Watching Jackson Jeffcoat
February 19th, 2014How much will size matter for the nation’s top defensive end? The Bucs called attention to him this week.
When you’re coming off a 13-sack senior season and your dad had 100+ NFL sacks and is a professional defensive line coach, lots of NFL Draft analysts are going to pay attention.
But despite the awareness of defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat out of the University of Texas, there’s no consensus on where he’ll land in the draft.
Heck, nobody even asked super NFL Network guru Mike Mayock about Jeffcoat during Mayock’s three-hour conference call this week. And Jeffcoat won the Ted Hendricks Award for 2013, which honors the top defensive end in the nation. Jadaveon Clowney won in 2012.
This whole Jeffcoat situation intrigues Joe. He’s a pass rusher with a big yet small body, at about 6-5, 250 pounds. Jeffcoat battled injuries at Texas but emerged healthy last season and landed 13 sacks and all kinds of accolades. Yet given the NFL-wide yearning for pass rushers and Jeffcoat’s pedigree (he’s very close with his dad, Jim Jeffcoat, who now coaches defensive line for the University of Colorado after leaving the NFL and Bill Parcells’ Cowboys staff in 2004.) there’s surely not much buzz about the guy.
Why?
Joe suspects Jeffcoat is the kind of player who will make a move up many draft boards — and mock drafts — following the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. He’ll likely stand out in the interview process, and teams will get an up-close sense of what kind of strength can be added to his somewhat lightweight frame and what kind of raw burst he’s got.
Joe writes about Jeffcoat today because the Buccaneers called fans’ attention to him this week.
The team now directs fans to suggested “Daily Clips” (aka links to targeted media stories) on Buccaneers.com. The Bucs highlighted this piece by USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes in which Reyes says Jeffcoat would be a great fit for the Bucs in the second round.
As Joe referenced earlier, Joe has seen a wide range of opinion on Jeffcoat, even as low as a sixth-round pick.
Obviously, the Bucs need pass-rush help, even if Warren Sapp says everything will flourish immediately because of Lovie Smith’s arrival.
Jeffcoat surely could catch the Bucs’ eye. Joe wonders how Lovie would evaluate his raw skills versus those of Da’Quan Bowers, William Gholston and Adrian Clayborn. Joe suspects Jeffcoat might look pretty darn attractive.
February 19th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
welcome back joe, nice work today!
Huh? Joe’s been here daily since August 2008. –Joe
February 19th, 2014 at 3:01 pm
No DE gambles please!!! Lets make sure whoever we bring in can get the job done (as best as possible).
I prefer a FA like Jared Allen for this position….unless a Clowney miracle happens.
February 19th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Not sure what that first part of Robert’s comment was about but I agree, good stuff today for an offseason day this deep into the offseason. We’ve circled the same topics for a while so it’s nice to see some new info on here and the new debates that it brings about
February 19th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Scott Crichton deserves a look see too! I think our pass rusher comes from FA. New coaches need to evaluate what we already have in camp.
February 19th, 2014 at 3:14 pm
just messin w/ joe on the 1st part of the comment. Today has some good stuff.
every time I hear someone got passed up in the draft because of an injury I think of AP.
if he’s that good go get him!
February 19th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Haven’t heard much about DT. I’m not sure about this tilted nose thing. McCoy may need somebody beside him or at minimum behind him. What happens if he gets (god forbid) a high ankle sprain and misses 6 weeks? Could be a need here!
February 19th, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Thank you Joe, I enjoy these kinds of informative articles about NFL draft prospects. With his pedigree it sounds like he should be given serious consideration. One guy I would LOVE to see use draft is FB J.C Copeland from LSU. He is a 5-11 285, yes 285, BEAST. He’s got the size of a lineman with the agility of a RB and can be had in the 5th or 6th round. If we were to draft this guy I think our troubles getting 2-3 yards on 3rd down would be over. Just give him the ball and watch him run over people.
February 19th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
or you could get him to drop 10-20 and have that kind of bruising RB we havent had since Mike Alstott. He doesn’t have much in the speed department, but he will absolutely wear down defenses.
February 19th, 2014 at 4:12 pm
I see us going with one FA and one or two draft picks. No reaches unless it’s late rounder please!
February 19th, 2014 at 4:17 pm
Andrew 1,
Copeland would be a nice addition. He’s a bigger stronger version of Mike Tolbert. He’s got quick feet and a mean streak. Imagine a playmaker at FB that gives us what Carolina has in Tolbert!
February 19th, 2014 at 4:29 pm
I doubt were gonna get clowney and despite what everyone thinks of Glennon or our other defensive ends, there won’t be any Gerald McCoy type drafted player that’s gonna come in and take a job unless the spot is vacant every year fans of teams that sucked like we have the last decade are praying for some roomie to come in and save their team but the truth is players take time to develop, there’s no qb in the draft better than cam Newton who despite splash plays took time to develop just like a vonn miller also, if you don’t draft well and develop talent you end up like the bucs who’ve not hit a homerun in the draft since when?
February 19th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
It’s funny how often I see someone post something like “I’d like Allen, unless by some miracle Clowney falls to us”, or “If we can’t draft a guy like Garrapolo in the 2nd, I want to get Cassell in FA”.
Doesn’t anybody realize that FA starts March 11, and any FA worth signing will be gone LONG before we find out if this player or that falls to us in this round or that? If you want a guy in FA, you go get him. If that changes your draft strategy or team needs, then so be it. If you fail to sign a guy in FA, the need is still there, maybe even intensified. I’d still rather draft BPA, but understand need plays a role. You don’t draft a WLB when you have Lavonte David, no matter how good the prospect is supposed to be. Is DE a greater need than QB? Possibly (unless Sapp is right), but if Clowney shows motivation issues and Johnny Football (or whatever QB) is actually the better player available, you take that player. Even if the need is slightly less. The only guys that should be blocked out on your draft board are players that are at positions that are set with young top talent like 3-tech DL and WLB. Anything else is equally fair game. I might put a bit more emphasis on players that play a higher percentage of snaps like OL, QB, and DB over TE, slot WR, and SLB
February 19th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
@ Macabee
Yea, Mike Tolbert is probably a better comparison than Mike Alstott. Alstott was one of a kind. But your right he is a bigger, nastier version of Tolbert. If he is there in the 5th, Im running to the podium! lol. We need to bring a mean streak back into to this running game and this guy will do just that. He doubles as a short yardage back and a FB which is nice. Thats something we cant say about Lorig. Plus I think he is a better blocker than Lorig.
February 19th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
A fullback is all and good but at this point we, or should I say ” I ” don’t know if Coach Tedford will feature the FB that much to consider taking one in the draft. Lorig has done a standup job to this point, why not reward him with a future contract instead? FB is not one of our weaknesses. Just ask Martin? He loved running behind Lorig.
February 19th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Jeffcoat does look good.
I don’t think you draft fullbacks in today’s NFL. If the Bucs are one of the few teams that utilize that position, just send him a plane ticket. His options are very limited.
I don’t think running backs will be drafted in earlier rounds anymore. The Bucs have learned that the 5th or 6th rounds are full of serviceable RB’s.
It’s really too bad the Bucs don’t have a 3rd round pick. It’s really limited their options.
February 19th, 2014 at 5:08 pm
@ Clowney
yea the FB position has really diminished, I only say 5th to 6th round because that’s where he is projected to go, but if he goes undrafted then all the better. We could use that pick on someone else and still pick him up as an FA.
February 19th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
I actually miss the Johnny Football posts.
But that said: The new regime is all about scary defense
which makes the defensive end very pertinent (especially
given our lack of a certified star at that position)
February 19th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
@Clowney
If premium running back projects, can continually make plays like this…..
#SCTop10: Barry J. Sanders does his best Barry Sanders impression
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQsykbQXVRA
There will always be a place for them in the 1st …3 rounds
February 19th, 2014 at 6:53 pm
*prospects/projects
February 19th, 2014 at 7:38 pm
I think Dallas picked up a light DE who was originally from Rutgers and got three sacks for us in a preseason two or three years ago but didn’t make our team but got playing time from Dallas this past year as a situational rusher. So my point is unless this Texas Prospect can put on 20 more pounds of muscle (which may take a good while) there is little chance he can hold a starting position, which is what we need.
February 19th, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Are there substitute Joes working today? I don’t see an article regarding Glennon or Manziel anywhere.
February 19th, 2014 at 8:41 pm
Don’t see him going on any/many mocks before round 3. Round 3 target, if we have a pick for sure, but round 2 might be a reach for a smallish edge DE that doesn’t have elite get-off and a long history of nagging injuries.
February 19th, 2014 at 8:48 pm
I’m just wondering about how far this “apple” has fallen from the tree. If this guy is anything like his father Jim, someone could be rewarded with great value as they untap that genealogical resource. lol
February 19th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Owlykat Says:
February 19th, 2014 at 7:38 pm
I think Dallas picked up a light DE who was originally from Rutgers and got three sacks for us in a preseason two or three years ago but didn’t make our team but got playing time from Dallas this past year as a situational rusher. So my point is unless this Texas Prospect can put on 20 more pounds of muscle (which may take a good while) there is little chance he can hold a starting position, which is what we need.
++++++++++++++++
No, the Buc player that went to Rutgers was George Johnson… the Cowboys, former Bucs player was USF’s George Selvie.
February 19th, 2014 at 10:05 pm
Good spot on 620 this afternoon Joe. I’d call it one of the more enjoyable and entertaining spots I’ve listened to that you guys have done. Didn’t realize that Watkins wad getting such high regard from people.
February 19th, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Good article. Reminds me of your enthusiasm for LaVonte who was a great pic.
February 19th, 2014 at 10:58 pm
Congrats Joe from August 2008 Great Job!
BamBam thanks a great post.