Defensive End Porn
January 24th, 2018
DE prospect Marcus Davenport.
Joe has to admit, for Bucs fans, this will be like watching video of a unicorn.
Joe has already written about what an intriguing pick this half-man, half-monster Marcus Davenport is, the defensive end out of Texas-San Antonio.
Don’t let the small school fool you. He played against Texas A&M (“SEC… SEC… SEC… “) and Baylor as well, and didn’t embarrass himself. In fact, he’s played against several Power-5 schools in his four years in college, so there is enough tape of him going around against the big boys.
Davenport had a sack last year against Baylor and two years ago against Texas A&M.
Here is a play that found its way on Twitter. Joe honestly cannot remember a Bucs defensive end freight-training a blocker like this and swallowing whole the quarterback. It’s like watching a combination of Simeon Rice and Lee Roy Selmon.
Is this guy worthy of a No. 7 pick? Some think so.
Meanwhile, a pass rusher like this for Bucs fans is akin to dreaming in the dark of the night for the warm embrace of Rachel Watson.
Don’t let RB’s block Marcus Davenport (@MarcusJD84) #UTSA #NFLReady pic.twitter.com/gPcWbtzWOn
— DLineVids (@DLineVids) January 18, 2018
January 24th, 2018 at 12:08 am
The Bucs need at least 4 guys like this to add to the incumbents on the d-line this offseason.
Fix the trenches, fix the Bucs!!
January 24th, 2018 at 12:26 am
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I will be very disappointed if we draft Davenport with the #7 pick … now, if we trade down with the Bills and get him at #21, fine … but NOT #7.
Saquon, Chubb, Minkah or Quenton Nelson are the ONLY FOUR players I would take at #7 overall … if they’re all gone, we should TRADE DOWN, period.
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January 24th, 2018 at 12:55 am
Every Year People read the articles, listen to pundits, and get brain washed by what “Draft Experts” believe to be the best players in the draft. Bottom line is a good scouting department will find the diamonds in the rough. Is it ironic that the really good teams have one thing in common?? They draft well. And more often than not they get guys of value in later rounds. It all comes down to scouting. A perfect example: Patriots and Steelers. Those teams never get top 10 draft picks because they always draft late due to winning records……..They seem to be able to find great players in the draft?? SCOUTS!!. Bad teams like Cleveland and Tampa consistently miss on draft picks and are always drafting at the beginning of the 1st rounds. It comes down to player evaluation and the good teams are able to do that!
January 24th, 2018 at 1:19 am
Bellichick has made a bunch of HORRIBLE draft picks …
January 24th, 2018 at 1:46 am
Not nearly as impressive when you consider the guy who was foolishly assigned to block a DE was a diminutive RB or WR half his size and the DE had a running start at him. Any player with the same size/strength differential who couldn’t make that play shouldn’t even be allowed on the field.
January 24th, 2018 at 1:55 am
Don’t settle for the number 2 defensive free agents.
That way, we’re not as desperate going into the draft.
Jason Licht messes up when you give him too much to think about.
Sign the free agents to short deals that allow you to draft and stockpile fresh talent.
January 24th, 2018 at 2:02 am
Warren Sapp had 3 sacks as a rookie – and he is the best ever to play his position. Counting on rookie defensive linemen to be game changers is a very dangerous proposition – it happens from time to time, but is very risky. That’s why you draft guys a year or two before you’re in a dire situation.
January 24th, 2018 at 2:11 am
If you think he is going to be a baller, GET HIM!! 1st overall, 7th overall, 15th overall, where you get him really doesn’t matter. Would you wait until the 6th round to draft Tom Brady knowing he would become the greatest pro QB to ever hold a football? OF COURSE YOU WOULDNT, you would draft him #1 overall without batting an eye!!!! If Licht thinks this kid is going to be a monster (especially if it is in his rookie year), he better grab him. In December no one will care where you picked a given player…. the only thing that should matter is WINNIN FOOTBALL GAMES.
January 24th, 2018 at 2:18 am
I just don’t see it with this guy. He has no moves other than a bull rush and he has a hard time getting off blocks. I seriously hope we either get Chubb to slide or sign a Capable DE in free agency. This kid will be a project and I don’t trust this staff to get the best out of him.
January 24th, 2018 at 3:26 am
Tom Brady isn’t even close to the best QB ever … not even close.
January 24th, 2018 at 3:34 am
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SERIOUS DRAFT TALK
Would YOU be in favor of the Bucs drafting to switch to the 3-4?
I did a mock at pick-first.com and the one of the trade ops that popped up when our #7 pick came up was from the Bills, for their #21 and #22 … as Saquon, Chubb, Minkah and Quenton were all off the board, I accepted that trade offer.
Then, just for fun, I drafted as if the team was planning to make a switch to a 3-4.
With the #21 pick I took Viti Vea and with the #22 pick I took Da’Ron Payne.
In the 2nd I snagged SS Ronnie Harrison
In the 3rd I snagged CB Anthony Averett
In the 4th I snagged CB Tony Brown
In the 5th I snagged an OLB – can’t remember his name but got an A+ grade
With our first 6th rounder I snagged CB/RS DJ Reed
And with out last pick I took RT Desmond Harrison
If the Bucs did the above they would EASILY be able to seamlessly transition into a 3-4 defense as they’d have:
DE: GMC/Swaggy
NT: Vea/McDonald
DE: Payne/Gholston
OLB: David/Draft Pick
ILB: Beckwith/Glanton
ILB: Kwon/Bullough
OLB: Spence/Bond
The above looks solid to me … strong, fast, athletic … plays to our strenghts
What do ya’ll think?
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January 24th, 2018 at 3:39 am
I may need to qualify that Brady statement before some of you freak out … I think there is a difference between “greatest” and “best” … for example Aaron Rodgers is the “best” QB right now but Tom Brady would certainly rank higher on the list of all-time greatest QBs when compared with Rodgers.
So, no, I don’t think Brady is even one of the 5 “best” QBs ever as he’s behind Rodgers, Manning, Marino, Elway, Unitas, Staubach and probably some others imho.
As for “greatest” which is what “Marc” said … to me Brady is the 2nd “greatest” QB ever, but he’s not even close to the actual “greatest” … he’d need more rings, more MVPs, and a bunch more 1st team all-pros to even come close to the true “greatest” … OTTO GRAHAM … a guy who accomplished far more than Brady has in 18 years, in just 10 seasons … and happened to also miss 2 years of football after enrolling for WW2 and also won a title in the then NBA as a 6th man … the dude was insane!
January 24th, 2018 at 4:01 am
LOL – The “blocker” looks to be about 5’6″ – 150lbs…
January 24th, 2018 at 4:36 am
NFLNut … “With the #21 pick I took Viti Vea and with the #22 pick I took Da’Ron Payne.” I’d draft EITHER of those 2 in the 1st round, but not both since they’re both DTs. Use the # 22 pick to grab a DE or CB instead. Doubtful the scenario will happen though (Buffalo would be more likely to package their #1 this year with their #1 next year IMO).
There look to be a number of DEs projected for Rnds 2-3 this year. Walter Football has an interesting eval ( http://walterfootball.com/draft2018DE.php ) although several like Ferrell & Bryant are apparently going back for their senior year. Favorites right now are Chubb (Rnd 1), Ejiofor (Rnd 2), Frazier (Rnd 3) & Speaks or Lewis (Rnd 4).
January 24th, 2018 at 4:41 am
BTW NFLNut, interesting that you kept Swaggy Baker. Lots of folks (me included) would prefer to see him gone. Re-sign McDonald, grab a quality FA DT to play as a NT, draft a DT to backup (and eventually replace) GMC and you’d have your 4 DTs right there. Then you’d have the option of playing 4-3 or 3-4 depending upon the defensive situation.
January 24th, 2018 at 5:20 am
rofl Joe, thats not a blocker thats a tiny little running back. Try harder, or don’t talk draft at all
January 24th, 2018 at 6:57 am
Guys that say all he has is a bull rush haven’t watched his film. He could bust, just like Chubb could. I don’t mind him at 7. Really don’t.
The film Joe put on wasn’t there to showcase anything other than a fun clip. That wasn’t an evaluation tape. If you want that… here you go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAzmQJCLnRA
January 24th, 2018 at 7:35 am
I agree wholeheartedly with NFLNut……
Chubb, Barkley, Minkah or Nelson at 7 or trade down.
Picking Davenport up later in the round or trading up into the bottom of the first or picking him at the top of the 2nd makes good sense to me.
January 24th, 2018 at 7:38 am
Before you get too excited, it’s a running back and one of the raps on college running backs entering the NFL is they don’t know how to block in the running game.
January 24th, 2018 at 7:44 am
I mistakenly dismissed Khalil Mack as a bust with overinflated sacks in a bad conference. I’m not in a rush to be wrong twice.
January 24th, 2018 at 7:45 am
And then draft Shaquem Griffin in round 4!
January 24th, 2018 at 7:47 am
He is a project but the talent is there and doesn’t have the baggage Arden Key brings. Marcus, like Spence, will need to develop more moved in the NFL as he won’t just be able to win with his athleticism alone at the next level.
January 24th, 2018 at 7:48 am
Develop more moved rather…
January 24th, 2018 at 7:48 am
Develop more moves rather..
January 24th, 2018 at 7:51 am
This is more about the lack of a$$ and talent of the blocker.
January 24th, 2018 at 7:52 am
So why did he play for such a small go nowhere school?
January 24th, 2018 at 7:58 am
18:44 Mark of the voch Lombardi analysis shows Davenport on a critical drive….gassed and taking the play off. I wouldn’t draft him at seven….imo.
January 24th, 2018 at 8:43 am
not sure if he’s #7 worthy…..but we better come out of this draft and FA with 2DE”s and 2DT’s….GO BUCS!!!!
January 24th, 2018 at 8:43 am
Davenport went to a small nowhere school because he played high school ball as a sub 200 pound wr. Guy is nowhere close to being finished. Total gamble. But a gamble I at least would understand.
January 24th, 2018 at 8:57 am
For the record, i wouldnt draft him at 7, ideally, however, the crater that is the Bucs pass rush is so vast that they can’t play safe and work this out. Mike Smith seems bent to run a 4-3 base requiring pressure from the front four. Lawrence and Amsah are both most likely receiving the franchise Tag. My hope is that there is a qb on the Board Buffalo wants at 7. We can trade our first and one 6 for their two first round picks. That is my ideal scenario, but if we are forced to pick at 7, Davenport as well as Nelson must be in the discussion. Not sure why everyone (as in everyone at one Buc) assumes we are solid on the O-line. Right now our best 5 under contract are Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet (would need to move him to left guard), Joe Hawley (good depth won’t make a full year), JR Sweezy and Caleb Benenoch. That’s your best 5. I would strongly argue that’s a step back.
January 24th, 2018 at 9:07 am
Nflnut,
I love messing around with mock drafts. I do think your draft is Crimson Tide heavy.
January 24th, 2018 at 9:16 am
Davenport is a WR turned DE. I see some offensive packages where he turns into a TE.
January 24th, 2018 at 9:20 am
tnew
my barber is a diehard bills fan….he went to the season finale in MIA and their playoff game in JAX….he follows the team closely…..
he’s told me they plan on going after kirk cousins or alex smith in FA to fill their QB need….they may still draft one but it wont be early….GO BUCS!!!!
January 24th, 2018 at 9:36 am
This video is hilarious….he should have bowled over a RB trying to block him one on one on the line. I’ve watched other tapes on him and do not see anything other then a big guy playing with little guys. Nothing special jumps out. How will he do when he is not the biggest fish in the pond?
January 24th, 2018 at 9:39 am
Umm yeah buddy you won’t be doing that in the NFL. Once you are drafted you’ll be considered a lightweight to the grown men you’ll face. Bulk up buddy, if you come here you’ll have to be a day one starter hopefully replacing will gholston sorry arse
January 24th, 2018 at 9:46 am
“Tom Brady isn’t even close to the best QB ever … not even close.”
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Anything you ever say after this statement is irrelevant. This is the single stupidest thing I’ve ever read in a history of reading countless stupid statements on JBF. I’m literally blown away.
January 24th, 2018 at 10:11 am
That wasn’t a RB trying to block him, that was the water boy from the local High School team!!!!! Kid couldn’t have weighed more than 145!!!!
Regardless, that’s the kind of explosive aggression I’d love to see from the d-line! Not sure if Davenport is the guy, but can we please find some mean SOB’s for the trenches!?!?
January 24th, 2018 at 10:42 am
Yeh 813… that is what I fear they would do. But if they fall in love with one of the QB prospects… we all do strange things for love..
BTW. ALL of my ramblings on Davenport hinge on the belief that the Bucs will maintain to the 4-3 defensive front. I see nothing regarding quotes from coaches or changes in assistants that indicate that will change at all. I hope against hope Chubb falls to 7. But if he doesn’t, the gambling will have to start. If Mike Smith wants to run anything like we did last season, he must be able to have a semblance of a pass rush from the front 4. Hoping that this group of veterans, all of the sudden get better this season, is a fools wager. Ansah and Lawrence will get franchised.
To me this all starts with one thing. 4-3 ends are getting harder to find. Why? IMO, so many colleges play read option, spread offense. They almost have to in order to recruit. Having a 4-3 end that can effectively do everything that is required to stop the read option, rush the passer and play the run is a tough find. With all of the technical requirements to learn such a position, it is much easier to take that prospect, add 15 pounds, teach him gap responsibility and let the smaller more athletic OLB (which are easier to find) rush the edge, cover the back out of the backfield, string out running plays drop into coverage etc. It is way easier to find a prototypical explosive 6’3″, 245 pound guy (Von Miller size/weight) than an athletic, flexible, long armed 6’7″, 295 (Julius Peppers). Why can Peppers still do this approaching 40?.. just not many people walking the planet with his DNA, not near as many as the Von Miller size, weight, athleticism.
But you have to have at least one of these freaks and a freak of a three technique to generate pass rush from the front 4.
If you are lucky enough to have one or better two of these 6’5″ plus, long armed, flexible guys on your team and a 6’1, 300 pound, short legged, (instant leverage win, this is my issue with GMC at the 3, super great athlete but too tall and not strong enough in is legs to easily win the leverage battle, so he must crash the gaps) cat quick three tech a 4-3 is a great option.
The only way that makes sense for us to stay in a 4-3 base is if GMC is moved to DE, at the very least when the percentages indicate run.
January 24th, 2018 at 10:51 am
Well, since its pron…. not a clemmy fan and surely dont like our history with clemmy DE’s, but if we dont land Chubb and trade back a few spots for Vita,
then we could trade back into the 1st for Davenport or Clelin Ferrell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvjQK_04h0Y
Hardly any 1st round talent at DE in the draft, but as a 2nd pick? Maybe?
Vita, one of these DE’s, RB Penny….1st 3 picks. (of course thats if the top 4 prospects are gone – Chubb, Nelson, Barkley, Fitz)
January 24th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Bucs need a pass rush the most (if not a new coaching staff). But when I think about it more and more I think Mayock might have it totally backwards with the number seven pick. Even though Chubb is a monster, DEs in the early rounds are very hard to tell if they’re going to bust and who’s going to or not. Barkley has a good chance of being a good player, but he WON’T be there at seven. When I look at Minkah Fitzpatrick and Quenton Nelson I see two players that are going to dominate in the NFL. Certainly not going to bust. If we got either of those players at number seven I would likely be just as happy as getting Chubb or Barkley (well…maybe not as happy as Barkley). Oline and CB (where Minkah will likely play in the NFL) are just other holes needed for the Bucs. I would be happy with all these guys with our pick, I just think CB Fitzpatrick and OG Nelson have the best chance of becoming good players if not all-stars.
January 24th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
tnew
i agree teams do strange things for love….but passing on kirk or alex smith for an unproven rookie could get someone fired imo….
i slightly disagree with smaller DE’s but i completely understand where your coming from…..to counter the smaller DE’s you just run right at him….much like spence, as we’ve found out he has a slim chance of holding up against 300+ pound linemen during a 16 game season…..
me personally, i like big DE’s…6’4….6’5….255 or better coming out of college so i can put 10-15 pounds on him……
that’s why i want taven BryantDE/DT out of UF in round 3 or 4…..he’s already 6’5 290….he’s played as light as 275 and as heavy as 310….remind me a lot of camron Jordan….cam has one move and one move only and that’s the bull rush….he uses it when he’s lined up inside at DT or outside at DE….
with that said, we need a combination of both….we need GMC to be a DE at around 290 and spence to stay healthy….tell big will to put on 15pounds and move him inside to DT….tell baker if he comes to camp at 335 again he’s gone….we need him at 310 305….clint just keep doing what your doing and stay healthy….
we have some pieces we just need depth and a defensive coach that will play to the players strength and put them in position to win…..GO BUCS!!!!
January 24th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
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Hawaiin Buc,
I stand by my statement on Tom Brady.
Otto Graham played 8 less years than Brady but has:
FIVE MORE 1st TEAM ALL-PROS
THREE MORE MVPs
2 MORE TITLES
AND the guy took two years off to fight the Nazis AND won a pro basketball championship as a 6th man AND started at cornerback AND started at PUNT RETURNER and by the way, made it to the championship game 100% of the years he played … 100%.
Sorry braaaah (isn’t that how Hawaiian’s say “bro”) but To Brady’s resume PALES IN COMPARISON to Otto Grahams … that’s a 100% fact!!!!!!!
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January 24th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Wow, an Otto Graham reference?! NFLNut, I dare say that most posters here were probably not even alive when Otto played, myself included!
Add to what you stated, he probably was paid peanuts by comparison. A personal trainer? Puh-lease!
Brady will go down as the best “modern day” QB for sure though. Wow! That hurt saying it!!!
January 24th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Y’all tripping. This dude is a beast….6’7 250, in what world is that small or too light??? Bulk up??? Seriously, LOL!!! I can’t wait to see him in Saturday’s Senior Bowl. I have a feeling this kid gonna shoot up every NFL teams draft board, including ours. He won’t be there at 21, Mark my words.
#FixTheTrenches
January 24th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Number 7. I don’t know Joe. That dude he steamrolled looks like Lucas from the 80’s movie
January 24th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
NFLnut
“Bellichick has made a bunch of HORRIBLE draft picks …”
I agree with your point but to balance it out we should add…that EVERY NFL GM who has had 3 or more drafts has made some HORRIBLE draft picks. It’s just part of the crap shoot that is the NFL draft.
As for Brady not being the best QB…I loathe Brady so I’m prejudiced…and being Irish I can tell you he definitely has the luck of the Irish. Pete Carroll and Dan Quinn gave Brady two of those SB titles..he did not win them. He won the rest however and he is a GREAT QB…one of the best of all times.
As an old dude I liked your Otto Graham reference. I got to watch his last years on TV.
I’m uncomfortable with proclaiming any QB as the all time best. If Dan Marino had played during this NE run think he would have been successful.
Both Belichek and Brady have scoreboard! They put together perhaps the greatest franchise run of all time. I respect them enormously…even though I loathe both of them as humans.
January 24th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Come on Joe, he had a scatback lined up against him. He may be a good one, but this piece of tape is false advertising. How did he even get this matchup? That OC should be fired.
January 24th, 2018 at 11:14 pm
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Otto Graham is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)
Tom Brady is the GOTSBE (Great of the Super Bowl Era)
As for who the BEST quarterback is … some think Marino, some think Elway, some think Aaron Rodgers, some think Unitas … almost no one actually thinks its Graham or Brady which goes to show how much “team success” plays into a “greatest of all time” conversation.
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