Championship Foundation
July 21st, 2024
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.
So the seemingly official league entity known as NFL Research has weighed in on the Bucs and their NFC South rivals.
The league’s year-round NFL Draft gurus, Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, received evaluations from NFL research and used them on their Move The Sticks podcast to study every NFL team’s “championship foundation.”
Do the Bucs have one?
As Jeremiah explained the exercise, a “championship foundation” consists of 1 quarterback, 3 offensive playmakers, 3 quality offensive linemen, 2 pass rushers (inside or outside), and 3 defensive players that play off the line of scrimmage.
NFL Research, per Jeremiah, ranked players by a color code as follows:
Blue = blue chip player, top 5 or 10 at position
Green = solid, dependable starter
Yellow = “has some type of concern — age, injury or contract.”
Purple = Unproven young player with blue chip potential, primarily rookies
Pink = Unproven young player with ascending potential.
So NFL Research says the Bucs have two blue chip players: Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Tristan Wirfs, plus seven “green” players: Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Rachaad White, Luke Goedeke, Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Jamel Dean.
Chris Godwin and Lavonte David fell into the “yellow” group. And rookie center Graham Barton got the “purple” nod over the pink designation given to second-year edge rusher Yaya Diaby and rookie pass rusher Chris Braswell.
Jeremiah, like Joe, thought Diaby deserved the “green” label after a productive rookie season. Apparently, the NFL computers thought his sample size was too small.
Most interesting to Joe was NFL Research giving the Bucs the best championship foundation in the division via the count of greens and blues.
The Slimy Saints had 5 greens and zero blue chip players. The Falcons scored 7 greens and 1 blue. (Yes, Kirk Cousins was a “yellow” player. Even a freakin’ computer can see he has major question marks). Carolina had 4 greens and no blue chippers.
July 21st, 2024 at 9:19 am
Joe’s
Bullet Point season is nigh !!!
July 21st, 2024 at 9:34 am
There’s zero evidence that Father Time has come anywhere close to catching up with Evans. He had one of his best seasons last year and he picked the brain of Brady on how to take care of his body so he can continue to play at a high level. I believe that’s also true of Lavonte David.
They need to keep playing at a high level at least through 2025. Licht IS building another team that can compete at the highest level but we probably need at least one more year to get us to the promised land.
July 21st, 2024 at 9:37 am
evans should 100% have been listed as a blue chip player
July 21st, 2024 at 9:52 am
If a blue chip player is a top ten player at his position than LVD should absolutely be a blue chip player despite his age. You can make the argument for Mike Evans too
July 21st, 2024 at 10:17 am
Godwin should have been green. He delivers when utilized.
July 21st, 2024 at 10:39 am
Godwin yellow? He had 1000 yards after Canalwater moves him from the slot and called plays where Chris was a decoy or the 4th read. Evans green? Ridiculous. Flush the shiite computer puke.
July 21st, 2024 at 10:42 am
The talent is here for at least 11-6.
Play to score more points and if you’re gonna play soft zone, at least teach when to lock in on a player instead of having no one around you to cover
July 21st, 2024 at 10:49 am
Statistics statistics and more statistics… Rankings rankings and more rankings. How long before Artificial Intelligence replaces coordinators and calls plays? Or has it already?
July 21st, 2024 at 11:12 am
Hey Citrus – if the Bucs were using AI to call plays last year, then we had the Tard of AI.
July 21st, 2024 at 11:26 am
So, let me get this straight. Vita Vea and Mike Evans are not Top 5 to 10 at their position? That’s news to me.
July 21st, 2024 at 11:40 am
When analytics, statistics, play design and play calling become so sophisticated that it all exceeds the ability of the players to intelligently comprehend, react and execute a play in real time, then what ? When the speed of the game gets faster than the players mental ability, then what ? How long before the players have neural net implants ? What next, robots ?
That’s why it bothers me for Bowles to be so connected with Jackie Davidson. The NFL is turning into a life size electric football game like we had when I was a kid.
July 21st, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Wow, 14 players rated Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, Pink. I don’t know whether to be impressed or to feel disrespected since our 2 highly-prized youngsters … Diaby & Braswell … will have to spend the season wearing Pink. Jeremiah could’ve had the decency to at least pick Creamsickle.
July 21st, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Here’s to looking forward to next weekend. We should have some real football football to talk about..
July 21st, 2024 at 2:12 pm
Mike Evans has 10 consecutive 1000 yard seasons. The second most in NFL history (tied with Moss)!!!! That is not a Blue Chip player? Please! That is just dumb.
July 21st, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Total disrespect for Mike Evans!
July 21st, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Evans for sure mike, but probably not VV
July 21st, 2024 at 4:07 pm
So much subjectivity that anyone can use that “system” to fit their pre written narrative. Yawn.
July 21st, 2024 at 6:18 pm
I think those were some really accurate assessments.
Having Two Tackles that highly rated is fantastic, and Good to see Barton is already moving up the ladder.
I think Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans could Easily be Blue chippers, but Mayfield will be after another season.
Still concerned about our pass rush.
But the Bucs have had time to address it, and havent.
Hopefully they know something we dont.
July 22nd, 2024 at 12:21 am
So WR who led the league in touchdowns last season and has had perhaps the most consistently productive career year to year isn’t blue chip, top-10 at his position?
LMAO.
Automatically makes this data garbage.
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:24 am
Garbage is also a French Canadian word in this case, must be pronounced with French flair.
July 22nd, 2024 at 7:59 am
Geez why don’t we invent some more BS to baffle NFL fans…Like we really need some more lame color codes to figure it all out?
Yeah but it’s new and improved!
LOL
Go Bucs!
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Mike Evans is a blue chip guy! Godwin green or blue. NOT yellow.
They have Cousins right, yellow chip: “Concern — age, injury or contract.” So how could they have Godwin at yellow? No rhyme or reason.
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:28 pm
My magic 8ball recommends the “Short Bus” for the analysts producing these silly “analyses”
July 23rd, 2024 at 11:22 am
Analytics has just destroyed sports. I’ve constantly said it. Now all the teams & coaches feel like they should rely on technology to tell them how to coach & all. Instead of coaching “smarter” by kicking the FG & punting the ball when a team should the “analytics” tell me I need to go for it. Did the analytics tell them how many times they were idiots for passing on FGs or not punting the ball?🤦🙄