Player Good; Value, Eh
April 29th, 2023
Rookie guard Cody Mauch, Tampa Bay’s second-round pick.
A “value” draft pick and selecting a good player can be two different things.
For example, the Dixie Chicks got a great player in Bijan Robinson on Thursday night but terrible value, it seems. He could have been had later in the draft.
This is sort of the argument Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports is making for the Bucs selecting Cody Mauch in the second round last night.
Trapasso likes Mauch, but thinks Tampa Bay could have found a player at about the same skill level later in the draft.
Smooth, super-versatile blocker who gets up and under rushers. Must add plenty of weight/power at next level but does play with great leverage. Tampa Bay had to add to the offensive line. A tick early, but I get it.
Because of not getting max value, Trapasso gave Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht a “B” grade on the selection of Mauch.
As always, it won’t be clear whether a drafted player pans out for at least a year, usually three. Given Licht’s record with small school offensive linemen, Joe is comfortably optimistic Mauch will become a fine player.
April 29th, 2023 at 5:22 am
Draft grades crack me up.
“Based on what I wrote about a player I did not watch play…”
April 29th, 2023 at 6:24 am
Dude is over 300 pounds and he needs more weight?
April 29th, 2023 at 7:12 am
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 this guy spitting facts
April 29th, 2023 at 7:19 am
The pick is either a pass/fail.
If they are a serviceable starter and get a second contract or better, the pick is a success whether in the first round or seventh. Value is overrated. Just the odds of finding guys that pass slip as you go through the rounds.
April 29th, 2023 at 7:30 am
The problem with all the talking heads reasoning is this.
The “value” one person places on a particular player is not what the next person places on said player.
I don’t pretend to know what “value” Light and company placed on Mauch. But I suspect it was considerably higher than Trapasso’s.
Given the fact that Trepasso only plays a GM at CBS, I will at this point give the nod to Light and company.
April 29th, 2023 at 7:37 am
Does he check all the boxes?
Get him.
Next.
April 29th, 2023 at 7:48 am
Us fans for years have said “build the trenches” and it’s been a little here, a little there. Sometimes that’s just the way the draft plays out. But I’m so happy the way they’ve been able to address both lines so far. Now since Mauch is likely moving to the guard spot (LG?) with Goedeke moving to his natural spot at RT, get a TE to help him (Goedeke) with some blocks and another RB, maybe a CB/S, and we’ll be looking good. I could also see taking a flyer on Stetson Bennett.
April 29th, 2023 at 7:49 am
Mauch was an obvious pick and if you’ve been paying attention to Licht for more than 5 minutes picking Mauch was easily predictable. But he is a Guard. Doesn’t take a real man of genius to select a good Guard early in the draft.
Now if Licht could only figure out how to draft a DL. He hasn’t gotten one yet. We all better hope that the undersized sub package pass rusher he drafted in the first round this year works out to be more than a undersized sub package pass rusher. Based on Licht’s track record I have my doubts.
So yeah, positional value is a real thing
April 29th, 2023 at 7:49 am
I noticed he played some center at the senior bowl, and in college. I’m beginning to think this pick might well turn out to be Jensen’s replacement down the road. Who knows, maybe Jensen gets dealt today to a contender, and the Bucs start the season with a real young group of 2nd, and 3rd round players including one first round pick, and we’ll have a young O line that can grow together. We don’t have a 4th rounder, and that’s about what Jensen would fetch in a trade. Jensen has business in Colorado, maybe a trade with Denver?
April 29th, 2023 at 7:56 am
Fantasyland some of yall
April 29th, 2023 at 7:57 am
everything about this guy screams an excellent lineman in a ZONE RUN SCHEME because of his quickness. What run scheme are we running now. A wide zone. This is a great pick.
You always get best available (for your system)
This is a great pick that I can see taking over for Jensen as a Center when Jensen is done.
April 29th, 2023 at 8:00 am
The 2 teams we moved ahead of to get this guy were Pittsburgh and Green Bay. Doubtful the Steelers would have picked him because they got an offensive lineman in the first round, and they took a defensive tackle right after our pick. Would Green Bay have taken him if he was available? There’s no way to be sure, but they went wide receiver with their second round pick. I’m just not sure we needed to give up a fifth rounder to get this player. And we could have used the 5th to move up for a linebacker or a defensive back in the fourth round.
April 29th, 2023 at 8:08 am
Cody Mauch is one of the fastest guard in the draft. He lateral quickness for OL is elite. He might not stand against top bull rushers but he is going to excel in zone blocking. As a pass blocker, I believe he only allowed two sacks in the 3 years he started, most of which came as a LT.
April 29th, 2023 at 8:35 am
Never understood the stupid value debate. No one says it about the first round picks except when Raiders are on the board
April 29th, 2023 at 8:44 am
If you don’t think draft value is a thing how did you feel when they used a second round pick on a kicker.
April 29th, 2023 at 8:47 am
Irishmist, it is not that the Steelers would take him but the fact they could have traded down to a team that would grab him. The trades were flying in the early part of the 2nd round, heck the Packers traded down twice.
Licht was better safe than sorry. Also, the Bucs only gave up a 6th round pick, one of 3 they had, they still have 2 5ths, 2 6ths and a 7th for day 3. 6th rounders are often JAGs for training camp.
April 29th, 2023 at 8:49 am
Mauch seems to fit with a guard that will be required to do more zone blocking. A switch that seems to be apparent given our new offensive coordinator and his background with Seattle these past 10 years.
Recently reviewed Alex Gibbs Youtube video on wide zone and tight zone blocking from 2020.
Gibbs was the innovator of those zone blocking schemes. I wonder how well our offensive line coaches are adapting to getting ready to teach that approach.
I think those coaches are good, but we will see if they are ready to teach that scheme.
April 29th, 2023 at 9:00 am
If you haven’t already do yourself a favor and go watch some game film on Mauch. I have watched as much as I could find on him and some of it is absolutely spectacular. I know it wasn’t at the highest level but when the Bucs talked to defenders at the senior bowl about who is the thoughest guy out there, many of them mentioned that kid from North Dakota State. You want tough, nasty dudes in the trenches and he is one. I know everyone wants the blue chippers out of Oklahoma or Ohio State or Alabama, but Jason Licht may have just pulled another small school guy out of his behind who may turn into a really good player for years to come.
April 29th, 2023 at 9:12 am
Value is debatable. There’s guys still on the board that I would have happily taken in the 2nd or 3rd round.
Everybody knows what they say about opinions….and most times mine stinks just as much as the next person’s, but it’s still mine.
April 29th, 2023 at 9:34 am
Wehn will the JL loving Joe-Joes get it. JL is a bad GM. His history of drafing playing is horrible. he had 1 goof year of free agents, but they are all gone now. JL must go.
April 29th, 2023 at 9:38 am
I know this is the system, but a draft grade doesnt sum up what a player could become. I trust Licht with the O line. He has only shown to make.1 bad pick which was last year with Goedeke and even that remains to be seen if it pans out. I like the mindset Licht and his staff have, if they have fun watching them on tape this goes a long way in their eyes.
April 29th, 2023 at 9:53 am
It’s all opinion.
The only thing that matters is what that player is doing three years from now
April 29th, 2023 at 9:53 am
I disagree with you Joe. Bijan Robinson is all of that. And if the Falcons had not taken him early? Guaranteed somebody else would have. He is going to be awfully good and will pay dividends immediately for Atlanta. As for Cody, he is a value pick who will serve us well. I even got him starting.
April 29th, 2023 at 9:57 am
You know Jason has a boner for small school OLs
Just like he has for kickers and LSU players that haven’t worked out so far
April 29th, 2023 at 10:02 am
I snicker when I hear draft grades handed out the next day. Three years, minimum, before draft grades can be assigned.
Licht has done well with his picks – – at least he didn’t trade up in the first round to select a long-snapper or something wild.
April 29th, 2023 at 10:25 am
I love the idiots that have given up on Luke Goedeke after 7 NFL starts playing completely out of position as a rookie.
April 29th, 2023 at 10:28 am
He’ll put on at least 10 pounds of muscle in camp.
April 29th, 2023 at 10:47 am
The first 3 picks could go either way bad or good to say they are all reach picks is an understatement.
April 29th, 2023 at 11:08 am
But does he put mayonnaise in his coffee?
April 29th, 2023 at 11:26 am
Believe it or not I watched a lot of NDSU games, this kid’s a gamer…..tough, loves the game and can get nasty……I think he’ll do quite well……but heck, you never know……..folks weren’t sure about Ali Marpet
April 29th, 2023 at 11:29 am
@ AlabamaBuc/Geno
I agree.
Cody Mauch was the 3rd or 4th most athletic lineman in the entire draft…
Jason Licht continues to pick athletic small school tackles who slide inside to guard in the NFL.
The jury is still out on Goedeke but this method worked out great with Marpet, Cappa and Hainsey (who played at ND but who was also an athletic OT now playing inside).
Licht obviously placed a higher “value” on Mauch and that is all that matters.
April 29th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Bucs are also revamping the blocking scheme so I have to trust the coaches on what they will be needing. Kid was a boss at the senior bowl
And we have some history with small school linemen. I am excited to see where he plays.
April 29th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
SufferingSince76 Says:
April 29th, 2023 at 6:24 am
He’s borderline, weight wise… Have you noticed you rarely see O-Linemen under 300 lbs these days? 320+ is a good target.
April 29th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Sufferingsince76.
Might wanna, just for information sake, actually look at the stats for Offensive guards. Apparently- you havent.
Mauch needs to gain 20-30 pounds. Wont be a problem with NFL strength coaches
He should be able to play any of interior line positions. Arms are too short for either tackle.
This guy will be a keeper.
Looks alot like last years draft.
Lousy first round pick. The rest were solid!
Guess its not the 2nd round we suck at anymore.
Now its the first round.
April 29th, 2023 at 6:53 pm
In the last two years Mauch started at LT he logged 1,562 snaps giving up 2 sacks. Of the total career 2,272 snaps on the edge of the line he has only given up a total of 2 sacks.
TWO SACKS