“Need” Is Debatable At Cornerback
April 15th, 2016
Yesterday, Jason Licht eloquently stated he “strives to pick players where best available and need intersect.”
And there lies the X-factor in handicapping the Buccaneers’ plans for the 2016 draft.
Endless mock drafts and draft gurus are focused on the Bucs drafting Florida Gators cornerback Vernon Hargreaves in the first round. But what is the Bucs’ need at the position?
And before the Best Available Mob starts crowing, it’s Licht talking about the importance of need here, not Joe.
Brent Grimes is a perennial Pro Bowler getting paid big bucks. Alterraun Verner is a 27-year-old former Pro Bowler. Johnthan Banks is a 26-year-old who may never have gotten a fair shake under the Lovie Smith regime following a strong rookie year and a good 2014 season. Tampa Bay will play $2 million this season to 25-year-old, four-year veteran corner Josh Robinson less than a week into free agency.
It appears Licht still believes in Banks and Verner. Just the fact Verner (a guy Licht signed in free agency in 2014) is still around with a big salary is evidence. And Banks is, at worst, a good football player. It’s not his fault Lovie preferred two unemployed old cornerbacks, Tim Jennings and Mike Jenkins.
So where exactly is the “need” at cornerback that would demand the Bucs invest the No. 9 overall pick.
But look at defensive end and the “need” there. No Pro Bowlers or ex-Pro Bowlers man the DE rotation. There are no highly drafted players except for newly signed Robert Ayers. He was a raging bust as the No. 18 overall pick of Denver in 2009. Ayers revived his career the past few years and became a one-year wonder with nine sacks for the Giants last year.
Will Gholston is an emerging talent that has yet to prove he can rush the passer. Undrafted Jacquies Smith has produced far beyond expectations, but he’s not quite an every-down player. Howard Jones came out of Division II with five sacks last year, but he is a big question mark. Sackless George Johnson is still around.
The “need” at defensive is glaring, far more glaring than at corner.
Yes, the 2016 draft is said to be deep at defensive end. So there is the chess game for Licht. Can he draft a defensive back in the first round and still bank on getting a talented pass rusher? That’s a dicey gamble given the Bucs’ stable at DE, and the evaporating prime of Gerald McCoy.
April 15th, 2016 at 12:53 pm
Draft is deeper at DT and I think the Bucs will try to grab one withing rounds 1-3!!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
DE and safety would be the biggest need imo. That’s why I say we need to trade up for Ramsey. At least Jac Smith and Howard Jones showed potential last year.
Side note: if the Rams draft Ramsey their D is set for years. Ramsey behind Barron behind Donald, that’s just scary.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Does no one remember last season? We need a wide receiver. Jackson has a year or two tops and is getting more injury prone as he ages. Mike Evans isn’t a number 1. The rest of the crew is nothing to brag about. The intersection is receiver followed by Safety, DE, and Center. Corner is 5th in my opinion.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Agreed. Defensive End and Safety are the biggest needs. I would say that the need at Defensive Tackle is equal to Cornerback. Clinton McDonald is aging (like Brent Grimes)…Akeem Spence is a promising young player who might not be around after this season (like Banks/Verner). I think the best option is to try to trade down and take a pass rusher…or trade down twice and take a rusher or a safety…Noah Spence or Karl Joseph are my guys in this scenario. If we want a corner I think we could still trade down and target William Jackson.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
the need at cb is having 2 cb’s that are under contract for 1 year(robinson&banks)…1 cb that has a big question mark over his head(verner) and another that has maybe 1 good year of production left(grimes)…along with a udfa that became a starter mid way thru the year(jude)…the main issue is talent….we have a increase the talent level in the secondary and that starts with grabbing the best pure cover cb in the draft VHG….GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Joe doesn’t understand the draft, which probably explains why he loves Dominik so much.
You do not draft 21-22 year olds so you can plug holes for next year. That is stupid. Ok, stop right there, Licht did just that last year. Carry on. –Joe
Licht himself said that he looks 3 years out when making decisions in the draft. When people review drafts they project out how players will be in years, not who is going to be the best rookie.
Do you think 33 year old Grimes will be playing in a Bucs jersey at 35? Will Verner be given an extension based on the play he’s made so far? Will Banks, who was being passed over for street free agents and Mike Jenkins be a starting CB in 3 years? Will Josh Robinson, who is on a prove-it deal and subbed in for 5 games last year be a long term solution?
If a CB is the best player on the board, you draft them, unless Joe is aware of some great success the Bucs have had against Brees, Newton and Ryan that I am not aware of.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
WR is a big need. More so than CB and even DE. I think we draft a DE with our 2nd pick.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Wayyy too much praise heaped on our corners over there Joe. Agree with you on Banks but Verner has not played well since arriving in Tampa and Grimes ain’t getting any younger.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Pick the safest bet at 9…….if it’s Hargreaves…do it…..we always need CBs…..we can’t take any risks with the #9 pick.
Been following the posts….seems like there are about 5 or 6 DEs who fans like….no consensus….I really, really hope we have a trading partner to move down….I would be much more comfortable with an extra pick.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
one of the main things people complained about last year was how we would get beat on quick slants…that’s because we didn’t have talented enough cbs….people complained about why didn’t we blitz more often and its because we didn’t have the cbs to cover…people complained about cbs playing 10yards off the ball…its because our cbs would get burnt deep…drafting VHG would in the first would fix that….GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Current Projected Starters
LCB – Brent Grimes | Jude Adjei-Barimah
RCB – Alterraun Verner | Johnthan Banks
SCB – Josh Robinson
Developmental Prospects
C.J. Roberts
Joel Ross
*Solid 4-6 Round Draft Prospects
Boundary Prospects
Eric Murray | Minnesota | 5-10⅝ | 199 | 4.49
Zack Sanchez | Oklahoma | 5-10⅞ | 185 | 4.50
Sean Davis | Maryland | 6-1 | 201 | 4.46
Maurice Canady | Virginia | 6-1 | 193 | 4.49
Ryan Smith | North Carolina Central | 5-11 | 189 | 4.47
Juston Burris | North Carolina St. | 6-0¼ | 212 | 4.53
Taveze Calhoun | Mississippi St. | 6-0⅜ | 192 | 4.58
Slot Prospects
Cyrus Jones | Alabama | 5-9⅞ | 186 | 4.33
Briean Boddy-Calhoun | Minnesota | 5-9½ | 193 | 4.47
Jonathan Jones | Auburn | 5-9⅛ | 197 | 4.49
*No need 2 draft a corner – in the 1st three rounds
April 15th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Take BPA between DE/DT/CB/S rounds 1-3
My dream:
Trade back to 15 and get extra 2nd. Trade Mike Glennon for Broncos 2nd rounder. Trade into late 1st with somebody giving up 2 late 2nds we got.
15. Sheldon Rankins DT
Late round 1 – Emmanuel Ogbah / Noah Spence / Kevin Dodd DE
Early 2nd round – Karl Joseph – S
That’s almost like 3 first round talents. I think S is bigger need than CB but CB could also be the pick there.
Take BPA of WR/CB/Either Line rest of way
April 15th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
813bucboi
Most of that was bad scheme vs personnel.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Drafting
PR/CB Cyrus Jones
&
KR/WR Jakeem Grant
Will give us the best 1-2 special teams punch, in league.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Myles Jack might drop to us with his knee questions….Draft Jack and bring back the 34 defense?
April 15th, 2016 at 1:40 pm
@luv…nawl…it was talent…and with the players you list going in rounds 4-6 we would be foolish to wait and take one of them over vhg…that type of thinking would land us in the same position we’re in now…searching for talented cb….don’t get me wrong some of those cbs are good players but everyone in the nfl is a good player….josh robinson is a good player…we need a great young talent player…VHG is that guy…GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
I can tell you right now…emphasis will be on DE and RT. We will get at least 2 in this draft. We will not draft a DT at all (sorry Buc Realist; we have plenty). We might…might take a safety within the 2nd-4th rounds. We might…might take a CB between rounds 3-5.
WR is a wildcard, but it won’t be in the first round.
They signed a CB so that they could put it off a year, people. I could see them drafting a tight end before they draft a CB this year.
Come on…the writing is on the wall. Think about the roles they DID NOT address in free agency. Think about the most needed roles.
And I don’t care what Licht says…NO TEAM DRAFTS STRICTLY BPA! Don’t try to tell me that if the best player available is a quarterback, Licht will take him in round one. It won ‘t happen! Why? Because we don’t need one!!!!!!
ALL TEAMS DRAFT BY NEED!
April 15th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
@LUVMYBUCS
Banks will start.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Tom S. Says
“Will Banks, who was being passed over for street free agents and Mike Jenkins be a starting CB in 3 years?”
Have you ever looked at the process of Ronde Barber’s development?
He did not produce until year 5. Five years! Then he ended up becoming a Hall of Famer.
Up until he was benched, Banks was developing faster than Ronde did. He had better stats than Ronde did at the same point. Benching him set back his development by a year. It was a huge mistake by Lovie. He clearly forgot how Ronde developed all those years ago.
Banks will start this year. He’ll come in and prove himself. Grimes will be gone next year, because we won’t need him. His wife will moan about it, but who cares? He’ll get paid.
Meanwhile, the Bucs bought a year by signing him. They don’t have to draft a CB this year. Why else do you think they signed him? Leadership? Yeah…right!
April 15th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
If we draft a CB, I would rather it be William Jackson than VH3. Jackson had speed length and he is heady around the ball
April 15th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Bonzai Joe just put out a story on how Light doesn’t just take BPA and that need still must intersect so I think we all agree there.
Don’t get the RT obsession. Demar Dotson could have another good 3-4 years in him. He’s younger than Grimes and we have Gos as a backup AND Pamphil can play there.
We’ll find out soon.
April 15th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Defensive Coverage Technique being taught is key
Just to name a few
Some coaches teach..
• Inside Shoulder Technique
• Outside Shoulder Technique
Probably the most successful defensive coverage technique implemented
-right now is in Seattle.
The Infamous Step-Kick Technique of Press Coverage
April 15th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
I think a 3rd or 4th on a cb would be better than a 1st. Get someone with potential but a little raw (Artie burns 3rd, or the OU kid in the 4th). Let me sit and learn. DE, S, or WR in the first 2, maybe 3 if good guys fall (Coleman, shepherd, vonn bell, ogbah)
April 15th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
@ Lord
I would be happy with Rankins-Spence-Joseph or Rankins-Joseph-Nassib
April 15th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
813, if CB were such a glaring need, Licht would’ve put more emphasis on the position in free agency than he did. I doubt Licht starts looking at corners in the draft before Round 3.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Bonzai could not agree more. If we draft a CB we need size and speed in our division. Don’t think Hargreaves fits our need. Not saying he is not good, just not right fit. Real need is pass-rusher DE, possible RT. There are several DE between pic 15 and 40 and a few projects in later rounds. I agree, we have a stable of CB’s some of pro bowl caliber. CB’s next year as ours age.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Maybe, and that might be a stretch. Joe doesn’t doubt for a moment the Bucs could draft a right tackle to develop to replace Cherilus/Dotson in a couple of years, but no way at No. 9.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
BuccaneerBonzai
Remember Verner (the former Pro Bowl Corner) struggled mightily when he first entered camp -why? He said the technique’s Gil Byrd taught was completely different from what his former coach in Tennessee (Brett Maxie) taught.
Typical the man reason why – most defensive backs struggle when change teams.
Is change in scheme & technique.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Joe
Former NFL Scout Chris Landry also agrees with me- that we should go after Jack Conklin. He went on to say – if we don’t draft him at 9 – NY will definitely do it at 10.
The same type of Interior/Edge Rushers in the 1st round. I see the same type of prospect in the 2nd.
U don’t see a Conklin type of prospect in the 2nd.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Yeah may be a stretch on Dotson. I like the idea of taking an o lineman in every draft – but just don’t see it as the teams priority this draft. Don’t see it happening any earlier than 4th or 5th round – which I’d be fine with.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Lord Says
“Bonzai Joe just put out a story on how Light doesn’t just take BPA and that need still must intersect so I think we all agree there.
Don’t get the RT obsession. Demar Dotson could have another good 3-4 years in him.”
As I have said, I don’t care what Licht claims…he does draft by need. All teams do. Strictly going best player available is a myth. No…good teams draft BPA at a position of need. For example, if the best player is a quarterback, and the third best is a DE…who will Licht pick?
DE! Why? Because it is a need. QB is not!
If a team drafts for trade value…say, if the Pats draft a QB when they don’t seem to need one, they are still drafting for need…of trade value.
Show me any instance of where a team has drafted a position that is not needed in the first round. ANY.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
As to Dotson…he is a solid player, though has health issues. However…Licht has to be thinking that if a great RT falls in his lap, one that is twice as good as Dotson, then he has to take that player because it is a needed upgrade.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:20 pm
And no one can claim there isn’t a RT worthy of the 9th pick. No one thought Marpet was worthy of a 2nd rounder last year (except me and two others). Rankings are total junk. If a player is going to be good, you take him where you know you can get him…and you look great later because of it.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:20 pm
I would argue that the need at CB isn’t debatable. Our top corner is 33 years old. Our next 2 corners are coming off a season of poor play, and have a lot to prove. Josh Robinson is potentially a quality backup. Jude A-B might be a developing player. So, the situation there is we have ZERO players that we can reliably say will be around for 2017, and some big questions about how they will perform this coming year. That’s the state of things from a completely neutral perspective, free of any rose-colored bias. By that standard, the need to draft CB is dire. That said, I do expect Verner and Banks to get back to being more than capable players and Grimes to have an impact at least this year. They still need a youth infusion of upper-tier coverage guys.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:21 pm
My Dream draft involves tradding down to pick the best player available(no rbs, Qbs or Lbs please) in the middle of the first round, then jumping on Jaylon Smith and either Will Fuller or the best safety available in round 2
April 15th, 2016 at 2:22 pm
@Fsuking
Why not RB, QB or LB?
If you rule them out, its not really BPA, is it? Not if the best player is at one of those positions.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
LT Donovan Smith *(22)
LG J.R. Sweezy (27)
C Joe Hawley (27)
RG Ali Marpet *(22)
RT Jack Conklin *(21)
Adding T Jack Conklin – will give us one of the best young, aggressive, mauling offensive lines in the league.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
@salish_seamonster
So, why not go with Banks and Verner if you are unbiased?
The pass rush was the cause of most of the defensive woes last year.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
And Banks had a bad year because he was not starting.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
BREAKING NEWS:
Johnny Manziel trashes LA mansion during 2-day bender which included
cocaine and mushrooms. Broken doors, trashed furniture, cigarette burns.
Cops called. Law suit pending.
Wow. The NFL draft is truly a gamble.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Lets not forget our big free agent acquisition was suppose to be …
RT Mitchell Schwartz (26)
*Signed a 5 year $33 million contract – including a $7,000,000 signing bonus, $20,700,000 guaranteed
We didn’t lose that battle because of money.
We lost that battle because of Andy Reid was a better closer.
Plus the fact they’re a playoff contending team didn’t hurt either.
Sounds like their trying to upgrade the position to me.
Remember Demar Dotson was in the process of holding out – before the knee injury.
So If they didn’t resign him then – why would they would sign him to an extension
after knee surgery. At 32(2017)?
April 15th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
*Why would they sign him to an extension – after knee surgery?
Remember he turns 32 in 2017
April 15th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai I have no clue on what you are talking about with Barber “not producing until year 5” that is so ignorant you might as well just call him Rhonde from now on. So do you mean Batber’s one and only 10 INT year is the bar when he started “producing”?
Barber was not good his rookie year, but became a starter his second year and never looked back. He started every game but one from then until he retired at 37. There were no street free agents keeping him stuck to the bench in year 3.
And expect the Bucs to draft a DT. I will be happy to remind you of it after the draft.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:50 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
April 15th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
I agree that upgrading the pass rush is a greater need. I’m not sure what you mean by bias in this case. I think both Banks and Verner can be quality corners, but given their recent performance (even if it can be attributed to scheme/coaching), I think you have to consider them question marks to a degree. Regardless, neither of them are shutdown/lockdown corners and it sure would be helpful to have one, while also addressing the pass rush. In the end though, I’m sure the defensive coaches we have now are more competent than what we had before, and if we don’t draft corners I’ll be comfortable with what they’ve got. Our safeties concern me just as much.
April 15th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
True… and fair.
April 15th, 2016 at 3:10 pm
You win football on the lines and with good qb play. Remember the Giants a few years ago. No lbs or cbs but the got after the qb and could throw the ball. I would prefer to trade down but otherwise I’d be inclined to take best de available at 9. Hargreaves has question marks to he’s no sure thing. I think shaq Lawson will be there and I’d take him or boss if he falls. You can get a good cb in mid rounds or just snag one early next year. I’d like to see what verner and banks can do before I go in on a high pick. Like I said take one next year if needed or mid rounds this year.
April 15th, 2016 at 3:16 pm
@William…he grabbed grimes and josh robinson for depth…if he was addressing the position he would have signed a quality starter to a multi year deal…like he did with sweezy…GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 3:26 pm
VH3 HAS to be on this team!! He is a NEED not a luxury..I’ve watched this kid since he was at Wharton along my boys…Licht probably got Grimes to mold Vernon into being even a better player! You can never have too mnay CB’s on the team!!
And as far as Conklin..hasn’t he already mentioned he would like to play for any California team? I could have sworn I heard him say this just like week on NFL Network..
VH3..and I will be the first one to buy that jersey!!
April 15th, 2016 at 3:33 pm
@life….I hear you…ive watched him in hs and college as well….i’ll have to disagree with you tho….i’ll be the first one to buy his jersey…LOL…and I bet he wears #24….GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
LifeOfABucFan
Good evening ma’am. I’ve never heard that – can you please provide a link?
April 15th, 2016 at 3:52 pm
Luv..
Not sure how I can find recent broadcasts of NFL Net..but Conklin was on..and I could have sworn he said he would love to play in Cali..I slightly remember being on my computer and hearing this..
Let’s see if anyone else remembers..I will see if I can find a clip somewhere..
April 15th, 2016 at 3:52 pm
I’m wit you Brent bull. I can’t recall the name of a single corner back from the first Giants Pats superbowl. Names I do recall are Strahan,Yumenyura,Tuck can’t think of the other guy. But I recall these individuals because they were on Brady’s a$$ all game long. Didn’t really matter who the cbs were. That Nascar pass rush greatly affected the outcome of that game. I’m sure Jason Licht realizes the importance of building from the line of scrimmage backward. Not vice a versa people.
April 15th, 2016 at 3:57 pm
They won’t take a CB at 9. They have $30+ million invested in the secondary right now. They will play this year out under a new scheme and see what they have next offseason.
April 15th, 2016 at 4:03 pm
LUV thank you mentioning that Verner’s teaching under Maxie while in Tenn was totally different from what he was being taught in Tampa by Byrd.( obviously that made a huge difference) In 2013 let me remind y’all Verner lead the league with 7ints enroute to probowl. He rank first in the league prior to coming to Tampa in tackles behind the line of scrimmage from his rookie year up until 2013. Now Maxie back y’all mean to tell me don’t believe he’ll be starting week one. You fooling ya self. Verner didn’t forget how to play cb at an elite level. Just two season’s ago before he came here he was from statistical standpoint rated as third best cb in the league by PFF only behind at the time Revis and Sherman. WE TRUMP TIGHT AT CORNER.
April 15th, 2016 at 4:08 pm
@nole…you don’t need to go back in history….look at the superbowl champs….2 elite cbs…1 the same size as vhg…GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 4:13 pm
813 you can sing that song all you want. Harris and Talib are not as effective without the work those boys were puttin in at the line of scrimmage. They cleary had cam shook.
April 15th, 2016 at 4:14 pm
@ BuccBozai
Barber was not consistently benched. He did not play his rookie year until the playoffs against Detroit. The next year he played in all 16 games starting 9. Every year after that he started every game. Not sure why you believed he was benched until year 5. Year 5 he had a breakout year, but he was a full time player by then and had been one for four years. Your facts are severely incorrect. And you say only you and two others were the only ones who thought Marpet was a second round draft pick and that rankings are junk? That’s BS because Marpet had a 2nd round grade on him since the senior bowl. That is why I have continuously tell Joe and whoever calls him a steal of a pick incorrect because the scouts had him rated in the second round. That is why I told this board to calm down right after the draft because we picked a player who was projected to go in the second round. Many were worried because they did not know him, but he had a second round grade
April 15th, 2016 at 4:30 pm
@nole…cam was holding the ball for a reason…because everyone was covered….no one was open…that same dline couldn’t get anything done vs pittsburg…it took a nickel cb to poke the ball out which turned out to be the play of the game…the best way to kill a pass rush is quick throws….something we couldn’t stop at all last year because we couldn’t cover…GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 4:33 pm
@ luv
Great point about the “right tackle” the bucs wanted to sign to a massive contract. This tells me the bucs are open to upgrading it. I am not sure why joe and others feel that drafting a tackle at 9 is out of the question. It is kind of closed minded if you ask me especially with the bucs actions during free agency.
April 15th, 2016 at 4:39 pm
So let me ask you this 813 do you think it was solely by chance Koetter sought the services of coach Maxie. You know that guy help Verner become a Probowler??? I’m curios.
April 15th, 2016 at 4:39 pm
JOE
Is Dominick Easly worth sniffing? That could be our answer at DE
April 15th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
he may have been the best option that was still out there…I honestly think verner was slightly overrated when we signed him…he was one of the best players on a sorry team…he cashed in just like gmc…being the best player on a sorry team will get you big bucks….other players like sean smith have played in 3 different types of defensive schemes and have had success with each team….im not buying that excuse…sterling moore played very well for us and played in 3 different types of schemes….GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 5:28 pm
@ghost…I think so..very versatile…low price….his mo is being injuried…GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2016 at 5:28 pm
Easley is a DT with injury concerns, doubt Licht would pick him up if his old organization didn’t want him…
April 15th, 2016 at 6:28 pm
@Guzzie Easley can play both DE and DT. He’s a versatile player.
April 15th, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Weeks ago I provided the link to 813Bucboi from a PR fab5 that explained that the cbs were instructed to give away the slant ‘slants won’t beat you, don’t give away anything over the top’ were their marching orders. This was a feature not a bug in Lovie’s def scheme.
We know you love VHIII and are a big fan but that’s not a good enough reason to draft him at 9.
DE, DT and S are this teams biggest needs. Depth at WR and CB mid to late rounds.
April 15th, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Tom S. Says
“@BuccaneerBonzai I have no clue on what you are talking about with Barber “not producing until year 5” that is so ignorant…”
Talk about ignorant. Ronde himself has said that he was so bad his first few years that he didn’t know why Tony kept him on the team. Get your facts straight before you call someone ignorant, Tom.
April 15th, 2016 at 7:57 pm
@Tiny Tim
Read my post. Actually read it.
I never once said he was benched. Sheesh, you people, lol.
April 15th, 2016 at 7:59 pm
And you missed the whole point, people. The point is that Banks was progressing at a slightly faster rate than Barber did…until Lovie benched him.
Had Banks been left in, he would be a year further along than he is.
And, before anyone says “and we would have sucked!”
We did suck, regardless. He should have played more.
April 15th, 2016 at 8:04 pm
A thank you Stang we differ sometimes but I appreciate that. This 813 and this pipedream of vh3 coming to the Buccs. I coulda swore I asked what you wanted wager man.
April 15th, 2016 at 8:34 pm
@luv my buc
just some background on josh robinson that i read when we signed him .He played the slot year before last and struggled badly. They moved him outside and he had very good season there.
April 15th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
@bonsai
LOvie started out as linebacker coach. he was in over his head trying to coach corners. Lovie had pets such as Mike Jenkins that got the start whether they
earned it or not.
April 15th, 2016 at 9:31 pm
Break it down for them Joe. Some of these wannabe fans out here have not been paying good attention.
April 15th, 2016 at 10:38 pm
“We have enough studly DT’s already” said no GM ever.
A solid D builds from the middle of the D Line and out…
I’d be totally fine if Rankin fell to #9.
April 15th, 2016 at 10:47 pm
Lovie’s SCHEME was the cause of most of the D’s issues last year, both pass rush and poor DB play.
That outdated, poorly coached “Tampa 2” (like a once beautiful movie star who got old and wrinkled) relies on pressure of the 4 DL and intimidation by safeties…and that’s it.
I’m not sure that works any more unless you’re the Broncos.
The real excitement I’ve read coming from every defensive player in acquainting themselves with Mike Smith’s D tells you everything you want to know…
I suspect the Bucs have a lot more D talent than what we saw last year in that pathetic exhibition of bad defensive football where a bunch of no-name QB’s ripped them a new PelosiHole…
April 15th, 2016 at 11:04 pm
I dont know why I haven’t heard anything about Jude Adjei-Barimah in the CB discussion. He wasn’t terrible last year and could have potential
April 15th, 2016 at 11:06 pm
Especially behind Grimes, Verner, Banks, and Robinson
April 15th, 2016 at 11:08 pm
I think Safety is the big need in the secondary
April 16th, 2016 at 2:37 am
OK GM Joe, I’m game:
Tell me the top picks Licht reached for in 2015 to patch the roster in the short term. Was it a consensus top player in Winston? A borderline 1/2 round pick in Donovan Smith who was invited to NYC due to that fact? Did Licht come out of the draft expecting the Division III LT that he switched to RG was going to be the best possible player at RG for the Bucs in year 1, despite saying publicly and privately he did not expect that or was it the OLB that Licht traded up for that he really drafted purely to beat out the guy he had just given a big money contract to in Bruce Carter?
WHICH PLAYER DID LICHT DRAFT IN 2015 WAS A REACH BASED ON NEED IN RD 1-4?? **TELL ME**
Joe never wrote anything about a “reach” here. But you easily could make the case Licht reached for Marpet, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, Licht thought Marpet would need a year to adjust, but it was clear from Day 1 they would give Marpet every opening to win the starting job. You might want to re-read what actually was written and how Joe responded to you initially. –Joe
April 16th, 2016 at 2:43 am
(Invited to Chicago, I forgot we don’t have the draft in NYC every year now)
April 16th, 2016 at 6:58 am
lol boy this is a reeeeeach if I’ve ever seen one.
A we bring in Grimes and somebody whose done nothing in the league in Robin
April 16th, 2016 at 7:01 am
….son and suddenly we don’t have a need at the CB position?
Last years guys clearly aren’t getting the job done. Grimes is a bandaid which means what? CB is a NEED.
Stop reaching lol
April 16th, 2016 at 8:17 am
They better retain banks its a crime how misused he has been. The guy can ball
April 16th, 2016 at 10:02 am
“Last years guys are clearly not getting it done” and you say that after Stang so eloquently showed you the absolutely dumba$$ instructions they were being given. Dude Deion Sanders and Revis on both sides would’ve look like garbage under that type of teaching.
April 16th, 2016 at 10:13 am
And I agree wit you Kevin Banks is like money in the bank. Koetter stated at the owners meetings they have big plans for Banks. He may very well be the wildcard that keeps them from addressing this position all together. None of us have any idea what staff and front office is thinking. We’re speculating they may totally confident with what they have. Doesn’t take a genius to see how improperly they were being used.
April 16th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Hate to see the Bucs draft the second-best at any position with a pick as high as 9 since this will likely be their last top 10 pick for at least a decade.
Few prognosticators have a DT going in the top 8, so my preference would be to team who ever the coaching staff believes is the best DT with McCoy and watch the 2 of them push the QB out of the pocket in to the waiting arms of everyone of those average DE’s that Joe listed above. Who knows, maybe they will each end up having career years.
April 16th, 2016 at 11:11 am
Cali off in this b@$! what up dude..
April 16th, 2016 at 11:27 am
@ bucbozai
Actually read your post? You said you never wrote benched? You need to take your own advise and read your own post. You actually wrote “up until he was benched.” You can’t dodge that incorrect statement. Good try though.
April 16th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
@Tiny Tim
Oh yeah????!
Dang…you got me. I had a brain fart.
Score one for you 😉
April 17th, 2016 at 5:28 am
Again
CB is a need.
To act as if our secondary did not play horrifically apart from the coaching is naive. End of story.