Might The Bucs Target Jackie Battle?
April 15th, 2012
You’re either a fantasy football junkie (Joe’s idea of fantasy football is a postgame hot tub with Rachel Watson) or a serious NFL fan if you can name the Chiefs leading rusher in 2011.
That would be Jackie Battle.
Undrafted in 2007, Battle landed with the Chiefs in 2007 and finally saw significant action last year. He finished with 149 rushes for 597 yards.
Joe brings up Battle’s name because for Bucs defensive end Steve White has identified Battle as a free agent he likes to give the Bucs some desperately needed depth at running back. White spit out the name on WQYK-AM 1010 this morning.
Joe’s not about to pretend he knows much about Battle. However, Kregg Lumpkin began last season as a 27-year-old with three career carries. Battle, 28, at least has some real experience under his belt for a power rushing team like the Chiefs.
Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik likes big backs, so he’s said before. Battle’s listed at 6-2, 238 pounds and has had success in short yardage.
Definitely a name to keep an eye on.
April 15th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Battle can play. No doubt about it. He’s not the fastest, but he takes what is given to him by the defense. Hits the hole hard and is a determined, blue collar type runner. Not too familiar with him coming out of the backfield as a receiver, but I’d be all for picking him up.
April 15th, 2012 at 11:17 am
Battle is not a good RB. He is a career special teamer that was forced into action due to injury and dismal KC depth. At his best, he was a big body that could run forward and he put up some moderate stats because KC fed him the ball and he could fall forward. Towards the end of the year, he wore down significantly. Battle is like a really poor man’s Blount. I’d rather sign backups with upside. Battle has zero upside.
April 15th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Why wouldn’t the Bucs be looking for more of a contrast to Blount. Seems like a pretty similar style runner. I thought they might be targeting a speed back with receiving ability…Joe before you freak out and remind everyone that Blount averaged 10 yards a reception last season, think about how nice it would be to have a speed back keeping the defense guessing
April 15th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Zzzzzzzzz
April 15th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Running behind Matt Kalil he will be good for 1500 yards. Sign him!
April 15th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
You heard it here. KEEP AN EYE on the Buffalo Bills in Round 1. They’ll be a player for sure, Tannehill in their cross-hairs. Already fixed the D-Line with Williams, Anderson in FA.
Owner Ralph Wilson said several quotes about him “wanting to win right now…going for it” since he’s not getting any younger and wants to see Bills win before he dies. Fitzpatrick is so-so on their scale, will trade up for Tannehill, IMHO.
Heads up..
April 15th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
I’d like to see T-Rich (or Doug Martin I guess), Blount and Larod Stephens-Howling/Mossis Madu/Justin Forsett.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I agree Miguel, I hope Tampa get’s Kalil.
I never heard of Battle, but if Steve White likes him, he must be good.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
@bucbelevr
The Bills have 62 MILLION reasons (24 guaranteed) not to trade up for Tannehill. Fitz will be the guy for the foreseeable future.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
There will be better RBs that go undrafted then Battle…
April 15th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
There’s a reason he went undrafted and didn’t get a legit shot at playing time until he was 28. There’s also a reason he isn’t resigned by the Cheifs or signed by another team. Pass…
April 15th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Saying the Bucs/we need depth is putting the cart before the horse…
First we need a real #1 Running Back !…and his name ain’t LaGarrett
April 15th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Battle is OK, a backup level talent at best. He’s the typical “plodder”, he won’t help out in passing game much, that’s for sure. If you want a complement type guy, Forsett is still dangerous out of the backfield. If the draft doesn’t work out for us, we can get both for $1mil each probably, and at least have professional depth for a change.
April 15th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Justin Forsett, Tomlinson, Cedric Benson, or even bringing back Caddy are all much better free agent options. Battle is a joke and it is kind of sad your first mention about free agent running backs isn’t until weeks into free agency and all you could do was regurgitate someone else’s stupidity.4
Kay, if you don’t like JoeBucsFan.com, please don’t return. You want to hate the host at least do it factually. Here’s one previous post on free agent help in the backfield. There were others as well. https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=63077 –Joe
April 15th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
T Rich
April 15th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
I can’t believe the number of people that say they’ve never heard of Battle but want the Bucs do do _______. Wow, that’s a crazy, a person pleads ignorance but still lets their desires be known.
Jackie Battle was a very productive RB at the University of Houston playing under Kevin Sumlin’s run and shoot (I think Sumlin was there at the time). Where he really proved to be effective, and where people that barely know who he is but yet feel compelled to open their mouths anyway) is at his pro day. Battle checked in at 235 or so and ran his 40’s in the mid 4.4’s and jumped over 40 inches.
By a measurables account, he was a physical freak, on the field, however, he was a productive runner but had very little experience catching the ball and despite being nearly 240 lbs and running in the 4.4 range, did not run with much power, balance, or show much vision. I remembered seeing Battle’s pro day results back then and saw that he attended a postseason all-star game as a FB and was hoping the Bucs would take him in round 7 to develop or at least have as a special teams player.
As time went on, Battle signed, played on special teams, and played decently when given a chance. although his upright running style and lack of vision hasn’t helped him stay healthy. He’s a decent RB, not special by any means, and definitely not any kind of upgrade over Blount in any area.
April 15th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Only ” a ” Joe could come up with something …whack…
April 15th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
The purpose of signing Battle would to have a nice solid replacement for Blount on the roster in case Blount gets injured.
If they did sign Battle, they would still look for a complementary back in the draft.
April 15th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
we don’t need a replacement for Blount…we have Blount…we need an UPGRADE !
April 15th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Joe here
@Kay (see above) If you don’t like JoeBucsFan.com, please don’t return. You want to hate the host at least do it factually. Here’s one previous post on free agent help in the backfield. There were others as well. https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=63077
Joe writes about what he finds interesting and does not try to cater to all readers tastes and interests.
April 15th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Joe here,
@RastaMon — What’s so “whack,” bringing a veteran like Battle in to be a role player? Joe never wrote anyone was a replacement for Blount.
April 15th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@ above….must be the sensititive weekend intern stand in Joe….
1st rule of being a Joe is knowing when to let it flow……
April 15th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Blount is a role player at best, if you think that he is more – you desire tunovers and your QB getting destroyed.
If you want Free to improve – Blount needs to be a part time player.
April 15th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Why do u think okson and rahrah benched blount for the fumbled exchange with free against the Saints?
Blount ran the wrong play – again.
April 15th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
This is a very tough call.
A 28 your old? I thought thats why we let Caddy walk last year? Battle is no Caddy even today. Battle is a basic back.
I would love a veteran like Cedric Benson. He can still pound people.
I still think we missed an opportunity to sign Peyton Hillis. He signed for peanuts. He would have been “clone” insurance for Blount.
Oh well,
Trusting that Lumpkin could replace Caddy was one of Dom’s worst moves as a GM.
We need a couple more backs to bring to mini-camp. Let them work for a contract.
April 15th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I thought the “old saw’…was that you can always find a running back latter in the draft….I never realized it included every draft on the books….Jackie Battle undrafted in 2007……http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d0QND_24DE
April 15th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
I’m not on board with Battle. Would rather the Buccaneers get a RB in the draft, but that’s me.
Almost there!
April 15th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Honestly…if you are going to get Battle, why not get Caddy back if he hasn’t signed somewhere? (I really don’t know offhand if he has or not)
I’m sorry, Joe, but I’m against Battle coming. I don’t want to actually draft a RB, but there are going to be some guys available after the draft to choose from. Bring in an abundance of unsigned guys and have them “battle” for spots.
The kind of Vet help Battle can offer is low level at best. May as well go young. Besides…we added 4 veterans to the team already this year, lets aim a little younger now.
___________
RastaMon Says:
April 15th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Saying the Bucs/we need depth is putting the cart before the horse…
First we need a real #1 Running Back !…and his name ain’t LaGarrett
___________
I disagree. As ofter as it is said, I will disagree.
I will say this though…if Blount does not have a much better year this year, I might bend a little on him. I just want to see him play with the benefit of an off season of coaching before we give up on him.
Besides…in three years, Richardson will be a bust (ohhhhhh, yes I diiiiid!) 😉
April 15th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
If an aged vet is indded needed, I say Cadillac Williams.
He has not been signed yet, he has caught the ball here (over 500 yards his last year here) and it just doesn’t feel right that he played elsewhere last year. I believe Caddy was the heart of this team.
.
.
Tim Hightower fumbles waaaaay too much.
Cedric Benson fumbles 7 times in 2 years, but only two of them were last year. The problem is his off the field issues…which we DO NOT want.
LT is available at age 32…it would be a gamble with him since he is now injury prone. He had a down year and he WOULD come cheap…but no.
Thomas Jones…a player I NEVER thought we should have let go, is 33 and well past his prime now.
James McCluskey is only 24, but he has zero stats. I understand he had an injury history in college. He’s a FB though.
And that’s it on this years FAs. The rest are even worse options.
At least until after the draft.
April 15th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Sure. Battle will will work!
And please . No one say anything about drafting a LT, as it’s such a dumb idea- other teams fans will redicule us for being stupid.
We have an all pro Ledt tackle. He’s talented and young. Most rankings consider him the most talented Player on the team.
If someone was stupid enought to draft a left tackle- ges gonna refuse to report, and demand a trade. He won’t “switch to right tackle”, as some morons suggest. Lt is an elite, high dollar position. 31 teams would want Penn. he isn’t going to play a position that pays less, and is a less valunlble position. To think he would shows a total lack of football knowledge. Or basic intelligence.
So Penn leaves.
Now, we have a young LT. It will take him 2-3 years to learn how to play at the NFL. We just set a very good line back two years or more.
Then, if we are lucky, in 4 years or so, he will play at a Pro bowl level.
Like Penn does . Right now.
Alot of you really don’t understand even the basics of football- do you?
April 16th, 2012 at 2:31 am
Lumpkin is a bad name in this fan’s book. Please don’t bring it up again…especially with such loose context