Don’t Blame Kevin Dodd
February 27th, 2016
DE Kevin Dodd tries to distance himself from previous Clemson busts.
This may scare the hell out of a lot of Bucs fans, but a pair of top-shelf Clemson defensive ends may very well be on the board when the Bucs pick at No. 9.
They would be Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd.
As soon as they read “Clemson defensive ends,” Bucs fans shriek in horror with nightmares of Gaines Adams and Da’Quan Bowers bouncing in their heads.
Both Adams and Bowers are just two of several highly-rated Clemson pass rushers drafted that were complete and total NFL busts. So Joe can understand why Bucs fans want no part of any Clemson defensive end, no matter how talented he is.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
So Joe asked Dodd Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine if he thinks the sins of past Clemson defensive ends is hurting his draft stock. In so many words, Dodd said don’t blame him for crimes committed by others.
“No. It’s not going to hurt me at all,” Dodd said. “I’m going to be Kevin Dodd. I’m going to go out and do what I have to do. And I’m going to live up to my potential.”
Dodd, naturally, is in a tight spot. He doesn’t want to throw legends from his alma mater under the bus. But at the same time, he wants to distance himself from those stiffs and busts. It is a delicate high wire act Dodd is toeing.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:18 am
Noah Spence, Javon Hargrave, Victor Ochi. Based on the projections, that would be the perfect trifecta of pass rushers.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:36 am
I like both of them
February 27th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Nooooooooooo!!!!
February 27th, 2016 at 8:54 am
Clemson’s defense is the “spread offense” of college football. Looks real good in college. Turns average players into studs. Get them to the NFL …. Two words – Akili Smith.
February 27th, 2016 at 8:59 am
One of those guys may be there in the second, I would pull the (better not say that), i would make that pick in the second
February 27th, 2016 at 9:50 am
What does Akili Smith have to do with a Clemson DE?
February 27th, 2016 at 10:14 am
Spence needs to be the guy if we’re going D-Line first. I truly believe we’ve got leadership on both sides of the ball that will demand he stay in line. Plus we now have a coaching staff and management that will hold people accountable, so taking risks isn’t as risky as years past! GO BUCS
February 27th, 2016 at 10:44 am
Fool me twice, we won’t get fooled again.
February 27th, 2016 at 10:49 am
There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know.
February 27th, 2016 at 10:50 am
Shaq and Kevin will play the game for themselves, what others did here is irrelevant!!
February 27th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
You have to judge everyone individually. I watched film on Lawson and liked him. I still prefer a few others at our spot but wouldn’t be upset if he was the pick.
This is similar logic to not wanting to draft Jameis because of Ponder and Manuel.
February 27th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Did someone really just quote the a$$f@ck known as Donald Rumsfeld?
February 27th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
I fail to see how it’s anything more than a coincidence that Adams and Bowers were both bust DEs from Clemson drafted by the Bucs. Clemson has had plenty of successful NFL players. I mean, let’s stop with the superstition.
February 27th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
That was a bush quote
February 27th, 2016 at 5:39 pm
@salish_seamonster
And if they turn into busts, people will say “why didn’t they see it coming?!”
February 27th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
No, that is 100% a douchebag Rumsfeld quote, not Bush.
February 27th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
No, that is 100% a Donald Rumsfeld quote, not Bush.
February 27th, 2016 at 11:20 pm
Third time is a charm?
February 28th, 2016 at 2:12 am
Is it just me or does anyone else like a 6-5 275 pound 4-3 DE over a 6-2 5/8 254 pound 3-4 DE? I actually like Kevin Dodd over Noah Spence and Shaq Lawson. Dodd recorded twice as many quarterback hurries with 48, than Lawson, which were good for second-most in the nation among 4-3 defensive ends. He also recorded 3 sacks in the national championship game. Dodd has an athletic upfield burst and can explode through gaps. He is raw and the sky is his limit. Perfect fit for Jay Hayes and best of all he won’t get eaten up on running plays. In a perfect world we draft Mackensie Alexander in the first round then move up in the second round into the bottom of the first and draft Dodd.
February 28th, 2016 at 5:58 am
You nailed it godzilla! Dodd in the 2nd would be fantastic! OT in the 1st, DE in the 2nd, CB/Return Cyrus Jones (have to move back up into the 2nd for that one).
Pharoh Cooper 4th pick? Thats 4 positions of need with some quality fills.