What The Bucs Need
February 19th, 2024
Penn State DE Chop Robinson.
The song one of the best NFL scribes in the land is singing is pure music to Joe’s ears.
Veteran NFL writer Dan Pompei of The Athletic decided to survey the NFL map and determine where the greatest area of need is for each NFL team.
Pompei admitted the Bucs’ greatest need is to sign all their Big Four free agents (Lavonte David, Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield). Beyond that, Pompei types the Bucs must find an edge rusher.
[T]he most glaring need probably is edge rusher, and it will be a bigger need if the team cuts Shaquil Barrett, which is possible. The Bucs hit on a couple of rookie defensive linemen last year in end YaYa Diaby (7 1/2 sacks) and tackle Calijah Kancey (4 sacks), but they need more juice upfront.
It pains Joe to say this, but even with Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett the Bucs had little edge rush last season. Yeah, YaYa Diaby showed signs he could be that guy, but it seems there’s a book out on him.
Once Diaby became a starter, his sack production dropped. That tells Joe teams figured him out. Granted, he was a rookie so there is a lot of promise with him.
Between Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (five sacks), Diaby (7.5) and Shaq (4.5) the Bucs had a total of 17 sacks between three edge rushers. That simply is not going to get the job done.
(And for the crowd that whines about Carlton Davis and/or Jamel Dean, don’t you think not having an edge rush hung those guys out to dry?)
Though Joe pines for the Bucs to draft a quarterback (CYA), perhaps Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson is the way to go? He’s the same size as Barrett, apparently has a strong work ethic and let’s be real: Penn State defenders often blow up when they get real NFL coaching because they sure as hell aren’t getting coached up by James Franklin.
For the speed-kills crowd, Robinson runs a 4.6 40-yard dash so he has wheels. Against mighty Michigan, it was common to see Robinson bring heat against J.J. McCarthy (in the first half as McCarthy didn’t attempt one pass in the second half).
The combine begins next week.
Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson is an explosive athlete with a relentless motor, a scouting report:
✅ High motor
✅ Explosive off the line
✅ Functional strength
✅ Good bend & overall flexibility
✅ Twitchy and agile
✅ Able to play in space❓ Block shedding
❓ Play… pic.twitter.com/7F6EeUxJ4h— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 14, 2024
February 19th, 2024 at 12:21 am
Isn’t Shedding a blocker A big part of playing that position Id like to see that at the top of this chart
February 19th, 2024 at 12:47 am
I think our biggest need is our interior offensive line. I agree we need more production from our outside linebackers, but Bowles does a good job getting pressure on the quarterback from other players. How bout we beef up the offensive line and score 25 points a game. That will help the defense.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:55 am
It would also be for the Bucs to consider drafting a center in the first round. A round DE historically take multiple years to either workout
February 19th, 2024 at 1:47 am
This is who I want Tampa to draft this year! I was pounding the table for Kalijah last year let’s see what happens.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:22 am
Chop Robinson had less sacks (4) in college than JTS (5) had in the NFL in 2023. I’m all for an edge rusher, but a PRODUCTIVE edge rusher.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:32 am
What the Bucs need?
A new head coach.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:37 am
Draft a QB? Lmao.
Our priorities. Same as Ive pisted since last preseason.
Pass rusher.
Center
Guard.
Porkchop Robinson? Hell ya!
February 19th, 2024 at 4:46 am
Dave Pear Says:
February 19th, 2024 at 3:32 am
What the Bucs need?
A new head coach.
^^^^^^^^^
You said the same thing last year, and the year before. Years the Bucs won the NFC South…Okay, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Who do you want the Bucs Head Coach to be? A lot of people calling for change, such as “Baker Mayfield isn’t a great QB, the Bucs need a new one”, my question to them is WHO, then? Well, who do you want as the new coach?
February 19th, 2024 at 6:02 am
We need a top shelf corner before anything else. Haven’t had one of those in years.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:03 am
For an edge rusher, would rather have 1 of the 2 from Bama … either Dallas Turner (6’4″ & 245 lbs … 4.64 secs) or Chris Braswell (6’3″ & 255 lbs … 4.60 secs). Turner is projected to go in the Top-20 (ranked #1) by Walter Football, while Braswell is projected as a Rnd 2-3 pick (ranked #5).
In the Bucs case, if Turner was there when we picked at #23, I’d take him. If not, wait until the 2nd Rnd & go for Braswell. That’s assuming of course that Bucs didn’t add an edge rusher in FA (there’ll be several real good ones available I’m convinced).
February 19th, 2024 at 6:47 am
Agree with DR-Chop is a project-no thanks, Diaby also had 12 TFL and a forced fumble , looking forward to Kancey and Diaby playing a whole season. Barret is gone unless he totally reworks that bloated contract. Resign McLaughlin as he is very important.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:11 am
We need a center and left guard. Watts and Ramirez still have upside. Not crazy about going DE crazy again this draft, but….. Shaq had one great year, was above average after that but no way is he a sack king. His contract is horrible. Costs almost as much to cut him as to keep him. See how he looks in camp, but not promising at this point.
February 19th, 2024 at 7:25 am
Buc’s biggest need is edge rusher and Chop would be a good choice at 26.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Build the trenches! DE/OLB and C/G should be our first two picks. I trust Licht to decide the order. I would like to see the Bucs get a G in FA and their C in the draft.
Then RB and TE in the 3rd and 4th to help our scoring.
Of course this is all after signing Evans, Baker, Winfield, LVD and McLaughlin. I would like to see them keep Moore also if the price is right.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Potential Draft Pick
—Mohamed Kamara
February 19th, 2024 at 8:18 am
SAM Linebacker
Mohamed Kamara – Height: 6’1” | Weight: 246 | 40: 4.62 <–
Gabriel Murphy – Height: 6’3” | Weight: 260 | 40: 4.72
Jonah Ellis – Height: 6’2” | Weight: 246 | 40: 4.70
February 19th, 2024 at 8:50 am
Yes yes yes and more yes. Both SB years Bucs had players who make QBs lives a living hell. That’s our biggest need. If we can get a pass rush with just 4 guys then Bowles sprinkles in his exotic blitz’s our defense would go to elite and Bowles prob could play more man to man which is deans n davis strengths.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:17 am
Fansince76
Buc’s biggest need is edge rusher and Chop would be a good choice at 26.
Fansince, I agree 100%, Robinson would be an excellent choice. He’s relentless and consistently play with a high motor. Unlike JTS, Shaq, DWhite, he never stop on plays until the whistle blows. In 2023, he contributed and made a big impact on plays i.e., tackles, sacks, n other in more ways than u can imagine. For those who said he only had 4 sacks, well, Micah Parson and Nick Bosa both only had 5 sacks the year they were drafted. We need to be done with slackers we’ve had on defense over the past three years. Our defense need to be respected in the same manner of Lions, Chiefs, 49ers,Cowboys, n others. First two draft picks should be DE, then OL. Teams who pressure n sack the qb are subject to get turnovers fumbles n ints. We must elevate the defense. It’s time to be done with JTS,Shaq, n DWhite whom personally I believe create a moral issue for the team.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:26 am
Baker is a top-10 QB. That position should not be a priority in our draft. Edge? Interior o-line? Tight end? Sure.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:27 am
Pass rush !! Licht and his team need to take a hard look at their pre-draft evaluations of JTS and Hall to understand what happened. It seems they were drafted based on potential and not productivity in college. The Bucs need to draft a productive pass rusher who has a high motor and loves football.
I don’t see Licht drafting an OL in rnd1 or rnd2 as he prefers to find small college OL guys. I would love to get Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson but don’t see him being available at #26.
There could be some good ILB’s in rnd2 since White will be gone and LVD will retire at some point.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:51 am
Dudes named Chop and Ya Ya on the D line. Gotta love it!
February 19th, 2024 at 10:21 am
JimBobBuc,
I agree, JTS n Logan Hall seems to have been drafted on potential only. We need to get back to what have you done lately as it relates to productivity. Give me some examples. JTS n Hall are both timid n passive players who lacks aggressiveness. I don’t see either player using their height to bat or deflect passes, and they are very passive at tackling, whenever they do make a tackle. Neither player should have been drafted in 1st n 2nd round. They should’ve been UDFA at best.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:29 am
Hard Pass
He wasn’t even the best edge rusher on that team, Adisa Isaac was.
Darius Robinson is the better Robinson.
Much bigger and had 9 sacks in the SEC.
He had a great Senior Bowl.
Im tired of the small OLB who supposedly has HUGE upside and under produces in the NFL.
Darius Robinson is the best at 26 when Latu and Turner are gone.
I honestly don’t even think we will make it to the draft without adding someone.
Of course I don’t THINK Baker or Evans will be back so there’s that.
It’s all still SPECULATION at this point.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Maybe if Licht can have a candid and blunt performance review with Todd, maybe Todd can adjust. The glaring defects are
1. Slow starts on offense and defense
2. Inability to play zone effectively , due to repeated multiple busted assignments with no apparent corrective action applied to the sieve.
3. Defensive weakness in the 4th quarter of close games. Todd is supposed to be a defensive genius. LOL
4. Game management – especially use of time outs and when to go for it on 4th down.
Todd gets high marks for being a coach players like (probably because he doesn’t hold them accountable for the same mistakes over and over).
Go Bucs.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
How many of us knew about Yaya last year (or Kalijah)? I watch a lot of college football and I’d never heard of either until the draft.
Chop or Verse would be great but I’m all about BPA in Round 1. It could be a rusher but it may also be an OL, WR, CB, or QB. Someone always falls.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
I like him, but as someone else pointed out, we already have guys who can chase the QBs without actually getting to them…
4 sacks last year isn’t very much.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:46 pm
Jalyx Hunt out of Houston Christian would be a nice pick up. Can rush and cover, which is what is really needed for that olb/edge position.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
The edge guys in the draft don’t excite me. This is the year to get Chase Young relatively cheap.
February 19th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
I doubt SF will be letting Chase go but who really knows.
February 21st, 2024 at 9:02 am
Biggest need is interior offensive line or RT. The Bucs have the flexibility to move some pieces around. Cody Mauch could play LG, C, or RG.
Goedeke could stay at RT or move inside to RG. That allows some flexibility in the draft.
It also allows for a possible trade down and out of the 1st round unless a Stud falls like Jackson Powers Johnson (C) or Taliese Fuaga (RT) is available at 26.
This draft is loaded with LT’s that could move inside to play LG. I think those can be had at the top of middle of round 2. The Bucs could move out of the first round and grab another 2nd or 3rd round pick. Look at Graham Barton, Jordan Morgan, or Troy Fautanu as a possibility.
I’m not sure if the Bucs feel that Mauch can hold down the Center position. What do you guys think?