Top Heavy In Offensive Tackles
February 17th, 2020
Louisville OT Mekhi Becton.
Here is more offensive line porn to help kick start your workweek.
Dane Brugler, lead draft analyst for The Athletic, has a breakdown on offensive tackles. Those who believe the Bucs should attack the offensive tackle position will want to read it.
While Brugler noted the draft is not deep for offensive tackles, it is top-heavy. So selecting an offensive tackle early will net a team good value.
But the beauty of this tackle class is the volume of high-level talent at the top. Several NFL scouts prefer the intriguing ceiling of Mekhi Becton. Some lean towards Tristan Wirfs while others think he needs to move inside to guard.
It will be interesting to see the order these tackles come off the board on draft weekend — maybe as many as six or seven in the first round.
Brugler currently has this Mekhi Becton of Louisville as his No. 3 offensive tackle. And you really want to see the video of Becton that Brugler has in the link above. Becton literally launches Clemson linebacker Chad Smith into the air.
A three-year starter at Louisville, Becton was the starting left tackle in head coach Scott Satterfield’s stretch zone scheme, becoming the first player in school history to win the Jacobs Trophy, which goes to the top blocker in the ACC (as voted on by the coaches). He alternated at left and right tackle under the previous coaching staff, which used strongside/weakside tackles, and is well-versed at either position (played both spots in high school).
With his rare combination of size and athleticism, Becton stonewalls rushers in pass protection and generates a surge in the run game, using his length to escort defenders off the screen. He overwhelms with his natural strength, although he has some sloppy reps on tape and must continue to fine-tune his consistency. Overall, Becton has overaggressive tendencies that lead to balance concerns, but he is a gifted blocker with impressive movement skills and power, projecting as a high-upside prospect at either left or right tackle.
The more Joe sees of Becton, the more Joe is a fan.
While Joe would love to see the Bucs draft a pass rusher at No. 14, Joe won’t drown himself in despair with Wavemaker® Amber Ale at the JoeBucsFan.com draft party at Big Storm Brewing’s Clearwater taproom (on the night of April 23) if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht selects Becton.
February 17th, 2020 at 12:48 am
It’s not sensible Joe, because there was a porn reference. However there is progress, he’s willing to be flexible in our 14th pick overall. Good work juvenile shill joe.
Same as always for me….
1. Resign as many defensive players as possible.
2. Upgrade RT
3. Sign a QB that is willing to take the remaining $’s after defensive signings and rookie pool
4. Reduce penalties
5. Improve ST
In BA I Trust!
February 17th, 2020 at 3:21 am
Sport … Someplace in there Bucs need to address our RB situation; that’s a critical component to any balanced offensive attack.
Not sure that we really want a QB just because he’s “willing to take the remaining $’s after defensive signings and rookie pool”. That puts your starting QB at a lower priority than virtually every newly acquired position. Doubt that’d be what we want in the guy who orchestrates the show on the field.
February 17th, 2020 at 6:09 am
Assuming one of the top 4 T are available (Willis, Thomas, Wirfs, Becton), I think the Bucs really should take one of them in the 1st rd. As the article points out, it appears there is a considerable drop off to the second tier of Tackles.
Yes, there is DT drop off after Derrick Brown and Kinlaw, but the 2nd tier of DTs seem better than the 2nd of OTs.
Regardless the Bucs need to get a Tackle in the 1st — offensive or defensive.
February 17th, 2020 at 6:23 am
That’s a great idea. Finally put a decent team together and lose your Qb. This is not 2002 anymore but people seem to think some dink and dunk game manager who’s willing to play for peanuts is going to get us to the promised land. Why are so many Bucs fans so opposed to giving Jameis a chance with a decent OL, running game and defense. I said decent because the only time this team was close to that level on even 2/3 of those aspects he got us 9 wins.
February 17th, 2020 at 6:47 am
Agree about getting one of the top Tackles, IF we can get one of them. I’d love Kinlaw at 14, but he might also be gone, but who knows. If we do get one of the Tackles at 14, we could get someone like Chaisson or Gross-Matos in the 2nd if one of them slides, and then CEH, Dobbins, or Akers in the 3rd.
February 17th, 2020 at 7:05 am
Have to believe we’ll trade O.J., question is what would he fetch? I’m sure the Bucs got offers last year before the deadline. Maybe a high second,maybe move back up into the first trading OJ, and our second round pick? Some possibilities.
February 17th, 2020 at 7:21 am
Imo we should go after wirfs. Day one plug and play starter at right tackle.
February 17th, 2020 at 7:22 am
Lunchbox … Don’t know about CEH or Akers, but Dobbins won’t be there in the 3rd Rnd. Some mocks have him going in the 1st Rnd.
February 17th, 2020 at 7:31 am
As far at the DE’s or 3-4 OLB’s, I also would be happy if we were to get a guy like Curtis Weaver from Boise State, and another guy I’m paying attention to as far as RB’s, is Anthony McFarland Jr. from Maryland. I’m not really sure where he might go, perhaps more of a later round pick, like a Day 3 pick
February 17th, 2020 at 8:01 am
“Assuming one of the top 4 T are available (Willis, Thomas, Wirfs, Becton)”
After the Senior Bowl Jones from Houston moved up from #18 to #2 on Todd McShay’s draft board.
After the combine it will change again.
I agree a tackle it should be unless Justin Herbert falls to #14.
February 17th, 2020 at 8:35 am
Licht needs to let a 10 year old girl from the stands draft for oline that is if he can find a bucsfan at rayjay…. he’s small school picks are laughable… ukelele boy is a back up at best and the others he drafted have no future outside of cappa being a serviceable backup….
February 17th, 2020 at 9:06 am
If the team doesn’t have one of the top 3 QB’s fall to them, I want an OT at #14, and really like both Jones and Becton. I love the nasty streak in Becton.
An ideal draft in Cobralandia would have Becton in the first and Eason in the 2nd.
February 17th, 2020 at 10:04 am
DR – fair points. Agreed we should address RB somewhere in the 3rd round or later.
The QB situation is interesting this year. There are quite a few QB’s available that have a history of performing at or better than our current QB. Granted they don’t have his youth or potential upside.
However, I have a strong belief our coaching staff can actually coach and determine the best fit. My least wanted scenario is that we pay a premium for our QB, have to sacrifice on Defense, we digress on that side of the ball and our QB turns in another mixed bag performance. Which leads to a 5 win eddy.
In BA I Trust!
February 17th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Why do people keep claiming that we should draft a tackle who has only played left tackle their entire career? The same thing happens with our current left tackle Smith. Multiple reports claimed that Smith was going to be a left tackle in the NFL. He is not and has never been a right tackle nor can he play right tackle. I hope if we draft a tackle he is a true RIGHT TACKLE.
February 17th, 2020 at 11:36 am
Not in the first. Ben Bartch ate up Kinlaw (go watch the vid) and he might be there in the 3rd. Id still like to move Cappa to RT, draft Biadasszzz in the 2nd or 3rd to play RG and then he’ll be our eventual Center when we can no longer afford Jenkins.
Use that 1st for Simmons(future dfroy) or Brown (even if we have to trade up)….if not, trade down.
February 17th, 2020 at 11:46 am
Use our 6th on Terence Steele, RT Texas Tech….he needs to get polished but could be good depth, and you never know, he might develop into a starter.
February 17th, 2020 at 11:57 am
Also keep an eye on DT/DE Marlon Davidson, 6’3 295 auburn…he tied D Brown in tfl’s, and had 7.5 sacks…possibly there with our 2nd if we decide to trade down twice after missing on Brown and Simmons. Theres your pass rusher Joe.
February 17th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Thank you for being the voice of reason Defense. No team ever has treated the QB position as if it was unimportant. To make sure every other position was addressed and only use the leftover change on a QB would be absurd. Definitely have give Jameis one more year. We don’t need to bring in senior citizen QBs, and rumors out there that a game manager like Bridgewater will want north of 25M. A lot of posters act like these guys will be playing on the cheap but that isn’t the case. You have to pay for that position no matter what.