Mock Draft Tuesday: Must..not..talk..about....Trent...Richardson
by Sander on Feb 21, 2012 12:22 PM EST
in NFL Draft
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PrintAnother weak, and that means more mock drafts hit the shelves. It's always Trent Richardson or Morris Claiborne, somehow, and this week it's no different. Hey, cornerback or running back - which do you prefer? Well, SB Nation prefers a cornerback for the Bucs - of course they have Trent Richardson going one pick earlier in their latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft:
Claiborne has been here before in previous mock drafts. He fits. Barring some bizarre, unlikely happening at the Combine, Claiborne is the best corner in the draft, and maybe a better all around cover man than his former teammate Patrick Peterson. Replacing Aqib Talib with a high character guy like Claiborne will also be a welcome change for the Bucs.
I've picked out two other mock drafts. First, there's Draft Countdown's mock draft - a little outdated, but still worth a look. They have the Bucs picking Trent Richardson. Morris Claiborne was off the board, but Justin Blackmon was still available:
Few would have predicted that the Bucs would be selecting this early, but despite coming off a very disappointing season there is still a lot of young talent in Tampa. That doesn't mean they don't have their fair share of holes to plug though. After an impressive rookie season LeGarrette Blount regressed in year two and the Buccaneers finished third from last in the league in rushing. In the long run Blount may be best suited for a situational role, a la Brandon Jacobs. Alabama RB Trent Richardson is a well-rounded player with a terrific blend of power and speed and possesses all of the tools to be a dominant workhorse at the next level. Richardson is a much better pro prospect than former teammate Mark Ingram and just might be the best runner the NFL Draft has seen since Adrian Peterson or Darren McFadden. The Bucs could also use an infusion of youth in their secondary and L.S.U. CB Morris Claiborne will likely receive serious consideration as a potential successor to 36-year-old Ronde Barber as well. Even though Tampa Bay already has a couple of pretty talented young pass catchers in Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn there are some who feel that Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma St. could be a legitimate possibility too so watch out for that.
Third, there's the National Football Post, who released their third mock draft this year. They have the Bucs selecting Trent Richardson, even though Morris Claiborne is still on the board:
If you want a prospect who can take pressure off a young quarterback in the run game Richardson is your guy. He's strong, explosive, physical, and might be the safest prospect in the draft.
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Seen a lot of people thinking he'll go in the late 1st, actually.
And have seen at least one list of the “Top 50” players in the draft where Martin is listed as the second-best RB….and he’s maybe a dozen spots higher than Lamar Miller, the next best.
From what I've read,
He’s talked about as the most complete RB outside of Richardson. Personally, I’ve really only just begun my research into potential draftees so can’t say much one way or the other, but that’s what I’ve found so far.
Love seeing Richardson in all these mocks
I feel like I’m one of the few fans who would rather see us draft him over Claiborne
by J_B on Feb 21, 2012 12:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions
It's a "win/win" so I don't really care which one we take...
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
I think both will be impact players so yeah it really doesn't matter
by bucfanlostiniowa on Feb 21, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Depends on what we can do BEFORE the Draft...
I feel we need 2 CBs – not sure what Dom is thinking (is anyone?). I do like the idea of a Richardson/Blount tandem but it is tough to pass on Claiborne. I hope the decision is made for us (like the Suh/McCoy talk a couple of years back).
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
(should have traded up and grabbed Suh) (that's neither here, nor there)
Love Buccaneers - Hate Glazer
Jury is out on McCoy till he lasts at least one season without a major injury
by bucfanlostiniowa on Feb 21, 2012 7:50 PM EST up reply actions
Fair enough
But to be fair, those injuries were not something you could see coming at the time of his drafting. In fact, there were actual injury concerns about Suh (his knees), and not about McCoy.
I may be wrong, but didn't he get out benched by a certain wide receiver ?
When your bad-ass defensive tackle gets shown up by a WR thats a red flag to me LOL
by bucfanlostiniowa on Feb 21, 2012 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
Those bench numbers are largely meaningless
I don’t recall a receiver out-benching him, though. Regardless, McCoy has been an extremely hard worker by all accounts.
IDK maybe I was just remembering it wrong
by bucfanlostiniowa on Feb 21, 2012 8:11 PM EST up reply actions
Watch him
fall to the bottom of round 1 like Ingram did..
never happen
Richardson will not make it past the 7th at worst. As far as us,,,it’s really simple. IF we acquire a CB in FA , look for Richardson. If we manage to get a RB in FA then it will be Claiborne , IF he’s still available. Regardless of everyone’s desires it all depends on what happens in FA .
I agree with you except for the part about us going after a free agent running back.
If we don’t grab Richardson, we’ll go after someone later in the draft.
Love Buccaneers - Hate Glazer
We need 2 corners if we're taking Richardson
Getting one corner doesn’t imply we will take Claiborne or Richardson. If we get 2 good corners in free agency, we’re taking offense. If we get no corners in free agency, we’re taking Claiborne. If we get 1 corner in free agency, things are murky.
Yeah I agree
If we get one CB then I’m all for having two good CB. But if we pick up two cbs in FA then I’m all for Richardson.
Can you even imagine us walking out of free agency without a cornerback?
Love Buccaneers - Hate Glazer
You got it aakks! Yes money is crucial, but
who wants to come to the Bucs? How many coaches turned us down recently? What is the stigma keeping us from ‘getting who we want’? There was a time when everyone wanted to come to the Bucs, a time when we had the best D. Now? Not so much. So yes we will be lucky to get top tier CB’s in FA and we’ll need another Safety too along with a LB to fill the holes in our D. With Talib and Barber most likely gone: Clairborne.
If Richardson dosent ran a good 40 it could happen.
Less and less RB’s seem to be drafted in the 1st round every year. It’s a QB league I actually expect a run on CB’s this year in the 1st round to off-set these High Scoring offense.
by ctd1977 on Feb 21, 2012 5:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
This year,
I believe there will probably be only 2, MAYBE 3 backs taken in the first round. Richardson definitely, while the other one(s) will be Lamar Miller or Doug Martin. Early first-round backs have become extremely rare, while even late first-round backs have taken a hit in popularity. I wouldn’t be surprised if Richardson is the only back taken in the 1st this year.
Richardson might be the only. Miller may get the late first early second
ALL ABOARD THE TRENT RICHARDSON TRAIN!!!
Draft/FA
I see us taking CB’s and OL in FA and Richardson and Defense in the draft. At least thats what I hope for.
really it all sounds good, but it's so hard to really say what there going to do
some people say CB some people say RB for the draft. To meet those are two things i would fix in FA. i would take (Tolbert )from the Chargers good on third down strong back in still young. Also(Carr) from the Chiefs. As far as do we take a MLB or OLB it’s hard to say. But by doing this now we can take a OL at #5 also a WR at #35 or even a CB Stephon Gilmore.
by TbBUcSfAn4LiFe on Feb 21, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
I really don't want OL at #5
- is way too early for a right tackle imo, and I don’t want another “second best at his position” in the top 5 to be honest. Unless you are thinking Decastro, but #5 is just way too early for him too imo.
yeah i hear you just really trying to throw something different into the mix
But realistically we’re going to end up with claborine as our #5 it just makes since
by TbBUcSfAn4LiFe on Feb 21, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
I'd take Kalil if he falls despite everything I just said lol
Kalil, Claiborne, Blackmon, Richardson. All the #1 prospects at their position. All head and shoulders above everyone else other than the 2 QBs. Give me any one of those 4 and I’ll be happy.
yeah me too. but if Kalil falls to #5 take him
by TbBUcSfAn4LiFe on Feb 21, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
Would be a great "dilema" for us...
if all 3 players I covet – Claiborne, Richardson or Kalil were all still available at Pick 5. What a fantastic problem to have.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
I have no argument...
premiere LTs are worth their weight in gold.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 2:32 PM EST up reply actions
Market Rate...
but you forgot Gold is measured in Troy ounces – 12 oz. per lb.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
You're right and wrong
Right that I forgot it was troy, wrong in your conversion. 14.58 troy ounces per pound.
I don't know why "second best at his position" matters
If the player’s worth that pick, why would it matter that a better player was picked earlier?
to me when it comes to building a great Off. you must start at OL first
in from the looks of it we really need at least 3 to 4 more solid players there. think about it. how many of our OL are we really happy with? THINK ABOUT IT??
by TbBUcSfAn4LiFe on Feb 21, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
Sure, but we have a good LT
Penn and Joseph are great. Faine and Trueblood need to be replaced, but I wouldn’t take a RT, LG, or C with the #5 pick. I’d make an exception for Kalil only because I think he’s that good.
i agree with Penn in Joseph but you have to remeber you need depth at those position.
people get tired in we need people to come in how we can still count on to get the job done. by grabbing Kalil we just added to that depth. we it comes to RB’s Tolbert from the Chargers would be a good fit. another vet 3rd down back in great blocker we need to protect Josh better
by TbBUcSfAn4LiFe on Feb 21, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
You don't take depth at #5
If Kalil fell to us I’d take him, but certainly not at depth. Either him or Penn would be at RT immediately.
We have an acceptable LT...
but Penn is not a stellar player by any stretch. Kalil would push him right out of the LT position – if there was open competition for it.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
Sure
Penn is borderline pro bowl though. I’m not looking to replace him unless we had a shot at the #1 player in the draft (kalil).
Penn is borderline...
being the “Stay-Puft” marshmallow man. See Ghostbusters.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 21, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
he's a rookie who says he has to place LT in can play RT too.
plus that give our LG-n-Center the opportunity to doulbe up more in pick up the blitz, which we all know we can’t stop right now.
by TbBUcSfAn4LiFe on Feb 21, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
What if Decastro is the next Davin Joseph?
Then our OL with Zuttah moving to Center becomes a power running machine. I hate to say this, but it could even open holes for Lumpkin toi run through untouched. Blount automatically gets into the secondary. Every D we play will have to load the box with 8 and Free is free again to exploit the play action passing game. It could happen.
The 2 best outcomes for the bucs in this years draft
Pick richardson or trade down and get a lot of picks
by keysersoze19 on Feb 21, 2012 2:14 PM EST via Android app reply actions
I WANT RICHARDSON
but my brain says claiborne
by mdbucsfan on Feb 21, 2012 2:26 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Hey I have an idea
Let’s pick both! Why didn’t anyone else think of this before me? Just put both names on the draft card and bam! Argument solved!
lets pull a falcons
And trade away part of this years and next years draft and get them both lol
by mdbucsfan on Feb 21, 2012 2:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Im going to make a prediction. Go out on a limb.
I really feel that the Vikings will take Claiborne at 4. I have said that from the beginning. Second and most importantly. Blackmon will drop out the top 5. Still in the top 10 because he is the best WR in the draft.
ALL ABOARD THE TRENT RICHARDSON TRAIN!!!
At #3 overall the Vikings will have their choice of picks.
I personally think they’ll jump at the chance to take Kalil just because outside of Luck and Griffin, he’s the best prospect in the draft. If they pass on Kalil and take Claiborne, I pray that whoever traded up to take Griffin wasn’t the Rams, because they’ll snag Kalil in a heartbeat.
I want Kalil, honestly, but since I wholeheartedly believe he will be gone I see Claiborne as a very nice consolation prize. If they’re BOTH gone, well….at that point the choice comes down to Richardson or Blackmon. In that scenario, I’m hoping someone loves Blackmon enough to trade up for him. If we’re not able to trade down though….it’s going to be a very tough decision because there aren’t a lot of players worth that high of a pick in this draft. In that particular scenario though, I would probably go with Richardson IF, and only IF, the due diligence we do on players like Riley Reiff don’t indicate he would be worth a top 5 pick.
Take Claiborn 1st...
BPA with the remaining picks; we have holes everywhere. What we do in Free-Agency will of course determine how and who we draft.
by ctd1977 on Feb 21, 2012 5:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions
sander, this is your worst
don’t be judging blount and others by this past year, please . . let’s give them a chance with a REAL coach and hopefully, you will be eating crow! . . so many reasons . . they had no training camp, which for such young guys certaily means a bunch, and if it wasn’t for the psycho coaching, where they would QUIT running the ball because they got so far behind in the first quarter! . . normally i like your style, sander, but this time i am hoping you EAT CROW when the chickens are counted
If anything, based on what I've read,
Sander is pro Claiborne if he is there at our pick.
No matter how much they are hyped, my teams always find a way to disappoint.
The faster Dwight Howard is traded, the better.
Morris Claiborne>Trent Richardson
by thedudeofdudes on Feb 21, 2012 10:44 PM EST up reply actions
Come on you guys....
There’s no way we just hired Earnest Byner so we could draft a CB. That guy is probably the best RBs coach in the league. You only go get a guy like that if you have invested in a talented RB (or are about too) and you want the best to develope him. Some of you will say that they did it to fix Blount, but there’s no way they did that to fix an undrafted FA that’s only about $2mil a years worth of investing. I think Richardson is a once a decade type of talent and Schiano will want that kind of star power to set off the power running game he wants to build.
by TheDarkLord on Feb 21, 2012 10:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Come On man....
Just because Blount was a UDFA doesnt mean he is not talented. He has showed he has talent. He had 1000 yards his rookie season in less than 16 games. While he may not be as talented as Richardson, he has already shown he can be an above average RB. Byner will hopefully help his pass catching and blocking. We have a bigger need at CB than at RB so it makes more sense to take the CB.
No matter how much they are hyped, my teams always find a way to disappoint.
The faster Dwight Howard is traded, the better.
Morris Claiborne>Trent Richardson
by thedudeofdudes on Feb 21, 2012 10:42 PM EST up reply actions
I think Blount is very talented....
….for a bruising RB. But Blount doesn’t have the skillset to be a complete HB in this league. I love the guy don’t get me wrong. I just think Richardson is too big of a talent to not draft him if he’s there. And with him and Blount we will be unstoppable!
by TheDarkLord on Feb 22, 2012 1:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Wait, really?
You only get a good coach if you invest a lot of money at a position? Is that really how it works?
More necessary anyway...
trying to “coach up” Blount os likely why he’s here, but the Claiborne/Richardson debate may be solved by a team selecting ahead of us – all total speculation. Besides, we can’t lose either way. The team gets a massive upgrade, whether it’s Claiborne, Richardson or even Kalil.
by Cracker Ball on Feb 22, 2012 8:05 AM EST up reply actions
Interesting view
on the coach versus possible draft. Got me thinking, still think that Blount is a diamond in the rough but still think with Schiano being a defensive minded coach, he simply cannot ignore our holes in defense. Unless we go crazy in FA and get some veteran starters. Then I can see drafting Richardson.
Even if we get Richardson,
if we don’t upgrade the Oline it will be a moot point. Richardson is a gamebreaker, but it’s hard to get him going when he is getting hit 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
by flash_kiley on Feb 22, 2012 10:00 AM EST via Android app reply actions
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