NFC South Goes Nasty
April 29th, 2016
This was a not a great first-round for the Buccaneers’ offensive line and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Just look at what the Bucs’ division rivals did.
First, the Saints snagged nasty defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, the first DT off the board, with the 12th overall pick. Rankins was a fierce pass rusher at Louisville, and Sean Payton said last night, per Nola.com, that the Saints were so dialed into Rankins that they didn’t schedule a pre-draft visit with him.
At No. 17 overall, the Falcons shocked the NFL by selecting Gators safety Keanu Neal so high. But he will now add a lot of juice, and a big-hitter element, to an already-solid Falcons’ secondary that Dan Quinn is building on speed and athleticism.
But the big bone-crusher and surprise in the division came from Carolina. Despite being wicked strong at defensive tackle, they drafted one: Vernon Butler from LSU. At 6-4, 323 pounds with good feet, he will be a load, especially not having to grind every down.
You couldn’t run on the Panthers last year, and now they just stuck a first-round manbeast in the mix with the best defensive tackle in the division, Kawann Short.
Of course, the Bucs went defense, too, with cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.
It seems the best quarterback division in football is dialed in to slowing those guys down.
April 29th, 2016 at 8:35 am
So much buildup and hype and the Bucs took the guy most predicted……
Ho-hum…..
The real skill is finding quality in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.
April 29th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Louisiana Tech
April 29th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Everyone knew the Saints would take Rankins. I actually feel Billings will end up being the better prospect in the long run. The Panthers showed us why you take the BPA and not for need…
April 29th, 2016 at 8:41 am
I’m surprised VH3 teammate K.Neal went 17th. I thought he would go mid second rnd. He does got the talent and thump tho.
It’s gonna sick going against Rankin twice a year the most. He has the best chance of impacting a game.
April 29th, 2016 at 8:45 am
Keep eating those tacos, Ali!! You are going to need that weight.
April 29th, 2016 at 8:47 am
So everyone in the division, accept us, went out and got a physically dominant player that can enforce his will on the opponent. We went out and got a guy that will get physically imposed upon (in the end zone with jump balls) . I am truly 100% behind VH3 now that he is on our team, but no one can deny we got a finesse player whereas the rest of the division got punishing defenders.
April 29th, 2016 at 8:52 am
IMO there was nothing wrong with the Hargreaves pick. With memories of Rhonde and the many years he played size didn’t matter. I was the need issue that bothered me. I fully anticipate under the Mike Smith regime that Banks and Verner are going to be used differently than Lovie did. I think he will give them more latitude to play the position to their strengths and less likely to bench them for his cronies. Add Grimes and Robinson and i simply believe pass rush was more important The first hour of todays draft will be telling. If TBFF is correct we should land a good DE and for me the world will get better. I liked getting the extra 4th rounder, But i am all in on joes call to “Go get a dam Edge Rusher.”
April 29th, 2016 at 8:59 am
ANDREW BILLINGS IS STILL OUT THERE IF WE R-E-A-L-L-Y WANT TO GO NASTY!!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 9:01 am
feelthepewterpower Says:
April 29th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Everyone knew the Saints would take Rankins. I actually feel Billings will end up being the better prospect in the long run. The Panthers showed us why you take the BPA and not for need…
……………………………………………
Yup Feel and he is Still out there. GO GET HIM Licht!!!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 9:07 am
Doesn’t Billings have some serious sexual battery baggage going on with him?
April 29th, 2016 at 9:12 am
This is why I wanted Tunsil as he was falling. We screwed that one up. I know we needed a CB and VH will help, but man, Winston’s gonna be running. We better get a WR soon who Jameis can quickly throw to.
April 29th, 2016 at 9:15 am
I googled it Scotty and can’t find anything. I see his name connected to it somehow on the google page but when I read the article it is not him. Sounds like a smear campaign
April 29th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Somewhat disappointed but can live with the pick. Nothing surprises me with my Bucs. This next pick though will tell the tale. I just pray one of the 3 remaining very good DE’s is there with our 8th pick today. Hell, knowing us, we might not even pick a DE. Hold on to yer biscuits Buc fans. Next yr, we gotta face Rankins who is now a Saint. He’s got that..High motor just like Sapp and Donald has.
April 29th, 2016 at 9:24 am
@Scotty
You are thinking of Oakman
April 29th, 2016 at 9:28 am
Billings isn’t the Baylor player with sex assault charges, it’s Shawn Oakman, Billings is a beast, if Dodd Spence and Ogbah are gone, taking Billings or Chris Jones would be great picks, hopefully we can get Nassib in the 3rd or Matt Judon in the 4th
April 29th, 2016 at 9:35 am
When it is All Said and Done Billings will be the BEST DL in this draft whether we get him or not . Kid is better than Dodd, Spence or Ogbah
April 29th, 2016 at 9:39 am
ndog you are so right, VH3 may be great but the bucs need interior out and licht screwed this up…..just like last year and not grabbing lael collins for nothing, take a chance the bucs are in last place for 10 years go get tunsil or a DT…hopefully the can get spence now
April 29th, 2016 at 9:51 am
I like the VH pick, solely because of the position it puts us in for day 2. DE was a deep position and now we’re looking at 3 quality DE’s to start the 2nd round (and a few DT’s too). What remaining CB is as exciting as Spence, Dodd, or Ogbah in the 2nd? ….. Exactly. Good move Bucs.
April 29th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Yeah, Dusthty… I hate how Licht screwed up the draft last year, too. *eyeroll*
April 29th, 2016 at 9:53 am
So, I guess we were all set at DB and VH3 was a wasted pick…rolling my eyes. Folks, you have to look at the big picture here. I totally agree that we need a pass rush but the pass rush specialists are much deeper in this draft than CB was. That is basically the logic behind grabbing VH3 first. We will get a DL in round 2 and hopefully we can somehow get fortunate enough for someone like WR Sterling Shepherd to fall to us with our 3rd pick. The FSU kicker would also be a good pick if available in the 4th with one of the picks.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:00 am
“Dusthty Rhothdes Says:
April 29th, 2016 at 9:39 am
licht screwed this up…..just like last year ”
If I didn’t read this, I wouldn’t believe it.
4 straight picks. 4 straight starters. This is perfect example of some people never, ever, being happy. It’s like you didn’t just watch of decade of terrible drafting, and finally appreciate good players becoming Bucs.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:05 am
Do you know who else screwed up last years draft? EVERY SINGLE OTHER GM IN THE ENTIRE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
In case you missed it, no one drafted Collins. Perhaps, just perhaps, they knew something more about the situation than Dusthty Rhothdes.
Unreal.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:10 am
Yea – I was not happy at the picks our division foes got.
We are in good position though as Bill and rayjay have correctly pointed out. The next 3 rounds will be used mainly for beefing up the DLine.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:13 am
Rankins is small and will be manhandled in the NFL. No worries here. The dude is only 6’1. Our 6’5 and above guys will take care of him. I really don’t get they hype for him. All his highlights were on smaller less physical guys.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:14 am
DL is deep in the draft and we will will have plenty of opportunity to get some.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:14 am
Licht screwed up last year? After watching Donovan and Ali Marpet develop last year I could care less about La’el Collins. So we get two starting O linemen, one on each side of the center. We get our EF’ing franchise quarterback for the first time EVER! And then we got Kwon, our MLB who is like the QB of our defense. But yeah, Licht screwed us last year right?
We got some explosive offenses to stop in our division. Hargreaves was a safer pick than any de that was left. He brings that swagger that we got from Jameis and Kwon and Evans that this team needs. And look, the Bucs are in striking distance of Ogbah, Dodd, Spence, Calhoun, and I did not imgine we woud have a shot at both Hargreaves AND one of those ends listed above, especially Ogbah and Dodd. Licht has a real chance to really turn around this defense with the first two picks this year and I for one am stoked.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:27 am
Please just let us get Spence…that is all
April 29th, 2016 at 10:49 am
Current mock for 2nd rd has us taking Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida. For some reason they have Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State going #55 to Cinnci. I don’t see him falling that far.
32. Cleveland Browns – Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
33. Tennessee Titans – A’Shawn Robinson, DL, Alabama
34. Dallas Cowboys – Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
35. San Diego Chargers – Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame
36. Baltimore Ravens – Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
37. Kansas City Chiefs – Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
38. Jacksonville Jaguars – Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida
April 29th, 2016 at 10:50 am
Their reasoning: “With Spence and Dodd gone, the Buccaneers could look to interior of the defensive line to get some help next to Gerald McCoy. Bullard is a defensive tackle with good athleticism and the skills to get into the backfield. He can even line up at end on certain plays.” -SBNation
April 29th, 2016 at 10:52 am
SI has us taking Vonn Bell S, Ohio State. I think I would throw my TV if that happened.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:54 am
Emmanuel Ogbah in the second is perfect. Need meets value.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:58 am
We really need DL in round 2. There will be solid options for S in later rounds. I’d be ok with Bullard. The Gator defense was tough last year with VH and Bullard being a large part of that. Plus I love the idea of drafting from the big 3 when it makes sense.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:59 am
“Skyline Crew Says:
April 29th, 2016 at 10:52 am
SI has us taking Vonn Bell S, Ohio State. I think I would throw my TV if that happened.”
Thought the same thing. And we do need a safety upgrade. But, not at the cost of the DL.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:09 am
@ndog and @dusty….both of you are full of it….screwed up the draft…obviously either of you know or have watched football….we will get another impact players at dt/de tonight….there’s so much quality de/dt that had a first round grade….get over it…he’s a bucs now…what ever happened to in licht we trust….GO BUCS!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Spence, ogbah, Dodd. In that order.
If two of them are gone we trade up for the third.
After that we go strictly best player available with Licht sitting on top of that shiny new high 4 pick, just waiting for someone on his board to fall like Kwon did.
Btw VHIII was the right pick at 9, getting a 4 to take him at 11
April 29th, 2016 at 11:19 am
is highway robbery. It’s practically like we traded Glennon once already and we can trade Mike Glennon again.
Go Bucs baby, Licht is a godsend.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:42 am
Skyline….
NOt sure which mock you’re using…there are a ton of them…but Walter Football has us picking Ogbah at 39. I really like Spence but Ogbah is also an excellent choice. Long as we pick up that edge rusher.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:45 am
My greatest wish for the remainder of this draft? I just hope Licht screws it up as badly as last year!
April 29th, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Keanu Neal is a bad ass, i’m not looking forward to him patrolling the middle against us twice a year
April 29th, 2016 at 12:35 pm
STpete, it was from SBNation. An updated one based off last nights picks.
April 29th, 2016 at 12:45 pm
@bigmarlon…the minute he was selected I said damn…doug mike and who ever else comes thru his zone better have their chin strap buckled cause Keanu brings it…GO BUCS!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 12:58 pm
@skyline…bullard has been compared to Michael Bennett because of his size explosiveness and versatility…he would be another impact player but I would like billings or chris jones if available….GO BUCS!!!