Few Decisions Among Defensive Backs
August 29th, 2013
It appears Rashaan Melvin will be one of three rookie cornerbacks on the opening day roster
Last season, the Bucs’ 53-man roster opened the season with seven cornerbacks and five safeties.
Might the Bucs keep that many again?
If so, then there really aren’t many position battles going on tonight against the Redskins in the Bucs’ defensive backfield.
The Bucs have eight guys listed at cornerback on the roster, including four rookies. (See below) But Mason Robinson*, a Rutgers rookie, told Joe he’s primarily been working as a safety. He’s also a huge long shot to make the roster.
Rashaan Melvin (R)
Darrelle Revis
Leonard Johnson
Danny Gorrer
Deveron Carr (R)
Johnthan Banks (R)
Michael Adams
*Mason Robinson (R)
Then there are the six safeties currently on the roster.
Mark Barron
Dashon Goldson
Ahmad Black
Cody Grimm
Keith Tandy
Sean Baker
Like Robinson, Sean Baker is a long shot. He was on the Bucs’ practice squad for the second half of last season and he always seems to be around the ball in preseason games. If he gets cut, then the Bucs have their five safeties.
Of course, nobody knows how many DBs the New Schiano Order will retain, but given the serious injury to Danny Gorrer and the unknown surrounding Darrelle Revis, Joe doesn’t see any cornerbacks other than Robinson getting cut.
On the safety front, Joe suspects Baker is toast and Tandy may be in serious jeopardy, especially if Grimm comes out of tonight’s game healthy. Joe just hasn’t seen enough from Tandy.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
I rhink they will go with 6 safties & 6 CBs….Gorrer is on IR so all will make it except Robinson.
Hopefully, there one of these is a backup PR/KR….
Also, Myron is available…
Correction: Gorrer is not on IR. –Joe
August 29th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I can see about 4 names right off the bat that I would cut. One is not Leonard Johnson unfortunately.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Tampabaybucfan
I think Michael Adams would make a good backup PR/KR. At least until Michael Smith or Demps can claim the job. What do you think?
August 29th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
@ Buccaneer Bonzi
I agree & I think Carr can also do it.
I think Page is pretty good but if he does both jobs he is more suibject to injury. We may see what coach has planned for backup tonight.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Very true. My fav is Page, been rooting for him all along.
I suspect the plan is to have two different guys, one for punts one for KRs.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
We should get a look at Jordan Norwood tonight. I am wondering why we picked him up & can’t find anything about him returning punts or kicks….we seemed to have enough WRs…but I guess you can never have enough.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Bonzi
How long will Smith be out?
August 29th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
I thought they cut Sean baker already ?
August 29th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
@ Raphael
No, Baker is still with us….it seems that guy is always around the ball…making plays…. I hope he makes the roster
August 29th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Sorry Tampabaybucfan, but they wont be keeping 12 DBs that’s over 10% of the roster. You get 53 men on the roster.
So a quick look anatomy of a NFL roster.
You got two deep at every position (basic theory) except maybe FB because you can have a multi purpose player that does TE and FB or a RB that can play both spots. So with that in mind.
11 starters on each side of the x 2 (-1 for the full back) is 43
That leave you 10 roster spots, next take out your long snapper, place kicker and punter. You are down to 7.
If and we likely will go with 3 QBs we are down to 6.
We will have an extra RB, WR, and 2 DBs. That gets us down to 2 spots.
Most teams will go with 5 DEs (one being a pass rush specialist Bowers?)
That leaves us w/ 1 slot left for a WR, RB or DB. So at most with this formula we would be going in w/ 7 DBs at max. unless we go thin somewhere else.
August 29th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
@ Tim
Joe just stated that we opened up the season last year with 7 CBs & 5 Safeties…..by my count that’s the same as 6 & 6….
August 29th, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Seven cornerbacks is… a lot, but I could see it at least until Gorrer comes back. It’s a passing league so teams need to be able to field at least 4 CBs for 3rd down packages. With Gorrer out, the team needs Deveron Carr on the roster for depth, even if he has been a disappointment given the hype surrounding him in FA following the draft.
I would not be surprised if Grimm were cut in favor of Baker. Grimm, for all his untapped potential, is a bonehead off the field and gets hurt a little too often. He would have to light up the Skins game to stay on the roster.
August 29th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
@Tim
I will absolutely guarantee we have more than 7 dbs……You try to make the cuts from our current list.
August 29th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Invariably….someone is cut from another team that we pick up at the last minute….this year it could be a CB or WR that also retuns punts.
I am rooting for Page…but he could be one fumble away from gone!!!
August 29th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
I would keep Baker above Tandy or even Grimm. I liked his play last year and was surprised to see him cut.
August 29th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
It was 12, 7)CB and 5) S. But we only went in w/ 3) DTs and 5) DEs plus we went in thin at some other positions.
2) starting Safeties 3) starting CBs (have to count the nickel)
2) back up safeties (black and grim) Black can drop down into the nickel when needed. Then you keep Gorrer and Melvin as your back up CBs.
maybe you keep Tandy or Adams as an eighth man. Again we were extremely thin all over the roster last year. I can post the entire roster if you would like. But I like depth on my DL and OL as well as RB.
August 29th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Heres a link for anyone who would like to see what our roster was last year on opening day.
http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/9/1/3284738/nfl-roster-cuts-2012-final-buccaneers
August 29th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
MadMax, I agree. I think Grimm will get the boot and I never cared for Tandy.
I also think Hillis doesn’t make the team. He hasn’t impressed me at all. Although maybe there is a slim chance he gets backup fullback…but we rarely keep two.
I think we keep both TEs, which should surprise the so-called experts claiming we don’t need two in this system.
I look forward to tonights game.