Bucs Don’t Need A Shutdown Corner
March 4th, 2011
Sometimes Joe is torn when he is looking for a laugh. Should Joe watch Sam Kinison videos on YouTube or read the screeds about how Bucs fans want rock star general manager Mark Dominik to back up a Brinks truck to land cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha?
Joe’s been over this before, but in short, that would be like Merlot Joe Maddon coercing the Rays to trade a starting pitcher for third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
The Bucs have a deep secondary with solid players. Yet without a pass rush of any significance last season, the Bucs came a hair away from the playoffs. This fact is not lost on sports TV addict Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times, who believes a defensive end is more important than a cornerback, so he wrote in a recent chat.
Comment From OleOle:
Don’t you agree that the Bucs need a shutdown corner instead of a defensive lineman in the 1st round?Tom Jones
I think the Bucs still need to improve their pass rush. For example, let’s look at the Steelers. The Steelers don’t have a great corner, but have defended the pass pretty well in recent years because they’ve had such a good pash rush. The better your pass rush, the better your corners look. Talib is a big-time corner. Obviously, in a perfect world, you have great corners and a great pass rush. I don’t think the Bucs can go wrong either way here, but if it were me, I’d go with a pass rusher.
Bingo! A solid pass rush makes even an average defensive back look strong and Joe will go so far as to suggest the Bucs have an above-average secondary if not a strong secondary.
Get some heat off the pass rush, something the Bucs woefully missed last season, and all of a sudden your defense looks dominant.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:12 am
I agree, I just don’t think it will play out that way. Of course they could surprise us and take DEs in the first and second round like they did with DTs last year. I would not be upset if they did.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:29 am
I believe the Bucs need BPA available outside of Qb, LT, WR, and DT in the 1st round. Realistically, out of the 9 DEs with 1st rd grades, you would figure three or more will be marginal or busts. In the end, I think Dominik will trade up to get the DE he wants, but if the Bucs stand pat at #20, BPA is the only option.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:31 am
just think it!!, we got the 3rd best secondary in conference with non existing pass rush!!!! seriously all that BS about another corner is sick, is like being a 7th rounder forbid biggers to be a good one CB for us in the long haul!!!!!! and what about myron lewis, he finished strong!!! and by the way, if we pick a CB, dominick know what to do with the 7th rounder pick.
now, some guys (vacation man for example) talks about a safety, look, we have cody grimm, sean jones (still on contract) corey lynch and larry asante, no big names but a lot of talent there, safety can be delayed for one season.
WE NEED LBs AND DEs, NO MORE!!!!
March 4th, 2011 at 11:36 am
While I don’t think the Bucs need a shutdown corner, I do know several which are needed in the City of Tampa!
March 4th, 2011 at 11:37 am
IF Bowers, Quinn, Kerrigan, Watt, Houston, and Smith are all gone id love to see Jimmy Smith be out pick.
Dude is a lockdown press corner perfect for the Tampa 2.1
He doesn’t have Aqib’s ball skillzzz, but certainly better man coverage.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Why would we need another corner when we have studs like biggers, lewis and elbert mack? Lol. I might agree if ronde wasnt 49 years old. Biggers is below average, lewis looked lost ( but was a rook) mack plays like an elbert.
There is no doubting that front 7 is the priority but another starting corner opposite talib is a need.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:43 am
W/o a pass rush, even a ‘shut down corner’ will eventually get exposed. I hope we take 2 defensive ends this draft, to compliment our 2 defensive tackles. Tampa is so close to being a playoff team. I hope we clean up in this draft, as we have in others. The defensive end from Ohio State looks good to me, and just might be available when we pick at number 20 IF we don’t move up, or even down.
March 4th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
We absolutely need to draft a corner…next year.
After Ronde retires and we know what we really have with Lewis and Biggers. Until then, we have much bigger needs.
March 4th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Apple Roof: If we take “the defensive end from Ohio State” (Cameron Hayward) that would be an astronomical waste of value @ the 20th pick. Hes projected to be an extremely late 1st, early 2nd.
We can do much better with the 20th pick. possibly make a deal with the Pats or Steelers who would be looking to nab Pouncey before someone else gobbles him up. The Pats have a TON of ammo to get whoever they see fit.
March 4th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
@ JOE, What about myron? I dont know much about him, but do you think he may gel into that role. If tampa was sort of high on him last year why wouldnt they let him try and pan out instead of looking for a corner every year. I know the more the merrier , but at one point you need to back your investments so to speak. Isnt that what the draft is all about?
March 4th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
@ALDO,.. AGREED 100%%%%%
March 4th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
buc40:
To Joe’s knowledge the Bucs are content if not happy with the defensive backs on the roster, sans Tanard Jackson.
March 4th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
If jackson was to come back strong and ready to roll then it would be like getting a top corner in this years draft, with experience i may add 😉
March 4th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
buc40:
Don’t expect anything from Jackson. He is one of the most unreliable players Joe can remember. Bucs are better off letting him go. They should turn the page on him.
March 4th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Sadly Joe is right, Jackson is Aaron Sears 2.0 a promising young player lost in their prime due to issues off the field. Yet another stud that wont ever amount to anything due to his selfishness wanting to abuse drugs…
March 4th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Remember, next time Jackson is popped, that’s it, good-bye. Career over.
He’s already been popped three times, resulting in two suspensions. No need to put any hope or stock in the guy again.
He’d be nothing more than a nickel back until the end of the season if Dominik is smart when he gets his walking papers.
March 4th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
“I don’t know if you’d call it a wild card [pick], but I do know the cornerback position would be a thought if you look down the road,” said Davis last weekend. “I know Ronde Barber is coming back for another year, but it wouldn’t hurt them at all and I think they’ll probably take a good look to see if there’s any value out there for them to be able to bring in another guy.”
“Now, they had guys that played well for them last year,” said Davis. “You look at young Mr. Biggers, who jumped in and played so well for them. But at the same time, you can never have enough defensive backs in this league. Everyone has to try to guard the Green Bay Packers and that style of offense now with four and five wide receivers. It’s a copycat league; you’d better have your defensive backs ready.” – Charles Davis of your beloved NFL Network Joe
I’m not saying I think the Bucs need to draft a CB in round one, but please stop acting like the position is set for the next 10 years because its not
March 4th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
All I know is that I don’t want to see Elbert Mack on the field. With a class full of “pass rushers” (outside linebackers included), I’d prefer to take advantage of the best player available in each round as long as it fills a hole. Those holes IMO (in no particular order) are Nickel, Pass Rushers (note the plural), SS, TE and speed guys on offense (I like Jeff Maehl). If we don’t re-up with Ruud then add MLB.
March 4th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Totally agree with Joe On Tanard- waste of talent- get him outta here.
Totally disagree On Cornerbacks! Who are these great CBs you have so much faith in? Aqib- yeah he’s great, always a little concerned about him because he is very unstable. The Great Ronde Barber- I love the guy, HOF. Also 37 and due for a steep drop off. I hope not- cause I love the guy- but it’s past due. Biggers? Potential for a 7 th rounder- still a lot to prove. Lewis- I want him to be great- hasn’t played enough to show yet. Who else ya got. Mack is a burn victim – frequently!! Who else? Saints and Falcons play 4 reciever sets. We are already thin now- one injury, or Barber losing a step, then you got Talib, Mack, Lewis, and Biggers. Don’t know past that.
Don’t let that 3rd in conference fool ya, some of that was cause we were so easy to run on, and some is because we played a 3-3- 5 defense.
We should get another vet CB- it’s crazy not to
March 4th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
I’d like to see Tanard again, he is an awesome safety. If Patrick Peterson was on the board when the Bucs pick, I’d take him no matter what. He’ll be gone, but I think the Bucs could snag Justin Houston or Aldon Smith and that is just fine with me. I don’t see Dom taking a chance on Adrian Clayborne. He doesn’t fit the mold.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Could not agree more.
They have Talib and Barber and Biggers and Lewis. Mack is a decent 5th even though people rag on him.
Jones, Grimm, Lynch, Asante (who they seem high on) appear to be capable safeties.
I expect to see another Safety added to the mix in rounds 5-6 but do not expect any changes at CB.
DE, LB, DE, LB
That is what they need to draft.