You Can’t Juke Him!
March 20th, 2017
Sticky.
Some Bucs fans want their AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to draft a corner at No. 19. Here’s why that likely won’t happen.
If one is to believe the PFF tribe (yes, dubious source, Joe knows), opposing receivers simply could not fool Bucs corner Brent Grimes. At all.
When receivers tried a double-move on Grimes, it was a waste of time and effort, notes Eliot Crist.
Best CB defending the double-move in 2016 (min. three targeted routes): Brent Grimes, Buccaneers
Grimes dominated receivers on double-moves. He did not allow a single reception on five such attempts into his coverage area, giving QBs a 39.6 rating when targeting Grimes, tied for lowest in the league. Grimes had deep responsibilities on all five of his double-move targets. On one play he was the man defender, while on the other four he had deep-zone responsibilities. Grimes broke up three of the five passes on his way to earning the highest PFF grade for any corner versus double-moves. Grimes did a good job sticking to his man for a long time, as the average time to throw when he was targeted on double-moves was 2.76 seconds, 0.07 seconds above the league average.
Yes, Joe understands Grimes will be 34 this summer. But after a season like he had last year, why push the guy out to pasture? Ride that horse!
This is the last year of Grimes’ current contract. If he plays like he did in 2016, then Joe suspects Licht will make a play to keep him.
Joe understands it is smart to starting thinking ahead. Clearly, there aren’t too many 35-and-over corners in the NFL. But drafting anyone at No. 19, you want him on the field.
That’s an awfully expensive investment for a benchwarmer. And with Grimes playing the way he is and the Bucs already spending a high first round pick last year on corner Vernon Hargreaves, who also starts, it’s highly unlikely the Bucs draft a corner at No. 19.
And, no, neither Grimes nor Hargreaves is going to be a nickel corner this fall.
March 20th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Grimes or Hargreaves could absolutely be a nickel corner. just because they play in the nickel, doesn’t mean they are the 3rd best corner. if the 3rd best corner on the team is better suited to play on the outside in 3 wide situations, why shouldn’t he? if the coaches feel that Hargreaves or Grimes has the quickness and instincts (the 2 most important traits as a nickel) to be a fit on the inside in those situations, wouldn’t it make sense to do that?
don’t be Lovie and get too caught up on your idea of what should and shouldn’t be. look no further than Ronde Barber. he was the best corner, or at worst the #2 on the majority of these Bucs teams, and he almost always slid inside to the nickel on passing downs. games are won and lost on executing in situational football, and great coaches know how to put their players in the best position to succeed.
March 20th, 2017 at 9:20 am
Ageless wonder..
March 20th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Buc nation and this undying desire to make comparison on what this team did in the past.. Y’all can keep living on what was, I’ma keep my focus on what will be.
March 20th, 2017 at 9:28 am
If so, then extend his contract!
We might have the next ageless “Barber!”
Go Bucs!!!
March 20th, 2017 at 9:32 am
maybe not pick 1 but pick 2
March 20th, 2017 at 9:34 am
Although I’d still prefer the Bucs draft a WR in the first (Corey Davis), if they do select a CB in the first round, I would be OK with a situation where Grimes or Hargreaves slides inside in 3WR packages.
March 20th, 2017 at 9:42 am
Everyone is forgetting Ryan Smith is still developing on the roster…showed his speed on ST’s last year as a gunner
March 20th, 2017 at 10:00 am
Great point MJB. Ryan Smith is the sleeper among our current CBs. Still puzzled why the Bucs wanted to turn him into a safety because he spent almost his whole college career as a corner. Good size (6’0″ and 190 lbs), is actually pretty fast (ran a 4.47 sec 40 yd at the Combine), and has shown very good athleticism. Got a hunch we’ll see him on the field a LOT more this year, probably at nickel.
March 20th, 2017 at 10:01 am
They aren’t drafting a CB in the 1st round.
March 20th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Two words: Darrell Green. Played starting corner until he retired at damn near 40. I’m not saying Grimes is Darrell Green, just noting that while rare, it has happened in the past
March 20th, 2017 at 11:36 am
They should draft a DB in the first 3 rounds. Most safeties need to pretty much be cover guys in today’s NFL.
March 20th, 2017 at 11:41 am
If available and you have your top players off the board in round 1 & 2, I would take a flyer on Sidney Jones in the 3rd even though we havent had much success taking injured players, but he will be out all year anyway, where he can learn from a pro like Grimes and if he recovers to that first round we are set, with Hargreaves, R. Smith, and Jones add Hey Jude and Javian Elliot for years
March 20th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
I could see the Bucs grabbing Teez Tabor if he falls to their 2nd round pick as he could be a great nickle corner as a rookie and then move into a starting position in his 2nd year … I could also see them using a 3rd round pick on Sidney Jones and hoping he’s ready to ball in 2018.
March 20th, 2017 at 12:16 pm
^^^^^
Honestly I would be fine with Sidney Jones in round 2
March 20th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
… except when grimes falls down 😂😂
March 20th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Adoree Jackson.
March 20th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
@Lunchbox
EXACTLY! Darrell Green is a great example and he frequently also returned kicks.
I started to think up a list of CB’s that played in their late 30’s…but none of them come close to Darrell Green…he was truly great.
And I agree LB that we should give Grimes the benefit of the doubt about age. He will know as quickly as anybody when his time is up, he is a prideful athlete who wouldn’t wish to tarnish an EXCELLENT career. Grimes is now a player who has put in a solid body of work year after year and last year may have been his very best!
Grimes has totally earned my respect. I literally do not know how long the combination of his quick twitch skills and his incredible “hops” will keep him on top of his game. Right now he’s added the years of experience…Grimes KNOWS his position. He’s faced these top WR’s for years now. I’m with him and trust him to know when it’s time to hang them up.
March 20th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
We need a talented safety drafted much more than we need a highly drafted CB!
There are a # of good CBs in this draft and maybe we pick one up in the later rounds – but the Safety talent coming out this year is really really strong. As many as 6 or 7 safeties could go in the top 50 this year. We need to get one of them!
A player like Budda Baker would likely be considered a top 20-25 talent in most years drafts. But there are at least 3 or 4 safeties rated above him this year so Baker will likely be pushed down into the top or perhaps even middle of the 2nd round. That represent excellent value at a position of real need for the Buccaneers We should seriously consider moving up in the 2nd to get a safety like Baker or maybe Melifonwu to shore up the lack of high end talent we have in our current safeties.
March 20th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Might be able to get him a lot later.
March 20th, 2017 at 4:18 pm
Charles Woodson played til 39 that’s why I wonder why people question AP’s age. Some of these guys are not human at least not like normal humans.
March 20th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
It’s a db heavy draft. Now is the time to get a guy say in the 3rd and let him grow into it.
I actually don’t have a issue with getting Jackson at the 1 from USc
March 20th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
If we draft a corner that high he needs to be a taller corner We need a 6-1 or above corner with Julio Jones and Benjamin in our division
March 20th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
Nickel corner is basically a starting position. Teams go three wide all the time. You expect the bucs offense to have at least 3 exceptional WR (see joes wanting pryor so bad) then why wouldnt the bucs strive for that defense? Most offenses are 3 or 4 deep at (quality) WR. You should be able to match that with our defense. Maybe the bucs think they have those 3 or 4 CBs already, jude hasnt been terrible, and the rookie, whose name escapes me right now, also played decent. But there is no doubt that we could use a huge upgrade over a couple of UDFAs. Try to defend the saints with only 2 good CBs. Or how about the Falcons? Last i remember was Matty Ice shredding our defense to pieces. nickle CBs get plenty of playing time especially when we will be playing saints and falcons twice every season. We got the packers and bears too this season that are deep at WR all of a sudden. I know offense is exciting, but we still have to be good on defense. High powered offense is fun, but winning is a lot more fun.
March 20th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Todays game you need three starting corners for big moments in games. I wouldnt be mad with a stud corner
March 20th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Then again id also like to see our corners hit the recievers at the line but that will never happen
March 20th, 2017 at 6:41 pm
Thats true mjb forgot about smith. I am anxious to see what he can do in camp
March 21st, 2017 at 12:07 am
If there is any position that is the deepest in the draft, it’s the secondary. We could get a solid guy in the 3rd or maybe 4th round if we so choose. Don’t spend a 1st rounder on a guy to sit the bench or at best play nickel. we need a RB if not, a guard or receiver. Whoever thinks secondary is our priority need, is crazy. It was last year and we got our guy. Now if we want depth, I say go for Xavier wood from Louisiana tech. Dude hits and has amazing skills. Probably going at Rnd 4. That’s where I would like to get a safety or corner.