CBS: Guessing Shaq Lawson
April 24th, 2016
Bucs’ target, says CBS Sports.
You want to know one reason Joe is begging, pleading with Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to draft an edge rusher?
Because as long as Joe has had this here site up and running, launched just before Chucky’s final season, Joe has been typing how the Bucs need an edge rusher.
Joe’s friggin’ sick of typing that! Enough!!!
Rob Rang of CBS Sports thinks, too, the Bucs will draft a defensive end with the No. 9 pick. He believes that man will be Clemson defensive end, Shaq Lawson.
The Bucs addressed the need for a pass rush in free agency, inking defensive end Robert Ayers to a three-year deal. Lawson isn’t the blue-chip prospect that his NCAA-leading 25.5 tackles for loss would indicate, but he is powerful, agile and tenacious. Adding him to a defensive line built around All-Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy would give the Bucs a formidable front.
“Addressed,” yes. Solved? No. Robert Ayers, to Joe, is little more than a highly paid Will Gholston. That isn’t solving this stain on the franchise of not having a productive edge rusher.
Sorry, though common sense says otherwise, Joe is freaked out at the prospect of drafting a Clemson defensive end prospect given the Bucs’ history of fanning on Clemson defensive ends.
April 24th, 2016 at 8:44 am
More and more, if Ramsey or Boss doesn’t fall to them, I’m hoping they can trade back….
April 24th, 2016 at 9:00 am
“Third times a charm right? Lol
I don’t now if I’m more worried about drafting a DE from Oregon or a end from Clemson. They’d both produced nothing but bust every year. (Vic Beasley will be the latest flop.)
But I do like Shaq Lawson, I think he will break the curse. The Bucs are looking for a complete DE that can not only rush the passer but stuff the run as well and Shaq is the most complete End in the draft IMO.
my wish list consists of ~ (1) Sheldon Rankins (2) Shaq Lawson (3) VH3
April 24th, 2016 at 9:00 am
Maybe third time’s the charm. Then there’s Rankin.
April 24th, 2016 at 9:16 am
I am firmly ensconced against party-drug Bosa. What do we need that headache for? The guy is slow, (clearly) stupid, and played for Urban ‘inflated draft stock’ Meyer. His guys always fail. Hard.
No to Bosa. No (probably) to Buckner. Hell no to Rankins (would he even start over McDonald?) No to Vernon ‘wait for me’ Hargreaves. Trade back or sit right and take Ogbah.
April 24th, 2016 at 9:30 am
I know we all fear the “Clemson Curse” for DE’s. But we all know this is really superstition.
Hard to believe that there is something in a program that competes for national titles that is ruining DE’s or is getting by on the field with inferior DE’s,
It’s just one of those coincidences and we humans too frequently equate coincidence with causation. It’s just not true.
But for those who are “justifiably”superstitious, conceding it’s just been bad luck but not wanting to take the chance. Cheer up…there is another non binding influence on this selection. The law of averages is DEFINITELY on the side of Lawson. If Licht and Smith like him…I’m on board. But then again I’m not superstitious,
April 24th, 2016 at 9:37 am
Third times the charm right?
April 24th, 2016 at 9:39 am
Just draft a DE in every round and you’re bound to hit on at least one of them.
Joe will be happy. Be like Joe.
April 24th, 2016 at 9:40 am
The Clemson thing be damned, I’m not overly impressed with either Dodd or Lawson…..but we need an edge rusher, so let’s reach like crazy for one at #9. #joelogic
April 24th, 2016 at 9:55 am
Let the Falcons take him or Dodd, they can team him up with Beasley and have TWO Bust defensive ends from Clemson.
Just say NO…..
Stay away from these two, and Bosa. I’m pretty sure Bosa is gonna fall. Kid has BUST written all over him. I’d take Lawson or Dodd before I’d take that guy.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:11 am
Gotta be honest after more research and who I see available in the early second or bottom first with the possibility of us making a move up there, I am feeling more and more good about drafting Rankins with our pick in the first. Great interior player possible eventual take over for McCoy and will hopefully make our ends better.
With that second pick with a move or not grab a DE there. Now line is hopefully fixed for a while. Then we can see what is glaring after this season. I have hopes that Vernon will return to form and surprise this year and same for Banks.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:13 am
Lawson is the one I’ve been saying I’d want over any of the other DE’s in this draft. Watch how he wraps up on every tackle. That fundamental approach can be the difference between a sack and merely a pressure that still is completed for a big gain. I’d be real happy if we got Lawson.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:24 am
@Lunchbox I see the same explosion off the snap and good set of rush moves too. I still have the same stigma about Clemson DE’s as Joe does though. Especially how their defense was good as a sum of all its parts. He isn’t the only top rounds guy coming out this year. So was he effective because he is that good or did everyone else make him look good. He has the skills from what I see but like Joe being burned another time from drafting a Clemson DE high makes me nauseous to think about.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:30 am
Guessing? No time for that. Did they guess right on Clayborn & Bowers, double dippin.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:47 am
First about the Clemson DE curse, I ain’t buying it. They run a four man front in their base defense. Just because there have been past failures(including two of our own), that says nothing of the talent or potential of Lawson and Dodd. Regarding taking two DE’s this year, I’m not against it. If we were to take two, my choices would be Lawson (1) and Calhoun (3?) if possible. Also regarding the picks of Clayborn and Bowers, don’t forget it was Dominick that picked them. Our new GM has a keener eye for talent, I think
April 24th, 2016 at 10:57 am
He isn’t a superstar but he will get us 8-10 sacks a year.
He is also a solid cat who will give u ever ounce of effort he can give
April 24th, 2016 at 11:31 am
I don’t believe in any Clemson curse either. Well maybe a curse of the giant pile of losses the Bucs have racked up since their inception which are highly unlikely to ever be balanced with the same number of wins. That’s believable. With Jameis leading the way I expect that gap to be narrowed.
April 24th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
As we watched the Bucs/Rams game, I can still remember my wife asking me,
Who is that no 99 for the Rams? I told her, Aaron Donald. She replied, Man, he sure is eating the Bucs lunch every down. I replied, yes honey, he most certainly is! Rankins appears to have that..kind of motor.
April 24th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Superstition isn’t a good criteria for drafting, Joe. There’s nothing to tie previously flopped DEs together except for the coincidence that they went to Clemson. Gaines Adams had a rep for inconsistency and was not a “try hard” guy. Bowers had that same reputation, plus the knee injury. They were iffy picks to begin with. It had nothing to do with Clemson. Lawson and Dodd should be evaluated on their talents, efforts, production, and ability to translate to the NFL. Referring back to previous same-school busts is nothing more than superstition. It’s dumb.
April 24th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
@joe that’s a weak reason not to like shaq Lawson, because he is from Clemson… So your saying because of Michael Clayton they Bucs should never targe a LSU WR… Odell beckham is top 3 lol
April 24th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Lawson’s the best one after Buckner. Far more athletic than Bosa, far higher ceiling, far meaner and tenacious. Top ten isn’t meant for taking “safe” players like Bosa who have low ceilings which have already been reached. It’s for taking players you think can be perennial Pro Bowlers and difference-makers. Lawson has far more of those ingredients than Bosa. I’d be a happy Bucs fan if Lawson was the pick, but I’d be “meh” if Bosa was.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Joe…. Clemson freaks me out all the way around.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:33 pm
I could care less that Shaq Lawson is from Clemson. I just don’t trust the guy to not be a bust.
I would, however, trust Kevin Dodd. He’s got more fire in his gut.
April 24th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Frankly, I think the Bucs should take Conklin at #9, and then trade Glennon and their 2nd round pick to trade spots with the Broncos…and THEN take DE. Basically, that would be giving up Glennon to move up what? 7-8 spots? Worth it.
April 24th, 2016 at 2:15 pm
I got no problem with Lawson bosa vh or even Stanley. With our first 4 picks I def want a de wr s or cb. After that bpa. We got too many holes to plug in one year. Stanley seems like a luxury but if he’s as good as advertised it’d be hard to complain.
April 24th, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Take the best god damned player available at #9. Plain and simple!
DT, WR, LB, OT may not be a perceived “need” right now, but sh*t happens in the NFL and we don’t need another Barron over Keuchly pick or reaching for another Adrian Clayborn.
We need an impact player at #9.
There is no DE in this draft that is going to be an impact player! Not a single one!
April 24th, 2016 at 8:50 pm
I would risk Lawson over the bust in waiting Joey Bosa. I like Lawsons motor and speed where Bosa is slow and cumbersome. Screw the jinx!
My real hope is the Bucs fool everybody and take the best player available on their board regardless of position.
April 24th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
pass on any DE at #9