Just Learning, Listening
May 10th, 2019
Rare rookie opportunity.
For an afterthought of a draft pick, Bucs rookie defensive lineman Anthony Nelson has a rare open door to make a difference.
Since he was drafted, the Bucs have been hit hard on the defensive line. Jason Pierre-Paul was in a car wreck and his season if not career hangs in the balance. Gerald McCoy also seems closer to becoming an ex-Bucs player than when Nelson was drafted, thanks to GMC’s $13 million salary.
So as today’s first rookie minicamp practice was about to get underway, Joe asked Nelson if coaches had told him he’s going to get a good chance of making a difference or even maybe a shot at starting.
Nope, said Nelson. He has heard none of that and really isn’t plugged in to what is happening with JPP or GMC. Nelson said he’s too busy trying to get his mind right being in his new city with his new team learning new teammates and new coaches with new assignments.
As for Bucco Bruce Arians, Nelson, who has played in two Outback Bowls for Iowa and is somewhat familiar with the Tampa Bay area as a result, said he didn’t yet hear Arians curse, “But it’s [Day 1],” he said.
As for the Tampa Bay area, Nelson said his experience is the 80-degree winter days are fantastic.
He’s not lying there.
May 10th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
High hopes for him
May 10th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Beckwith out for the year. Likely career ending. Very sad. Anthony Nelson should do very well with his length and strength. GO BUCS!!!
May 10th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
We took Dean with our 1st third round pick. Nelson was selected about 10slots later.
10 slots is not much of a difference at all when you are in round 3. History prooves this.
But…..because Nelson was a 4th, and maybe more importantly that he was Day 3, his value carries a stigma that fans see it as a bigger drop-off then it really was.
I’ve wondered a few times what the fan reaction would be if we got Nelson instead of Dean in the 3rd. I bet it would have made a difference……………Or better yet, what if we took Greedy(hype) in round 2 & then Nelson………I’m certain fan reaction would be much happier.
May 10th, 2019 at 1:17 pm
JimmyJack,
The stud defensive linemen came out in the Top-10 picks
May 10th, 2019 at 1:28 pm
Guessing this guy’s best off putting on 10 lbs and playing DE in the 3-4 / DT or DE in nickle.
Hopefully an upgrade over Gholston:
Will Gholston college stats (30+ games)
62 solo tackles, 142 total, 30 for loss, 10 sacks, 13 Passes Defended, 2 Forced Fumbles
Anthony Nelson (30+ games)
59 solo tackles, 119 total, 31 for loss, 23 sacks, 7 Passes Defended, 4 Forced Fumbles
Basically Gholston + double the pass rushing ability
May 10th, 2019 at 1:34 pm
His NFL comparison player = Carl Nassib
Non stop motor, try hard guy limited a bit physically, but good length and size overall
He is going to play in the league for 7-10 years, thought it was a rock solid value pick at a position of great need
Now that JPP is in jeopardy, WillG probably gets to stay, I see Nelson as his replacement sooner rather than later
May 10th, 2019 at 1:37 pm
Lakeland……As well as a Stud MLB.
May 10th, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Lakeland go look at a lot of past drafts. And a lot of players taken after the first round turn out to be a lot better than the players drafted in the first. Just because they were drafted in the top ten doesn’t mean they will automatically be studs. Between Bosa,Williams,Ferrell,Allen,and Oliver. Three of them will
Most likely be average to bust players. When is the last time every pick in the top ten has turned out to be great picks. Never it has never happened. What if the three defensive lineman turn out to be bust and devin white is an all pro. Then everyone will be talking about how lucky the bucs were that white fell to them. While right now everyone is saying we drafted him to high. You never know until three plus years from know how this draft shakes out. We might have drafted 4 all pro players. You never know.
May 10th, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Jeffbuc. I don’t think Top 10 matters much because we had a Top 5.
The hit rate at Top 5 is substantially higher then 6-10….. Especially if you take QBs out of the equation.
5 slots doesn’t make too big difference later in the draft but Top 5 is different.
May 10th, 2019 at 2:11 pm
Looks like he’s 14 yrs old.
May 10th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Hahaha he does look 14
May 10th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
i think he’ll play hard as hell…..whether that translates into production is the question…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 10th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Yeah, 14 until you stand next to him. Then you gonna feel 14. Go Bucs!!
May 10th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
He look 14. Sure, go take another gander at that neck and tell me he still look 14.
May 10th, 2019 at 3:41 pm
Easy on the 14 year old boy comments guys…….
J- Pawl might be out on bail and looking to score!
May 11th, 2019 at 11:34 am
I said right after the draft that next to White, Nelson was the best pick of the draft for Bucs.