Mark Ingram Would Be “Value” For The Bucs?

February 27th, 2011

Never short of an opinion, popcorn shoveling, oatmeal guzzling Peter King of Sports Illustrated is spouting off opinions about the Bucs again.

No, he hasn’t picked them to win two games like he did last year. Now he’s talking about the Bucs possibly snatching running back Mark Ingram in the first round of the draft, if he’s available. Good guy Scott Smith, video maven for the Buccaneers organization, caught up with King at the NFL Scouting combine.

King’s point was that the Bucs might be looking at an insurance policy at running back with an eye toward the future and Ingram would be great “value” for the Bucs at No. 20 in the first round.

Joe’s initial reaction was Greg Olson hardly needs more reasons not to give LeGarrette Blount the rock. He didn’t get it nearly enough for Joe’s taste last year. Plus, the Bucs should be able to find capable complement to Blount in later rounds, if they have the desire.

Joe’s final reaction was that King should stick to doom and gloom takes on the NFL labor situation and stop playing Bucs GM.

32 Responses to “Mark Ingram Would Be “Value” For The Bucs?”

  1. aldo Says:

    looking the big picture, is not wrong, he would be huge value at that pick, BUT, i think theres other guys who fill a need AND will be high value at 20th too

  2. Sgt Mike Says:

    Stay the course, Best Available at that point in the draft. We really need a DE that can make things happen amongst other things. We have what 4-5 RB’s on the roster. I think only Caddy is up for new contract. Worst case scenerio we pick up a RB in FA that could be what Caddy looks to be a situtaional back with great leadership ability for the youngsters. Blount is our RB future, stay the course and get what we need with regards to best player available.

  3. Thomas 2.2 Says:

    The first round pick should almost never be used on a rb – they are a dime a dozen. Rarely is a wr or safety worth a first round pick- especially top 16.

    The First round is for passers, pass protectors and pass rushers / dominant interior lineman.

    Yes, gru violated this rule too much- clayton and caddy etc. I agree with being careful about putting too much on blount – an obvious risk.

  4. jEsTer Says:

    Just seen that G.B. release A.J.Hawk if he doesnt restructure his contract.Wooohoo, I have been beating this drum for a season he would be great in our defense alot more physical then Ruud and could be better in coverage!!! I was hoping for trade,this would be even better!!!

  5. HIRE GREG OLSON! Says:

    I never thought I’d say this, but I totally agree with Thomas.

    I’d rather spend a high round pick on an Offensive Lineman. You get the best line in the game and you can put almost anyone back there.

  6. Jimmie Says:

    I agree with Sgt Mike and I would go Best Player Available to whether its D-Line, Linebacker or O-Line…I like the way things are with Blount and Caddy as our RB’s, besides it’s Mark Dominik’s Job as the GM not King!

  7. Tom Says:

    Funny, Thomas, the best RB’s in the NFL year in and year out are 1st round picks. Best all-time backs are 1st round picks too.

    Unless you wouldn’t want to have Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, LaDanian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders or Jim Brown as your primary back.

    Sure there are the Arian Foster’s and Jamal Anderson’s of the world but like with any position you are likely get what you pay for.

  8. BamBamBuc Says:

    BPA is always going to be weighted (even if only slightly) based upon need. It will also be weighted based upon amount of talent at the position in the current draft. DEs will be weighted higher based on talent level in this draft AND need. LB will also be weighted higher. Just as QB will be weighted downward, based on lack of talent in the draft and lack of need. That’s not saying they won’t take a QB in the draft, maybe competition for Carpenter, but QB will be rated lower on the BPA board for the Bucs over other positions.

    All this says is that we may take a LB or OL in the first round over DE if the combination of BPA, need, and amount and level of quality players leaves us with those positions rated higher than the next available DE on the board.

    RB may not be highest rated at need or even talent level or amount of quality RBs available, but if the top guy is there, it’s not out of the question.

  9. RastaMon Says:

    What is this a bait thread…
    😉

  10. Snook Says:

    RBs in the 1st round are a waste.

  11. Apple Roof Cleaning Says:

    Tampa should take the best athlete when they pick, whoever he may be.

  12. Snook Says:

    Ingram isn’t anything special. His O-Line at Alabama was the workhorse. Even UA’s backups ran well. Does that mean they’re all 1st round picks?

  13. Snook Says:

    Hey Tom:

    That list of 1st round RBs you made is impressive.

    Too bad the list of 1st round BUSTS at RB is much much longer.

  14. Tom Says:

    Snook, you can say the same thing about QB right?

    The point is that if your going to say the RB position is a “dime a dozen” then why are the consensus 4 best RB’s of all time and two best RB’s in the past few years all 1st rounders. Seems like a losing argument.

  15. RastaMon Says:

    ps…I am not sold on Mark Ingram
    just because he is “mocked” highest RB

  16. gotbbucs Says:

    Not gonna happen so it’s not worth talking about.

  17. Dew Says:

    I still think the Bucs will draft Pouncey with the 20th pick, or move down and still get him. It’s all about Free.

  18. gitarlvr Says:

    Its not looking like Ingram will last to #20. Definetly can find value later in the draft at running back. The biggest reason I wouldn’t want the Bucs to draft Ingram is that like most backs in this draft he is not a strong pass protector. I think the Bucs would be better served finding a back later in the draft who is a good pass protector and reciever even if he is not a huge threat running the ball. Basically they need a younger version of Caddy with more upside. Ingram would just take away carries from Blount as a feature back without providing the necessary 3rd down back ability.

  19. Joe Says:

    Drafting a running back in the first round is a terrible value unless you just need a running back to get over the hump for a Super Bowl.

    Running backs generally have very short shelf lives and in the first round are highly expensive. As the Bucs have shown, you can get very good quality backs off the scrap heap.

    To draft Ingram in the first round to share carries with Blount is a very dumb investment. You think Ingram’s agent will take a cheap contract because he will share carries? Of course not.

    Better off spending that kinda cash drafting a guy who will have a much bigger impact for much longer time like a defensive end or an offensive tackle.

  20. Joe Says:

    Tom:

    Snook is right. Running backs are a dime a dozen.

    The NFL is a passing league now. When’s the last time a team won a Super Bowl with a stud running back? Probably the Rams with Marshall Faulk 12 years ago and that’s because Faulk caught the ball out of the backfield as well if not better than he did running the ball, which is saying a lot.

    Given what running backs cost in the first round and their short shelf life, it’s just not smart financially to draft a running back in the first round when you can get better quality drafting another position.

  21. Snook Says:

    Tom Says:
    February 27th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
    Snook, you can say the same thing about QB right?

    The point is that if your going to say the RB position is a “dime a dozen” then why are the consensus 4 best RB’s of all time and two best RB’s in the past few years all 1st rounders. Seems like a losing argument.

    =====

    Except we’re not talking about QBs here.

    We’re talking RBs and the Bucs here. Not running backs from the 1960s or 1990s.

    Was Cadillac Williams worth a 1st round pick?

    Top 3 rushers in 2010:
    Foster – undrafted
    Charles – 3rd round
    Turner – 5th round

    Only 4 of the top 10 rushers in 2010 are 1st rounders.

    Your argument is flawed. Especially in today when teams are using two RBs and not just one.

    RBs are easy to find in late rounds. Do you really need examples? Why waste a #1 pick on a guy and pay him big money when you can find guys like Blount or Jamaal Charles, or Peyton Hillis or Ahmad Bradshaw?

    RBs aren’t QBs. They don’t run the entire offense.

  22. RastaMon Says:

    “Joe Says:

    February 27th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
    Tom:

    Snook is right. Running backs are a dime a dozen.”

    rewind to this past years Play Offs

    it were RB’s that made the game defining plays….game after game
    the Bucs barely have a running game…Blount is not nearly a complete RB and if he continues to leap/hurdle he’ll be leaving the field giving a thumbs up to the fans on the back of a golf cart…

  23. Teddy Says:

    I’ve always maintained that a team should never draft a RB or a CB (at least in a predominantly zone defense like we play) in the first round. For defenses that rely on heavy man-to-man, you need to find guys like Darrell Revis, Nnamdi Asomugha and Champ Bailey, and those guys don’t grow on trees.

    Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been pleased with the play of Aqib Talib (on the field), but I think we may end up getting just as good of production down the line out of Myron Lewis (third round) and E.J. Biggers (seventh round). For crying out loud, the best DBs we’ve ever had were Ronde (third round), Brian Kelly (second) and Donnie Abraham (fourth).

    Back on point, the recent numbers don’t lie. The league’s top RBs don’t typically come from the first round. However, their lineman typically do, and that’s where we need to focus. OL. DL. And then LB.

  24. 2 Buc Bill Says:

    always take the best player on the board. i would love for them to go OL though, maybe Carimi if he’s still there. the thing is, if one of Ingram’s teammates (who plays WR) falls to 20, i think you pull the trigger, although after his impressive combine, he probably won’t fall that far

  25. Dave Says:

    For a team that has Blount, a possible speed guy in Huggins and a vet, 3rd down guy in Caddy…

    Taking a RB in roun1-4 would be absolutely a WASTE

  26. Tom Says:

    For those who believe that RB’s are a dime a dozen…

    The TOP 25 career rushers in NFL history have run for over 10,000 yards. 22 out of those 25 players (88%) were drafted in round 1.

    Now find me another position that can say the same thing.

    http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_career.htm

    My argument is not that we should draft Ingram but rather the people who think good/great RB’s can be found everywhere don’t know a thing about NFL history or it’s present. Learn something.

  27. Tom Says:

    Sorry that is 21 out of the top 25 (84%)

    The 4 RB’s in the top 25 who didn’t go in Rd 1 are Curtis Martin (Rd 3), Thurman Thomas (Rd 2), Ricky Watters (Rd 3) and Corey Dillon (Rd 2).

    Sounds like a pretty good correlation to me.

  28. gotbbucs Says:

    thats good tom, now look up how many super bowls the teams that have drafted rb’s in the 1st round in the last ten years have won. i dont know the answer but im interested to know.

  29. Tom Says:

    gotbbucs

    Since 2000 5 of the past 12 (42%) SB Winners had 1st round RBs.

    Since 2000 5 of the past 12 (42%) SB Winners had 1st round QBs.

    The Patriots won 4 and Bucs 1 super bowl without either.

  30. Capt. Troll killer Tim Says:

    Thomas 2.2 – you last few post have been civil and intelligent. Cool . I hope it’s a permanent change! I didnt agree with everything, but that doesn’t matter.they were something to think about, and discuss.
    I hope I don’t regret this later. Welcome back from your ski trip.

  31. gotbbucs Says:

    Since 2000, I could think of only three teams that have actually drafted RB’s in round 1 and then won a Super Bowl. The Ravens with Jamal Lewis, the Colts with Joseph Addia, and the Saints with Reggie Bush. Jerome Bettis doesn’t count with the Steelers, they didn’t draft him and the Rams didn’t draft Marshal Faulk.
    Based on production, I would say that only Lewis lived up to his 1st round billing and that’s only because he had one year with 2000 yards, after that he was garbage.

  32. Tom Says:

    gotbbucs

    7 of the past 12 SB winning teams did not start a QB they drafted in Rd 1. So if the QB position, the most important in all of football and sports hasn’t trended above the 50% clip in the past 12 years you’re going to have to find the “missing link” position that does. Your point is otherwise moot. It’s also an entirely separate one from the one I made.

    I tend to think a really good team will win the super bowl…you know, the one with a lot of very good players on it. It helps to have those in as many positions as possible. I guess that’s why it helps to know the odds of success ahead of time. Like the fact that if LaGarrette Blount rushes for 9,000 more yards over his career he’ll be the first player in NFL history drafted outside of the first 3 rounds to do so and only the 5th person outside of round 1. Seems like elite company to me.