Eyeing “Baby Gronk”
March 21st, 2016
Last year, the Bucs drafted Samoan fullback/running back Joey Iosefa out of the University of Hawaii in the seventh round.
Iosefa later became the featured back in the Patriots’ win against Tennessee in December, grinding out 51 yards on 14 carries.
The point is general manager Jason Licht drafted a fullback a year ago, and the Bucs need a fullback now even more than they did then. Dirk Koetter appears to be a pro-fullback head coach. Remember, he developed Pro Bowler Patrick DiMarco in Atlanta.
Jorvorskie Lane had a horrific injury in the Bucs’ season finale, and there’s no other fullback currently on the roster.
This is why Joe is keeping an eye on the man known as “Baby Gronk,” fullback Glenn Gronkowski out of Kansas State. The youngest brother of Rob Gronkowski is someone Joe met at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the 6-2, 240 specimen loves to talk about his versatility and desire to play special teams.
Joe also likes the Gronkowski pedigree, and most guys like him from an NFL family. That knowledge of expectations goes a long way, Joe believes. Former Bucs safety Cody Grimm overachieving as a seventh-round pick comes to mind.
Gronkowski is projected as a sixth- or seventh-round pick. Joe could totally see the Bucs making that move, if every pass rusher with a pulse is off the board.
March 21st, 2016 at 8:46 am
If not gronk, FB Dan Vitale of Northwestern looks like another Alstott, 6’1 239, and ran a 4.60 (Gronkowski ran 4.72) plus has great hands (102 catches in career), plus is a devastating blocker, another 6th rounder I’d love to see is kicker from FSU Agayo, turn 2 6th rounders into 10 year starters, that alone would make this a good draft
March 21st, 2016 at 8:48 am
Baby Gronk “Up The Gut”!
March 21st, 2016 at 8:53 am
Uh, BigHogHaynes……they a paying Doug Martin a boatload of money to run up, around and through the gut……all they want in a FB is a blocker
March 21st, 2016 at 8:57 am
Iosefa has signed with anbody yet (perhaps I’m wrong) why are we not testing him again ?
After all he was good enought to play with pats, so he isn’t that bad.
He’s still on the Pats roster.–Joe
March 21st, 2016 at 9:05 am
We will draft a fullback but it won’t be this guy. It will be Dan Vitalie, I heard Dirk Keotter is in love with this kid, he can catch, run, block, whatever u need him to do. His college team called him the ” super back”.
March 21st, 2016 at 9:26 am
…also love Vitale here, ditto…doesn’t Stocker become the lead blocker now??
Luke Stocker is the Bucs’ No. 1 tight end.–Joe
March 21st, 2016 at 9:43 am
Vitale is definitely the guy to pursue! Right after the Kicker from FL St.
March 21st, 2016 at 10:30 am
Baby Gronk would be a cool name…but in truth he’s not what we need (at present) in a fullback.
I basically have two measuring sticks for fullback…
Mike Alstott
Lorenzo Neal
If a fullback can’t play the role like one of those guys, then I don’t want him.
That said…Mike Alsott was not a good pass blocker and pass catcher when he was drafted. He had to work at those things first.
March 21st, 2016 at 10:31 am
And, as much as I would LOVE to have a new Mike Alstott guy…a Lorenzo Neal guy would be better given the way the NFL is heading.
March 21st, 2016 at 11:10 am
Vitale the FB from NW should be the player we target.
March 21st, 2016 at 11:28 am
I doubt Roberto Aguayo will make it to the 6th round.
March 21st, 2016 at 11:32 am
Do some research on Andy Janovich-Nebraska. He’s better than all those guys and would be a STEAL in the 6th.
March 21st, 2016 at 1:51 pm
I agree w Skipper. I’d be surprised if Aguayo made it to the 5th round even…
March 21st, 2016 at 2:02 pm
We have two kickers…no need to blow a pick on a kicker
March 21st, 2016 at 2:02 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
I can’t look up stats at the moment, but I believe you’re wrong about Alstott’s receiving early in his career. Didn’t he lead the team in receptions with 71 his rookie year?
March 21st, 2016 at 2:13 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
March 21st, 2016 at 10:30 am
“Mike Alsott was not a good pass blocker and pass catcher when he was drafted.”
Just more misguided “analysis” from Bonsai – Alstott caught 65 passes as a rookie.
March 21st, 2016 at 5:39 pm
Alstott was a fumble machine. Anybody see him on Wheel of Fortune? Derp!
All that said, his running highlight reel was fabulous. Man he could mow em down.
March 21st, 2016 at 9:32 pm
I was pissed when we juat let losefa go. He seemed like a grinder. Another move jason licht drafted and lovie made the roster call