“Off The Charts”
September 18th, 2019
General manager Jason Licht has become a fourth-round miracle worker when it comes to the NFL Draft.
This year’s fourth-rounder DE/LB Anthony Nelson has a forced fumble and a batted pass already. The dude missed a hefty chunk of preseason time and has stepped right in. At this rate Joe’s going to have to call him the long arm of the law.
Last year’s fourth-rounder? He’s a freakin’ punisher; that’s safety Jordan Whitehead. He’s second on the team in tackles and he’s continued hitting hard like he did as as rookie. The film also showed a very sharp pass breakup on tight end Greg Olson on Thursday.
“Jordan’s productivity is really, really good right now. You know, he can play better, but his productivity is off the charts,” Arians said today.
“He’s a high-motor guy. He’s a good tackler and he’s a good blitzer. Those things bode well for the position he plays.”
Of course, Kwon Alexander was a fourth-round pick in 2015, and he went on to the Pro Bowl and a fat contract. The Bucs coaching staff also likes the play of 2016 fourth-rounder cornerback Ryan Smith, enough to keep him around through a drug suspension that ends next month.
The Bucs didn’t have a fourth-round pick in 2014 or 2017. However, they traded up in ’17 to snag linebacker Kendell Beckwith with the final pick of the third round.
Perhaps Licht should start stockpiling fourth-round picks.
September 18th, 2019 at 2:54 pm
If only Jason knew what he was doing in the 1st 3 rounds.
September 18th, 2019 at 2:55 pm
If only he could hit on his first and second rounders like that.
September 18th, 2019 at 2:59 pm
“Whitehead is a stud
going to be a pro bowler
Mentally he is strong
dont care if he is a 4th rounder
dont care who u are
your going down
no quesswork. when he sees the target and the instant he reads the play
straight B line as fast and w/ all his might”
Son of Kobe Faker
September 18th, 2019 at 3:07 pm
We don’t need good 4th rounders, we need great 1st rounders. I’d take a fully-hyped up Devin White and VHIII over Jordan Whitehead, Kwon, and Anthony Nelson.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Here is Licht’s total failure according to many on this board …Mike Evans, Jameis Winston, Vernon Hargreaves, O.J. Howard, Vita Vea, and Devin White.
I really like…Evans, Howard, and Vea
Somewhat disappointed …Winston, Hargreaves (still might be ok)
Way too early to tell…White
I agree that Licht has struggled in the 2nd round…hopefully that changes with Bruce and company.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Too bad he can’t pick the right guy in the first round. 5 years and counting.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
We don’t need good 4th Rounders? Really? Isn’t it a positive to have good football players on your team?
September 18th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Bound to be right at some point, too bad it can’t be in the first 2 rounds.
September 18th, 2019 at 3:34 pm
The problem is we draft fourth round guys in rounds 2 and 3 as well…
September 18th, 2019 at 3:35 pm
trade every year’s 2nd rounder for 2 4th rounders. we will see what becomes of Sean Murphy-Bunting, but he has some work to do to catch up to the early-career impact of his peers in the 4th round
kidding…i think
September 18th, 2019 at 3:45 pm
miken^^^^lmfao…..good one!
September 18th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
Thank god Licht gave up a future 3rd & 5th round pick to sign a punter and Breshad Perriman.
Would have been better off spending a 6th on a speed WR (oh wait we actually did that) and a 7th on a punter. The #1 rated punter from the 2019 per Walterfootball draft wasn’t even drafted.
GO BUCS!
September 18th, 2019 at 4:03 pm
But i thought licht couldnt draft and evaluate talent…..lol….
coaching and develop goes a long ways…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Pittsshore Says:
Too bad he can’t pick the right guy in the first round. 5 years and counting.
LOL – Troll confirmed (as if that was even necessary)
September 18th, 2019 at 4:31 pm
LordCornelius Says:
Thank god Licht gave up a future 3rd & 5th round pick to sign a punter and Breshad Perriman.
Say what?? Perriman and Pinion were both signed as Free Agents. Bucs didn’t give up any draft picks for those guys. WhatchutalkinboutWillis?
September 18th, 2019 at 5:24 pm
As long as Licht is the gm we should try to trade our 2nd rounder for a few 4th’s each year. 😀
September 18th, 2019 at 5:30 pm
In the grand scheme of things, once the draft is over it really doesn’t matter much where a guy was drafted, 1st Rnd or 7th Rnd, or UFA. History would seem to say that it’s harder to find ‘keepers’ in the later rounds, but who cares. Some guys are just late bloomers, and some others probably respond better to NFL coaching than they do to college coaching. Some take longer to ‘mature’.
Again, doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. What matters in the NFL is PERFORMANCE, aka, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ Jordan Whitehead, in his 2nd year, looks like a steal to me. I’m super-impressed. I think that Kwon was a steal as a 4th rounder also, IF we’d played him in his optimal position (like the 49ers are). So was Kendell Beckwith before his unfortunate accident. Cam Brate & Adam Humphries were REAL steals as UFAs. The list goes on.
Since none of us really know the process by which guys are positioned in the draft by the Bucs, who could say with certainty that Jason deserves ‘credit’ for all those picks? Yes he’s the GM, but maybe BA & TB were the ones who made this year’s picks. We don’t know with any certainty what the power structure at One Buc Palace really looks like nowadays. Bottom line to me? Doesn’t matter, all I care about is how a guy PERFORMS on the field. All our defenders are doing great right now IMO. They’re all DOING THEIR JOB … and it’s working. I’m ecstatic with how this defense is PERFORMING. Admittedly not so much with the offense or S/Ts play through 2 games. IF BA lights a fire under both of them, and they PERFORM to the level they’re capable of performing, THEN I’ll be ecstatic with them too. In the meantime, one game at a time.
September 18th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Whitehead is my guy, he brings it every game!
September 18th, 2019 at 5:58 pm
How to stop Saquon–one of the few games he was shutout:
https://www.titansonline.com/video/beneath-the-surface-how-titans-contained-saquon-barkley
September 18th, 2019 at 6:34 pm
COWBOYS just cut their 2017 FIRST ROUND pick, defensive end Taco Charlton, a guy a bunch of Bucs fans wanted back then … Licht could go sign him for free now … Bowles could help him realize his 1st round talent and Pro Bowl potential
September 18th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
I’m talking 2020 compensatory picks forfeited by those FA signings
September 18th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
July
Yes many buc idiot buc fans wanted taco and bashed licht for not picking him because “we needed a pass rusher.” Ive tried telling these idiots you draft the best player and you dont draft for need. What good does it do to draft a pass rusher if he sucks just because you need one. I would rather draft the better prospect. It was said taco had motor and passion issues in college and it carried over into the pros. Howard was definitely the better prospect.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:09 pm
LICHT MY BALLS
FIRE THIS FAT ASS LOSER PLEASE GOD
September 18th, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Whitehead is a beast and the most impressive thing to me no one probably notices. When an outside run comes to his side he’s been good at taking on the pulling guard and forcing the runners inside to the defenders in pursuit. He is playing great team football right now.
September 18th, 2019 at 8:25 pm
For those too stupid to notice, Carlton Davis is damn near a shut down CB, other than being too grabby, he has been excellent in coverage and making great breaks on the ball. He’s one of a few 2nd round picks that are blossoming. Of course Ali Marpet is excellent. Ronald Jones is coming along nicely. Also, Noah Spence was just signed by the Redskins in time to win a starting spot and continue the Buc curse and lead the league in sacks. I also just heard that Roberto Aguayo just sealed a million dollar insurance policy in that sweet new insurance sales job he landed. Most expected him to come up short on this deal but he split the uprights for a change.
September 18th, 2019 at 9:47 pm
I’m not a fan of JW. He’s not Licht’s fault. The 2015 QB draft class was terrible. He/they had to pick a QB and anyone on this site who says otherwise is full of it. The fans would’ve burned the town if they hadn’t. I give him a pass in JW even though I personally predicted JW not being what we thought he’d be however my guy Mariota hasn’t done anything either which brings me back to my point. The 15 QB class sucked. Other than Roberto in round 2 his draft isn’t as bad as portrayed by some on this site. If we had any semblance of a capable QB we’d have a much different outcome. Nobody thought Lovie would suck to the extent he did. And Dirk had to be the HC for continuity as he brought the offense to life. He turned out to suck worse as a Hac and his undying loyalty to Smith was inexcusable. So really when you look at it, Licht is far from complete responsibility here and with decent coaching we stand a chance.
September 19th, 2019 at 3:01 am
We are fortunate to have both Licht and BA together. Licht can pick high potential players in the late rounds and undrafted players as well, that is a major talent that other teams don’t have. But Licht has to have a HC who can develop that talent for potential to become elite performance. BA is exactly the HC Licht has to have! Then BA picked the perfect elite DC who will not be lured away to be a HC because he already knows that is a headache for him. Right now he is able to do what he loves. BA brought in many other great position coaches who likely will want to stay here and win Super Bowl Rings. As this season goes forward the fans will learn how fortunate we are.
September 19th, 2019 at 6:53 am
Licht hasn’t sucked as GM in drafting and signing talent. It’s picking HC’s and sticking with something when he knows it’s not working. Winston was the highest rated QB since Luck coming out. Wasn’t his on field stuff it was the off field stuff that had red flags, Spence was called a top ten talent, problem with him was he never was DE always OLB, coaching made him something he’s not. Case in point Jerry Hughes for the Bills, ask a Colts fan what they think about him. We haven’t won which makes us hate Licht, but it’s not because we don’t have talent. On O Evans, Goodwin, Ali, Cameron, OJ ( needs to play better ) on D VH3, Davis, Vea, Suh, David, Edwards, White, Nelson, JPP, Whitehead, Bunting ( 1st round talent ) and Dean ( first round test numbers ) now that’s all who he’s drafted, signed, traded for and given big contacts to. Besides their QB are you telling me the Seahawks have more talent than us
September 19th, 2019 at 7:34 am
Joe, according the the draft trade chart, we should be able to get at least 5 4th round picks for our 2nd rounder. Just an idea… We could draft a LOT of kickers with that…
September 19th, 2019 at 10:14 am
Easy solution to our drafting issues then. Trade all 2nd round picks for multiple 4th round picks. More Kwons & Whiteheads, less Aguayos and Spences.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:32 am
DR
no doubt kwon played out of position but he made the PB playing out of position….
he was a steal regardless of what position he played…..
injuries and bad timing did him in here….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 10:43 am
Our Defense is already rated a Top Ten Defense! Just think how good they will become when all have become veterans in the new Defense. You already see that BA has gotten the running game going without drafting a top back. When our two new backup OTs have mastered our new Offense they will be able to step in and play if our LT or RT are injured or not playing to BA’s standards. So you will see our Offense get better!
September 19th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
See no reason for not going after Taco. What’ll they got to lose.