Don’t Expect Bucs To Grab Another TE
June 7th, 2013
Joe knows it is popular for Bucs fans to want another tight end. They’ve seen enough of Luke Stocker to know he is not Anthony Gonzalez, and most haven’t seen Tom Crabtree play. So when it comes to the current Bucs tight ends, a large segment of Bucs fans stare into their pint of beer, shrug their shoulders and say, “Meh.”
Seems just such a Bucs fan pestered ESPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas about this very subject.
John (NY)
Big time Bucs fan! Excited about the defense this coming year. It appears that the Bucs are content to go into the season with Crabtree and Stocker at tight end. Do they think Martin’s ability in the pass game negates the need for a big time tight end? Also are you sold on their back-up running back situation? Thanks and great job!!
Pat Yasinskas
Yeah, it certainly appears like they’re content to go with Stocker and Crabtree. If they were going to make a big move there, I think they would have made it by now. I get the sense they think Crabtree can be pretty good. On Martin, it seemed like they were throwing to him a lot in OTAs.
Joe knows many Bucs fans likely won’t want to read the following: the chances of Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik grabbing a top tight end for the 2013 season are about nil. The main reason is offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan doesn’t consider tight end of big-time importance.
Besides, if you talk to Bucs suits and Greg Schiano, they are cautiously excited about Crabtree. They believe he has skills other than blocking that were rarely utilized in Green Bay and that he may be a diamond found in the rough.
June 7th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
Those who are aching for another TE, who would they suggest? Im not aware of anyone on the market that would be an upgrade over what we have. I still have hope in the ones we have personally.
June 7th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
People need to calm down about TE. We had a good offense last year, and it should be better this year. We’ve lost nobody of any real consequence, except arguably Dallas Clark… but they’ve got their starting OGs back, more competition for the 3rd receiver, Stocker in his second year in the system, Freeman in his second year in the system, and Crabtree… I’m not worried about the offense in general… only getting more consistency from Freeman.
June 7th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Save the cap space, Jimmy Graham is in a contract year and the Saints can’t re-do him because of their cap situation, that is unless Brees restructures. No talks are going on and Graham doesn’t seem to mind it.
Never say never, didn’t think we’d get Revis, did you?
June 7th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
I haven’t seen anyone clamoring for a TE since the draft ended. This isn’t old news, this is a non-story IMO. Only person who keeps bringing this up is Joe
June 7th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
And Joe’s readers nearly every day.
June 7th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
@Joe Kudos on the response.
June 7th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
I am with the people that are not overly concerned with the TE position. It is certainly not a strength but hardly a hole large enough to be the difference between playoffs or not. Crabtree looks promising and I would like to see Stocker get the pressure put on him to step up.
June 7th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
WestCoast,
PR is reporting that had the Revis deal gone south, Tyler Eifert was at the top of the draft board if the Bucs had picked 13.
This may or may not be true, but if true it says that the position is highly valued in the Bucs system. It’s hindsight now, but an interesting bit of info!
June 7th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
^^Could be but they weren’t really players in free agency for an established TE and there were a few of them available. Jared Cook comes to mind . . .
Not saying it would hurt to have a better TE though. Certainly would be nice.
Also, I am sorry but PR floats way to many rumors that have proven false for me to take their word on anything. (Just me though.)
June 7th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Macabee,I think his is the ”value” board; it isn’t an absolute indicator of whom the club was planning to actually select in the first round.
June 7th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
MikeJ,
You may be right, but that’s not what I read. You may or may not care to read it for yourself. But I’m pretty sure I quoted PR correctly! It’s in SR’s Fab 5 6-7!
June 7th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Joe, You’re out there watching these guys, So what do you think about Crabtree?
June 7th, 2013 at 6:17 pm
^^^This^^^
June 7th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Side note….glad we didn’t get Cary Williams. I live near Philly. Listen to his interview on 97.5 about his missing of voluntary OTAs.
June 7th, 2013 at 6:33 pm
@Macabee
I’m not saying there’s no chance but if the Bucs dont value the TE position very much in this offense, why would they want to pay out a HUGE contract to Jimmy Graham, which he almost certainly would command, unless a major injury occurs? Doesn’t seem like a wise move.
June 7th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
I did look at that & will re-examine, Macabee .
Me, I would have taken Eifert. Who would you cover?? Most mockers (already!) have the Bucs’ selecting Austin Sefarin-Jenkins, TE, Washington, in 2014.
June 7th, 2013 at 6:57 pm
TimBuc:
Off hand, Joe can’t recall a tight end catching a pass. Of course it has happened, just that it hasn’t jumped into memory.
June 7th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
Couch Fan,
I think otherwise. I think they do value the TE position. Just haven’t found the right guy to do what they want to do. I don’t know if that’s Graham or the next advertised TE in the 2014 draft. I said that about Graham, because if there was ever a TE that I would want on my team, it would be Graham.
We all may be making an unwarranted assumption in that this year’s or next year’s offense is going to look exactly like last year’s offense. The TE may be more involved than before especially in the slot or the middle of the field.
I agree with you that with some many of our own men coming due like Mike Will and others, Graham if he became available, might not be wise. I’ll leave that to Dominik and the Glazers. Never thought we would pay Revis 16mil either!
June 7th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
I think this discussion of valuing vs. not valuing the TE is ludicrous. As with every other team, the Bucs have priority positions. For them, in terms of pass catchers, it’s WR and RB, then TE… but that doesn’t mean you don’t want a player at that position who can be elite. It just means that it’s less important than the others. If you have an opportunity to draft a TE with elite pass catching ability and his grade is higher than players at other positions, you take him, unless you REALLY need a player at the other position. This is not difficult folks, nor is it controversial. An elite TE may not be necessary to run this offense but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be happy to add one. Schiano always says he wants to increase competition at every position. Do I expect they would pay a guy like Jimmy Graham? No, probably not. I wouldn’t rule out drafting a TE in the first round though.
June 7th, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Off topic Joe but I was wondering if you were planning on ever launching a joebucfan app? Random I know but the thought just crossed my mind lol.
June 7th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
PR:
If Joe can figure out a way to make money off an app without angering advertisers, sure. Those things aren’t cheap.
June 7th, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Ahhh Ok, makes sense..thanks Joe
June 7th, 2013 at 10:04 pm
@Joe
I have seen some pretty basic apps that are essentially a browser that opens a certain page. I recall seeing one for Facebook. Not sure what it would take to create a simple browser that defaults to your website. That should maintain all of your current advertising as well.
Even better, just found this video made specifically for turning blogs into apps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTqeY7Oomcg
Its only three minutes, probably worth a look.
June 7th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
People forgot about Danny noble he was balling out until he got hurt last yr in preseason.. But with stocker , Crabtree , and noble we will be ok…. I just hope they all stay healthy and we will get the production we need in a collab effort
June 8th, 2013 at 4:04 am
I think that this is the year we will find out if Noble makes it or not as a good TE in the NFL. He is definitely flying under the radar. Check out this you tube video where he makes a good open field tackle on Doug Martin at 33 secs in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hQpolamXB8
June 8th, 2013 at 4:47 am
You can bet that if there was a Jimmy Graham type TE on the roster they’d find a way to use him. But in my view we fans really don’t quite know what we have in Stocker or any of the other TE’s. Perhaps one will emerge now that Dallas Clark’s stay has expired. Few knew about this obscure 3rd round draft pick of the Houston Oilers who was tossed into the Earl Campbell trade. His # 88 is in the Ring of Honor.
June 8th, 2013 at 9:06 am
You can pour money into just so many positions. Time to sh*t or get off the pot Stocker