Surprise!
May 5th, 2018
In less than a week, Bucs rookies will show up and don red practice jerseys and practice for the first time.
Who will surprise?
Well, it seems Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report has an idea, and it might not be who you think. Wharton is of the mind that offensive lineman Alex Cappa will surprise Bucs fans as a rookie who will shine when the bright lights of the NFL bounce off his hair.
Three years after finding a huge success story in Hobart guard Ali Marpet, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht went back to the small-school well in Round 3 to draft Alex Cappa. The Humboldt State product will play [some] right tackle … Considering Demar Dotson hasn’t played a full season since 2014, Cappa can be the latest Day 2 success story for Licht.
The 6’6″, 305-pound Cappa dominated his competition and drew NFL attention. He’s a power-blocker despite being light for his frame, combining advanced hand work and leverage play. He often threw defenders out of the way as if he were competing against middle schoolers.
That won’t happen as much in the NFL, and Cappa must continue to add muscle to improve in the run game. But he’s likely to get the chance to play, and if he does, he’s one of the rare Division II rookies who could make an impact.
Maybe it is just Joe, but the comparisons to Ali Marpet are lazy. Yeah, white guy from a small school no one but an NFL scout ever heard of, Joe gets it. But these two guys are totally different players.
Marpet went to the Senior Bowl after his college days and not just held his own against some of the best defensive linemen in college football, but in some ways owned them. This is why Marpet was a second round pick.
Cappa, though it is cool to watch clips of him throw around future Jiffy Lube technicians and social workers, by most accounts struggled or had his hands full at the Senior Bowl, which was part of the reason he was drafted in the third round.
Maybe Joe is being too cynical here but to expect Cappa to go toe-to-toe with Gerald McCoy in his first padded practice later this summer in training camp just like Marpet did as a rookie might be expecting too much.
May 5th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
My eyes will be on the 3 DB/Punters drafted in spite of incompetent coaching
May 5th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Jordan Whitehead is the next Honey Badger!
He’s Darrell Revis’s cousin.
Without his off-field concerns, he would have been a 2nd round pick.
So in theory, we got 3 2nd round DB’s.
Talk about building a future through the draft!!!
I love Licht!
I kept calling for 3 2nd rounders. And he came through!!!
Go Bucs!!
May 5th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
I dont know Joe, McCoy has been tossed around by less heralded rookies than Cappa before. Cappa just might surprise you.
May 5th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
He was pedestrian at the senior bowl at best
May 5th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Interesting note was at the Senior Bowl practices Cappa abused DE Davenport. Who is not only a first rounder, but the Saints invested in him big time by using 2 first rounders on him!
May 5th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
Enlighten us with the names of the less heralded rookies than tossed. GMC. around at practices.
All reports I’ve ever read was how disruptive GMC is to the offenses during training camp and practice. It will be fun to watch how both he and Vea do with against the new interior OL of the Bucs this camp. From what I read Licht has back off the Cappa OT talk and said he will start off at guard this year and maybe work his way to OT in the future.
May 5th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Marpet gave McCoy a handful early in his rookie camp as I recall reading…kiknd of like Mike Alstott knocking out Lonnie Marts in the hole …back when there was real hitting in TC
May 5th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Cappa needs to play at Guard.
May 5th, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Guess who was the Draftwire top performers at senior bowl this year?
1. Tip your Cappa
Cappa flashed all the physical tools NFL teams look for in a franchise left tackle, and he’s just barely scratching the surface of his potential. A few years back, Ali Marpet turned a similar performance in Mobile into a jump from Hobart College to being a second-round pick. Don’t be surprised if the same happens for Cappa.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
“Maybe it is just Joe, but the comparisons to Ali Marpet are lazy.”
I don’t personally think he is anything like Marpet. Alex ‘Bust a Cap’ Cappa will stand on his own merits. Fans and media comparing him with Marpet are indeed lazy. Just because the both come from small schools and Marpet was a stud no one else foresaw, that doesn’t mean Cappa will be.
But he will be. lol
May 5th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
teacherman777 Says
“He’s Darrell Revis’s cousin.”
Now you tell me.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Yah. Who watched him specifically at senior bowl. You joe? You posters who are dogging him.
If you google top performers from senior bowl week practices and game , he was listed as one. But what to the experts know?
Gimme a break. Shame shame shame.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
THis kid will get 10 lbs of muscle quickly working out with some of the best in he world
Can’t imagine at humbolt , he worked out like a beast.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
He has different frame from marpet. More of a tackle body.
Doesn’t mean he can’t maul guys like Marpet at the next level.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:13 pm
Stanglassman, I remember stories about Ali repeatedly stonewalling GMC in practice as a rookie. IDK how hard GMC was trying but it did happen. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest GMC fan. How does a captain get called out by players every single off-season? Sapp dogged him three years ago. Two seasons ago, Winston and GMC had a talk about leadership because GMC thought JW was to intense. Remember last year when Barber called him out for being soft? GMC declared he was finally mad and going Hulk mode. What a joke. This year Alexander called him out for not holding anyone accountable. We got Vea this year. Next year GMC will get cut or traded.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Cappa’s frame is such that he could put on 15-20 pounds of NFL muscle. I didn’t focus on him during the Senior Bowl game, I did in practice. They primarily put him at left tackle but did some at right tackle as well. He gave a pretty middle of the road performance in 1v1’s. Never just killing his guy, one time he was beaten pretty easily by an inside spin move by Kyle Fitts (6th round pick), but he did knock Davenport down on a team drill during a running play. Most of the time he slowed his guy down. He looked tentative (often waited for the lineman to come to him) to me and I hope that was just due to being in a bigger environment and that goes away quickly.
I don’t really want to rewatch the game, but if I get bored I might.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
541- That wasn’t what he said. He claimed less heralded rookies than Cappa tossed Gerald around not that surprisingly our 2nd round pick Ali won a few reps in practice.
Yes GMC has been trying to alter his leadership approach but this is not the topic either. I appreciate that you are not basing on the guy I maybe a bit sensitive after reading all the lunatics comments from the last article trying to run the guy out of town.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
He does need to add strength for sure. Only did 24 reps. Not good for a 300 pounder. Marpet did 30 and ran under 5 in the 40. Marpet was/is stronger and faster. Not putting Cappa down just needs to get stronger. Havnt watched him play one bit. I hope he surprises this year tho. I hope the staff doesnt keep moving him around. Put him somewhere and let him improve in camp. Could be a starter this year if so.
May 5th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
during 2016, Kobe Faker after only 3 months of evaluations predicted the 2016 tampa bay draft was all busts and the worst draft in the history of this sorry franchise history
The 2018 Tampa Bay draft would be known for the year we bypassed future HOF player Derwin James
The reason of the downfall of the 2018 tampa bay season is Forrest licht not demanding Klueless to hire a new playcaller/offensive coordinator
“My record speaks for itself”
Kobe Faker
May 5th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
I was actually talking about real games not practice. If it can happen in games then it can happen in practice to. I cant even remember the rookies name from Carolina a year or two ago that man handled your precious GMC all game long. Thats just the first example that popped into my head. And theres been others also. Do your own homework because I know you wont believe anything I say anyways. GMC is not as god like as you think. Way to inconsistant to even be called a “good” player. I would say slightly above average, sometimes.
May 5th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
tnew Says:
May 5th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Cappa’s frame is such that he could put on 25-40 pounds of NFL muscle….
May 5th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Darin-it has more to do with arm length than weight. 24 is not bad for a guy with the length to play tackle. Mike mcClechley who most considered the top OT from ND repped out at 24. You are correct though they can and should always get stronger.
May 5th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Nice one. I remember a game. LoL
May 5th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
See like i said you wouldnt believe anything anyways even though there are many games we’ve all seen McCoy get dominated by lesser competition. LMAO. But lets pretend hes god like anyways. Thats whats truely funny.
May 5th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
McCoy has never been dominated…maybe neutralized…but not dominated….gessh…
May 5th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
The two players GMC is playing against on most every play against the Panthers are Kalil (probowler like McCoy) and Trai Turner (3rd rd pk LSU 5 years ago) both have been healthy. The panthers only have one rookie on their Roster at G or C and he hasn’t started a game.
GMC gets voted in as a provowler every year by his peers. If you think he is bad that’s fine but saying it in public may get you laughed at just know that.
May 5th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Before you try and backpedal saying a guy gets tossed around by mid round rookies IS saying a player at GMCs caliber is bad.
May 5th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Thats ok. I dont mind being laughed at by fan boys. You are just following the lead of your man crush who constantly laughs at things that arent funny such as losing. I expect no better from his sheep. Its ok Ill let you pretend that McCoy has never been dominated by rookies before. I get it. I would try to forget that stuff to.
May 5th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
LMAO McCoy has never been dominated? Wow. The depths of your blindness is just sad.
May 5th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
I could see him being a draft steal but not until he bulks up
May 5th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
@buccaneer bonzai
haha
touche!
You got me. But I am still right.
Jordan Whitehead is going to be amazing.
May 5th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Whitehead is also a very capable RB….
Couch…don’t use big words if you don’t understand their meanings….
May 5th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
I’m ready to see Evans/Godwin vs Davis/Stewart
May 5th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
He Beat the SNOT out of Davenport in 1on1’s. It’s on tape Bruh!!!
May 5th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
“Cappa, though it is cool to watch clips of him throw around future Jiffy Lube technicians and social workers”
@Joes
I am really getting tired of you guys calling football players who don’t have a future in football, guys whom have no chance at a real career elsewhere besides $h!ttY 9 to 5’s. These are college students and you guys have no idea what they are going to school for and you never know one of the “future jiffy lube workers” may even possibly take (buy) your website from you. Just saying. Everyone starts from somewhere and you guys especially should understand this by your own admission. With that being said I agree with you both about folks comparing him to Marpet, its lazy and not accurate AT ALL. But stop stereotyping bad college players and assuming they have no future outside of football! You guys are better than this.
May 5th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree with this
May 5th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
I hope Cappa is everything Licht hoped he’d be. He needs our support rather than this misdirected cloud of doubt before he even has taken a snap. As a fan we should at least see what he has to offer before having him walk the plank.
May 5th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
May 5th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
during 2016, Kobe Faker after only 3 months of evaluations predicted the 2016 tampa bay draft was all busts and the worst draft in the history of this sorry franchise history
The 2018 Tampa Bay draft would be known for the year we bypassed future HOF player Derwin James
The reason of the downfall of the 2018 tampa bay season is Forrest licht not demanding Klueless to hire a new playcaller/offensive coordinator
“My record speaks for itself”
Kobe Faker
Geno says that 2016 was a historically bust draft all around. Name 10 teams who picked AFTER the bucs that had a good draft.
May 5th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
What film did kobe faker see that would make derwin james a hofer. I see no Polamalu, Ed Reed, or Sean Taylor in the guy. Please enlighten me. With film
May 5th, 2018 at 7:38 pm
GMC IS A GOD!
May 5th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Licht has a good track record of drafting Olineman. That alone generates a little excitement. Then factor in that Licht wanted him enough to trade up for Cappa and also hearing experts talking about how nasty and physical he is.
There’s a lot of reasons to get excited about Cappa and don’t be shocked if he’s not just starting Game One but giving us some dominating snaps!!!
May 5th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
The marginal measurables on Cappa is what concerns me. I’ll give Licht the benefit of the doubt, but if you look at the guys combine he looks more like an UDFA than a 3rd round pick – and when you mix that with the fact he played in DII, to me that makes this a very risky pick and seemingly too high. Again Licht has a good record on offensive lineman so he clearly saw something the numbers don’t show, but yeah, the Marpet comparisons are nonsense, Marpet had an amazing combine – this guy did not.
May 6th, 2018 at 2:46 am
This ones for the average joes
May 6th, 2018 at 9:00 am
@D
James game is perfectly made for the nfl pro game
James skillset of coverage/tackling skills is unquestioned and elite
The losing FSU/pathetic defense season was a huge part of James production….James was looking ahead to the draft/NFL in the middle of the season
**2 points that counter the idiot lazy football sheep thinking
As the modern NFL offense is emphasizing the Tightend position and skillset, the Safety position is more important and valuable than ever….lol much much more important than a run stopper who plays 5 yards behind the LOS
The new rules of targeting will actually lengthen and prevent James from getting injured and lengthen his career
*most importantly stop reading posts from The Buc Realist aka The Buc False Prophet
Kobe Faker
May 6th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Great pic Joe
May 6th, 2018 at 10:17 pm
Kobe,
Nice to see you change your mind on koetter’ s offense. Yesterday it was outdated. Today it’s modern.
Can’t wait to see what happens Monday when the law office opens . Futuristic or prehistoric……who knows….cept Kobe and assc
May 7th, 2018 at 11:22 am
Cappa had some great run block drills during Senior Bowl practice, often driving his guy back several yards and really finishing blocks, but did get beat inside at least once by a speed rusher, so he definitely has to work on his pass protection, but has the footwork/mobility to improve in that area. A great pick in the late 3rd round IMO. Don’t know if he’s ready for primetime, but once he is, he will be a long time starter.