“He’s Too Good A Player Not To Be Fine”
August 10th, 2013
Greg Schiano gave undrafted rookie cornerback Rashaan Melvin quite an endorsement today
One happy story from Bucs training camp has been rookie CB Rashaan Melvin. He’s got first- or second-round-pick size and athleticism but went undrafted out of Northern Illinois.
The Bucs have been high on him for a long time and he’s lived up to their hopes in practice. But the first preseason game was another story. The picture above showed a TD catch that should have been made, and Melvin struggled on special teams, per Joe’s scouting, and he just wasn’t the same player seen at One Buc Palace.
Greg Schiano talked about Melvin today and the head coach’s confidence wasn’t shaken.
“Solid. not as outstanding as he’s played at times in practice,” Schiano said when asked to assess Melvin’s play against the Ravens. “I have confidence that he will play at the level he did out there [at practice]. Because he was going against Vincent [Jackson] and Mike [Williams}. I mean it wasn’t like he was going against the down-the-line guys. He was going against the best and performing well. I think he just, the second shot will be real good for him. … He’s too good a player not to be fine.”
Man, that’s some high praise for an undrafted rookie.
Melvin is all but a lock for the roster, though not a lock for playing time. Yesterday, Schiano offered strong praise for veteran Michael Adams — without being asked. Danny Gorrer also was a standout Thursday, picking off Joe Flacco, and Leonard Johnson, Darrelle Revis and Johnthan Banks are ahead of Melvin on the depth chart.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Come on Joe, depth charts mean nothing to some people around this site.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:11 pm
^Buc 1987,
Depth charts don’t mean squat until week 1, when the real bullets are flying.
I hope Melvin steps up into a good CB, hope he can replace Myron Lewis admireably and look like the 3rd round CB Lewis was supposed to be.
We need some pass rush too, I would love to see Means or Gholston take their game to another level.
We shipped 9 sacks from last year to Seatle.
If we are making the playoffs, we need atleast 30+ sacks as a team. We are still seeking our first 10 sack performer, in the post Simeon Rice era.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Im not worried or detoured at all. It was just his first pre-season game. Schiano does know best.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Wait til our starting Db’s hit the field at the same time. Once opposing QB’s stand there trying to find someone open you’re going to see quite a few more sacks this season. Not just by defensive lineman but by LB’s and safeties. I predict 50 + or -.
August 10th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
@couch
sorry, you mean deterred?
August 10th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Yes that to. 😀
August 10th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Sounds like Melvin struggled a bit during his first NFL appearance. Good. Next week he’ll get better. Err, wait, I heard Brady was shredding Philly last week.
I hope Melvin sticks here.