Waiting For A RB
April 7th, 2017
Talks drafting RBs.
The anti-Dalvin Cook crowd (hey, if it makes you feel better, go ahead and insert “Leonard Fournette” or “Christian McCaffrey”) often recoils in shock at the thought of drafting a running back in the first round.
“You can get a running back later,” they bellow. And there is history that supports the notion.
But winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter isn’t buying that notion.
Joe went back through his recording of Koetter talking in a private but on-the-record session with Tampa Bay reporters and the subject of drafting running backs later came up.
While Koetter was quick to point out this month’s draft is deep at running back, picking any player at any position later in the draft is a crap shoot.
“I think there is definitely that theory out there that you can find a running back in the fourth or fifth or sixth round,” Koetter said. “Yeah, can you find them? Yeah, but … that’s like saying you can find Tom Brady in the sixth round. I mean, come on.”
For those who think NFL folks believe a top shelf starter as a rookie can be found in the middle- to late-rounds, Koetter had a challenge for those folks.
“[Take] Dak Prescott. Did anybody have any idea that when he goes in the fourth round last year he was going to play [like he did]? Koetter asked. “You can make examples of a lot of stuff.”
So this adds intrigue. Yes, Koetter said the draft is deep at running back. Koetter also scoffed at the notion it’s easy to find a reliable, game-breaking stud in the third day of the draft.
Does this mean Koetter wants a Cook-type drafted at No. 19? Or since the draft is deep at running back, Koetter is OK if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht waits until the second day of the draft to find that bellcow?
After all, don’t the Bucs already have a mid-round draft pick of a running back already on the roster?
April 7th, 2017 at 8:07 am
Charlie Casserly said he thinks a running back is the best choice for us, with our number 19 pick.
April 7th, 2017 at 8:14 am
Well whatever the bucs do……
PLEASE DO NOT SELECT A RB IN THE 1st round……….unless he’s the second coming of Bo Jackson or Hershel Walker……
trade down for more pics in the 2nd and 3rd rd!!!!!!!
April 7th, 2017 at 8:14 am
Dirk n everyone else should know the best ones go earlier. Might be a deep draft but who wouldnt want one of the top 3. If we go in round 3 or later i hope its marlon mack. Not sure what you kareem hunt lovers see, other than his name popping up. Lacks explosiveness. Whoever they pick i cant wait. 3 weeks baby. Go bucs
April 7th, 2017 at 8:18 am
Bucs need a DE more than they need a RB. The defensive line is getting older and it needs to get younger.
April 7th, 2017 at 8:33 am
I disagree with Dirk. Tom Brady was a one time shot. A lot of good RBs have been drafted after round 3 or even undrafted, not just one.
April 7th, 2017 at 8:37 am
I think D line is one of our strongest units. If one of top 3 rb
April 7th, 2017 at 8:40 am
I think D line is one of our strongest units. If one of top 3 rb’s doesn’t fall to 19 hopefully Corey Davis or John Ross does… I’d rather see them go O line than D line but of coarse opinions vary.
April 7th, 2017 at 8:54 am
In other words, he’s drafting a running back in the first round.
April 7th, 2017 at 8:58 am
The best RB in the Draft will be there at 19 and I would gladly take him but the Bucs will allow PUBLIC OPINION to sway that move……so take him in the 2nd or 3rd round!! MIXON IS THAT DAMN GOOD!!
April 7th, 2017 at 9:12 am
What is Jason Lichts opinion on the matter though? That is far more important seeing that the GM makes the pick.
April 7th, 2017 at 9:29 am
I believe Mike Smith gets to make the first selection.
April 7th, 2017 at 9:35 am
Following Licht’s formula from last year which worked out pretty good John Ross should be our target. The future replacement of DJackson. He can play the slot until then.
#WeaponsforWinston continues…
Go Bucs!!!
April 7th, 2017 at 9:46 am
Peppers at 19 and Mixon at 50!
April 7th, 2017 at 9:59 am
If we are lucky enough to get one of the big 3 don’t stop there. Get a second one in the mid rounds. If we don’t get one of the top 3 pick two from the mid rounds. That way you have 5 backs to work with, you can keep fresh legs running and catching the ball. Most are average receivers and based on their film all have breakaway ability. Finally take advantage of this deep class to correct 1) weapon for Winston 2) Hopefully a breakout candidate to replace Martin and 3) fresh legs with the ability to replace one if an injury occurs. Finish the draft with TE”s and FS and possibly an edge rushe
April 7th, 2017 at 10:04 am
I guess I’d probably be ok if we drafted Mixon. Chiefs fans love Tyreek Hill, and what he did was way worse. If he is as good as people think he is then he’ll be torching teams for someone else. Why not us?
April 7th, 2017 at 10:27 am
Tick.. Tick.. BOOM!! Told y’all he was setting y’all @$$ up😂😂😂.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:28 am
BucEric75….Why not us? Because we are the Bucs, always two steps forward one step back! It’s never easy, drafting Mixon in any round would make this whole draft a success, even the first! Unfortunately we are the Bucs, and the probable course of action is the Bucs will wait too long to pick up a quality RB and grab a scrub like Jamaal Williams or Wayne Gallman, average but clean background type player, which will force us to bring back Martin. Hate to be negative but we’ve all seen this movie before!
April 7th, 2017 at 10:37 am
I was always ok with Cook, but I am now saying Mixon, don’t think he will be there by Tampa Bay second pick, heck Bucs/Licht should be used to explaining his picks, look at what a great job he did explaining Jam(err…), Roberto Aguayo pick and traded up to get him.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:39 am
No matter what players we come out of the draft with, we don’t know how good they’ll be in the league. I’m sure we’ll draft a guy I don’t want and he’ll be great, and we’ll draft a guy I like and he’ll bust. We won’t know until the games start. I’m not a Peppers fan, and at the time I wouldn’t be happy if we draft him, but he could end up being elite and I’ll love the pick after the fact. To early to tell on any of these guys.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:39 am
Licht’s thoughts you wanna know??? Well if You recall when asked about speed Licht stated there other positions on offense other than WR to get faster on offense.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Just said that at the combine.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:41 am
Reading too much into coach speak. Thats how coaches talk
April 7th, 2017 at 10:43 am
Solaz I also feel D line is one of our strongest units.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:47 am
donte foreman 3rd round….GO BUCS!!!!
April 7th, 2017 at 10:48 am
My question to you “RB in the later rounds types” ( clearly my HC isn’t one of them). If its so easy to find one what has been the Bucs issue in this department??? I mean if you can just wait til “the later rounds” when was the last time we’ve had a back rush for a 1000 in back to back years???
April 7th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Karem Hunt,Marlon Mack etc. don’t fit in the “game wrecker”category Coach K has been talking about.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Great pic of coach K for this thread Joe. Classic👍.
April 7th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Like do y’all pay attention to what the man writes. He said yesterday he’ll mention coach K’s thoughts on this subject. Then does a thread on RBs found in the later rounds and everyone and they’re mama came out the wood work to put in they’re two cents. Where y’all at this morning??? S@#! funny yo..
April 7th, 2017 at 11:21 am
Yeah he could have been talking about Positional added by a Tight end as well jabronie.
And when did Koetter use the term gamewrecker when talking about running back? Pretty sure you pulled that one outta ya buttz.
April 7th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Positional *speed*
April 7th, 2017 at 11:22 am
“when was the last time we’ve had a back rush for a 1000 in back to back years???“….
that’s a good question?…did the last rb we drafted in the first round produce back to back 1000yard seasons?
I think there is definitely that theory out there that you can find a running back in the fourth or fifth or sixth round,” Koetter said. “Yeah, can you find them?….
YEAH….LICHT CAN…AND HE WILL….
“Well if You recall when asked about speed Licht stated there other positions on offense other than WR to get faster on offense.”….
donte foreman…6’1/235 4.45….plenty on speed, power and explosiveness….GO BUCS!!!
April 7th, 2017 at 11:23 am
Kind of hard to make that case when no one had more than 6.5 sacks last year.
April 7th, 2017 at 11:26 am
Still don’t understand how he was setting us up by posting facts. Only 2 1st round running backs ran for a 1000 yards last season. And only 1 made the playoffs. You can fan meaningful production at running back outside of the first round. That is a fact.
April 7th, 2017 at 11:27 am
Find*
April 7th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Does no one else see the advantage of having an Elite TE who can block and catch? The play action opportunities, the seam routes that will open with Jackson and Evans as wide outs? Howard and Njoku can both block down lineman and beat most safeties an LBs.
Stocker is in, defense queues to run formation or let Stocker try to be them (HA!), Brate is in watch the play action and or pass. Brate isn’t running anyone over or out running safeties either.
A shiny RB or WR would be nice, but I think the key is an elite TE that block and out run safeties/LB and run through cornerbacks for the big play.
April 7th, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Take OJ in the first and Mixon the 2nd or 3rd. He’s still a home run hitter good hands and much more physical than Cook. Cook prefers to bounce his runs to the outside and Mixon will take his wherever he wants. Dude is a beast. Cooks fumbles will translate to the NFL
April 7th, 2017 at 12:52 pm
If we can’t get Fournette we need someone who can bust through tackles. Cook not so much Mixon arm breaker. One rb I wouldn’t mind is Tarik Cohen. Power and inhuman shiftiness in a small package.
April 7th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Screw those other guys! I want double M!
April 7th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Barry, Double M? Marcus Mariota?
April 7th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
99 inform me of when the Pewter report does a piece on Mixon being a potential good fit for offenses blocking scheme. They seem to feel Dalvin Cook would be best suited as of now.
April 7th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
And pleas stop with the nonesince about he rushed for more yards than Barry Sander. If being the whole offense and being given the rock 30 times a game you should put up some numbers. Especially when the 31st and 28th rank defenses are what you’re facing.
April 7th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
“Offensive Weapon” code word for go go gadget whatever.
April 7th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Marlon Mack I think
April 7th, 2017 at 4:00 pm
Ok, just did some figuring. 2015 Cmac Averaged 28 touches per game, thats including rushing attempts, receptions and returns. And he broke Sanders record for all purpose yards. Including 2000+ rushing yards on 24 attempts per game. So you can throw away your false claim that he’s not an every down back, he has clearly shown that he can carry the load.
Dalvin average 25 touches per game in 2016. And came no where close to that record, and failed to rush for 2k yards. What’s his excuse? Clearly you think that Dalvin is vastly superior to McCaffrey, so why couldn’t he bust that record with a measly 3 less touches per game?
April 7th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Lenme guess, “hurrr durr pac 12 hurr durr.”
April 7th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Nos it doesn’t matter because until our line gets better and allowing fewer hits on rbs 3 yards behind the line we need a back stronger and who can run thru tackles. The Joes and other so called eggsperts cann blame Dougie all they want, my eyes told me defenses were running right thru the line. Why you think Fameis got sacked 12 more times than the year before and he was constantly on the scramble alert. Cook simply don’t have that power. He needs space to run and from what I saw he tries to break to the outside too much. Mixon is stronger and as fast with good hands. The only thing Cook has on him is Fameis is familiar with him and no video to prove his criminal life.
April 7th, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Well Blake ol boy defensive competiveness is a real issue in college. How many guys tore it up in college but got their butts tore up in the pros because they never faced real defensesnon a reg. If he had played at FSU and put up those #s then it would mean more. Besides McCaff runs too stiff like no fluidity to him. Will get tore up in the pros.
April 7th, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Did you just say that McCaffrey runs too stiffly? The guy has elite, next-level agility. He ran a better 3 cone time than Odell Beckam. And runs some of the most crisp, fluid routes I’ve ever seen. He is a natural runner and has phenomenal vision.
The Pac 12 was ranked higher than the ACC last year just Fyi.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2016.html
April 7th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
Oh btw guys had been playing in the pac 12, and conferences worse than the pac-12 for 20+ years and yet no one broke that record until McCaffrey came along and shattered it.
April 7th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
I know Blake I was just playing with you. The young man is good no matter what detractors say. They’ll probably call him the Galloping Ghost. 😂
April 7th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
If D. Cook is there a few spots ahead of us, I would be fine with trading up a little to get him. Pretty sure he will be gone by 14 though, at least. Best RB to ever play at FSU behind a iffy O-line. Get Dalvin, the generational Talent!
April 7th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
If not, trade back a few spots , get more 2nd and/or 3rd round picks to get whomever Licth and Dirk think they like the best.
April 8th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Finding a talented RB in the mid to late rounds is easy, just look at Charles Sims (3rd) and Peyton Barber (UDF) and Mike James (6th), Joey Iosefa (7th) Dan Vitale (6th). This conversation is a joke. Right now we have Martin, suspended for the first 3 games and possibly cut or traded. We have Rodgers that everyone can agree was a spark plug but was out of work last off season, Sims- decent receiver, terrible RB (IMO), and Peyton Barber an underrated FA that showed nothing as a RB but decent in short yardage. Hopefully Barber will improve as he was only a rookie last year and did show a flash or 2. RB is our glaring need. I would trade Martin for a 4th or 5th if they can get it, otw you draft a guy in the first round if one of the big 3 is there. If not get O-Line to protect Jameis and get Mixon (begrudgingly) in the second or Mack in the third. Take Evan Engram in the 2nd if Mixon is gone.