Throwaway Pick
September 4th, 2020
So the Bucs just cut their fifth-round pick from a year ago, their second drafted kicker launched in the last four offseasons.
But Joe, Matt Gay was a fifth-rounder, that’s a throwaway pick. Right?
If Joe hears the term throwaway pick one more time, Joe’s going to throw something.
Drafted immediately after Gay was Amani Oruwarive, a cornerback out of Penn State who had two interceptions with the Lions last year. Joe’s confident the Bucs would like to have him on the roster. Two picks later was Dre Greenlaw; the SEC linebacker made the all-rookie team on defense, plus he’s a core special teams player for the 49ers. The Bucs sure could use him today after cutting special teams captain Dare Ogunbowale. Up next was Hunter Renfroe … fantasy football players know all about him.
Joe is pissed off that Gay didn’t work out. Who the hell drafts kickers like the Bucs do? Nobody.
Whoever is in charge of kicking scouting at One Buc Palace needs one of those George Costanza opposite days when it comes time to decision-making on kickers.
And what about the dedicated kicking coach? Joe hopes he stays far away from Ryan Succop.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:34 am
Bucs just cut D’Cota Dixon. I had high hope for him last year until he was injured during pre-season. Still can bring him back on the practice squad.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:37 am
Spot on, Joe! No pick is a throwaway pick, not even 7th rounders. No one expects 5th rounders to become starters as rookies but there is value in building depth on the cheap.
Jason Licht has demonstrated time and time again that he does not know how to build a winner through the draft. What GM in the NFL survives missing on TWO kickers, TWO first round picks (including a #1 overall) and a slew of 2nd round picks? If this team wins less than 11 games then he should be fired.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:37 am
Gay gave a personal account of his college years of his personal struggles – for a kicker, he was a head case and kickers need to be mentally strong. It definitely was a wasted pick.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:48 am
Tom Brady was a 6th round pick number 199 I would exactly call that a throw away pick.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:55 am
So let’s get this straight the Bucs have replaced their starting running back, their third down back, their right tackle, they’re starting tight end and their kicker.
Aren’t these all the exact positions that somebody on this page was referring to all year long as major problems with the running game and with the kicking game yet some other player was constantly blamed for every single thing that went wrong.
Isn’t it interesting that in one off season this team could fix all those problems yet they haven’t been able to fix it for the past five years?
Interesting isn’t it?
September 4th, 2020 at 9:56 am
Well at least lately, J Licht has been getting HOF’s to sign on the dotted line and create the Brady Bunch. Yeah everyone wishes he had hit on draft picks, and SO DO I. J Licht has shown us that Gunslingers don’t just play QB (Brett Farve, JW) in th NFL, some are GM’s lol
September 4th, 2020 at 9:56 am
Very surprising they didn’t even think he was good enough for the practice team given the Covid situation and all.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:01 am
According to Jenna Laine, Jaydon Mickens will not only make the 53 man roster, but he will be the opening day kick returner.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:02 am
Would not surprise me if all three end up on the practice squad.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:04 am
Just how many 5th round picks do we have on our roster from years past drafts?
I’m all ears….
September 4th, 2020 at 10:07 am
>>> Isn’t it interesting that in one off season this team could fix all those problems yet they haven’t been able to fix it for the past five years? <<<
Isn't it interesting it took an old drunk like Arians to come in here, kick Licht in the rear end and tell him to quit wishing players got better and just go get better players?
September 4th, 2020 at 10:08 am
Sorry joe but every position you mentioned we were good at except kicker. We had plenty of corners and linebackers and wide receiver we had Miller. Games in the nfl are won by small margins so I understand drafting a kicker. You win some you lose some, missing on Matt gay is not as bad as missing on guys like VH3 or MJ Stewart
September 4th, 2020 at 10:18 am
When will Licht have to answer for all his mistakes?!!!
Imagine if anyone at your work made as many bone headed decisions as this buffoon, think they would last 7 years?!
BA is here because of him but outside of Shaq, ME (super obvious draft choice), and CG what has he done in his entire buccaneers career?
Also his bit on hard knocks was as uncreative long and over done as his tenure as GM.
Oh and by the way John Lynch is out there absolutely killing the GM role in SF…..
September 4th, 2020 at 10:22 am
No, they had plenty of bodies.
Entering last season the Bucs were wretched at corner. Now there are split reviews at the JoeBucFan.com World Headquarters about the quality of play of the corners *now* but prior to last year it was one of the most heinous collection of corners in the NFL.
Even now some say it’s thin. Not sure how you could say the Bucs were sufficient at corner prior to the 2019 draft.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:24 am
Drafting a kicker with known anxiety issues is not a good idea
September 4th, 2020 at 10:27 am
I’m far more concerned about our multitude of 2nd round busts……..along with VH3……..Let’s see…..MJ Stewart, ASJ, Aguayo, Spence. i’m sure I left someone out.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:36 am
It appears that the Bucs will release TE tanner Hudson and RB Ray Calais and resign them the the practice squad if they are not claimed by another team.
Bucs will also keep John Hust through the 53 man roster and place him on the 3 week IR on Sunday.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:38 am
If he had just been dragging in guys off the street and 7 rd picks for the past 5 years people would have said “why don’t you use a better draft pick” every GM screws up and this guy has too. I can’t complain about the team has put together this year though.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:48 am
Isn’t it interesting that in one off season this team could fix all those problems yet they haven’t been able to fix it for the past five years? -Ndog
1) Remains to be seen if problems are fixed
2) Brady has been a factor in many of the acquisitions
Maybe if Jameis hadn’t engaged in immature behavior earlier in his career,
events may have played out different and the Bucs may have attracted more
talent.
Hope Jameis gets another chance and is successful.
But I’m excited about this year’s team. How about you, Ndog?
September 4th, 2020 at 10:50 am
I dont think its the scouting. its the coaching.
We find good ones. then ruin them.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:08 am
QB Sinnett, OL Leverett Wr Schnell, G Bailey was also waived today.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:10 am
DRome 100% licht is a bottom 5 GM and sad thing is if bucs make NFC championship he will get accolades of some great GM; he should have been canned for aguayo… then the 2016 draft where not one player is on the bucs nor NFL
September 4th, 2020 at 11:17 am
He may have missed on that 5th but at least he didnt hold on to it and try to force the situation. you know, a square peg through a round hole.
in business, you have to cut your loses and keep moving forward. i have to at least applaud licht for taking action only after 1 year. now if we can get him to hit better in the draft haha
September 4th, 2020 at 11:18 am
Duthsty Rhothdes Says: “DRome 100% licht is a bottom 5 GM”
Not all draft picks are GMs doing. Many times the HC makes the picks and the GM gets the credit or fall out. Licht was responsible for find BA and has done well these past two drafts.
I would give Licht a grade “A” for the Salary Cap. Rarely do we have dead money from players who are cut. And so far he has made the biggest splash in Free Agency this year than any other GM. The draft this year, while we can’t judge it now, was a solid “B+” from most draft experts.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:25 am
Calais was waived along with Pearson, Mitchell, Grayson, Dixon, McElroy, Schnell, Sinnett, Bailey.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:26 am
Ndog, for as much as I disagree with your points on Jay-Miss I can’t argue with you here. Jay-Miss would have failed either way but can we look back over the past five years and say that Jason Licht did *everything* he could to build a winner?
No, he did not.
He botched the 2016 draft (entire draft was a swing and a miss), botched the 2016 free agency by signing Drug Shamster and JR Sweezy, and really only hit on one guy in the 2017 draft. Not only that but Chris Baker and DeSean Jackson were horrible for the team.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:26 am
Agreed TBBF. 1st and 2nd rounders are supposed to be foundation pieces to an organization.
What is it about this team and kickers?!
Anyway, just like the rest that can’t perform…bye Felicia!
We need players!
September 4th, 2020 at 11:37 am
Big Dust is right about the 2016 draft, nothing positive there! Gay turned out to be a bust, yeah its not as big of a gaffe as the Aguoyo 2nd rounder but Joe made a good point about how other teams had 5th rounders who contributed. I guess Gay jaking kicks vs the Giants, Seattle, and especially the ATL which set up Winston’s last play as a buc with that awful pick 6 did kind of set the table to wear the Bucs decided to go in a different direction from Winston. Hypothetically, if Gay did not get the yips the Bucs could have been 9-7 or 10-6 and then do the Bucs have the GOAT Tom Brady as QB or do the Chargers and would we be reading posts about Winston and a franchise tag or even a new deal????? We’ll never know but perhaps in the long run Gay’s inability to kick in the clutch may have been a blessing in disguise because of the off season events his gut wrenching losses that he and #3 set into motion.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:55 am
too overbearing ..5th round picks are frequently hit or miss
September 4th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
ndog
JW was apart of the problem just as much as those players!!!!!
outside of the 2017, JW finish in the top5 of INTs….every year his problem was TOs!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 4th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
50% of all 1st rd picks will be busts or out of the league within 4 yrs. That number drops to probably around 25% for 2nd round picks. What’s the success rate of 5th round picks lasting 4 yrs or longer in the NFL?
Are we splitting hairs worrying about a 5th rd pick that didn’t last 2 yrs?
September 4th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Jacksonville picked in the top 5 from 2012 through 2017. Top 5 overall each year. 6 guys.
None of those guys are on Jacksonville’s team and some are whining on our 2nd round pick.
New England drafted in 2019,
1st round N’Keal Harry
2nd round Joejuan WIlliams
2018
1st Round Isiah Williams
1st round Sony Michel
2nd round Duke Dawson
Guys they do not all hit! We have had a decent share of hits lately.
Has New England ever had a 5th round pick in the 2000’s that hit?
But they have been pretty good in the 2000’s.
September 4th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
meant some are whining on our 5th round pick – not 2nd round pick
September 4th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
By the way, Scotty Miller looking like a successful late round pick right now also.
September 4th, 2020 at 1:43 pm
NDOG 2018 starters included:
DeSean Jackson instead of Godwin, Adam Humphries even ahead of Godwin to start the year.
Also Caleb Benenoch was replaced.
Also the Bucs kicker.
Guys get changed at the end of the roster every year.
Guys like quarterbacks that throw 30 interceptions and fumble 12 times in a season.
That is why guys like Dare, Benenoch and Winston end up 3rd string somewhere. Why Gay may be on the open market.
Gay looks great at sometimes. Man can kick the ball longer than most. Had some games where he looked crazy good.
Then Gay had games that his screw ups were a big part of why the team lost. Just like Jameis looked real good some games and why he is gone now because too many games where his screw ups were a big part of why the team lost.
Move on – please!
September 4th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
FortMyersDave Says:
***if Gay did not get the yips the Bucs could have been 9-7 or 10-6 and then do the Bucs have the GOAT Tom Brady as QB***
Actually, I’m of the opinion that Brady had made his decision to move on before the end of last season and that the Bucs were his first choice because of collected talent and offensive scheme.
Had we had a winning season as you say, I think the biggest difference would be that JW could be a starter for another team as opposed to 3rd string
September 4th, 2020 at 3:15 pm
I thought that the majority of NFL rosters were made-up of mid-round picks; 3-6 rounders. APM- All Picks Matter!!
Licht, rightly so, seems to have been influenced greatly by the new coaching staff, over the last two drafts. Licht’s prior drafting seemed rudderless, ambiguous & clearly inept.
Licht has benefited from an nearly unbelievable amount of fortuitous events, that have strengthened the roster over the last 1.5 years & by extension, saved his job.
Licht=> BA
BA=>Suh, Shaq, Brady
Brady=> Gronk, Shady, Fournette (prob. Suh & JPP, too)
He doesn’t deserve the accolades, once they win. All of his most successful decisions have been absolute no-brainers: ME (when they needed a receiver), BA (when they needed a coach), Brady (When they needed a QB). However, the list of blunders is overwhelming & too nauseating to list. Simply put, his drafting “science” could be outperformed by one of these hack-kneed ex-“spurts” that vomit out nine draft predictions annually, dart-throwing or by rock, paper, scissors.
September 4th, 2020 at 3:19 pm
I dont mind taking a kicker in Round 5. I do mind that they though he would be good and were wrong again. I have no faith Suckop will work. Hell be just as bad as every other junk kicker we had around here.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
Ndog….I don’t know who you think is getting replaced at #1 TE but it’s not OJ for Gronk.
September 5th, 2020 at 8:54 am
Joe said: Even now some say it’s thin. Not sure how you could say the Bucs were sufficient at corner prior to the 2019 draft.
—————————————-
So we spent two early round draft picks on CB despite having recent 1st and two 2nd round CBs already on the roster. You’re saying we should have drafted… another CB to go with Hargreaves, Davis, Stewart… and SMB and Dean? Why stop there? Johnny Manziel is available, he night not be able to play QB but maybe he’s a CB.
You address issues in the draft. They drafted TWO CBs early last year. Kickers don’t grow on trees. If there isn’t a vet you like, you draft one. It isn’t rocket science.
September 8th, 2020 at 3:43 pm
No one likes our results from kickers, including me, regardless of how they were found (draft, free agent, trade, etc). But I’m not going to pretend like I’m an NFL scout, or a GM, or even a GM assistant and rag on Licht for the Gay cut.
Again this season, like every season since Licht came onboard, we have UNDRAFTED free agents make the final roster and in many cases CONTRIBUTE.
There are no “throwaway” picks but lets face it, the first couple of rounds are EL PRIMO important – and Licht & his scouts have scored on most of those. All teams gamble some on the later rounds, we do also, but overall this fan is pleased with Licht. Is he perfect, hell nah. Is he improving, yes. Is he better than his predecessors, its not even close.