An Andy Reid Kind Of Guy
April 29th, 2019
Your 4th round pick
What exactly did the Buccaneers get in Round 4 of the draft with defensive end Anthony Nelson?
There are lots of ways to answer that.
First, Joe’s digging reveals a very intelligent guy who understands that his huge frame, 6-7, 271 pounds, means he has the potential to be extremely versatile. Joe saw a recent quote from Nelson saying he’s happy to gain or lose 10 pounds to set himself up for maximum performance inside or outside on the defensive line.
Second, Joe took a minute to compare another big-frame guy the Bucs drafted on the defensive line in Round 4 six years ago: Will Gholston. A look at the NFL Scouting Combine numbers for both shows Nelson is taller, more explosive, faster and has longer arms.
Bucs GM Jason Licht called Nelson “one of the more productive guys in the draft.” He racked up 23 sacks and 31 tackles for loss in 39 games with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Yes, that’s a lot more sacks than Gholston had in college.
Licht’s right-hand man, player personnel director John Spytek, told Buccaneers.com that Nelson had freakish Combine numbers for a man his size and “he’s got great feet. I learned a long time ago from Andy Reid that linemen with great feet typically end up playing well.”
Nelson smells like a strong fourth-round pick and Joe feels good about him. This is the kind of guy that might be a third-round talent in a draft overloaded with good D-line prospects. Joe’s not going to hold it against Nelson that the team should have drafted a D-lineman earlier.
This NFL.com link has a nice video look at Nelson.
April 29th, 2019 at 12:20 am
The more I research our draftees the more excited I get. Nelson is exciting and so are the rest. My most exciting one is Beckner. Have a little feeling he may be the diamond in the rough.
April 29th, 2019 at 12:25 am
Arians was right.
The defensive backfield was a bigger concern than the Dline.
Howard’s not going to hate on the Bucs 2019 draft.
Arians and his staff have a lot of work to do just correcting
all the mistakes that preceded them.
Glazers knew the underpaid underqualified feel-good coaching jig was up.
Their Morris/Schiano/Lovie/Koetter thing had failed miserably to the point
where the Bucs are now the undisputed laughing stock of the NFL…
So they got Arians
Howard trust Arians decisions more than local media and other armchair GM’s
All that said Nelson looks like a great pick on paper
April 29th, 2019 at 12:31 am
@Howard. 100 percent agree with your post. And it’s about time we finally have the right staff making decisions. After the shell shock and being so used to the last 10 drafts, I’m starting to see the light. Definitely no pun intended on that one.
April 29th, 2019 at 12:39 am
Awww, Joe got his binky….he’s a good boy, we love you so much….such a good, good, good boy.
April 29th, 2019 at 12:46 am
I posted on the article before this one and not trying to be that guy. Just want everyone to watch the video on Beckner. The dude has what this team has been lacking in the attitude department. Gotta a really good feeling about him and definitely doesn’t hurt that I just noticed it’s from a New England site. https://www.patriots.com/video/2019-draft-prospects-terry-beckner-dt-missouri
April 29th, 2019 at 12:49 am
Sorry im so asinine…..just looking for a short pier to take a long walk on…..following the Joes lead will surely clear it all up, just dont trip while im behind you, i might not help you up!
April 29th, 2019 at 1:44 am
I really think this draft was honestly preety good djax gone on offense with Godwin at number 2 on Howard back healthy hopefully and our new scheme defense with a plethora of DB competition now I really think we might just actually be good again
April 29th, 2019 at 3:10 am
Somehow, someday, when Licht gets fired, can the Bucs trade a whole draft for Derwin James!? Ditka did it. Arians should do it next year! Fireee Licht!
April 29th, 2019 at 3:25 am
I frequently advocated for our taking Derwin James before last year’s draft, but suggesting we trade a whole draft for him is nothing short of crazy talk.
April 29th, 2019 at 4:57 am
That’s an awfully big dude for a DE. Of course, if the Bucs go mostly 3-4 he could be a huge asset on any down.
April 29th, 2019 at 5:46 am
It’s a really smart draft when you think about it. No question the defense needed the most help. Stud MLB in White that can help against the run and pAss. 2 tall fast CB’s and a smart athletic Safety. A tall strong high motor DE paired with a high motor athletic interior DLineman.
We can argue the K, but if it fixes the problem then who cares when he was selected. And the slot WR Miller seems like the type of guy NE would take if they didn’t have 3 just like him already.
April 29th, 2019 at 6:10 am
Nassib didnt play all 16 games last season or start yhe games he played in. Hes a double digit giy this year.
JPP is a double digit guy and I dont see licht letting him ho next season afyer trading a third for him and knowinh he wants to stay in Tampa.
Vea is an animal
Gerald.is hoing to restrictire and stay.
Now that they wont be playing soft coverage every snap the dline and lvs can blitz and get the numbers they were always capable of
April 29th, 2019 at 6:43 am
I could see Ryan Smith and Gholston getting cut, that saves us about 5-6 mil right there.
April 29th, 2019 at 7:15 am
We definitely had a good draft……it is solid from the 1st pick to the last…
Do your homework JBF posters……sure, they weren’t necessarily who you wanted but they are good.
Keep in mind we received and extra pick…….Jamel Cook or Mike Edwards are a bonus.
We will see some familiar faces get cut.
April 29th, 2019 at 7:37 am
I saw his spider chart or whatever they are called and his bench press is really really low a (7) as I recall…you an observation
April 29th, 2019 at 7:44 am
BucEmUp … I seem to remember from your past comments that you were convinced we had the talent on defense but we totally stunk because of bad coaching. After we drafted 1 LB, 2 CB, 1 S, 1 DE & 1 DT have you changed your mind? MAYBE it was bad coaching AND lack of talent? Seems like you were also convinced there wouldn’t be a big turnover in personnel on defense because we had such wonderful talent. So for what will probably be 24 defensive positions, we’ll most likely have around 10 new defensive faces when we open the season. That’s over a 40% turnover. Is that NOT considered a big personnel turnover in your book?
Bowles defense will operate radically different IMO from what we’ve been seeing. You’re right, no more “playing soft coverage”. LOTS of blitzing, which seems to be a trademark of Bowles’ defenses.
The BIGGEST change though IMO will come in the area of TEAMWORK and BETTER COMMUNICATION. Far as I’m concerned, that’s where everything broke down last year (well, THAT and mediocre talent in places). Bucs allowed a huge number of points IMO because they did a P-Poor job of working together … that’s TEAMWORK & COMMUNICATION. Look at the number of SOLO TACKLES. Only TWO teams had more than 800 solo tackles … the Cardinals (859) and the Bucs (826). That’s NOT good, because it means we’re NOT gang tackling (a Bucs trademark years ago). We ONLy had 202 assist tackles … #30 in the league. That stinks, because once again it means we’re not gang tackling. May not be valid, but I also think so many solo tackles was one factor in why so many of our DBs kept getting hurt (well, that and allowing far too many completed passes which means you now have to tackle someone). In any event, I think we’ll see a much-improved defense ONCE all the new pieces gel.
April 29th, 2019 at 9:20 am
This article is a breath of fresh air on this site after the last week on here. Thank you Joe’s. About time people are coming around. Just because it’s not the position or player you wanted picked in a specific round doesn’t mean these players aren’t good and won’t offer the Bucs some much needed help on Defense.
The offense wasn’t the problem last year as much as the Defense and ST’s were. I think we addressed both. I think this Anthony Nelson will definitely be a key ST contributor as well. Definitely has the ability to block some kicks too.
As far as Matt Gay, like the pick or not, he’s got a big leg and comes from the special teams football factory that is known as Utah…so there’s that!
April 29th, 2019 at 9:26 am
Mike Webster HOF , Zach Thomas 7 Pro bowls , Rodney Harrison back to back Super Bowl Wins , Hardy Nickerson , Kam Chancellor , Richard Sherman , Kevin Greene HOF , Dick LeBeau HOF , Larry Centers , Tyreek Hill , Jordan Howard and I could go on and on. These Players have 1 thing in common , they were all 5th Round Draft picks. The Bucs lost one of the best slot WR’s when Hump left , and had a clone of Hump in Hunter Renfro available to them and they pass for a FREAKING KICKER after one of the most EPIC FAILS in the 2nd Round in history 3 years ago picking a FREAKING KICKER.
There is no statistical correlation between having a great kicker and winning games , absolutely none. Why? Because success in the league is driven by how many FREAKING TD’s YOU FREAKING SCORE , and last time I checked , THE DAMN KICKER DOES NOT SCORE TD’s.
So many players were still on the board that could have really helped this team fill holes that are GAPING in this roster that the GAY PICK defies all logic and reason . Vegas has the OVER / UNDER on your BUCCOS at 6-6.5 and that sounds about right , especially with a 7 week ROADIE on the schedule. See , even the league wants this franchise to stink. JASON LICHT IS THE WORST GM IN THE NFL……………………….PERIOD.
April 29th, 2019 at 10:07 am
nelson was a good choice….im fine with that….him and beckner were good picks….
GO BUCS!!!!
April 29th, 2019 at 10:35 am
Licht expected to pick Offense given BA was an offensive coach before he was a HC. When BA told him our defense was far worse than our offense and we needed to fix it first, Licht followed what BA wanted. We now have plenty of defensive talent to provide the competition that Bowles needs as he is putting in his attacking defense. Licht did get us a 4.3 speedster to bolster our special teams and be a backup to Perriman and the slot position both. He has picked up two OLinemen as undrafted Free Agents to help compete for the RG position, and Warhop never let Liedtke compete against his pet Benenoch at RG. Liedtke is a Veteran Guard and I expect him to be a big upgrade at RT this year. We still need a OT to backup Dotson and four year 5 star Gator OT/G Martez Ivey is still available and Licht can still grab him.
April 29th, 2019 at 10:42 am
Ivy was a beast at LT playing against Ga. last year as well as against Michigan in the Peach Bowl and has played a lot of Guard in the past too. He could compete for RG this year and replace Dotson when he retires. He is very strong thanks to the strength trainer at FL who previously prepared Ohio State’s players for Urban Meyer.
April 29th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Nelson may turn out to be the Bucs best pick. Another Nassib.