Cool Response From RB
February 28th, 2019
Iowa State RB David Montgomery.
You know the Bucs need a running back. Joe knows the Bucs need a running back.
Now Joe is not advocating the Bucs to pick one at No. 5, that would be a big-time reach.
But the way draft seems to be shaking out, there could be as few as one running back selected in the first round. One respected draft analyst told Joe at the combine today he didn’t expect any running backs to be picked in the first round.
Regardless, it is shaping up that the Bucs could find a helluva running back in the second round.
Now Joe was wondering about Iowa State’s David Montgomery, who was their bellcow the past two seasons and is coming out as a junior. He could be a late Day 2 pick, a fourth-rounder. Second round, no way.
Of course what might hurt Montgomery is that he played in the Big XII, which doesn’t believe in defense. But don’t tell Montgomery that. Joe asked the 5-10, 222-pound power back what he tells people if they come at him saying his stats are padded because he played in a no-defense league.
Montgomery had a cool comeback.
“I just laugh,” Montgomery told Joe.
That’s a good one!
(In a related story, someone asked Oklahoma guard Cody Ford if playing Alabama was a major step up from facing Big XII defenses. Let’s just say that question — Ford’s first at his press conference — didn’t go over very well.)
If the Bucs could land a versatile running back in the second round, that would be a success in Joe’s eyes.
February 28th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
No way…..maybe 4th……..but we need trench players……
February 28th, 2019 at 5:39 pm
Do you not recall Joe how you reported that Arians was sold on Peyton Barber?
Of course! –Joe
February 28th, 2019 at 5:44 pm
Said last year don’t draft a RB, that Barber is good enough. This year I repeat that. Spending a 2nd rounder on luxury pick like RB when you have one NFL caliber corner on your roster should be a fireable offense. Sure, VH3 might be back, he might be healthy, but are you really counting on that, betting the season on that? Stewart looked like the second coming of Ryan Smith last year, just slower, and then you have the man, the legend, the worst corner I’ve ever seen ever, Ryan Smith.
No, no, no. Pick defensive lineman, corners, another safety, offensive line depth and LBs, all of those should be addressed before you start even considering a RB.
February 28th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Rod Munch
of course they are banking on vh3BUST. like low standard bucfan, the organization prefers local failure feel good stories over talent and winning… bucfan would be happy if they just rolled out the tabernacle choirboys with some st pete crackhead at QB and went o-16 every year losing quietly and with no heart or passion
February 28th, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Sorry Joe. Not going to be a RB till maybe the third with extra picks. And that’s a stretch. BA believes in Barber. I believe in Barber (not too relevant). Licht sounds like he has much more confidence in RoJo with a good coaching staff and hopefully going to fix the oline. Second Round: OG Chris Lindstrom (Boston College).
February 28th, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Trenches and secondary!! RB is low on our priorities
February 28th, 2019 at 7:50 pm
I’m telling you…RB Devine Ozigbo from Nebraska is the sleeper in the draft. We can pick him up with our 4th pick, likely.
Watch his film in private…because you WILL cream your jeans.
Don’t be embarrassed.
Happens.
February 28th, 2019 at 7:53 pm
lj scott
February 28th, 2019 at 8:01 pm
Bucs certainly can’t go into the season with just Barber, RoJo & Wilson. But taking a RB in Round 2 when so many will surely be available in FA? Nah. Higher priorities are a MLB, a DE & a Tackle (as a minimum). That’d make RB a 4th Round pick UNLESS we trade down & grab an extra Round 2 pick. If we don’t fix the defense, we’re screwed. If we don’t fix the OLine, it won’t matter who our RBs are. Get a quality veteran RB in free agency to complement Barber & we’ll be fine back there.
February 28th, 2019 at 8:14 pm
No way Rashad Penny was going first round last year either. Then the Seahawks did what they do. Just takes one team to take em. Ive seen this guy pegged in the 2nd by numerous outlets. I just hope we end up with numerous 2nd round picks if the top 2 edge guys are gone, which is probable. Its just about the time of year when teams start to trade up for qbs tho so anythings possible.
February 28th, 2019 at 8:35 pm
yeah, good joke.
February 28th, 2019 at 8:41 pm
O-line / D-line for at least the first 3 picks!
February 28th, 2019 at 9:23 pm
I hate all this talk of a RB. Why draft a crapshoot when you can have a proven RB like Jordan Howard or Duke Johnson. Howard could be had for a late pick like a 5th or 6th rounder. Considering the unpredictability of the draft, Licht needs to get one of these guys for a 6th rounder and focus our top picks on O Line and defense.
February 28th, 2019 at 9:41 pm
cmurda – If Howard really is available for that cheap, that is someone they should at least look at. Although I do wonder why he fell off the face of the earth in Chicago – that is concerning. But I agree with the idea that you can get a RB in FA for cheap, or throw a late round pick at a vet if they really like someone, but RB’s are so cheap and so plentiful it just makes no sense to throw resources at the position yet again.
Also there is always the hope that Jones looks better. It’s not something I’d bank on, but I’m fine having him penciled in as the #3 with Barber as the clear #1. Then someone like Duke Johnson, or bring back Charles Sims, can be that #2/receiving back.
February 28th, 2019 at 9:49 pm
I saw someone else say Ozigbo was a gem. I watched his film and I was super unimpressed. In fact my first thought was he is exactly like Peyton Barber. He doesn’t win in open space. He is more likely to lower his shoulder 1 on 1 then make a guy miss and he still goes down. I just don’t see it.
February 28th, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
February 28th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
No way…..maybe 4th……..but we need trench players
^^^^^What he said.^^^^^
February 28th, 2019 at 9:55 pm
The word on the street is that Howard could be had for a late round pick. Apparently, Bears are in love with Cohen and he fits the offense. Howard had 900 yards last year. Dude has skills and he’s only 24. The only issue is Arians also likes a back that can catch out of the backfield. Howard would be our most capable and it’s not really his strength.
Rod, he didn’t fall off. He was at his strongest at the end of the year. I really don’t get why the Bears would even want to let him go but if this is true, Licht needs to be all over this. I’d even trade our 4th round pick for Howard. Why wouldn’t you. Instead of the uncertainty with a 4th rd pick, you can take care of the RB need.
February 28th, 2019 at 10:07 pm
There are a lot of RBs I like in this draft, but it’s hard to tell where they are going to go. I like the idea of a 4th round back. My favorites are Henderson, Singletary, Holyfield, Snell, Love, R. Anderson, Montgomery, and Scott.
A 4th rounder is usually a throwaway for Licht so I like the value of a potential starting RB there and would be happy with any of those guys.
February 28th, 2019 at 10:45 pm
I don’t think we even get close to an RB until maybe the 5th rd. I got us going Defense and solid O line.
February 28th, 2019 at 10:47 pm
Yeah, I’ll go either route but I’d prefer trade it or even a later pick for a proven guy like either Duke or Howard. With that said, even if the Bucs fall in love with one of those other RB’s you mentioned, I’m cool with that. For the love of football, please don’t waste a 1st or 2nd day pick on a running back. Not in this draft.
February 28th, 2019 at 11:24 pm
cmurda – Fair enough, I shouldn’t have said Howard fell off the face of the earth, but I had him in fantasy and for every one good game he’d have, he’d have 4 games where he did nothing. Still he’s a quality back, and if he’s that cheap, and his contract would be cheap for this next year. The only real issue is that him and Barber are the same type of back – Jordan is better, but I’m not sure he’s much of an improvement. Having two power backs who aren’t much of a threat in the passing game would mean giving up on Jones, which I don’t think they’re ready to do.
February 28th, 2019 at 11:41 pm
Yeah, agreed Rod. Of the two, really Duke fits more of what we need and I think what B.A. would be looking for. With Hunt now in the picture, it makes sense for Cle to deal Duke. Considering that the rest of the league pretty much knows Cle will be ready to deal, I don’t think it would take more than a late round pick to get him. I’ve been beating the drum for him since Hunt was signed. I would be very happy with that also. Clearly, there are better options than the draft.
March 1st, 2019 at 1:24 am
He’s already as big as many LB’s. I bet he ends up as a FB.
March 1st, 2019 at 11:05 am
I guess the silver lining is that the Big 12 isn’t the weakest defense in the Power 5. By rank, it is ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Pac-12.
Although Big 12 went 3-1 against the SEC in the bowl games. So there’s that.
March 1st, 2019 at 9:44 pm
Get a running back in FA get a corner in FA get DE and DT and OG and OT in the draft get a LB in FA and draft