Mo Claiborne One Step Closer To The Bucs
February 23rd, 2012
Given the possibility that the Bucs could be looking at two holes at cornerback for the 2012 season, Joe has been banging the drum for the Bucs to draft stud LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the fifth overall pick.
Well, the Bucs took a step toward such a move last night when the Bucs hired Claiborne’s position coach, LSU secondary coach Ron Cooper, so reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Under Cooper, the Tigers’ secondary accounted for 16 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries and 12 forced fumbles. LSU led the nation in turnover margin (+1.69) and ranked fifth in total interceptions with 18.
The Tigers allowed just seven passing touchdowns all season, the fewest by an LSU team since it allowed only five in 1989.
Joe once again begs Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to land a top flight starting cornerback; draft Claiborne and suddenly the Bucs have a solid if not good pair or corners.
And no, Joe is not holding his breath that troubled Aqib Talib will be on the Bucs’ roster this fall.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:10 am
Richardson isn’t doing combine drills because of a knee injury. The pick has to be Claiborne.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:18 am
Hiring his coach doesn’t mean we draft Claiborne.
Our direction in FA will speak volumes.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:21 am
Could be a smoke screen, hope not. He has also been a head coach and d coordinator in college ranks, fits the mold. Also he has seen/scouted many SEC players when game planning.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:25 am
Claiborne will be the pick if he’s there. I don’t see him not being there. It should be Luck, RGII, Kalil, Blackmon, and then we have our choice of Richardson or Claiborne and we take Claiborne.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:26 am
Curious to see how mo does at the combine. He would really have to bomb it to drop, his tape should be top notch. And to think I was almost talked into the Trent bandwagon
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:28 am
Great pickup! God i dont want to get my hopes up but the vision of a tampa d being restored to glory with the pickup of carr and mo and a rush with clayborne and bowers is just too good to not think about
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:34 am
Bobby. Even if the Rams drop to 4 I wouldn’t be surprised if they took Claiborne. Fisher is an ex DB coach. Every year the draft has surprises and this year is no different.
For those acting like Richardsons career is over, that is a bit ridiculous. But it is a red flag.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:36 am
Nobody said his career was over, but you don’t take a RB with a knee injury (even minor) in the top 5.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:36 am
I think Carr is getting hyped up a bit, would be nice to see Finnegan as I like hid tackling and man cover skills.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:39 am
Not on this message board, but the comments on PFT people were acting like he will fall to the 2nd round. But I agree Blackmon or Claiborne are the smarter pick just because of the shelf life of RBs.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:41 am
Just remember Bowers last year. His problem started with just a ‘minor’ scoping on a knee he played on all year. It ended up being worse, and he took a huge drop. Once knee problems come into play, who knows what happens? All I know is I don’t want him top 5 now. I favored Claiborne already, but wasn’t opposed to a Richardson pick. Now? I just don’t see how you can take him top 5 even if it just a minor scoping.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:42 am
jvato24:
Joe does not have a message board. You are thinking of another site.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:43 am
Regardless we appear to have gotten a great coach whos primary focus has been man coverage with Bump and Run. Which I think is critical to beat top teams like the Saints and Packers. When we played both teams we used Bump and actually beat the Saints.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:44 am
Ya, I really like the Cooper hire. I’ve mostly not liked the defensive hires very much compared to the offense hires, but this seems like a great one.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:45 am
lol, come on Joe. I don’t have net lingo this early.
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:55 am
I doubt we hired a coach for the sake of drafting one player.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:00 am
It’s a great hire because “no scout” in the NFL will have more inside information about Mo Claiborne’s strengths/weaknesses, his work ethic, ect. then our new secondary coach. I’ve given enough stats about how top RBs no longer win Superbowls so I’ll spare it here, and just continue to state Blackmon or Claiborne has to be the pick. Knee Injuries (no matter how minor/routine)+RB in top 5 “cough Cadillac cough” we’ve seen that story before. Why reach when we have need at WR/CB and there could be two potential elite players at those positions?
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:04 am
I don’t think this really has much effect on us taking Claiborne, it most certainly isn’t a smoke screen like somebody suggested. It does help with some insight into what kind of person Claiborne is off the field, his film already confirms that he’s worthy of a top 10 pick. What we got was a very good secondary coach. Claiborne would be our target in the draft regardless.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:11 am
Of course the Bucs are going to draft Claiborne. That drama queen Talib will be gone. His coddler Rah Rah is up in Washington. Schiano and his crew will not tolerate Talib’s constant nonsense.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:12 am
Mo is a very good player who wont add a lot in 2012 – which makes drafting him prudent but not exciting.
I am almost always against drafting a RB early in round 1, and #5 is probably too early for us to take T Rich – but I will tell you it is very tempting.
Blount is just not a NFL #1 tailback, he is terribly 1 dimensional, not good at all until he reaches the second level unscathed – that happens just a couple of times a game.
Also, recent reports are that he is lazy, not bright and we know he fumbles too often.
Our offense would be immediately improved by the addition of T Rich – however, there are players in free agency who will approach his value.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:13 am
Joe – I also think Trent Richardson’s previously undisclosed surgery will shy the Bucs away from taking him with such a high pick.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:15 am
Talib is gone. HAS TO BE.
Every coach they drafted is all about discipline. You can not send that message and keep Talib.
It will be a 2 year process of revamping the lineup. I suspect by opening day 2013 half the roster will be different.
As for the hire, sounds great! but we shall see.
As for Claiborne, drafting him along with signing a FA CB would change the secondary overnight.
The key to all of it is a healthy Price, McCoy, Bowers, and Clayborn on the D-Line. Get them after the passer!!
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:34 am
Thomas the only counter I think you have glossed over is the fact that Blount has yet to have an offseason/mini-camp with the Bucs yet. We scooped him up his rookie year and he had to learn on the fly & then there was no offseason because of the CBA dispute. Thus, all the reps, technique, and blocking fundmentals that usually are covered & big to a young player’s development did not occur. Also, don’t neglect the fact that he had an inferior coaching staff/system trying to coach him up. I don’t think Richardson is needed, a FA speed back or a LaMicheal James type pick in rounds 2-4 I think would be adequate. I’m not saying Blount is a lock to be a pro bowler but I think given a legit coaching staff that holds him accoutable & actually has him go thru offseason work outs/learn the system could improve his overall game a lot.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:34 am
Before the rookie wage scale I would have agreed with you…..but the only reason why you wouldn’t take a RB early in the past is because you’re not going to pay a rookie RB that $30M bonus that the pre wage scale NFL required.
Now, player position doesn’t mean squat. The first GM’s that realize this will be ahead of the curve…..and once the rest catch on it won’t be too long before you start seeing MLB’s, Safety’s, RB’s, TE’s, etc etc going earlier and earlier and earlier.
This nonsense about good RB’s being available later in the drafts is applicable to each and every position. Hell, just look at the Bucs past with CB’s
Ronde
Donnie Abraham
Brian Kelly
Dwight Smith
John Lynch
Dexter Jackson
You take the player that can help you the most.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 am
I rarely agree with 2.2, but his comments about Blount are accurate. He is an average back – he hesitates at the hole, his vision is suspect, can’t catch very well and struggled ALL YEAR to pick up the pass pro. Now he’s going to have to learn a new offense. Throw in the fact that there is NO depth behind him. Lumpkin should be gone. Madu showed some flashes and will remain because he’s young and we have nobody else.
Yes we can get a RB ‘in the later rounds’ like everyone says, but that holds true for almost every position. If the Bucs will take Bowers after all that ‘knee injury’ talk, surely they won’t pass on Richardson.
I like Claiborne a lot too, but I think the Rams take him.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:42 am
Check out this vision I had. Talib clears court, no charges. We draft Claiborne, get Finnegan, Carr or Richard Marshall and trade Talib to the Redskins for a 2nd or 3rd since we will probably let him walk next year anyways.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:46 am
there is no guarentee the bucs will have a shot at Claiborne. Luck is a lock at one but the Rams could go a variety of ways including corner. The Vikings need help at corner or wide out and the browns should take RGIII. There will be some anxious moments at the draft for the bucs if they are targeting Claiborne. Kirkpatrick could be there fall back option. However, I do agree the bucs need a corner badly.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:47 am
Just some food for thought, name the last Top Ten drafted RB to win the superbowl as starter? Hell go look up how many RBs in the 1st round that have won the super bowl recently as starters? I’m not saying Richardson is not good or potentially great. I am saying we have far more glaring needs at other positions where just as good of prospects are available. This is now a passing league gentlemen, the literal rules of the game have changed & now passing teams are the elite teams in the league. You either need an elite pass rush/CBs (Giants, Jets, Ravens) to stop the pass to compete or you need an elite passing attack to overwhelm teams (Packers, Saints, Patriots). The league has changed, I hope we draft accordingly.
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:57 am
Sounds like a good hire.
“LSU fans will be loath to see Cooper go, and with good reason. During his stay in Baton Rouge, Cooper has set a high standard for the Tigers’ defense. In Cooper’s first year, the Tigers’ pass defense jumped from a putrid 73rd in the nation in 2008 to 29th in 2009.
The improvement skyrocketed from there, jumping to No. 10 in 2010 and No. 8 during LSU’s run to the SEC championship in 2011.” espn college
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:59 am
If we draft Claiborne or Blackmon I’ll be happy. If you factor in a solid FA RB like Tolbert, Bush, or in my dreams, a Ray Rice or Forte you should take a flier on a later round RB.
The holes on defense are bigger and need immediate repair compared to the RB position. The Bucs need to pick up a FA CB and draft one as well.
Anything to avoid fielding a team that has Biggers and Lumpkin as starters.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 am
This is seriously the lamest argument ever. First of all, if you’re drafting in the top ten then your team is awful.
Here’s the list of the all time rushing leaders
Emmitt Smith
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Curtis Martin
LaDanian Tomlinson
Jerome Bettis
Tony Dorsett
Jim Brown
Marshall Faulk
Edgerrin James
Marcus Allen
From what I can see there is one (ONE) RB on that list that was not drafted in the first round (Curtis Martin). Furthermore, Edge, Faulk, LT, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton were all top ten (maybe top 5) draft picks
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:02 am
Mako … Maybe you were watching a different game then me … But Lumpkin is a Beast.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:11 am
jvato, please let me know what channel you were watching, I’ll gladly switch.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:11 am
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
I’m sorry if “winning” a championship is the lamest argument ever. I as a fan however, and I think most fans like their teams to you know actually “WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS”. I’m glad you ignored my other question of “1st round” RB picks period because then your straw man argument wouldn’t have been able to have been constructed. Listing the all-time leading rushers list proves what exactly??? If drafting an a STUD RB in the top 10 makes you a perrenial super bowl contender then there should be tons of recent super bowl winners/participants with them (except that there isn’t). So go ahead and list the entire Pro Football Hall of Fame list if you want, the fact is you ignore how different the game is played today. Johnny Unitas is in the HoF but I wouldn’t want the Bucs to give him a practice sqaud spot because it would be a waste. Wake up man. Also, actually answering my question with “facts” is a good way to have a discussion. Answering my question with straw man arguments you create is a good way to not learn anything.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:12 am
Think this hire goes more toward Sheridan’s comments about a scoring defense than it is a nod to Claiborne. I don’t have a problem with him as the pick, but the whole staff isn’t even in the building yet; can’t imagine the draft board is set.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:15 am
Not sure why the Vikings aren’t in the discussion on Mo Claiborne. With Rogers and Stafford slinging balls in the north, they need DB help. IF they don’t address this in FA, it can’t be dismissed that they won;t target Mo.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:22 am
MO at 5 plz for some reason teams always get the player we covet
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:24 am
This guy will fill two positions and cut the field in half.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:27 am
A lot guys on LGB, let’s see what he does with a real coaching staff. He didn’t have a senior season at Oregon, not to mention the kind of offense they ran, totally different from a pure nfl offense, missed camp with Bucs rookie season, no offseason last year and was taken out of games early, even when Bucs still had a chance. All things fair on the team and no favorites, lets see how this plays out. Find a RB in third round unless T-Rich, david wilson or Lamar Miller falls to 2nd round
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:33 am
I do not buy the comments about Blount. He can get better and should get better at blocking and receiving.
BUT, they do not need a number 1 back, they just need a speedy complement to Blount who can catch.
Either way, JUST SAY NO TO DRAFTING RICHARDSON.
I do not care how good he is, the team has way too many other issues to be drafting a RB that high. it is a waste and offers little value. They can complement Blount in round 3 with James or Rainey most likely; or they can use free agency.
Claiborne and/or Blackmon seems to be the obvious choice in my mind. Both would help improve the team immediately, especially if they also bolster the DBs with free agency.
As for some on her (2.2) saying Claiborne would be a non-factor his first year???????? What?????????
Since when is an elite CB a non-factor in his rookie year. Haden, Peterson, etc… are just some recent examples.
Excellent cover guys excell more than most positions as rookies because it is pure athleticism and instinct.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:35 am
Rrsrq,
I am glad people are hating on Blount .. When everyone loves someone they seem to fail. Everyone talks about Blount as if he has hit his ceiling.
He has never had an NFL offseason, missed his senior year and is just still young. I hope the Defenses think the same thing. Everyone says he cant catch might get a surprise this year. Does anyone remember that Catch and run he ripped off in the pre-season last year ? ? Shows he potential in that area.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:44 am
I imagine the Richardson surgery effectively eliminates him from the conversation.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:47 am
Holy geeze Matthew, relax yourself.
First, first round RB’s that have played in the SB recently include Rashard Mendenhall, Edgerrin James, Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, Sean Alexander, Corey Dillon….not sure how far back you want to go but Emmitt Smith – the NFL’s all time leading rusher – was a first round pick and won 3 of em. Walter Payton (SB champion) was a top 5 pick
Your argument makes about as much since as saying I’ve never been mauled to by a tiger when typing a response on JoeBucsFan, therefore JoeBucsFan is keeping me from being mauled by tigers.
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:54 am
Furthermore Matthew, your argument predisposes that SB champs are drafting in the top 10 and need a RB. There have been 46 SB champs and I feel pretty confident that a good number of those teams don’t have ANY top 10 pics on their entire roster.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Last but not least, why don’t you take a look at that list, tell me what percentage were drafted in the first round, and what percentage have SB rings
PS- sorry for the three posts in a row, but JBF wouldn’t let me post a long response and Matthew……well your post was just so full of derp I had to make sure I answered
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:01 pm
LOL
The pick was never going to be Trent Richardson anyway. Some people are simply trying to hype their personal desires, but it doesn’t matter. The only way we take Richardson is if who we really want is gone.
And who the Bucs really want is Mo. Period. It’s as predictable as the first pick at this point, assuming someone doesn’t trade up to take him.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Is there any other position on the team with the possibility of both starters not being available/on team other than CB?
There’s a precedent for Talib to be suspended, even with an acquital and Ronde is on borrowed time.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
For that list to be fair, it has to include ALL of the RBs taken in the first round, not just your personal favs. You do that and the percentages sway away from you.
Personally I think Richardson is worth a first round pick…to another team. Our more pressing need is elsewhere.
The best player available theory is a myth. Say the Saints resign Breese and the best player available when they pick is a QB…do they take him? Nope.
It’s the best available at the most pressing needs. Period.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:09 pm
@Cream
I’m nice a relaxed, you started the insults/strawman arguments. You need to check your facts again on Corey Dillion because you are wrong. 1997 Draft 2nd Rnd 47th overall pick. He also didn’t get a SB till he was with a HoF QB Tom Brady at the end of his career.
Edgerrin James was a non-factor in Arizona & split reps, and was benched at one point during the Cardinals SB run. Joesph Addai same deal. Reggie Bush also was not the primary back for New Orleans, he was a 3rd down option (a good one at that) after failing to be the every down back they hoped he would be. Shaun Alexander (4th over all) & Mendenhall (23rd overall) are the only two primary backs in the last 10 years of super bowls that were their teams primary starters & also drafted in the 1st round. Niether of those two won their SBs btw (Mendenhall won his SB ring on injured Reserve)
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
@Pete
What list are you referring to? I posted the list of the top rushers of all time and from what I can see every single one of the top 12 was a first rd pick except for Curtis Martin….and the majority of the guys on that list have SB rings
And I’m not saying Richardson HAS to be the pick….I just think this team has needs at every single position (except QB) and for my money I’d rather draft a playmaker that will touch the ball 300+ times a season than a DB who, if all goes well, would touch the ball 8 times a season. We need playmakers and I see the position of RB having a much bigger impact on this team than another DB that we could just as easily address in FA
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Agreed Pete. I’ve never said Richardson isn’t or won’t be good. He’s just not “good” for the Bucs, at least not in comparison to our other needs & benefits of drafting other players @ the 5th pick.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Matthew I wasn’t insulting you….I said your argument was lame. Big difference
Again, it’s lame because you have to assume that SB teams are drafting in the top ten AND need a RB AND are going to win the SB within a few yrs of having a top ten pick. Those odds are astronomical.
I wasn’t arguing against a strawman. Just pointing out that of the top 12 all time leading rushers they are all overwhelmingly first round picks and they are all overwhelmingly SB champs. That doesn’t mean that Richardson is one of those guys, but I’m just saying that for those of the opinion that using a first rounder on a RB is a waste, you’re just flat out wrong
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:20 pm
The point which you have repeatedly have yet to refute, is that to be consistently successful in the new NFL; your team requires elite personnel at positions other than RB. You need an elite passing attack or passing defense (CBs/Pass Rush). The days of the Parcells style of grinding out games on the ground are over.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I would love if the bucs selected Johnson from Montana. If you haven’t seen this kid ball you should watch him but they would definitely have to take him in the third round since they don’t have a fourth round pick, thanks stocker
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Feel free to cling to this outdated idea that RBs win championships (seriously Walter Payton is your proof? Ha) see my Johnny Unitas argument above. While the rest of the league moves in a different direction as the game changes. WR or CB are the only two guys I want to the see the Bucs draft at 5. The recent decade of stats back me up, you have to go decades into the past to drum up any support for your expired ideas. That’s laughable
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
ha I’m not and have never said that you don’t need good players at other positions! Talk about a strawman argument
Look, Joe just posted a story about us going after Michael Bush….obviously if that happens I drop my argument for T-Rich. Likewise, this teams secondary next yr COULD consist of Cortland Finnegan, Aqib Talib, Ronde Barber, T-Jax, and TBA…..in that case I would consider drafting a DB in the first round completely ridiculous.
I also wouldn’t get too carried away by this “new NFL” stuff…..the league is cyclical. It’ll take one team winning the SB with clock management for the entire league to start talking about a strong running game again
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Matthew, WHO THE HELL IS SAYING RB’S WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS????????
Teams win championships – Emmitt Smith was a part of 3 in a row, but I have never said HE WON A CHAMPIONSHIP.
I don’t have time to get into another ridiculous argument here, but the fact remains that the majority of the all time rushers are first rounders and that all but one were first rounders.
CBH out
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Richardson is a great player.
But our needs on defense are at critical mass. 6 of our back 7 do not have enough talent/skill /intelligence to play in the NFL. The 7 th one is a legend, but may be to old to play everydown.
Yeah, it’s that bad. Is as bad of a back 7 as I’ve ever seen in the NFL. Ever. Period.
You don’t normally find any shut down corners, anywhere but the top 12 picks in the draft. Last year, we had the opportunity to sign one. Instead, Dom sat on his thumbs, and we missed out.
Now, we have to draft Clabourne. Carr, etc, etc are good CBs- not the stopper you must have to play the best WRs- game in, game out. The guy we don’t have- the guy who can cover Calvin Johnson, Roddy White, Marquis Colston, with enough skill to scare a QB into not throwing that direction.
We don’t have any CB like that on this roster. We don’t have any CB who could become that guy. We don’t even have a qualified number 2 CB.
And we play 3 and 4 WR sets more often than 2 WRs..
Mo has that skill level- he has the talent to be one of the very best.
I think we draft Mo, then draft Dennard in the 2nd, and still sign a FA CB who can start. Our CBs are that bad.
Then, we publically flog Dominick for not signing Nnamadi or J Joseph last year,like anyone but an idiot would have done!!
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
And the Ron Cooper hire is a good one. This guy knows how to confuse an offense. Now we have to get him some talent
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Pretty spot on, Tim, imo.
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Just to point out… leading rushers by season drafted top 5 overall were a yearly thing from 2000 back. Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders took a huge number of those, dominating the 90s. Since then, there have been more and more RBs drafted in late rounds or undrafted that have moved up the charts of season leaders. Starting with Terrell Davis and the Broncos in the late 90s, the arrival of more late first round to undrafted players hit the top as often as the “top 5” drafted guys do. RB has been drafted top 5 less and less as the millennium goes on. RBs that were the 3rd, 4th, 5th overall RB selected are having success and top selections are failing more and more. Chris Johnson was the 5th RB taken in the first round in his draft, yet has outperformed every RB taken ahead of him. This is why RBs are taken later and later in drafts. It’s an unknown quantity with RBs. They may look great in college, yet not translate (for whatever reason… injury, etc) to the NFL.
The 2005 draft is a prime example. A draft supposedly loaded with TOP RB talent. 3 RBs taken in the top 5. Ronnie Brown, a backup in Philly last year. Cedric Benson, doing well now, but not with the team that drafted him. Caddy, dealt with knee injuries his whole career. Which of those 3 teams got the impact of a top 5 pick with their RB? Not Chicago, not Miami, and not Tampa. Maybe the 49ers got it right with Frank Gore in the 3rd round. They had the #1 overall pick in the draft, yet took the 3rd round RB instead of one of the above 3. Gore has outperformed them all. The Giants and Cowboys got about the same performance out of 4th round picks Brandon Jacobs and Marion Barber. Darren Sproles was also taken 4th round that year and now holds an NFL record for all purpose yards.
In 2008, Chris Johnson was a great pick at 24th overall. Too bad for the 4 teams that drafted a RB higher than that. Beyond that, you’d have to figure the Ravens got a great deal getting Ray Rice in the 2nd, and the Bears with Matt Forte. Even 3rd rounder Jamaal Charles outperformed several RBs taken higher than Johnson.
Hearing that TR is the next best thing, and a can’t miss guy takes me back to that 2008 draft. Scouts.com had this to say about McFadden (first RB taken and top 5 pick), “Best RB to enter the draft in the past two decades.” Really? Two decades? Better than Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith? Yet there was all the hype.
I’m not buying into a “Top 5” RB prospect at this point, no matter what the hype about him is. We can get a player in a position of greater need that has equal hype and incur the same risks. However, the life of an NFL CB is typically greater than that of a RB, the benefit to the team long term is greater (ala Ronde Barber). If Claiborne isn’t the next Revis, then we haven’t lost anymore than McFadden (or Richardson) not being Chris Johnson.
February 23rd, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@ Matthew
just a side note, if ur going to tell Creamsicle to fact check u prob should as well. Shaun Alexander was not the 4th overall pick. i follow the Giants too, and i remember most fans bugging out because they picked Ron Dayne at 11 instead of Shaun Alexander (who went at 19 to Seattle).
not trying to start a war….just saying u can’t get on someone else’s case about having inaccurate facts if u do too
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:07 pm
What a great hire first off. LSU’s secondary is always insane!! And hopefully he can convince the staff, which I don’t think much is needed, to draft this kid. Purest shutdown corner to come out in a long time. Can be like Revis but even faster. He said himself he is looking to run a high 4.2 or low 4.3 in the 40. If he somehow manages a 4.28 or 4.29, my God!!! He may not be there at #5 if that happens. I just don’t see any of the teams ahead of us drafting a CB 1st. They all have bigger needs!!!