Mike Jenkins, Huh?
November 16th, 2014
Johnthan Banks heads to the end zone with his first quarter pick-six. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
One reason the Bucs are a miserable 2-8 is some really, really, really bad player evaluation by overlord of Bucs football operations Lovie Smith. In particular, it has been the free agent signings.
One of the most curious, and arguably the worst, was when Lovie not just signed slug cornerback Mike Jenkins, who was cut by the Raiders of all teams, but Lovie did his best to will Jenkins into the starting lineup over burgeoning stalwart Johnthan Banks.
Jenkins missed virtually all of training camp and preseason with an injury, but Lovie kept calling him the starter before opening day, which Joe just could not fathom. Jenkins is a stiff; Banks, though young, had talent (just ask Calvin Johnson). Jenkins had no future; Banks was the future.
Well, Jenkins got hurt in the season-opener, which allowed Banks to settle in to where he belonged from the start. Today was maybe his best game in a Bucs uniform, when he returned a pick-six in the first quarter to give the Bucs an early lead.
On his interception, Banks said, “I saw [the ball] and, wow, this is a gift from God,” Banks told the Buccaneers Radio Network after the game. “I knew I could get into the end zone.”
Banks later raved about his teammates and believes this win may be a springboard to better things.
“One thing I can say about this team: We never got down,” Banks said. “This is the first team I have ever been on [that lost] and didn’t get down. Everything is still fun and we are still balling. We will build on this.
“It was all out momentum today. Everything we had was to take the ball away this weekend. Our defensive line got after it today and made it easy for us to make plays.”
November 16th, 2014 at 5:41 pm
LVD
Banks
Barron
November 16th, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Odd thing is…Lovie a “high character/Christian”…does not relate to Banks…if you know his story..you know what I am talking about…
November 16th, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Why do we keep revisiting this subject??
I’m not taking anything away from Banks, but he did NOTHING on that play but run it back for a TD! Sure, he is starting to play his BEST football this year UNDER Lovie Smith, but don’t act like he was a stud draft pick from the start that wasn’t getting a fair shake!!
November 16th, 2014 at 5:59 pm
Because it needs to be revisited. Daily in fact. One of the biggest examples of terrible player evaluation by Lovie — who has final say in all transactions — which is one significant reason the Bucs are terrible this year.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Never worried about Banks but some of you won’t let him grow into the position? But I’m sure you all know football. DUH.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
It seems like Lovie doesn’t like young players and wants to make them earn a starting position.
I don’t know if it’s just mind games, but it seems like a good way to destroy a young playersconfidence. There was absolutely no reason Banks should have lost his starting job.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:12 pm
Young players he didn’t draft or sign. Anyone wondering why Charles Sims is taking snaps away from Bobby Rainey?
November 16th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Coaches ego ?
“Young players he didn’t draft or sign. Anyone wondering why Charles Sims is taking snaps away from Bobby Rainey?”
November 16th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
@Joe
No, it doesn’t need to be revisited daily! First of all, please stop acting like Jonathan Banks is a pro bowler that was getting shafted. Were you at all the practices!? Did you get a chance to see Jenkins competing against Banks daily at practice?? I’m gonna take a wild guess and say “No”..
Lovie Smith is and will always be better at “evaluating NFL talent” than you WILL EVER BE!
P.S. Check yourself before you wreck yourself SON!
“It’s as simple as that!” – Lovie Smith
November 16th, 2014 at 6:21 pm
If I’m not mistaken didn’t Johnathon Banks win the Jim Thorpe award for college footballs best defensive back in 2012. Why do so many people think this kid can’t play cornerback. This kid is going to be a really good player.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
OneLove:
Joe thinks it does need to be revisited. Daily. Joe’s site. Joe decides.
And Joe has seen enough of Mike Jenkins in the NFL to know that Johnthan Banks is better, thank you. If Jenkins really was worth a damn, he wouldn’t have been cut by Rod Marinelli/Monte Kiffin and the worst team in the NFL wouldn’t have let him walk away.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:31 pm
MAYBE LOVIE WAS TRYING TO MOTIVATE BANKS TO GET MORE OUT OF HIM, YOU KNOW DEVELOPMENT!
November 16th, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Lovie said Jenkins was a good fit in his version of the Tampa two. Guy was a first round pick- good enough for me.
I wish he was playing
I bet you Jenkins is better than Crezdon Butler.
In the NFL- it’s all about how you fit in the system. Plenty of players have sucked in one place- then excelled in another.
Jenkins was not my biggest worry. Depth at CB was/is
By the way, Banks is playing well.at 6’3″, he is the way of the future
November 16th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Banks is a BALLER. He was the best CB in college. He had more INTs than the all-world Revis (garbage) last year. And he shut down megatron last year after megatron made Revis go to the lockerroom with a broken ego.
How does Lovie re-pay Banks? By giving his job to Jenkins. Who gets burnt and injured for the season by a rookie in his first NFL game.
joe I blame the FL public education system for some of these people’s comments. It’s really not their fault.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:55 pm
I’ve got no issues with Lovie bringing in a talented vet like Jenkins. It was risk-free. If he played well, great. If he didn’t play well, we could dump him. At absolutely worst, he pushed Banks to get a little better. Competition does that. Funny how people complain about depth and then when the team signs some they freak out.
He was great for depth, not to be named a starter for no good reason before they even put the pads on in training camp. –Joe
November 16th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Joe,
You sound a little like Ralph Kramden when he’s yelling at Alice.
Ralph- I am the King Alice and you are nothing! Did you hear me Alice, I am the king and you are nothing.
Alice- I heard you Ralph. You are the king of nothing.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
never understood the lore aroung Jenkins…dude is one of those “potential” types like Stocker that are absolutely worthless in the NFL….it was pick ups like that that make you wonder about the evaluators
November 16th, 2014 at 7:15 pm
The DBs did good because there was a DL that was rushing the passer.
November 16th, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Mike Jenkins was a solid signing plagued by injuries and oh yea he will be back next season so get over it
November 16th, 2014 at 7:45 pm
DB55- you need to switch hands or something!
You are just way to frustrated-to blame this on a football team
November 16th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
2-8 people lets not get carried away. We’re tied with the jets and jax for 31st place. #perspective.
November 16th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Capt Tim
What???? I was replying to onelove. I’m not mad neither am I jizzing in my pants cuz we beat a 3-6 team with obvious qb issues.
November 16th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Joe, you have carried this grudge longer that some tribes in the Middle East. Give it a rest. It’s not like he cut the kid and he had to eat out of a garbage can.
A lot of coaches prefer veterans over younger players. Lovie is not alone.
As for Rainey, although I like the kid, he’s no second coming of Ray Rice or Maurice Jones Drew.
Take a deep breath and chill, we just won a game.
November 16th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
…zero value…umm where is he? oh yeah thats right “hurt”…dude straight up sucks and shouldn’t be collecting in this league
November 17th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
It seems you have a sore spot for mike jenkins and that may really be the issue here. Maybe Lovie knows talent and a veteran pro bowler who was hungry to play in a city where it all started for him and to help the defense win a championship. Banks is mediocre at best, let’s all be honest. I could of ran back that pick 6. Name another thing he has done in his 2year career compared to Jenkins 7 years. I think we all can agree Lovie Smith is a bit smarter then you when it comes to scouting talent and developing players, and I believe that is why he is currently the head coach and you are writing this blog! Go Mike Jenkins!! #24!!!
December 28th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Sorry you guys “fell” for banks. I knew he was no good when he tried to blame other people for his mistakes against bama.