Linebacker is a very big need for the Bucs
by Sander on Apr 17, 2011 8:00 AM EDT
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PrintThere are currently 5 linebackers on the roster, two of whom have never gotten on the field as a special teams player let alone as a regular player for the Bucs. Those two players are J.D. Folsom and Simoni Lawrence, and it'll be a small miracle if they start to make an impact on any down next year. The Bucs have just 3 players under contract who could start: Geno Hayes, Tyrone McKenzie and Dekoda Watson. Geno Hayes has several years of experience now and is a bit of an up-and-down player, but he's especially strong in coverage and a valuable starter. Tyrone McKenzie is largely unknown, but the coaching staff seems to like him and he was a 3rd-round pick for the Patriots in 2009. Finally, Dekoda Watson looked decent when he was on the field late last season, but he's hardly a great starter. The Bucs lack talent at the linebacker position, but they lack depth even more.
So what are the Bucs going to do? Well, it'll all depend on who falls to them in the draft. If they come out of the draft with three linebackers, they could go forward with those three and the three linebackers they have on the roster. Then they could let a training camp competition sort it all out. But if they don't come out of the draft with several linebackers, they need to start re-signing their own free agents in Barrett Ruud, Quincy Black and Adam Hayward. Failing that, they should look to free agency to find the players they need.
But this shows the way the lack of free agency affects the draft: the draft will now determine the Bucs' free agency strategy, instead of the other way around.
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Chad Greenway
I hope the Buccs take a look at this guy. I would like to see Ruud, Greenway, and Hayes as our starting linebackers.
We also need to draft at least one LB. I would like to see the Buccs nab Greg Jones or Quan Sturdivant.
On the other hand, if draft an effective pass rusher, then it will make our linebackers that much better.
If I had my way…
Round 1 – Gabe Carimi
Round 2 – Dontay Moch
Round 3 – Greg Jones
Rounds 4 to 7 – At least one more DE, an interior OL, one RB, one CB, and one Safety
You can still trade a franchised player.
It’s definitely not worth it in our situation. It really does depend if they keep a franchise tag in the new CBA, right?
by Tiny iZ Boss on Apr 18, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Why do you say that?
Are you saying he is not worth a late 2nd Round pick or he isn’t a good player?
by Tiny iZ Boss on Apr 18, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Moch has the one thing you can't coach - speed
and could be a real threat rushing off the end.
by Cracker Ball on Apr 18, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
and tons of others, Mock should have run a 4.44 at 248 lbs as he is a running athlete.
Unfortunately, unless he learns moves or adds weight, I don’t believe he will ever be as good as indicated.
Aye, business is business and money is money i never said we were friends.
He is really, really raw and combine stats mean next to nothing than on-field performance
Aye, business is business and money is money i never said we were friends.
I would like to see the Bucs come away with 1 good LB prospect...
from this upcoming draft, but we have many needs. Dontay Moch in the 3rd is my dream choice, after taking DEs Clayborn and Sheard in Rounds 1 and 2.
If we only have 4 linebackers on the roster
Then how do we have J.D. Folsom, Simoni Lawrence, Geno Hayes, Tyrone McKenzie AND Dekoda Watson?
And who the heck are J.D. Folsom and Simoni Lawrence?
I would like them to bring back one of the free agent linebackers
Probably Heyward or Ruud maybe depending on the price. I don’t care much for Black really
your last paragraph summarizes the biggest issue I see facing the Bucs.
I hope Mark knows what he’s doing. i would have like to be entering the draft with, at worst, transitional players a depth locked up on the OL and among the LBs.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
by AcadianTraverse on Apr 17, 2011 6:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Wow, what an absolutely horrid grammatical post.
I’d like to blame my phone, but I think it’s the operator.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
by AcadianTraverse on Apr 17, 2011 6:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
I really like him
I think he graded out a lot more athletically than anyone though at the combine. I’m all for drafting players from the U in later rounds. They are supremely gifted and just had horrible coaching.
There are hidden gems everywhere in the draft.
We could draft a linebacker in the 7th Round that is a total stud, but has character issues. I bet their character changes when they are getting paid. Obviously, I’m being sarcastic.
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