Nate Orchard And The Bucs
April 19th, 2015
Could Utah DE Nate Orchard be wrapping up quarterbacks for the Bucs this season?
Until recently, there were differing opinions at JoeBucsFan world headquarters. One Joe thought the Bucs surely would pick an offensive linemen with their second pick. The other Joe believed, given the top-heavy talent at defensive end, that is where the Bucs would go.
After recent moves and statements by Tampa Bay, there is now harmony at headquarters. It sure smells like the Bucs will pick an offensive linemen at No. 34.
However, that hasn’t stopped Lovie Smith from smelling the scent of a good defensive end. In a draft diary he is typing for USA Today, Orchard noted that Lovie has more than passing interest in the Utah product, who stands 6-3, 250 pounds and recorded 18.5 sacks last year.
It was really good in Tampa, too. I had a chance to talk with Coach Lovie Smith. He was amazing, and also very complimentary of my past and how I’ve handled it. And he’s excited by me as a player. He really envisioned me being in Tampa with the team, fitting in the defensive scheme. I met the entire staff there, had a tour of the facility.
The Bucs already had a private workout with me, too. That’s definitely a good sign. But there are so many teams that are interested. Everyone says they want me in a way – that if I’m there when they pick, they’re going to draft me. Ultimately, you just can’t get your hopes up.
So, how should we take Lovie’s words? Were they sincere or was Lovie just being polite? Joe doubts the Bucs would take the trouble for a private workout with Orchard if they weren’t interested.
Could we see Orchard on the roster next week?
April 19th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
This is one story Tmaxcon, DallaBuc and the rest of the Anti Lovie mob will try to ignore. To complimentary to Loivie.
April 19th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Based on what I have seen he is a late second,early third round pick. Would be great if he fell to us. Winston, Peat and Orchard would be a great first three picks
April 19th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Was this complimentary to incompetent Lovie Smith?
This is a potential draft pick…has nothing to do with what a great guy you think Lovie is.
April 19th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
drdneast
Compliments don’t equal wins. I’m sure Lovie is a nice guy and people like him but I could careless about that crap. he is paid to win football games. All the other stuff is excuses and nonsense. Wins are all that matters.
April 19th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Just like dungy had NO regard for the OL…..
April 19th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
I’d rather see them target positions of need during FA and off waivers. Draft, we have to snag best available and whether our coaches feel they can coach them up. We have too many crappy second and third day draft picks in our past
April 19th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Bucs use their second pick on a DE if the top 7-8 Offensive Tackles are gone by that point. If there’s a run on OTs in the first round, that should mean that there’d be a number of excellent DE prospects still available when the second round starts.
Personally think we need a starting OT more than a DE, but if no potential starters are there, not much we can do about it. Guess we’d have to hope that one of the other 31 teams cuts a veteran tackle after the draft in that scenario.
April 19th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Orchard is pretty much the top DE for the T-2 scheme in this draft. Would not be surprised to see the Bucs go in this direction, either at 2 or more likely 3. Our real competition for this player is Dallas and other T-2 schemes that buy in to having light fast pass-rush first ends. Most other teams will not be in the market for an undersized end who will be a liability in run defense.
Also, the team could choose to load up on guards at 3 and 4 and forget the tackle position altogether. That would be strange, but stranger things have happened.
April 19th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
You people kill me trying to belittle Lovie’s coaching ability. A superbowl win as D quarternater in The Lou(number 1 rank D I might add for all you the scheme is out dated folks)double digit wins in 9 of 10 seasons in the chi,3 divisinal championships with 22 different QBs starters,a conference championship and superbowl appearance with rex grossman as QB. Takes over the a team that has been floundering for over a decade and graded by some of you after one season when the man didn’t have the fits for the systems he wants run. There isn’t a coach in the country that comes in and gose on deep playoffs runs year one without the player personnel needed to do so. Continue all you want after he draftsWINSton on the 30th and those wins and chips start to add up he’ll be offered a key to city or encouraged to run for mayor after his coaching days are done.
April 19th, 2015 at 4:00 pm
While everybody debates Lovie you miss something really cool in this story.
It sounded like Orchard would really love playing for Lovie and the Bucs. I think that is way cool.
As a poster before me pointed out on another thread. Tmax and Dallasbuc may loathe Lovie but they do not matter.
Unlike Schiano or Raheem Love still commands respect in the league and players want to play for him and coaches like to coach for him. Who really cares what blog posters want to happen.
Dirk Koetter would not have come to Tampa if Lovie sucked as badly as Tmax and Dallasbuc proclaim. Koetter had plenty of leverage and could have coached in a number of places.
Adrian Peterson has the Bucs as one of six teams he’d like to play for…that’s six out of 31…obviously not counting Minnesota.
Orchard sounds very excited about coming to Tampa.
Tmax and DallasBuc may hate Lovie but thankfully coaches and players in the NFL disagree with them. And with all due respect to tmax and Dallasbuc I don’t believe either of them will contribute one sack, one block or one tackle this year. I’ll take the approval of NFL coaches and players over the approval of bloggers.
April 19th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Words well spoken StPetebucsfan.
April 19th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
I’d really like this pick
April 19th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
De n qb are impact positions
April 19th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
@StPeteBucsFan …
Lovie’s job is safe for quite awhile I’d think. The Glazers have seen the effects of creating a coaching merry-go-round and for sure don’t want that any more. Lovie just has to make steady progress in rebuilding this team, and he’ll do that I’m confident. But it’ll take time because not all players are suited for the Tampa 2 defense (last year showed us that I’d think).
We fans all just need to cut him some slack and be patient.
Of course, offering our ‘advice’ periodically is part of the game of football. Can’t wait for the draft now.
April 19th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
The chances of finding a pro bowl left tackle or edge rusher at #34 is rare. Just grab the best guard and move on. Don’t reach for a position of need. We aren’t going to the SB with s rookie QB anyway so let’s build this thing the right way.
April 19th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Why is it that Orchard had 181/2 sacks and is slipping so far in the draft?Is this solely because he is underweight?
April 19th, 2015 at 6:49 pm
I was bringing up Nate Orchard last month. Very possible he’s there near the end of the 2nd….but he wont make it past Dallas. We’d have to move back into the 2nd to get him.
As much as I want a LT or G with our 2nd pick, I wouldnt be surprised if we went DE or SS. If Orchard is our target, we could trade down our 2nd pik and grab him later in that round.
April 19th, 2015 at 11:49 pm
What if Randy Gregory is still there when we pick in the 2nd? I’d have to pull the trigger. He probably wont be though….too many off field issues, I know, but Sapp also had those.
April 20th, 2015 at 3:59 am
Randy Gregory fallin is stupid. Josh gordon status but damn alcohol SHOULD be a bigger issue.