Marlon Mack, Bucs Have Talked “A Lot”
March 3rd, 2017
On Bucs’ radar
Could a guy who made a college name for himself on the field of the Den of Depression continue his football career on the same turf?
It seems plausible after South Florida Bulls workhorse running back Marlon Mack said yesterday that he and Bucs representatives have spoken with each other “a lot.”
And it was not about buying season tickets.
Joe was there while Mack held his press conference at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The last time a prospect at the Combine told Joe he spoke to the Bucs often? It was Penn State tackle Donovan Smith two years ago. And who drafted him, again?
Joe’s experience talking to college prospects is that if a team talks to a player several times, there is real interest. Teams don’t waste valuable time on a guy without serious interest.
(No, Joe doesn’t get worked up when a player says he talked to a team. Of course he has. The story here is if a player at a Combine didn’t talk to a team. That why each NFL team sends virtually its entire coaching and scouting staff to the Combine. But when a player says he has spoken to a team “a lot,” that gets Joe’s antennae up.)
Mack is the all-time rusher in USF history. Maybe realizing he could have let the cat out of the bag on the Bucs, he quickly tried to backtrack saying he has spoken to virtually all NFL teams the same amount. Maybe.
But again, if the Bucs (or any team) were lukewarm or disinterested, they wouldn’t have wasted the precious time with him. Would you, as a supervisor at your workplace, interview a prospective employee multiple times if you already decided he/she would be a bad fit? Of course not.
Let there be no mistake: Mack really wants to play for the Bucs, partially because they need a running back, partially because the Bucs are an up-and-comer and partially because Mack is a Florida native and would prefer to stay away from chilly climates.
Mack ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons at USF and averaged 6.2 yards a carry. By comparison, superstar Dalvin Cook averaged 6.5 yards a carry in his three seasons at Florida State.
Below are highlights of Mack from last season. May want to mute the volume as the background music contains NSFW lyrics.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:40 am
As a USF alumni, I loved Marlon Mack and what he did for the USF football program. I would have loved it had he come back for his senior year and put on more weight. As a RB in the NFL I am not sure that Mack is any different than Sims. He is fast, like home run speed fast and he made it look effortless while playing in the AAC. The issue that really bothers me about Mack was the inability of USFs offense to line up on a 3rd and short and consistently get those first downs.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:42 am
I know him and family personally for a long time and would love him here but wish him the best just knowing he will be successful in the NFL, and he is absolutely a humble, young man who is going to be successful on whichever team gets him and is on the verge of changing his life. Will Muschamp and UF recruited him as a corner but it just shows how athletic he is and how successful he was at USF and will be in the NFL, GO BUCS!!
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:45 am
Who knows. Maybe this is the local RB that they really value….
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:53 am
Sign Murray, re-sign Quizz and draft Mack.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:54 am
Locals and feel good stories do not win games. I wish mack well, he seems like a good kid but local kids never ever do well longterm for bucs. Results matter not feel good stories.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:55 am
@USF- I didn’t follow the Bulls much so I am unfamiliar with Mack. He looks like a smaller back with some speed. Can he catch?
I’d also be concerned with the level of talent he faced. Cook faced superior talent and put up those stats.
I wouldn’t be opposed to drafting a guy like this, I’d question whether he would be “the guy” though.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:59 am
I’ve been screaming for Mack for the past month or so.
@Bucsfan he is 6′ if ai am not mistaken can catch and has the speed to turn any play into a home run. This guy is going to be a beast no matter where he goes (which I hope is the Bucs). I expect his stock to skyrocket after the combine.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:05 am
@bucfanman yes he can catch and he is an electric player. I’m just worried about his ability to play every down. I know that he doesn’t need to play every down but I’m tired of guys like Sims who can’t really play every down. I could be wrong about Mack but if you watch some USF games (they are on YouTube) he is one of these backs who needs wide open holes and typically is looking to bounce outside
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:10 am
What this does tell me is that they are not looking at a RB in the 1st round, rather they are looking for value at RB later in the draft. So there goes the Dalvin Cook talk.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:12 am
LOL! The video makes him look short! Yeah, you can tell he’s got speed. Hey, we need a RB.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:17 am
NOSBOS…. didnt realize that dalvin cook was only 210, i thought he was bigger like 220, but im sorry d cook is going tin top 10 in the draft he will be first rb off the board…unless someway fournette can get his 240lbs to run a 4.4 which would make him bo jackson or herschal walkeresque, do not want panthers getting forunette …i think the jags get d cook with the 4th pick
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:21 am
No matter who or what running back is drafted the fact remains that the offensive line must be addressed. Holes must be opened for backs to run through, for gosh sake. Fix the O-line first!
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:29 am
I would have watched the whole video but man, that’s the worst song ever.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:32 am
Some of the experts are actually expecting Fournette to run a sub 4.5 forty. That would make me think it can happen.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:32 am
Dusty y’all continue saying that bro like where a team sits come draft night means anything if they are h3ll bent on taking a particular player. I mean if we’ve learned anything the last few years is if Licht really wants you (Marpet and Roberto) he’ll go get you. I’m not the least bit concerned about currently sitting 19. But what about them FSU boys on that bench yesterday. Seminole strong Stevenson and Cook.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:34 am
I would say no unless in 5-7 rounds. He was good not great the in AAC in a spread offense. Remember fans we a power running offense based off down kick and wrap style to set up play action and Mack is not that type of back.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:34 am
Todd McShay on the NFL network choose him as one of his sleeper picks
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:35 am
I like what I see on the highlight clips but wish they had clips of him lining up in an I- formation and taking handoffs going up the middle. It’s hard to gauge RB’s nowadays because so many college teams are running the spread/read option and always handing off from shotgun while the QB has handoff or keep option. I don’t see Jameis playing in a spread option type of offense so unless he can successfully line up in a pro formation and take hanfoffs with the QB being under center he may not be a good fit. A lot of his runs on that clip seems to be around the outside or runs that started off to the outside that he may have cut back to take it up the middle.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:35 am
They think that with him showing up to the combine over weight???
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:37 am
@Nosbos
He also didnt give up any extra picks in those trades that you mentioned. Marpet was 2 picks for 2 picks and Aguyo was 2 picks for 1 pick, but one of the 2 Licht gave up was an extra one from trading back.
Yes he has gone after guys he wanted but he has also been smart about it
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:38 am
You think Coughlin taking an RB round 1 Dusty??? I wanna see this.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:39 am
If it was really water weight then he probably couldve burned it off by now. Besides it was only 5 lbs. Its not the biggest of factors
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:40 am
Y’all continue stating the obvious Pop. The fact that he has shown a willingness to do anything leads me to believe it is not out of the realm of possible. Stay tuned draft night quickly approaches.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:41 am
Water my @$$. This is a physical resume’ , you show up cut like a God. No excuses with millions on the line.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:42 am
I only state the obvious because you never bring it up lol. Yes it is possible they coukd trade up and it is also possible they could like another RB to make it not worth it to them.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:43 am
Again, its only 5 lbs lol its not like he showed up at 280 with McDonalds in his mouth
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:43 am
I wanna see Coughlin old school @$$ take a RB round one.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:44 am
And why do I need to bring up the obvious. You are here to do that.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:45 am
So you don’t think eye brows raised when he stepped on the scale???
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:45 am
Cook put up 22 on bench press, pretty skrong dude at 5,10″ 210lbs
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:46 am
Then the first thing to come out his mouth is “I drank alot of water before the weigh inn” like these people are idiots.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 am
Good character young man, workhorse, I’m joining the “Marlon Mob”
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 am
The guy I want is Dalvin in the first, but if he is not available I would probably wait until the 3rd or 4th round and go after Kareem Hunt from Toledo or Samaje Perine from Oklahoma
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 am
Pretty skrong indeed BK. But ima sit back an watch him outshine all they’re prospects.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 am
@ Nole Buc
Comment was for you.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:48 am
Just being honest here, see anything that made me go WOW!!! He has good vision and knows how to manipulate the defender to change direction, but I also see a very slow 0 to 60 gettoff. Not the greatest agility. He was running through wide open holes and tons of bad tackles. Not saying hes bad but we need better. I think he woukd be a good compliment back but ill pass
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:49 am
@ Nole Buc
I expected below 20. Very impressive.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:49 am
Didnt see
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:50 am
Not knocking Mack but a guy FSU faced a number of times I don’t recall anything special about his game. 1st round for me are for future stars not potential role players.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:52 am
I gotchu BK😉. He a monster man. I’ve sat here for weeks listening to all the none since. Well ima sit back and let G speak for himself now. When its all said and done you won’t show Mr a better prospect.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:53 am
Marlon Mack will be most likely a round 4 pick. Who is suggesting taking him in the 1st? Lol
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:54 am
How do people feel about Fournette if he dropped to us?
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:57 am
well if fournette does a 4.4 or under 4.5 he will be #1 RB off the board but with the way todays nfl is d cook is more versatile because most teams play with only 2 LB’s in the passing game and if you wheel cook against a SS or a Will backer ill take cook all the time…..i hear what youa re saying NOSBOS about coughlin and that is a great point…i want d cook, i just think he is on the rise in the draft, just dont want him in division nor fournette…..never know someone may run a 4.2 or 4.3 and the GMs may go gaga over them and start a run on RBs
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:59 am
I feel what you saying Dusty. And Ndog I actually would be more concerned if they were all up in Cook’s grill right now.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:04 am
I mean how many reports did we receive about chats with VH3 last season.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:05 am
Eric something about Fournette not feeling right wit me bro. I’ve thought about that before but something about that dude smells kinda fishy to me.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:09 am
The thing is this to me Dusty I feel if some GM is set on Dalvin they were that before the combine. His numbers speak for themselves, everyone knows he’s fast and versatile. Actually the combine in my opinion only could poetically hurt him if something came up or he ran unexpectedly slow.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:11 am
The reason you don’t see Mack lining up in the I formation is because the players at USF could not execute that style of offense that Willie Taggart originally wanted to run so he moved to a zone running game. He is a good kid but his best games were against AAC competition. In games against the P5 schools I don’t think he ever rushed over 100 yards. It comes back to what I posted earlier he is very much like Sims. Mack will not be a RB who can go up the middle. We need a RB that can do it all.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:13 am
NosBos I think Fournette is going to be like Jamarcus Russell.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:13 am
I like Mack also. Agree somewhat that his style of running and competition may not translate to the pros. Still tmax, don’t downplay USF’s players as always Bucs unworthy. Yeah, the homerism in me speaking. I grew up a mile from USF, a small child when USF was created. I remember going to that area when it was all woods and undeveloped land, illegal dumping was the norm there.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:14 am
I agree. Dalvin is a clear cut first rounder like zeke was last year. Fournette is questionable and I do believe whomever takes him in round one will set themselves back a little bit. He’s a bruiser but I don’t know about the work ethic..
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:14 am
On the topic of RBs, it was nice to see Kareem Hunt put some weight back on since the Senior Bowl. He might be my favorite Day 2 RB as of now. Excited to see what he does today.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:16 am
I have no idea what Licht and Koetter plans are I’m just reading the tea leaves. VH3 gets on the radio and says “we need him”( last years first rounder)Gil and Commish say they are hearing rumblings that these people are closely looking at Dalvin. Ira does a write up stating a similar sentiment. Marshall Faulk says they would be crazy not to take him. Now NFL network is showing me everyday Bucky Brooks pick for Tampa Dalvin Cook. Around the this time last season they’re mocks began saying Vernon Heargreaves. Oh let me not forget to mention Dalvin says he an Fameis talk weekly and that Fameis wants him on this team. I think the young man Carries some weight wit the Glazers.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:17 am
@Eric
Good point about Fournette. Now Nosbos if the extra weight he had on the scale translates to poor work ethic then yes, that is a huge problem. Im not in a position to make that accusation tho lol.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:27 am
NOSBOS, i think cook is going to be a more explosive marshall faulk and some teams may be hiding their enthusiasm with him and trying to ding him so he falls….not sure if the fournette to russel comparisons are warranted because they play 2 totally different positions….fournette will be a beast…..a good somparison could be eddie lacy because it seems that fournette may like to eat but fournette IF he runs under 4.5 will eliminate any lazy comparisons and just show all teh teams that he gained muscle weight and lost fat…..
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:29 am
Runs with inconsistent power through contact. Will need to accelerate through contact on next level. Serial run bouncer. Too willing to make wild bounces to the furthest reaches of the perimeter if interior lanes are gummed up. Lacks a committed approach between the tackles. Feet start dancing if he doesn’t see an early point of entry. On jet sweeps, he rarely looked to cut it downhill in space and defaulted to the wide track. Has a very poor fumble rate over this three years and has put the ball on the ground twelve times. – NFL Site
I’ll pass, as cool as it would be to have a Bull on the team.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:30 am
@Nosbos, if Cook really does outshine every other top Rb prospect, then it’s virtually guaranteed that he goes top 10. Jason licht is waaaaaay too smart to trade that far up for a Rb in an incredibly Deep draft.
Think 22 reps on the bench is impressive? Sameje Perine put up 30. Plus he showed up at a solid 5’11 233. Dude is looking more and more like the next MJD. A mold of Running back that DK is very familiar with, and seemingly very fond of.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:31 am
This is the guy they need to be interviewing multiple times. He’s expected to be around in the 4th or 5th round.
https://youtu.be/VnkQQhISL1Y
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:33 am
I was wondering yesterday about him. He hits the hole so damn fast. He might need to work on those ball carrying skills though. That last video where he was passing the ball between hands over his head had me cracking up. Get a real boldozer FB (something the Bucs have said they wanted) and Mack could be killin it. Not to mention it would be his same home field from college and was the RB that was there when Willie Taggert got the Oregon job. PICK HIM UP BUCS!!!
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:35 am
Buccfan37,
Where did you grow up? I was born/raised 15 minutes from USF, Hillsborough and 22nd Ave.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:38 am
Doug put up 28 on the bench…
In case you didn’t know, I’m still all in on Doug. Dude’s gonna rebound. IMO
My big board for rational picks in the first is:
Corey Davis
Mike Williams
Dalvin Cook
Derek Barnett
Malik Hooker
OJ Howard
John Ross
Ryan Ramcyzk
Malik Mcdowell
what you think?
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:40 am
Interesting. My comments aren’t even showing up.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:41 am
oh, well, looks like not ALL my comments are being deleted. smh. lovely.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:43 am
Sign Tolbert and draft Mack or Mixon
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:46 am
I don’t have a lot of free agents on my list, not yet. What I do have, I have not even checked to see if they were tagged or resigned or not. But here it is so far:
RB Isaiah Crowell
Age 24. Up and comer, plays for Browns and with that oline, he fell just short of 1K. Young, in good shape. Could be a big thing to the right team. Has increasingly produced when given the touches. YPC: 4.8
RFA
FS Bradley McDougald
Age 26.
UFA
SS John Cyprien
Age 26.
UFA
DE Mario Addison 9.5 sacks
DE Jabaal Sheard (Depth)
CB Stephon Gilmore 5 int Age 26
WR Terrelle Pryor for no more than 3 yrs/$24m
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:47 am
Notice I went for young players? Because you don’t always have to sign bridge players. You CAN actually sign potentially great players and see if they fulfill expectations. And most of these would he at reasonable costs.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:52 am
How many days till FA?
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:53 am
@Bonzai
Addison already resigned in Carolina and the Browns put a 2nd round tender on Crowell
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:59 am
@Eric
Using that same list of players mine would look like:
Malik Hooker (steal if he falls to #19)
Derek Barnett (3rd best DE imo)
Corey Davis (#1 WR imo and WRs go quick)
Dalvin Cook
Ryan Ramcyzk (would be third if his hip surgery never happened)
Malik McDowell
Mike Williams (too similar to Mike Evans imo. Would like a complimnet not a clone)
OJ Howard
John Ross (would be right behind Corey Davis if he wasnt so beat up)
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:02 am
And you can guarantee the Bucs won’t end up in the top ten how Blake???
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:04 am
You’re very insightful Blake but you change flavors like a fat lady at dairy queen.
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:07 am
Ima say it again sitting at 19 isn’t the least bit of concern to me. I mean if it were why I even bother to watch you closely.
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:15 am
Dairy Queen got some tasty flavors tho
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:28 am
My guess is that alot of you doubters would have said the same about Dunn not being a power back. SMH
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:45 am
Mack in good but Cook is what Bucs need
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:54 am
I don’t change flavors lol. I got guys I like guys I don’t. Sameje has been a guy I like for a while now.
And I already said I think Jason Licht is way intelligent and savvy to trade away a bevy of picks to move up into the top 10 to get a Rb when the draft is full of really good ones.
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:57 am
Joey
I like your order but I have to wr over any other position and Williams and davis are awesome. I don’t think having a clone in Williams is a bad thing
I should put Barnett higher hes a beast.
and I agree hooker is one of my favorite players in this draft. he could definitely be #1.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Yess!!! Get my homie! MM5 to the Bucs is a win.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Well I did not miss a single USF game and became a fan of MM pretty quickly..breaking all USF records and the way he moves around on that field..man I like him..
Marlon would be a great pick for sure..
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:22 pm
@Eric
Yea having a similar WR to Evans opposite him isnt a bad thing, I would just prefer a different skill set opposite him.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Jason.. I lived on 120th Avenue between Florida and Nebraska Avenues off Central Avenue. Behind the old Skyway drive in theater. Before I-75 was there.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:25 pm
DirtyBuc just answered my question. I thought that was a spread offense, something we don’t run. Mack looks good movement in tight spaces and at least can drag some guys with him. Seems to me he stumbled a bit behind the line some but has good balance. Maybe he doesn’t have very good feet for a rb.
You’re being censored by Joe. Trust me I know about this personally. You have red flags in your post so his software simply sends it into la la land never to return.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:37 pm
@buc15 those of us doubting Macks ability as a power RB have the former coach of the Bulls and game footage to back it up. I just glanced over Macks game stats and I did not see a game against a P5 school (read bigger, closer to NFL sized players) where he rushed over 100 yards. Willie Taggart had to change from a power run offense to a zone run offense because he didn’t have the players to run a power offense. Looking at the games you also see a ton of plays that go to the outside in order to make use of Macks skill which is speed.
I love Marlon Mack and what he did for USF but I’m not convinced that he can be an effective RB in the NFL. His athletic ability is unquestioned but at RB I just don’t see it.
March 3rd, 2017 at 12:52 pm
I’d pass he won’t be doing his cut back end around nonsense in the NFL. Look how well that worked for Reggie. He’s an afterthought. His Macks inside runs really weren’t outstanding. The ones that were is when he bounced outside against sh!t teams. He looks good agains cinci, smu and an inflated navy team. C’mon guys any of the backs in the sec acc or big 10 would absolutely destroy those teams with Usf.
March 3rd, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Mack reminds me of Charles Sims with his running style and similar skillset. Not sure he’s what we are looking for. Now Kareem Hunt from Toledo on the other hand – there’s a guy who looks like a complete back and can probably be had in the 3rd round.
Cook and Fournette will be long gone when we pick in the 1st round – but if Christian MCaffery is still on the board when the Bucs turn comes at #19 – I could definitely see us taking him.
March 3rd, 2017 at 2:20 pm
Fournette ran a 4.51 40 apparently. Not a good vertical though 28 and some change.
March 3rd, 2017 at 2:48 pm
I’ll be he first to say I’m not nearly the best at college football talent evaluation as it translates to the pros. But that highlight reel didn’t look like he was as good at breaking tackles and playing through contact as much as just horrible tackling and good blocking. He did seem to have some nice wheels on him though. What round would we be considering him in?
March 3rd, 2017 at 3:03 pm
4th round if I had to guess
March 3rd, 2017 at 3:28 pm
So Mack ran a flat 4.5 40 and a 4.51 40, in today’s NFL that’s really a pretty good time – backs really don’t drop into the 4.4 range very often unless they’re scatbacks, which Mack isn’t. He also came in at 5′ 11″, not 6′ 1″, which in my mind is a good thing and I believe he weighed in at 213 and has 9″ hands, which again is a good thing since it was believed his hands were on the small side. So Mack has all the numbers you want from a runningback, the agility drills will fill out the rest of the sheet but short of any redflags there he has the measurables you’d want. On the field Mack always to me looked like an NFL runner, he has a north/south pro-style with homerun ability and was good at breaking arm tackles (but does go down when tackled solidly). To me he’d be someone I’d take in the 2nd half of the 3rd round, which is exactly where the Bucs pick. For those comparing him to Sims I’m not sure if I’d agree with that as Sims is bigger and runs more upright and is a better receiver, but Mack is a better runner – in my opinion. Also Sims contract is up after this year and he can’t stay healthy, so it’s not a bad thing to have a new guy ready to go – someone who could play this year and be ready to play a ton next year, or even start. Depending on how the draft falls I’d take Mack in the 3rd if he was there, keep Martin and see if he comes back ready to go, and obviously keep Sims and maybe Rodgers – all those moves keeping in mind that in 2018 that you’re going to lose Sims and you have to figure if Martin does bounce back in ’17, he probably won’t put 2 good years back to back since he never has done so.
March 3rd, 2017 at 4:02 pm
I agree Mack looks a lot like Sims but Joe Williams is a between the tackles runner decent size and a 3rd gear to run away from safeties. If Licht can check off all the boxes on his character concerns I’d knock over the draft podium running to the stage to pick him up in the 4th or 5th round.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:48 pm
I don’t care if I’m a homer. I’m a USF alum and I would love this. After we draft Dalvin in the 1st round of course.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Buccfan37 daaaammmmmm before I-75! 🙂
March 4th, 2017 at 7:59 am
Take a pass on Mack, He looks good as an edge rusher and much speed but highlights don’t show much between the tackles, We already have an over-rated edge rusher with Simms, we have no use for two local prospect or not.
March 5th, 2017 at 8:04 am
Nice. Getting him late would be ideal. So him and Mcaffrey would be a nice duo like Atlanta has. Take Mcaffrey in the first round and Mack in the 4th. Go DE in the 2nd, deeep draft for DE’s. Snag a safety in the 3rd. Pick up a COUPLE FA WR’s. Boom we are set.