David Amerson And The Bucs
April 2nd, 2013
It seems as if Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has addressed in some fashion every weakness this offseason, both real and perceived, on the Bucs roster but one.
That would be cornerback. This has positively driven Bucs fans bananas (which, in turn, has been great for sports websites and local sports radio). The inactivity by Dominik to address cornerback in free agency has, Joe is sure, meant brisk business for area shrinks.
Now there is a guy in the draft that may not be a quick fix at cornerback but could be a profitably long-term project, David Amerson from the college football hotbed of North Carolina State.
Amerson is a tease on some respects. He gets the combine crowd all worked up with his measurables. He’s big, tall and not exactly slow.
But then, you turn on the video and, egads, he can be toasty. This is why Amerson is intriguing. Yeah, he should have stayed in school another year. Are his failures on the field because he’s just way overrated or is it just bad coaching?
“Definitely the amount of touchdowns I gave up this season was disappointing,” Amerson told Joe and other pen and mic types at the NFL Combine. “Just the way I approached this season, not having the right mentality about it. I was just playing to get interceptions, trying to match the 13 [NCAA record]. I’ve definitely never been the type to point the finger. If I give up something, I’ll be the first to admit it. It’s just the way it is.”
Given the fact that cornerbacks of Amerson’s size don’t grow on trees, he’s worth a gamble, maybe not until the third day of the draft.
“It allows me to get my fingers on the ball sometimes when I’m not supposed to,” Amerson said of his height. “And as far as getting hands on receivers and making plays that a guy a little bit shorter than me probably couldn’t make, it definitely helps me.
“When you have receivers like Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, big, tall freaks of nature, you definitely need someone to match up against them. So that’s probably why bigger corners are more popular now.”
If Dominik is willing to roll the dice on Myron Lewis, why not Amerson and hope Bucs coach Greg Schiano, a former secondary coach himself, can mold him?
“Hopefully [NFL teams] see my good plays outweigh my bad,” Amerson said. “Whatever happens, happens. I can just go out here and perform to the best of my ability and show them what I can do as far as me being an athlete. Just see how it plays out.”
April 2nd, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Anybody else remember Elvis “Toast” Patterson? Ole Elvis was a lockdown corner compared to Amerson. The only thing he uses that speed for is to chase after receivers while they’re running in for touchdowns. Workout warrior…move along.
April 2nd, 2013 at 11:28 pm
I still think Revis is coming to Tampa, as soon as he can show he is truly healed from his knee injury, and back to top form.
Don Penn tweeted “we are waiting on you” to Revis.
April 2nd, 2013 at 11:55 pm
I have David as #8 on my ranked cornerback list, which I think makes him close to a mid to late second round selection in the draft. Unless their is a run on CBs early we should be able to select at least CB Jamar Taylor, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, or CB Darius Slay before David Amerson. He’ll be gone before we start the third round.
April 2nd, 2013 at 11:55 pm
I’m sure most of the big plays he gave up were him gambling for interceptions. Better coaching and playing fundamental football will change that.
April 3rd, 2013 at 1:12 am
That’s some pretty selfish sh*t to say that he was going after the NCAA record while letting your team down. Not a guy I want on my team!
I would take a guy 2″ shorter if they have skills to stay on the hip pocket of a receiver and deflect passes all day, than a guy going for personal accolades
April 3rd, 2013 at 1:20 am
Here’s a few big men if you want a secondary like Seattle. Look up these guys for mid to late rounds!
CB Tharald Simon 6-2, 202, 4.47, LSU, 4th RD
SS Cooper Taylor 6-4, 228, 4.56, Richmond 6th RD
SS Ray Ray Armstrong 6-3, 216, 4.65, Miami UDFA
April 3rd, 2013 at 2:12 am
man, what happened to this guy. he had a superb sophomore season with i think 10 picks then he completely falls off the map. idk about him. I wouldn’t rush to draft him but if he is there in the 4th or 5th I would take a gamble. the bucs really need to do their homework on this guy.
April 3rd, 2013 at 4:18 am
I would love this pick, kid can be amazing if he’s taught well, he’s already a ball hawk. Imagine revis teaching him and ronde. I hope we draft 3 corners, get rid of Myron, gorrer. Draft
Trufant
Honey badger
David Amerson.
April 3rd, 2013 at 4:41 am
Heard some scouts say that he was taking too many gambles. He can be taught not to always look for the big play.
April 3rd, 2013 at 5:58 am
I live in Raleigh NC ive seen him play amerson is good he does take gambles but to have led the nation in picks the previous season is good enough for me. Schiano and staff can coach him up. I want amerson and honey badger
April 3rd, 2013 at 6:27 am
Myron Lewis 2.0
April 3rd, 2013 at 7:25 am
Lets keep in mind Seattle got lucky, Brandon Browner had to go to Canada for 3 years and Sherman was a 5th round pick in ’11, Carroll knew Browner and had been watching his progress in Calgary. The Draft is more about luck than science, on avg only 60% of first rounders even make it and that number drops drastically after the 2nd round. Welcome to the Crap-Shoot known as the draft.
April 3rd, 2013 at 7:42 am
I’ve got Amerson in the 2nd and Badger in the 4th with Ronde, Johnson and Gaitor.
April 3rd, 2013 at 7:42 am
And Revis of course….
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:01 am
ZERO chance Bucs draft this guy. Not sure how ANYONE thinks this guy fits the Bucs….let alone the 2nd Round. …lolololololol
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:25 am
Remember Joe said “long term..”
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:31 am
This guy is all measurables. He gets burned constantly. I’d pass.
April 3rd, 2013 at 8:55 am
David Amerson will not be in Tampa next year. The Bucs dont think he is a “Buccaneer man”. This kid is a poor mans Aqib Talib who gets burnt even more than Talib does, agaisnt worse receivers. Joe hates on Aqib for not being able to stop the Giants but I dont think Amerson could have done any better, it would have been worse.
April 3rd, 2013 at 10:34 am
I don’t think he’s quite the type of player Schiano wants. He’s not a sure tackler. If he wrapped up every time, I’d say he’s a lock. As Joe said, there’s not too many big fast corners out there. And some fans still think we’re in the 90s where we can trot out some 5’10” guys who run a 4.45 and compete. Those days are over. If Star, and DJordan are gone I want Rhodes, then Hankins or Slay in rd 2. And either Logan Ryan or Montori Hughes in rd 3.
Between solid CBs and solid NTs. Dominik can go several ways and dominate the draft. The guy is outsmarting the rest of the NFL.
April 3rd, 2013 at 11:35 am
@ Kalind
I like your line of thinking with your choices, very realistic. Only thing I’d change is I prefer Brandon Williams over Montori Hughes. Well thought out though, it’s nice to see people who actually have a clue.
April 3rd, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I still think all this is a smoke screen, Bucs will trade up for Miliner if they are able to keep this years #1. Then we have Miliner and Revis, no 2nd or 3rd round this year. After preseason cuts, bring in a vet LB to shore up D. At least this is my dream…