T.J. Clemmings In Round 2
December 18th, 2014
Nothing like a seven-round mock draft to get the juices of hope flowing on a Thursday afternoon — when your beloved team is 2-12 a week before Christmas.
Luke Easterling of BleacherReport.com has been a very busy man of late, and he’s churned out a seven-round, Bucs-specific mock draft. You can read it here.
Joe’s focus here is on the choice of University of Pittsburgh right tackle T.J. Clemmings in the second round.
The Anthony Collins experiment looks to be over, but instead of finding a replacement at left tackle this offseason, it looks like Tampa Bay might be content to keep Demar Dotson there after moving him over from right tackle last week.
If that’s the case, Jason Licht and company could look to a player like Clemmings, who has plenty of experience on the right side. Some analysts project him as a potential left tackle prospects due to his skill set, but he might be better suited to stay where he’s comfortable at the next level.
The piece goes on to reference a draft site that claims Clemmings is very raw but a fast and good learner.
Clemmings is Joe’s kind of guy. He’s a manbeast, listed at 6-6, 315 pounds. But even better, Clemmings played defensive end at Pitt for two seasons before converting to offensive line.
Perhaps he can play both ways replace Michael Johnson?
December 18th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Is he angry or is he a stand up guy? We can’t have any angry players just nice guys who claim to be soliders.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
We can trade our first rounder for Donald Penn
December 18th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
Love the pick but what about the pick we spent on tackle this year in the 5th round wouldn’t didn’t he play right tackle in Purdue ???
December 18th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
As soon as I’m reelected we will not be targeting any offensive linemen. I must personally watch them play in NFL training camps to provide an accurate evaluation.
My track record of talent evaluation speaks for itself, Barron > Kuechly B. Price/A. Benn >Gronk and my favorite Eric Wright > Aqib Talib…
Marcus Crassus Dominus Dominick
December 18th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I begged for aaron donald but nooooo. Sad truth is he’ll prob out perform our best defensive lineman as a rookie. Sad but true.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
At least we could see him, we have trouble seeing the Ghost.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Don’t mind that, but I really hope we can get Cameron Erving C from Florida State in the 2nd. He started at Tackle in 2013 and moved him inside this year because he has the ability to snap as well. on top of that he was a D-lineman his Freshman year. Guy is a freak athlete and obviously is very versatile which is something we desperately need with all the moving parts our o-line is going to have.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
You conveniently neglected to mention he has Mariota as #1, Joe.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Who is Micheal Johnson?
December 18th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
DB55 Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I begged for aaron donald but nooooo. Sad truth is he’ll prob out perform our best defensive lineman as a rookie. Sad but true.
So you would have preferred to select him at 7 over Evans?
December 18th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
LMAO – play both ways hahahaha
Joe be careful some homer fans will accuse you of bashing Lovie and his resume of perfection!!!
Even though the article has nothing to do with Lovie and the 2-14 record!
December 18th, 2014 at 2:50 pm
Here’s the key line Joe below.
“The piece goes on to reference a draft site that claims Clemmings is very raw but a fast and good learner”.
Raw scares me. Everytime we have a high upside guy that is raw, it seems they don’t work out. I want NFL ready guys. I wouldn’t be broken hearted over this guy as a 2nd rounder but I would try to get him later and put focus into a Def Linemen for our 2nd pick.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Not true Dotson was raw now he is our best lineman
December 18th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
@cmurda – I think it depends on the coach we bring in. If we can get Spagnuolo, as it’s been suggested as a possibility, then I’d be comfortable with him developing a raw player. I’d prefer not to give Warhop a raw talent since he hasn’t gotten anything out of the guys he’s gotten thus far.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Anthony Collins is a beast. Michael Johnson too. We are totally set with those 2 studs at critical positions. Beasts I tell ya!
December 18th, 2014 at 3:01 pm
This is why football is so great… you get hype and hope for 9 months without your team having to play a game.
It’s great.
We can’t lose in 2015 until September (don’t count preseason).
As long as they sign free agents and draft allegedly good draft picks then we are all winners in the first 9 months of the year. Isn’t it great?!?
December 18th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Patrick
Yes
December 18th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
“We can’t have any angry players just nice guys who claim to be soliders.”
I’m sure that is just snark DB55 and so we are thinking alike. I want to know how mean this guy is.
Seriously we need sombody dirty. Somebody whose mean but not stupid ala Richie the pig Incognito. Somebody who can channel that mean streak.
Frank Middleton may have only had average talent at guard for us but I loved the dude. He told it like it was..ala Donald Penn and he was a nasty dude on the field.
EDS seemed to be the only guy this year on the OL with any real fight in him. Not saying his talent is top shelf but at least EDS had some fight in him.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Wow I know this is supposed to be about the OL but look at what the dude in Joe’s link wrote about Mariota. Sounds like quite a few posters here.
Mariota has been pigeonholed by some as just another single-read signal-caller whose gaudy stats are more a reflection of Oregon’s spread offense than its quarterback’s talent level. But a closer look at the film reveals a poised, collected passer who knows how to negotiate the pocket, go through his progressions effectively and throw with anticipation. Can he make plays with his legs outside of the pocket? Sure. But it’s an added bonus to his skill set as a passer, not the keystone of his entire game.
Many fear Mariota can only succeed at the NFL level if he’s in an offensive system that closely mirrors the one he’s run in Eugene. But while it may take some time for him to adjust to a more pro-style attack, the Bucs will be in the advantageous position of looking for a new offensive coordinator this offseason anyway. This would allow them to pair Mariota with a play-caller who can accentuate the Heisman winner’s strengths.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:25 pm
If there is a center worthy of a 2nd rounder, that’s who they need to take. It’s harder to find a good center in later rounds. Personally, I would go:
QB, Center, Tackle or Goard (depending on what we get in FA).
December 18th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
@Bonzai – I think the next two games will go a long way in determining our needs at draft time. If Dotson is at least serviceable then the ripple effect should show us where the talent actually lies on our line. Then, once we get an OC and line coach that can actually put together a blocking scheme that could conceivably stop a pass rush then we may not need to go quite as line heavy as you suggest. That could be wishful thinking and we may see the level of play not go anywhere but I’m hoping that it isn’t as glaring of a hole as we’ve thought all year.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Mocker forgets we have extra picks in this draft.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
2 5th rounders at least
December 18th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
@Patrick in VA
I don’t think 2 games is enough to show consistency. Would still be a gamble.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:41 pm
It wouldn’t show consistency, for sure. It would show, however, that we have something could potentially be developed in to a solid line. If we have something that could be something good, with the right coaching, then we can devote resources to areas where there is clearly just not enough talent. Because of our defense’s reliance on a solid pass rush, I would say those resources would be spent in that area more effectively if we are able to see growth on the line in the next two games. We can’t completely ignore the Oline, but we wouldn’t have to retool it from scratch either.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
DB55
In sure you realize the talent he has around him on the Rams line. He’s very good but I will take a game changing, tall, great hands receiver over him any day.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
@Patrick in Va,
Great point! It definitely is tied to the coaching skills.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:17 pm
I think you are being overly optimistic with the oline. I think Mankin is good enough, but thee is no one else on that line worth keeping for anything but depth.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
@StPeteBucsFan
Luke Easterling was a college QB. Knows his stuff.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:27 pm
You may very well be right about that Bonzai but I’m hopeful. At least we’ll have a chance to see it, albeit a small sample size, before going in to the off season. It would be a harder sell to get people excited about a move like that without this pre-preason work to get a taste.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
IF we secure the 1st overall pick, then we’ll have the first pick in every round. I could definitely see us using that high draft order coupled with our surplus of picks to repeatedly move back up into earlier rounds to chase talent!
FWIW… I say you go all in with Jameis number one overall then move back into the first round to get a solid o-lineman. After that bring in as many pass rushers as you can and just hope that one of them is next Michael Bennent or Jaquis Smith.
Oh and keep every last one of the high priced free agents (Jackson, Goldson, Johnson and the rest of them) we can’t afford to keep sending football players out of here.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
If I was calling the draft for the Bucs, I don’t think I’d consider anything but Offensive and Defensive line in rounds 2-7…because let’s face it…with the possible exception of GMC, both our lines have been “offensive”! Extremely offensive!
December 18th, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Clemmings sounds like a good prospect.
December 18th, 2014 at 6:07 pm
“with the right coaching,”
Bingo Patrick! Warhop? Does anybody know if he’s actually better than the putrid product he put on the field this year.
I’m suspicious. If Warhop can’t even coach his players to stay onsides…GILKEY!!!!…the large number of holding calls…
Can’t say I’m really sold on Warhop.
December 18th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Patrick
What’s to say they’re mutually exclusive. Deepest draft in yrd at the WR position.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:56 pm
@DB55
I with you brotha
LUVMYBUCS Says:
December 11th, 2013 at 8:16 am
@Joe
With your keen eye for talent…I know you’ve seen this kid out of Pitt. DT Aaron Donald 6-0½, 281 lbs. Sure the kid is small, but Wow. Your talking about an out of this world get off..smh. You add this kid to our rotation and look out. For a minute I was, like eh-next coming of Trevor Laws. Then the next minute…your speechless
LUVMYBUCS Says:
April 10th, 2014 at 11:11 am
If we’re fortunate enough, and Greg Robinson falls to use at #7; draft ‘em. Kick’em inside to guard for one or two years-then move him to tackle. If he’s not there trade down-Taylor Lewan-Aaron Donald and Zac Martin should still be on the board.
Ref:
Polian Says It’s Aaron Donald At No.7
May 3rd, 2014
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=112217
December 18th, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Aaron Donald Better Be Smokescreen (May 6th, 2014)
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=112360
December 18th, 2014 at 10:13 pm
I say we get Jacquez Green in the second round
December 18th, 2014 at 10:40 pm
Luvmybucs
It only made sense to boost the dline since the T2 depends so heavily on the front 4 but what do we know.