Beasley Blues A Lesson For Bucs
December 4th, 2015
So you think the Bucs’ defensive issues immediately will be solved by drafting an edge pass rusher?
A telling NFL Draft stat from the Atlanta Journal Constitution might change your mind.
Per Michael Cunningham, just one-third of pass rushers drafted with a top-10 pick in the past 10 years had five sacks or more as a rookie.
That’s a lot of dudes coming in with high hopes and needing significant time to produce. Of course, there are plenty of busts in the mix from that 10-year sample.
This is a focus in Atlanta because rookie Vic Beasley, the 2015 No. 8 overall pick out of Clemson, the alleged savior of the Falcons’ pass rush, has just two sacks. And he has none since Week 3.
Louis Riddick, a former Falcons safety who later became an NFL scout and personnel executive, said Beasley is underachieving.
“They need more pass rush out of him,” Riddick said on a recent episode of ESPN’s “NFL Insiders.” “It really has not manufactured the way they thought it would… . . This is a guy who has been caught off guard by how teams try to protect against speed rushers. He’s been chipped and hit a lot. He needs to work through that. They need more production out of him.”
Yes, the Bucs definitely should draft a pass rusher in the 2016 draft. But that doesn’t mean they necessarily must use a premium pick to get that guy. It’s all about evaluation, coaching and luck.
The formula hasn’t been simple for Lovie Smith and Jason Licht in the edge rush department. The last two Johnsons they hand picked in the offseason were serious busts.
December 4th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Uh…. he’s from Clemson.
Of course he sucks. Name one star defensive player in the NFL from Clemson.
December 4th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Kalind’s rules for Drafting: never draft a DE in the first. Never draft a USC Trojan, and buyer beware of anyone coached at Alabama, UF or anywhere Urban Meyer has decided to coach this year.
Rule 2- don’t draft a RB in the first.
December 4th, 2015 at 10:58 am
I really respect Dabo Sweeney as believe Clemson has earned the #1 spot. But man their draft choices, especially DL seem to be cursed.
Have we not seen the substance of this story up close and personal with the Bucs? This is why I want to draft two DE’s this year in the hopes that at least one will eventually be our franchise DE.
As for our past luck with DE’s…we start of course with the saddest tale of all..may God rest his soul…Gaines Adams…Clemson! Then of course there’s Daquan Bowers..CLEMSON!!! We took Adrian Clayborn that same year…DE’s in the 1st and 2nd round. Neither of them difference makers…Clayborn at least servicable as a rotational guy.
Of course William Gholston is turning out very nicely for a 4th round pick..remember the guy behind him in the 5th…Stephen Means…he was supposedly the undiscovered gem of that class. Is he still in the game?
There’s the forgettable Kyle Moore from USC but many 4th rounders are forgettable.
Other than Gaines Adams we haven’t really invested much in the way of top picks into the DE position. No wonder the cupboard is bare.
Again with MG8 as a pot sweetener, if we toss in some lower round picks we might be able to scarf up one more first rounder to go with ours. Give me two DE’s and let’s stop horsing around with that position and finally fill it correctly.
December 4th, 2015 at 10:58 am
He is from Clemson enough said, which is why they are the biggest fraud in the college football playoffs being the #1 team in the land, Bama or OU rolls them if they get by NC
December 4th, 2015 at 11:01 am
“The formula hasn’t been simple Lovie Smith and Jason Licht in the edge rush department. The last two Johnsons they hand picked in the offseason were serious busts.”
maybe they need to stop playing with their johnsons and get a hand on the real player development
December 4th, 2015 at 11:06 am
^ Rimshot
December 4th, 2015 at 11:10 am
Des are also very slow to develop in many cases. But Beasley is from Clemson, what did that expect? lol
December 4th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Dusty
Good one with the Johnsons…LMAO
Bama or OU rolls them if they get by NC
I agree about Bama…not so sure about OU..I think Sweeney is the good coach that program needed. They’ve always had the rabid fan base..I lived and worked in Greenville for a decade and the Tigers ruled.
I’m wondering where MSU fits in if they get past Iowa. If they beat Iowa they have to be in the tourney and with Cook back healthy and that killer defense I’m not ready to write off the Spartans. They are the only team I think that really might have something for Bama.
December 4th, 2015 at 11:21 am
Is Clemson a fraud because they are in the ACC?
December 4th, 2015 at 11:24 am
keep rolling the dice on them! Shaq Lawson Clemson DE this year. Projected by many to us
December 4th, 2015 at 11:26 am
I think clemson is overrated because of the teams they have played or their talent level this year, the down FSU year who got beat by Ga Tech, and Notre Dame is Notre Dame… in my opinion just think Ou and Bama are the class of the final 4…..however I think MSU may sneak up and can stop both of those because their defense is really good and they have a ball control offense, I just hope Ohio State does not make it this year
December 4th, 2015 at 11:37 am
Still gotta draft some guys / sign some guys. Also hope that jack smith and gholdson keep improving they are some young guys with limited starts.
December 4th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Over the years I’ve really changed my position on drafting from “position of need” to “BPA.”
Had this team gone best player available in the past we would have Adrian Peterson, who we passed on because we had Cadillac, and Luke Keuchly, who we passed on because we had Mason Foster.
In 2011 the Jacksonville Jaguars passed on JJ Watt because they had a good defensive line and their position of need was QB — so they took Blaine Gabbert.
I still look at this team — we will probably be drafting in the mid to late teens — and say we go with best player available who is not a QB. Let’s say a top 2 OT or WR slips to us because DE’s are flying off the shelf. I’d rather have a top 2 WR or OT than the fourth or fifth best DE
One thing I know for sure…after this past draft I have complete faith that Licht will get it right
December 4th, 2015 at 11:44 am
This team is still FULL of holes on both sides of the ball. I’d like to see them stick to drafting BPA.
December 4th, 2015 at 11:49 am
Its all about what your scouts are seeing. Hopefully the same scouts that found marpet are looking for
December 4th, 2015 at 11:51 am
This is why I wished we traded VJax for chandler jones before the trade deadline. Both teams would’ve benefited greatly.
December 4th, 2015 at 11:53 am
It takes awhile to develop a pass rusher in the NFL. Remember that the Arizona Cardinals gave up on Simeon Rice, who signed a prove-it deal with the Bucs and developed into one of the best pass rushers of his generation.
December 4th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
ok, I am a guy who does think some stats have value but here is an example of one that just doesn’t. So the stat is, only 1/3 of Rookie DEs get 5 sacks or more. So in other words in adjusting to the NFL most rookie Defensive ends have a learning curve and do not come in a light the NFL on fire. So does that mean that statistically, Defensive Ends struggle more than QBs? More than linebackers, corners or safeties? Isn’t a given that rookies struggle adjusting to the NFL? How many Top 10 DEs reach more than 5 sacks after their first seasons? Still only 1/3? To make a judgement that you shouldn’t draft a DE in the top 10 you would have to compare success at that position the success of other positions taken in the top 10. How many rookie top 10 QBs throw for 3 or 4 thousand yards in their first year. How many RBs run for 1000 or receivers catch for 1000? Is it more than 1/3 for those positions?
December 4th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Sacks are 1 of the most overrated stats in Football. It’s about pressure real or perceived. Sacks are only good on 3rd or 4th down to get off the field. Other than that it’s a TFL.
December 4th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
dreambig Says:
December 4th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
ok, I am a guy who does think some stats have value but here is an example of one that just doesn’t. So the stat is, only 1/3 of Rookie DEs get 5 sacks or more. So in other words in adjusting to the NFL most rookie Defensive ends have a learning curve and do not come in a light the NFL on fire. So does that mean that statistically, Defensive Ends struggle more than QBs? More than linebackers, corners or safeties? Isn’t a given that rookies struggle adjusting to the NFL? How many Top 10 DEs reach more than 5 sacks after their first seasons? Still only 1/3? To make a judgement that you shouldn’t draft a DE in the top 10 you would have to compare success at that position the success of other positions taken in the top 10. How many rookie top 10 QBs throw for 3 or 4 thousand yards in their first year. How many RBs run for 1000 or receivers catch for 1000? Is it more than 1/3 for those positions?
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Traditionally, DEs have the lowest success rate on the defensive side of the ball. QBs on offense, then WRs. Most WRs that do make it big in the NFL, usually do so in year 2, though recent history suggests 1st year production can be expected now. RBs have a very high success rate, as do OTs (not always at OT but OG), safeties, and ILBs.
December 4th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
How high of a draft pick was Jack Smith?……Howard Jones?
There are players out there that can get sacks…..we need to concentrate on a sure bet with our 1st two picks…..I think CB, Oline are two positions that usually don’t involve so much of a gamble
December 4th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
When has anyone from Clemson be a savior?
December 4th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Not to place generalizations, however don’t ever go for a DE from Clemson. They never pan out, off the top of my head they’re 0-3 (Gaines Adams, Da’quan, Beasley). Their system doesn’t mesh will when transitioned to the pros.
December 4th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
well*
December 4th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Justin, people were saying the same thing about QBs from FSU
December 4th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
The kid is a rookie. As joe said in an earlier article…it takes three years.
As a rookie, the kid may struggle.
That said…if the Bucs win the next 4 (likely) then they will not be picking in the top 10.
December 4th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
the bucs are sitting pretty with cap room this offseason, with the team actually appearing to have a future, we might get interest from some of those older, proven pass rushers ready for a situational role (like peppers, abraham, freeney, et al in recent years) and wanting to win something before they hang it up.
i don’t think the success of our outside rush in 2016 should hinge on guys being projected into a new role (college stud to pro stud, rotational guy to starter, or all-rounder to pass-rushing ace) as it has in the last couple years. absolutely look for the future of your pass rush in the draft, but don’t set yourself up where you need 10 sacks from your rookie or a george johnson type for your defense to work like you hope it will
December 4th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
No more players from Clemson. Please. No Safety in the first round either. Jacquies Smith, Howard Jones, Bradley McDougald and Danny Lansanah are all UDFA. We need more players on defense from the draft. The player personnel decisions at DE have had the greatest negative impact on this team. When people think of DE and the Buccaneers most people refer back to Michael Bennett (even though he mostly played DT here) and what could have, should have been, but is not. Adrian Clayborn is better than what we have right now and of course Ryan Delaire. What we are saying here is that even if we draft a DE it will be 2-3 years of development before we have the DE we are looking for. That is a great case to go out in FA and sign the best available. 1) CB, 2) DE, 3) FS, 4) DE, 5) SS, 6) C, 7) LB.
December 4th, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Clemson is a fraud because they’re Clemson and because they play in the a$$…oh I mean acc…GO BUCS!!!