The Brent Grimes Dilemma
February 21st, 2013
Though Joe doubts Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik would pull such a stunt, Joe is pretty sure few Bucs fans would cry if Dominik drafted nothing but cornerbacks in April’s draft.
There is no debate this offseason; the Bucs need help at cornerback desperately. And re-signing free agent E.J. Biggers doesn’t qualify has help
Many Bucs fans are jumping up and down like a Warren Sapp touchdown dance for Dominik to throw the National Bank of Glazer at Falcons free agent Brent Grimes — whatever it takes.
It is an intriguing thought: Add a solid player to your lineup at a major position of need and weaken a division foe, the reigning division champ, all with two strokes of a pen.
For Bucs fans who pine for Grimes, this little piece of analysis by Pete Damilatis of ProFootballFocus should whet their appetite.
The Falcons’ surprise march to the No. 1 seed this season appears even more impressive when you realize they did it without their best defensive back. Grimes’ +17.2 grade in 2011 was second only to the great Darrelle Revis, and Atlanta used the franchise tag to ensure they’d keep the 29-year-old cornerback around for at least another year. When Grimes unfortunately tore his Achilles in Week 1 and missed the rest of the season, many assumed that his days as a Dirty Bird were done. But Atlanta should not let him walk away that easily.
Cornerbacks are still too often judged by their interception count, and Grimes’ one pick in 2011 didn’t put him on anyone’s radar. However, after dissecting the film, we saw one of the best cover corners in the NFL. Grimes’ average allowance of 0.58 Yards Per Cover Snap was the lowest for any cornerback with over 200 coverage snaps. On the season, he surrendered just 258 yards, allowing just 10.3 yards per reception and a 62.9 passer rating. His 12 passes defensed tied him for seventh-most at his position, as he knocked away 21.4% of the throws when he was targeted. And he was the model of consistency, only twice earning a negative PFF grade in a game.
That season wasn’t an outlier for Grimes either, as he received a Top-10 cornerback grade in 2010 and allowed just a 61.3 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks, earning the first of two straight PFF Pro Bowl selections. But regardless of his past production, should the Falcons really invest in a 30-year-old cornerback coming off an injury, especially when they already have Asante Samuel and Dunta Robinson under contract? That depends upon your opinion of Robinson, which at this point shouldn’t be very high.
Damilatis also touts Grimes as a solid run defender, which of course would make Bucs coach Greg Schiano smile.
Oh, and it seems the Dixie Chicks may not franchise any player this offseason.
The only things that scare Joe about Grimes is he is 30 and recovering from a blown Achilles. That is not a good combination.
But as bad as the Bucs’ play at corner was last year, a hobbled Grimes would have been an upgrade.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:19 am
I really think they go after DRC. He’s still young and would be the best option of getting a guy who’ not coming off an injury. We could give him a 4years deal. With Grimes he’s kind of old coming of injury and Revis costing so much just to get him here DRC would be my top priority. Then if we take a CB in the 1st or 2nd round we’ll be in way better position then last year.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:20 am
It’s not even my money but I’d be afraid to pay him with the risk factors involved. Good to see Joe is on top of things @ The NFL Combine! Love it!
February 21st, 2013 at 9:32 am
As I have mentioned before I still prefer we use our cap space on resigning our own (Bennett n Miller) and adding pieces that would complete the puzzle on Offense putting us in consistent beast mode on that side of the ball (TE Bennett, and a OT) then maybe a slot WR. Then continue to build our Defense through the Draft. Adding 2-3 CBs, a safety, OLB, and depth along the Dline. We have plenty of picks and can do alot of maneuvering to get the players we want like CB Milliner, CB Rhodes, CB Amerson, CB Trufant, S Vaccaro, S Mcdonald, LB Teo, LB Ogletree, LB Greene, DE Jordan, DE Mingo, DE Moore, DE Werner, DT Lotulelie. DT Floyd, DT Hankins…..We could easily have a combination 4-5 of these outstanding young studs. Add that to what we already have and we will have a very bright young team on Defense with incredilble upside. BOOM!! Go Bucs!!
February 21st, 2013 at 9:43 am
Grimachilles and Rekneevis – buyer beware.
I’m not opposed to either, but they’re older with injury concerns. Team friendly contracts with little impact, if any, on our draft picks.
I think Richardson at 13 and 2 DB’s somewhere with the 2-4 picks.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:52 am
@marinebucfan I love your thinking man Vacarro, Ogletree especially I don’t think it’s possible to get more than 3 of those guys, but I would be happy with that.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:53 am
We need to look at how the NFL passing game is evolving. Then look at the teams that are finding success. We are going to see big hybrid TE/WRs like Gronk, Graham, and Olsen. If Gonzalez doesn’t re-up with Atlanta, expect their 1st round pick to be Eifert or Ertz. Then look at the evolution and success of the big WRs like Atlanta’s White and Jones, New Orleans’ Colston – our own V-Jax!
We need long, lengthy, physical CBs like Seattle – CBs that can attack at the LOS and bring the heat in coverage. In FA, Sean Smith, DRC, or in the draft Xavier Rhodes, Banks, Amerson . All are CBs well over 6 feet that can man up with the big receivers.
I say no to an expensive 5-9 CB coming off of a serious injury. Atlanta is poised to go to the big dance. If Grimes is a sure thing, he will not get to FA. They will cut Dunta Robinson and/or let WilliamMoore walk first.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:54 am
@marinebucfan I love your thinking man Vacarro, Ogletree especially I don’t think it’s possible to get more than 3 of those guys, but I would be happy with that.
Vacarro
Ogletree
Banks
And add DRC and a slot WR in FA
February 21st, 2013 at 10:04 am
Macabee, you have been saying this for a while now, and I could not agree with you more.
February 21st, 2013 at 10:18 am
If Ronde doesn’t return, I really like Vacarro at 13. Now Ogletree is a different story. Personally, I don’t mind a little thug here and there, but I don’t think Schiano would go near Ogletree.
Ogletree just got a DUI, has been suspended for and tested positive for drugs several times – more than once. He was convicted for stealing a classmates moped in 2010.
Xavier Rhodes and Jonathan Banks will probably be late first or early second depending on their combine 40 times. So far, neither has been able to break 4.5.
February 21st, 2013 at 10:36 am
I think add DRC sign our own d linemen draft ogletree at 13 trade back in to the first round with our 2 and one of our 4 pick and take one of the big TE. Than draft db and ol the rest of the way
February 21st, 2013 at 10:39 am
@ Jacko101, here is one scenario. Dion Jordan first pick (we know how much Dom likes drafting Dline), move back into first with our 2nd 4th rd pick and grab CB Banks or CB Rhodes whom ever available. 2nd rd pick goes to CB Amerson. 3rd rd pick S Mcdonald…..there is 4!! LOL The only stretch I see here is hoping Mcdonald falls to us in the 3rd round. But there are alot of scenarios where we could grab a combination of 3, and I would be very excited about that!!
February 21st, 2013 at 10:51 am
Marinebucsfan makes a good point. This is a young team and these guys need to grow and develop together. Players over 30 can help a team now, but will be well past their prime before the Bucs are ready to make it deep in the playoffs. The Bucs need to have another great draft and find a few free agents that are just now reaching their prime. It won’t be easy, but hopefully there are some cap casualties we can take advantage of.
February 21st, 2013 at 10:54 am
I’d rather have Sean Jones.
February 21st, 2013 at 11:27 am
Macabee nailed it. Grimes is too small for a corner these days and I doubt will hold up for much longer. Those stats are misleading as well. I’d take DRC over Grimes any day, dood has wheels and pop.
February 21st, 2013 at 11:29 am
Grimes is the man to go after.
Don’t be surprised if Dom pulls the trigger.
Afterall he has seen firsthand the dominance Grimes has to offer.
February 21st, 2013 at 11:29 am
Why is the name Grimes giving me the willies? I think I remembering a special teams play he made v the Bucs a few games back.
February 21st, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Is it not ironic that the Bucs are in desperate need for CBs, have a ton of money to spend, and the 2 best CBs (Revis and Grimes) are rehabbing back from what used to be common career-ending type injuries. It is such a gamble to spend that amount of money on a speculative future, where it feels that the risk certainly outweighs the reward. But then again, the reward would be like hitting the jackpot, and would continue to ensure Dominiks Rock-Star status. But a bust would send everyone packing.