Bringing A CB Back Home
February 9th, 2018
Highly ranked.
No, this is not another missive from Joe pining for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to trade for Aqib Talib.
Depending what Bucs free agent corners Brent Grimes and Robert McClain decide to do, the Bucs could be in a world of hurt at cornerback come the middle of March. In fact, when the free agency dinner bell rings in 33 days, the Bucs could be staring at Vernon Hargreaves and Ryan Smith as starters.
(Joe sincerely hopes you didn’t drop your Friday afternoon beer reading that previous paragraph.)
So clearly the Bucs will be in the market for a corner, whether by free agency or the draft (more on that in a moment). And Joe wonders whether a former Bucs player who raised his game after he left Tampa Bay — imagine that? — could be interested in returning to where it all started?
In Lovie Smith’s first-year reign of terror at One Buc Palace, in which he virtually purged the roster of its best players, Bucs fans immediately think of Darrelle Revis (who Lovie dreamed of replacing with Mike Jenkins — the nerve!) or Donald Penn. But there was another under-the-radar player that has made a name for himself since.
Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News decided to rank the top players expected to hit free agency. And at No. 12, Iyer lists former Bucs cornerback Rashaan Melvin.
Melvin turned into a complete (and sometimes shutdown) corner for the Colts before he injured his hand, making big plays on the ball and against the run. Indy would like to keep him, but he should want to see his demand given the supply is so low on big defensive backs of his ilk.
For the people who bellyache that Hargreaves is too small, well, here is your answer. Melvin is 6-2.
Joe is of the mind the Bucs have to acquire at least one veteran corner who can start immediately. Why? Nothing in the past two seasons gives Joe any faith the current defensive staff can develop a young corner. So drafting one with the current defensive staff in place, to Joe, is throwing away a valuable draft pick.
Might as well sign a free agent corner and/or use that draft pick in a trade to acquire one.
You know, like Talib.
February 9th, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Yes only this pathetic coaching staff looks for the smallest corners they can find even though they are in a division filled with big receivers
February 9th, 2018 at 4:20 pm
Melvin is a good player.
If Ryan Smith, despite our wretched coaching staff, can continue to improve, that would give us two 6’2” Cbs.
I think thats good thing, with all the big WRs in the NFC south.
Mike Smith doesnt believe that, as he only likes tiny CBs
But Ive decided, after observing his defenses, that most posters here know more about football than Smith!
And thats only barely sarcastic. We were Smart enough to run a 3-4, when you have no(NO) Defensive ends.
As I posted the day we drafted him. Hargreaves is short AND slow. Bad combination. While Im sure this horrible coaching staff will waste more time on him, it will be wasted time. Hes afraid to get within 10 yards of his man. Sooo easy to target!
Hes yet another High pick bust, to add to the list. Again, Im sure they’ll play him- just to try and save face.
But hes a bust
Just like Noah Spence as a DE, although he would be a good rush Lb.
Doesnt really matter who they sign, does it.
Gotta fix the coaches first
February 9th, 2018 at 4:37 pm
I agree I think the Buc’s need a new defensive coordinator. McDonald and Grimes have been their only good defensive free agent acquisitions. Hargeaves is not fast or quick enough, Spence is injury prone and small to be an effective defensive lineman, Gholston is an ineffective pass rusher. Their priorities in the draft should be defensive and offensive linemen. If they cannot get Chub or Nelson I would trade down.
February 9th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Rashaan Melvin will never succeed in Tampa. The Bucs had their chances with him, like so many others. This organization doesn’t know how to get players to reach their potential. He’s better off going somewhere, where he can play to his strengths.
February 9th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
I wouldn’t want to play here.
February 9th, 2018 at 4:41 pm
he’s an option….beggers cant be choosers….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 9th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
I watched the Bucs treat Al Harris and Kyle Arrington the same way they treated Rashaan Melvin.
February 9th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Yeah we should not have let him go (an injury settlement IIRC).
He would be our best corner if we got him. Shoot get him and Trumaine Johnson and draft anothet CB/S.
February 9th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
This is driving me crazy!!!
The Bucs have the fifth most salary cap amount (Glazer Loot) to spend.
Compare this to the Super Bowl champion Eagles who are OVER the cap.
The Browns are the most under the cap. Shall we compare these teams seasons?
The Bucs are just north of 60 million dollars. More than enough to fix our porous defensive line. Please. It is embarrassing.
February 9th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/
February 9th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
If the Glazer kids would just spend half of the available salary cap ($30.25 million dollars) we could get at least two of the top players and at positions we desperately need.
Just does not make sense.
February 9th, 2018 at 5:52 pm
So the Glazer kids do not spend the money but add to it –
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/2018/02/06/bucs-to-raise-some-season-tickets-again-for-2018/
Makes no dam sense
February 9th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
These players are like any coach or gm when considering a team they look at the roster and they look at the scheme. Who would want to play in this scheme unless they were provided a boat load of money. This coaching staff won’t get good free agents because they were stupid enough to we have multiple starters at a certain position instead of letting one man win the job and no guy that considers himself a starter would subject himself to that nonsense.
At the end of the day free agents spend time with the coaches talking about the plan, remember that when players decide not to visit or you wonder why we had to break the bank to get an average player
February 9th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
GhostofSchiano … “So the Glazer kids do not spend the money but add to it – Makes no dam sense.” To them Ghost, it undoubtedly makes perfect sense. They’re no place close to filling the seats to increase revenue, so their conclusion: CUT EXPENSES (aka, player salaries). The Glazer Boys have gone cheap for so long that I suspect their chief money manager, GM Licht, is afraid to spend any money. Instead of building a T-E-A-M like winners do, their approach has been to bring in 1 or 2 ‘big’ names (Revis? DJax?) and get everyone excited in the hope that the rest of the team will play up to a level they’re incapable of. We’ve drafted some decent talent in recent years, but unless we can improve as a T-E-A-M and become competitive in the NFC South, a good portion of that talent will most likely walk for greener pastures.
And BTW Joe, I remember Rashaan Melvin and loved the kid. Great energy & strong instincts IMO. Not sure I’d want to break the bank to grab him though. Been with 5 teams so far (Bucs, Ravens, Dolphins, Pats & Colts) & only this past season did he really shine (played in 10 games, started all of them with 3 INTs, 13 passes defensed and 36 combined tackles). That’s impressive, but before that … nada. Would love to have him back to compete, but not ready to give him the keys to the Volkswagen Beetle (Bucs version of a Cadillac Secondary?).
February 9th, 2018 at 7:08 pm
Capt Tim – Ryan Smith is 5-11″ – just a 1/2″ taller than Hargreaves who is 5-10 1/2″.
So let me get this straight Joe. If Chubb, Nelson and Barkley are off the board – and Minkah Fitzpatrick is available and the obvious BPA (which would almost certainly be the case) – you are saying we shouldn’t draft him because our defensive staff is so poor that Minkah would suck and it would be a wasted pick??? Are you sure you want to dig in on that position Joe?? Asking for a friend…
February 9th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Defense rules: I have to agree. The Glaziers had plenty of money for free agents last year. Calais Campbell (11 sacks) was out there, but Licht went with Swaggy (1 sack) instead. Swaggy was lazy and didn’t like to practice; and Licht knew it and still offered him the moon. A few more scheckles and he could have had an all pro DE helping GMC.
February 9th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Fix the secondary through FA. Trenches in the draft
February 9th, 2018 at 8:19 pm
@Joey – I agree, CB and RB are the two positions the Bucs can fix easily in FA. I would also sell the farm on future drafts to get players that will improve our team in the next two years.
February 9th, 2018 at 11:59 pm
We have a hole at corner now, last time I checked you need 2 solid corners in this league. Keep grimes and add vet. And grimes age should not be mentioned till you see drop off in play and that has not happen. Rather see 35 yr old baller and solid than a 25yr project or could be player.
Why is it you guys think one corner is good enough , the hole is the second corner. Talib replacing grimes equals = still a hole at CB.
SIGN GRIMES AND TALIB NOW YOU HAVE FILLED THE HOLE AT CB.
February 10th, 2018 at 12:28 am
Pickgrin.
Buccaneer app list ryan Smith at 6’01/2”
Draft Fitzpatrick?? Lol
Hes Mark Barron 2
February 10th, 2018 at 2:27 am
I see people using the term “fix the trenches”! I’ve been saying that for over a year, but I used the term “Build A Wall” drafting Nelson, some would think that we have given up on our other Lineman,…I say we do need back-ups! So go ahead and Draft Nelson and try to find a R Tackle in the Draft or Free-Agency!!! Fix this O-Line, this season, no excuses!!! BUILD A WALL….to
me means building the entire O-Line, STARTERS AND BACK-UPS!!
February 10th, 2018 at 4:29 am
To be fair, saving cap room is a good strategy for having the ability to re-sign well developed rookies as they become FAs, but that equation does require well-developed rookies (*cough*). Though there’s room here to do that *and* pick up some premium FAs, with the exception of Campbell last year, there have not been a ton of FAs worth top-dollar spending in positions of Buc need; teams tend to .. uh.. save cap space .. in order to re-sign the really good ones, right?
February 10th, 2018 at 4:33 am
Pickgrin, if Chubb, Barkley anda Nelson are gone, wouldn’t your friend at least look to trade down?
February 10th, 2018 at 8:31 am
Mord – My friend???
Assume you are referring to GM Licht – and I certainly hope he IS looking to trade down – regardless of who is still on the board. Can’t pass on Chubb I guess since we are so desperate for an edge rusher but any other scenario and a trade down for fair value from #7 would absolutely be in the Bucs best interest.
Capt Tim – I found 1 place on Buccaneer.com where R. Smith was listed as 6’0″ – and about 10 other sources including NFL.com, all draft profiles etc that list Smith as 5’11”
February 10th, 2018 at 10:41 am
DO NOT TRADE AWAY DRAFT CHOICES.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:39 am
NO TRADES.
Poor Joe. CB and FA is so horrible for Free Agency that he’s reaching for just about anything, lol.
It’s simple.
Replace all of our RBs with FAs and Undrafted FAs and hope we hit gold with the young guys. None of our RBs are worth keeping. Not a one. Better to give new guys a chance, and get one consistent vet in FA.
Sign Oline depth in FA.
Draft DE and CB…and later a RB.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:40 am
“Licht knew it and still offered him the moon.”
I certainly am no fan of “Swaggy” and like most of you consider him a bad signing.
But comparing his signing in any way to Campbell’s is just wrong. Baker did not get the moon…he got 3 million last year…is slated to get just under 5 million this year but represents no dead cap money if the Bucs cut him.
Campbell made nine million last year and is scheduled to earn 15 million this year with 20 million in dead cap space if the Jags cut him. Source…Spotrac
This is like needing an automobile for transportation. You can purchase a Rolls Corniche or you can buy a VW convertible…BOTH will get you to work and back.
One of course holds more people in far more luxury and goes twice as fast.
So you make a budgetary judgement. What really hurts though is that VW is not just smaller and not as luxurious but doesn’t run and sits in the garage broken down. That was Swaggy.
We still do not know why we ended up with Swaggy instead of Campbell.
1.) Maybe Campbell never considered the Bucs for a variety of reasons.
2.) Perhaps the Glazers never gave Licht the green Light to spend money
3.) Perhaps Licht thought he’d get a steal of a VW and was totally wrong
4.) All of the above.
February 10th, 2018 at 11:43 am
GhostofSchiano Says
“So the Glazer kids do not spend the money…”
The Glazers spend the money. There IS a cap minimum. And frankly, given what is looking to be available in free agency, there isn’t much to spend it on. RBs are always there, but the DE and CB positions are porous at best this year.
Unless a team screws the pooch and let’s someone good walk away.
That’s why Joe is suggesting trades. There isn’t going to be much available to spend the money on.
February 10th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Cornerback is arguably the hardest position on defense to adjust to in the NFL. Ronde Barber didn’t even start his first year….and not until partway through his second year and has had a HOF type career…………..
February 11th, 2018 at 5:28 am
Oh God please no
February 11th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Bring Melvin back!