Bucs Nation - 2018 NFL Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft News and RumorsA Tampa Bay Buccaneers Blog - Fire Those Cannons!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48049/bucs-fave.png2018-05-05T14:25:02-04:00http://www.bucsnation.com/rss/stream/170354192018-05-05T14:25:02-04:002018-05-05T14:25:02-04:00Alex Cappa: A third-round risk for Tampa Bay
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<img alt="NFL Combine - Day 2" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FJ5zIx-0lDSJ7ZPvYfluTDC_MGg=/0x0:3438x2292/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59639385/926338486.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Will Cappa follow in the footsteps of Ali Marpet?</em> | Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>The Division II standout has plenty of potential, but will it work out?</em></p> <p id="u31y8h">We all know the story of Bucs offensive lineman Ali Marpet. Tampa Bay’s best player at the position was drafted in the second round out of Division III school Hobart College back in 2015. </p>
<p id="d3oY1H">Marpet’s success has been astounding and has Bucs GM Jason Licht scouring the lower-level schools for any potential talent that may be going unnoticed around the league. </p>
<p id="rzwMcf">It looks like he may have found another diamond in the rough in Humboldt State left tackle Alex Cappa, however, that’s very hard to prognosticate considering where he played. </p>
<h3 id="mX9SLi"><strong>Biggest Reach: Alex Cappa, LT, Humboldt State, (3rd Round, 94th pick)</strong></h3>
<p id="Nug5Bg">Despite dominating at his position for all four years at Humboldt, what Cappa will end up becoming is still a mystery. Licht has recently stated that Cappa will end up at right tackle, but his current style of play suits him better at guard. </p>
<p id="YtU9uU">Cappa is long, athletic, and mean - in other words, he fits the mold when referring to blue-collar NFL players. He started every single game after redshirting his freshman year. </p>
<p id="HNdXBf">But he doesn’t have near the measurables that Marpet had when Tampa took him back in 2015:</p>
<div id="imrA3H"><iframe src="https://www.mockdraftable.com/embed/ali-marpet?position=OG&page=GRAPH" width="480" height="651" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>
<p id="rp9UsS">Now, here are Cappa’s from the past draft:</p>
<div id="Xjbs2h"><iframe src="https://www.mockdraftable.com/embed/alex-cappa?position=OT&page=GRAPH" width="480" height="651" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>
<p id="YB6ZMQ">The difference is quite impressive. And just to complete the trifecta, here is one more very interesting graph:</p>
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<p id="H2o2NC">Cappa did not meet any of the requirements on that board.</p>
<p id="jrAynP">Combine all of this information with the fact that he played at the D-II level could spell disaster for this pick. There were only a few players that Tampa could’ve picked at the time - mainly Da’Shawn Hand and <span>Antonio Callaway</span> - so it’s not like the Bucs passed on anyone who was just heads and shoulders above Cappa. </p>
<p id="XQG5nZ">A lot of Cappa’s success will depend on not only himself, but Bucs offensive line coach George Warhop. He has been responsible for Marpet’s development, which works in Cappa’s favor. Warhop, however, has also struggled with developing <span>Donovan Smith</span>. </p>
<p id="WSPil9">There are a lot of factors that will go into Cappa’s success with Tampa and oftentimes it takes a lot of luck for everything to go right in the NFL. If Cappa turns out as expected, the Bucs will be set up on the offensive line for the next 4-5 years as long as <span>Smith</span> pans out. </p>
<p id="FuhejO">As always, there are two sides to every argument and I’ll leave everyone with some highlights of Cappa’s best moments in 2017. I hate to beat a dead horse, but keep in mind, these highlights are against D-II talent, where Cappa was the first player to be drafted since 1991. </p>
<p id="x1B44f">Here he is showing an excellent burst off the line of scrimmage. He then uses his strength at the point of attack to absolutely destroy his opponent:</p>
<div id="mUBB5N"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 46.2065%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/1wrBQFZaltwg9JMZ9g?html5=true&hideSocial=true" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="3m6cMB">Some guys never stood a chance, but that will change in the NFL:</p>
<div id="AzZu8H"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 46.2065%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/l9WwLzg3TZeXvOZm4p?html5=true&hideSocial=true" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="C02HvR">And here is a great example of his athletic prowess:</p>
<div id="eDVPZL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 46.2065%;"><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/azIoLKdjcpCTkfi6V2?html5=true&hideSocial=true" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="rKXANB">Hopefully Licht is onto something with these smaller-school offensive lineman. The NFL is a copy-cat league so the secret won’t stay in the Bay if Cappa proves the doubters wrong. </p>
<p id="UycBvH">Something tells me Bucs fans will be ok with letting the “Cappa” out of the bag if he turns out how Licht envisions (reserve all hatred and discussion for my lame joke in the comments section, please).</p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/5/17322770/alex-cappa-a-third-round-risk-for-tampa-bay-buccaneers-bucs-nfl-draft-2018-nfc-southEvan Winter2018-05-04T08:00:02-04:002018-05-04T08:00:02-04:00Five things to love about Tampa Bay’s 2018 draft class
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<figcaption><em>To the surprise of many, Tampa chose Vita Vea with their first-round selection.</em> | Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>The Bucs had a good draft and there is plenty of reason to be excited for 2018. </em></p> <p id="gNU82l">The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">2018 NFL Draft</a> is over, but the analysis and opinions will reign long into minicamps and OTAs as teams officially begin to map out their rosters. While the coaches and GMs make the hard decisions, we the fans get to revel in the aftermath. Let’s take a look at some of the best parts of this year’s draft <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/3/17312968/five-things-to-hate-about-tampa-bays-2018-draft-class">after previously looking at some of the worst</a>. </p>
<h3 id="pz3Fot"><strong>Jason Licht, Wizard of the Draft.</strong></h3>
<p id="V97JKJ">One of the most popular theories heading into the draft was the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> trading up in the draft to get a quarterback. Tampa was considered a very popular trade partner, but many of the potential trade scenarios that were proposed were somewhat underwhelming. </p>
<p id="recGTb">Enter Bucs GM Jason Licht.</p>
<p id="vFI0Dv">Licht worked wonders in the 2018 Draft. Tampa entered the draft with just two picks in the first 100 selections and ended up amassing a total of five in that same span - including four picks in the first 63 selections. </p>
<p id="U65kgZ">Licht worked the trade with Buffalo beautifully, snatching both of the Bills’ second-round picks on top of the 12th overall pick. He then used his fourth-rounder, No. 102 (and a sixth-round pick) given to him by the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a>, to trade up into the third round for Alex Cappa - giving the Bucs some depth along the offensive line and a potential replacement for <span>Demar Dotson</span>.</p>
<p id="XyJ2EH">Without Licht, Tampa Bay would have had an average draft. </p>
<h3 id="niLRje"><strong>Stick to your guns.</strong></h3>
<p id="ySjMg0">I don’t want it to seem like I am the captain of the Jason Licht fanboat, but I am a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due - and the man deserves a ton of it.</p>
<p id="QKMQyf">Licht made a somewhat-surprising move when he drafted incumbent guard/center <span>Ali Marpet</span> in the second round of the 2015 draft out of Hobart College. </p>
<p id="MggruK"><span>Marpet</span> has risen quickly as Tampa’s best offensive linemen and their most versatile. He is a mauler and also has the speed and athleticism to help promote him as one of the more complete lineman in the game. </p>
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<img alt="NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dJ06Zj0XiY5yxx-rjWtB1c3_iu0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10769603/usa_today_10377500.jpg">
<cite>Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption><em>Marpet has blossomed into Tampa’s best offensive lineman.</em></figcaption>
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<p id="kpAz3S">Licht obviously took note of this and it’s made even more evident with his selection of Alex Cappa, a tackle out of the Division II school Humboldt State. </p>
<p id="3HNvCH">Cappa is bigger and longer than Marpet, and <a href="http://www.joebucsfan.com/2018/05/licht-alex-cappa-will-play-right-tackle/">will play right tackle for the Bucs</a>. He won the award for the best offensive lineman in the Great Northwest Atlantic Conference all four seasons he played at Humboldt. </p>
<p id="exxFvg">Maybe Licht has found something in the smaller-school lineman. Regardless, he deserves a nice pat on the back for his diligence on Cappa. </p>
<h3 id="eGqSIf"><strong>Needs, Needs, NEEDS!!</strong></h3>
<p id="cEOOOq">Tampa came into the draft with three major priorities: offensive line, running back, and the secondary. </p>
<p id="EWMiMg">Check. Check. And Check. </p>
<p id="ZTpcmf">All of these positions were filled - now, whether or not it’s the player you wanted is a different story - and overall, Tampa made out quite nicely with their picks. </p>
<p id="cid32j">Tampa took two cornerbacks in the second round, on top of former USC running back <span>Ronald Jones II</span>. They then addressed their offensive line needs with the selection of Cappa, while finishing off the secondary with <span>Jordan Whitehead</span> out of Pitt. </p>
<p id="TA5ACS">Whitehead is a bit undersized, but he is so much more physical than his 5-foot-10, 198 pound frame suggests. </p>
<p id="0wUOdN">He reminds me a lot of Bob Sanders. If the Bucs can even get close to that level of play, then Whitehead will be a major steal. </p>
<h3 id="5OV5yW"><strong>Competition.</strong></h3>
<p id="xoz39P">As we all know, the jury is out on <span>Vernon Hargreaves III</span>, the Bucs’ first-round pick in 2016. He finally seemed to find comfort in the slot position last year, but still underwhelmed. </p>
<p id="nFyYES">Hargreaves will be pushed by <span>M.J. Stewart</span> for playing time during camp and there is no doubt about that.</p>
<p id="0kv4y3">The third-year cornerback isn’t the only one on high-alert. <span>Chris Conte</span>, <span>Ryan Smith</span>, and <span>Beau Allen</span> will be fighting off Tampa’s draft picks for playing time on the defensive side of the ball. The offense isn’t solidified either, with Evan <span>Smith</span>, <span>Jacquizz Rodgers</span>, and <span>Peyton Barber</span> looking over their backs too. </p>
<p id="E1EFDE">Competition brings out the best in everyone and Tampa should have plenty of that come training camp. </p>
<h3 id="e7nx4j"><strong>Finding a necessary balance. </strong></h3>
<p id="DFUHLM">Head coach Dirk Koetter’s forte is offense - obviously. Tampa had a pretty decent passing attack in 2017 and were very effective on converting third-down plays, however, their running game lacked any punching power and the defense couldn’t hold a feather. </p>
<p id="OcglBC">The 2018 Draft - as well as free agency - has shown the Bucs attempting to find a balance on both sides of the ball. The influx of talent should elevate Tampa to where they need to be, but the results remain to be seen. </p>
<p id="obx3pG">But this draft feels different for the Bucs due to the fact that they made some moves - namely <span>Carlton Davis</span> - that they wouldn’t have made in the past. Maybe it’s a change in philosophy, but regardless, sometimes change is necessary. </p>
<p id="ZjH0Ov">At least they are attempting the correct moves. </p>
<p id="0tPE9M"></p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/4/17312572/five-things-to-love-and-five-to-hate-about-tampa-bays-2018-draft-class-nfl-tampa-bay-buccaneersEvan Winter2018-05-03T13:00:02-04:002018-05-03T13:00:02-04:00Who will be the Bucs rookie of the year
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Which prospect has the best chance to change this team</p> <p id="EtjZpM">The <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> have had quite the offseason up to this point. At the end of the season when fans looked at this roster, there were holes all over the place and many wondered what Jason Licht’s plan was going to be. I think Jason Licht has done a tremendous job of acquiring top-tier veteran talent, as well as rookies who can come in and contribute from day one. </p>
<p id="CgMXwo">Each team’s goal during the draft is to fill positions of need, but also build depth at key positions, especially along the offensive and defensive lines. The Bucs did just that, which is why I predict the team’s rookie of the year will be first round pick <span>Vita Vea</span>. This may come as a surprise to some, but I think from an overall team perspective, Vea will have more of an impact than <span>Ronald Jones</span> will. </p>
<p id="BqzMoA"><span>Vita Vea</span> is 6-foot-4, 350 pounds and will be the perfect compliment to pro bowler Gerald McCoy. Vea isn’t your typical defensive tackle either, he is a freak of an athlete for his size. At the 2018 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-combine">NFL scouting combine</a>, Vea ran a 5.1 40-yard dash, which is extremely impressive for a guy who carries that frame. You also want your defensive tackle to be able to penetrate the line of scrimmage with pure strength and Vea showed plenty of evidence he can do that in college. He also put up 41 reps on the bench press which was first out of his position group. </p>
<p id="WJSJIt">Vea was very productive in his time at Washington. In 2016 and 2017, which were the two years Vea started, he totaled 99 tackles with 15 of them being for a loss. Many people think that Vea is only a run stopping defensive tackle, but he actually recorded 8.5 sacks in the last two years. Sacks also don’t tell the whole story, there were numerous incidents in which Vea’s penetration up the middle either forced an early throw or created another sack for a teammate. </p>
<p id="565Pfq">It is going to be extremely difficult for opposing teams to double both McCoy and Vea, which means one of them will have a one-on-one matchup everytime, and that should scare the hell out of opposing quarterbacks. The best ingredients for a winning football team is to stop the run and get off the field on third down by getting pressure in the quarterbacks face. Vea can check all those boxes and he will help improve a defense which was last in many statistical categories last season. </p>
<p id="1tIk9Q">There has been a stigma amongst Buccaneer fans that Vea was a reach and the team would have been better off picking Derwin James. You can make the argument, but ask the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> what a dominant defensive line can do to help you win football games. The Buccaneers haven’t had a dominant defensive line in more than a decade, but they have all the ingredients to have one this season. </p>
<p id="7NOMvs">Stat predictions for Vea: 38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks. </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/3/17312728/who-will-be-the-bucs-rookie-of-the-yearAlex Salvarezza2018-05-03T10:05:02-04:002018-05-03T10:05:02-04:00Five things to hate about Tampa Bay’s 2018 draft class
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<img alt="2018 NFL Draft" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6m-g8retaEAdd4AR3H1_wRBnecw=/1x0:4654x3102/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59614359/951976828.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>Tampa didn’t make many mistakes in the 2018 NFL Draft, but they did raise a few questions. </em> | Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>It’s time to take a look at the other side of Tampa’s draft. </em></p> <p id="NtqInl">So now that we’ve been over the good elements of Tampa’s draft, let’s take a look at the bad.</p>
<h3 id="Fy0o8T">
<span><strong>Vita Vea</strong></span><strong> instead of </strong><span><strong>Derwin James</strong></span><strong>?</strong>
</h3>
<p id="JIThfb">It’s hard for me to like a pick, but also wonder what could’ve been at the same time - yet here we are. </p>
<p id="YXgHtS">For the record, I do in fact like the pick. It makes total sense and if <span>Vea</span> performs up to expectations, the Bucs will have arguably their best defensive line since 2002. </p>
<p id="j0XMGU">But many fans still wonder whether or not the Bucs should’ve selected Derwin James instead. James is regarded by many as a future Pro Bowler while Vea is looked at more as a complimentary piece to the Bucs defensive line.</p>
<p id="y3Y2Tf">The fact that the Bucs have my mind tangled worse than a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/game-of-thrones">Game of Thrones</a> plot concerning their first round pick is enough to make me hate them for putting me (or us) through another cluster that exhausts my mental makeup. </p>
<h3 id="C8bBYF">
<strong>Does defensive coordinator </strong><span><strong>Mike Smith</strong></span><strong> have too much on his plate?</strong>
</h3>
<p id="DgDkPZ"><span>Smith</span> has been surprisingly ineffective as Tampa’s defensive coordinator. His units have been terrible during his two years in Tampa. Neither unit has been ranked outside of the bottom-ten in total defense.</p>
<p id="zpH8H3">Although he has a lot more weapons at his disposal this season, the question remains if he can put it all together like his days in Jacksonville. </p>
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<img alt="Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Atlanta Falcons" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GFSeX9rTIqTufBjP_sLxtJyBeQk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10770375/602993848.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption><em>Mike Smith will be gone if he doesn’t gain some serious ground in 2018. </em></figcaption>
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<p id="eC3STW">Tampa may have done <span>Smith</span> a disservice with all of the new faces on defense. <span>Will Smith</span> be able to sort through the roster and find his best players come Sunday? Or will he languish for the third straight season and waste the insane amount of talent that the Bucs’ defense currently holds?</p>
<p id="F4SBHn"><span>Smith</span> will have to make some decisions this offseason in regards to the defense and whether or not he makes the correct choice(s) remains to be seen. </p>
<h3 id="razIYK">
<span><strong>M.J. Stewart</strong></span><strong>?</strong>
</h3>
<p id="fKk2mp">This one is different than the Vea pick. While selecting Vea has the obvious reasons and advantages, the selection of <span>Stewart</span> is different. Automatically assuming he will start off at nickelback for the Bucs - why wouldn’t you wait and see what Hargreaves can do in a full year at the position?</p>
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<img alt="Tampa Bay Buccaneers v&nbsp;Arizona Cardinals" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z4wYh0tEdOOrrhgErAYQQsPFw0k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10770145/862599186.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption><em>Defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III has a lot to prove in 2018.</em></figcaption>
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<p id="apzij8">The likes of <span>Donte Jackson</span>, <span>Isaiah Oliver</span>, and <span>Justin Reid</span> were all still available and all three of those players seem like they can/will have more of an immediate impact than Stewart. </p>
<p id="yeZSFY">Another final thought is that Stewart eventually makes the transition to safety, but again that raises the question of “why not take Derwin James instead?“ The future duo of <span>Justin Evans</span> and Stewart in the defensive backfield is enticing, but will it be worrh investing such a high pick?</p>
<h3 id="dlWh9L"><strong>No interior offensive lineman?</strong></h3>
<p id="G2z5yX">Sure, the Bucs still have questions on the outside. <span>Donovan Smith</span> regressed last season and <span>Demar Dotson</span> is toward the end of his career, but Tampa’s woes are clearly on the inside of the offensive line. </p>
<p id="fjbvvM">Tampa would have chosen <span>Quenton Nelson</span> with no questions asked if he were available at seven, but alas, this is the NFL and you have to work for what you have. </p>
<p id="Zqaa4T">The Bucs did draft Alex Cappa as mentioned earlier, but he will be considered more of a transitional player as Tampa develops him. It was a bit surprising that the Bucs didn’t select another lineman, but we are talking about the team that has spent the least amount of picks on the position in the past ten years.</p>
<p id="jNgCCK">The signing of free-agent <span>Ryan Jensen</span> will certainly help, but if he or Marpet misses any extended time due to an injury, the Bucs will be in trouble. </p>
<h3 id="aCQ5SO"><strong>What about linebacker?</strong></h3>
<p id="I4b3R3">The rotation on the defensive line is stellar, but what about the guys making the plays behind them? All three linebackers have battled through injuries since their time in Tampa, with Kendall Beckwith becoming the latest victim. </p>
<p id="YJw58E">The trio of Beckwith, <span>Kwon Alexander</span>, and <span>Lavonte David</span> is one of the best corps in the league, but behind them there isn’t much help. <span>Devante Bond</span> and <span>Adarius Glanton</span> are good fill-in pieces, but if the Bucs really want to improve on defense then they will need all three starters healthy and ready to go. </p>
<p id="K1qnIJ">Beckwith’s injury could force him to miss the start of the season. Whether that’s only one game or more is beyond me, but it’s not good news for the Bucs. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bucs</a> GM Jason Licht says both G JR Sweezy and T Demar Dotson will be held out of OTAs. LB Kendall Beckwith was injured in a One car accident and had surgery on his ankle Tuesday. Could miss start of the season.</p>— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLSTROUD/status/986991742456094720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2018</a>
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<p id="a9aV5K">The Bucs could’ve used an earlier pick on the position - they took oft-injured Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy in the sixth - just in case Beckwith misses significant time, but with the defensive line rotation, Beckwith’s absence may not hurt the team as originally thought. </p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/3/17312968/five-things-to-hate-about-tampa-bays-2018-draft-classEvan Winter2018-05-02T17:00:02-04:002018-05-02T17:00:02-04:00Buccaneers move up NFL.com’s power rankings after a successful NFL Draft
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<img alt="NFL: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mTSaYkis-IS6XoMfcL74sPYqBw4=/0x0:3515x2343/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59607689/usa_today_10533407.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Bucs get more notoriety after a great draft.</p> <p id="gcwo3S">By now, we know that the consensus has been the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> had a great draft. Major outlets thought highly of the moves and selections Jason Licht and Co. made throughout the draft. It is very early to assume much of how the entire class will perform, but we here on Bucs Nation feel they will fare really well for the most part.</p>
<p id="CjJYLg">With all that said, the love and recognition for Tampa Bay continues.</p>
<p id="suy33n">NFL media’s Elliot Harrison released updated power rankings. It wasn’t much of a move up in rankings, but, at least Harrison acknowledges these rookies could have some sort of impact for the Bucs.</p>
<p id="ITndaH"><a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000930902/article/nfl-power-rankings-giants-climb-after-2018-draft-bills-drop">The Bucs move three spots up to No. 21</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p id="AfNIpC"><span>Ronald Jones</span> (Round 2, No. 38) should help immediately, especially since it’s slightly easier to transition from college to the pros at that position. Licht and Co. hit the secondary hard with <span>M.J. Stewart</span> (Round 2, No. 53) and <span>Carlton Davis</span> (Round 2, No. 63). <span>Vita Vea</span> (Round 1, No. 12) is massive in the middle. He’s a tree stump. You can’t pull him out of there with a Jeep winch. So if anyone ever tells you Allen is a bust, look at all these great plays he’s gonna provide ... in Tampa Bay.</p></blockquote>
<p id="ebkxa9">The Bucs were the second biggest jump in the rankings. The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> and <a href="https://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Los Angeles Rams</a> hold the honors for the biggest jumps with four spots. </p>
<p id="FrMVKl">The Biggest drop? The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> lost three spots after their draft haul. Or lack thereof.</p>
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https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/2/17312596/buccaneers-move-up-nfl-coms-power-rankings-after-a-successful-nfl-draft-bucsGil Arcia2018-05-01T18:00:02-04:002018-05-01T18:00:02-04:00Instant Impact Rookie: Ronald Jones
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Arizona at Southern California" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NIeoUpHftkCTq815xhwFNua1sYE=/0x180:4068x2892/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59594799/usa_today_10393112.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The USC product will play a huge role in the Buccaneers’ offense.</p> <p id="qGqFWV">The <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> were near the bottom of the barrel in rushing through the 2017 season. <span>Peyton Barber</span> provided some life to a struggling running game, but it wasn’t enough to really provide a sense of optimism heading into 2018.</p>
<p id="hDT6DF">As a team, Tampa Bay finished 27th in rushing with 90.6 yards per game. Former running back <span>Doug Martin</span> struggled mightily with 2.9 yards per carry, <span>Jacquizz Rodgers</span> averaged 3.8 yards per carry, <span>Charles Sims</span> rushed for 4.5 yards per carry in a very limited role, while <span>Barber</span> averaged 3.9 yards per carry on the season after being the featured back during the final four games.</p>
<p id="F11d7N">But there is help on the horizon for the running game by way of rookie <span>Ronald Jones II</span>. The USC stud running back averaged 6.1 yards per carry and 9.4 yards per reception throughout his career in Southern Cal. </p>
<p id="BOSWqD">Dive deeper into his stats and you can really see Jones’ talents and abilities. While at USC, Pro Football Focus recorded 58 missed tackles on carries alone, ranking him second among draft eligible backs. Those missed tackles led to 914 yards after contact which was seventh-most in the nation among running backs and third among draft eligible backs. He’s also a huge home run threat with a 46.4-percent breakaway ability (compared to former Buc Doug Martin, who was just 13.5-percent). Looking further into his breakaway ability, Jones was charted by PFF to having 25 runs of 15-plus yards (second-most in his class), gaining 719 yards on 15-plus-yard runs (fourth most in his class). Factor in that breakaway ability in the passing game and we may see Jones light the field up in both phases of the game.</p>
<p id="RzJjRp">Jones gives flexibility to head coach Dirk Koetter and offensive coordinator Todd Monken on how to be creative with the offense. It’ll be up to them to best utilize his skillsets. But their second round selection gives the team a legit threat for opposing defenses to worry about. All those reasons are why Jones will be the Bucs instant impact rookie.</p>
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https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/1/17306572/instant-impact-rookie-ronald-jones-bucs-buccaneers-nfl-draftGil Arcia2018-05-01T08:30:16-04:002018-05-01T08:30:16-04:00Beck’s NFL Draft reactions
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<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>My not so instant reaction, pick grades, and players I’d have chosen for the Bucs.</p> <p id="H6uAEq">The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> is over and the Bucs left with what looks like a home run. I meant to write this two days ago, but life got in the way. So, here is my slightly late draft reaction and grades.</p>
<p id="DmGQTA">First, let me say how impressed I was with Bucs GM Jason Licht turning water into wine and coming away with five players in the first 100 picks. Considering the Bucs only had two prior to the draft, this was an incredible turn of events. With all the holes needing to be addressed (especially in the secondary), trading down was the best solution to fill out the roster in a make or break year. Licht did everything in his power to grab as many players as possible in hopes of infusing more talent into his roster. For all the stick he gets, some deserved and some not, Licht has now navigated five draft classes and been more successful than not. 2014 is a hit because of Evans. Sims & Pamphile starting and contributing help. 2015 is a hit for obvious reasons. 2016 is currently in the bad to wait and see category, but it’s trending into possible disaster. 2017 had great early returns and it looks like a home run. 2018 (on paper) has all the makings of another successful draft class. Typically, classes take 3-4 years to truly judge, but you often get early returns to help gauge potential success or failure. So, again, kudos to the Bucs GM for putting together a masterful draft.</p>
<p id="GeqkpL">Now, onto the picks. I’m going to give my reaction, grade and who I’d have selected.</p>
<p id="f3Ofs1">1st Round:</p>
<p id="lfJYBy">Pick - <span><strong>Vita Vea</strong></span> </p>
<p id="j22Dek">My pick - <span>Derwin James</span></p>
<p id="zwB3kf">Straight away I don’t think the <span>Vea</span> selection was by any means a bad one. He’s an absolute beast on the DL, can be a game disruptor and should only help free up McCoy to get to the quarterback. My concern was the positional need after the Bucs spent heavily on the DL in free agency. If Vea has the career of <span>Haloti Ngata</span> (5 Pro Bowls, 2x first team All-Pro, 3x second team All-Pro) Vea will more than live up to his draft position. I felt James would have been the more impactful player given his versatility all over the secondary. Paring James with Evans would have solidified Bucs back end for years. </p>
<p id="cqxwaU"><strong>Vea grade: B</strong></p>
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<p id="WBtTvO">2nd Round:</p>
<p id="LR1t0m">Pick - <span><strong>Ronald Jones</strong></span></p>
<p id="7BMbwt">My pick - Ronald Jones</p>
<p id="jZcO00">I felt Jones was the last of the upper echelon running backs left in the draft to start Round 2. The Bucs could have waited to fill that position, but that would have been a mistake as the top guys (except Guice) flew off the board within the first 37 picks. The Bucs had to get a running back early and they got a really, really good one.</p>
<p id="tAyejJ"><strong>Jones grade: B+</strong></p>
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<p id="KxgOUu">2nd Round:</p>
<p id="8RPjnC">Pick - <span><strong>M.J. Stewart</strong></span></p>
<p id="XdWOjW">My Pick - <span>Carlton Davis</span></p>
<p id="4CyYcD">I’m still struggling to fully understand this decision. The Bucs passed over a bunch of very good safety prospects when they made this pick. <span>Stewart</span> is a good player, versatile, and aggressive. Something the Bucs defense needs more of in 2018. Injuries happen and having guys that can play multiple spots is crucial. But, he was mainly drafted to be a nickel corner at #53 overall. By reports, Vernon Hargreaves will get another chance to compete for the starting job on the outside, but it’s a very high probability he is battling Stewart for the starting nickel job. One of them will be sitting. Just appears to be a pick that wasn’t wholly necessary considering Hargreaves played well at nickel. </p>
<p id="hzLcNz"><strong>Stewart grade: B-</strong></p>
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<p id="fWHjoj">2nd Round:</p>
<p id="huViK0">Pick - <strong>Carlton Davis</strong></p>
<p id="obKLnb">My Pick - Nathan Shepherd</p>
<p id="jjOr1T">Davis should compete straight away for the starting position opposite of Grimes. I’d be surprised if he isn’t the opening day starter. He’s that good. </p>
<p id="c6L4IM">I know, I know, I said earlier that drafting Vea didn’t make a ton of sense given the additions to the DL in free agency. But, Shepherd is more in the mold of McCoy than Vea in terms of getting to the quarterback. He’s raw, but what better way to learn the NFL game than from one of the elite defensive tackles over the last 10 years? Shepherd would have added depth, while providing rotational pass rush to keep McCoy fresh.</p>
<p id="37xAxI"><strong>Davis grade: A-</strong></p>
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<p id="6zUa55">3rd Round:</p>
<p id="4upvtG">Pick - <strong>Alex Cappa</strong></p>
<p id="LaLbmF">My Pick - Alex Cappa</p>
<p id="HfKkLA">Bucs nailed this pick and addressed a key position of need by trading back into the late 3rd to take Cappa. His versatility to be a swing tackle in a pinch is in line with what the Bucs look for in their offensive line. Cappa adds toughness and a bit of nastiness to the offensive line. He might not start immediately, but he could very well be a staple on the OL for years. </p>
<p id="F28i4X"><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p>
<p id="sya60f">4th Round:</p>
<p id="Z84ZHr">Pick - <span><strong>Jordan Whitehead</strong></span></p>
<p id="P2cUnk">My pick - <span>Josh Sweat</span></p>
<p id="mGzkdv">The Bucs waited until day 3 to address the safety position, choosing to focus on adding running back, cornerback and guard help on day 2. Whitehead is a bit undersized, but a fearless hitter and has some cornerback experience. Likely will rotate in with <span>Chris Conte</span> & <span>Keith Tandy</span>. I chose Josh Sweat, yes adding more guys to the DL, because even though he nearly lost his leg in high school and his production at FSU wasn’t what you’d expect out of a former 5 star, he is an absolute physical freak. The Bucs currently have JPP, <span>Vinny Curry</span> and <span>Noah Spence</span> as their pass rushers on the outside. Sweat would be situational pass rusher while he gets better coaching to unlock his potential. </p>
<p id="aCuDLf"><strong>Whitehead grade: C</strong></p>
<p id="L0jN8Y">Round 5:</p>
<p id="HEYd9S">Pick - <span><strong>Justin Watson</strong></span></p>
<p id="05bjla">My pick - Justin Watson</p>
<p id="0Luwj2">The Bucs are loaded at wide receiver, but don’t have much height behind Pro Bowler Mike Evans. They solved that problem with the selection of Watson. With a big frame, catch radius and 4.4 speed, Watson can provide <span>Jameis Winston</span> with another big target in the unfortunate event of injuries to the wide receiving core.</p>
<p id="3DR2uz"><strong>Grade: B-</strong></p>
<p id="VbaVie">Round 6:</p>
<p id="VSKoWK">Pick - <span>Jack Cichy</span></p>
<p id="mPFne3">My pick - <span>Jack Cichy</span></p>
<p id="RwD6kU">Talk about a risk/reward draft pick. Cichy was a day 3 pick before an ACL injury cost him all of the 2017 season. He’s an intelligent player with good instincts which offset some of his lack of explosiveness. If he can bounce back fully from his injury, he could contribute immediately on special teams, while being depth for the linebacking group. The Bucs have had bad injury luck at the linebacker position recently. </p>
<p id="15JIAU"><strong>Grade: C</strong></p>
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<p id="i2TbpK">If you’re still awake after this long winded breakdown, I thank you. All in all, the Bucs draft class looks great. There truly wasn’t any pick that would be classified as bad. Licht added talent and filled holes all over the team. Now it’s up to the coaches to put those players in the best position to succeed if the Bucs are to get back to winning ways this season.</p>
https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/5/1/17304408/becks-nfl-draft-reactions-bucs-buccaneersSteven Beck2018-04-29T20:33:29-04:002018-04-29T20:33:29-04:00The 2018 NFL Draft Grades Are In: Buccaneers get high scores
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<figcaption>Photo by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</figcaption>
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<p>Major outlets like what the Bucs did.</p> <p id="QH7AFp">This is such a testament to Jason Licht and his front office team. Each year, the team appears to do really well drafting prospects and 2018 was no different.</p>
<p id="leWyh0">There were many needs heading into the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> for the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a>. They acknowledged their issues in the offseason by bringing added power to the defensive line as well as strength to the interior part of offensive line. </p>
<p id="q5Nosq">Free agency didn’t address everything, but they sure did understand needs and instant-impact rookies needed to be targeted in this year’s draft.</p>
<p id="HYqruO">With that said, the Bucs’ draft haul has been graded by major outlets. As expected, the team got high grades for their selections.</p>
<p id="TtWega"><strong>SB Nation: </strong>B-<br><strong>ESPN:</strong> B<br><strong>NFL:</strong> A-<br><strong>PFF: </strong>Good<br><strong>CBS Sports: </strong>A</p>
<p id="hi6qUo">Yahoo Sports wasn’t too crazy about the draft the Bucs had. <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/final-2018-nfl-draft-grades-team-fare-dont-look-seattle-fans-184907310.html">They gave them a grade of C</a>.</p>
<p id="pRrnSN">NFL Network also likes the Bucs’ draft. On Total Access, former NFL running back Terrell Davis seems to be a big fan as he states that the Buccaneers improved the most with the picks they made during the NFL Draft.</p>
<p id="85h8B9">Check it out below.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Team that improved the most in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLDraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLDraft</a>? <a href="https://twitter.com/Terrell_Davis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Terrell_Davis</a> thinks it was the <a href="https://twitter.com/Buccaneers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Buccaneers</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBucs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBucs</a> <a href="https://t.co/flWuKkxXNV">pic.twitter.com/flWuKkxXNV</a></p>— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLTotalAccess/status/990731874120089600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a>
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https://www.bucsnation.com/2018/4/29/17300356/the-2018-nfl-draft-grades-are-in-buccaneers-get-high-scores-bucsGil Arcia