Bucs Work Out A.J. Cann
April 6th, 2015
Tampa Bay can’t just make Band-Aid moves on their offensive line, they must groom it for the long term and Jameis Winston’s rise to prominence.
Finding a replacement for Logan Mankins should be a priority.
Joe doesn’t think barbecue-yearning Mankins has much to offer in 2015, but he will be here. Lovie Smith and Jason Licht are counting on Mankins to revive himself at age 33. If he can’t look like he did playing for New England, then Joe is confident the Bucs will pass on investing another $7 million in Mankins, roughly what he is due in 2015 and 2016.
Per the Baltimore Sun, the Bucs already are thinking about the future at left guard. Tampa Bay offensive line coaches were busy at the University of South Carolina pro day, working out behemoth A.J. Cann, a projected second-round pick.
Cann was a four-year starter (nearly all at left guard), a team captain, a top student, and is known for consistency and brute strength at 6-3, 313 pounds. He’s no center, and doesn’t have the quickness for tackle. He’s all guard.
Joe and others have talked about the Bucs potentially packaging their No. 34 overall pick (second choice in Round 2) with a late-round pick in order to move back into the first round. However, the Bucs are just as likely to trade down within the second round, perhaps to snatch a guy like Cann and pick up, say, a fifth-round pick to trade back into the second round after that.
As Joe’s written previously, Joe will be smiling if the Bucs stock up on quality O-linemen in the draft.
April 6th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
If the value for LT isn’t there; we are better off trading back and attacking interior of the line.
Trade back in 2nd and get extra 4th or 5th. You could still grab the best or 2nd best guard in this draft; and then trade back up for another one or a DE. Then grab a center/guard later.
We could live with average LT play if the interior of the line was a strength. And the value seems to be with starting gaurds being in the 2nd/3rd/potentially 4th.
We could get a guy to start at RG; have a center to groom behind EDS; and a LG replacement for Mankins. The interior would be set for years; and we could either sign a preimer LT in FA if one is available (and cut Mankins/EDS to save $$) or spend a premier pick on one in that draft.
April 6th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
like the fact that he’s not a tweener or jack of all trades. but who is gonna play LT?
April 6th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
We need to address OL with 2 & 3
April 6th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
When you mention Mankins I always get a mental image of the opponent jumping over him to block that kick.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
This depends on if the Bucs can get any value for Doug Martin or MG8. Again though if we trade MG8 who is going to be the backup? MG8 is cheap do we want to raid the cap for another Josh McCown or Jason Campbell type?
I think draft day is going to be very exciting. The Bucs have some options it’ll be interesting to see which way the go. And of course nobody knows for sure how the picks are going to shake out after the top ten and so I’m sure L&L’s decisions will be heavily influenced by who drops and how far.
April 6th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I hope the Titans trade their 2nd round pick for the Chargers Rivers in the 1st. Then the Bucs could trade down as far as Oakland to pick up some more picks and still draft Winston. Trade Glennon and Martin for picks this year/next year and in the later rounds don’t draft bpa but best player that fits Lovie’s system. Now I don’t like the idea of trading down but if a scenario like that arises then do it.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
There will be no trading down from the #1 overall pick. No player in the draft is coveted that much by any team….especially for the ransom it would take.
April 6th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
@NewBucsFan
No time to get cutsie with the #1 overall pick. If the Bucs lose out on Winston it will be the one act Lovie would be remembered for in Tampa Bay and NFL history will not be kind to him.
April 6th, 2015 at 3:27 pm
bucs need 4 new starters immediately on the oline he would be nice piece to the puzzle. No way that Flowers falls close enough for the bucs to go up and get him witout giving away too much especially given all the holes yet to fill. they have to get 3 starters from this draft no if and or buts. Winston first round so they can’t miss on the 2nd and 3rd rounder. Last year they only got 1 productive starter which was a no brainer in evans like winston is a no brainer this year hoping they pull 2 starters in addition to winston out of the draft is a real concern. I’d bet the under
April 6th, 2015 at 4:00 pm
I believe we should get a pick from a MG8 trade and grab Michael Vick as our backup! At this point, Vick should come pretty cheap and he could teach Winston a thing or two.
April 6th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
No trading Glennon! There is no one available that will be a better backup at that price. Being that the QB position is so important in this league (ask Arizona) to trade away Glennon would be a mistake. I don’t believe it is possible to get good value for Glennon in a trade at this time.
April 6th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Why trade Glennon? We need a backup and he’s it… assuming he’s not our starter.
April 6th, 2015 at 9:16 pm
Yes BlogTalk, Vick can teach Winston how to lie, gamble, kill defenseless animals and not prepare fully for a game. Those really are great attributes to teach a rookie aren’t they.
I mean seriously, do you ever actually ever use that big pience of mush between your ears.
The brain is a terrible thing.
April 7th, 2015 at 4:00 pm
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