Bucs Went Hard After Free Agent TE/Fullback
April 29th, 2018
Neat little Bucs story here from everybody’s favorite newspaper, the Battle Creek Enquirer, which covers the happenings in the county just outside Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Buccaneers have signed undrafted free agent tight end/fullback Donnie Ernsberger and they pushed hard to make it happen, per reporter Nick Buckley.
“Throughout the draft, (Tampa Bay) didn’t have enough draft picks, so they were already offering me money,” Ernsberger said. “A couple other teams started offering me other prices and (Tampa Bay) went out of their way to raise the price, offering me more than any other team.
“They said, ‘Come in and we have a spot for you and we really think you can help this team and make this team.’ They like my versatility being able to play tight end, they want me for special teams also.”
Dirk Koetter and and Jason Licht have been searching for a fullback since Jorvorskie Lane went down with a horrific injury in the final game of the 2015 season. They kept coming up short and it appears Ernsberger, 6-3, 241 pounds, is the latest attempt.
The newspaper story noted only one fullback was drafted this year in the NFL, a seventh-round pick by the Lions.
April 29th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Ringing endorsement of Allen Cross right there
April 29th, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Pick6…snarky ….Adam Cross and virtually every player gives everything they have….for a www poster to sit at their key board and Roman coliseum thumbs down when your types have never come close to that level of success shows you simply do not understand…
April 29th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
@ joe
No article about the great donald igwebuike’s nephew being signed as an udfa safety? How can you miss that low hanging fruit?
April 29th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
He could get the Bucs in trouble there. They shouldn’t have contacted him during the draft to offer money. Shhhh. Everyone does it isn’t an excuse if you are the one who gets caught.
April 29th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
I like Cross….seems like he always produces something positive when he is on the field…but, I am not able to evaluate his blocking skills well enough to know we need improvement.
April 29th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Not sure if I know what a fullback is anymore. I think of Jameel Cook. He was lining up at FB and Lead blocking whoever came in tho the lane. Occasionally rushing as FB or catching a pass in the flat. Now FB and TE seem to interchange, but there is a different kind of skill set between Lorenzo Neil and Jimmy Graham.
April 29th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
I like the Qb we grabbed Fitz can’t play 4-ever
April 29th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
Beau Allen plays FB. Just sayin. He’s not going to spend nearly as much time at DT as previously thought.
April 29th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
I like it.
April 29th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Vita Vea played some RB in high school
April 29th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Oh no….self appointed Buc expert/insider likes it? Talk about the kiss of death!
# VitalePartDeux
April 29th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
i like the WR Erv Phillips we signed as a udfa hes quick shifty and fast i really like him an bobo wilson they could really turn out to be some gems for us an the QB reily ferguson from memphis could be a good back up when Fitz retires
April 29th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
Nice! Good height too for catching…
April 29th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
@ the Vita Vea comment, how awesome would it be if we let him pound it in on the goal line lol!
April 29th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Cross blocks as well as he catches of not better. He’s a greater blocker than stocker I can tell you that from watching game tape. Atleast imo.
I want to see Winston get 5 secs to throw consistently that would be nice. I also love the jones pick at rb but would also like to see them sign another power back. They come in handy.
Anyway have a great day I’m about go. Fight Thanos
🙅🏽♂️ Wakanda 4eva
April 29th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
@pick6
Funny but sad too.
i like Allen Cross. But he is not an NFL athlete. He is a great man. But sadly, expendable.
However, his tape is pretty good. Perhaps another team in need of a locker room change could bring him in.
The Bucs kept players early on like Brate, Cross, and Hump to make a statement about “earning a spot.”
Smart. But now?
We need to get BETTER!!! Always BETTER!!
No more illogical loyalty.
May the best man win! And God bless them all! Especially the guys getting cut or hurt. A lot of great men see their dreams die. Its very sad.
Good luck beating Allen Cross! He is tough as nails! And smart!
April 29th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Licht’s Out Says
“Oh no….self appointed Buc expert/insider likes it? Talk about the kiss of death!”
What’s the matter, JonBuc? Get banned?
April 29th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Joe,
Hopefully he makes the team.
Then when can park his sister next to Miko.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhsQvmCqxyY
Good times
April 29th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
We also have Antony Auclair, who spent time on the PS. He’s tightend, but also they considered converting him. Now that Stock is gone, who knows?
April 29th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Then *we can park his sister next to Miko.
April 29th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
I did, BrownEye…get banned that is…you got me. Now let’s talk about how you’ve been banned from swimming pools, shopping malls, Chucky Cheese parking lots etc.for targeting pre-teens with your Elf Erotica e-Books. I can’t believe you haven’t been banned for peddling that garbage on JBF.com with your “hot link”. Say hello to that fossil/Golden Girl jumping on a mini-trampoline you put on your site as a cover/decoy.
April 29th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
We signed 2 QBs. Please be more specific next time.
April 29th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
He is the dude with the sister that ran out on the field. lol That’s epic!
April 29th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
I was not trying to be snarky or critical. it’s a spot on the depth chart meant to be one player deep and that one player is currently Allen Cross. I could infer the same if they were throwing money at an undrafted kicker and all but promising an inside track to making the team. There’s no true backup for the job they want him to do, at least the FB portion which seems to be why cross stuck on the roster while luke stocker was cut. They aren’t putting the full court press on him because they dislike their TE group overall
April 29th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Pick6 Says
“I was not trying to be snarky or critical. it’s a spot on the depth chart meant to be one player deep and that one player is currently Allen Cross.”
The fact that they almost never used Cross last year reveals what they think about his abilities. They are still on the hunt for the right FB.
This kid had extra money thrown at him…so at least he’ll get a fair chance to compete.
Unlike our Kicker Patrick Murray, who will not get the starting job no matter how well he does in camp.
April 29th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Clearly the next Mike Alstott!
April 29th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
@Bonzai
Patrick Murray is a FA. He isnt on the team lol
April 29th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
WOW… this guy is the next Mike Alstott for sure…
Look at this…
This guy was born on Oct 13, 1996.
On Oct 13, 1996, in Alstott’s rookie year, the Bucs played the Vikings, and the Bucs won behind a TD by Alstott!
It’s a sign!
April 29th, 2018 at 5:09 pm
What the hell is wrong with Cross?? He’s a nice run blocker, can run the ball up the gut if ever asked, and can catch on the check down.
April 29th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
But we do need TE depth.
April 29th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
thats a fullback name.. Ernsberger..
April 29th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Bonzai- the fact that they didn’t play Cross actually shows Koetters ability’s to evaluate talent. That guy is productive in every facet of the offense. I think he has dropped one pass in 2 years. Just because he wasn’t highly touted doesn’t mean he isn’t a good pro.
April 29th, 2018 at 5:21 pm
JJBucfan – Cross is just filler material, nothing special, won’t be missed if he’s gone, won’t be surprised if he sticks around. Offering a few thousand extra dollars to a prospect you want to take a look at is how you get better. They didn’t spend a pick on yet another fullback hybrid like Licht has done repeatedly, so their investment isn’t all that much and really gives this kid no more of a chance to make the team than any other UDFA.
April 29th, 2018 at 5:34 pm
Dude does look like a monster. Koetter likes the two TE set. O.J. Howard is #3 OT on the line, maybe this guy could be #4.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:13 pm
What the heck are you guys talking about Alan Cross for? The guy is a complete non factor for the team. I’m sorry if you like him but the coaching staff doesn’t like him all that much for the offenses. That’s why he barely sees the field.
Cross might be a solid blocker. Don’t know about his ST play but our ST sucks, maybe he’s part of the reason, don’t know.
Don’t see why we shouldn’t be looking to upgrade that position with somebody who could do more.
April 29th, 2018 at 10:25 pm
@Webster,
I don’t know if you have checked his, Donald’ s nephew, combine/pro day numbers, but they’re impressive if taken together. I won’t say He’ll be great but if He’s not its not because He’s not athletic enough.
April 30th, 2018 at 4:03 am
I don’t get you guys, when the SuperBack was drafted in the 6th everyone said he was the next Alstott… now we get the next Alstott and everyone is quiet… I mean this kid was born on the same day Alstott got a TD against the Vikings, a team Alstott owned! Don’t you see the dots here? Don’t you see the connection?