Bucs’ Draft Atop NFL?
July 12th, 2018
Accolades.
Yeah, it is July and we are inching closer to kicking off training camp in two weeks. Yet some folks are still talking about the 2018 Bucs’ draft.
Over at ProFootballRumors.com, a national site, they launched a poll asking readers to chime in with the team that had the best draft back in March. The site recommended readers select one of six teams, though all 32 are eligible.
The Bucs are among the recommended half-dozen. Zach Links (?) offers why readers may want to consider the Bucs.
With a draft class headlined by defensive tackle Vita Vea and running back Ronald Jones, Bucs fans have a lot to be excited about. It’s fair to question the wisdom of taking Vea after signing Beau Allen to a three-year, $15MM deal, but it’s hard to knock what they did here in total. The Bucs acquired two second round picks to move down from No. 7 to No. 12, where they selected the Polynesian phenom. The No. 53 pick from Buffalo became defensive back M.J. Stewart and they turned the No. 56 overall choice into a pair of worthwhile secondary players.
In Joe’s eyes, the key to whether the Bucs had a top shelf draft will be how the two rookie corners selected in the second round fare. #DraftMedia wasn’t as high on the two corners, M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis, as Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
If those two corners can make an impact, it will have been a heist of a draft.
Joe’s biggest question is, can the current defensive coaches develop these two guys?
July 12th, 2018 at 12:04 am
Let’s see it on the field.
July 12th, 2018 at 12:07 am
Ranking are good now …..zzzzz. Wake me up when they hit the field.
The rookies are unproven but Msmith scheme is proven to be garbage outside of 5-10 games his entire tenure.
July 12th, 2018 at 12:20 am
I do hope I a am wrong , but this will be the drafted that gets him sacked
July 12th, 2018 at 12:45 am
The Defensive Coach of Mississippi State last year brought Mississippi States’ defense from ranked 100th the year before he came and brought them up to tenth in one year. He has a lot of former NFL experience and he brought them complicated blitzes which he taught them how to play. He is now the Gator’s DC. Our DC Smith needs to study Mississippi States’ Defensive Blitz package from last year and adapt them for the Bucs this year. Even when our great defensive teams with Sapp and friends they still also utilized blitzes to keep the opposition QB off balance having to worry about blocking to stop blitzes. Smith could have had at least fifteen more sacks last year with proper use of blitzes. He needs to pull out all the stops this year to keep his cushy job!
July 12th, 2018 at 2:01 am
I’ve read a lot of good news about Carlton Davis this offseason so far but M.J. Stewart seems to be MIA. Has anyone heard anything?
July 12th, 2018 at 5:04 am
It could be very telling how the year will go if the Bucs get through camp and pre-season, and the first three games, without major losses of players to injury; would be helpful not to force the new DBs into service until they are ready. It would be especially helpful to avoid decimation of the D line.
July 12th, 2018 at 5:51 am
Davis is gonna be the main guy out of the class, vea will be invisible this year, and no clue why licht passed on darius guice who will be rookie of the year
July 12th, 2018 at 7:01 am
Not a fan of either cornerback, Vea will be good and passing on Guice was just another stupid move by Licht. Ronald Jones can’t catch or block to save his life although I do like his running.
July 12th, 2018 at 7:40 am
To “win” the draft, you usually have to start a top of the draft!!!!!!
And for those who scream about “develop”!!!!!!!! what is the time table to develop?????? one offseason?????? what coaches develop 1st year starters into developed in NFL starters?????? Because even back in the glory days that could not develop CB in one offseason into professional starting CB!!!!!!!! Even the greatest player in Buc History Rhonde Barber took more than one offseason to “develop”!!!!!!!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 7:54 am
Coaching is killing this team. Licht cannot be let go….
July 12th, 2018 at 8:09 am
Jason Licht is best GM the Bucs has ever had for the short time he’s been here…………….the glazers BETTER NOT let him go anytime soon.
Owlykat……….. while you make some valid points….so theory is flawed considering you just compared College sports to the NFL which is totally on another LEVEL…….and that’s why alot of successful college coaches don’t make it in the NFL……same thing goes for players too.
July 12th, 2018 at 8:10 am
Still puzzled why we picked Stewart before Davis….but…doesn’t matter now.
Here would be Joes draft
Vea, Jones, Punter, Punter, Cappa, Punter, Watson, Cichy
How does that draft look?
July 12th, 2018 at 8:14 am
Ok well she had a decent rookie season so they developed him as a rookie then undeveloped him the second season lol makes sense to me sense you can’t believe that Ryan Smith and Javien Elliot are not both in the probowl by now.
We have this guy named Brent Grimes that everyone thinks so highly of so only one of these guys need to pan out as a rookie. I doubt one of them will have a hard time being out Ryan Smith, that’s a really low bar
July 12th, 2018 at 8:55 am
The Bucs must have believed Winston’s version of events otherwise they go Rosen At 8 and figure out a way to get another cb.
July 12th, 2018 at 8:59 am
I think that with the improved defensive line, the guys we already had in the secondary are going to look fantastic. So the rookies will have the time to acclimate and develop.
As far as how long does it take to develop? Well, it’s an ongoing process throughout their careers, but they should at least become serviceable after two full seasons at one position. And then they prove it during their third year.
This formula has held up for decades.
Smith has had one year at his position. VHIII has had two. Fans inability to grasp developmental time is astounding. Especially in Tampa where they give players 3-4 games to prove themselves.
July 12th, 2018 at 9:02 am
This will be a successful season for Koetter and Mike Smith. Hopefully so successful that Smith is offered a head coaching job elsewhere.
July 12th, 2018 at 9:33 am
Lol…….TBBF longing for the cooler again. 🙂
July 12th, 2018 at 9:44 am
It was an outstanding draft from top to bottom. Even the late picks have a chance to shine and make it in this league.
July 12th, 2018 at 9:48 am
competent coaches can develop players in an offseason or 2…..you cant compare barber a 4th round pick to a 1st or 2nd round pick…..that’s not comparing apples to apples…..barbers development should’ve taken longer because it was expected….he was a 4th round pick….but when your 1st round pick regresses in his second year, that points to coaching…..
not worried one bit tho…..dirk and smitty will shoot themselves in the foot….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Will be interesting to see who is better… Ro Jones or D Guice. I thought Guice was better but we will see.
July 12th, 2018 at 10:14 am
SB
LOL. I think TBBF is safe…for now at least. Joe has a thick hide and takes football disagreements with him well.
He is a businessman though and he’s very aware…as he needs to be…of liability issues.
July 12th, 2018 at 11:57 am
At this point of the year, I would rather that we talk about the 2018 NFL draft than the 2019 NFL draft.
July 12th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
Those two corners will surprise everyone. They are the perfect example of guys Licht wanted to draft. The lunch pail guys, the ones who will work hard every day to get better. They will make an impact in the beginning, but barring significant injuries that may impede their progress, they will hone their skills weekly as they play against some of our opponents elite receivers. They are talented corners in a raw state and with time they will adjust fine. I’m excited that this draft was Licht’s finest to date.
July 13th, 2018 at 7:18 am
Dusty,
You really have no clue why they didn’t pick guice? How about not taking his NFL opportunity seriously like being late to interviews, unprepared when he got there, getting into fights with eagles staffers on a pre draft visit. Playing Madden all day. We just got rid of swaggy for bs attitude. You think licht’s drafting another?! Then when interviewed after if there was anything he would change with how he approached things he said nah. Sorry don’t need that POS attitude on this team. Neither did 32 other teams until value allowed you to take the chance.