Steven Means Will Not Play Linebacker
April 28th, 2013
The way University of Buffalo defensive end Steve Means, who was drafted by the Bucs yesterday, is built, it sure seems he would be an outside linebacker in the NFL.
He may be, but not for the Buccaneers.
After the 2013 draft came to a close yesterday, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano spoke about the day’s drafts and both were clear: Means is staying at defensive end.
“He is going to be a defensive end where he lines up,” Schiano said. “He will have an opportunity to rush the passer.”
Dominik noted that he did additional research on Means and is convinced he can help the Bucs put pressure on the quarterback.
“He might be a little bit off of your radar but he was not off ours,” Dominik said. “We put a lot of time on him an put in a lot of resources on him and had a private workout with him. We believe he is a developing pss rusher. We think he has tremendous traits in that ability.
“Any chance you have to get a pass rusher, you don’t pass that up.”
April 28th, 2013 at 8:11 am
Interesting! I wonder if an insider tipped him off on this guy.
April 28th, 2013 at 8:12 am
Yep, and we got a franchise qb in the 3rd round. lmfao
April 28th, 2013 at 8:18 am
Article I found about him says he blocked 3 kicks as a senior, and 5 all career.
Schiano loves special teams to make things happen.
April 28th, 2013 at 8:20 am
He won’t play linebacker? Hmmmm. where did I hear that first? Oh yeah, it was me, yesterday, imediately after Joe proclaimed him as an LB…. I said: andon Says:
April 27th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Had Means at the bottom of my available DE list.
I can’t see him being an OLB for us. Until Dominik or Schiano say otherwise, he’s a DE for the most part.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=87580
April 28th, 2013 at 8:23 am
Means, who was drafted by the Bucs yesterday, is built, it sure seems he would be an outside linebacker in the NFL.
+++++++++
And some people thought John Simon was a DT. There is no doubt that if Means were drafted by a 3-4 team he would transition to OLB, but 4-3 teams rarely ever have LBs over 250 and even more rare to they a pass rusher in college and turn him into a LB instead of having him to continue doing what he does best. (exceptions Mathias Kiwanuka, Dontay Moch-hasn’t worked out, Von Miller-though he is still primarily a pass rusher)
April 28th, 2013 at 9:01 am
Why not share this link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GuCT1N8NLo – Joe so fans can see for themselves.
I see a situational pass rusher who’s quick and can bend/dip to trim the edge and get to the QB. There aren’t many guys in this draft with that ability. He also looks great shooting gaps and disrupting the action in the backfield.
Keep in mind they’re highlights vs. poor competition though. Would be nice to see legit game tape vs. better competition (UGA, UCONN) to see if he made an impact outside of the stat sheet. His athleticism is intriguing regardless.
April 28th, 2013 at 9:09 am
Means is going to be good in either spot I think, ut what cncerns me is that this means we did not address the third biggest need on the team.
Joe, I have had two browsers stop working on this website in the last day. Firefox and Opera. It isalways the result of a script loading advertisements. This is the only website this issue has arose on.
ust a heads up, because I know I’m not the only one. Saw someone else mention it yesterday/. I also sent you an email.
April 28th, 2013 at 9:09 am
@Brandon,
Sorry, I think I mentioned it first. I’m the one who said that he was too big to play OLB in a 4-3 defense. He’s 6-4 and nearly 260. He look like he can get up to 275.
April 28th, 2013 at 9:20 am
On a side note, this was a very disapointing draft. I can understand the need for depth, but to me you fill starter needs first. The Bucs filled one need at starter, and that was Banks. Really, he likely will not start at first either, unless he excels in camp.
Depth is important, I know, but not at the expense of not getting stronger needs such as DT and OLB.
I understand the need fo depth at QB for example, but really, we could have addressed that need later with Landry Jones or even Barkley. All thru the draft, except for the first pick, the Bucs ignored the strongest needs.
Yes, we got a DT…at a time when only the worse guys were left, and there were plenty of QBs left.
And, honestly, the time to get a QB is next year.
April 28th, 2013 at 9:20 am
I remain dubious until I see some actual game production out of any late round selection made by this group.
April 28th, 2013 at 9:44 am
@ brandon : ( while slow clapping ) congratulations bud!
Sorry, seemed like you were fishing for it so i gave it to ya!
April 28th, 2013 at 10:13 am
Joe this site twice this week made my phone browser force quit. Just saying. But I love the site.
April 28th, 2013 at 10:31 am
This guy was SO off the radar, he could have been had as an UDFA instead of spending a 5th round pick on him. But that’s ok, we were throwing picks away anyway, so it didn’t really matter. Thank goodness the team is spending in FA so we have a chance to improve. At least until the money runs out.
April 28th, 2013 at 10:52 am
IMO this was one of the worse drafts ever.
April 28th, 2013 at 11:43 am
IMO opinion these guys have played a combine 0 snaps of NFL football and thus I don’t even slightly know how it could be disappointing? If Means has 5 sack by week 8 and Akeem Spence is doing the same things as Roy Miller, then I’d say that was a very good draft. Patience people.
April 28th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Yes, unfortunately, a good amount of malware still comes through third party ads. It’s a crappy situation, as most websites really need that revenue. Joe does a pretty good job selling first party ads, a lot of his aren’t from third party.
If you are on Firefox it is pretty easy to avoid.
April 28th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai,
May I suggest Google Chrome?
Also, we had a great draft. Not sure on how we drafted, I like the picks , but it is time to win.
April 28th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
Dude, appreciate your effort on that comment, but it’s completely inappropriate in this forum and Joe can’t vouch for its accuracy. Joe did not alter your earlier technical comment. Also, Joe has his site set up the way it is for very specific and calculated reasons. Thank you. –Joe
April 28th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Er… “3rd party Ad scripts” that is
April 28th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
appropriate or not, there are users experiencing inappropriate browsing issues which only you and your tech team can address. I would have sent this information to you directly but you do not provide an easy way to do so.
i also understand your specific and calculated reasons. its called “ad revenue”. I, and it appears a few others, would appreciate it if you were able to provide ads that werent malicious.
Thank You,
clafollett
April 28th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
The next simon rice
April 29th, 2013 at 12:56 am
Basically between Free Agency and the Draft the biggest weakness on the team, DBs, have been overhauled and should be 100 times better.
THe next big need was depth on the D-Line. It was addressed, although still a question mark.
After that they needed a TE and another LB. They grabbed both in Free agency, but both are average players.
Free agency is not over for months so I still see LBs and some O-Lineman coming in, but don’t expect any big names, mainly depth and guys who will compete at 110%
April 29th, 2013 at 2:04 am
Can’t understand how anyone can say that this draft was mediocre. We grabbed a Qb that was not even the fifth best QB. Also he is inconsistent which is exactly what we already have. After he went the best linemen in the round were snatched up and the 3rd and 4th best QBs were still AVAILABLE! Can’t him or Akeem Spence being better than any player that went after them. Can’t wait to see what everyone else does.
April 29th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Means was a total reach as a fifth rd pick…unbelievable!!!! There were many good players available with that pick, some at positions of need. I’d like for some media member to grow some stones and pressure Domimik and Sciano about the logic of this pick. The guy played for Univ. Buffalo for pete’s sake…god awful football!!! There is no question he would be available in late 6th or 7th rd. What can we do to get answers? He was not even on the draft boards of many teams….hail Booker Reese!!!!!!
April 29th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Rich:
You have a fair point Means may have been a reach. Time will certainly tell. Joe doesn’t automatically cross guys off a list just because they played in the MAC. Maybe you aren’t aware that the very first player selected in the draft played in the MAC? Also, there’s a quarterback in Pittsburgh with two Super Bowl rings who played in the MAC.
Joe heard people screaming at their top of their lungs the Bucs needed defensive end help. So Dominik drafts one and people are still hacked off?
Loved the rant, BTW.