Key To A Guard? Brains
April 30th, 2014
Yes, the Bucs should be looking for a guard. Right now, as the final hours of April 2014 fade away, the thinnest if not weakest unit on the Bucs is the offensive line.
Joe doesn’t have to go into great details, but banking on the return of Carl Nicks is dangerous and there is already a hole at right guard. So, realistically, the Bucs need to fill two openings.
When speaking with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club yesterday, Bucs general manger Jason Licht did not deny the offensive line need more substance. While he cautioned against drafting a tackle to play guard, Licht did say the most important element for a guard may not be so much brawn, but brains.
“You want a player that’s first of all smart, because you have a lot of bullets flying around you when you go inside,” Licht said. “You want a player that’s strong, that can bend and all those types of things. Some players are tackles only, some tackles are left tackles only. It’s a skill set that you look for that you can tell by the movement and the way that he plays, and then also the big important part of it is interviewing the kid and knowing his coaches and knowing how intelligent he is to make the switch.”
If Joe didn’t know any better, he’d swear Licht was talking about Texas A&M tackle Jake Matthews, who virtually every football pundit said is about the safest pick imaginable.
Yes, Joe knows the Bucs — and many other teams — preach the best-available-player theory, but let’s be honest, teams aren’t going to waste a high draft pick choosing a player at a position that is already a strength and where an All-Pro is already entrenched.
And while no general manager in his right mind would draft a guard at No. 7 (Scratch that. Arizona, with Licht as its No. 2 personnel man, drafted a guard at No. 7 last year), it will be interesting to see what Licht would do if tackles Greg Robinson, Taylor Lewan and Matthews are all on the board when the Bucs are on the clock next Thursday night.
April 30th, 2014 at 7:16 am
Tesla would’ve dominated the trenches!
April 30th, 2014 at 7:16 am
We don’t need to draft a LT early because you are solid there overall and nabbing depth or a swing tackle in the 3rd or 5th to groom is added value but who knows because it’s all about BPA.
I’m of the mind that I’m not going to draft a player like Robinson at 7 and play inside because that’s like devaluing the pick when no one drafts a guard that high.
We should be able to move back and get who we really want and add more picks.
April 30th, 2014 at 7:47 am
If Nicola Tesla was the brains behind the Bucs, we would have a team like the best that has ever been, plus free energy to boot.
April 30th, 2014 at 7:52 am
Brain freeze, make that Nikola.
April 30th, 2014 at 8:12 am
I’d much rather have a guy that can play T/G. Someone like Joel Bitonio who might be available in the second round.
If all your o-lineman can play T/G it would provide the best depth. Plus, when players have certain injuries, but can still play, it’s advantageous to be able to shift your line to put that player in a less taxing position until he heals. I would much rather have seven T/G than three tackles and four guards on my roster. It gives the offense so much more flexibility.
April 30th, 2014 at 8:19 am
If Matthews, Robinson & Lewan are all stil there at 7….then trade down if we can and still pick one up later if we want Oline for our first pick.
April 30th, 2014 at 8:43 am
Smart move TampaBayBucFan !
April 30th, 2014 at 9:18 am
I am impressed that you guys know who Tesla was!
FREE ENERGY FOR ALL!!!
MAKE THE DREAM COME TRUE!!!
GO BUCS!!
SOLAR POWERED STADIUMS!
YEEEEAAAAA BUDDYYY
April 30th, 2014 at 9:34 am
Joe you’re freaking me out with these pictures beside ur articles…
April 30th, 2014 at 10:09 am
I remember reading about Tesla’s experiments with trying to conduct electricity through the atmosphere wirelessly when I was a child. One of the greatest scientists and inventors of the last 2 centuries! Let’s hope some of those smarts have been passed on to the Bucs brain trust and they don’t try to draft a QB in round 1, when there are so many other more pressing needs on this team!
April 30th, 2014 at 10:31 am
Not only will Robinson not be on the board, he won’t make it out of the top 4 picks. Matthews won’t make it out of the top 6. Lewan will be there, though.
I see it being Carr or Donald in the first round and then a G or WR in the second.
April 30th, 2014 at 11:26 am
“Arizona, with Licht as its No. 2 personnel man, drafted a guard at No. 7 last year)…” – Joe
Licht had nothing to do with that pick. He has stated that he has never been in the room when the picks are made. This is his first time.
April 30th, 2014 at 11:36 am
I don’t see how you got that he was talking about Jake Matthews either. He clearly stated that it was dangerous to pick a tackle to play guard.
The Bucs signed Anthony Collins to play Left Tackle. Matthews has played RT early in his college career, but he thrived at LT, which is where he is expected to play.
The first OG won’t be taken until Round 3. Gabe Jackson. Unless a team reaches.
Of course, being near the top of each round means the Bucs may have to reach to fill needs.
April 30th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
The fear of drafting sure thing top tier picks is troubling.
April 30th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Tesla For The Win. Tesla>Edison
If Greg Robinson is still on the board at #7 take him.
May 1st, 2014 at 8:54 am
Tesla is the Man, him and I share some traits