 4.25 40-yard dash while at Nevada. There’s no doubt he has the straight-line speed, but there is question as to whether he has the quickness or athleticism to play linebacker in the NFL. Moch’s raw talents would be very attractive if he fell to the Bucs’ pick in the 3rd round. I wouldn’t be surprised if they at least considered him in the 2nd round.
Taiwan Jones – RB – Eastern Washington
6’0’’ – 194 lbs – 4.32
After his pro day, Jones earned the title as the fastest running back in the draft. Jones is coming from a smaller school, but one thing we’ve learned with guys like Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson is that you can’t teach speed in the NFL. I do question Jones’ vision to find a hole and ability to hold up physically in the NFL. Jones would be a great complement to LeGarrette Blount.
April 27th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Romeus or Hunter all the way! Although Moch is tempting, I can’t help but think he’ll be another mediocre workout warrior, like Quicy Black has been to this point.
April 27th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Taiwan Jones looks impressive!
April 27th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Tawain Jones is like a less talented Reggie Bush. Super fast but he runs bolt upright like a sprinter. Not really the kind of guy who will be successful behind a Bucs line that rarely opens big holes for their backs.
Greg Romeus- Everyone seems to want the Bucs to draft this guy. WHY?????? So that he can spend the majority of his career on the sidelines when he INEVITABLY reaggravates his surgically repaired back on a regular basis?
Either Moch or Carter have just as much potential to bring the necessary pass rush as rush linebackers in the Bucs 3 man alignments. No reason to gamble on a dude with a busted lower back. I have bulging discs in my lower back that I can aggravate just by bending over too much in one day. I can’t imagine that the pounding Romeus back will take playing NFL DE won’t cause it to be a chronic issue.