“Home Run Pick”
May 4th, 2017
Lauded by ex-NFL scout.
Whenever someone suggests a fifth-round pick might be more than a fifth-round pick, Joe wants to tap the brakes.
But when it comes from a guy whose opinion Joe values, Joe is wont to pay attention. And this time the words come from Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network.
Jeremiah, a former NFL scout with Philadelphia, Cleveland and Baltimore, learned the craft while working for teh Ravens and Ozzie Newsome, who is one of the top NFL executives and talent evaluators.
Many NFL suits roll their eyes when it comes to analysts working for media outlets, but with Jeremiah, they respect him. And Joe knows Jeremiah is tight with a certain Bucs front office type.
In breaking down each team’s draft on a recent “Movin’ the Sticks” podcast Jeremiah honestly gushed when he spoke about Jeremy McNichols, Tampa Bay’s fifth-round pick.
“I know he has had some injury stuff, but man, I thought in the fifth round, that is a home run pick,” Jeremiah said. “He could end up being their starter long-term.”
Dang. That’s high praise for the 162nd overall pick.
And while Joe very much values Jeremiah’s knowledge and information, let’s see McNichols make the team first.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:04 am
Did he really have 50+ tds in last 2 years? That’s sick
May 4th, 2017 at 11:05 am
The draft is always a crap shoot. It’s nice to know though that we have made choices with some decent odds.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:11 am
Great podcast and those 2 definitely do their HW on the players but 5th rounder? But you never know with the RBS that have been killing it the past few years not too many are 1st round guys
May 4th, 2017 at 11:20 am
Thats exactly what I expect!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:24 am
“Let’s see McNichols make the team first”? I know he’s not Dalvin Cook Joe, but can’t see McNichols not making the team, eventually. Lots of upside it sounds like, especially his pass blocking & pass catching, plus he got lots of big gains on the outside (Bucs need that). What might cost him though is fumbling, but that’s fixable (8 times in 2 yrs isn’t good, and fumblers don’t last long in the NFL it seems). Wouldn’t be surprised though to see him start off the yr on PUP if his shoulder isn’t 100% come training camp, but hopefully not. Bucs could use a RB with his talents.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:26 am
didn’t know about “some injury stuff”….
@joe, can you get more info?…..was it serious? knee, shoulder, ankle….GO BUCS!!!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:26 am
His skills as a pass reciever and a pass blocker will get him on the field.
His vision and balance will keep McNichols there!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:30 am
….but was he touted as the best (by s NFL geeks) Running Back in the 2017 Draft @ Brandon THE MITIGATING FACTOR JOE MIXON… Really we should have drafted both of them (MIXON and McNichols) that would be a backfield ready to make the BUCS Champions!!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:31 am
Broke shoulder blade!!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:34 am
“Joe is wont to pay attention”
“working for teh Ravens”
Joe should really hire an editor to pre-read his articles for mistakes…
May 4th, 2017 at 11:34 am
yes on mixon big hog…if licht taking dumb risks of 2nd round K and then a LB witha torn ACL 2 rounds to early then why not gamble on mixon
May 4th, 2017 at 11:38 am
Been missing you BigHog. Thanks for the injury update.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:44 am
High praise or low praise..he’s still gotta make the team. As does many. Good luck to him..He’ll most certainly need it!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:49 am
The kid’s got potential and he will definitely get a chance to showcase his talent. With Martin on shaky ground and Sims not having lived up to the billing, he might just crack the line-up sooner than later. We’ll see. It’s all speculation at this point.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:51 am
This is why you don’t pick RB’s in the first or second round. There is almost always great value later for a position that has a short life span because the injury rate is so high. Even if not severely injured RB’s get beat up so bad they lose their edge. First couple of rounds should always be players that can excel for many years.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:56 am
I wish everyone would stop if he was that good he would have went the first round
May 4th, 2017 at 11:56 am
Another #WeaponsforWins-a-ton
Licht years ahead!!!!
May 4th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
OhioBuc-
Wont is an actual word, and Joe used it correctly. Hate to be that guy, but I just thought I’d throw that put there haha
As far as McNichols, I’m cautiously optimistic. He does have a lot of skills that would make him a successful RB, but the chances of that are low. Hope he comes out strong.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Agree with you 100 percent on Jeremiah, imo he and Charles Davis are the only 2 Tv scouts worth listening to. Everyone else is gutter trash.
Mayock is certainly better than Kiper, but based on a few of his comments draft night, like Cam Brate being an inline blocker, or Justin Evans needing to beat out Ryan Smith for the starting safety job… It became clear to me that he doesnt do anything more than surface level research.
And I’ll always harken back to this comment on Mark Barron when weighing the words of Mayock. “His celing is All-pro saftey, and his floor is probowl safety.”
So yeah I like Jeremiah and Davis.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
You will all see the light eventually…
McNichols is our most complete RB and he will be our starter eventually.
He combines all the best attributes of our RB’s into one guy.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Ohio, Joe isn’t using the contraction “won’t” here; he is using the noun form “wont” (one’s customary behavior in a particular situation). The other is a simple typo obviously.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
Seffner, you beat me to it. Didn’t see your comment first. As for McNichols, who isn’t excited about his potential? Could be great value.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Oh, I like McNichols as well.
Him, Matin and Quizz will be a formidable trio.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Yes Im curious to see the guy perform. Im sure he will get alot of carries in the preseason. N cmon ohiobuc you know what joe meant, lets not start the grammar patrol. Go bucs
May 4th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
He’s got plenty of tape on the draft breakdown web site… feel free to watch it and prepare to be happy. The guy can play. I watched ZERO tape on him before the draft but was pleasantly surprised watching him after the pick. He’s a nice combination of the Barbers (the unrelated ones, Tiki and Marion). He’s got Tiki’s wiggle, ability to always fall forward, as well as his pass protection and catching skills and he’s got Marion Barber’s crab-like, I’m not going down quality as well (at times). I couldn’t be more pleased with the RB we picked.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
OhioBuc:
“Wont” is a word… it means a habit… he used it correctly. If you’re going to correct somebody, the first thing you need to make sure of is that they’re actually wrong. Otherwise, it makes you look like a stooge.
“teh”- is otherwise known as a typo of “the”… but seriously, you tried to correct him and failed when he used a word correctly.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:24 pm
@Blake- However it shakes out, I’m no longer worried about the RB position.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Big Hog Haynes,
Cmon dude! Joe Mixon hits women, no thanks! She may have provoked him with words, but no excuse to ever hit a woman. She required surgery to repair her face.
Also, Lovie Smith Sucks! Mike Glennon is going to win more football games in the state of Illinois than Lovie will this year in the Big 10.
Go be an Illinois and Bengal fan!
The sheer fact that you hate on the McNichols pick makes me love it that much more. Based on your track record with disapproving of the Lovie firing, I love this pick that much more.
Martin will be cut, or will get a restructured prove it deal.
Book it!
In closing, were you one of the JBF posters to change your screen name when Freeman was cut loose? You strike me as a Freemanite.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Cool – thank you for saying it. These guys do it every year and they never learn. Last year it was Vitale, the year before that Kenny Bell. They always think these late round guys are going to be studs and they rarely even make the team, let alone contribute. Go back and look an the guys taken in the 5th round since Licht has been here. Not a single one has done anything. One guy made the team but hasn’t done anything meaningful yet.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Before anything he has to be completely recovered from shoulder surgery. I don’t see this guy making a big contribution in 2017 if he’s not able to get the reps in preseason. Maybe he is awesome, but I suspect it might be 2018 before we know that.
May 4th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
@SeffnerBuc , @Steven007 – I have to say, you got me! I have literally NEVER heard or seen someone use “wont” in this manner, but I agree with you both I was 100% wrong. Thanks for teaching me something new!
@Brandon – ” “teh”- is otherwise known as a typo of “the”… but seriously, you tried to correct him and failed when he used a word correctly”.
I like how you say I failed because “teh” is a typo, when typo literally means “error” which is the exact same thing as “mistake” so good try but no dice.
May 4th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
LOL Brandon, I laughed my a$$ off when the Ohio guys tries to criticize Joe without realizing he simply has a limited vocabulary.
May 4th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
Our first preseason game will feature the “IMPROVED” Cinci offense with the addition of Joe Mixon and John Ross.
YIKES..!!
The 2nd Preseason game will be AT Jacksonville and rookie sensation RB Leonard Fournette.
MOMMY..??
Looking forward to the 2nd half of both games. We’ll see what our new FS has to offer..in a hurry.
May 4th, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Apparently, McNichols has been dealing with a “shoulder issue” for a year. Still, the guy played 12 and 13 games, respectively, the past two seasons.
Whatever the shoulder issue was, he gutted it out and performed.
May 4th, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Jeremy McNichols had surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder. It’s common for players to play the season with a torn labrum and have offseason surgery. Dalvin Cook, John Ross, Malik Hooker, Ruben Foster, Takkarist McKinley, they all had the same type of surgery.
May 4th, 2017 at 2:34 pm
The kid will be fine people relax and embrace what’s about to be a successful season.
May 4th, 2017 at 3:04 pm
@Blake,
same here on Mayock, he is so focused on college scouting, he has no pro idea unless he just guesses on the Bucs, the Brate and Ryan Smith says his people were not up on the moves, I guess if Bucs drafted a guard he would’v esaid how he would play guard behind Marpet. But I still like Mayock better then some of the others.
May 4th, 2017 at 3:09 pm
I am starting to think a home run hit…..with runners on base.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Jeremy+McNichols+2017&&view=detail&mid=98EE1522D52FD26ADD6F98EE1522D52FD26ADD6F&FORM=VRDGAR
May 4th, 2017 at 3:13 pm
TDTB says:
“…they rarely even make the team, let alone contribute. Go back and look an the guys taken in the 5th round since Licht has been here. Not a single one has done anything.”
Apparently you forgot about starting LG Kevin Pamphile (2014). And future starting RT(or LG) Caleb Benenoch (2016). The normal “bust” rate for 5th rounders is close to 80%. Licht is running at 50% through 3 drafts (Kenny Bell 2015 and Kadeem Edwards 2014 cut).
McNichols was incredibly productive in college with over 3000 yards and 43 TDs rushing the ball in his last 25 games (2015 & 2016). He also has what OCs covet in an NFL prospect which is good route running and pass catching skills. 944 yards and 10 TDs receiving the last 2 years. And to top it off – McNichols is already quite good at what it takes most RBs years to get decent at – pass protection.
Will he make it and become a valuable contributor for this team? Who knows. We haven’t seen him step foot on an NFL field yet. But I’d say there’s a much better chance that McNichols makes this team and contributes than that he sucks and gets cut. We’ll see. Its OK to be excited about the potential of a RB who could have been a late round steal though.
May 4th, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Joe’s Cook fanboy club takes another hit
May 4th, 2017 at 5:57 pm
Let’s see how this plays out I trust Licht
May 4th, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Because everyone who goes in the first round is great and no one who goes in later rounds is good !!!!! What a bunch of no nothing ignoramuses!!!!!!
May 4th, 2017 at 7:03 pm
I’ll hold off on buying the McNichols jersey. Boise State did finish a whopping 10-3 but they dont exactly play against elite college teams. They lost to such juggernauts as Wyoming and Air Force. Lets see how he does against an NFL defense.
May 4th, 2017 at 7:10 pm
Wow, so Benenoch is now an NFL starter??? That is quite a leap of faith! As good as Licht has been with his early round picks, he has been equally dismal with picks 5-7. I am not going to assume a guy taken in the 5th round is going to be the next Barry Sanders. Step 1 will be making the roster. I am hopeful but I am not going to assume now that we have a 5th round running back in the fold that our running game is rock solid. 150 or so collegiate players were taken before this guy was drafted. Let that sink in a little bit. Guys that are really good don’t fall that far unless scouts for every NFL teams made major mistakes. Please don’t cite that anamolies either. Yes it can happen, but the vast majority of these guys dont work out.
May 4th, 2017 at 7:39 pm
My point against cutting Martin if the Bucs think he is clean and dedicated, is that it seems hard to count on any of this platoon to be “the guy.” Maybe, maybe not.
Maybe Peyton Barber is ready to be the guy. it’s hard to imagine the 5th round RB with a shoulder injury being the guy immediately.
I’ll trust them if they cut Martin this year, but will feel disappointed by the situation.
May 4th, 2017 at 7:59 pm
How about Howard for the bears last year?! It happens every dang year!and when he does great you all will be like oh I knew he would be awesome! This is the most negative bucs site I visit a bunch of downers! Oh well have a good one cry baby’s lmao
May 4th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
I like barber and Humphrey but they can’t be good they weren’t 1st round picks or even drafted image that!!!!
May 4th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
I like this kid, I think that he has all the tools to succeed in the NFL and I think he will be the starter at some point.
May 4th, 2017 at 9:10 pm
I am cheering for our players and rookies.
I think McNichols could replace Martin, just being real.
May 4th, 2017 at 9:18 pm
Still waiting for Kareem Huggins to hit it big, although he has made the roster of the Brooklyn Bolts.
Man looked like a superstar in training camp and pre season.
May 4th, 2017 at 9:24 pm
You’re right Scotty. Mike James was a 5th round pick that everyone was high on when he was drafted and he is now a superstar…..oh wait! All I am saying Scotty is that everyone thinks every draft pick was a great one until they fail. Considering the fact that 80% of 5th rounders dont make it, the odds would say that he is probably not the next Walter Peyton. Time will tell and I hope im wrong, but I am not relying on 5th rounders to carry us to the Super Bowl.
May 4th, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Buccaneer scotty…I hear you but, it’s not very common. Especially with the Bucs. Things could be different with Licht though. He might find a gem that late.
Anywho it won’t take an elite running back in order to run the ball for this team. It would be magical, sure. Cause I don’t see magic in the current rb rotation. Unless of course they get 2015 Doug Martin. Maybe next draft if things don’t work out?
IF…if 2015 Doug Martin comes back. Then I mean really, what’s the NFL to do about us? 🙂
Makes me shiver at the thought, that I just want the season to get here sooooooooo bad!!!!
May 5th, 2017 at 12:32 am
Mike James was a 6th round draft pick in the 2013 NFL draft.
May 5th, 2017 at 5:51 am
Dirk said he had torn labrum and should be ready by camp.