“You Are Not A Good Team If Chris Is Your Starter”
May 23rd, 2017
Valuable backup.
Just about everyone in the NFL fraternity believes the Bucs will be a good team this year and, perhaps, a playoff team.
One former NFL executive and ex-Bucs scout himself, Pat Kirwan, suggested yesterday that a telltale sign of whether the Bucs will be good depends on who will be a backup.
And that player is fan favorite safety Chris Conte.
On his fantastic radio show, “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Kirwan said Conte is valuable — as a backup. So he told both his co-host Jim Miller and their millions of listeners.
A Bucs fan had called in to rave about AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and the depth he’s built. Kirwan, a former Jets pro player personnel director, agreed.
“You know, the depth is starting to show up,” Kirwan said. “And you are starting to see good players in the second row here. Guys that you can play and you like to do stuff with and you think they can get in there and do stuff.
“At the end of the day, and this is not that I dislike Chris Conte, but you are not a good team if Chris is your starter. You want Chris as the old veteran, wily guy who knows what he is doing coming off the bench when you need him. If he’s out there and wins the starting job, Jim – which I don’t think he will. When that happens, you and I will look and say, ‘That’s not a good sign about how the depth at secondary went.’”
So now we have more fodder for Bucs fans to watch this summer. Want to know just how good the Bucs may be? Watch who starts come at safety come September.
Joe understands this may inflame the embers of ConteHate.
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:14 am
I chuckle every time I read “fan favorite”. Another nickname in a list of nicknames in JBF lore.
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:26 am
Im beginning to think there is alot of hidden male jealousy when the topic is pertaining to Chris Conte
He is a pretty good looking guy and with a good build. Im sure Chris does very well with the ladies…
“People think I look exactly like Chris Conte naked”
Kobe Faker
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:29 am
We seemed to do OK with Conte once the pass-rush got going. Can we be better? Of course, but I don’t think it’s fair to say “we’re not a good team” if he is our starter.
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:30 am
Where is Infamous Dave?
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:33 am
🙂
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:43 am
This doesn’t really make the fan hate for Conte unwarranted.
Kirwin may “like” Conte, but he’s right: if Conte starts, it’s not good. Conte was NEVER going to be a long-term solution here. If he was that, then quite frankly, he wouldn’t be here. He’d be starting some place else, likely on a better team.
Conte made some splash plays last year. Great. He’s still second-tier talent.
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:51 am
Tandy and Evans
May 23rd, 2017 at 10:58 am
The one area of concern on my Bucs this year is safety…followed by corner. I’m not sold on Tandy because he’s done good for half a season…what about his other 4-5 YEARS? I hope he’s the playmaker he was late last year but I’m definitely not sure of it.
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:19 am
Wilcox and Evans
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:24 am
Kobe..
I’ve been saying that for a very long time.lol..
I nicknamed Chris “The Bod of the Gods”..and of course their is jealousy among the guys here..while they are beer-bellied, balding, and not in such great shape,..Chris Conte is gorgeous..
Except Pablo..he’s probably a bod of a god…
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:32 am
You could say the same thing about Tandy.
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:38 am
So Kirwan is just saying what we have been saying that Conte is not a great starte and a better capable backup.
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:43 am
If I were to guess I’d think to start it’d be Tandy & Wilcox or Conte… then eventually Evans & Tandy.
Tandy’s play during his good stretch seemed to be better than the best we ever saw from Conte / McDougald and earns him the benefit of the doubt as a returning starter for me. McDougald was our biggest coverage liability so I’m happy to have Wilcox over him who can also hit but has more range.
As for Tandy’s lack of experience or proven pedigree; I’m going to remain optimistic. Sometimes guys take a few years + the right situation to blossom. The dude had 4 interceptions and 9 passes defended with 41 solo tackles (30 in the last 4 games alone) despite only starting towards the end of the year.
Sure it was his 5th year starting but he wasted years 3-4 with Lovie where he didn’t see as much playing time. He had 3 interceptions, 3 PD, and a FF in his 2nd year when playing under Schiano despite not being a full time starter.
I’ve basically just convinced myself Tandy will be an all pro lol. Hopefully realistically he can at least be a solid starter for a top 12 type D
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:45 am
I curse John Lynch. The Bucs seem to think if you throw a white in at safety and give him a pewter helmet, he’s automatically a hall of famer.
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:52 am
“Capt. Blighe Says:
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:32 am
You could say the same thing about Tandy.”
Tandy was statistically probably the best S in the NFL the last 5 weeks of the year:
45 tackles (34 solo)
2 “stuffs” (I believe tackles for loss)
4 interceptions
7 passes defended
That’s insane production for just 5 weeks. Sure it’d be ridiculous to assume he’d play at that level for 16 games – he’d have some of the best stats ever lol… but still it’s hard to just ignore production like that when it happens. Not sure if there is some historical precedent; but i’d think it’s rare for a no-name S to put up those #s for a stretch like that and it be a complete fluke.
Conte doesn’t even have a full season with more than 3 total interceptions and had a total of 9 and 7 PDs in his best 2 seasons.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:07 pm
LifeOfABucFan Says:
May 23rd, 2017 at 11:24 am
Kobe..
I’ve been saying that for a very long time.lol..
I nicknamed Chris “The Bod of the Gods”..and of course their is jealousy among the guys here..while they are beer-bellied, balding, and not in such great shape,..Chris Conte is gorgeous..
Except Pablo..he’s probably a bod of a god…
————————–
I can assure you, I am none of those people. Though I’m not balding, I’m completely shaved bald, Conte (and Kobe) are likely jealous of me.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Don’t Conte have that deer in headlights look?
BucTroooer 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂!! Too funny!
Kobe don’t forget Sabby Burnt Toast workout warrior Pispoortelli, they used to talk about his body and what not.
Joe comes up with some good nick names especially Peter King. Try saying that in one breath! That’s the best one😉. Another one I like is Rudy for Adam Humphries, he got that from me😁. I used to say it in a mocking way but he’s earned his way into our hearts and now it’s a badge of honor.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Kirwin stating the obvious. Conte is a very solid and experienced back-up. That’s the role you want him to play. If he’s starting – it means you don’t have enough talent at Safety to compete properly – as in the last 2 years….
Its not “hate” its called evaluation. I don’t hate Dotson either – he’s a great guy just like Chris – but I’d strongly prefer to NOT see either one starting this year for the good and success of this team.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:22 pm
I must admit Licht has done a very good job thus far, I would like to see more O-line depth, Sign Mangold or any decent O-lineman and I will feel more optimistic. My 2 biggest concerns are O-line, Back up QB has finally been addressed, I hope Licht makes a move in the O-line direction.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:24 pm
In seeing flashes of Keith Tandy late last year I am hoping for a good off season from Tandy, maybe he can turn the corner and win the starting role.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:29 pm
Hopefully Justin Evans will pick up the defensive scheme quick enough to win a starting spot. Tandy and Evans would not be too bad as our starting safeties. Perhaps we will have a starting safety who is not currently on the roster depending on final cuts around the league.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Honestly Tandy and Conte both started playing much better around week 7, as did the rest of the D. And during Lovie’s tenure, he was actually our best safety (which I know really isn’t saying much).
Point is, we don’t have any all pros or even pro bowlers at safety right now, but both those guys have shown they can play within mike smiths system and should only be better in year 2 of it.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:44 pm
Folks said the same of kurt Coleman and pat chung, in philly, until they played on ACTUAL defenses. Rubbish
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:44 pm
I don’t often agree with Pat but I do this time.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Justin Evans and J.J Wilcox are projected as the starters.
May 23rd, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Hope Chris doesn’t get on here and read all this garbage about himself. He is a valuable component to this team. From what I hear he is a good guy. Conte’s place is to come to work daily and compete to make himself and his teammates better. If someone gets hurt or needs a blow then he is the man to fill that role. I do think Tandy earned the right to start the season as he proved himself last year. No it was not a fluke that he did what he did at the end of last season. I saw it in Football, Baseball, and Basketball in High School. He is just a winner and that can’t be coached. You either have it or you don’t, He does!!!! Time over the Preseason will take care of who our starters will be, but one thing is certain. We will be much better in the secondary than we were last season and I will be willing to bet that #37 will be on the field the first snap of the 2017-18 Season. Good luck Bucs and can’t wait for the year to begin……….
May 23rd, 2017 at 1:01 pm
“you are not a good team if Chris is your starter”
I had no idea that ONE man could make such a huge difference in whether a team is good or bad…
…I guess if Chris starts, that means our offense sucks, right?
May 23rd, 2017 at 3:01 pm
Conte is not good. Period.
So glad we drafted and signed new safeties. Wilcox and Evans will be our starters with Tandy and Conte as backups.
Also, with so many good safeties drafted there will be some guys cut who are way better than this trash.
May 23rd, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Funky Monkey???? Why no respect for Tandy and what he did last season??
May 23rd, 2017 at 5:24 pm
“Fan-favorite Chris Conte”
Gets me every time.
May 23rd, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Pat Kirwan learned a lot from John McKay, while he was a scout for the Bucs. I totally agree with him, Conte is no more than a backup.
May 24th, 2017 at 3:23 am
Chris Conte made some game-saving plays last year!
He is a “warrior” who gives his all.
Unlike Sean Jones, Tanard “The Turd” Jackson, Mark Barron, and others.
At least Conte will put his body on the line to make a tackle!!
Remember Sean Jones against the Texans a few years ago? Damn. That game was pathetic!!
I like Tandy and Conte, but again, as solid backups.
Not as starters.
We need to draft another safety and CB next year too.
We definitely missed on McCourty.
He would have made a great nickle/FS for us.
But oh well.
Keep on truckin and Keep on Buccin!
May 24th, 2017 at 9:29 pm
Makes it a big deal if Justin Evans doesn’t make a big contribution this year. I think Tandy and Conte are ok players not really good players for one simple thing they lack and that’s speed. Tandy has to beat him out because Evans probably won’t start day one in this defense