Lovie: Bucs Wanted Pass-Catching RB
May 10th, 2014
Lovie talks third round pick Charles Sims.
Bucs coach and overall shot-caller Lovie Smith was unavailable for media last night after the Bucs selected running back Charles Sims… except to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
Many Bucs fans scratched their heads (or scratched something else later last night, Joe doesn’t want to get specific) over the Bucs drafting a running back despite having one of the deepest stables of backs in the NFL.
Lovie explained one goal he had in the draft was to find a guy like Sims.
“We wanted a running back who was a good pass-catcher,” Smith said. Sims is a “similar style runner as we had in Chicago in Matt Forte.
“We had three running backs who did a good job for us last year but we wanted one who had good size who could catch teh ball out of the backfield.”
Lovie, as general manager Jason Licht hinted at last night, said don’t be shocked if Sims is used as a slot receiver split out.
So now that the Bucs have four running backs to play with, maybe Joe’s suggestion that Doug Martin isn’t untouchable as some will have you believe isn’t so absurd?
May 10th, 2014 at 12:36 pm
No more wheel routes for Dougie . Thank you ….
May 10th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
And that’s why we drafted Sims. Don’t see much pass catching skills in the RB’s we have now.
May 10th, 2014 at 12:49 pm
martin is overhyped.
May 10th, 2014 at 12:49 pm
if you were here before lovie licht got here, you better have some serious talent
May 10th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
No joe it’s still stupid and ubsurd…Doug Martin is a game changer… Bad pick by the bucs…bad pick. Third round was way to high for a rb. We need oline depth. Not 4 running backs
May 10th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
And who is our 3 receiver….. Relying on the scubs we signed..? We better take Murray or trade for mallet the pats drafted jimmy g
May 10th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Great job Lovie!
May 10th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Doug Martin 2012 recievind stats
Rec Yds Avg Yds/G Lng TD
49 472 9.6 29.5 64T 1
May 10th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
You guys said 3rd round was a reach for Glennon too… now look, we have our QB of the future in the wings.
I love it ladies.
May 10th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Love the first two picks though. Gonna have a deadly passing attack for a long time with those two
May 10th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Hated the pick at first but we did need a slot receiver. However this guy doesn’t seem like a burner. What he run, a 4.5? He does seem deceptively fast tho w ability to do magic after the catch. We shall see.. If this draft has taughte anything it’s that if L and L are right w their picks, I shouldn’t quit my day job.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Sims gives us versatile play-maker that can line up in the slot, backfield, etc…
he’s our speed in space guy…I’m happy with the pick; the plan seems to be to stock pile guys that can get in the endzone…I’m all for that…with that said I do think we need to find a OLineman or 2 on day 3…remember guys we’ll be running a zone blocking scheme up front and those type of lineman traditionally are available in later rounds…
May 10th, 2014 at 1:04 pm
@ CounrtyBuc
Great observation. Just reinforces what I’m starting to suspect; They are looking at Sims as an eventual replacement for Doug, maybe even in the near future (a season or 2). Lovie drafted his Matt Forte. I hope this is not true though because I really like Doug Martin.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
cody, today is day 3 and he last day of the draft.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Looks like Lovie has looked at this defense, with the key additions, and determined he can make a run with Josh.
So he’s giving the man some weapons and teeing it up.
Im good with it.
Go Lovie.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Means they don’t know about demos yet or they don’t like what they have seen
May 10th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Not buying it…wasted pick. Why not fill out your stable of WR’s first? Does anyone see this pick becoming an instant starter? Or even next year? Stock up on starters at skill positions first THEN buy yourself some depth
May 10th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Demps*
May 10th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Both Martin and James have good hands. They just like Sims better.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
As soon as near sighted Bucs fans realize this is our slot receiver who can also line up anywhere on the field (along with Tim wright), I think the fan acceptance may grow. People are quick to assume that since he’s a running back, that he automatically gets thrown into our RB stable. Think outside the box people, lovie licht and tedford are. Be positive folks…. I love this pick.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Exactly warren. Wasted pick
May 10th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Lovie had Matt Forte and Chester Taylor under his bears teams, he loves those pass catching/blocking running backs.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
As for people talking about receivers, I think it’s clear they won’t be running more than 2 in most of their plays.
They intend to use tight ends and the running backs.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Two tight end sets, two wide outs, maybe two in the backfield equals matchup nightmare. Love it.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Hes going to play a lot and catch the ball out of the backfield, as Lovie stated.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
DOUG Martin is not a game changer. He is a good running back but no where near the talent or toughness and ability of Frank gore marshawn lynch eddie lacy…he is over hyped. Sorry but that is the truth with that said he will be great 8n the rotation we will have but we do not have a bulldozer on this offense. So we went pass catcher. W9rks for me
May 10th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
If the OL can be shored up, I love the idea of a hot September game (heck, even October or November here) where the opposing D gets a fresh Martin and Sims rotated at them, as they swelter in the heat. I don’t remember the Bucs having this many potential explosive threats on offense at once. OL still is suspect. We’ll see.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:27 pm
(@lurker) I agree, I’ve always said that Martin is over hyped. He had that huge game against Oakland in 2012 and a few hundred yard games here and there, otherwise he’s been slightly above average. For a guy that carries the ball 20+ times a game I doubt you could put together a 15 play highlight film of him.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
He has to be our slot reciever
May 10th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
I’m thinking that L&L are not so confident in Doug Martin and Mike James both returning 100% healthy off injury. Either they have one in their mind that they are unsure about, or are playing it safe adding another guy.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
we added a homerun threat. martin is not that. sims will be the x factor, moved around to exploit weaknesses on defense.
May 10th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
If Tedford is following the bellecheat model I expect Sims to be used similar to how Wes welker was used in New England as a slot option. Those knocking his Sim’s forty time , know that wellker ran a 4.65 and is quite smaller then sims .
Sims is also more elusive in space .
No one is untouchable in the Not For Long League so Martin is subject to that like every other player . @ Kevin – I think Doug Martin is a game changer he just needs to turn up field quicker and hit the holes harder on his runs instead of dancing with cuts in the backfield .
May 10th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Cant believe that some dumbasses think we are still gonna go QB
GET USED TO MCCOWN and GLENNON PEOPLE
May 10th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Watch the tapes! Very quick cutter. Looks like a perfect slot receiver
May 10th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
For all you Martin questioners, you can call the other 29 GMs right now and you’ll get multi player/pick offers for him, he’s considered an elite RB by every team, really only one of only a handful left in the league that used to be driven by elite RBs.
May 10th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Some could be looking at this the wrong way….we just replaced Leonard with Sims as our third round back…..I think a huge improvement….he will see plenty of touches…..be patient here…
May 10th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
third down…..
May 10th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Sims is a GREAT PICK. Think of him as a dynamic, explosive slot guy 1st & RB 2nd. Wise up, Gentlemen. We just drafted a Percy Harvin/Matt Forte hybrid who can take it to the house from anywhere on the field.
May 10th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Maybe there is something more to the injury to either Martin or James that we do not know about? Is it possible?
May 10th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Theres your guard everyone.
May 10th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Potentially, the Greatest Bucs draft ever.
May 10th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Combine Results:
Doug Martin – 4.55 40 time/28 bench reps
Charles Sims – 4.48 40 time/17 bench reps
May 10th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
We’ll probably draft 3 O-liineman to finish off the draft! Throw them against the wall and see who sticks!
Sims looks really good! I never thought it was a need, but now I see the Licht! Dangerous depth, lots of offensive weapons?? Is this the Bucs??!!! I like.
You have to be homer to think Tim Wright was all that, and some kind of all-pro TE. He’s a gimmick WR/TE hybrid. That’s good, but now with ASJ we’re better. Same at RB, 2 is better than 1!
May 10th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Just traded up for another OL.
May 10th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Just traded up for another OL.
May 10th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Bbffc, u r wise for appreciating the quality of our 1st 3 draft choices. People who are unaudited with them are silly.
May 10th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
*unsatisfied
May 10th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
I think a lot of people are still making assumptions when this draft has proven no one knows what the Bucs are looking for.
Also, if Lovie learned his lesson, why does it look like he is trying to recreate the Bears offense?