Wasn’t On Purpose
April 27th, 2020
The draft trend this year was to go heavy on SEC players.
The Bucs went the other way.
In a year when 63 SEC players were drafted, the Bucs went heavy on the Big Ten (B1G). In fact, their first five players were B1G players (yeah, Ke’Shawn Vaughn went to Vanderbilt, the fire hydrant to the dogs of the SEC, but his first two college seasons were at Illinois before Vaughn got sick of Lovie Smith).
So what gives, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians?
“It’s just one of those things, you know,” Arians said in a Zoom conference Saturday. “The board was set – I thought Jason [Licht] did a great job with the board and we just kept coming down and guys were fitting needs and were right there to pick.
“I can’t say enough about each and every guy. I think that, just like last year’s draft, I think each and every one of these guys might have a role on our team.”
Deep in the heart of an SEC state, with some ACC love mixed in, locals will add gas to the fire that the B1G is a lousy football conference if these picks don’t pan out.
Some will whine the Bucs should draft nothing but SEC players and Joe suspects on the surface that would be a smart move. But you know what, if the Bucs win, nobody will give a s(p)it where a guy went to school.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:08 am
Eh, I don’t think locals will care that much as long as they produce.
Vaughn will be under the biggest microscope IMO.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:13 am
What idiots would suggest you should draft from any one conference? Who gives a fudge? If they can play, they can play.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:30 am
I think more important than picking what conference a player played in is where they grew up. There are certain states that produce blue chip football players at higher rates than others. States like Fla, Tx, Ohio put a lot of kids spread throughout. I was keeping sort of a tally in the first 3 rounds of what states most these guys grew up and Texas won hands down, followed by Fla, Ohio, Ga, NC, AL, and La.
So it makes since why so many turn to the SEC and ACC for talent
They are football player factories.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:44 am
Irrelevant.
It’s about the player not the conference. Level of competition really only comes into play when you’re talking small schools, or outside of the big five
April 27th, 2020 at 12:47 am
I don’t care where a guy went to school if he can play. Hell, as soon as Brooks and Winston got here, I immediately forgave them for going to FSU. 😇
April 27th, 2020 at 2:08 am
If a defensive end has 13 sacks in the sec and defensive end has 13 sacks in the big10. Who are you leaning towards. I know if it’s me it’s the sec player. Could be the big10 player ends up a better pro. It’s Just a on the surface observation. Not how the player did against this LT in a certain game etc. etc.
April 27th, 2020 at 2:15 am
I’m a total SEC homer, but clearly there’s NFL talent all over the map. Like Nick Saban says, just because the puppy has the biggest feet, doesn’t mean he’s gon’ be the best huntin’ dog (or something like that).
April 27th, 2020 at 5:49 am
The SEC always has been a powerhouse conference. However, their dominance in the national championship series has been greatly tested of late. Kids don’t want to sit 2 years to play anymore when they can go somewhere else and start. Power has shifted, ever so slightly, from the SEC in recent years.
As stated above, nobody will care as long as the TEAM wins.
April 27th, 2020 at 5:49 am
I would agree that all things being equal the SEC would be a better place to find talent……but all things aren’t equal in the draft……
At least we didn’t seem to gamble this year with small schools/conferences.
It seems to me that the Bucs year after year are influenced by college player who they have seen playing in bowls in the area.
April 27th, 2020 at 7:57 am
Who are the stand-outs on the Bucs’ roster? Brady, Gronk, Godwin, Vea, Barret, Suh, Evans, Brate…all SEC?
April 27th, 2020 at 8:27 am
First of all, it’s a ACC State (FSU and Miami) there’s one top shelf SEC school (UF)
April 27th, 2020 at 8:55 am
I don’t care if they played for XFL Russia and the Chinese American Space League… have talent, get on the field.
April 27th, 2020 at 9:33 am
JL has been avoiding schools here in Florida outside a pick here or there. He does have a penchant for small schools and Big 10. Being a UM fan, I think that there are players there that have talent but has lacked the coaching, but they develop in the pros.
April 27th, 2020 at 1:40 pm
YADA,YADA,YADA Who cares?
April 27th, 2020 at 3:01 pm
rrsrq, thanks for saying it out loud…