“He’s Going To Get You 4 To 6 Yards Every Time Because He Breaks Tackles”
April 25th, 2021
Based on intel from an unnamed scout, it seems like North Carolina running back Javonte Williams is a perfect fit for the Bucs.
Joe remembers shortly after the Super Bowl, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms joined the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on SiriusXM Radio talking about the Bucs. Simms loved the combo of Ronald Jones and Playoff Lenny because he thought they were four- to five-yard grinders. And the way the Bucs’ offensive line was built, Simms said, the Bucs offense is perfect for just getting four yards at a clip and grinding the clock down.
So when reading Bob McGinn of The Athletic construct his annual draft rankings based on intel from multiple sources — he’s been covering the NFL for nearly four decades — one scout said Williams basically described a running back Simms says makes the Bucs’ running game hum.
“He’s a ground pounder,” said one scout. “He’s going to get you 4 to 6 yards every time because he breaks tackles. People bounce off him. He’s a short, thick-hipped, thick-legged kid. He’s got surprising speed. He can get to the corner, but you have to knock ’em all down for him to turn it.”
Third-year junior with 366 carries for 2,297 yards (6.3) and 29 TDs plus 50 receptions. “He led the NCAA in broken tackles running between the tackles last year,” said a second scout. “That’s like Nick Chubb stuff. He is really assertive running in between the tackles.”
From Wallace, N.C. “He might be a No. 3 (back) his first year, but he’s getting carries,” a third scout said. “This kid is better than (Detroit’s) Jamaal Williams. He reminds me of Mike Davis as a runner. At some point this guy is a starter.”
Nick Chubb. Tell Joe you wouldn’t want Chubb as a Bucs running back?
Yes, Joe understands the Bucs still have RoJo and Playoff Lenny and Giovani Bernard. But each is in the final year of his contract. Joe doesn’t expect Playoff Lenny to return. RoJo? Who knows. Bernard sounded in his press conference like if the Bucs win a ring, he’s then chasing a check.
Whatever it takes to get the No. 32 pick on the field to make an impact and win games, that’s what the Bucs need to do. And no position has an easier learning curve than running back.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:08 am
What round is he projected for?
If in the 2nd then yes.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:15 am
So far Nick Bolton is my favorite player that has been mocked to us at 32, but I’d be cool with this guy too.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:21 am
For the first time i can remember, I have ZERO opinion on who the Bucs draft. That’s how loaded our roster is. If they take a QB fine, DL cool, RB ok or any position.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:22 am
The best time about mock drafts is that it burns nervous energy leading up to the draft
April 25th, 2021 at 8:25 am
Another Ke’Shawn Vaughn…nice player, but there will be better options
April 25th, 2021 at 8:36 am
He doesn’t look like a first rounder to me; maybe in the third. In past years I remember more explosive RBs going in the 2nd and 3rd. We don’t need to reach so get the best player in the 1st.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:37 am
RoJo had the 6th highest yards per rush among RBs last year. The guy has become an effective ground and pounder; it’s that pesky screen pass that he can’t seem to catch.
Ideally I’d like to see RoJo retained next year and a more 3rd down type back drafted to compliment him (same reason Gio was signed) instead of a guy like this, and consider Vaughn a bonus for depth moving forward in 2022.
If they draft someone like Williams I think the writing would be on the wall next year that RoJo is gone.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:56 am
RoJo had 5 dropped passes last year. He could improve, but not as bad as the perception- Evans also had 5 drops and Kamara had 6 – although they were both targeted more.
April 25th, 2021 at 8:58 am
He’d be there in the second, or even later. Licht is too smart to reach for a running back at 32.
April 25th, 2021 at 9:10 am
What about Keyshawn Vaghn?
Is Raymond Calias still around?
If all the horror presented happens, and all 3 of our top backs leave,
Then we draft a running back next year.
They arent gonna stop making running backs.
This year, the pantry is way to full, to add another one.
We will be lucky to see Vaughn get any carries- he didnt get hardly any last year, that was BEFORE we added Bernard!
If you draft a running back this year, he is at best 4th on the depth chart. I think he would be 5th.
Im all for depth- but how about Center, where we NEED a backup.
Or tackle, where an injury would ruin our season.
Or Edge rusher- where a decent player e future will get a ton of playing time.
Lets worry about the future, in the future.
Right now- we are extremely deep at Rb. An injury wouldnt kill us
But if we lost Jensen, Or Donovan, or Tristan, or JPP, Or Shaq- it could ruin our chances at our 2nd ring.
Lets worry about the depth we need.
Not depth we MIGHT need someday.
April 25th, 2021 at 9:24 am
I am OK with whoever Licht has still available on his ranked draft list.”
For the first time ever, I am totally agnostic as to who the team drafts or at what position.
I’d be happiest if they take a couple of guys and stockpile picks for 2022…when they will be much more meaningful, and the draft pool won’t be so shallow.
April 25th, 2021 at 9:52 am
Swampbuc – most mocks have him being drafted very very early in the 2nd. Both him and Etienne will be gone within the first 5-10 picks in the 2nd. He will be loooong gone by the time 64 rolls around.
April 25th, 2021 at 10:40 am
OL and DL in the first and second
(beating the dead horse)
April 25th, 2021 at 10:44 am
Nobody in the NFL is better at breaking tackles than Rojo.
April 25th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
PLEASE GET OFF THE CONSTANT RB ROUND ONE!!! Not going to happen. You can at least mix up some different names in early rounds if you think they will get a RB early other than the first Etienne and Williams. It’s boring this close to the draft.
Lmao with that title. Our #1 RB RoJo had a 5.1 ypc for running through guys and holes. Was ROBBED by Bucs, Brady, and AB of 1,000 yards! He had about five games where he got a #1 RB amount of carries. Four 100 yard games and four W’s. HE WAS GIVIN 10 CARRIES THE WEEK AFTER HE GOT 23 FOR 192 YARDS AGAINST THE STINKING PANTHERS!!!
Stop babbling like RoJo, Lenny, Bernard are already gone and Vaughn is not worthy because he hasn’t had many NFL carries. It sounds really stupid when you try to say they’re in contract years compared to other positions with starters in their contract years.
WE RUN THE BALL 30% OF THE TIME!!!
Pick 32: C Creed Humphrey
April 25th, 2021 at 1:06 pm
Yes BradyBunch, although given the ways of the universe, one of the much discussed RBs can fall to 64, and meanwhile as has been pronounced, let’s get more depth in the trenches and on the D. The RB room is very crowded and as CapnTim said, they won’t stop making running backs.
April 25th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
Put it this way. Alvin Kamara was taken in the third rd. How many teams do you think would have taken him in the first if they had known he was gonna be that good.
April 25th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
But Joe! I thought you told us the measure of a good running back is how many times they “house” the rock? And why would the Bucs possibly need to draft a running back in the 1st round when we just won the Super Bowl with the 28th ranked rushing offense? Just like we didn’t need to sign a receiving back because we just won the Super Bowl without a good one on the roster. Right?
April 25th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Tom is about winning not getting any one player his yards, and that’s why he wins.
April 25th, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Don’t need him this year anyway. There will be more running backs just as good next year.
April 25th, 2021 at 5:10 pm
BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER…. Will this RB be the BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER when the Bucs pick? Most likely not. Get the BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER. GO BUCS!!!!!
April 25th, 2021 at 5:16 pm
Captain Tim said exactly what I have been saying all along. We already have more than adequate running backs. With the diversity in our offense a super star running back is not a major need. Nice to have? Sure. But depth on both DL and OL are big needs.
April 25th, 2021 at 5:40 pm
Nope. We should take NO running backs in this draft. Period. We need a legit ILB prospect, an OLB/EDGE prospect, a Nickel kind of CB/S prospect, and OL (C AND T), preferably an OL guy or two like our guards – talented overlooked dudes.
But of course that’s only if we stick with a needs mindset and not best player available mindset.
April 25th, 2021 at 6:28 pm
Jabril Cox… need defense support… offense is set with or without ABnormal
April 25th, 2021 at 10:06 pm
Sounds like a good runner, but good RBs are available every year. Have you seen the offensive linemen KC has added? We need a speed edge rusher now.
April 25th, 2021 at 10:56 pm
They have 5 RBs. I can safely say they may just trade up for a guard and finally solidify that line allowing Cappa and a few others they resigned to be strong backups. They are gonna continue that trend and build depth in the trenches on the offensive and defensive lines. I believe they set at DB but will get another mid draft like Rd 3 or 4 for depth. There wont be another RB drafted. Look for a DL to be drafted high as well maybe in the first as a trade up and a they find a bargain OL later in the mid rounds of the draft.
April 26th, 2021 at 9:27 pm
Mark,been wanting to mention that myself,,they definitely beefed up the O-line since we embarrassed them in the Superbowl probably ganna see em again
April 27th, 2021 at 12:47 pm
If we draft ANYBODY or have anybody that can catch the ball, Bernard, signed for little signing bonus and near the league minimum, is gone. Dude is TOAST.