Former Bucs RB Coach: Draft Cook

March 19th, 2017

Ex-NFL star and Bucs coach ranks the running backs.

When people who both played and coached in the NFL offer opinions on draft prospects, Joe always listens. Who would know better than them?

Former Bucs running back coach Earnest Byner (2012 & 2013), who had one helluva career in the NFL, has been really active on Twitter of late. He has studied running backs coming out of college into this spring’s draft, and he has a list ranking who is the best.

Atop that list? Dalvin Cook.

@EByner: 1.Davin Cook 2.Fournett 3. Mixon 4.McCaffery 5.Kamara first four have first round talent, make a difference ability.(Mixon trouble may pause)

Joe puts a lot of worth into this. Byner knows from his own experience what it takes to succeed in the NFL. (He’s got two Super Bowl rings.) And he knows also from a coach’s perspective.

So when Bynerย says Cook has the best traits to make it in the NFL, who is Joe to argue?

122 Responses to “Former Bucs RB Coach: Draft Cook”

  1. Negative Jeff Says:

    Weakest running back at the combine. Also has shoulder issues. I’m afraid his underdeveloped upper body will lead to fumbles. Also, does not have elite speed. I just don’t get it. Reminds me of Cadillac Williams. We will all love him the first year and then his shoulder gives out . Bucs blow another 1st rounder.

  2. Dreambig Says:

    Man, how cool would that be if the Bucs grabbed him! I think he will be long gone before we pick.

  3. Tampabayucfan Says:

    Shocking…..a RB coach believe Bucs should draft a RB.

    If Cook is there at 19…..I’m all in for that….but I don’t think we should trade up for any player.

  4. BKNYfootballhead Says:

    @ Negative Jeff

    I guess you missed Cook’s bench press reps at the combine. Move along.

  5. Joeypoppems Says:

    @Tampabayucfan

    He didn’t say the Bucs should draft Cook. He just said Cook is the best RB in the class, which I personally agree with.

  6. Defense Rules Says:

    Would like to see Dalvin Cook in a Bucs uniform, but drafting him with our #19 pick should depend on who else is still on the board at that point and how that availability matches up against our priority needs. For instance, if Mike Williams or Corey Davis is available, I’d personally take either one of them, then use our 2nd or 3rd rnd pick to draft a RB. Or if say Solomon Thomas (Stanford DE) was still available, I’d prefer drafting him (not very likely to happen obviously).

  7. Jim H Says:

    I take it you’re talking about McCaffrey Negative Jeff? Cook put up 22 reps of 225. More than all but three running backs.

  8. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Earnest Byner only hit 1,000 yards three times in 14 years, and most years he was far below. I wouldn’t call that a heck of a career.

  9. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I agree with Defense Rules.

  10. DislocatedBucsFan Says:

    If Warrick said the same thing I’d give I a second thought… next.

  11. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Choose from the best available at 19. Don’t trade up. Trust the GM to pick a player that will make the team better.

  12. Wausa Says:

    I’m afraid Dalvin will be long gone before we have our first pick.

    He is an enormous difference maker at a position we are arguably the worst in the NFL. I am very confident if he is available he will be our selection and be a big part of transforming our offense into an elite category.

  13. bucNation Says:

    @ dislocatedbucsfan ummm dalvin broke warricks rushing yards record at fsu in only 3 years i’m sure he’d say the same thing about the kid lol.. anyone concerned about injuries just has to know that any running back coming out of college is gonna have some injury concerns and his are not nearly as bad a fournette if i’m jason licht and i’m looking at all these running backs dalvin is easily number one on the board fournette had way to many injuries and mcaffery will never be your #1 back he’s gonna have the same role in the nfl as charles sims has now with us why the hell would we pick a guy that plays the same game as a guy we got on the team already!

  14. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    All of this talk about Cook might just make another team trade up ahead of us to take him. I’m fine with that, because it will push another good player down closer to us.

  15. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Bucs keep Martin. Beef up offensive line. Beef up defensive line. Draft Joe Mixon in 4th round.

    Make final decision on Martin when his suspension ends, depending on how good Mixon does.

    Nole jumps off Skyway.

  16. meh Says:

    I’m not interested in a RB in the first round.

  17. DallasBuc Says:

    ^^^Hah, good one Bonzai!

  18. buddhaboy Says:

    Really negative Jeff, Underdeveloped UPPER BODY, LOL. How stupid

    https://twitter.com/dalvincook/status/825072998780633090

    Does that look like dude is weak in the upper body, note he is on the far right. Since when have measurable mattered for running backs? Look at emmitt smith, dude was really short, not very fast, but yet is the all time leading rusher.

    Dalvin Cook has IT, and Earnest Byner sees it, but we should listen to you right? freekin hilarious. WAKE UP

  19. Tampabayucfan Says:

    @Joeypoppems

    You are correct……I was misled by the headline……not quite “fake news” but headlines can be deceiving.

    My headline would be…..”If Bucs draft RB, Byner likes Cook.”

  20. Jeagan1999 Says:

    I like Cook, but Fournette is the best in this class. You don’t see many guys come along with his combination of size, speed, power and moves. Cook has also got a good skill set, and may make a fine NFL RB, but all things being equal, I’d take Fournette over Cook any day of the week. I’d also take Mixon before Cook. Doesn’t mean I don’t like Dalvin Cook…..just think these other guys will be better NFL RB’s.

  21. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Charlie Casserly has Cook going in the top 10 to the Jets. He said a lot of teams still view him as their top back even after the combine.

  22. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Bonzai

    So we keep Martin who is our RB for the first three games? We’re going to call Jaquizz a bona fide NFL #1 RB? Barber? Sims?

    Martin has NEVER been a difference maker! He was moderately successful behind a solid OL for 2 of his FIVE years. He routinely gets hauled down from behind.
    What has our record been with Martin at RB.

    Personally I want a difference maker! I agree with Byner. The first four on his list can make a genuine difference.

  23. Jonzey Says:

    Cook is the best back in my eyes. How can you say Earnest Byner is not good, he only has 2 SB rings and he coached running backs in the NFL. He knows.

  24. Jonzey Says:

    If you look at the past years nfl drafts some of the 1st round WR’s were bust, and DE’s , pretty much it’s a 50/50 chance.

  25. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    No way in heck Dalvin makes it past the Panther’s at 8. Watched DJ & Bucky Brook’s podcast the other day, and it seems as though people are hesitant about Fournette’s ability to work out of the ShotGun vs. a 2 back set.

    The panther’s work/ run predominantly out of the gun. They run a Zone scheme. Yes some times its a zone read option, but it’s still a zone blocking scheme. And they have made it known that they are looking for Stewarts replacement.

    Buckle up FSU homer’s, you may have to start rooting against your golden boy.

  26. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Ezekial Elliot Success + Copy Cat league = Cook & Fournette both taken in top 10

    Watch it happen.

  27. Costa Rica John Says:

    I would like to see how this years running back class stacks up against Todd Gurley when he came out. That guy was a beast his first year in the league then he disappeared last year. Joe can we get an article comparing some recent backs?

  28. mesh Says:

    I think cook will be gone but since we did get Desean Jackson I would be ok grabbing him. I think Christian McCaffrey would possibly be better because of his receiving skills.

  29. Ken Calleja Says:

    Bucs fans are just not very intuitive. The only RB worth taking in the first round is McCaffrey. He’s way more that a running back. He will be the smartest player on the field as well as the most electric!None of you seem to understand that that in this day in age you can’t just be big strong and fast. You also need to be intelligent! Cook and Fournette will be liabilities in the intellectual department. In today’s NFL offenses you need to be able to process quickly.

  30. BigHogHaynes Says:

    Mixon 3rd Round!

  31. Buc1987 Says:

    Dalvin Cook is coming to Tampa.

  32. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Byner also said Mixon is one of the best, maybe the bucs should get him in the second. Right joe? Since byner knows best right? The bucs should over look all of his issue because Byner says he is good. Let go draft him. We can get a much better value drafting mixon in the second or third than cook in the first.

  33. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    @1987 he may very well. In an opposing teams uniform.

  34. Trubucfan22 Says:

    To answer your question st Pete. I believe the bucs were undefeated last season when Martin started and played the whole game.

  35. Joeypoppems Says:

    We lost to Dallas when Martin played the whole game. 16 carries for 42 yards

  36. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    @JoeyPoppems

    We lost to Dallas for one reason, and one reason only. Gosder Cherilus. Dude got dominated all night long. It’s amazing that we came as close to winning as we did.

  37. Joeypoppems Says:

    I’m not saying Martin is the reason we lost, just sayin we were not undefeated when Doug Martin played

  38. Eric Denman Says:

    I hope to God some other team ahead of us drafts Dalvin Cook.

  39. Eric Denman Says:

    @Joeypopems

    We also lost because of costly turnovers

  40. Ace WigSplitta Says:

    What is this @Negative Jeff talking about smdh!?

  41. Billy Buc N Brazil Says:

    Did E. Byner report this list of running backs before or after the combine??

  42. Skipper Says:

    @ken callija
    The SHS, Auburn, Dolphins running back?

  43. Joeypoppems Says:

    Again, I’m not saying Doug Martin is why we lost o stop telling me reasons why we lost lol

  44. Eric Says:

    If we have to trade up to get him, do it.

    What an offense that would be.

  45. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    The combine shouldn’t move players around draft boards much. These guys have put out 2-4 seasons of game film. Being fast or tall or strong doesn’t make you a good football player. Most of these guys are physical freaks, so I’m not going to let a tenth of a second in the 40 determine if a guy can play or not. We get all worked up that a guy ran a 4.62 instead of a 4.55! Give me a freakin break! If you can play, you can play.

  46. BFFL Says:

    Id rather take Forest Lamp in 1st round and then fill RB with DeAngelo Henderson in 5th round

  47. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    My father was a bookie so perhaps I have grown up paying attention to odds.
    My ole man used to make fun of me at the race track because he called me a “chalk” player…meaning I went for odds on favorites not long shots.

    Again from the last thread where I posted what the “ODDS” are for drafting RB’s.

    There is a very high bust rate for RBs. The first round gives you a 58% chance of finding a starter followed by 25% in the second, 16% in the third, 11% in the fourth, 9% in the fifth, 6% in the sixth and 0% in the 7th.

    f you want a stud RB, they are likely to come from the first round. If you are looking for depth, the fourth round seems to be the place to go.

    So do we need to draft a stud or are we simply looking for depth at RB?

  48. Cobraboy Says:

    I’m concerned about Cook’s fumbling tendencies. It doesn’t get easier in the NFL.

    Fumblers rarely “turn around.”

  49. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    @Joey Lol i know that. I think he was being sarcastic.

  50. Dan Solaz Says:

    Cook looked plenty fast on Saturdays.. We all know there is a difference between running a 40 in tights and running on a field with ball in hand. His game speed and quickness is on a top level. I would love Cook in first round even if they trade up, IMHO

  51. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    BTW….speaking of gambles…Mixon!!! Could be great or is he a copy of perhaps the most talented RB to ever enter the league Lawrence Phillips?

    I’m not simply worried about the infamous incident on video…that was ONE incident…horrible yes..but are there others. There are people who know.

    Is he another Greg Hardy…or a Noah Spence who made a mistake and truly atoned and paid his dues to get back in good graces.

    I haven’t done the research so I can’t answer those questions. I suspect Licht has though and so if we draft him I’ll have to trust in Licht and Koetter. If we pass on him again I’ll believe Licht and Koetter found some more disturbing stuff in the character check.

  52. Ndog Says:

    So Blake now you are actively rooting for our division rivals to get much better just so we don’t get Cook!? Dude are you even a Bucs fan cause if Cook goes to Carolina that certainly bad for the Bucs (my team) I’m not sure about you.

  53. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    StPete, I agree with you that you have better odds of finding a stud RB in the 1st round, but I’m sure the percentages would be the same for other positions as well. I’m sure 1st round WRs or DEs, etc…would hit more than other rounds. We have seen, though, that the RB position can yield a stud after the first round more than any other position, and the stats prove it. I think I saw it on JBF that the RB position had the highest percentage of later round picks starting than any other. While I think that the 1st round is a good place to find a good RB, if you do need a later round pick to ball out, the RB position is the one to bet on.

  54. Maze Says:

    Praying McCaffrey is a buccaneer soon๐Ÿ™

  55. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    StPete, 7th round might be 0%, but undrafted is higher. Think Blount and Foster.

  56. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    I have the utmost confidence that if the panthers draft Cook, Kwon and Vonte would smack him up real nice like. Heck this Wilcox guy lands a clean shot on Dalvin and its a wrap.

  57. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    But I’m not actively hoping he goes any where. I’m just being realistic about how other teams view his stock. And that with 3 running back needy teams in the top 10, and the NFL being the copy cat league it is, I don’t see Cook and Fournette making it past the Jags, Jets and Panthers.

  58. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    StPete, I’m a Cook fan, so I’ll be happy if we draft him, but I’ll also be OK if we don’t, and draft a RB in the 2-4 range. I just want the best player, no matter what the name. I’m not high on Jabril Peppers, but if we pick him, I hope he turns into a stud Saftey!

  59. BFFL Says:

    Cooks agility drills were awful and his tape shows that he’s good at running through big holes. Problem is there wont be big holes on the bucs OL and he would need to rely on agility.

  60. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Blake, you act like this hasn’t happened before. Kelvin Benjamin went to the Panthers and I don’t see any FSU fans rooting for him to torch us. I like FSU, UF and MIA players, but that love stops in the NFL. When they leave FSU, if they’re not on the Bucs they are the enemy! Seek and destroy!

  61. Joeypoppems Says:

    @Stpete

    I want to dive deeper into those percentages you gave. First I want to ask what defines a bust? Is it negative things like stats and injuries or is it short time spent with the team that drafted him? I wouldn’t call Marshawn Lynch a “bust” but maybe some Bills fans might think he is because he didn’t have major success until his Seattle days

  62. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    Joey

    I took those stats from the link I provided on the last thread. As I’m sure you know there are dozens of sites that analyze draft success and failure. But what makes them different is their criteria or methodology.

    I liked that site I linked because of their criteria. Only the last ten years so it’s apples to apples..the game has changed. They also broke it down by position so that answers BuccannerEric’s question…actually the success rate is different by position. And they defined success simply…starting half of their career…they didn’t involve any subjectivity about stardom…and they didn’t look at busts…only those draft picks that started for half their careers.

    Some may not like those metrics but I found them to be about as objective as you can be.

    Again if the odds on finding an RB that will end up as a starter for half of his career you have a 1 in 20 chance of finding that guy in the sixth round! I’m simply pointing out that we have a far greater chance of finding a stud in the 1st and by a significant %. Yes there are a lot of good RB’s this year as Byner pointed out probably four with 1st round talent. That doesn’t mean ALL of those four will NOT go in the first round. Those four may be gone by the 2nd and certainly the 3rd unless Mixon’s off field rep hurts him too severely.

    Which leads me to the UFDA’s who had success….Legarette Blount is a perfect example…not drafted yet a starter in the NFL. He was pegged as a first rounder until he sucker punched the Boise State player on video. So you really can’t compare the UDFA RB’s because most of them had baggage not a lack of first round talent.

  63. RawBucFan Says:

    I think we’re sitting pretty at 19. Gonna get a quality player!! Draft for need in rounds 2-7.

  64. Buccfan37 Says:

    I’ll be glad when the Bucs first pick is over with. The speculation has got my head spinning.

  65. Joeypoppems Says:

    Idk how I feel about the metric of starting half of your games defining success. That’s a little too bland for me.

  66. Joeypoppems Says:

    Trent Richardson started 37 of 46 games played so according to that logic he isn’t a bust? Unless I am completely misunderstanding that concept, which I must be lol

  67. Jonzey Says:

    Blount is a short yardage back that fit that team. Brady throw the ball, we are a run 11st team they are a throw 11st team.

  68. Jonzey Says:

    1st team

  69. Joeypoppems Says:

    New England averaged 36.5 pass attempts per game, we averaged 36.1 pass attempts per game. New England also ran the ball more than us. 29.5 carries per game for the Pats and 28.3 carries per game for us. Weird when a “pass first” team runs more than a “run first” team

  70. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    Blount lead the league in Rushing TD’s. And we routinely sputtered out in goal line situations last year. Sign me up for a short yardage bruiser that has a nose for the endzone.

    One of the reason’s I like Sameje Perine and D’onta Foreman so much. They can enforce their will on Defenses in the red zone. If you ask me that’s the kind of back we need. A back that can get his on 3rd and short and keep a drive alive, and can make his money getting chunks of yardage, and sticking his nose in the endzone to cap off drives.

    But that’s my own opinion.

  71. chipbuc Says:

    Speaking of McCaffrey ,just saw a fact on his combine results. McCaffrey’s combine results ( 4.48 40 , 10.1 broad jump, 37.5 vertical ) for a RB hasn’t been done since another RB in 2006 had similar numbers. His name was Adrian Peterson. McCaffrey is worth serious consideration at 19.

  72. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Joey, that’s too easy. NEs offense is better than ours, witch means they convert more first downs, and hence, run more total plays. They are also ahead more than us and run more in the 4th to run out the clock, hence, more running plays. We also had games when we were behind (unlike NE) and had to throw at the end. Nothing weird about that.

  73. Mike Johnson Says:

    Didn’t Sapp have quite an underwhelming bench-press result as well? Is it really that important? Aren’t biceps pretty important for holding onto the ball and something not measured by bench-press?

    Agreed, we don’t need to trade up and should definitely listen to trade-down opportunities, but I think if he’s there (Cook) we should take him.

  74. Joeypoppems Says:

    @BuccaneEric75

    That makes perfect sense. If you are behind you pass and ahead you run. You call plays differently for whatever situation you are in. So what defines a “run first” team or a “pass first” team?

  75. Ndog Says:

    Anybody that wants Mccaffrey doesn’t know what the NFL is all about. That guy has Reggie Bush written all over him, and that’s not a good thing.

  76. Ndog Says:

    BFFL Cook had the 2nd most yards after contact in college football and the FSU line was horrible last year. Watch tape before commenting please. While annoying at least Blake does his home work.

  77. Erik w/ Clean Athletics 'The Kwon Alexander of Bucs Fans' Says:

    My only issue with Cook is…. 14 fumbles???

    That number seems astronomical to me.

  78. TheBlackBond Says:

    I really think the hype with us Bucs fans and Cook is the connection between him and Famous Jameis. Personally I like Kamara out of Tennessee. Not a 19, but maybe with a trade down to the mid twenties while picking up an additional 3rd rounder would be perfect.

    The only knock you hear on him is “he’s never carried the ball more the 18 times a game due to splitting carries”. To me that just means he has fresh legs.

  79. RustyRhinos Says:

    Cobraboy Hey fellow Bucs fan, please get with the JBF bloggers program.
    Mr. Cook has no weaknesses to his game, he is going to run right past the DT’s who just blew right past our C and is taking part of the QB to RB exchange of the rock. Catch any pass in a 5 foot radius of his hands, shake and bake defenders right our of their Hi-top loafers. All while High stepping his way to the endzone on nearly every scoring running play. With Mr. Cook and the Messiah we are definitely going to see some “walking on water”, my thought is who will be doing that moonwalk across it first. “If” we draft him… Mr. Cook that is

  80. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Erik, I agree. I like Cook, but being a Nole fan, it’s hard for me to get pat his two 2nd half fumbles against Oregon when the game was still in reach. He hung Winston out to dry there.

  81. BFFL Says:

    Ndog… i did watch tape. Them some big holes dude. And FSU’s OL is considered strong in run blocking. I like cooks vision and I do agree he’s hard to tackle but NFL speed and size is a different game. His slow agility drills have me concerned and I dont like using 1st rd pick on a player with any question marks.

  82. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Stpetebucsfan Says
    “Bonzai

    So we keep Martin who is our RB for the first three games? Weโ€™re going to call Jaquizz a bona fide NFL #1 RB? Barber? Sims?”

    Toy missed the part where I said, “Draft Joe Mixon in 4th round.”

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  83. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    “Toy”

    What the heck, I swear I typed “You” lol

  84. Jonzey Says:

    He was a freshman when he fumbled

  85. chipbuc Says:

    Ndog Just because you say McCaffrey is Reggie Bush doesn’t make it true. Any back that averages 30 touches a game for 2 seasons never missing a game is a serious RB. Just saying. As far as those giant holes he was running through ,sure some runs big holes, on most of his runs i saw patience and setting up blocks between the tackles no less. Throw in his slot receiver hands and you have a dangerous back coming out of the back field. I love Cook too and would be happy with either one of them at 19.

  86. Jonzey Says:

    He was a freshman when he fumbled, Martin needs to go he don’t fit the type of offense we are making. We need a running back like Cook who has a great vision and that is a homerun hitter.

  87. Jonzey Says:

    Falcon had a chance to win but they got away from using Freeman. TB has that type running game if we get Cook, but better.

  88. Joeypoppems Says:

    Doug Martin had 1,400 yards 2 seasons ago. Pretty good for “a guy who doesn’t fit the system”. I agree with you Jonzey that Cook is a good RB and would help our offense, you don’t have to make up facts to support that tho lol

  89. Jonzey Says:

    Like you said 2 season ago, AP was that man to and believe they both have some more in their tanks but we need the future.

  90. Joeypoppems Says:

    I’m all for Doug Martin being gone but it has nothing to do with him “not fitting the system”

  91. Jonzey Says:

    1. Rb, Cook
    2. Wr. Curtis Samuel
    3. Fs, Marcus Williams
    4. TE. Johnu Smith
    5. DE, Trey Hendrickson
    6. OG, Jessamen Dunked
    7. RB, TJ Logan

  92. Dubcity06 Says:

    Foreman or Perine please

  93. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Oh sorry, the bucs were 6-1 when Doug Martin started and finished games last season. so please tell me again where Doug Martin is the problem…

  94. The Incredible Hulk Says:

    Bucs should take a wr in rond 1 and a rb in rd 2. And a safety in rd 3

  95. Jonzey Says:

    No we need a RB in the 1st Wr in the 2nd because we picked up DJax

  96. Maze Says:

    McCaffery will make you look stupid pal

  97. Jonzey Says:

    Cook would too but Cook break tackles

  98. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    McCaffrey breaks tackles 2 bub. He averages 2.5 yards after contact in 2015 per touch. And he had 380+ touches that year so you do the math.

    In 2016, Cmac forced 64 missed tacks as well. He is an extremely elusive player. And he’s the best receiving back in the class by far.

    Look, the guy put Cook to shame in agility drills at the combine. And when they had him run the Receiver drills, he looked like a 1st round pick at Wide out.

    McCaffrey is the better athlete and better over all player.

  99. Blake_bucsfan Says:

    *averaged*

    *tackles* ugh i hate typos

  100. MadMax Says:

    Ive been touting Kamara high pick (2nd) and Perine low pick (3rd to high 4th) as RB targets….good with Cook too….we’ll see

  101. Jonzey Says:

    Those drills don’t mean nothing the play on the field is where it’s at. His father played in the NFL and prepared him for it. He is a great player but we need Cook. Cook has more yards after the tackle.

  102. Jonzey Says:

    Cook has 4.5 after contact and Fournette is behind him with 3.5

  103. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Joey, I would define run first or pass first by what an offense wants to do when the game is tied or close, thier base offense. Looking at stats that don’t take account the two teams game situations can be misleading. The Pats had more offensive snaps and were ahead most of the time. Of course they would run the ball more. I would say the fact that it was that close was surprising. I would think that they would have a lot more rushing attempts.

  104. ARGH_M8E Says:

    I WANT A RB THAT WILL RUN RIGHT OVER FOOLS!!! A 4th QUARTER NIGHTMARE. WE LACK PHYSICALITY IN THE BACKFIELD. Creates another threat… Am I wrong?!

  105. Buccanegro Says:

    I LOVE Calvin Cook, he’s an NFL superstar, difference maker, but quit holding the our breath, he’ll be long gone by 19. I honestly can’t understand why y’all can’t see the obvious lick: AP on the cheap, then draft the UM tight end, in the first, a home run safety in the second, Joe Mixing in the third. Follow this formula and Bucs win NFC South this year.

  106. Rod Munch Says:

    Well considering the Bucs didn’t sign a #3 WR that can be the #2 WR when Jackson misses time, which is almost a certainty, I think the Bucs are painting themselves in a corner where they have to get a WR with that first pick. For those worrying about the combine I always point to Emmitt Smith – he wasn’t a burner, he had no measurable stats that really ever stood out, he just had amazing vision, and that’s almost always the first thing I look at when looking at a RB. For example Charles Sims has great measurables, great hands, really good speed, etc – but for being a 3 down back, he can’t do it as he just doesn’t have good vision when running insider. So I didn’t see enough of Cook to know if he has that vision or not – but if he does, if he really is a special special talent, then the Bucs should get him.

    Which reminds me, for those old enough to remember on the eve of the 1990 NFL Draft the Bucs traded two 3rd rounders to San Diego for Gary Anderson. Before that pretty much everything everywhere had the Bucs drafting Emmitt Smith – instead, with their need at RB filled, they drafted Keith McCants.

    Ugh… and remember 1990 was only four years after the Bucs, with the top overall pick in the 1986 draft, drafted Bo Jackson with the #1 overall pick – then failed to sign him.

    For those dopes who bash the Glazers, it’s obvious you never experienced the pre-Glazer era.

  107. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Munch, the Bucs didn’t fail to sign Bo. He told us not to draft him cause he would never play for us because of the interview scandal. The stupid part was drafting him in the first place.

  108. Pawel Says:

    Nooo. Cook is just another running back. No Cook no

  109. Buc1987 Says:

    Cook at 19

    Ju-Ju in the second.

  110. Buc1987 Says:

    Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
    Creeping with the girl next door
    Picture this we were both butt-naked
    Banging on the bathroom floor

  111. ARGH_M8E Says:

    Get me a TRUCK, TRAIN, TANK, BOWLING BALL W MOFO KNIVES, BEAST WITH YELLOW EYES, my GOSH yes YELLOW EYES, FOAMING AT THE MOUTH, Defense abusing RUNNING BACK! U get NOWWWWWWWW, NOWWW – Arnold Schwarzenegger voice NOWWWWWWWW.๐Ÿšš๐Ÿšœ๐ŸšŒ๐Ÿš‚๐Ÿ—กโšซ๏ธ๐Ÿ”ช

  112. Jonzey Says:

    Nice need a running back that will make people miss only make contact when they have to. RB’s last longer

  113. Joeypoppems Says:

    Wasn’t me

  114. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Funny how Byner has basically the same list as everyone else, yet his is supposed to be more accurate? Whatever. We all know cook is good. It really comes down to 1) whether or not the bucs like someone better than him. And 2) if he is even there at 19 to be selected by the bucs.

    Personally I think the bucs have gotten burned by RBs in the first round. Cadillac Williams, while having spurts of greatness, was overall a bust with his injuries. The same exact thing could be said about Martin. Deep RB class means don’t fool around in the first round for a RB. RBs have low value in the first round of the draft, they don’t last long in the league and they are easy to find in lower rounds. Let someone else take the first round RBs. Build up that o line, then any RB will look great behind them.

  115. John Says:

    Pass ! This isn’t fsu and these are not college players that will be laying the lumber on his frail body. I’d much rather find a way to grab Ross as our speed guy of the future who whe combined if DJax and Evans would be lethal and even with baggage I’d grab Mixon in the 2nd if he was there ( people have em as a 2-3 rd guy) . The 2nd round pick wasted last year for being a homer could have been used on truly Awesome pick.

  116. Jonzey Says:

    So you saying Ross never had injuries (John), The best WR of all times Jerry Rice ran a 4.71 and Antonio Brown the best WR now ran 4.47 at the combine.

  117. Jonzey Says:

    Emmitt Smith ran 4.52 and Barry Sanders 4.41, I love speed but football speed is better. A person can have the top speed but just don’t have on the field. T. Hill 40 time was not better than Ross, but you can’t tell that on the field. I think Ross is good but when you look at it Samuel’s has speed and hand too, and he is bigger. 1. Cook 2. Samuel.

  118. MadMax Says:

    As much as I want D pass rush, Barnett and Solomon are gone by pick 10….get Cook, hopefully at 19 but if we trade up some, im cool with that too.

    Just get Evan Engram next!!! Talk about weapons for Winston!

  119. Josh P Says:

    You’ll who put any weight into the combine need to get a clue. Combine is for entertainment purposes only. Nothing more, nothing less. Watch the film. And if you’re going to bring up Cooks injuries that caused him to miss 1 game in 3 years, feel free to bring up Fournette’s 6 missed games just this past season.

  120. Abes Chicken Says:

    Not to mention, doesn’t Fournette have a higher fumble per carry rate then Cook?

  121. LongSeason Says:

    My dead grandmother bench pressed more than Dalvin Cook or anyone. Of course that is because she got buried upside down.

  122. admin Says:

    My dead grandmother bench pressed more than Dalvin Cook or anyone. Of course that is because she got buried upside down.

    “You don’t pump weights on the 50-yard line.” — noted terrible combine bench presser Warren Sapp.

    #CombineIsNotFootball