Round 3 For Jimmy Garoppolo & The Bucs
April 8th, 2014
The quarterback parade continued today at One Buc Palace. And no, Joe’s not referring to fightin’ Mike Glennon.
The Bucs announced that former Eastern Illinois QB and soon-to-be NFL player Jimmy Garoppolo was in the building for an official visit with the team. This is the third time the Bucs have met with him.
Feel free to speculate. The Bucs, Joe would wager, will be drafting a quarterback. Josh McCown and Mike Glennon are hardly enough to soothe the masses.
Garoppolo is put up eye-popping numbers in college football’s second tier, and he’s impressed scouts for weeks and climbed up draft boards this years. He could be a second-round pick. For those who missed it, here’s some of Joe’s chat with Garoppolo back in January.
JoeBucsFan: Is there any pressure on you? Yeah, Eastern Illinois isn’t in the Big Ten, it isn’t Alabama; it isn’t Florida State; it isn’t USC. But there is a linage there of quarterbacks.
Jimmy Garoppolo: There might be, but I always thought I put more pressure on myself. I was the same way going into this past season. People were predicting us to finish first and what-not. It was a lot of pressure but I will put more pressure on myself than anybody.
Joe: Are you surprised at how far you have advanced in a year or two? You went from an unknown to on everybody’s radar?
Garoppolo: Not really surprised but more than I expected it. But I do feel like I have advanced immensely. Especially in the knowledge of the game; especially in learning the game inside and out and learning our offense. It really helps you on the field.
Joe: Yes, Dennis Hickey of the Bucs talked to you, but did Lovie Smith?
Garoppolo: No, but he’s a great coach. Lovie Smith did great things in Chicago. I am a big Bears fan and watched him bring the Bears to the Super Bowl. I saw all that happen. And I think he will bring the Bucs back to what they were in the early 2000s.
Joe: What have you learned last few days?
Garoppolo: I learned a whole new offense, really. There are a couple of new concepts that are the same as ours but for the most part they are whole new stuff. Being under center; the play-action that we are doing is a bit different; a lot of zone-reading, things like that. The whole offense in general is different. The scouts have helped me learn inside and out. I have learned a whole lot about the league. It is a fun experience, really.
Joe: So June Jones is your offensive coordinator this week. What have you learned from him?
Garoppolo: He is awesome. He really simplified the offense. When I first looked at the play book it looked like there was a lot going on. He helped calm me down. He is a real calm guy, calm demeanor. He is my kind of a coach: laid back, relaxed and knows his stuff.
Joe also had a chance to talk to June Jones, who has a lot of experience in the NFL, and this is what Jones had to say about Garoppolo:
“I’m very impressed with how sharp he is and his accuracy is what really jumped out. You tell him to put it on a guy’s shoulder and he puts it on the guy’s shoulder. I think with his accuracy, he will make it in the NFL because he is that accurate. My Hawaii teams played against [Eastern Illinois] when they had a guy named Tony Romo and he was very accurate with the football. I am really impressed with Jimmy.”
April 8th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
More likely candidate then Johnny.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Anyone who has ever paid any attention whatsoever to what I have been posting the past few weeks knows how I feel about this. I am not the first to tout the merits of Jimmy Garoppolo, but after doing some research I am on board.
JGM=Jimmy Garropolo Mob. Jump on the JGM bandwagon now. Plenty of room.
Evans/Latimer/Garropolo = Future of Bucs football.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
It looks like things are getting serious between the bucs and Garoppolo. Haven’t seen him play much, but from what everyone is saying about him, I wouldn’t mind drafting him in the 2nd. Went back and watched some Garrett Gilbert and the guy also has some promise. He’s big, fast, and has a rocket arm. Only problem was that he reminded me of Freeman at times.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
The guy won’t be around when the Bucs pick in the second round. Call me crazy but, I think he and Derek Carr are probably the best QBs in this draft.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:09 pm
the more i watch evans im kinda leaning more for evans that sammy dude looks like a monster
April 8th, 2014 at 7:09 pm
Wouldn’t be surprised if we went this direction, especially since Licht made the comment about how he sees a franchise QB in this draft, but not necessarily in the first round. Of course that could be a smokescreen, but I would bet they are at least very interested if they are bringing him in for a visit. The draft really can’t get here soon enough. Why did they have to push it back to May????!!!!
April 8th, 2014 at 7:19 pm
@hawaiian buc
hate they they pushed it back to may so annoying
April 8th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
jimmy looks like a tedford qb
April 8th, 2014 at 7:29 pm
I suspect 2nd round is the QB and Garoppolo, Mccarron or Tom Savage as a sleepr later.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:35 pm
I don’t want McCarron anywhere near this team. I think the guy is probably the most overrated guy in the draft. Nothing about him makes me say “Wow”. Same thing for Teddy Bridgewater.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
@ Andrew I have read that he panics under pressure a little bit and does not give the play time to develop. If that is true it sounds a lot like Josh Freeman. On the other hand I have also read that even under pressure he still go’s through all of his progressions, just get’s a little antsy and tends to throw the ball a bit early. Freeman could never fake out a defense. Once the ball was thrown it was very easy to see where he wanted to go and if he didn’t like what he saw he would throw it away more than not. So with that being said he does still sound like an upgrade to Freeman. I just really want to see Watkins or Evans with our seventh pick.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Ill take jimmy in 2nd just give him a WR to work with
April 8th, 2014 at 7:55 pm
@ Kevin
yea I noticed that too. He does go through his progressions, but seemed to rush things at times which made him inaccurate, but in his defense he wasn’t exactly playing with the best O line. One thing I thought he did well as opposed to Freeman was that he was able to fake defenses out. He would look to one side of the field, knowing darn well he was going to come back and throw it to the other side of the field. Thats something I don’t think I’ve every seen Freeman do. And he was also surprising fast for a guy he size as he was able to scrambling for a 20 yard touchdown run. idk I kinda like him. I guess the best way to describe him is that Freeman is a poor mans Gilbert.
April 8th, 2014 at 7:57 pm
I like Aaron Murray a lot. I’d take a chance in the 3rd or 4th on him if JGarrapolo is off the board. Would check on his knee injury.
1st RD pick: trade down in the range of 9th to the 14th. Would pick BPA.
2nd RD A pick: WR
2nd RD B pick: OG
3rd RD pick: QB Aaron Murray
4th RD pick: WR
5th RD A pick: LB
5th RD B pick: OT
6th RD pick: CB
7th RD pick: KR
April 8th, 2014 at 8:02 pm
You can’t teach this young mans release.
April 8th, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Now Johnny Football Manziel sounds about right at the 7th spot that would finally make this franchise a legit contender again. If not draft Blake Bortles and his smoking hot girlfriend Ms. Lindsey Duke that would surely also make many Buc fans smile on draft day
April 8th, 2014 at 8:07 pm
How come they haven’t brought in Johnny for a visit yet? or Have they tried and he told them he’s afraid to come to Tampa out of fear of this stalker guy named Joe.
April 8th, 2014 at 8:17 pm
OK that was seriously funny Buc1987. You’ve earned this.
http://instantrimshot.com/
April 8th, 2014 at 8:41 pm
@1987- no he hasn’t come to Tampa because he heard a good portion of their fanbase is jealous of his ability to “pull”. Lmao
April 8th, 2014 at 8:41 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzz
April 8th, 2014 at 8:44 pm
trade down and get as many picks as you can then draft c.j. Mosley, Martavias Bryant, A.j. McCarron, Coleman at WR, the 6″8 OT, and a guard in any order. I’m a wannabe G.M. and I can see all of these picks being available if we draft well.
April 8th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
No no no!
April 8th, 2014 at 8:52 pm
I wouldn’t take Romo. Let’s just hope if this guy is in fact a Romo-like QB, he knows how to win
April 8th, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Smokescreen. Gonna draft an OG in the 2nd round. If they get a WR in the 1st, they will go MLB in the 3rd. If not, then it’s WR in the 3rd. QB will be 4th (if they get one) or 5th round. QB will be a mobile QB.
How do I know this? I don’t! I’m as good as the rest you at making sp!t up!
April 8th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
If they stay at 7 I would bet a years salary they draft evans..book it!..see u in may
April 8th, 2014 at 9:26 pm
No other QB throws a prettier ball than Garoppolo. Not only does he have a very quick release, he was masterful touch on passes traveling over 15 yards, particularly in the intermediate range of passing where the best passers take advantage. His competition is the only limiting factor, if he played for Illinois instead of Easter Illinois, he would have likely gone ahead of Bridgewater and I am darn serious about it.
April 8th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Keep an eye on Murray’s pro day this month with Georgia. If that knee looks good and doesn’t seem to hold him back he will be a steal in the 4th or 5th round. Low risk, high reward. And he ran a pro style offense at UGA under Bobo. Bucs don’t have a 4th but could trade into the late 4th cause his stock will likely go a little up if he has a good pro day. He was a second day draft pick before the injury.
April 8th, 2014 at 10:04 pm
Ive been preaching this since the discussions began. Just before the Senior Bowl. Instead of gambling on a QB with our first pick we select BPA and take JimmyG in the second. But now I’m afraid JimmyG is no longer an after thought and is no longer flying below the radar and will be gone before our second round pick. I’ve heard that the Browns and Jags are thinking this same strategy and will select JimmyG or Derek Carr respectively with the Browns late first round pick or the Browns and Jags earlier than our second round pick. Unless we can move back into first round like Dominik did with Barron and Martin is the only way to dominate this draft. And whatever QB needy team gets a non QB player in the top ten and then JimmyG or Derek Carr in the second dominated the first 2 days of this draft.
April 8th, 2014 at 10:05 pm
as far as value goes….
April 8th, 2014 at 10:17 pm
If Garoppolo is as good a prospect as many are saying, then other teams must have him high on their want list. Sounds like he would be a nice pick up if the Bucs want him more and are willing to finagle to the right draft spot.
April 8th, 2014 at 11:35 pm
He is not my first choice but after seeing Jimmy in the Shrine game I said if we missed out on the top four QBs I wanted us to take Jimmy in the second. He is the best of all the QBs on intermediate routes with his accurate quick release and he looks off Safeties and is very mobile but I don’t believe he is as accurate deep which is why he isn’t so highly rated. If he has a strong arm maybe Tedford can teach him accuracy deep. He hit a touchdown in the Senior Bowl so I suspect he would be fine in the red zone too.
April 9th, 2014 at 12:48 am
No thank you.
Buc1987 Says
“How come they haven’t brought in Johnny for a visit yet?”
Usually, teams do not bring in the guys they want in the first round. I wouldn’t mind Johnny, but I don’t believe he fits into the system the Bucs plan. You know, the 1 wr/2 te sets 😉
I actually the target is Carr. Not because I prefer him, but because he really fits the system.
April 9th, 2014 at 12:58 am
i say go for murray in the 3rd……someone else will pull the trigger if we don’t.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:21 am
If Mack is available, he will be our pick at #7. In round 2 or 3 gotta hunch Jimmy Garrapolo will be our chosen QB.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:52 am
Stay pat for bpa or trade down and take carr. Bpa can well incude qb depending on how things fall.
And BPA is different for everyone.
April 9th, 2014 at 5:17 am
“The draft really can’t get here soon enough. Why did they have to push it back to May????!!!!”
“hate they they pushed it back to may so annoying”
——————————————————————————
@hawaiianbuc and dominion
they pushed it back because of the rockettes’ “hearts and lights” show. rockettes trump nfl there.
also, be prepared, next year is locked for rockettes, too, as the show was postponed until 2015. for the draft to be in april, nfl would have to host elsewhere.
April 9th, 2014 at 7:34 am
do the draft in Tampa!
April 9th, 2014 at 9:09 am
There are 2 things that get repeated over and over again. You cant teach accuracy and you cant teach pocket presence. We learned the hard way with Freeman that you cant teach accuracy. Now you want to jump on the band wagon to bring in a kid that was skiddish in the pocket against that level of competition? It pains me to say it but i’d rather have Glennon.
April 9th, 2014 at 11:53 am
no please no, he has a throwing motion like Josh Freeman. That may work if you are playing Illinois Junior College, but against the pro’s (or SEC for that matter) forget it.
April 9th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
lurker Says
…”they pushed it back because of the rockettes’ “hearts and lights” show. rockettes trump nfl there.
also, be prepared, next year is locked for rockettes, too, as the show was postponed until 2015. for the draft to be in april, nfl would have to host elsewhere.”
And don’t forget, the league wants to expand the playoffs. Moving the draft to May will help with that.
April 12th, 2014 at 8:35 am
I really want Carr but the 7 pick is too high for him and he will be gone before we pick in the 2 round.