Running Backs On The Mind
March 21st, 2019
Meets with Bucs.
So let’s suppose you cut checks for one of your assistant coaches to travel to two different spots of our republic and personally work out and meet with two players at the same position he coaches. What would that tell you?
It tells Joe that Bucco Bruce Arians and the Bucs are more than a little interested in a particular position. And in the past three days, per Jenna Laine of ESPN, Bucs running backs coach Todd McNair has worked out Penn State running back Miles Sanders and Georgia running back Elijah Holyfield.
Folks, teams don’t just waste cash and time doing this sort of stuff.
Holyfield (you may have heard of his father who made a few shekels in the sweet science of boxing) had an awful NFL combine. Unless he was hurt or sick (or both), he is ssslllooowww. Fullback slow.
But Sanders at Penn State is very interesting. His biggest knock was that he had to watch from the sidelines as Saquon Barkley carried the mail for Penn State.
In fact, former Bears scouting director cranky Greg Gabriel is really high on Sanders.
All along I have had Penn States Miles Sanders as RB1. After Pro Days today at Alabama and Penn State I am staying with that. Alabama’s Jacobs was and is still at RB2
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) March 19, 2019
Joe heard from several knowledgeable folks at the combine in February that there likely will only be one running back drafted in the first round. Those that told Joe this all said it would be Josh Jacobs from Alabama. The lone dissenter, who studies the draft about as well as anyone, told Joe he didn’t think any running back would get drafted in the first round, not even Jacobs.
Could Sanders be a steal early in the second round for the Bucs at No. 39?
Sanders averaged six yards a carry in his three years at Penn State and ran for 1,274 yards this past season.
March 21st, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Sorry…unless there are extra trade down picks…linemen with the 2nd pick…either O or D whichever was not taken in the first round…we need a OL & DL with the first 2 picks in either order
March 21st, 2019 at 4:39 pm
AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
March 21st, 2019 at 4:38 pm
.
.
they always are for reasons only the Joes know…
March 21st, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Look at some video of how Miles Sanders runs.
IMO, he is a near clone of how Warrick Dunn ran.
March 21st, 2019 at 4:47 pm
If it were me……I’d pick a RG early in round 2……and most RBs in later rounds including the ones we have on our roster would benefit.
Strengthen the Oline first……
March 21st, 2019 at 4:53 pm
But can he catch…?
March 21st, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Guard Lindstrom in second.
March 21st, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Looks to me like Joey’s favorite running back of all-time, the Dougarnaut. But what do I know?
March 21st, 2019 at 4:56 pm
“BA knows our defense suk
Best friend of a bad defense is a great offense that is always 2 scores ahead and pedal to the medal ala chiefs and the rams
BA needs sanders to carve up linebackers in the screen game ala warrick dunn …
And than take it over the top with ME, Godwin and OJ…
We will dictate games with our offense and make the opponents offense 1 dimensional and always playing from behind and turnover prone”
Kobe Faker
March 21st, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Hey Joe — quick heads up. Your home page isn’t updating for Firefox users. Last post is on Fitzgerald having options. Sorry if you were already aware.
March 21st, 2019 at 4:58 pm
quick feet….very shifty…..nasty jump cut…..decent hands….doesnt seem to run with power…more of a “make you miss” type of back….
him and holyfield are 2 totally different backs…lol….
holyfield is a 1 cut, down hill power runner…..
i like devin singltary and darrell henderson but i can see sanders being a good change of pace back for us…..
rojo better tighten up…..wilson showed some flashes…..rojo showed he can keep a bench warm…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 21st, 2019 at 5:03 pm
Jordon Scarlett is an RB I think they should be looking at and I say that as an FSU fan. Dude runs hard and shows good speed both on tape and at the combine. I suspect he’s 3rd Round material so wouldn’t mind seeing him here
March 21st, 2019 at 5:04 pm
imo, we have to go trenches first 3 rounds…..
DT, OL, DE
OL, DE, DT
DE, DT, OL
OL, DT, DE
sanders could be the 1st or 2nd RB off the board…..gotta look at d.singletary, d.henderson, b.snell….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 21st, 2019 at 5:10 pm
Yes!!
Let’s keep taking meh RBs in the 2nd round every year!
That way we can keep ignoring things like Oline.
March 21st, 2019 at 5:12 pm
Who cares what “Greg Gabriel” thinks. Really. It’s not an offense to the dude, it’s just who cares.
Josh Jacobs is objectively a MUCH better RB than Miles Sanders. They’re two different Backs to be honest.
But hey, Greg has an opinion. Besides, we can’t go RB until the 4th really, and Sanders will be pilfered by then.
March 21st, 2019 at 5:13 pm
jaboo
huge gator fan here…..i would absolutely love scarlett….he’s a bruiser….has good vision and quick feet…..
BUT he cant catch a cold in an igloo butt naked…..maybe it was rust after a year off but his hands are str8 bricks….
i wouldnt mind j.patrick from fsu….big RB….broke a lot of tackles….ran hard from what i saw….can he catch?
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 21st, 2019 at 5:16 pm
hey joe same as Charlie except on msn.
March 21st, 2019 at 5:23 pm
We could use another RB but not with our first pick, maybe 3rd or 4th round. Personally I hope we can trade back out of 5 and pick up extra early round picks. We sure could use a huge infusion of talent to sift through. Especially since this draft is loaded with quality defensive players. If your average is to get half your picks right then it’s a lot better deal to hit on 50% of say 8 picks than 50% of only 6 picks.
March 21st, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Trenches 1,2, and then RB
March 21st, 2019 at 5:27 pm
My question to all my JBF brothers is this…
I respect greatly the knowledge that so many of you have…
Is there ANY HOPE that Ronald Jones II could possibly round into something special this year as a breakaway threat?….
Or is he toast?
March 21st, 2019 at 5:34 pm
CharlieB Says:
March 21st, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Hey Joe — quick heads up. Your home page isn’t updating for Firefox users. Last post is on Fitzgerald having options. Sorry if you were already aware.
Same problem with AOL…..
March 21st, 2019 at 5:36 pm
James Williams from WSU in the 6th or 7th
March 21st, 2019 at 5:36 pm
You have no starting RG, you need at least two more starting LBs, you need a #1 corner, and serious questions at safety, and people are talking about taking a RB high? Last year it was this same nonsense and why we ended up with Ronald Jones. The team doesn’t need to spend on a RB, if you still need one once you get to the preseason you can just wait for one to get cut.
March 21st, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Nice player but not in the first two rounds and probably not in the first three. There is too much DL, OL, and CB talent in those first 2-3 rounds to draft a back up RB over a potential starter. I think we take RB in the later rounds but I’m not for drafting Holyfield at all.
March 21st, 2019 at 5:56 pm
No way we go RB until at least round 4! It’s all about the trenches in the early rounds, no luxury positions!
March 21st, 2019 at 6:12 pm
There are some great ideas here but but but
Jason will blow the pick
#dontshootthemessenger
March 21st, 2019 at 6:13 pm
I’m not sold on Sanders being a 2nd Rd talent in this draft or any recent draft…More like bottom of 3rd / top of the 4th. (1 yr wonder RB’s rarely translate to 20touch/game workhorses!)
And might I add… If the Bucs pick a RB in 2nd Rd of this draft & it’s isn’t Jacobs – after dealing back up into the bottom of the 2nd to get him …Light needs to be fired! There’s way too much DEF talent to be buying high on this RB class.
(No RB in this class should be taken before the MID-LATE 2nd Rd.)
March 21st, 2019 at 6:32 pm
If we pick anyone other than defense or an offensive lineman in the first two rounds then we have wasted the pick
March 21st, 2019 at 6:36 pm
After watching that video, I can’t help but notice how much better Penn State’s OL is after getting rid of D. Smith. LOL
March 21st, 2019 at 6:37 pm
I can’t find Sanders in any Top Ten lists.
I like Darrell Henderson from Memphis in the fourth round. Saw him vs Houston and Ed Oliver. He dominated. He wore them down.
1st and 2nd rounds need to stocl the OL and DL.
March 21st, 2019 at 6:38 pm
as a backup at penn st, he has little wear on his wheels.
March 21st, 2019 at 6:40 pm
SC bucs fan is 100 percent
March 21st, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Joe does.
Joe tends to put stock in people who worked in the league or who work in the league. You know, like when Joe has a toothache, he tends to consult a dentist as opposed to say, a carpenter.
March 21st, 2019 at 6:53 pm
So, I have been waiting for years for a running back that looked like Marshall Faulk, shifty explosive legs without the over bulked up arms… (pass catching, vision) I am not saying this kid is Faulk, he just seems to have those kinda traits.. I would love this pick in the 2nd round
March 21st, 2019 at 7:02 pm
Unless this kid lasts until the mid rounds I don’t see it. Although I fully expect Licht to trade out of 5 and pick up some more 2nd rd or 3rd rd picks. If we can grab a quality dline and Lindstrom at guard, then miles, I’d be ok. However, I’d rather grab best defender available in first and two OL if we get 2 picks in 2nd round (G/RT).
March 21st, 2019 at 7:11 pm
what am I missing on l.j scott? Why isnt he on anyones radar? I think rb in round 2 is tto early but this kid is talented. I loked lj scotts film and given nobody talks about him Id risk the pick later
March 21st, 2019 at 8:05 pm
Joe has teeth?
March 22nd, 2019 at 1:22 am
Devine Ozigbo RB Nebraska
6’0 233lbs 4.54 40
His vertical, broad and cone drills would have ranked top 5 at the combine. He’s very much under the radar since he wasn’t invited to the combine, hoping we can get him in the 3rd or 4th rounds. Has an all around skill set, may not have to come off the field as he can run with power or finesse AND CAN CATCH.
March 22nd, 2019 at 2:59 am
TB Demon in a perfect world, BA and the new coaches could turn ROJO around and make him very productive. But they’re looking for someone else instead. That tells you they have no confidence in him or their own ability to make him better.
Can’t block, can’t catch, can’t remember the play book and goes down on first contact. These are all things you’ve heard about ROJO unfortunately. Any one of these is bad — but all of them?
.
I said the Bucs should pick any of about 6 or 7 RBs last year, but not him. Wish I had been wrong, but the tape doesn’t lie. He was great against Western Michigan and soft Pac 12 defenses, but didn’t produce in the big games against OSU, TX and ND.
March 22nd, 2019 at 7:21 am
Joe Says:
March 21st, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Who cares what “Greg Gabriel” thinks. Really. It’s not an offense to the dude, it’s just who cares
Joe does.
Joe tends to put stock in people who worked in the league or who work in the league. You know, like when Joe has a toothache, he tends to consult a dentist as opposed to say, a carpenter.
@Joe….IF you’re going the “people who worked in the league or who work in the league” angle….my point was pretty much implied, that especially this time of year with the draft, there are much more valuable or directly qualified RB opinions, than Greg Gabriel, for opinions on Sanders, Jacobs or any RB.
That’s the point.
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:04 am
Pass on drafting a RB – develop Rojo, grab another UFA for depth. Draft defense and OL.
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:05 am
Yes to Sanders
March 22nd, 2019 at 9:18 am
David Montgomery
March 22nd, 2019 at 11:34 am
Gabriel was an NFL scout for 15 years. Seems like that would give him some insight.
March 22nd, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Cobraboy Says:
March 21st, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Look at some video of how Miles Sanders runs.
IMO, he is a near clone of how Warrick Dunn ran.
—————–
So what you’re saying is that you’ve never seen Warrick Dunn run the ball in your life? Because there are almost ZERO similarities here. Both are shifty and can put their foot in the ground and change direction or accelerate but that’s where the comparison ends. Dunn was 5’8 178 lbs and was a legit 4.38. Sanders is far larger at 5’11 215 and if I had to guess was a 4.55… he almost got caught from behind in the video by an Illini player wearing #97 at the beginning of the video. Dunn couldn’t get caught from behind by anyone wearing a jersey number higher than #49.
Continuing on, Sanders runs with good power, breaking many arm tackles and getting forward lean and pushes the pile. Dunn didn’t break many tackles at all. He ran hard but he didn’t get much push and he didn’t have much power.
So much for being a clone… other than playing the same position, there isn’t a whole lot going on with that comparison.
March 22nd, 2019 at 1:00 pm
813 BucBoi :Sir,you are correct !!!
March 22nd, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Sanders ran 4.49 at the combine
March 22nd, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Sanders kid is really shifty. I like how he makes eye contact with the defender to help manipulate the misdirection. If he’s there in the third I’d jump all over it. I see rb’s sliding a bit in this years draft
March 26th, 2019 at 7:30 pm
Trade Jones for a 6 or 7th rounder & draft this kid Sanders. Can do it all including naturally catching passes. I can see him being a 3 down back very soon. He’s a faster x agile runner than Peyton Barber.