Lorig Finds A New Home
March 18th, 2014
Back in the day, former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik used to be a major player in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
In the 2010 seventh round, he plucked Dekoda Watson, Erik Lorig and Cody Grimm, three guys who became key, legitimate contributors.
But now they’re gone. Grimm appears to have drunk his way out of the game after battling with injuries. Dekoda Watson quickly was snagged in free agency this offseason by Jacksonville, and Lorig was just signed by the Saints today.
Representing the fullback position, the Bucs now have only not-really-a-fullback Lonnie Pryor on their roster. He has no NFL game experience. Whether Jeff Tedford will use a fullback is unknown, but Joe thinks it’s doubtful Tedford will have much use for one unless it’s a guy with non-fullback-like skill set.
It says something for Lorig’s skills and film that Sean Payton came calling for him — in March. Running backs/fullbacks are often scooped up later in free agency.
Joe wishes Lorig well. He was a quiet, hard-working Buccaneer, a Raheem Morris-driven project who successfully converted from college defensive end/tight end to fullback.
Doug Martin pounded out a ton of yards behind Lorig in 2012. But that won’t be part of Lovieball.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
He won’t help the Aints get anywhere in the payoffs.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Well that sucks. Are running game was even worse last year when he wasn’t in. Guess that guy we got from the Patriots might be are new FB
March 18th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
^^ Our running game…
… our new FB
March 18th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
WOW, what a draft that was! Set the team back, and got Dom fired.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Joe, whats with the caption? Mike Williams is still on the team. Who knows for how long though.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Not to disappointed, its not like he’s irreplaceable. If we do end up using a full back, I would love to see us draft one of my favorite players in this draft, FB J.C. Copeland, in the later rounds. The guy is a beast, and would be better than Lorig imo.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Those were actually good picks for the 7th round (Lorig and Watson).
Lorig was great for Doug Marting and our run game in general when he was healthy. I wish him the best… but since he went to our bitter rival, I hope he accomplishes nothing.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
Sean Payton is gonna make very good use of him. He’s an excellent FB and he will be sorely missed, nothing but the best to him.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
J.C. Copeland/LSU is another Vonta Leach!
March 18th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Lorig was pretty vital to the Bucs running game when it was successful. New offense, and it’s a passing league, so that’s fine, but Lorig was a good player and I wish him luck for 14 weeks of the season.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
I see us with some different sets…..(speed in space)
2RB 3WR
Empty Backfield 2TE 3WR
1RB 2TE 2WR
I don’t think we will miss Lorig with our new offense…if we wanted him, it would have been relatively easy to keep him.
March 18th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Orca
when talking into the phone it doesn’t know the difference when I talk lol. Please don’t judge me
March 18th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
and when I say “our” it puts hour
March 18th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
When I say Johnny Football…it says “who”
March 18th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Tbbf. Lmao
March 18th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
wish him well.
from this and another piece joe did on the O line it does seem like this offense will be unlike anyone the Bucs have ever run. sorry to see him go, but excited about an offense that is not run, run, pass, punt
March 18th, 2014 at 2:47 pm
“and when I say “our” it puts hour”
Try: “Arrrrrhhh….”
March 18th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
I’m actually pretty bummed to see Lorig go, especially cause it’s to the aints (who are setting themselves up to be less of a finess passing team and incorporating more power run with Ingram), but I wish him well. It sounds doubtful that Tedford needs a true FB or that he runs too many rushing plays from conventional I sets. If anything I think Trdford is going to use a TE (probably Crabtree) as an H-Back player that he can motion to the backfield out of double TE or Jumbo looks. For people who didn’t realize…Lorig was pretty vital in Martin’s breakout season and his production dipped noticeably when Lorig got injured that year. It’s sad to see the true fullback position dying out. For me FBs are the epitome of team players…they volunteer to run through a hole to take vicious hits from LBs and Safeties so that someone else can get the TDs and glory.
March 18th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Lonnie is one of my alltime favorite Noles. I don’t know if he is what Tedford is looking for in a FB, but, I’m rooting for him.
March 18th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Wonder who our long snapper will be. Economos is a free agent. He was invisible when he performed his role…which means he was great at his job. When he got injured we had the worse long snapping I’ve seen in a while.
He is one player, if healthy, that should be brought back.
March 18th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Huge loss. Lorig is one of the best FB in the game today.
March 18th, 2014 at 4:04 pm
@Arnold, agreed!
March 18th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Boooooooo!
March 18th, 2014 at 5:07 pm
No excuse for letting him go.
March 18th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
DontBucNH8 Says:
March 18th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
No judgement, but there’s always typing.
March 18th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Patrick Says:
March 18th, 2014 at 5:07 pm
Here’s one. The Bucs are not planning on using a FB in Tedford’s offense! That should be a good explanation. No excuse necessary. It’s a sign the Bucs offense isn’t going to be a straight up power offense. We can see where things are headed by the recent moves.
But again, feel free to continue complaining.
March 18th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
Signed a 4yr deal. That kinda surprised me. Usually a player like that signs a 1 or 2 yr deal. Good for him.
March 18th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
I think he’ll be using his TEs as FBs a la the Joe Gibbs offense. He called them H-backs and often put them in motion and lined them up wide on occasion but never got the ball in the backfield.
March 18th, 2014 at 8:42 pm
The bucs have made it pretty clear they have no spot for a fullback if they didn’t bring back Lorig. I’m glad he found a new home but sucks that it’s in division.
March 19th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Miss Alstot. I would love it when 4 or 5 guys were all over him then all of a sudden he would burst out and pick up another 30 or a touchdown. Also liked to see him carry guys on his back into the end zone. Gruden really screwed him.