Clemson And The Bucs
February 21st, 2016
Would Bucs fans have to close their eyes to the school of DE Kevin Dodd, if Jason Licht is so inclined?
Joe is no fan of helmethair Mel Kiper’s mock drafts. Why? Because he changes them more often than some change their bed sheets.
Every friggin’ week he changes his mock drafts.
Joe is not anti-mock draft, but is very much anti- the parlor game mock drafts have become. If someone ranks the best players at a position, Joe’s down with that. Changing a mock draft each week? What’s the point?
Weekly change of mock drafts is as fun as the ringing of Joe’s doorbell each friggin’ Saturday morning by Jehovah’s Witnesses. These things have gotten out of hand.
(What is it with these people? Why do they think Joe wants to be annoyed on a lazy Saturday? Maybe erecting a “Beware of Dog” sign would be repellent enough, even though Joe doesn’t own a dog?)
Rather than dive in to Helmethair’s latest mock, Joe monitored a rankings list Kiper put out this week. Those, Joe respects. Kiper has many NFL contacts, so Joe believes these have some merit.
Joe wants the Bucs to draft a Clemson defense end less than Joe wants a rash of poison ivy. Given how utterly snuggly soft Gaines Adams (2007) and Da’Quan Bowers (2011) were, Joe would stay as far away from a Clemson DE as possible.
But here is the thing: Kiper has Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson, both from Clemson, among his top three edge rushers in the draft (Joey Bosa is No. 1).
The Bucs pick at No. 9. If, say, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht shares Kiper’s analysis, unless there is a run on defensive ends in the first eight picks, one of those Clemson DEs will be on the board.
Frankly, this thought prevents Joe from enjoying his non-football Sunday morning ritual of bacon, Community Coffee, and later, a spicy hot Bloody Mary on the rocks.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:41 am
Spence at 9…..Lawson will land in the 20-30 range and Dodd is a round 2 guy.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:44 am
I’m a little scared of those Clemson guys to joe, but lichts drafting it up so far. If he takes one of them let’s hope for the best. It couldn’t go any worse than the late Gaines Adams and meatloaf bowers.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:44 am
mmm Mike Smith/Jay Hayes.. I think you focusing on the wrong Dline position if you’re talking first pick Joe.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:52 am
Actually it could go worse now that my brain is working. There’s no lovie smith to trade the bust for a second round pick anymore.
February 21st, 2016 at 8:52 am
We need to pick a college mate to play with Daquan Bowers on our line…..as a matter of fact…..let’s trade up and get both…..
February 21st, 2016 at 8:52 am
Clemson 😅 Haha yeah they the best … Idk I trust licht and I trust Jameis
February 21st, 2016 at 9:04 am
I’d like to see us get Buckner and a pass rush specialist like striker in the later rounds. Play Buckner at end on 1st and 2nd and slide hom inside and bring in the pass rusher on 3rd and 2nd and longs. He and mccoy would get serious push in the middle and that kid striker is unblockable, but a tad small to play de every down. but striker could play spec teams immediately and he is a serious pass rush threat
February 21st, 2016 at 9:33 am
Please no more Clemson Dline!!
February 21st, 2016 at 9:40 am
Buckner is not a good fit for us. He is a big bodied guy who is not that quick. We already have a buckner on our roster by the name of Gholston. They couldn’t be more similar. We need a pure pass rusher who is quick and explosive. Noah Spence is the only guy I’m taking that high. If hes not there hopefully VH3 is.
February 21st, 2016 at 9:56 am
Our last two gm’s were fired due to a Clemson de. If Gaines Adams weren’t so soft, our defense may have had an edge in December 2008, and winning just one of those four may have saved Gruden.
And of course, Dom was insistent to prove his Clemson de, Daquan Bowers, was NFL caliber. He wasnt, and our “no fly zone” was burned often.
Licht, dont make the mistake our past two gm’s have made.
February 21st, 2016 at 9:59 am
I trust Licht and the revamped coaching staff to bring in the right players. On those pestersome doorbell ringers on Saurday morning, I just say go away and don’t come back, they don’t.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:21 am
Yes, Noah Spence is the best OLB, 3-4 pass rusher in the draft. As is DeForest Buckner, who is a stud 3-4 DE. IMO the second best 4-3 DE (Bosa, being first) in the draft is DE Kevin Dodd (6-5 275), not his teammate DE Shaq Lawson (6-4 270)(sacks 13 and QB hits 11). Dodd was more disruptive than Lawson. While he was not far behind Lawson in sacks (12) and hits (9) he recorded twice as many quarterback hurries with 48, which were good for second-most in the nation among 4-3 defensive ends. His physical traits and talent have scouts comparing him to someone close to our hearts, Michael Bennett. If Jason Licht can figure a way to move up into the mid 20’s in the first round to grab Dodd, it could be the steal of the draft.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:37 am
@ak27er: Eric Striker is the kind of player we need around here add him to our linebacker crew and coach him up since we have all this all-pro coaching staff, he’s small but he got that dog in him!!!
February 21st, 2016 at 10:49 am
This is why I stopped doing mock drafts myself. Instead, I take my time and build a Wishlist for myself (which I also post here) and just hope some of my guys get picked by the team.
I had 4 guys picked off my list last year, so I was pretty happy.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:50 am
Noah Spence is the first name on my list right now (the only name too).
February 21st, 2016 at 10:51 am
@godzilla13
Spence would play DE in a 4-3 defense…
…do we even know what our defense will be yet?
February 21st, 2016 at 10:59 am
“Because he changes them more often than some change their bed sheets.” not if you’re jd from the stern show 😂
February 21st, 2016 at 11:35 am
I will be pumped if we get Spence!!! Clemson only produces good WR’s. Kinda wouldn’t mind a beastly DT either. Anyone like Nkimdeche?
February 21st, 2016 at 12:30 pm
The DL draft is pretty deep this year and several names have surfaced, however as of today we have managed to scratch off many top prospects. Can we really hold a player from Clemson responsible for the performance of Gaines Adams or Daquan Bowers? I read where Buckner would be a better interior DT than DE because of his size, and of course Noah Spence has off field issues and a small school pedigree. I also read that the Buc’s might be wise to take an OT like Stanley or Tunsil if they fall to 9. If you move to another need DB, you hear where Hargreaves is too small to cover NFC South receivers. I guess I agree with BuccaneerBonzai. I stopped playing the mock game and sort of have wish list instead. This IS the “Silly season”
PS I can’t believe ESPN pays big bucks to guys like Kiper.
February 21st, 2016 at 12:31 pm
I have bad vibes on Shaq Lawson- I feel he is another Clemson bust. I think Dodd is the better prospect and would be a great 2nd round pick up. Do not like either in the first. Dodd has only been playing football a few years and has major upside.
February 21st, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Emmanuel Ogbah, please
February 21st, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Spence is a great player but you can never take a drug abuser in the first round – see Randy Gregory @Dallas. Risk outweighs the reward big time – we cannot afford the risk of wasting a 1st round pick.
February 21st, 2016 at 2:11 pm
BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE! Which I wouldn’t think would be a Clemson de..don’t go back there please, ugh….Long term dynasty building with BPA 🙂
February 21st, 2016 at 2:32 pm
I cant wait for Andrew Billings stock to rise after the combine. I know we need DE and a DB, but at #9 DT Billings just might be BPA….then we can try to land Dodd in the 2nd.
February 21st, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Joe would stay as far away from a Clemson DE as possible.
Amen
February 21st, 2016 at 4:03 pm
His school doesn’t matter. We all know this. If JL sees a quality player, the past history of other guys from that school is irrelevant. He’ll rank him where his skills and tape put him, and if he’s the BPA when the pick rolls around, the Clemson player will be the pick. Simple as that, as Losie used to say. You don’t draft by superstition.
February 21st, 2016 at 4:22 pm
Another Clemson DE? Nooo thanks. Lawson didn’t impress me in the title game anyways, especially when he lined up off sides.
February 21st, 2016 at 5:42 pm
951:
Was thinking of JD. 🙂
February 21st, 2016 at 6:17 pm
Joe
As a long time loyal reader and as one of those people that knock on doors on Saturday morning, I feel compelled to explain why we do so. I’ll try to keep it as brief as possible but I am a wordy person so excuse me if it is long. It is for two reasons.
First of all, it is because we love God. He commanded us to preach to the whole earth the message he gave. Because we love him, we obey that command.
Second, it is because we love our neighbors. We see how following what God has taught us can improve our marriages, families, and just our lives in general. We wish to share that with others so they can have better lives too.
I know some regard us as fanatics or a cult but I assure you we are people just like you and everyone else on this site. I apologize that we may come at a bad time at times. Just let the person know and generally he will excuse himself (some times there are over zealous people with any group and organization though so sorry if they are pushy).
I hope that explains some things. I wasn’t trying to be preachy but rather just informative since you seemed upset.
Thanks for reading if you did.
February 21st, 2016 at 9:13 pm
Andrew Billings will be the one to pick at 9. The kid is a total beast a bigger stronger Aaron Donald.
February 21st, 2016 at 10:50 pm
They do new mocks every week for the same reason Joe put out a “keep vincent jackson” post every other day. The fans need something to talk about and they (espn and joe) need the clicks.
Only re doing mocks is kinda fun because i usually look at who people have us getting and do research on those players. It helps me narrow down the possible candidates. Im not a big college football fan (too many teams and player coming and going for me to care too much.) so i don’t get all hot over 1 player over another. I have no idea who is good, so i like to see what these mock draft guys are coming up with for the bucs.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:48 am
Person not the college, just coincidence.
I like both. Lawdon is a beast against run and pass. Dodd is going to be better against pass I think.
Ohgbah and Spence are also good. Personally, I don’t think Bosa is all that. Big strong OL guys man handle him.
February 22nd, 2016 at 4:35 am
DI, your God is just one of many fictional beings created by mankind. The endless wars caused by the misguided beliefs of the ignorant and superstitious, have begun to annoy the rest of us. We’re not interested. Hopefully the profane language I used at my latest encounter with your brethren will deter them from ever bothering me again. Oh yeah, and Spence gets my vote. I believe he’s done enough to prove football is more important to him than ecstasy. Winston and McCoy will keep him on track.
February 22nd, 2016 at 5:38 am
1sparkybuc
I’m sorry but your comment was ignorant. I didn’t insult your beliefs. I don’t appreciate that you insult mine. Generalizing the actions of what morally misguided people have done and including me in it isn’t fair. The same things that you say religion has done has also been done by the atheists as well. Sorry you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
I didn’t insult you, not Joe. I’d appreciate it if you extended the same courtesy.
February 22nd, 2016 at 2:30 pm
Eric Stryker will be a steal by whichever team takes him. I’m hoping it’s the Bucs, but I don’t see him getting past the third round.