Right-Now Offense Needs One More Piece
April 25th, 2012
Joe sees the Bucs offense as a veteran group built to win immediately.
There’s the massively paid veteran offensive line with multiple Pro Bowl types in their prime. There’s the veteran No. 1 wideout making massive cash with experienced third-year guys at Nos. 2 & 3. There’s the 29-year-old tight end with 39-year-old knees who probably has one or two good seasons in him, at best.
And there’s franchise QB Josh Freeman, with 40 starts under his belt, entering a pivotal season.
That leaves running back, where Joe’s a big fan of LeGarrette Blount, but Joe fully realizes you need two quality backs — three wouldn’t hurt — especially when you claim to be a run-first team. (Look at the RB talent on every team in the NFC South.) So Joe sees running back as the only hole on offense and one the Bucs can’t whiff on in the draft, when failing at that position can bring the entire offense down.
Using that logic, Joe could see how the Bucs might believe versatile Trent Richardson is the missing piece for a true playoff-caliber offense. If that’s the mindset of rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano, then Joe could understand how they could take a whatever-it-takes mentality toward drafting Richardson.
However, that doesn’t mean it would make any sense with a defense filled with as many holes as the Bucs’. The Bucs have five positions with serious question marks in their back-7, and possibly lousy depth at cornerback if Aqib Talib lands in prison or gets suspended.
Joe sees drafting a running back in the first round as an extreme luxury the Bucs just can’t afford.
Grab a back in the second or third round and hurry up and sign the best available free-agent veteran back on the street. Outside of that, the Bucs have to load up on the defensive side of the ball. The cruel facts dictate the move.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:57 am
really good take Joe.. I’m really nervous that we won’t be able to even draft Claiborne or Richardson at this point.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:01 am
I think the offense needs 3 pieces. A second RB, TE, and RT. Other than that 2nd RB later in the draft, I still think we should go all defense. We need a LOT more pieces on defense.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Trade down Draft Dontae Hightower
Draft a running back like David Wilsen in the 3rd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1bO123KOEM
Just remember where you read it first
April 25th, 2012 at 11:02 am
I am on the richardson bandwagan (and claibournes). I think we will get in front of Cleveland and get Richardson,imo
April 25th, 2012 at 11:03 am
@marques Wilson will be gone in the 2nd.he is good
April 25th, 2012 at 11:03 am
The bigger question is what is Davin Joseph doing in this picture. SMH
April 25th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Trent Richardson ? Forgettaboutit, he is going to Cleveland, or some team will jump in front of Cleveland by trade with Minnesota to snag him.
But not to worry, this draft is deep at running back. Schiano may remember Isiah Pead from Cinncinnatti who torched Rutgers.
Pead has 4.47 speed, and lit up the Senior Bowl.
I think Tampa will draft a running back, but it will not be Richardson.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Very good take on it, Joe. I wouldn’t be upset if they drafted Richardson, but he is certainly not my first or second option.
@Thinker His trademark run block whiff lol
April 25th, 2012 at 11:07 am
all i gotta say is good thing joe isent the GM!! Its very funny how biased you are. why cant you take a corner that falls into the second? why does it have to be the RB? once again glad your not the GM because trent richardson isent just a extremely good football player like morris, he is a game changer. period. When game changers come around like the calvin johnsons, larry fitzs, andres, APs you take them, they score points and there extremely good at it, and in the game of football you win by scoring points. we have 3 starting caliber corners and even a BLUE CHIP in aqib talib, i think you forget how talented he is and CLEARLY he is staying the the bucs. come on use some common sense, if they felt he was gonna get convicted after hearing the entire store (because you know there his boss and know these things unlike us) they would have released him just like they did tanard. And how greg schiano simply shot down the trade rumors. if you want the bucs to make the playoffs this year or have a extremely good, trent richardson will increase the chance more then morris claibourne and i guarantee that. Gotta match up points with the 3 explosive offense in the NFC south. Beat the saints and falcons last year with our corners and the raheem era, dont see a problem adressing corner in the 3rd round. at all. and adding a freak of nature, game changing goon in trent richardson to our offense to put in on another level and be considered a top offense in the NFL.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:07 am
I have to be honest … If the Bucs take Mo Claiborne .. I will feel good about it … If the Bucs pass on Claiborne .. I will feel good about that too ..
With the info they have having Ron Cooper on staff, they will know alot about him …
Also should be noted that the Vikings have Kalil’s old line coach on staff.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:08 am
Joe, I have been thinking about this for a few days, and since I took a few weeks off I have been watching the Man’s Channel endlessly and if we were to take Kalil (if available) we set our selves up to have the dominate O-line for the next decade, IMO Penn is the weak link and I truly think with proper coaching Trueblood can be an outstanding RT. Yes, we do need to address glaring holes on the D, but some wise man said the Bucs will not be able to fix everything with one draft, plus there are a few CBs who will drop to the 2nd and possibly 3rd rounds (Dre’ Kirpatrick is who I’d target in the 2nd). As for RB, either Martin or James should be available early in the 3rd round. But if the brain trust decides to either move up a spot to grab TRich or he falls to them at #5, I wouldn’t be disappointed. There are so many variables in the draft that no one can really predict with any certainty what’s going to transpire except we all know who #1 & #2 are, beyond that, it’s anybodies guess.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Bucs Best Bet IMO if not Richardson and Doug Martin goes in Rd 1.
Chris Polk for UW.
Powerful runner and barely any fumbles through his career. 3rd round.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Only one ball Dylan. THe Bucs already have Blount who every other team in the league thinks is a game-changer except our old coaching staff.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:13 am
No team in the NFL would feel good about its RB position if Blount was your best player. The team is horribly depleted at the position and in fact does not have 1 starter.
Earnest Graham is a better player than Blount, and look at Graham’s numbers last year compared to Blount’s before Graham was injured – there was absolutely no drop off at all.
Graham averaged 5.6 yards per carry, Blount 4.2 behind the same line.
Graham rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries vs the Saints in a bucs win, Blount rushed 13 times for 72 yards in a loss – and of course Blount lost a fumble.
Blount was no better a ball carrier than Graham, and Graham can block and catch passes.
Look at the stats – they are very clear – Graham was equal, if not better, than Blount carrying the rock.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:14 am
They say Polk looks a lot like Forte on film. Is there any truth to that. If so I am onboard.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:17 am
@thinker, lol @ calling blount a game changer. he was a 2nd round rick until he dropped the boise state guy. He cannot catch the ball, nor block. he can run north and south… congrats… he is a good football player, but to call him elite and a “game changer” no.. only game changing he did was blitzing audibles when he is on the field cause everyone knew it was a run.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:18 am
I am beginning to think the BC LB is going to be the guy, as TR and Mo may be gone. I would pick him over the LT from USC – that really would be a luxury IMO.
That kid can play, and helps run and pass defense.
Smart and fits the new “buc way” mode well.
Its like being at a fine restaurant, a lot of dishs look good so its tough to decide. Rock and Greg are going to earn their money Thursday.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Dylan, how do you know Blount can’t catch? You trusted Raheem and his coaches? Blount looked good to me when they threw him the ball. Same for blocking. Time will tell.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:26 am
Thomas … Earnest Graham is just an excellent RB when healthy .. We beat the Saints with EG whoopin on them.
He will be missed unless we get someone worth a Damn.
I think LGB is a unique talent that needs real coaching. But we need a #2 that is basically 1A.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:32 am
I agree with you Jvato – except on Blount being a 1.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:33 am
@jvato
i rlly like polk great jack of all trades RB
April 25th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Oh ya Blount sucks. I MEAN HE ONLY GOT 1000 YARDS IN SEVEN GAMES.
Foolish comments. He’s no Trent Richardson, but he is absolutely a starting caliber back in the NFL.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:45 am
The Bills are in love with Kalil, if he drops to 5 (and TR and Mo are gone), look for the Bucs to trade with the Bills, for a 2nd and 6th or 3rd and 5th (a steal for the Bills, but Dom wants more picks and doesn’t need/want Kalil) then the Bucs pick up Kuechly OR Barron at 10.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:48 am
If the Bills are that crazy….. which we have no reason to believe, you jump on that like a fat kid on a cake
April 25th, 2012 at 11:52 am
@meh in 13 games**** he played in 13 out of 16 games. in 13 out of 16 games adrian peterson got like what 600 more all purpose yards, like 6 more touchdowns? that is a trent richardson caliber skill set
April 25th, 2012 at 11:58 am
@prince LOL @ fat kid on a cake …
April 25th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Joe,
Other than Freeman, when was the last time the Bucs used a 1st round pick on offense?
Marques,
No way on Wilson, that highlight video of him doesn’t even cover him the entire video. The talent he was playing against in that video was suspect at best. He fumbles way too much.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
@Meh *1000 yards in 13 games.
People need to wake up and realize Blount has way too many question marks to just hope a good RB falls into the 2nd or 3rd for us. We need to do what we can to get Richardson. I’m not sure how anyone can be comfortable going into the season with a RB that can’t hold onto the football, can’t pass block, hasn’t proven he can catch, hasn’t proven he can stay healthy for a full season and tiptoes around the line of scrimmage every run unless there’s a gigantic hole. We don’t need a compliment for Blount, we need a back that Blount can compliment.
The problem so many of you have is that you think the Bucs will fill every need this offseason. That isn’t going to happen. We aren’t going to draft 2 LBers, a Safety and a CB and field a top 15 defense all of a sudden. Our defense will be poor regardless of who we draft unless the DLine stays healthy and plays out of their mind. We might as well get the best possible players we can in the draft, starting with Richardson.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Joe- spot on. And again these idiots totally disreguard every word to clamor for for Richardson- a slow Ompa loompa
Undoubtedly the dumbestest posters I’ve seen here in three years
They are embarrassingly stupid. I’ve limited my posting til the draft, to preven nausea reading their clueless lil zombie thoughts
April 25th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Marques Sousa Says:
April 25th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Trade down Draft Dontae Hightower
Draft a running back like David Wilsen in the 3rd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1bO123KOEM
Just remember where you read it first
.
Actually, no they didn’t. I suggested it in my mock (click on my name to find it).
April 25th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
No doubt Trent Richardson WAS an awesome back at Alabama. I remember another RB that was great in college a few years ago. I wanted the Bucs to draft him in the worse way. Knowshon Moreno was better a Georgia IMO than T Rich was at Bama. Point is, look at what has happened to Moreno in the last few years since the Draft. It has misfortune on top of disappointment, on top of misfortune. Cadillac was another great back drafted high, who felt was better than both the aforementioned. Cadi came out of the blocks on fire but was injured within a few weeks. He still had a great 1’st season but it was down hill after that. I am as infatuated with T Rich as anyone else but we all seem to get caught up in the hype and feeding frenzy of the Draft. This is why you have to step back and gather your whits about the situation. It is combination of playing the odds which say he will get injured soon, and he has already been injured before, or the burning desire outweighing history that Barry Sanders only comes along once in a generation, a back that doesn’t sustain serious injury.
I would not move up to 3 for T Rich. Cleveland will draft him. And LaMichael James may be a much better compliment to Blount for a far lessor price tag. The Bucs need speed in the backfield now, more than they need power. Dominick is calculating and sensible. He over analyzes players if anything, and I don’t see any way T Rich will be the Bucs pick. The odds are stacked against it. The risk is far greater than the reward, and neither Dominick, nor the Bucs can afford any more Draft mistakes. The Bucs will make the safer pick on defense. I don’t know whom or how, but that is how it will play out, I guarantee it.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Capt. Tim,
Richardson is a BEAST. We are going to draft him over Claibourne if they are both available.
“Slow Oompa Looompa” is going to be the best player from this draft in 5 years.
You were probably a “hater” back when Adrian Peterson came out.
Bottom line, Richardson is a FREAK, and we need a difference maker.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Cabin Boy/Seaman/Wave Tim,
Did mommy forget to give you warm milk before bed last night?
I read your post on Ruud on another article and I guess you were right in saying that if the Bucs didn’t bring Ruud back the defense would fall apart. But I guess Thomas 2.2 was right also because of his views on the so called coach / defensive coordinator.
Your only take on the draft that I’ve seen is that T Rich is too slow. Which I agree with Hawaiian on this one. You’ve never seen T Rich play and you probably think the Big 10 / Ohio State is the best Conference and team in the country.
At least the fans (which is short of fanatic) on this site give their opinions as to whom they would like to see wearing Pewter this fall. You can’t call yourself a fan. They have a name for you on every blog site in the world.
TROLL!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Bill Polian said he expects a trade between Bucs and Vikings.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
If we don’t take Richardson in Rnd 1. why not look at a guy like Lamichael James in the 3rd? He’s a Darren Sproles type who can also catch the ball out of the backfield. Watch some of his highlights from college and see how slippery and how freakin’ fast he is…I’ve never seen so many long runs by one guy in a season!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
@bones
People need to wake up and realize we have a 1000 yard back and we run a committee– like everyone else.
We need a man-coverage DB. Badly. Talib? Could be in jail or suspended. Ronde is retiring. This year? Safety. Wright? Bandage.
Or did you all want EJ Biggers?
Look, if we get TR we damn well better get Janoris– and he’s a head case.
The point being, we could trade either pick– RB first, CB next– but we need the good CB a lot more than we need the RB. It’s a swap of decisions on paper but the risk is a LOT higher.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
BigMac,
Come on man!
Are you really saying the Knowshow Moreno was better than T Rich. In Bizzaro world maybe.
There are no safe 1st round draft picks, it’s always a crap shoot.
As far as defense being a safe pick, it has yet to pay off for Dom tacking the safe pick in the 1st round of the last 2 drafts. Clayborn looks like the real deal and the jury is still out on GMC(great medical concern).
April 25th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
@ D,
We do NEED a CB, but we should draft the best player available.
TR would be a game changer, and exactly what Schiano needs in this offense.
Giants won a superbowl without an elite CB.
Bell Cow come to Tampa!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@Dylan – Claiborne has been compared by everyone to Revis. Is he not a game changer?
@FLMike- You’re out of your mind if you think Kirkpatrick falls out of the 1st or Martin out of the 2nd. Martin probably won’t get out of the 1st, let alone the 2nd.
With the Bucs’ o-line they don’t need a Richardson. Blount and one of either Martin, Miller, Wilson (fumbles can be fixed with coaching), or LMJ will be extremely productive.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Jordon,
Did you see what LMJ did against a real defense (LSU) last year?
He only got 54 yards with that exceptional speed on 18 carries for 3.0 per carry with a long of 13 yards.
Rainey who I believe the Bucs can get in the 5th or 6th round rushed against some of the best defenses in college football week in and week out and performed much better than the oft injured James. Rainey is also a special teams star.
Rainey vs LSU 13 carries for 52 yards, 4.0 ypc long 25.
Rainey is just as fast as LMJ, was the same or better in almost every drill at the combine.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
rdbf, yeah I said it and meant it. I watched both play a lot of games, both are very close in every way, but I felt Moreno was more elusive than T Rich.
And anyone tooting Adrian Peterson’s whistle needs to look all the injuries he has sustained since being drafted. He is surely the most talented RB in the league but gets a bad knee injury every year. His body won’t take much more and AP has his best days behind him. Sad but True.
It would be a mistake for the Bucs to waste picks by moving up to 3 for T Rich.
LaMichael James is a much better option later in the draft. Speed and Quickness is the order of the day for the Bucs.
We need defense, lower risk, higher reward. A great Mike Linebacker can make the entire defense thrive. Without the right Mike, even the good defenses suck.
Dom will do the right thing and draft defense in the first round. I just know it.
And I have never been wrong on this blog. Haha. Not.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
This place makes me want to blow my head off, or at least slam it in a car door.
I cannot wait until the draft is over.
(but kudos on all the page views, Joe)
April 25th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I’m a Rainey fan too. that is the right type of back for the Bucs.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
CapTim
Zombies? I resemble that remark!
You don’t have to worry though, these zombies are looking for braaains!
April 25th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Tim just stop posting all together, your the dumbest poster of all time,literally. Your richardson take proves your dumbness. I would take claiborne too, but to say richardson is a slow oompa loompa is the worst take ever. Thats like saying capt tim gets girls. Foolish right. You are not liked by anyone, and post the most worthless crap of all time, but call others zombies. Nausea might be good for you, might help with the fat
April 25th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@capt tim , your gonna look like a zombie when the bucs trade one of next years picks and get Richardson…
April 25th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
C’mon Guys,
Cap’t Tim is messing with your heads. He is no dummy, trust me.
Just a person isn’t sold a player that hasn’t played a down in the NFL, doesn’t make him stupid. Opinionated maybe, but not stupid. We all, well most of us say outlandish things from time to time, but that doesn’t mean your ignorant or ill informed.
Tomorrow, thank goodness, we’ll finally know what Dom will do. And in a matter of months we’ll see who chose wisely and who chose poorly.
And better yet, we’ll find out for sure whether GMC and Price were wasted picks.
April 25th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
I’m changing my screen name to TypoKingZombie
April 25th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Dylan, 13 games you are right. Brain fart.
April 25th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
1. Morris Claiborne- CB
2. Doug Martin- RB or LaVonte David- OLB
3. Mychal Kendricks- MLB
5. Janzen Jackson- S
6. Taylor Thompson- TE
7. Best Available
April 25th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I’ve got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadee dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
Who do you blame when you draft for need
Over talent, indeed?
Blaming the fans is a lion of shame
You know exactly who’s to blame:
The HC and GM!
Oompa Loompa doompadee dah
April 25th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
I think Rainey would be a really good pick, think he will go late 4th
to middle of 5th
April 25th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Rainey Had one of the highest fumble % of RBs last year, Fantastic!!
April 25th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
@Thinker…..I don’t think that is Joseph, I think it’s Zuttah.
April 25th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
If you pay attention to the draft virtually everyone drafts for need. They just draft the BPA to fill that need. It would be silly to draft BPA if you really have no need for that player. For instance, let’s say the BPA at #5 was an OG? Would you be jumping up and down shouting “great job Dom!'” if we pulled the trigger on OG with Richardson and Claiborne still on the board? Of course not. Mock drafts would be pretty easy if all we did was rate the top 32 players in the 1st round and then assign them to the teams picking at that spot. It never works that way. We look at what the team needs and then we decide who would be the best fit to fill that ‘need’. This whole idea that everyone should go BPA regardless of what position he plays, which side of the ball he’s on, or whether he fills a void is just silly. If that were the case then the Vikings should pass on Kalil and take Richardson according to your logic because you think Richardson is the BPA. Forget the fact that the Vikings have Adrian Peterson. Let’s just let the QB get killed all the time but we have a two headed running attack! No, they ‘need’ Kalil so they will take him.
April 25th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
@Thinker….just noticed the hair and not the number…definitely Joseph!
April 25th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Looks like he was making sure that the 5th guy didn’t get in on the tackle……
April 26th, 2012 at 12:25 am
I’m so glad Joe is a critic and not a GM