More Competition For Final Corner Spots
April 29th, 2013
Former Georgia CB Branden Smith is now in the mix
Like all breathing Bucs fans, Joe witnessed how painful the Bucs’ pass defense was last season. So despite the addition of rehabbing superstar Darrelle Revis, stud rookie Johnthan Banks, and the retention of unreliable Eric Wright, Joe still has a keen watch on the position.
Depth behind those top three includes Danny Gorrer, Leonard Johnson, Myron Lewis, James Rogers and Anthony Gaitor, so Joe sees a real opportunity for an undrafted free agent cornerback to win a roster spot.
Now Joe doesn’t get too dreamy about these undrafted guys, but Joe will methodically introduce readers to interesting prospects.
Georgia cornerback Branden Smith, signed by the Bucs over the weekend, has an interesting background, and that’s not because his weed arrest had a happy ending.
He ran a 4.38 40 yard dash time at his Pro Day, and the guy has returned kicks and punts, run the ball, and gotten low level SEC honors for his cornerback play. Keep in mind that after Banks was selected, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano were oozing respect and love for SEC cornerbacks.
Arizona State corner Deveron Carr, another new Bucs cornerback hopeful, seems a little less impressive.
April 29th, 2013 at 10:26 am
CB Melvin aswell
April 29th, 2013 at 10:32 am
I think Schiano and Dom did an excellent job at doing what they sought out to do at the end of the 2012 Football season, that is bring competition at every level for training camp and get better as a football team. They did just that through FA and the draft. Kudos!! This team as a whole is young and has great potential.
April 29th, 2013 at 10:38 am
Joe,
What’s your take on why he wasn’t drafted?
April 29th, 2013 at 10:45 am
4.3 40Yd Dash, PR/KR, and low level SEC honors definitely sounds like a guy that could/should have been drafted. I see that Joe wrote he had a weed arrest. Probably has a history of knuckle head sh*t. I would like to believe we have a good locker room of leaders now that have learned their way in the NFL (besides the additions) We have the ability to take in a guy like this and groom him. Could be a major steal!!
April 29th, 2013 at 10:45 am
4.3 speed. We could use some of that in special teams!
April 29th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Maybe he can play slot..
April 29th, 2013 at 10:59 am
Won’t makethe team.
April 29th, 2013 at 11:19 am
Here are the UDFA CBs:
CB Branden Smith, Georgia 5-11 172 4.41
CB Rashaan Melvin, Northern Illinois 6-2 192 4.44
CB Jerrell Gavins, Boise State 5-8 178 4.49
CB Deveron Carr, ASU 6-0 187 4.37
I think it’s an open competition. The kid from NIU is as long as Banks and faster. Now if he has instincts and can catch. I guess that’s why we have camp!
April 29th, 2013 at 11:25 am
Gorrer, Lewis, and Rodgers wont make the team. I see Johnson Banks and Smith in our future backup roles at DB.
I think we have seen enough of Myron Lewis to know he is not NFL caliber; he was on ESBN NFL weekly highlights every weekend for the wrong reason…getting toasted deep.
April 29th, 2013 at 12:04 pm
For the record, Joe is correct on Smith’s 4.38 time. On 3/31 on his pro day Smith did indeed post a 4.38 40. I listed the NFLDraftScout published time prior to his pro day.
Wouldn’t want to slow the young man down or get in the crosshairs at JBF. I’ll update my chart of UDFAs.
April 29th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Wow, those are impressive times. One of those could well step into the picture. Good competition.
April 29th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Wish we couldve got Keith Pough….the Bills picked him up though…smdh