On The Second Day…
April 24th, 2018
Value.
Yes, running back is swimming through Joe’s brain virtually non-stop as the draft is mere hours away.
As Joe is typing this here article, the Bucs do not have a third-round pick. Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had to pay that as ransom for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, a fair price if you ask Joe.
Still, that loss of a second-day draft pick stings. Especially when you need a running back and there might be a few quality running backs available on the second day.
And Joe is of the mind you get what you pay for if you wait until the third day of the draft to grab a running back. And how are you this fine Tuesday, Mr. SnoopDog McPlaybook?
Ronald Jones may be one back still there on the second day of the draft. Mike Mayock, the all-knowing NFL draft guru employed at NFL Network, recently came out with his top-five rankings at each position and he dropped Jones, a running back from USC, down to No. 5.
That doesn’t mean Mayock doesn’t like him. It’s just that Mayock has his ear to the ground within NFL circles and is ranking Jones, in part, from what he is hearing from his NFL contacts.
“I’ve got Ronald Jones as a second round running back, and I think that’s pretty special,” Mayock said. “I think his ability with the ball in his hands is as good as anybody in this draft. The concern I had is whether or not he has natural hands. And at 205 pounds, basically you’re looking at a back that’s not going to get 25 touches in the run game. I know what he can do with the ball in his hands. I know, when you hand it to him, he’s fine. My concern is just third down, change of pace, throwing the ball, pass protection — how elite will he be at that level?
“But trust me, I love his football game. I just question the natural hands.”
And that is a concern if the Bucs were going to draft him, but how much of a concern? While hunting and pecking, Joe found that Peyton Barber had the highest catch-rate of any Bucs running back last year (84.2 percent), which surprised Joe.
So perhaps Barber can do some of the heavy-lifting in the passing game and won’t have to come off the field much on third downs? First and second downs, Jones could theoretically be on the field.
All-you-can-eat buffet available starting at 6 p.m. and runs all night long. Be there!! Joe and Ira Kaufman will be in the house with the Stick Carriers and The Commish. Raw energy and Bucs love everywhere.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:04 am
A better than Jones back will be available in round 2. Take that one.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:06 am
Kid has a head on his shoulders….watched a interview with him…I was impressed…I am only concerned with his weight at 205…yeah I know we have Barber….Still if Nick Chubb is there at 2 I’d take him over Jones and then take Marquez Carter later
April 24th, 2018 at 9:07 am
No thanks. The only way we take this guy is if a lot of backs have gone off the board.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:09 am
Joe, any idea why we have no interest in CJ Anderson ?
April 24th, 2018 at 9:10 am
“Kobe wants us to draft a runningback however….
Peyton Barber is a legit NFL starter. Barber will be starter rb beginning of the season…2018 Barber over 1k rushing yards
He will surprise and open everyones eyes!”
Kobe Faker
April 24th, 2018 at 9:16 am
Nick chubb in the 2nd is a must if he is there, but I would be ok with a top talent running back if he is not available if we get Nelson in the 1st =)
April 24th, 2018 at 9:16 am
A little light but he’s going through the middle. That’s promising. I could see him as a 1-2 punch with Barber.
He’s not my first choice but I wouldn’t be terribly disappointed if we picked him up.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:19 am
Cj Anderson I believe is like 30/31 and ppl get leary of backs once they get to their 30’s
April 24th, 2018 at 9:25 am
If by chance, Chubb is still there at 7 and the Bucs pass on him….We will definitely know..its truely..A BUCLIFE!!
April 24th, 2018 at 9:33 am
Guessing at a 2nd Rnd pick would be a lot easier if we knew for sure who Licht will take in the 1st Rnd. So many possibilities BEFORE Bucs pick … in the FIRST ROUND. By the 2nd Rnd it’s anyone’s guess who’s still on the board. Did anyone predict that OJ would still be available at #19 last year?
Actually hoping now for a trade-down scenario (Patriots now most likely IMO … IF there’s still a QB that they like when we’re on the clock at #7). Missing that 3rd Rnd pick is HUUUGE because we’ve got so many unfilled starting NEEDS, and it’d be nice to recoup that pick via a trade-down.
But even if we don’t trade-down, Bucs can’t lose at #7 & #38 … unless Jason gets into the happy juice again & pulls another Aguayo.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:35 am
@Bucsfan1010, I get that RB’s are considered old at about age 30… CJ Anderson just turned 27 in Feb. Head scratcher that he is still available and the Bucs have no interest.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Another one of many quality starting RBs in this draft. No need to use a top 10 pick on one.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:36 am
That video, at 2:49… That’s impressive.
This guy as a 1-2-3 punch with our current stable, may not be too shabby.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:37 am
@Beans
Nobody is going to sign a FA until after the draft at this point.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Get him! Split the carries with Barber. Mix Quizz in the game in sprinkles. Change of pace. Both Barber and Jones hit the gaps hard. Jones may be smaller but he’s got breakaway game speed. I’m digging this combo with heavy running Barber.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Wouldnt mind seeing Sims come baack. I like him in the pass game and when he does run he can break off big gains.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:43 am
I like r.jones…..I think he would be a nice compliment to barber……
however, if it came down to RB vs Oline in the 2nd round, I would prefer oline…..will hernandez or frank ragnow……then target bo scarbrough or k.johnson in the 4th…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 24th, 2018 at 9:45 am
CJ Anderson is 27, not 30/31, and he is on the Bucs radar, just post-draft. Any team that needs a RB now is waiting post-draft to see how things unfold. I’m sure his agent knows this as well and has been in contact with Jason Licht. We will address the secondary big time this draft. Personally I would go with Derwin with my 1st and either Josh Jackson, Oliver, Davis at CB with my 2nd….all CB’s over 6’0 for the Michael Thomas, Julio Jones/Sanu, Funchess matchups of the division twice a year. Then sign CJ Anderson and add depth with the remaining picks.
April 24th, 2018 at 9:47 am
813bucboi……I like your draft scenario a lot as well.
April 24th, 2018 at 10:08 am
@Beans,
I think they might very well be interested, as are other teams, but this close to the draft, it’s hard to spend money so to speak. I think the Bucs could actuallyl take 2 RBs in the draft and CJ just won’t be a need. But if they go Derwin James and Isaiah Oliver or Stud CB because they slide, then they get Mark Walton or Nyheim Hines in the 4th, he could definitely be added for insurance purposes.
April 24th, 2018 at 10:46 am
I would rather draft Nick Chubb or Rashaad Penny instead of Jones.
With the Bucs liking Barber to carry some of the load on early downs – Penny is probably the best fit for our offense and our needs out of those 3.
My hope is we can trade down in the 2nd rd – net an extra pick – and still get Rashaad Penny later in the 2nd…
April 24th, 2018 at 11:09 am
Rather have a complete back like Kerryon Johnson.
April 24th, 2018 at 11:28 am
If bo Scarborough is there in the fourth take two dam backs
April 24th, 2018 at 11:53 am
Batman – I think Johnson is on the Bucs radar for that 2nd pick in the 4th rd if he’s still available then and they didn’t get a RB yet.
April 24th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
A running back that doesn’t get caught from behind?
We can’t have that.
That kid can fly and got some moves. Teach him how to catch. How hard can it be to catch a pass coming out of the backfield anyhow?
April 24th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Sick of so called value picks. Why cant we draft a quality back? Guice at #7 is fine with me, can always pick-up a value guard on 2nd day. We need a solid running back to stop the 8 man fronts we will see this year.
April 24th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Please draft him. I am a Bucs fan since 1976 because I was a SC fan first. This kid is the real deal.
April 24th, 2018 at 1:15 pm
Jones reminds me of a young Jamaal Charles.
I think he’ll be great in the NFL.
And his actual play speed seems way faster tuan his 4.65 40 time…
April 24th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
The 4.65 was when he pulled a hamstring he ran 4.49 at his pro day, he’s probably more around a 4.45 range if fully healthy
April 24th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
If we get Nelson in the 1st then we need to get CB in the 2nd insted of RB. I think CB is more of priority.
April 24th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
Sony Michel > Nick Chubb > Ronald Jones
Michel can catch and pass block. The other 2 aren’t known for that. Michel is a complete back. If he drops cuz of his “health” which didn’t really phase him in college, I would scoop him up like nobody’s bidness.