D’Andre Swift & The Bucs
February 24th, 2020
Yes, there are well documented problems with the Bucs and running backs, from utilization to selection to evaluation.
Everyone is to blame, including Team Glazer for not demanding every last resource be used to fix the mess.
Would it have been so freakin’ hard for the Bucs to bring in a specialist six weeks ago to assist and help guide whoever decided Peyton Barber, Ronald Jones and Dare Ogunbowale were the three best pieces to the Bucs’ 2019 puzzle at running back?
Joe’s head continues to shake. But maybe this is the year that flashes the Bucs back to their punishing running game of 2015 or 2010.
D’Andre Swift out of the University of Georgia largely is considered the big-impact running back of this year’s draft class, and many mock drafts believe he will be there for the Bucs at No. 14 overall.
Joe keeps hearing speculation that Swift is an instant beast, much like Josh Jacobs was for the Raiders last season. And Swift has very low mileage on his 21-year-old legs, only 440 college carries.
Would the Bucs dare to pick a running back that high after years of misses at the position under general manager Jason Licht? Last year, Arians himself said, “I don’t overpay for that position.” Of course, perspectives change all the time.
Joe believes the Bucs would be fools to pass on addressing running back in free agency in some fashion. It’s unthinkable to think they gamble and wait until the draft. But if they do, then maybe this is the year they go all-in on finding a true No. 1 back to turn the Bucs offense into the most balanced and lethal in the NFC.
They truly could be just a running back away from that status.
Joe can already smell the win-now Falcons trading up from their No. 16 pick to grab Swift.
February 24th, 2020 at 10:57 am
trenches first….
February 24th, 2020 at 11:07 am
With all of Arians’s comments I doubt they take an RB or a RT with their number 1 pick. Swift would probably be my pick though. I think they are going to draft Defense with the first pick.
February 24th, 2020 at 11:10 am
AlteredEgo:
I agree 100%
February 24th, 2020 at 11:12 am
No matter which RB Bucs draft, he better be able to block on pass plays or he won’t play, regardless of talent-
ROJO may have been close to a 1000 yard rusher if he didn’t screw up blocking assignments on pass plays
February 24th, 2020 at 11:13 am
…well, then you end up with a Donovan Smith and a Ronald Jones.
February 24th, 2020 at 11:17 am
What if Austin Ekler becomes available & affordable. He is RFA..
Also Chris Thompson is a great 3rd pass catching RB who would pair nicely w R Jones.. he should be affordable
February 24th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Again how is Jason Licht still employed as an NFL GM?
February 24th, 2020 at 11:32 am
Swift will be one of the first running backs to be drafted. The Bucs should not reach for him. Taylor or Dobbins will be around when the Bucs draft in the 2nd round.
If they trade down in the first round they might be able to get Fromm in the 2nd round too.
February 24th, 2020 at 11:40 am
Swift at #14 is ludicrous.
Trade back about 15 spots in the 1st if they want to get Swift. That would give them an extra 2nd and 4th round picks.
February 24th, 2020 at 11:41 am
@Craig Says:
February 24th, 2020 at 11:32 am
Swift will be one of the first running backs to be drafted. The Bucs should not reach for him. Taylor or Dobbins will be around when the Bucs draft in the 2nd round.
I’m all for Dobbins, I see all the OSU games because my wife watches them religiously. Dobbins was the real deal this past year after changing up his diet. Taylor is really good but he’s got a bit of a fumble problem that concerns me. While that can be fixed….we have a similar situation with our QB (a problem that theoretically can be fixed) that is not going well, so I think it would be a mistake to add another TO prone player to the offense.
February 24th, 2020 at 11:51 am
No. Hell no. Eff no. No running back is worth a top 20 pick, especially when there are other glaring needs and there are going to be good RBs available in rounds 2-4.
February 24th, 2020 at 11:59 am
Let’s see what happens in FA first , but I’d love to get Swift
February 24th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
I totally agree about Dobbins. IMO he’s the best RB in the draft. Being from Ohio I watched a lot of OSU football & Dobbins is every bit as good as Elliott coming out of college.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:02 pm
We have two many holes on the lines and no depth on defensive. Only makes sense for team like the chiefs to draft him in the first. We need to continue building in the trenches, wouldn’t mind taking Zach moss or cam aykers in the 3rd or 4th
February 24th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
come on joe you know pass rusher is what we need to do if those guys are on the board. i get the point but we are also banking on “Hope
” that interceptions cut in half from 30….
February 24th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
RD 1 OL
RD 2 RB
RD 3 OL
RD 4-6 DEFENSE
February 24th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
I’m a UGA fan and would love to see Swift on the roster, but not at 14. Would much prefer to build the trenches and use a 3rd on a very similar RB in Cam Akers from FSU. He played behind the worst Online in college football, or he would be a household name on draft day.
Swift is baller, though. No doubt about that.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Build the OL and it won’t matter much who the back is.
OL/DT first.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Nooe….its our offensive scheme.We tell the defense when we are running.Oline needs to improve run blocking as well. Ronald Jones should get 20 touches a game no excuse he is the most productive rb on the roster do not use a first rounder on a rb.I agree with ego draft trenches
February 24th, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Running back 4th or 5th round.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Or trade your 6th rounder to Arizona for David Johnson. If they will pay 3 to 5 million of his salary take it or leave it deal.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:38 pm
I have no problem going against the grain here. If we have an opportunity to get the top running back at 14 get him and spend the rest of your draft in the trenches. The best O-line in the world can’t make up for an instinctive RB capable of taking it to the house every time he touches the ball. I believe a dynamic RB has the ability to make a mediocre O-line look good. With our receivers and a running game either joe could QB this team to 10 wins.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:42 pm
moderation
February 24th, 2020 at 12:54 pm
@NOLES Says:
February 24th, 2020 at 11:17 am
What if Austin Ekler becomes available & affordable. He is RFA..
Also Chris Thompson is a great 3rd pass catching RB who would pair nicely w R Jones.. he should be affordable.
I doubt that Ekler becomes a free agent. He will be tendered a 1st round that is about 4.6 million. San Diego gets to keep him. If the Buc’s want him they would have to give up a 1st round pick for him. I guess it can happen but it seems highly unlikely to me.
I am ok with Chris Thompson if it is the Chris Thompson of 3 years ago. Not the Chris Thompson of 2018 or 2019. I worry about his mileage and injuries so I think we should probably pass on him.
@Allbuccedup Says:
February 24th, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Or trade your 6th rounder to Arizona for David Johnson. If they will pay 3 to 5 million of his salary take it or leave it deal.
Problem with trading for David Johnson is not only his salary this year but on March 20, 2020 $2.1 million of his salary for 2021 becomes guaranteed. Let me say that again. Over 2 million of his salary of 2021 becomes guaranteed 1 month from now.
Then in March of 2021 you have over a $1 million bonus. Lastly his base contract for 2021 is $8 million. So say you want to cut him in 2021 before the draft and not pay him 8 to 9 million (just the already guaranteed 2.1 million). You then are still stuck with a 9 million dead cap hit in 2021.
I can’t see a likely trade scenario with that bad of a cap hit on the books for 2021 and his loss of skill and risk of injury.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Drafting a running back in the first round in the modern NFL is ridiculous. It never pans out in the long term to take a running back that high.
February 24th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Johnathan Taylor will be the best running back in this draft!! I said it about Godwin and Dean coming out of college too… Mark it down!!
February 24th, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Take best RB available number 14. These 2nd 3rd round picks aren’t working out. Get swift!
February 24th, 2020 at 1:51 pm
I am also thinking Arians will take a RB or OT with the first pick which ever has the highest value at #14 and take the other in the second round. In the 3rd round I think Arians take a QB After doing some research, it’s plenty QBs out there that Arians might draft who has all the tools for the NFL but played at not well known schools or didn’t play against top competition
February 24th, 2020 at 2:22 pm
Drafting a first round running back is a bargain, not over paying for the position, big difference. You get a RB on a rookie deal you’re getting the best years of their careers. After the rookie deal is where you don’t pay them.
February 24th, 2020 at 2:30 pm
We never feel like RB in 1st round is a good idea. Remember Calvin Cook? The Vikings do.
February 24th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Safety in the first round
February 24th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Joe you need to hide your mancrush on our 3 headed monster of a running back jugernaut backfied. No defensive coordinator will sleep at night thinking of ways they might stand a chance tackling Barber and Ogunbwali. It just cant be done. Seriously though I like Johnathan Taylor out of Wisconsin with his 4.3 speed on a 220 lb frame he’s a beast and if he can just catch the ball he would be available when the Bucs pick.
February 24th, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Martinii- “The best O-line in the world can’t make up for an instinctive RB capable of taking it to the house every time he touches the ball.”
THIS was one of the most overlooked aspects of our “lack” of run-game, our RBs’ lack of vision. An upgrade at RB is a MUST if we are to improve. If it’s at #14, so be it.
February 24th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
I don’t see room for a running back on this draft
February 24th, 2020 at 3:08 pm
As usual Joe can’t see the forrest for the trees. 4.4 RBs are a dime a dozen. Meaning it’s the line that makes the difference not the RB.
February 24th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
So we want to give Winston a 6th year to develop and shouldn’t take a QB @14 but should draft a RB at 14 and get rid of a player going into his 3rd year who showed substantial improvement from year 1 to year 2. Fix the trenches 1st and everything else will fall into place
February 24th, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Give ROJO this year and sign a good RT. Then sign the defense. Save the draft for BA to choose a QB of his liking.
February 24th, 2020 at 5:25 pm
>more people complaining about cook
Yes a running back whose knees are dust would have been a worthwhile investment at 17. If you’re going to complain complain about the other all pro talents that aren’t hurt all the time. Once again the FSU homers are at it again
February 24th, 2020 at 6:05 pm
Rnd 1 to the trenches (there’s bound to be a solid OLineman or DLineman available at #14). Rnd 2 to either the OTHER trench or to RB, depending on BPA. Rnd 3 to fill in the blanks (Oline, DLine or RB depending on who wasn’t picked in the first 2 Rnds). Then use Rnds 4-6 for DEPTH and DEVELOPMENT … BPAs for WR, S, LB, RB, OLine, DLine (our depth stinks in all those areas).
February 24th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Geno 711
– good point… Eckler will be pricey most likely & Thompson has been hurt. if we could get ‘17 Thompson at ‘19 price that would be great.. Lol..
February 24th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
I think if Wills, Wirfs, Thomas, Becton, Brown, Kinlaw and Chaisson are all gone at #14, you trade BACK.
If we trade into the mid 20s, I’m all for Swift.
Reason being, we can add 2 good guys to both lines in Round 2.
Or we still get a steal for the mid 20s pick and we bundle and move up in the 2nd.
Either way, Swift at #14 is too big of a gamble IMO, when we NEED Trenches.
February 24th, 2020 at 6:52 pm
No to small backs, we got RoJo, we need that 6’1″ 235 lb thumper of a running back who can do every aspect of the job!! BULK UP BUCS!!! Mr. 5,000 needs a running game to continue his upward trend!!!
February 24th, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Swift and Rojo would be a nice combo, just not so sure we can afford to pass on DL or OL, at the top of the draft. All depends on FA. Low center of gravity at 5’9″ @ 215 lbs. is a perfect size, especially considering he’ll beef up as a pro. I wouldn’t be upset if he became a Buc, not one bit.
February 24th, 2020 at 7:36 pm
Big Hog
I agree with your big RB take.
……but that’s all we agree on.
February 24th, 2020 at 9:00 pm
You need a big pounding RB as a change of pace to ROJO. AJ Dillon or Patrick Taylor Jr in the 4th or 5th round. Go DLine, OLine and Safety in the first 3 rounds. Not sexy, but essential.
February 24th, 2020 at 9:27 pm
DoooshLaRue// I’m a BUC fan…you a BUC fan!! BIM BAM BOOM!!
February 24th, 2020 at 10:07 pm
I’d rather take a rb in rounds 2 or 3, but I wouldn’t b!tch overly much if we got Swift in the first.
February 24th, 2020 at 10:25 pm
Joe can already smell the win-now Falcons trading up from their No. 16 pick to grab Swift.
With Koetter?
I don’t think so
Seriously wasted pick
February 24th, 2020 at 10:31 pm
Did Swift pound the D behind a so so O-line or was he a product of a good O-line?
Perhaps we should be looking at their tackles?