SEC Guard In Second Round
April 3rd, 2024
Texas A&M G Layden Robinson.
One of Joe’s core football beliefs is that you get the ball in the hands of your playmakers in key moments and let them take over. Let them produce.
Joe has never seen a guard or a center lead an offense down the field late in the game nor make a play with the ball in crunch time. Therefore, Joe doesn’t believe in taking a guard (or a center) in the first round.
The first round is for impact players, skill position players, playmakers.
That doesn’t mean Joe wouldn’t draft a guard on the second day of the draft. And if the Bucs truly are looking to upgrade a guard, why not grab an SEC guard used to facing NFL-sized players?
So Joe is looking at durable Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson. The 6-4, 320-pound monster has started 31 games for the Aggies in the past three seasons.
Joe reads about Robinson and sees the words “tough,” “physical,” “power” and “nasty” — the final word is music to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s ears for an offensive lineman.
Here is Robinson’s breakdown from the Czar of the Playbook,” Emory Hunt of CBS in his 2024 Football Gameplan Draft Guide.
Strengths:
– Good functional strength and knee bend helps him get the most out of his pass pro reps. He’s consistently able to anchor down and absorb a bull rush.
– Shows strong hands once engaged with a defender, which helps him sustain the block. In the run game when he’s firing off on a down block, he’s able to latch on and expedite the vacating of spaceAreas of Improvement:
– Isn’t as consistent when asked to get out on long pulling plays. Either isn’t cleanly connecting with the target, or misses the target all together.
– Could stand to get stronger. There are times where he can get a bit overwhelmed as a blocker, especially in the run game
Licht has had very good success with offensive linemen selected on the second day of the draft. Perhaps Robinson will continue that streak?
Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson has always played better than his PFF grades would lead you to believe. Great athlete and with raw power. Just needs some refinement. I would love to see him take some snaps at center at the senior bowl (CC: @JimNagy_SB ) https://t.co/iI9f1qg3L7 pic.twitter.com/Ykcbl2JHGq
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) December 5, 2023
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:11 am
joe bust out a round 1 mock draft…
ben stiller said “do it, do it”
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:12 am
Drafting a G over C will not fix the Oline problem. And ya can’t get the ball to your playmakers as effectively if the interior of your Oline can’t run or pass block. Anyway if we draft a G we will still need a C, but if we draft a C over G we can get by and count on competition for the G spot to be sufficient
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:23 am
If JPJ or Barton is available, and the Bucs have them rated highly like the draft gurus, you take them. If they’re gone, then your trade down to the top half of round 2 and draft IOL or Edge.
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:23 am
Too bad he comes from a shabby overrated program. Texas A&M does not belong in the SEC.
They suck.
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:23 am
Hard to get the ball to the “playmakers” when the QB is running for his life. No ground game leaves QB playing headless chicken. The game is won in the trenches.
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:28 am
it seems to be logical to draft a center…
and if he’s so good, hainsey can back him up – or bounce over to LG…
and you have opeta, bredeson and others to fight it out for the LG spot as well…
personally i think they start with hainsey at LG next to his buddy wirfs if such is the case…
and if he gets unseated by bredeson or opeta that’s on him…
but if mgmt is of the mindset that they can score a solid C in like the 3rd round, that changes things…
how?…………i have no f’in idea……………..ha…………..lol
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it’ll be very interesting to see how the right side of the line develops this year…both mauch and goedeke are on to their 2nd year as penciled in dudes…they could make a big leap together
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:29 am
If Barton or JPJ is available at 26 take one, center and edge is the biggest needs however Verse,Tucker,Latu,and Robinson will all be picked by the time Tampa picks most likely. Can get a solid edge in the second like Robinson or Braden Trice
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:29 am
If baker had the mobility of Brady there would have been a whole lot of more sacks. If your QB can’t get the ball off all those skill positions are just shiney toys on a shelf.
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:31 am
yes please. I would be happy if they spent their first 4 picks on OL,Edge, LB.
They probably should go that deep if they really think they have the other tools to make a run
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:32 am
i was kidding around with the no idea crap…
say we go center from small school in the 3rd, instead of big time center in the 1st (a licht hidden gem type)…
then hainsey stays put, while the drafted center is groomed for the spot as the season wears on, or the following season – depending on his strides
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:36 am
Peyton Wilson would be a good get, he could play edge,DE and obviously Linebacker. A Swiss Army knife for Todd Bowles and we know he loves guys like that
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:47 am
Joe, you keep saying you’ve never seen a center or guard lead a team down the field in crunch time. While I agree with your sentiment regarding taking a game changer in the 1st and 2nd, let’s not forget Larry Allen in 1999 on the final drive vs. the Colts. He took that game over. But unfortunately, I don’t believe there is a Larry Allen in this years draft and if there was, he would not last until pick 26.
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:52 am
JPJ or Barton will be the pick if available. Do not be surprised if Bucs go CB if neither of the above are there , Cooper Dejean or McKinstry. Darius Robinson will be hard to not trade up and get at top part of 2nd Rd.
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:54 am
I thought we only drafted tackles for all positions on the O line
April 3rd, 2024 at 9:59 am
Joe, I am an offensive line coach, and I agree with you – unless you’re talking left tackle. Anyway, there are at least 8 better rated Interior linemen available before the Texas A & M kid. Look at Mason McCormick out of South Dakota State, not to mention Frazier, Beebe, Puni, Haynes, Mahogany, Adams, Van Pran, Bortoloni, Zinter.
We can, and will find at least one decent starter in this draft. They will have a similar trajectory to Mauch, unless they are in the top 75 drafted – then they may be better.
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:00 am
I would be fine with drafting defensive players round 1-2 then getting both a G and C in round 3
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:02 am
Joe, your core football belief is wrong. Based on what you say, a team shouldn’t draft OLine or anyone on Defense in the first round because they aren’t playmaker who you put the ball in their hands.
Edge (Turner, Verse or Latu) or C (JPJ or Barton) in the 1st rd. If all are gone, trade back. Then go for the same with Isaac, Braswell or Kneeland at Edge and Frazier or Van Pran at Center.
Lots of good G, WR or ILB availabkw in the 3rd followed by Power RB in the 4th.
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:10 am
Christian Haynes from UCONN is better. Go Huskies! Hope we take him. He’s a dominant guard
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:14 am
Gotta disagree with you, Joe. My opinion is that it is harder to pick a Edge, QB and RB than it is to pick a quality OL. A 50-50 chance of a hit on those guys vs. a 75-25 for a center/guard. I’d take the higher percentage choice. I think the Bucs are trying to spoof their intentions. If JPJ is there he’s the pick.
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:18 am
My thinking, I could be wrong, but the Bucs have the possibility of finding a starting caliber Guard in the 3rd Round.
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:31 am
Joe doesn’t believe in taking a guard (or a center) in the first round.
I’d take a G or C over Michael Penix
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:32 am
I’m glad Jason is the GM. He’s done very well on OL and during the SB run, Bucs OL was the best. Losing Marpet really hurt, losing Jensen was a death blow and the replacements to Cappa have made Cappa look like an all-pro.
Everyone but Wirfs should be feeling the heat of competition and pressure to significantly improve their game, although that’s not Todd’s style.
But this group of matadors must improve. Period.
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:47 am
“There are times where he can get a bit overwhelmed as a blocker, especially in the run game.” – Hunt
Isn’t this why we are even considering an OG as an early rd pick?
April 3rd, 2024 at 10:57 am
This is a day 3 guy. He might go in round 4 but more likely early round 5. DO NOT reach for him in the 2nd round. Like others said there are at least 6-8 better guards. He will get picked as a developmental guy on a zone-blocking team.
He is 302 lbs not 320.
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:00 am
Going off of his track record – we’re most likely going OL in R2 or R3 if we prioritize getting an average or above average starter. R1 most likely edge/CB/WR depending on who is available.
If we go R1 then I’m trusting in Licht that he thinks the guy is an all pro anchor.
R1 – Tristan Wirfs
R2 – Donavon Smith, Ali Marpet, Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch
R3 – Robert Hainsey, Alex Cappa
R4 -NA
R5 – Kadeem Edwards, Caleb Benecoch
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:07 am
Obviously it’s a highlight reel but that video looked pretty impressive.
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:07 am
The decline of the Bills proceeds. No more Diggs 4 them
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:08 am
Did I hear “durable?”
Oh boy…………
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:08 am
And big ongrats to Wirfs .. his baby was born on the first
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:09 am
Emory Hunt’s draft rankings are bizarre
April 3rd, 2024 at 11:57 am
Good news is we have a new staff of coaches that just came from the college ranks. This might be the best intel we’ve ever got for a draft. Our receivers coach has actually coached some of the top receivers in this years draft. No team can know these receivers better, we got their position coach! Coen can tell you about the defenders from Bama coming out, I can assure you of that. The O line coaches are from college, they know who the good players are. This could be an epic draft!
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:47 pm
2nd round? Guy is a fourth round grade and he weights 305 pounds. Another post of Joe not knowing what he is talking about.
April 3rd, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Well Joe, you should have watched the San Antonio game last Saturday. They scored a TD pass to the center on a trick play. It was awesome!
April 3rd, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Can’t see an offensive pick before R3. Only offensive starter lost in FA was Stinnie and Bredeson filled that gap. Defense you lost OLB, ILB, S, CB and picked up a S and CB on free agency.
April 3rd, 2024 at 3:55 pm
Taking him in the second round would be a major overdraft!! He is a late round draft pick who was terrible at both the Combine and the Senior Bowl. He would not be an improvement over anyone on our roster. Do your homework Joe.
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:19 pm
Joe…wtf ..if you draft him on day 2 someone is going to make you pee in a bottle
A career backup special trainer most likely
He’s a late round dart throw or after draft fa
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:23 pm
5th-6th round grade
April 3rd, 2024 at 4:25 pm
in the Areas of Improvement, Hunt says, “There are times where he can get a bit overwhelmed as a blocker, especially in the run game”
Not exactly what we’re looking for!
April 3rd, 2024 at 5:11 pm
This article displays the writer’s ignorance of football.
April 3rd, 2024 at 5:36 pm
Yesterday we wanted to draft in the first round a 24 year old QB and sit him 2 or 3 years…I suggest going back to crying for a de at least that doesn’t sound insane
April 3rd, 2024 at 5:37 pm
Tomorrow he will want to trade our 1st to kc for rashee rice
April 4th, 2024 at 3:23 am
YO!?
April 4th, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Remember Davin Joseph was a first round pick from Oklahoma in 2006 as a guard and was effective until injured.