Upgrading The Secondary
February 25th, 2015
Will Bucs DC Leslie Frazier be smiling with an upgraded secondary this fall?
Lost in the talk of the Bucs finally getting their franchise quarterback is that there are other areas on the team that need help, too. This may come as a surprise for a team that was 2-14.
It seems that lost in Joe’s interview with Peter King for readers was King’s take on cornerbacks.
Oh, he likes Johnthan Banks and he thinks Alterraun Verner is capable. And King stressed that with 61 percent of NFL offensive plays having three or more wide outs, the case can be made that having a stout third corner is equally a necessity. This seems right in line with Lovie Smith’s thinking. Notice Smith always refers to a nickel corner as a starter?
Enter Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. He too thinks the time is ripe for the Bucs to possibly get a transfusion in the secondary.
Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks are a solid pair of starting cornerbacks. Verner graded out as an elite player by Pro Football Focus and Banks blossomed as last season went on. But the Bucs could use an upgrade over Leonard Johnson at nickelback. Johnson was beaten too much in coverage last year. The Bucs need to decide if they’re going to bring back Mike Jenkins, who missed last season with an injury.
Jenkins had been scheduled to start ahead of Banks before the injury. Banks’ development means keeping Jenkins from leaving as a free agent isn’t an urgent matter. But, if Jenkins can be kept at a reasonable salary, it would be nice to have three cornerbacks capable of starting.
Leonard Johnson played strong the final weeks of the season. Is that a harbinger of things to come? Joe knows fans aren’t buying that quite yet.
With Banks, Joe will come out and say it now in February: Look for Banks to have a breakout year. He played good ball last year and this season his first since high school that he will have the same defensive coordinator in consecutive seasons. Every college and pro season for Banks has brought him a new defense to learn. Not this year.
Joe suspects that before the free agency dinner bell rings in 13 days, we will have clarity on the future of safety Dashon Goldson.
February 25th, 2015 at 8:07 am
Why is ANYONE still talking about Mike “The Matador” Jenkins??
February 25th, 2015 at 8:10 am
Any chance Goldson restructures with a shot at more money longterm? He is a veteran presence in the secondary but is passed his prime with a target on his back with the league. His chances of another big payday if he gets cut are slim. Plus I think Lovie likes Goldson as our starting safety.
February 25th, 2015 at 8:31 am
Jenkins could be the answer if healthy…..look for us to draft a late-round CB…..the question is LJ….at best, he is simply average….never really achieved and has had plenty of opportunity….but, you can never have enough CBs….and as long as LJ is not the starter I’m, OK.
As far as Goldson restructuring…he will have to do that or he is gone…and I agree…there is no big money out there…he has squandered that opportunity.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:08 am
Even if you could restructure the Hawk to a more reasonable, $2.5-3M contract?, do you still want him? He’s been injury prone.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:22 am
@biff
I’d just as soon say goodbye to the “Squawk”……all talk…..
February 25th, 2015 at 9:23 am
So for the case of Banks you use same coach same system as an excuse. That’s ok? But when it comes to the constant change for Glennon it does not fly. At least Banks had a REAL coordinator last year.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:26 am
BucFan20 – Glennon is this team’s long term backup and that’s as it should be.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:31 am
ChanEpic — I disagree with you. All signs point to Glennon being traded.
Mike Jenkins… Is flat out horrible. He won’t tackle, he is afraid of his own shadow, gives up on plays and get’s burnt at least once badly per half. I pull for the local guys with the best of them but he is a joke.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:32 am
@bucfan
Don’t you just love all these expert losers that think they know something?
Can’t reason with idiots. I wouldn’t try if I were you.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:33 am
Senquez Golson, get him in the 4th…..perfect for our nickel CB. VERY good at tracking the ball and going for the steal (a real Hawk). He also played baseball which he credits his ball tracking skills, and turned down big money to continue playing baseball in order to follow his real passion, football. Led the SEC in interceptions last year. He’s fast. But the one knock on him is he’s a tad under 5’9. I think he’d be a great value if he’s still there in the 4th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kieQBK673vk
February 25th, 2015 at 9:35 am
Goldson has lost his speed…..even got beat in a foot race by p diddy not long ago….look it up.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:11 am
We could definitely use an upgrade at nickle corner. Leonard Johnson is a great guy and he tries hard – but he just doesn’t have the talent or the speed to excel at CB in the NFL. He makes a decent backup but we need to find some better competition for that spot somewhere.
RE: Goldson – I honestly can’t think of 1 Big Play that he’s made in 2 years and he gets paid like a premier safety. I keep hearing the coaches like having him around – but I think we need to move on from Goldson even if he is willing to restructure and find a better player at FS.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:20 am
Banks is turning into a beast as we speak, I blame Lovie and h8s preference for Jenkins as the starter opposite of Banks, it put a Chip on the young CBs shoulder and he plays with it, certainly looking forward to watching his development.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:23 am
Mike Glennon is about to be on his fourth OC in four years too. Just sayin
February 25th, 2015 at 10:24 am
I just saw that Bucsfan noticed the same thing I did. LOL. It only applies when they want it to
February 25th, 2015 at 10:42 am
Goldson sure had good timing to hit the jackpot with the Bucs. Yet another reach that failed to live up to his hype and salary. Maybe I’m wrong and his experience and leadership are worth every penny.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:48 am
*Good Options
(Slot Corner)
• Shareece Wright, San Diego Chargers <- Cheap Slot Competition
(Boundary Corner)
• Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers <- Effective Veteran Leadership
Safety
• Da’Norris Searcy, Buffalo Bills
February 25th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Even if Goldson would take a pay cut, why would you want to keep him. The guy is being paid Ronnie Lott money and playing like the processed hair Ivory Sully.
No picks in the last two years. None. Missed assignments, taclkels and mediocre coverage.
This is another FA who got a bid payday and then decided to coast.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
the problem with the hawk is that players aren’t allowed to “hawk” players anymore. Goodell and NFL has made it so defensive players have to give a written notice one week in advance of a hit coming. John Lynch would be getting flagged and fined all day on Sundays in todays National Flag Football League
February 25th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Hell yeah we need to upgrade the secondary. Get me somebody that can cover. Damn. Also, someone who can blitz.
Here are the Top 20 FAs per Cap Hit in 2014
Tramon Williams CB 31 GB TBD $9,500,000 UFA
Antrel Rolle S 32 NYG TBD $9,250,000 UFA
Ike Taylor CB 34 PIT TBD $7,692,403 UFA
Darrelle Revis CB 29 NE TBD $7,000,000 UFA
Devin McCourty S 27 NE TBD $5,115,000 UFA
Kareem Jackson CB 26 HOU TBD $4,335,000 UFA
Antonio Cromartie CB 30 ARI TBD $4,000,000 UFA
Bradley Fletcher CB 28 PHI TBD $3,650,000 UFA
Louis Delmas S 27 MIA TBD $3,500,000 UFA
Charles Tillman CB 34 CHI TBD $3,050,000 UFA
Walter Thurmond CB 27 NYG TBD $3,000,000 UFA
Brandon Flowers CB 29 SD TBD $3,000,000 UFA
Nate Allen S 27 PHI TBD $3,000,000 UFA
Darius Butler CB 28 IND TBD $3,000,000 UFA
Patrick Robinson CB 27 NO TBD $2,804,333 UFA
Stevie Brown S 27 NYG TBD $2,750,000 UFA
Kyle Wilson CB 27 NYJ TBD $2,387,400 UFA
George Wilson S 33 TEN TBD $2,300,000 UFA
Jarrett Bush CB 30 GB TBD $2,033,333 UFA
Terence Newman CB 36 CIN TBD $2,000,000 UFA
February 25th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Here are the 20 Top FAs per Age
Tramain Jacobs CB 22 BAL TBD $170,118 ERFA
Leonard Johnson CB 24 TB TBD $572,500 RFA
Robert Golden S 24 PIT TBD $571,667 RFA
Rodney McLeod S 24 STL TBD $571,333 RFA
Johnson Bademosi S 24 CLE TBD $570,834 RFA
Tashaun Gipson S 24 CLE TBD $570,500 RFA
Antwon Blake CB 24 PIT TBD $570,000 RFA
Bradley McDougald S 24 TB TBD $495,000 ERFA
Will Hill S 24 BAL TBD $368,824 RFA
Chandler Fenner CB 24 NYG TBD $271,764 ERFA
Jordan Kovacs S 24 MIA TBD $232,941 ERFA
Chris Banjo S 24 GB TBD $87,353 ERFA
Buster Skrine CB 25 CLE TBD $1,481,500 UFA
Rahim Moore S 25 DEN TBD $1,415,313 UFA
Brandon Harris CB 25 TEN TBD $824,907 UFA
Davon House CB 25 GB TBD $720,145 UFA
Sterling Moore CB 25 DAL TBD $645,000 UFA
Sean Richardson S 25 GB TBD $571,667 RFA
Trenton Robinson S 25 WAS TBD $570,000 ERFA
Jaiquawn Jarrett S 25 NYJ TBD $570,000 RFA
February 25th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Goldson is on his way out, they didn’t even play him full time last year when he was healthy, as he just isn’t “The Hawk” as in ball hawk, that they need.
February 25th, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Good solid valid observation BucFan20. The whole offense was inept because of the OC last year. I