Depth At Linebacker
April 28th, 2021
Snaps adding up.
Joe understands some Bucs fans are aghast that Joe would suggest the Bucs add a run-stuffing linebacker in the draft. But cold hard numbers flash a future warning sign.
Warren Sharp, the noted handicapper and stat geek, has a Bucs draft preview that includes who the team may target in the draft.
Of course, veteran Lavonte David was lauded as a premier player and Devin White was given major props for postseason play. However, the element about inside linebackers ended with the following:
The Buccaneers had at least two linebackers on the field for 99% of their defensive snaps last season. This could be an area where they add depth and potentially prepare for David’s replacement.
Joe will add a few more things: David is 31. That’s NFL graybeard territory entering his 10th season.
Remember, the NFL goes to a 17-game schedule this year. Can we really expect a 31-year old inside linebacker, who just finished playing 20 games (including postseason) to have fresh legs for the 2021 season playoffs if he plays 99 percent of the snaps? To Joe, that seems to be asking a lot, or blindly embracing that ugly word “hope.”
Joe sees no issue in drafting a linebacker tomorrow night at No. 32 and saving wear and tear on David (and White). Joe is fully convinced that the defensive line and secondary played its best ball of the season in the playoffs because reserves logged so many snaps and starters had fresher legs. (Devin White’s two virus games off sure re-energized him.)
If that can work for the secondary and the front line, why wouldn’t it help with David and White, provided the backup linebacker taking snaps is up to the task?
April 28th, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Give me any of these guys and I’m going crazy with our 1st
Jamin Davis LB KENTUCKY
Zaven Collins LB TULSA
Nick Bolton LB MIZZ
April 28th, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Kendel Beckwith would be good to have
April 28th, 2021 at 1:09 pm
Kevin Minter would start for most teams. He filled in nicely when David or White was out. No need to spend anything higher than a 3rd round pick for a LB.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:12 pm
I would like a LB such as Nick Bolton or Zaven Collins in the first if the bucs draft Edge in the second or some how get Patick Jones II in the 3rd.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:13 pm
Moral of the story? Don’t let your drunk friends (allegedly) drive you home in your own car.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
Edge, LB, DB is how it’s set up
April 28th, 2021 at 1:25 pm
If Zaven Collins somehow finds his way to 32, that’s a no brainer pick.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:26 pm
Joe Says:
April 28th, 2021 at 1:13 pm
Kendel Beckwith would be good to have
Moral of the story? Don’t let your drunk friends (allegedly) drive you home in your own car
Don’t let your drunk friends drive you home in any car.
As far as depth, apparently, we are not going to resign Jack Cichy…..a depth piece at LB & ST player……we need to replace him with a draft pick….hopefully one who isn’t as injury prone.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:27 pm
Kevin Minter is 30 yrs old
April 28th, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Jamin Davis
April 28th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Drafting a LB would not be a bad move as long as he’s the best player available @32 besides QB and OL.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Edge at 32.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:42 pm
we dont need to draft an ILB in the first 3 rounds. We have 2 studs and we have a really good back up in minter. david has atleast 2 good years left if not more. if we need to draft for depth/replacements in the future we have plenty. JPP 1 year left, suh 1 year, davis 1 year, cappa 1 year, jensen 1 year, rojo fournette and geo 1 year, gronk and oj 1 year, godwin and brown 1 year. The most secured positions with depth and years left to play are Safety and ILB. ILB in the first round is absurd…
April 28th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Frankinthe813 Says: “Kevin Minter is 30 yrs old”
Tom Brady will be 44 when the season starts!
April 28th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Unless Fields falls to 32, Zaven Collins would fit as a fresh pair of legs as an inside LB and I could see TB (Todd Bowles) using this guy on the edge at times as well, but he has that Urlacher patrol of the middle of the field.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:45 pm
What’s our #1 asset? Brady. Let’s get depth on protecting him.
April 28th, 2021 at 1:49 pm
Let’s draft everybody at 32!
April 28th, 2021 at 2:00 pm
Bucs biggest NEED is for DEPTH in multiple position groups. To me it comes down to picking the Best Player Available (BPA) who’s still on the board when we pick at #32 who meets that need for depth in one of those position groups. Might be a DT, or a DE/OLB, or a ILB, or a CB or S or OLineman or even a QB (I think we’re in pretty good shape right now in our RB, WR & TE position groups). What an enviable position to be in. Pretty hard to miss.
April 28th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
You can get some great LBs at the end of the first, it’s an area where a lot of teams hit. Getting a guy that who is a physical freak, who can play the pass should be where they look if you’re thinking about a longterm answer for David. Minter is a solid backup for occasional play, but really stood out when he White was injured, and not for good reasons, he looked slow and there was a big downgrade in play. But who is backing up David, that can cover TEs? That needs to be addressed.
April 28th, 2021 at 2:04 pm
Teddy B is a Bronco.
Wow, didn’t see that coming.
April 28th, 2021 at 2:17 pm
dOOSHIE, For a 6th rounder no less
April 28th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
“Moral of the story? Don’t let your drunk friends (allegedly) drive you home in your own car.”
So says the guy that spouts out beer and bar advertising all the time. Do you advertise for Uber also, Joe? Lol I’m just playing with you. But I always have love for a possible great young LB that had it taken away.
April 28th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
I like the cover LBs like Koromoah and Cox, I think any of these at the right time would be ideal as they can be plug as nickel backs but I am totally in for depth at LB no matter when early, late, and even in FA if we have to. Go Bucs!
April 28th, 2021 at 2:35 pm
The average age of this roster is gonna give George Allen a run for his money, RIP.
April 28th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
@Defense Rules …you got it, spot on
April 28th, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Bucanro
Agree. If we get a LB we need one that can cover. Though White might grow, him and Shaq are not the best in coverage. LVD was the number one in LB coverage in the NFL 2020. He might still be getting 90 tackles when he’s 44, but for now we only got him for two years.
April 28th, 2021 at 2:57 pm
payton turner from houston is really looking good….i wouldnt be surprised if JL trades up to get him….
GO BUCS!!!!
April 28th, 2021 at 3:16 pm
Bucs need that rare LB-OL-QB-KR hybrid at 32.
April 28th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
There are some good LB’s available this year. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Bucs went that route in the 1st or 2nd.
April 28th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
The kid out of KY would be a solid pick up. If we can’t get the DT/OL we want, go for it. My preference by round:
1. DT
2. OL (love that center from AL)
3. QB – Only if Traske is there, or LB
4. DT/OL
5. RB
6. DB
7. In Licht we trust.
April 28th, 2021 at 4:39 pm
Wouldn’t hate adding a guy like JOK if he fell (extremely doubtful) or taking a flyer on guys like Bolton or that Davis guy from Kentucky.
April 28th, 2021 at 4:42 pm
?? “or blindly embracing that ugly word “hope.”??
Hey Joe, We could always “Wide-eyed embrace those beautiful words of “Who Cares? or Why plan?” Amirite? There is never any need for that “ugly word hope” during any sports season or life’s challenges. Why not embrace what quite possibly the only guiding light out of the Den of Depression, that is and was called “hope”.
Yes to a LB in 2-4 rounds of the draft. David is a beast, but as you say father time never loses.
Go Bucs! Let’s all embrace that ugly word “hope” that our Buccaneers have a good draft.
April 28th, 2021 at 4:47 pm
Honestly, at this point, the Bucs are at a rare point where they can take the best player available no matter the position. They could always trade down for future draft picks in the next couple of drafts and still get quality depth while setting themselves up for starting replacement in the future.
April 28th, 2021 at 5:05 pm
Depth at LB is our number one need.
April 28th, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Derrick Barnes in the 4th. Backup and special teamer while learning.
In BA I Trust!
April 28th, 2021 at 9:58 pm
This is why Minter re-signing was so important. A linebacker/edge rusher or DT that can get in the rotation and provide relief and take over when someone retires is exactly what I expect in the first round
April 28th, 2021 at 10:41 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing them go after linebacker depth, but the definite scenario would be trading up to get either an elite top level RG and allow Cappa to be a multi position reserve along the line with Stinnie. Second round get another Safety thats reliable because Winfield was a steal. Trade back into the second round and grab that depth at LB. Use whats left for a solid D lineman for depth to pair with Nacho. Maybe even get two Dlineman. Stay away from a corner we can use the FA after the draft to get a gem.
April 29th, 2021 at 12:01 am
I’m cool with a linebacker as well as anything outside of punter and kicker. We need depth everywhere.