Mariota + Melvin Gordon “To Fix This Offense”
April 11th, 2015
It’s not just Father Dungy leading the Marcus Mariota Gang (and the trade-down crowd). Another respected voice is picking Mariota to lead the Tampa Bay offense — and for a stud running back prospect to join him.
Joe doesn’t support such maneuvers, but Joe won’t ignore that they’re possible. Lovie Smith is one unpredictable cat.
Pat Kirwan, the former Jets linebackers coach and personnel chief, and a Bucs scout long ago, dove into a Round 2 mock draft on SiriuxXM NFL Radio yesterday and emerged with the Bucs drafting Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon at No. 34 overall.
“I think there’s a little bit of frustration with the run game down in Tampa Bay. And it’s too good to be true, they’re going to take Melvin Gordon, the big time running back out of Wisconsin to team up with Marcus Mariota to fix this offense,” Kirwan said.
“Remember, they got the two big wide receivers. They got a big-time tight end. I think Melvin Gordon [ends] up being the starter.”
Joe might just ram his face into a wall if the Bucs drafted Gordon. What a waste of a pick that would be, especially on the heels of drafting Charles Sims in the third-round last year. Sure, a great running game can be a rookie quarterback’s best friend, but so is an offensive line that isn’t among the NFL’s worst.
Fix the O-line first, and if the current corps of running backs can’t cut it, then go trade for Matt Forte at the deadline this year and draft an RB next year in the middle rounds.
You can hear all of Kirwan and cohost Jim Miller, the former NFL quarterback, below.
April 11th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Gordon won’t be there in the 2nd anyways so…
April 11th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
As much as id like him. I would not like the pick. If there is no edge rusher worth a high 2nd rnd pick then oline without question
April 11th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Oline should be the pick. I think Martin and Sims would do well if we had people to block for them. Also, Glennon needs olinemen to block until Mariota is ready to play.
April 11th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
M&M…..
Marcus & Melvin
who need an OL….SMH
trade down with Cleveland and build a REAL offensive line !
April 11th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
This would all make sense if JW wasn’t in this draft and the Bucs had a decent OL, DE.
April 11th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
then go trade for Matt Forte at the deadline
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I like they way you think, what’s to say we don’t get Peterson? Personally I’d pick Jay Ajayi Boise St. reminds me of a younger Blount with better hands and is lightning quick. Maybe 3-5 round, idk. Gordon in the second although he is certainly worth a second would be a bad pick.
OH Chit almost forgot I think I found our stating LT – Donovan Smith -Jr- LT – Penn St.
Look him up, he’s won every award for a LT. He looks like a house and must be a bad ass cuz he’s appears to be the only LT coming out early in his Jr. year. Most definitely worth a quick google search.
April 11th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Melvin Gorden does look like a Arian Foster clone. Imagine having a young healthy Foster type guy on this roster. Man the draft is always so bitter sweet.
April 11th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
WS99-
Is D.J, Humphries a LT coming out early? I could be wrong but thought so. He seems extremely talented but injury prone & lazy. Known around here as Kanada Walker syndrome.
April 11th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Florida folks should know how valuable duke johnson, tj yeldon, and even langford from msu are in later rounds when you can add a quarterback that can actually play in his first 2 seasons alongside them..save the ridiculous mariota/rodgers comparisons, too, and the benefits of sitting behind a living legend like glennon for 2 seasons..lol!!
April 11th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Im telling you there’s no way we pass on an offensive lineman in the second. There are 4 tackles projected to go in the 1st round and 2 other tackles projected to go in either the 1st or 2nd round. If even one of those guys falls to us at pick number 34, which is extremely likely, how could we pass on talent like that with it being such a big hole for us? but your right Kirwan, grab a RB in the second so we can get our rookie QB killed and have said RB rush for zero yards.
April 11th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Lovie wants Bucs to be a run-first team. Plus, one thing that we have all learned about the draft is to always expect the unexpected
April 11th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
There is only one major thing Glennon and Farve have in common and that’s great game winning drives to upset FSU. Maybe that’s why I never really like those guys much. 😉
April 11th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
If we took a running back before oline or pass rusher, we can expect to finish last in the division (and probably league) again
April 11th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
This scenario: MM (Which I can live with, but would prefer JW) followed by another running back with the 34th overall pick would be enough to make me a very apathetic fan for another year. Another year of trying to give tickets away to anyone who will take them.
April 11th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
“Lovie wants Bucs to be a run-first team.:…..HELLO Lovie……the NFL is bending over backwards for teams to THROW the BALL……..
April 11th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
#5
April 11th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
dante fowler the gator pass rusher had a good visit with the bucs Friday. many other sites on the internet are stating sources connected to the bucs want to trade the top pick. they are not sold on Winston. many websites have posted an interview with winston’s attorney. worth reading . he doesn’t think Winston is ready for the nfl off the field. winston’s own attorney!!!
April 11th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Lets take rivers in a trade down and grab Peterson if possible and then take a d/e or o-line with the first pick then a d/e or a o-line with the second pick and third take a o-line again. forth pick take d/e again too.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
@Port Richey
I have been somebody on this blog that has been despised by the Winstonites.
I questioned his character and his lack of maturity and like many others have worried about his future. However IF the Bucs sign off on him I’ll cheer for him and believe that L&L would not place their careers on the line if their due diligence hadn’t provided enough comfort.
I do not believe Fameis attorney was even suggesting the Bucs should pass on Fameis. I believe he simply said what I’ve been saying all along. Society creates a lot of these issues for ALL famous celebrities/athletes. They are told they are the best thing since sliced bread and they end up believeing it.
I think what Fameis attorney was suggesting is that virtually ALL young superstar athletes have problems coping with all the fame and adulation beginning when they are impressionable teens. But his attorney also suggested that a good support system whether it’s for Fameis or even Melvin Gordon is always essential.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:16 pm
It’s always been a game of trench warfare in the NFL.
Fix it.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Thanks for the BREAKING NEWS Port Richey George. I had no idea this was happening with his attorney…
BTW…you’re an idiot. The story about his attorney has BEEN on this site since early this morning.
Thanks again for the Breaking News….
Just when I thought I was out……some IDIOT pulls me back in…
April 11th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
With Martin, Sims, Rainey and James certainly not an area of weakness. The draft can not come soon enough. QB, 2 OTs, DE, S….priorities don’t you think?….April 30th please be here soon… Not prone to getting headaches…but over saturated already!
April 11th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
If its Mariota then you get him a elite LT
April 11th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Don’t like how we’ve pigeon-holed ourselves here to pick based upon need. It feels like only bad teams put themselves in a position to chase their tails like this.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
@ 87
Love your passion dude, but your not going to get everybody on board with drafting Winston. He’s going to have his detractors, and that’s fine, it’s not going to change anything anyways. He’ll still most likely be the pick whether they like it or not, and I’m sure people will change their minds about him once we start winning because of him.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
No running back that high….too many other needs. Melvin is a very good player, but would be a luxury for us.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Winston is visiting with the jets, so I guess it’s not a done deal after all. If it was, Winston wouldn’t be wasting his time visiting other teams. He would be canceling, just like Andrew Luck was a few years back. Looks like Mariota is still in this race!
April 11th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
SuperSam and Port Richey George are still in the race for the most clueless fans on JBF…
It’s neck and neck.
Stay tuned.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Drafting for need is what has made our draft classes so horrible the past few years. You pick the best player available. I surely would want us to draft a OT/DE in the second round but if there is a can’t miss prospect you have to take him. Let’s be honest we went 2-14. We need better players at all positions besides Mike Evans, Gerald mccoy, and Lavonte David. VJ, Dotson, and Verner are the only other keepes, besides that every single players job should have competition brought in. They said when we picked ASJ that he was so high on our board that we picked him even though we had a good TE corps. I hope Licht sticks to his draft board and brings us good football players, not just hyped up names in postions that we need.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
I get giddy just thinking about the chance of Randy Gregory falling to us. Can you imagine a draft of Winston and Gregory. That would be a dream scenario. I know we got burned in the past by Tanard Jackson (pun intended) but I would be willing to take a chance on Gregory if he interviewd well and seemed like a changed man. People can’t quit smoking weed, it’s not addictive.
April 11th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
If we had a o line I’d say game on but we don’t
April 11th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
I’ve never heard Kirwan and Miller, but based on what I’ve seen them say on this site, I doubt I ever will.
April 11th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Stanglassman
Yes dj is also a jr but seems to be trending downwards according to http://www.drafttek.com/2015-NFL-Draft-Prospect-Rankings/Top-College-Left-Offensive-Tackles-2015-Draft.asp
This site led me to Donovan Smith bio site at http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/donovan_smith_770195.html
Then I did a quick google image search and good lawd this kid is huge. Finally I think penn st, Iowa,neb make the best linemen. That’s just my opinion.
April 11th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
You’re missing out, man. Best football show out there.
April 11th, 2015 at 3:16 pm
StPeteBucsFan
Truer words have never been written my brotha; Great Post!
April 11th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Why wouldn’t Mariota still be in play, even his own Handler said he doesn’t have the complete package to be a franchise QB. Didn’t you hear him? if i heard it right, but when your own Handlers say this guy’s a lost cause, Glazers better take notice.
#DP #HGH #PEDs #BrainDeadRetard
April 11th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Pat Kirwan is an idiot.
The Bucs drafting a RB this year would be completely stupid. Of course, it was completely stupid last year too, when we could have used the pick to fix at least one spot on the line.
April 11th, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Barry, that is bullspit.
April 11th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Barry…because Mariota is a rapist That’s why. 🙂
April 11th, 2015 at 4:06 pm
“They got a big-time tight end.”… ???? What the FUK is he talking about?
April 11th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Buc1987 Says:
April 11th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
SuperSam and Port Richey George are still in the race for the most clueless fans on JBF…
It’s neck and neck.
Stay tuned.
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Now why in the world would you leave Barry out like that?
April 11th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
I don’t care if you put Thomas Brady or Aaron Rodgers behind that line with AP at RB with this OL no one will win!
April 11th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Dreambig…Barry’s on another plain. No one can reach Barry’s level.
April 11th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Why rivers and ap? That’s like $30 mil in cap space. We have about $28 mil right? Wisnewski as our center plus a rookie ot or de from the top of the 2nd round. EDS CAN play guard or leave the f-in team. The saints are smart gettin a center to solidify brees’ pocket. Putting mariota or jw in a run first type of offense is what I fear. Even with koetter I have a feeling we will be more jags than falcons. I wanna see more shotgun gotdamnit!
April 11th, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Who is our big time tight end? Myers or Saferian-Jenkins or…Stocker?
April 11th, 2015 at 7:55 pm
It would probably be a bit irresponsible, if not somewhat irrational, but this scenario is possible; especially if the Bucs employ the “best available player” philosophy. If it were to happen, I’m sure it would not represent their worst draft!
April 11th, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Damn this really is the silly season, you’ve got Doug Martin, drafted a back last year and with all the issues someone says draft a running back even though there’s 4 on the roster. Lol so the book is out on Sims? Don’t breakout your rookie season after an injury your a bust? can’t fix every position in the draft this year and that’s one less nee you can fill d if you draft another back this year
April 11th, 2015 at 11:21 pm
Mariota looks to be the pick. They’ll trade down with the Titans.
April 12th, 2015 at 1:06 am
We have Martin and Sims plus Rainey and James for depth.
Martin had his best season the same year Freeman threw for 4,000+ yards. Coincidence?
If we have a passing attack the opposing defense respects, it should really help Martin and our rushing attack as a whole. More so than any big money free agent o lineman.
April 12th, 2015 at 1:46 am
agree with you here joe. I love Melvin Gordon, but the Bucs have a ton young RB talent. We need to fix the o line if ANY rb is going to have success in Tampa. The second round pick better be our new starting RG or RT
April 12th, 2015 at 9:08 am
Its a dream scenario that would look great on paper right until you look at the O-line. If the O-line was addressed before the draft this would make more sense.
April 12th, 2015 at 9:58 am
When has Dungy ever been right about offense? Mariota will never be an a top 15 starting NFL QB.