Cornerback most glaring need. What do you guys think?

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 4:37 PM EDT Comment 33 comments

Hey everybody, I am a longtime Bucs fan and i honestly think cornerback is the most glaring need on our team. The other positions everyone is saying we need help at is quarterback, defensive line, and wide reciever. I hope to shoot those down and hopefully get some feedback what you guys think we should get.

For quarterback, we just signed Byron Leftwich, and have Luke McCown as either starter or backup. I think going with either of the two would be solid for our position. Although they are not 'superbowl' quarterbacks, we DO have weapons for them, and they aren't aweful.

For defensive line, i think we 'can' be solid. Jerry and Raji -the two most popular Defensive Linemen in the draft, are actually smaller than what is needed in Jim Bate's system. I have faith in Sims and Wilkerson to plug up those holes (but thats just me).

Although we are short in depth at wide reciever, i feel like we will be fine. Unlike many other Bucs fans, i have faith in Michael Clayton, but i think this is his last year to prove it. He is the next Hines Ward, but he needs TO CATCH THE BALL to be listed as a wide reciever. Besides that, i think Winslow and Stevens over the middle will open up things for Antonio Bryant on the outside, and as a third reciever, we will have to see what the preseason brings us. Paris Warren, Kelley Campbell, Anthony Mix, are all capable guys. Besides, the draft has ALOT of depth at this position, so it won't hurt to wait i guess.

Lastly, CORNERBACK. This part is going to be short and to the point. We have Ronde Barber and Aquib Talib as our starters, and Elbert Mack in the Nickel. How do we function with just 3 corners??? We don't even know how capable Mack is! That leaves two starters, and teams like the Cowboys and Patriots would tear us apart! So what now? I think Alphonso Smith or Vontae Davis should be there at 19 and we should take them.

I say if Heward-Bey or one of the CB's are available at 19, DEFF TAKE THEM. None of the Josh Freeman-Peria crap. Take a starter, not a project...

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I'd take issue with one thing...

Your statement that Raji is smaller than Bates’ ideal DT. He might just be the perfect DT for that system. The guy weighs 337, he’s an accomplished run stuffer, and (if they decide to use him this way on passing downs) he’s shown a great ability to bull rush and collapse the pocket.

by OfficerRodFarva on Apr 19, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

gotcha dude

touche…lol, yea i didn’t really feel like looking that up, but thank you! I guess we could take him at 19, but gosh darn it i have no idea how we are going to address our CB need man…you think PERHAPS TJax played CB at Syracuse, so mehbehh??? nahh instead of losin our Free Safety position, we should keep everything in tact and take in a CB at 19. (Man some crazy stuff, that guy Sean Smith from Utah i believe, is 6-4 CB!!!) wierd….

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

I’d skip Heyward-Bey at 19. WR is pretty low on their list of needs.

Davis I’m conflicted on. He’ll probably be the best value on the board that satisfies a need on defense, but the whole inconsistent-effort thing worries me. That being said, you could probably remedy that with good coaching. You definitely can’t coach his size/talent, and if he develops well, he’d be a shoe-in as Barber’s replacement next year or the year after. Smith’s more of a zone guy. They’ll probably pass on him if he’s there.

by OfficerRodFarva on Apr 19, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

eesh...

You made two very good points. But i think only some people have character issues to a point where you wont get picked. They said the same thing about Aquib Talib, and SO FAR, he’s been fine. Id take talent over character anyday. O well, i can’t wait til the draft man.

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i disagree 100%.

I believe we need a superstar explosive pro bowl wide reciever! yes i like clayton, i love winslow and stephens, and bryant . but in my view the rest of group we have mix, campbell, and midgit man from appalachin state none of them in my view are superstar calliber type recievers!. if bey is avaliable at 19 grab em, if harvin or maclin is still their grab one of them! and out of the 3 heward bay is faster and better in the open field than harvin or maclin! thats whats needed my buc brothers.

by BUCABING on Apr 19, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can see where you are coming from...

This is our dilemma my friend. A lot of people forget about Sims and Wilkerson. And before you know it, Harvin, Heward Bey, Alphonso Smith, and Freeman are up at 19, and all the Bucs fans are dying to know what to get! It’s insane. I definitely think we could have solved our CB situation in the offseason but NOOOOO, we decide to wait last minute. Ugh…i hope we get a deep threat and a cb somehow. As for DL…another year with <30 sacks for the Bucs’ D. I hope that whole Adams to Jason Taylor comparision comes true. Taylor made his jump to double digit sacks his 3rd year and hopefully Adams can do the same. I know this reply is off-topic but theres just SO MUCH we can talk about…when it’s all said and done…GO BUCS

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i disagree with your disagree

we Dont need another WR. we got 9. how many more do you want? and Jimmy Wilkerson is a DE we dont got any good DT. we should address this position most.

by Maxumas on Apr 19, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

damnit again

lol darnit. Well then you really think we are set at CB? Idk man, our whole defense is messed up right now…

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

but i think our CBs dont really need as much assistance as other positions.

by Maxumas on Apr 19, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

Atleast we have 2 starters on CB’s, we don’t have 3 starters for LB! We have a middle, a guy who missed all of last season and we are taking SS and moving him to LB….I think we Go OLB to replace Brooks.

by shadowchicken on Apr 19, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we have so many needs

idk how Domenik and Morris are guna do it, but man, we got some serious problems to address. We won’t know until we see Geno Hayes, Matt McCoy, or Adam Hayward play. We also have Crowell. I think we have depth, just not starters. As for CB, you need atleast a DECENT 3rd CB. If anything, we need someone who can sub in for that 3rd CB when needed.

God-bless the Buc’s Defense this season…

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

id say cb is probably 2 on our list

1. dl
2. cb
3. lb
4. wr
4. qb

"yesterdays a cancelled check, today is money on the line, tommarow is a promisary note" - unknown

"the trouble with me is that my ego just cant accept a loss" -Vince Lombardi

"i dont know any way to lead but by example" -Don Shula

"the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary" -unknown

"the harder you work the harder it is for you to surrender" -vince lombardi

by dedman on Apr 19, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i can see what you are thinking...

I just cant see who would sub in for that 3rd CB spot. Or what if (God forbid) one of our CBs go down. Who do we have? Torrie Cox?…then again, for DT, we have Left Defensive Tackles: Chris Hovan (296lbs), Greg Peterson (286lbs), and Dre Moore (305lbs). And then Right Defensive Tackles Ryan Sims (315lbs) and Chris Bradwell (280lbs). The biggest guys we have are Sims and Moore. Haynesworth is 320lbs and Shaun Rogers is 350lbs! I see what you are saying now after doing a little research. Ugh…either way i hope our positions get addressed in the draft
GO BUCS!!!

by rjblitz02 on Apr 19, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

then again

we have free agency still, dre bly is on the market as well as ken lucas, they are servicable in case of injuries.

"Yeah, I am not the old annoying guy next door. Heck, I don't even know who i am"

by Some other guy who does not care on Apr 20, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

i think one more ‘decent’ corner would solidify that spot. i’v heard the DL and WR positions in the draft are deep this year, so i was hoping we could spend our first rounder on a CB.

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we still have torrie cox? haha

"yesterdays a cancelled check, today is money on the line, tommarow is a promisary note" - unknown

"the trouble with me is that my ego just cant accept a loss" -Vince Lombardi

"i dont know any way to lead but by example" -Don Shula

"the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary" -unknown

"the harder you work the harder it is for you to surrender" -vince lombardi

by dedman on Apr 24, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see LB

being a glaring need. I would probably put it 6th on the list. You left of Safety.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Apr 20, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

Safety can be picked up later on. I think we should focus on the positions we have least depth in the draft. We still have Will Allen and Piscatelli behind TJax and Flip. Linebacker is also a hole, but we are still running the 4-3, meaning we already have two positions (Crowell and Ruud) solidified if Crowell can stay healthy. We should address the Weakside linebacker position. I have faith in the younger guys, but drafting another early could help too.

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Flip has moved to linebacker....

then we really don’t have depth. I don’t think Piscatelli is a starter, and I know Will Allen isn’t.

Not to mention Quincy Black, Geno Hayes and Flip as other linebackers. It is a position that we have more than enough capable starters.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Apr 20, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We may be looking at a defense

that has two Sams that start. It would be a more physical, but slightly slower defense. Not really Bates traditional style, but I would love it.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Apr 20, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true,

from what i saw last season, Piscatelli has bad judgment against the run game, but good playmaking ability in the pass game. I honestly see no chance of Flip getting the linebacker position, but we DO have plenty of depth there. If anything we should draft linebacker before the safety position.

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I know what your saying and i think the same thing.BUT i hoping to address the D-line.

by Maxumas on Apr 20, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

It looks like any pick either DT, DE, WR, LB, or QB at 19 (whichever it is) will make many fans happy, and get many others pissed off. haha i guess all we can do is watch…
GO BUCS!!!

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would agree

i was honestly pissed last year that we picked Aqib Talib over Desean jackson but now im happy then shit we did. i just cant wait for the draft

by Maxumas on Apr 20, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we need an explosion

of offensive firepower im tired of hearing cornerback, defense, and more D! . we need that superstar speedy reciever who will strike fear into every defense in the league! ya we have eight other recievers besides clayton, winslow, braynt, and stephens who are all extremely talented but none have explosive speed! as for the other 8 including that joke of a reciever from appalachine state who fumbled punt returns for us last year none of them are star material no not one case closed.

by BUCABING on Apr 20, 2009 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

but man,

yo dude, WE HAVE DEXTER JACKSON. Probably the most underrated reciever in NFL history. He has everything!

Now seriously talking, i see where you are coming from. But the thing is, you can’t win without defense, and we have 3 MAJOR holes on the defensive side of the ball. The linebacker spot is going to be a hit or miss with who we have on the roster; we ALREADY know that the guys that subbed in for Haye and Hovan (in the last four games) played like GARBAGE; and lastly, the cornerbacks. After losing Buchanon, we now have Barber and Talib as starters with Mack in the nickel. This draft is driving me nuts, because just like you, i think we should pick up harvin/heyward-bey/britt at 19 BUT at the same time our defense has holes to address…oooooooohhhhh nooooooooooooo

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

RJ is right.

Defense wins championships. We brought in Derrick Ward who is going to be a premier Running Back who can carry a load if needed (which hopefully Graham takes away that need). We aren’t going to be a homerun offensive team. Not Jags style.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Apr 20, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually like Torrie Cox

From what I remember, he’s half decent. Raji would be a god in this defense though. To bad we probably won’t get him.

by CarnageFL on Apr 20, 2009 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Torrie Who?

Where has that guy been lol, but yes Raji would be alright. I doubt he falls that far. Let’s hope we make a good decision at 19…

GO BUCS!

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

just because we lost buchanon

doesn’t mean the CB roster is sucking big time.

We have Talib from last year. He showed some flashes of talent and hopefully will improve his second year.

Barber is still on the roster, and while he’s definitely slowed down a lot he’s still… he’s… oh man I hope the new defensive scheme has a spot for slower corners…

The biggest need for CB is more for depth/development purposes. Our defense has bigger question marks at the DT/DE spots than at corner.

by witty on Apr 20, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

true true...

I think Talib will develop into a stellar player in the league. As for Barber, i think he will be ~~good~~ this year. Last year, he still made some plays, and hopefully he can help develop Mack and Talib into great corners. I just think we need some insurance in case (God-forbid) one of the three go down. That would be catastrophic. We’d have to get someone off the street if that happened. Torrie Cox? Let’s see. I can’t wait til draft day rolls around.

DT/DE is very true. White, Wilkerson and Adams haven’t done much. Hopefully Michael Johnson out of Georgia Tech can help us out there, or Peria Jerry from Ole Miss. Maybe even BJ Raji. I just thought CB is the least at depth. We have ‘capable’ guys at DT/DE positions. As for CB, we barely know Mack, and Cox spent all last year on IR…

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the way......

Good FanPost.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Apr 20, 2009 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

I’m 19 and I’ve only been followin the Bucs since 2002. (When they won the superbowl, i was on a bandwagon and knew NOTHING bout football). lol i’ve picked up a lot over the years.

Lovin the feedback guys! Thanks for reading, and responding!

Go Bucs!!!!

by rjblitz02 on Apr 20, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs