How Will The Bucs Value The Tight End Position?
March 20th, 2013
Yes, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan have been adamant that the Bucs are not running the Giants offense Sullivan mastered in New York for years.
But there are undoubtedly similarities. So Joe’s wondering whether a devalued tight end position is one of them.
After former Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey got hurt late in the 2007 season and was jettisoned after it, the Giants didn’t do much at tight end. They trotted out immortals Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard over the next four seasons en route to another Super Bowl victory.
For the 2013 offseason, the top free agent tight ends are off the board and the Bucs signed 18-career-catch TE Tom Crabtree from the Packers to join Luke Stocker. Dallas Clark, who caught 47 balls from Josh Freeman last season, remains in limbo. Joe hasn’t heard even a hint of a rumor about Clark’s future.
Might the Bucs be eyeing a massive upgrade at tight end in the NFL Draft?
Joe would bet against it, only because Joe’s really not sure the Bucs value a pass-catching tight end so much in this offense.
Perhaps a mid-round tight end could be an option. Former Bucs TE Anthony Becht told Joe that Vance McDonald (6-4, 267) out of Rice was one tight end he was preparing for the combine and gave the kid a hearty endorsement. Rice is widely projected as a third-round pick.
Frankly, Joe would be pleased to see Clark return. The Bucs’ tight end rotation was not a weakness last season, and Freeman’s confidence in Clark appeared to grow significantly late in 2012.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:08 am
If the TE can play DE and DT or CB, Im all for it!
March 20th, 2013 at 9:17 am
I can’t imagine them drafting a TE until the 5th-6th IF THAT. They just signed Crabtree ( I know he isnt a HUGE deal). They have Stocker, Byham, Dunsmore, Miller, and Noble. And you want them to draft more?! Thats 6 TE currently on the roster. Now I understand the breakdown that happens after camps start. Assignments to Practice Squad, and cuts. But SIX? you want them to carry 7 until cuts? That is an absurd amount of TEs. Lets focus on some of our depthless positions instead of one where we currently have an overabundance.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:18 am
I don’t think you will see any offense draftees until round 4. I really think rounds 1-3 will be exclusively defense.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:20 am
Josh hasn’t been the same since they cut his best friend & security blanket…TE Chase Coffman.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:22 am
Hey Joe what your really saying is same sh#t different day I really like the fact you try so hard to keep us entertained thanks Joe
March 20th, 2013 at 9:26 am
There is a relatively unknown tight end from the University of North Texas. Ray Burke. 6’2 255 and extremely athletic and decent blocker. Excellent receiver (played both receiver and tight end). Can be had as an undrafted free agent more then likely. Ran a 4.6 into the wind during pro day.
Know we are going for more blocking tight ends but he might be worth a shot.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:28 am
I think, (sans a Revis trade)
1st rd DT (Floyd, Richardson, Lotuleile)
2nd rd CB ( Ryan, Amerson, Banks, Slay)
3rd rd DE/OLB (Greene, Collins, whoever is available)
*the 2 4ths we have could be used to trade back into the 2nd to grab a player like Khassem Greene, or Jamie Collins.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:36 am
I think you meant McDonald is widely projected as third round pick (Not Rice.)
March 20th, 2013 at 9:56 am
I think the real question should be, what the hell are the bucs doing?
March 20th, 2013 at 9:58 am
What’s going on here? It is 9:00 AM CST in San Antonio and not one mention of Mons Revis? Nothing on PFT either. I am VERY disappointed….LMAO!
March 20th, 2013 at 10:02 am
The only offensive pick I can see in the first 4 rounds is RT. Unless they sign a FA like Andre Smith or such.
March 20th, 2013 at 10:03 am
If we valued tight end we should have made a move for Jarrod Cook Jr. The guy is young and the best tight end in FA. Hope we can get someone good. All the teams who compete in post season these days have a good tight end.
March 20th, 2013 at 10:23 am
Isnt Ed Dickson a free agent? I know they tendered Pitta but Dixon would be a good signing if he is. (Too lazy to look it up)
March 20th, 2013 at 10:37 am
I really Want to see the kid noble this guy looks the part want to know if he can play it he’s young and athletic
March 20th, 2013 at 11:15 am
Based on the Giants O I’d say the slot WR is a key position, see Cruz, Victor. So a guy like Tavon Austin or DE Andre Hopkins actually make sense. Both are play making slot WR’s. If an upgrade at TE is an acceptable pick in the first round so would one of these guys.
March 20th, 2013 at 11:25 am
Doug Martin will appreciate Crabtree. He is an unselfish team first player who will block all day long w/o complaint.
Plus, he looks cool as hell, with all the Tats! Kind of like a “Poor Man’s Colin Caepernick” LOL
I can’t wait to see him in a Buc’s uniform. With the return of Nicks and Joseph, we have one of the best, and most physical lines in the NFL.
Crabtree will be an excellent addition for us I think.
March 20th, 2013 at 11:45 am
We have a mediocre quarterback as it is so drafting a tight end high would be a waste.
March 20th, 2013 at 12:41 pm
@Patrick
Your rants are the same for every comment you post. You don’t like Josh we get it already.
March 20th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Dan Says:
March 20th, 2013 at 10:03 am
If we valued tight end we should have made a move for Jarrod Cook Jr. The guy is young and the best tight end in FA. Hope we can get someone good. All the teams who compete in post season these days have a good tight end.
Buccfaninhawkeyecountry Says:
March 20th, 2013 at 10:23 am
Isnt Ed Dickson a free agent? I know they tendered Pitta but Dixon would be a good signing if he is. (Too lazy to look it up)
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I love the armchair GMs that know exactly what to do even if it CAN’T be done.
Jared Cook was signed early in free agency. He’s a Chicago Bear.
Both Pitta and Dickson were RFA’s and were tendered.
Obviously, the Bucs don’t place great importance on TEs, if they did, they would have been more active and aggressive.
Dallas Clark was terrible last season. Two INTs last season were the direct result of Clark failing to make a play (i.e. come back to it) the ball. Nearly every one of his catches were contested (meaning he doesn’t get separation) and he was terrible in the running game. I’m glad he’s gone.
March 20th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
@Brandon
You mean Martellus Bennett a Chicago Bear. Jared Cook is a Ram.
March 20th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Right now I don’t know what the Bucs value, get not even a slight aroma of a strategy and not a hint of a “take no prisoners and beat ’em all up” attitude. Do we want to win win win or just perform adequately?