Morris Claiborne Too Irresistible To Pass
April 24th, 2012
Yes, there are only two-and-a-half scant days until the draft. Joe’s already getting complaints readers are tired of his pimping for stud LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and dismissing drafting a position that is not needed with the Bucs and is a bad value pick at No. 5, a running back (specifically, Trent Richardson).
Well, Joe’s not going to start lying and being dishonest both to himself and to readers and start cheerleading for what Joe perceives as a bad pick just to pacify some people, huh-uh.
As eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune typed, the holes in the Bucs secondary are so massive, and Claiborne is so talented, that if Claiborne is stil on the board when the Bucs draft with the fifth pick Thursday night, Claiborne will simply be too irresistible for Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to look past.
Playing in the NFC South, Tampa Bay cornerbacks are required to shadow game-breaking receivers such as Carolina’s Steve Smith, New Orleans’ Marques Colston and Atlanta’s Roddy White and Julio Jones.
“Defensive coordinators covet that one outstanding corner,” former Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell said. “The way the game is played today, the value of cornerbacks can’t be overstated.”
If the Bucs didn’t have massive holes in the secondary while facing Matty Ice, Drew Brees and Cam Newton twice a year, if the Bucs didn’t have such dire needs of upgrades to linebacker (not to mention filling the void left by Geno Hayes), and if the Bucs didn’t already have a proven running back, then maybe, maybe Joe would think about drafting Richardson at No. 5.
Problem is, all three premises Joe laid out, match the Bucs’ needs/strengths.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:12 am
I think at this point if you strip out all the draft fluff and teams rumor positioning, the Bucs will end up with Richardson, Claiborne or Kuechly – three very good players all filling a need.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:13 am
@Joe
agreed Mr President
Claiborne!!!
April 24th, 2012 at 8:18 am
Joe I don’t think he will be there at 5 truly think kalil is the pick. And at that point we will trade down. Sadly that’s the way I see it. But in 2 more days we shall all see.
Luck
Griffin
Claiborne (unless someone trades them picks )
Richardson
Us Count on this order
April 24th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Here’s hoping that each of you get the draft pick of your choice (which can’t happen but I thought it was a nice thing to say)! No further comment from me until after 9:00pm Thursday night. Until then, good looking out! Go Bucs!
April 24th, 2012 at 8:23 am
Yes, there is only two-and-a-half scant days until the draft. Joe’s already getting complains readers are tired of his pimping for stud LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and dismissing drafting a position that is not needed with the Bucs and is a bad value pick at No. 5, a running back (specifically, Trent Richardson).
=======================================
really? So in your mind Blount is a do it all type back who never gets injured?… BOGUS statement only said to get your own agenda across… Fact is Richardson is just as good a pick as Claibourne if not better…. I cant wait for this draft to get over with if for nothing else we dont have to listen to you spew garbage like this on these blogs as if they are facts lol
April 24th, 2012 at 8:24 am
Mayock’s position-by-position rankings With the 2012 NFL Draft nearly here, Mike Mayock has unveiled his top 100 prospect rankings.
1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
4. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
5. Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California
6. Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
7. Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
8. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
9. Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
10. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
April 24th, 2012 at 8:28 am
What a minute I thought we were talented and it was all coaching.
Our RB is decidedly unproven at many aspects of the game and a head case.
The five pick has nothing to do with linebackers unless we take one. We will have that problem if we take mo or TR.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:29 am
All that article does is make it sound like Claiborn will most likely go to the Vikings. They have worse db’s than us and better qb’s in their division.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:31 am
calvin johnson twice a year with those crappy db’s… the vikes take claiborn.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:36 am
why not take Stephon Gilmore? I know it ‘feels’ like a reach but if he’s the second best (the best according to some guy by the name of Greg Cosell) and it’s a big position of need… not sure I wouldn’t pull the trigger on him over Kalil? Sure if a trade is there to move down a couple of spots we take it but it probably won’t be so I’d be ok with Gilmore in that scenario as well… bottom line, Kuechly, Gilmore, Kalil, we should be getting an impact player and that’s all that matters.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Doesn’t matter if you have the best corners in the league. If the Bucs can’t rush the passer, having Claiborne doesn’t do any good.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:45 am
As much as Mark Dominick doesn’t like to tip his hand, he has done so twice in the last 2 drafts. 2DT’s, 2 DE’s, 1 & 2 picks. This year will be the same as he remains true to form. he will pick Mo Claiborne in Round 1 and Janoris Jenkins in round 2. He will then shift his attention to LB in the 3’rd round.
The thinking is that with a healthy D line ready to perform, and sewing up their secondary with 2 top CB’s from the draft, they should be able to coach up the LB’s and give them enough support to have a decent defense.
Next year Dom wil draft 2 LB’s in rounds 1 & 2, staying true to form.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:49 am
If we take Kuechly he should play WLB.
And for those who think we will draft Janoris Jenkins and his 4 kids save me some of what your smoking.
April 24th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Joe, can you go into detail on what your reaction will be if we draft Richardson? 🙂
April 24th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Keep preaching it Joe! Claiborne is the best pick for the Bucs! Blount can be a beast. He has shown it’s possible. With the right coaching the sky is the limit! Forget all the haters. I would never draft a RB this high in the draft! What round was LeSean McCoy drafted in?
April 24th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Here are MY rankings:
1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California
4. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
5. Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
6. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
7. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
8. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
9. Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
10. Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
.
I think that will be less of a problem than in recent years. I don’t think it will be stellar (yet), but much improved.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:03 am
It is gonna be hard for Dominik to screw this one up…Kuechlyeminds me of a slightly taller and slightly faster Ruud, who tackles 5 to 7 yds down field.
One player isn’t making our breaking this season, so if w we take Kahlil great! Richardson would make this season more exiting but i’m thinking more about 2013.
Claiborne would be great for the future, but we still need a RB D.Martin would be nice!
We need somebody on D who scares people who isn’t afraid to skip through someone elses warm ups. If not this year soon I hope!
April 24th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Really though, I don’t think RGIII should even be on the top 10 list, but he’s going with the second pick, so I had no choice.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:07 am
“Somebody said to me that’s the only reason we hired him,” Schiano said. “I said, ‘Yeah, we would do that; we would jeopardize the entire football team for that.’ No.”
April 24th, 2012 at 9:08 am
On the topic of RB, I’m sorry but I’m with Joe on this one. I see less of a need there than other positions.
Yes…we need depth. But we can actually afford a couple mid-range guys for a year with Blount there, and go after RB next year.
I think CB and LB should take priority this year…and maybe a DT for depth if he is BPA at a certain pick.
I don’t see a valid reason to go offense at all in this draft unless it is Kalil or a third stringer QB in the seventh (which I wouldn’t even do that since there will be plenty of undrafted QBs).
April 24th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Blount is further from a “complete” RB, then Eric Wright is from a “complete” CB.
RB need > CB need
Richardson is available at 5, then he is the pick.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Claiborne and Richardson will not be there at number 5, so the choice will be easy. If Claiborne is picked and Richardson is still on the board at number 5, would Joe still have a massive heart attack if the Bucs drafted Richardson? I would be happy with either one.
@ buCncRaZy You are so right. No more grab a leg and drag the guy down type tacklers. We need linebackers that will make receivers look around while trying to catch the ball.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:22 am
@ Joe What are your thoughts on the Bucs trading for Asante Samuel for a forth rounder and taking Trent? A real possibility that u never mention!!!! Samuel was play for play the second best corner in the league behind Revis last year!
April 24th, 2012 at 9:31 am
@King lewis
We don’t have a 4th rounder broski.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:31 am
I think the Bucs will take Kuechly at 5 because in the areas of LB, CB and HB there are very good choices at CB and HB that will be there in the 2nd and 3rd round but there will not be another 3 down MLB like Kuechly.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:37 am
We can’t afford Samuel
April 24th, 2012 at 9:46 am
I am really hoping Butch Davis and Schiano have a strong say in whom we draft.
Rockstar made good picks last season, but I am amped to see Butch Davis’ magic. That dude knows player personnel.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Atlanta is after Samuel…they might be negotiating now.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:52 am
Whew….it goes on and on.
How’s this?
IF Richardson and Claiborne are not there, is Luke Kuechly really
a “reach?” Or Barron? Or Blackmon? Certainly not Kalil.
We will be getting a top, an elite, players in two days and yet even though
Dominik, Schiano and their staffs will have spent a ton of hours researching
the players and the possible scenarios 5 will bring, even though based on all this work we will get an elite player who will immediately have an impact on this team, there will be “experts” here insisting they know better and we got screwed.
THAT is a “prediction” I can make without doubt or hesitation.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:59 am
If we really went for need then Kuechly might be the man.
No guarantee at all we will get an elite player, everyone is preparing for draft. Out of the top five chances are real good for two busts.
Also not a given they will have immediate impact – look at McCoy.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Yeah I mean look at all of the great CBs currently in the NFC South. There is….uh… and…uh..
The Anti-Richardson propaganda on this site got old weeks ago.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:09 am
@Sensible Buc the Broncos offered a fifth yesterday I say give up a 3rd for a top 10 corner and lets go get us some lbs
April 24th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Kuechly has won every defensive award. Dude is a plug and play stud who will anchor our middle for a decade.He is NOTHING like Ruud except white.Why do u tbink we didnt get a lb in fa.I think he has been the guy all along!Definite a schiano type player.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:36 am
I’m Glad Joe’s still rational when all your fantasy types aren’t.
All the analysis in the world values the CB over the RB but here you are, begging for a magic player on the offense when we need an important cog on the defense more.
You’d love to be eaten up by Steve Smith, as long as you got your shiny little toy… while losing every game to the passing attack.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:37 am
@Northend
You may very well be correct. It would not, or should not be a shock.
We have absolutely no idea who it will be,
I just honestly believe we will get a very good player and can’t wait to see who it is.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:46 am
I believe all the talk the Vikings are doing about Claiborne being their pick is nothing but a huge smokescreen. Everyone in the NFL knows that you can’t win in the NFL without a LT. If they don’t pick one high, they most likely won’t get one. Claiborne won’t help the team one bit if the QB is getting pounded in to the ground every other play. They are doing everything they can so they can move back a few spots, pick up extra picks and then draft Kalil. That being said
Pick 3- Kalil
Pick 4- Richardson
Pick 5- Claiborne
April 24th, 2012 at 10:48 am
My mock is up on my website. I suck at it past the first round, but I like the names at least!
Mine is a lot different from pretty much everyone else. CLICK MY NAME to go to my website.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Northend …
I like Kuechly, but dont be fooled by him. Kuechly does do some tackling downfield and is not really a downhill LB. He can be washed out of a play by lineman. He is not much of a striker. He absolutely has some tendencies Barret Ruud had … that said ..
He would be a perfect WLB, has it from the neck up and would remind some of Brooks with Instincts if placed at WLB imo.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:53 am
@Northend
I would have to fully agree. I don’t see how anyone can comepare Kuechly to Barett Ruud honestly. The only thing i can even think of the reason is because they are both white, and how stupid is that. Ruud was the 5th linebacker taken in the draft in 2005, Kuechly is a surefire top 15 pick and first line backer off the board this year. Ruud was nowhere near the prospect that Kuechly is.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Lion
I really cannot stand it when race is brought into a conversation like this. Pretty much no one here but you is thinking in those terms.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:59 am
@Pete Dutcher
Not bad. I Would love to see HIghtower fall to us in the 2nd round 🙂 But I don’t see him slipping out of the 1st round, but if he did I would be very happy to have him fall in our lap.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:00 am
@ PeteDutcher
Are you kidding me, that is not my opinion. I like Keuchly. Did you even understand what I said? My goodness.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:05 am
I simply meant the race comment. Nothing personal intended.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:09 am
I know what you meant. I want to know what was so wrong about what I said. So me saying the only thing Barett Ruud and Luke Keuchly have in common is that they are both white and you diss on me for saying that. How is that bringing race into anything? There is nothing wrong with what I said dude.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:13 am
People compare the two because of what they perceive as the style of play…color of skin had nothing to do with it. Let’s just agree to disagree and call a truce on the issue, shall we? Friends? 😉
April 24th, 2012 at 11:20 am
I don’t buy that one bit. Kuechly is in a different stratosphere than Barett Ruud was coming out of college.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Who did Kuechly actually play against? What was the level of competition? Any top O lines or running backs? Powerhouse offenses? Just curious? Were any of the teams they faced top 20 teams at the end of the season? I guess he went up against the Vag Tch RB and the Notre Dame WR, but is that it. Donta Hightower didn’t have a single easy game. Strength of Schedule has some meaning, don’t cha think?
Look at the level of competition Bama and LSU faced. If Kuechly played that way in the SEC, I’d be more enamored by the guy, but ACC, really. I may be missing something here, but trying to dig a little deeper than glitz and glamour. Thinking back to Dexter Jackson and how he lit up the college field by not playing anybody.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Regardless of where they are picked … Barret Ruud does have some similarities to Kuechly … Here from sideline scouting
Negatives — Not a natural man-coverage backer, is not especially quick or agile with his back to the quarterback and isn’t asked to cover a tight end or running back very often… Can get a little high at times when taking on blocks or forming up at the line of scrimmage, may have some difficulty taking down larger backs at the next level until he learns to play a little lower… On film, shows decent speed but is not a burner by any means, makes up for lack of elite straight line speed by always being in position… Not a natural pass rusher, rarely blitzes and lacks elite explosiveness when asked to rush the quarterback from the edge… Tackling numbers are out of this world but makes too many tackles after the runner has already picked up a good chunk of yardage… Isn’t a downhill linebacker that will crash gaps and make plays at the line, his tackling numbers pile up by the amount of tackles he makes downfield… Kuechly is being touted by most as a first rounder because of his tackling numbers and incredible instincts but he doesn’t appear to be anything more than an average athlete with below average strength on film.
Read more: http://www.sidelinescouting.com/rankings/2012/ilb/luke-kuechly/#ixzz1syJ7Djy9
April 24th, 2012 at 11:25 am
Last question about Kuechly.
What happens to him when Carl Nicks is steaming at him in full stride? His best bet will be to run and hide, or he’ll become airborne, real quick. He has never seen anything close to what a player like Nicks can do.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:32 am
I like Keuchly but he is not worthy of a top 5 pick, no way in hell. Regardless of his so called inflated stats, he will make a far better LB in the NFL than Barett Ruud ever did. It all depends on what scheme he will be playing in really. We can’t compare him to Barett Ruud as an NFL career yet, but from a college stand point he by far faster and stronger than Ruud was coming out of college.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:33 am
@BigMac
I think that goes for any linebacker who sees a steaming Carl Nicks lol. That dude is a beast.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:34 am
I think Kuechly would be an awesome WIll backer .. Especially if zone drops is his specialty and sound tackling … Not quite as many guards to shed at WLB.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:37 am
At least Barrett Ruud faced some real competition playing for Nebraska.
I mean, Boston College??? Really???
@ Lion, I don’t think most fans realize how important the signing of Carl Nicks was. I don’t care what Leslie Frazier says, Carl Nicks is a serious Impact Player. Kalil may very well be too, for many years, as some have said.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:46 am
My God, another Claiborne article . . .
The horror.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@bigmacattack. I like your thinking. however Jenkins will not be available in the 2nd round. New England and the Giants would never let him slide. So if we consider Wright a good to average corner, we trade down in the first and pick up Jenkins and package our trade currency with our current 2nd and grab Mark Barron. Listening to Jenkins coach that Jenkins was clean and was doing community service work and likening it, I am not concerned about his past at Florida.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:48 am
You can’t judge a player based solely on what school he went to. There are tons of very good players in the NFL who played for smaller programs in College. Matt Ryan played for Boston College and was drafted 3rd overall, he seems to be doing just fine to me.
I totally agree on the Nicks signing, he was a bigger prize than Jackson was.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:55 am
Jenkins would be lucky to be drafted in the second round. Mike Willaims was a projected first round pick before his very minor problems he had in college compared to Jenkins, and he fell to the 4th round. Also it is not just his past at Florida, he had a drug problem at Northern Alabama as well. He has 4 kids with 3 different women, yeah that’s the kind of guy every team is dying to have. The guy has talent no doubt, but come on his baggage is about as bad as it get’s.
April 24th, 2012 at 11:57 am
4 kids, 3 women @ the age of 22 might is what I meant to say.
April 24th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
I would love to see the Bucs grab Barron and Jenkins. I would almost rather see them grab the top safety as opposed to the top CB. Well, 2 more days and we’ll see how it starts.
Yeah, I was taking some shots at the ACC and BC. I have never been a Matty Ice fan and still don’t think he is that great. I’d rather have Josh Freeman, and I can’t believe how ripped Freeman is right now. He is lean and mean, lost ALL of his baby fat. Freeman and Blount both look like they have worked extremely hard in the last few months. There is some definite hunger there. I hope that attitude is contagious.
April 24th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I wonder if some of the people that want Jenkins were the ones cheering when Tanard Jackson was released ?? Doesnt make sense.
When I hear Schiano talk about Buccaneer Men and people that love football and are good people in general for some reason Janoris Jenkins isnt the 1st one to pop in my head.
You guys hold your breath till we pick him and again, set me up with whatever yout smoking
April 24th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Claiborn, Keuchly, richardson kalil
that is the order with which i would select.
April 24th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
@BigMac
Freeman all day.. Soon to be elite QB.
April 24th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Once again thank you Joe. It is obvious our D is the biggest issue we have! Why would we waste a pick on a RB at #5 when we have Blount and the talent at RB in the class is soooo deep. Mo is a straight up cover corner ala Revis. The biggest mistake we’ve made in the last 5 or 6 drafts is passing up on Joe Haden because his 40 time wasn’t what people thought it should’ve been. Now Haden is a top 3 CB in the NFL. Claiborne has better cover skills and is quicker. A stud CB allows D coords to do so much more to stop teams versus what a RB can or cannot do. Even if TR3 and Mo are there at #5 this is still a nobrainer!!!! We have to stop the pass and last season we were 21st in that category and 32nd in the run game. A great CB will allow us to put an extra guy in the box and help control other teams RBs and WRs. It also gives the DL more time to work to get at the QB and force turnovers!!! Which is something we sucked at last season!!!!!!!!!!
April 24th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
@act12greg – Good post and we are on the same page. Taking Keuchly is the smart pick with the depth at other positions.
@BigMac – Your comment about his competion can be said for all of the players entering the NFL. Claibourne has not played against NFL type receivers, maybe one or two. Same can be said for Keuchly. This guy reminds me of Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing. He lives football, has a nose for the ball and is instinctive. What else do you need Big?
April 24th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
941, I have to disagree with the level of competition faced by players in different conferences. There are night and day differences in the SEC and ACC. SEC teams are all so good every year. They beat the crap out of each other all season because the difference between the best and worst of the SEC is usually minuscule. The ACC never has more than 2 or 3 good teams, that rarely make it in the top 10. FSU has gotten better in the last couple of years, but is not near what they were 10 years ago. CB’s don’t just face WR’s but they encounter RB’s, linemen, TE’s and the QB factors into the equation as well. I asked the question of whom Kuechly faced that was a top talent, before I dissed his conference. Thus far no one has cited any specific examples of stiff comp he encountered. I believe the problem with him is that it just isn’t there. Most SEC teams could rule other conferences if they were dispersed among them. The same can’t be said for the rest of college football with few exceptions. Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, USC, all big name darling schools often get destroyed when they face SEC teams. I just give more weight to SEC players at draft time because their is no cakewalks in that conference. Clay Matthews has been the only decent defensive player to come out of USC recently. I’m only stating opinions, not facts, but there is a good deal of information to back up my assumption that the best defensive players come from the SEC.
April 24th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
This team DESPERATELY needs a starting RB, not just minimally, but DESPERATELY.
To say otherwise evidences a lack of understanding as to what goes into playing the RB position.
The need for a RB today far outweighs the need for a corner today (Eric Wright and Ronde are better all-around at their position than Blount).
I agree that Ronde is about done, and will get some time at safety this year – but if we start 12 with Ronde and Wright at corner that position is stronger than RB with Blount.
This argument is all academic because Cleve wont pass on T Rich – for that reason Claiborn is likely the selection. I have a little temptation to go J Blackmon here but I won’t object to Mo if T Rich is gone.
I would fall on the flor in shock, as woul 99% of experts, if the bucs passed on T Rich and selected Claiborne – it simply won’t happen – not even Dom is that dumb.
April 24th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Only Rah is dumb enough to re-hire the players like THCJax cited above as being the reason this team was all-time horrible last season.
That shows you how clueless and lost rahrah was/is.
April 24th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@ BigMac, I hear what you are saying but my point is two of the top five backs are from the ACC with Wilson and Miller. The difference between SEC and ACC is minimal compared to NFL. Every collegiate player will have to step up there game regardless of conference. I hear where you are coming from though.
April 24th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Joe,
How can you say corner is a bigger need than RB? First of all, we only have 2 RB’s on the roster right now (not counting the tryout guy that was signed). Madu has been playing for a minute and Blount is nowhere near being a complete back. You can blame coaching all you want, but fact is he has never proven to be complete going back to college. How can you think it would be intelligent to bank on him all of a sudden becoming Marshall Faulk?
I’m sure your next argument would be that we can get a RB in a later round. Well, I just researched this topic and came away with some interesting findings: turns out it is within the rules to do the same with CB! You can actually draft a CB in the second round believe it or not! so explain to me why again we would draft a CB, when RB is a bigger need, and that RB is rated higher than that CB (assuming they are both available, which they won’t be).
April 24th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Hey Hawaiian Buc,
We actually have 3 RB’s right now. Dom signed Robert Hughes, 5-11 235, a Notre Dame product that they liked very much when he tried out last week. Can’t say if he’ll have an impact or not, and no doubt Dom will get some RB in the Draft or the day after the Draft. I think Dave Moore makes a good argument for not drafting a RB at 5, and although I am also a big T Rich fan, there may be better options. Trading back about 4 or 5 spots appears to be the best place for defense. I hope they draft Mark Barron or Dont’a Hightower if that happens. I would hate to see them pick Richardson and have him blow a knee in the Pre Season or Camp. I’d still be happy with T Rich and I’m not sold on Claiborne.
April 24th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
KL Joyner called Claiborne the most overrated player in the draft this morning. Same old same old, another wasted draft pick. Trade up for Richardson or live to watch another Hall of Famer we could have chosen.
April 24th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
BigMac,
Yeah, Hughes was the tryout back I was referring to, I just couldn’t remember his name. Regardless, I doubt he’ll be a contributor, doubt he’ll even make the roster. I’m fine with trading down, but I don’t think there are going to be many teams that want to trade up. I just want a playmaker on offense. I’d be very happy with Blackmon too, but I don’t think we are going that route since we got V-Jax. As for TR, of course he could get hurt. Statistically he has a higher percentage, but I’m willing to take a chance on a talent of his level. I don’t care if he has a shorter career, because I would rather have an amazing player for 6 years than a good player for 12, but that’s just my opinion. Plus, I think he has the work ethic to keep his body in great shape, which should help. He’s also got Blount in the backfield to keep a little tread on the tires.
No matter what, I’ll be fine with who we draft. I’m not going to be a whiner or complainer, because it won’t do me any good. We will get a very good player regardless. As soon as the draft ends (and we don’t get TR), I’m no longer a TR fan. Thursday can’t come soon enough!
April 24th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Hawaiian Buc, I agree with you. T Rich could be incredible and would be nice to find out in a Buc uniform.
April 25th, 2012 at 6:33 am
Mo has already had enough negative press to disqualify him as a good choice for the Bucs. There are high character players that can help the
Bucs. I do not believe he will end up a Buc. How many times must you make the same mistake before you learn. His mouth would be running before he ever hit the field. Who the hell needs that? His interviews would be a disaster. Forget it.
April 25th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@twodog
How is Mo not a high character player??? He has never been in trouble. His only knock is the school systems and LSU never taught him how to read. The guy is amazing. That makes no sense at all to say that!
And people talking about TR3 over Mo for our current roster dumbfounds me. We have a good RB in Blount. Can draft someone like Doug Martin, LaMichael James, or Isiah Pead to be a good compliment back. We have 1 good DB and he might be in jail in a few months. Barber is on his last season and will be playing S a lot. Are you comfortable with our other 2 CBs to fill that void??? Hell no! So…how does it make sense to draft a guy at the top when we already have 1 there and the CB position, we have 1 good player. We have to run 4 CB sets sometimes. That would be who, Talib?? maybe, Wright, Biggers, Lewis, and who??? Talib is the only true CB we have. Wright is ok, but we way overpaid him. We should’ve spent that money on Brandon Carr and this would’ve been a moot point. But we didn’t so. It is a passing league not rushing. So we have to have good CBs to help out. We currently do not have that luxury in drafting TR3 if he were still there.