The Bradley McDougald Saga
May 30th, 2017
“Bradley McDougald, Greg Olsen and the Seattle Seahawks.”
So over the weekend Joe watched the full NFL Network episode of “The Top 100 Players Of 2017″ that featured America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
Stinking Panthers tight end Greg Olsen also was featured. In the many highlights shown of Olsen, an inordinate number showed him lighting up former Bucs starting safety Bradley McDougald. Joe threw that out on Twitter and the general reply was that Olsen burns a lot of safeties a lot of times. Fair.
Then Joe started checking. McDougald played the Stinking Panthers five times as a Bucs safety. The highlight package of Olsen showed him roasting McDougald at least four times. Not a good percentage.
McDougald, 26, was a free agent this past winter and was thought to be a steal by many analysts. He was on the market for damned near a month before he signed with Seattle.
The Seahawks signing was odd. They already had Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor as starting safeties. So, basically, McDougald took a backup gig. Very odd.
In the meantime, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht brought back fan favorite Chris Conte, signed Cowboys backup J.J. Wilcox and drafted Justin Evans in the second round. Seattle, after signing McDougald, drafted two safeties in last month’s draft, one in the third round and one in the fourth round.
If the Seahawks thought so much of McDougald, then why draft two safeties?
Perhaps there is a reason the Bucs let McDougald walk and the Seahawks are not banking on him? Maybe that was evidenced by the number of times NFL Network chose to show Olsen burning McDougald.
May 30th, 2017 at 8:19 am
If the Seahawks thought so much of McDougald, then why draft two safeties?
I had the same question about the Bears: if they thought so much of Mike Glennon, why trade up for a QB?
The roads through the NFL are littered with odd decisions.
May 30th, 2017 at 8:37 am
Before this weekend – did you think McDougald was a Pro-Bowler?. Was the purpose of the article that you watched the top 100? Or that the Bucs let Mcdougald go because they watched film on their own players? Please – how about an article with some intellectual effort behind it.
May 30th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Good article Joe. Thank you for continuing to find interesting perspectives even in late may.
Did the bucs try to re-sign him and he wanted to leave? If so, he could’ve been holding out for a team where safety’s succeed to grow his game.
May 30th, 2017 at 8:53 am
This is for you Jeremy
https://youtu.be/etBoJJ0GZI8
May 30th, 2017 at 8:59 am
Hey Jeremy-how about a little intellectual effort when reading the articles? That should help clear up some of your questions.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:04 am
Dude lol
This article is… Uh confusing
What TWO safeties did we draft?
No 4th round pick either…
Oh… Screw Bradley! He’s not a BUC anymore. Js
As a Stick Carrier, I’d rather read about my BUCS
12-4
#seizethemoment
ALL GAS no brakes… Nos!!!
May 30th, 2017 at 9:11 am
@1Gr8Buc …😂😂😂😂
May 30th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Olsen put plenty of Safeties to shame. Singling McDougald out is silly.
Doesn’t really matter. McDougald will explode this year…making him for Licht what Bennett was for Dominick.
Just remember this article when complaining in a year or so.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:20 am
I bet McDougald DOES make the pro bowl this year.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Pro Bowl!? He’ll be lucky to make the team.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:12 am
Yea, Olsen vs. (insert name of safety here) is usually not going to end well for the safety. McD is not the greatest safety in the league, given. He didn’t get a whole lot of help from our front 7 though either. He’s been a capable starter and, at the very least, will be a good back-up if he doesn’t start.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:40 am
What Mikadeemas said. Read an article on the hawks,lot of turmoil in that lockerroom. They’re front office has drawn a line in the sand,get out of line an yo @$$ might be outta there. That to me explains taking the DBs in I think 3 str8 rounds.
May 30th, 2017 at 11:13 am
i didn’t think any of our safeties last season were starting quality.. we will see witch tandy shows up this season
May 30th, 2017 at 11:16 am
Greg Olsen was target 13 times and caught 9 passes for 180 yards. Derek Anderson wasn’t sacked, and he had all day to throw the ball. But the interesting thing is, Greg Olsen didn’t score. Bradley McDougald also led the Bucs with 8 tackles in that game. He was second on the team with 91 tackles, and he had 10 PD on the season.He only gave up 3 TDs in his career, I hope J.J.Wilcox can do better.
May 30th, 2017 at 11:17 am
Those stats came from the 1st game against Carolina.
May 30th, 2017 at 11:33 am
After 3 years of seeing McDougald “start” at Safety – the last 2 on prove it 1 year deals – the Bucs had No Interest whatsoever in re-signing Bradley McDougald. Because he didn’t “prove it”.
I actually thought maybe McDougald was holding out for more $ while teamless for a full month. But the reality is he was just trying to get a job somewhere this year. The Seahawks gave him that chance to extend his career another year as a back up – another prove it 1 year contract at $1.5M. That’s half what he made last year.
If McDougald was anywhere near as good as Bonzai seems to think – he wouldn’t have been without a job for a month and he would be on a team that needed a starting safety with a multi year contract at triple or more his current salary.
Can he continue to get better? Yes
Was he a UDFA coming out of College for a reason? Yes
May 30th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
“He only gave up 3 TDs in his career, I hope J.J.Wilcox can do better.”
That has to be wrong but I have no way of ever checking or knowing with certainty lol. To my eye McDougald was the biggest liability in coverage last year. Tandy & Conte both made more impact plays.
May 30th, 2017 at 1:13 pm
“An undrafted free agent from the University of Kansas, McDougald has worked his way into a starting role with the Buccaneers,” PFF’s John Kosko wrote. “Not particularly great in any one area, McDougald is a solid all-around safety that isn’t a liability on the back end. The former Kansas Jayhawk has allowed just three touchdowns in his career, and has seen his allowed-catch percentage drop each season, despite seeing the most targets in his career in 2016. With five career interceptions and 13 pass breakups, McDougald is the type of free agent that will command a very affordable contract for above-average play.”
From PFF
May 30th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Keith Tandy and Chris Conte was allowing a lot of TDs. It wasn’t Bradley McDougald, go back and watch the games.
May 30th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
@ Lakeland – thanks for the link on where that stat came from
Would be interesting to see the same for Tandy/Conte
In general I don’t remember all the TDs we gave up as much as I remember big plays given up but maybe McDougald was better at that too.
That said; Tandy almost equaled’ McDougald’s 3 year total career stats in Interceptions and PDs last year alone (4 & 9) despite not starting until later in the year
Safety will be a fun position to key on early this year. I really like Justin Evans for whatever reason – his face just screams bad4ss lol
May 30th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Lord Corn…Keith Tandy played lights out during the last 5 games of the season. But what did he do in the other 11 games?
May 30th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
I don’t see what’s so odd with the backup player signing as a backup
May 30th, 2017 at 2:48 pm
We just signed a backup ( J.J.Wilcox) to start for us.
May 30th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
“But what did he do in the other 11 games?”
Not play much (if at all) I thought? He really hasn’t seen a ton of starting time in his 5 year career and has been in some bad defenses with bad coaching until recently. I’m trying to remain optimistic but you never know.
Wilcox was more of a part time player than pure backup. He logged the least time in 2016 (4 starts) but had some of his best production to date (37 solo tackles, 12 assist tackles, 1 interception, 1 FF, and 6 Passes defended). He was graded as the 24th best S out of 91 qualifiers last year according to PFF; grading out well against the run and against the pass.
I think in Tandy / Wilcox we could have 2 serviceable starters next year that are hopefully about average or better. Evans will likely have a growing curve but could make an impact as the year goes on – especially if the starters aren’t getting it done. Conte should be the designated backup. We’ll see tho! Go Bucs!
May 30th, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Where are the smart buc fans? Does anybody on this site remeber earl thomas went on IR last year and was thinking about retirement? That is why you sign bradley and draft two safeties. Its called insurance and not getting caught with your pants down. Carrying 5 safties is not unheard of. Where do we come up with this stuff sometimes?
@ lakeland,
Besides the one tavon austin play, tandy played at a high level. I believe humans are allowed to have a couple of screw ups a season. Tandy played at a high level all the other times.
May 30th, 2017 at 3:45 pm
Did the bucs not draft ryan smith and hargraves after signing grimes? Come on conspiracy theroist. It cant be that hard to see.
May 30th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
“Fan favorite Chris Conte”
Gets me everytime
May 30th, 2017 at 8:56 pm
Had we resigned Bradley, we’d have Dalvin Cook right now I believe … so … I hope the Justin Evans / Jeremy McNichols duo is better than a McDougald/Cook dou would have been …
May 30th, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Good, Bad, or Ugly McDougald signed with the Seahawks on a dirt cheap 1 year $3 mil deal! The Bucs could have easily kept him and he would have been much better than Conte.
June 1st, 2017 at 8:54 pm
Bradley McDougald played some really good football last year but he got burned in coverage on to many big plays. Our Safety’s and depth this year is excellent for the first time in years. JJ Wilcox/Chris Conte – Justin Evans/Keith Tandy. We all know Evans can hit but watch the tape on Wilcox and that guy can hit as well. Tandy is a ball hawk and Conte brings it every game. I hope we see Evans and Wilcox starting. Both are very good on coverage.