Nasty Tackle
February 14th, 2020
“Bad man.”
For those of you who enjoy offensive line porn, the only man needing protection in this video is a poor sap of a defender.
Now Joe reads it daily, Bucs fans who slam their beer mugs on the bar and curse out the bartender because on each play, the Bucs’ front line doesn’t have five pancake blocks.
Joe is absolutely numb to it. Especially when Joe first-hand watched a truly awful offensive line six years ago. But this is what NFL fans do, constantly gripe about their team’s offensive line. Oh well.
(Always remember and never forget the Bucs won a Super Bowl with the human hands-to-the-face penalty Kenyatta Walker starting at right tackle. Anyone know what Dollar General store he’s working at these days?)
Joe understands that current left tackle Donovan Smith is not a popular man. Folks have been trying to run him out of town before he was even drafted by the Bucs. With his contract, he isn’t going anywhere for at least a year.
Still, this gives some the hope that the Bucs draft a right tackle and then flip him to left tackle to replace Smith. It always isn’t that simple as the two positions are entirely different. As Jimbo Fisher once told a reporter who thought he knew the game as much as Fisher, “This ain’t PlayStation.”
But a guy can dream, right?
So Joe brings word of an ACC left tackle that sure plays like Ryan Jensen. Former NFL scout and current NFL Network talking head Daniel Jeremiah just loves Louisville left tackle Mekhi Becton.
Why? Well here is a good reason. Jeremiah even remarked on Twitter he cannot get a full evaluation of Becton because he often takes his defender off the video screen because he manhandles people so much.
@MoveTheSticks: I usually just watch the endzone copy of all-22 when studying OL. However, I have to watch the SL copy when studying Louisville LT Mekhi Becton because he keeps blocking defenders off the screen.
Joe suspects quite a few Bucs fans would love to see Becton play right tackle as a rookie this fall and then move over to left tackle, his natural position, to help the Bucs save salary cap cash to keep Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
At some point you just start feeling bad for the defense. 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/ORBO2SLyIi
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 13, 2020
February 14th, 2020 at 5:23 am
Dot, was a fine player and even better human being in person. 2012 was my 1st year on the security team, he was the first player to come and shake my hand. But all players will come to that day when the injuries have taken their toll and it’s time to hang up the cleats. In a dream scenario if Becton is available and Dobbins or Swift in the 2nd we could see a very dynamic offense in 2020. Jay won’t have to feel like he needs to do it all and force things which results in his turnovers.
February 14th, 2020 at 5:31 am
Would love to grab Becton with our 1st Rnd pick, but every mock draft that I’ve seen has him going long before the Bucs pick. But as you said ‘A guy can dream, right?’
February 14th, 2020 at 6:32 am
Yeah quit overreacting you know-nothing Bucs fans. It’s not like any of the successful teams this year had better, more dominant oline play than the Bucs!
Oh wait…
February 14th, 2020 at 6:34 am
YESSSSSSSSSSSS SIR!!!
Love me some “big nasties!”
February 14th, 2020 at 6:59 am
The question is, can he tackle DB’s after each pick?
February 14th, 2020 at 7:19 am
Yes please…
We only run the football about 35% of the time which imo telegraph’s your offense due to the lack of balance…
If you’re gonna ask your QB to drop back 45 or 50 times per game the least you can do is put an solid offensive line in front of him…In all honesty I think our first 2 picks in this draft should be offensive lineman…This should be a priority no matter who’s at QB; enough is enough, let’s stop allowing our QB to be slaughtered every Sunday…
February 14th, 2020 at 7:19 am
“this is what NFL fans do, constantly gripe about their team’s offensive line. Oh well.”
And here I thought that all NFL Fans constantly gripe about their QB’s skill at turning the ball over. Or lack there of turning it over? No? Oh well!
Learning something new everyday.
February 14th, 2020 at 7:23 am
It is funny how this stuff works. In October it was just Wirfs and Thomas as high end tackles. Pretty much Austin Jackson was the 3rd rated tackle.
Then as the season continued it has become Wills and Becton and Jones. Jackson had a bad game against the Iowa DE and he has moved down.
I’d be curious of all the Buc’s fans who they want to draft.
I like Wills, Thomas, Wirfs, Becton, Isiah Wilson, Jones, and then Jackson.
Really all those 1st 4 guys are better than any O lineman from last years draft.
February 14th, 2020 at 8:10 am
Prefer Jedrick Wills instead, as most draft analysts do. Plus played against stiffer competition all college career.
Separately…with this site always pining for David Johnson to reunite with BA, upon further evaluation of his contract, it appears a trade is possible cap wise for Arizona this year, assuming only a $6 million dead cap hit per OTC in 2020, then a $3 million dead cap hit in 2021. Arizona would still have to kick in say $3-$4 million cash toward his 2020 salary still owed. Also…there is no guaranteed $$ in 2021, the last year of his deal.
But in saying all that, LeVeon Bell is a year younger, FAR healthier than DJ, and currently far more talented than DJ…with Bell’s contract parameters almost exactly the same in 2020, making slightly more at $13.5 million versus DJ’s around $11 mill plus. Jets could kick in $4-$5 mill for 2020 to be rid of that contract, with zero guaranteed cash beyond 2020 for Bell also.
Bottom line, Bell is measurably above DJ’s worth overall, snd just hope that BA’s obsession with reuniting with his former banged up old players, doesn’t put DJ in a Bucs uniform, instead of Bell. Bell brings eyeballs, media, some TV. Bell knows HOW to play the game more successfully in all facets.
February 14th, 2020 at 8:35 am
I have loved Becton for awhile now. He started out as a Mid 2nd rounder but has moved up into top 10 land. I think there’s a chance he falls to us, ut if he and Kinlaw are still available, I go Kinlaw. He’s been a 1st rounder talent from the get go, I worry Becton is getting too much hype based on his size. It’s a looong way until April.
February 14th, 2020 at 8:37 am
At #14 there will be a stud OT available. Everyone will expect the Bucs to go that route.
Geno 711 is right. The mocks are fluid, there is much group think or hive mind involved. Things evolve.
I was on the Becton bandwagon early because Wills, Wirfs and Thomas would be gone by #14. After the Senior Bowl Jones moved up.
Now I\m thinking that the Bucs should address the OL in FA and select Jerry Jeudy, the best pro ready WR in the draft. The Raiders will draft Lamb but Jeudy will be there at #14.
Evans and Godwin and Jeudy! Oh my!
February 14th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Ok this kind of guy I could get behind drafting. We need more O linemen with attitude like Jensen where we just maul them into submission heh heh. Rojo would love it and hopefully whatever back we get later in the draft will too!!! I am all in Joe!!!!!
February 14th, 2020 at 9:05 am
He’ll be gone…
Hopefully we’ll be in play for brown, Thomas, kinlaw, Willis….
GO BUCS
February 14th, 2020 at 9:09 am
Nasty? Excellent.
Bonus if he’s also ugly.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:15 am
Have had chance to see Mekhi Becton up close & personal….Just WOW!
The guy is a MOUNTAIN of a man… But nimbleness of someone much smaller/ lighter.
He’s a Bryant McKinnie clone…..a Franchise Tackle & should be the 1st T off the board.
Has experience playing both T positions & is more than capable to protect either edge. He’s a Day1 starter, regardless of the side you need him to play.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:36 am
Throw him in the mix with Delpit and Kinlaw. Any of them would have this Bucs fan smiling on draft day, and all fit positions of need.
February 14th, 2020 at 11:55 am
Born and raised in Louisville and seen the kid play in person numerous times, sign him yesterday! He is part of the reason Lamar Jackson became as good as he is!!!
February 14th, 2020 at 12:22 pm
Ghost of Darrell Henderson.
I am not listening to any draft advice from you. You cried all offseason after the draft that we missed out on drafting the best running back to ever come out of college. Who was going to be rookie of the year and lead the league in rushing for years to come. A perennial all pro pro bowler. His season stats were
39 carries for 147 yards 0 td 3.8 per carry
4 catches for 37 yards 0 tds
Yeah you were on point with us regretting not drafting that man beast.
February 14th, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Per Gil Brandt (a credible personnel guy) today over at NFL.com article…”Juicy landing spots for 10 top free agents”…
#9 Jack Conklin, OT: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
….”whether or not Winston is under center for the Bucs in 2020, they need to figure out a solution for the right tackle position, with veteran Demar Dotson entering free agency, and Tampa Bay should have the cap space to make a run at Conklin”.
I agree that Conklin might be a prized FA, but will likely cost a major bundle for many teams looking at him also in FA, and frankly that would wrap up a TON of dough in our O Line, with Smith, Jensen, Marpet already making a king’s ransom.
Draft Jedrick Wills instead…
February 14th, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Kenyatta Walker = Ken, not a blocker
February 14th, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Kenyatta Walker started at RT when the Bucs won the SB…So, Even if he wasn’t the LT he was made out to be…He was good enough RT to help win the only championship in team history.
Conklin on the other hand, will cost D.Smith $$ or more. ($14-15M market value)…The Bucs don’t have that coin readily available for RT, if they want to keep the Core-4 Front-7 in FA.
Which leads me back to Becton…Who may likely be gone at #14.
And that’s OK, because this draft has other Quality RT’s in the Day2-early Day3 range w/ the upside we are looking for…UGA RT Isaiah Wilson / TCU RT Lucas Naing / UConn RT Matt Peart / SCSt RT Alex Taylor / St.Paul MN OL Ben Bartch – though he looks more G than T to me.
February 14th, 2020 at 3:43 pm
This is just the way draft evaluation works. Players start out ranked in one spot and after further evaluation they go up or down. That doesn’t make them better or worse where they start out.
I think it’s an important to point out the depth a OT in this draft. The other day I read someone say that they rather get the best safety or 3rd best DT before the 5th rated OT. That’s not a good way to get the best value. Especially when the top 5 OTs are better than any coming out the year.
February 14th, 2020 at 4:10 pm
“MTM Says:
February 14th, 2020 at 6:59 am
The question is, can he tackle DB’s after each pick?”
BEST COMMENT OF THE DAY LOL
February 14th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
I need to see how well he tackles first…
February 14th, 2020 at 4:25 pm
Admittedly o line porn is a notch below lesbian porn, but sometimes you gotta take what you can get. Becton would be a nice addition.
February 14th, 2020 at 6:25 pm
Ghost, the last thing the Bucs need to do with their first pick is address the teams biggest strength. Kinlaw or Becton or one of the other stud tackles is the way to go!
February 14th, 2020 at 6:27 pm
MTM and Posey, serious question, if JW improves this year and lowers the picks and the Bucs go 12-4 will you be upset that Jameis played well? I really think you guys are rooting for him to fail no matter what.
February 14th, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Its funny how i focused in on this guy in october as a possible 3rd rounder for us and now he’s probably top 10. We could still move Cappa to RT and draft Tyler Badaszzz in the 2nd-top of 3rd for RG to groom for C to replace Jensen.
Im still
1st Simmons
2nd Badasszzz
3rd QB Gordon
4th RB Zack moss or patrick taylor
5th tj vasher
February 15th, 2020 at 11:00 am
IMHO, I believe Wirfs is the best tackle in the draft. Nasty mean streak.