Quinton Coples Reported To Be Visiting Bucs
March 18th, 2012
Though we are still in the throes of free agent season (with draft season soon to follow), it also means NFL fans are in the thick of the silly season.
The silly season means that teams are putting out more smoke signals than a Sioux tribe after receiving word that George Custer is nearby.
One such stunt is reported to be taking place by Aaron Wilson, of Scout.com, who claims North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples is visiting the Bucs this week.
University of North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples is scheduled to visit the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
He has previously visited the Carolina Panthers, who have also hosted LSU defensive lineman Michael Brockers for a visit.
The 6-foot-6, 284-pounder is regarded as a potential top 10 selection, and Carolina owns the ninth overall pick of the first round.
Well, given that teams are only allowed to have a set amount of potential draftees visit team headquarters, Joe’s not sure how much of a smokescreen this is by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
The Bucs already have three solid defensive ends in Adrian Clayborn, Da’Quan Bowers and Michael Bennett. With sssooo many holes in the back seven for the Bucs, it seems odd that Dominik would target another defensive end, especially with the fifth pick in the draft.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Yep, doesn’t make sense. We need to be targeting linebackers in the draft.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Maybe to play olb, and rush on third?
Lol, doesnt add up…
March 18th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Another crock rumor.. I dont see this happening
March 18th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Very thick smokescreen. Dom is going all out. I love it!
@Rickster lol Yeah, If people thought our LBs were bad at coverage, wait till they see a 284lbs guy trying to cover!
March 18th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
@haveaniceday
Hey we thought it was a good idea to throw to a de converted to a fullback.
Thats actually not funny, hopefully those days are behind us….
March 18th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@Rickster Your reaction is funny though lol. Appropriate, but still funny.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
If everything checks out with the kid, I think it would be an excellent draft pick. From all reports he’s a beast pass rusher, which is what the Bucs lack and is a major need. We have no big athletic impact player on defense. To have a great D. If Claiborne is off the board the Bucs should go Couples or Melvin Ingram. We had no pass rush last season.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Listen, the Giants have a great line and then a bunch of nobodies at linebacker. What did the Giants do when they had Osi, Tuck, Kiwi? Oh draft JPP. How’d that work out? I trust Rockstar and Im excited again about our Bucs.
@Joe, Did we really try to trade K2? Is that rumor or truth?
March 18th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Yep doesn’t make any sense to add more quality de depth. I mean Jerry Reese has done it in the past and look where that got him…. We were near bottom of NFL in sacks, coples should be considered. ESP if we trade down to the 8-12 range….which is something that makes a whole lot of sense. Considering our need at safety , corner, 3rd down back, blocking te, linebacker, and arguably dt. 3/5 Blackmon, Richardson, Claiborne, kalil, and tannehill will be available and common sense tells you one of these guys will be highly desired. Drop a few spots add Luke kuchly or coples and add ourselves another mid 2nd and get that 4th back that we spent on stocker. Solid db and linebackers should be sitting early 2nd… Sure would be nice to have 2 picks there!
March 18th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Related to smokescreens for Custer… Joe are racially absurd jokes alright around here?
What’s the different between Jack Daniels and George Custer? (Give it a second) To this day, Jack Daniels is still killing Indians.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
My hunch is that, “next GM”, Butch Davis has a lot to do with this.
March 18th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Two words: Due Dilligence.
KWBucsfan makes a good point. This may not necessarily be a “smokescreen.”
We may not be able to afford Bennet next year once he is unrestricted, and to have another talented DE to rotate with Bowers and Clayborne, and feature in this so called hybrid 3-4, 4-3 mystery defense, isn’t the end of the world.
Besides, if we do get Ronde and Talib back, with Wright, CB is no longer a need, plus we no longer need to look at Blackmon thanks to V-Jax, and t-Rich could be off the board if the Browns take him.
Gotta keep the options open!!
March 18th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
The Bucs need big athletic ballers on defense more than anything else. If not the D will get pounded again. Give me a beast D. End over a beast running back any day. Really that’s a no brainier. See Mario Williams vs Reggie Bush
March 18th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Due Diligence and Smokescreen make sense to me. Another thing it could be is Dominik might want to trade down badly, so by bringing in Coples he hopes another team that wants him will attempt to trade up with us? I don’t know but I don’t see him being the pick.
March 18th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
It makes absolutely no sense from a monetary or managerial POV to spend a first and a second on DE and tender Bennett, whom they clearly want to keep, then spend another first on DE the following year. The DL is set. We may add a free agent here or there or spend a 7th, but this guy is out of the equation completely. You can not focus on one position so often or the other positions will slump.
As far as the sack numbers, don’t you think that goes on the coaching staff who was fired for so ungodly being awful?
This is a smokescreen, if it is true. There is no way Domick is that stupid.
March 18th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
If the Bucs are entertaining thoughts of trading down the idea of Coples coming in makes perfect sense. This is either due diligence or a smokescreen but either way, it makes sense.
March 18th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
the pass rush will be alot better this year with ota’s and another year of experiance I know its not popular and normally I would not what a running back at number 5 but with this line and an all around rb like t rich we have to draft mr. t rich. play action whaaaat.get anouther corner or lb in 2nd
March 18th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Coaching staff was bad, but still there is no true dominant pass rusher on the roster. The pass rush was awful. Really Bennett and Clayborn are okay (average) but not dominant. Bucs definitely isn’t set at D Line. It’s a mistake if they think they are. I’m sure after reviewing the tape from last season, the coaches clearly saw that speed coming off the end is a major need. The new D Coordinator alluded to that indirectly in his opening press conference.
March 18th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
All good points. I think it wouldn’t hurt. Personally, I’d rather have a 4th CB than a 4th DE, but to have that constant outside threat because of a deep DE rotation, really could help open things up for GMC and Price.
“Some” think they need all the help they can get, this just might be the way to do it.
After all, Dominik forecasts the following year in the draft as well, and as far as CB is concerned, “The Honeybadger” waits for next year……
March 18th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
@I’d certainly place Clayborn as a dominant pass rusher. Everyone thought of him as the one to be a run stuffer but he has excelled unbelievably in pass rush. 8 sacks as a rookie?! Are you kidding me? JPP only had 5!
Bennett is solid in rush but an amazing run stuffer. Guy makes big times plays.
Bowers has seen little reps. in his short time he has wowed as well as looked rough. More coaching needed.
There is no need to even question their production as it was visible. We are set for years at DE. Those years look to be great. If last years positive production even under an awful coach has anything to do with it, we will be happy.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
But hell, there is a reason NY was dominating at DE. It was a product of coaching over talent. JPP is the only one with an above average talent level. The rest of the guys are good but not great. He was picked up to cover for an aging and oft injured Osi. We don’t have that problem at DE.
Their coaching and scheming has aided them immensely.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
The real reason: Strahan, Osi, Tuck and JPP (all great pass rushers). You can’t give that credit to coaching. Two different d. coordinators in championship seasons
March 18th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
@KSJ
I guess Clayborn was an optical illusion on defense last year.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
It’s a horrible smokescreens if it is one. More likely, Dominick wanted a look at him because he might be playing in our division.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Talib will not beback in Tampa, Big Picture Guy.
Last year of contract and likely going to be suspended a year…at best. The ONLY reason he has not been cut is the draft. Cutting him would make our first pick 100% certaiin to other teams.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
It could be a trade back move. And here is more candy for thought.
Bennet very well could be moved do DT. He plays both exceptionally well. Having Coples would be an insurance policy for an injured player. He wouldn’t have to come in and immediatley start but having a rotation with him in it. Gives us potentially a devastating D Line ALL game long. Bowers, Clayborn, Bennet, Price, McCoy, and Coples.. Could also put a bandaid on the gunshot wound at LBer/back 7.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
The Giants proved there isn’t much a QB can do even against a weak secondary from his back all game. With a D- Line getting after the QB all game long. Would severely help our back 7 not look as bad.
March 18th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Clayborn was solid last year and he is a good ball player but let’s be real he’s no JPP. You do not and will not game plan for Clayborn but you better game plan when you’re locking up with JPP. To look at the big picture (no pun intended). One Clayborn , one Bennett (run stopper / inside DT pass rusher)and one Bowers isn’t enough to give the Bucs that dominant consistent pass rush that’s needed to compete for a championship.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Coples is a stellar ball player. Would not be unhappy with this. And you never know. Maybe Coach Schiano sees something on film that leads him to believe that the weakness WE think there are on this team. Are not the same ones he sees.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Bringing in Coples = Drumming up interest in the #5 pick.
Good form Dom.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Still hope we trade back in rounds 1 and 2 and grab at least 4 more draft picks this year.. hopefully top 100 picks. That alone can help flip over the defense. Plus, Fill in almost ALL the holes with new promise.
So far the Bucs have acted more like the Patriots this year then in RahRah 3 years. Even tho i am drooling for news i am happy about the secretive approach. I also hope it continues into the Draft and we act like them again and trade back to restock the roster with talent.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
“It’s a horrible smokescreens if it is one. More likely, Dominick wanted a look at him because he might be playing in our division.” That’s what I was thinking.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
@KSJ “you do not and will not game plan for Clayborn” I don’t know how you can say that with a straight face.
No one game planned for JPP in his first season. No one gameplanned for him in his second either….. then he broke out. So they started game planning for him. Clayborn broke out fast and teams already started game planning for him. They have said so in their conferences.
Clayborn was ninth in the league in pass rushing productivity by generating a pressure(sack, hit, hurry) every 9.7% of his pass rushing snaps(50 on 407 pass rushing snaps). That is pretty darn amazing for a rookie to do such a thing.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
We had a good dl when we got rice and drafted booger.
Dungy said he was emulating the great cowboys dls.
And Butch Davis was DC for Dallas.
Connect those dots and the visit may mean their genuinley interested.
Then again dungy had 55……..back to smokescreen.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
I’d bet he’s preparing to sell the 5th pick just in case morris claiborne is taken. I dont think we’ll take t-rich plus there is a chance trent will to the browns. After mc the only value pick left is blackmon and that wont happen anymore…
March 18th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Surprised no one thought that Dom brought in this DE to judge potential draftees at the position of OT. Might want a new stud at right Tackle
March 18th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
“Stats are for losers”. Bottom line we need a dominant consistent pass rush (consisting of multiple pass rushers) to make a championship run. Especially in a 4-3 scheme. Clayborn had a good rookie season, but he’s not dominant. He’s not that athletic physical imposing pass rusher. If Claiborne is off the board at prior the #5 pick we should definitely go Couples or Ingram. Possibly trade down to get one of the two.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
I’m not sure most of you realize that Coples CAN play DT as well. Perhaps McCoy moves over into more of a NT role, while the more explosive and athletic Coples COULD be the UT. I’m not sure it would be a wise choice of our pick… especially when we could possibly trade down and get our next MLB for the next 10-15 seasons in Luke Kuechly.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Remember this is a Butch Davis guy coming from north carolina. “hint” “hint”
March 18th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Trade down to ge anyone other than claiborne.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
That was confusing^^^
Trade down if claborne i not there.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
smokescreen. next
March 18th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
yes we have to get him theres a reason why the giants selected Jason Pierre Paul they didnt need him. But he was dominate and without him they would have not gotten or won the superbowl.. Pass rush is the most important position besides QB!
March 18th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
I agree with 941Buc. You can never have too much pass rush, and a great pass rush can improve a questionable secondary.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Smokescreen. I said a couple days ago, Dominik is going to be trying like hell to dust his tracks after his big FA haul. He want’s to make his intentions as unpredictable as possible. The last couple years I’ve had a pretty strong bead on what he’s planning and I’m having quite a bit of trouble this year. I knew he would go strong after Vincent Jackson and a CB, I did not think he would attempt the Carl Nicks deal, but he did. The top of this draft beyond the first three picks is a toss up.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
@941, you don’t draft top ten to be reserve. We have too many holes to fill to bring in a guy that COULD excel down the road. If we stand pat for Draft Day, the pick is MO and if CLE takes him, it’s Trent. If we trade down, it’s the beast LB Luke from B.C. Anything else is foolish unless the Top 3 off the board are shockers.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
You people are crazy if you think we need to waste the 5th pick on a d-lineman. Our d-line is set and the only players I see adding to it will be for depth purposes only. Do you guys forget that Bowers and Clayborne were rookies last year, my goodness. You act like you got them all figured out, especially after one season where there wasn’t any off season and the piss poor coaching. The sky is the limit for these guys with a good off season and some real coaching.
@KJS
You are sick man, Clayborne is not dominant? You can’t say that with a straight face, he was a ROOKIE last year for one. You have no basis for that claim what so ever. I recall him mowing lineman down last year, you must not have watched the man play apparently.
Bowers last year really impressed me and he was a rookie last year as well. Our coaching staff the last few years were so incompetent and with the right coaching each one of the starters on our line have pro-bowl potential.
We have far more glaring needs then adding to the d-line. Mo Claiborne is almost guaranteed to be there @ #5 and he will be the pick. In the event of trading back, the guy we will be targeting will be Kuechley, not Coples.
March 19th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Richardson is not worthy of a top 10 pick let alone a top 5 pick. He is no sure bet either and is highly over hyped in my opinion. I am skeptical of any RB coming out of Alabama, for one they have prob the best o-line in college football and 2 he didn’t do much when he faced the LSU defense. In most other draft years, he would be considered a late first rounder at best. We don’t need another Blount type back anyway, we really need an a elusive back, who can also catch balls. We can find better RB help later in the draft (second or third) preferably. Not saying Richardson is not a good back, but he is very over hyped. Also he does have slight bust or injury potential as well.
March 19th, 2012 at 12:48 am
We define dominant differently. JPP, Julius Peppers, Freeney, Jared Allen are dominant. Clayborne is good but not dominant and I don’t know if he has the skill set to be dominant. Good…yes but can’t say dominant. I give you this he was a rookie and did not have the benefit of a full offseason but still I don’t see JPP type talent in Clayborne. I think that has been the problem of the front office, overrating the talent on the team.
March 19th, 2012 at 1:21 am
@KSJ That “stats are for losers” line went away when we fired the man that coined the phrase.
March 19th, 2012 at 1:26 am
@KSJ Also, Clayborn had just as many sacks and more total pressures than Freeney. I don’t even think you even know what your definition of dominant is.
If you just don’t like the guy, say it. But don’t try and say he didn’t dominate in the pass rush because even by your comparison of what dominance is, he fits the bill.
March 19th, 2012 at 1:41 am
@ Have A Nice Day
LOL! Exactly.
March 19th, 2012 at 1:46 am
@Lion Thanks. 🙂 I agree with your comment @11:57 as well.
March 19th, 2012 at 2:52 am
@Have A Nice Day
No problem and thank you as well!!
March 19th, 2012 at 8:14 am
We need to take M.Claiborne at 5. That will give us real good dept at the CB position. I know people want us to take T.Richardson, But theres so many runningback position we can take. We have a good RB in Blount who also has yet to have an offseason with the team. I think he’ll be fine, But we do need a third down RB and a seedy RB to change the pace of the game.
March 19th, 2012 at 9:07 am
I like Clayborne. I love his motor and production in his rookie season but I’m not going to overrate his talent because he plays for my team. We can’t believe that we’re straight (set) at D line and pass on a talent like Coples or Ingram. The D line was awful last year and it wasn’t just because of coaching.
March 19th, 2012 at 9:12 am
[…] (typeof(addthis_share) == "undefined"){ addthis_share = [];}Some may be surprised which draft prospect the Bucs are bringing in for a visit. Peyton Manning is looking to get paid. Will neck surgeries […]
March 19th, 2012 at 9:40 am
Have a nice day, there are approx. 10 dominant defensive ends / pass rushers in the league, if you put Clayborne in that category we just have to agree to disagree
March 19th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@KSJ….what are you smoking dude?? Clayborn was a rookie and performed better than a lot of people you are quoting as ‘dominant’ did their rookie years. Would you have called JPP ‘dominant’ his rookie year? I thought Clayborn looked like a kid who is gong to be a dominant DE and especially factoring in that he had no off season to prepare. I think Bowers is going to be even better. WE SHOULD NOT GET ANOTHER DE IN ROUND 1…..period. If we trade down we should be looking at Kuechly.
March 19th, 2012 at 10:41 am
We dont need to draft for need! We need to draft for power! if we can be dominate with consistent pass rush we dont need a good DB… I like Caliborne but it wont matter if we have a dominate D-line do you think the DBS with the giants or steelers are any good? there average…… but they dominate pass rush!
March 19th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@ Everyone who keeps saying our D Line is set… Remember back to last year when our WRs were supposedly “set”? How’d that turn out?