Strength Of Bucs? Try Corner.
July 26th, 2017
Depth at corner.
Joe supposes that if one were to name the strongest depth position on the team, one might say running back.
Yeah, when a former Pro Bowler might not be the starter (when he returns from suspension — if he returns from suspension), sure, Joe could see how one might suggest running back is the deepest position.
But while looking at the projected 53-man roster, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com forecasts cornerback to be the deepest.
How deep? Last year the Bucs brought in former Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson. While he only logged two snaps on defense, per Pro-Football-Reference.com, he was a special teams warrior.
The cornerback position is so crowded, Laine believes the Bucs will list Robinson as a safety in order to keep him on the final-53.
Josh Robinson, who lined up at safety this offseason, can serve as a backup at both positions, although his key role will be on special-teams coverage.
Laine also believes Javien Elliott will be cut and land on the practice squad. Granted, it was only underwear football, but every practice Joe watched this spring, Elliott made a play. Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter sang his praises all throughout underwear football season.
So to Joe, moving Robinson to safety and considering a guy like Elliott to be on the roster bubble speaks to how deep the cornerback position is. And that’s a very good thing.
July 26th, 2017 at 5:14 am
Cornerback is a relatively strong position, however no one really jumps out beyond Brent Grimes & VHIII. Tough one, but right now I think the strongest position on our Bucs is wide receiver. Proven performance with ME13 & DJax, along with great potential in Godwin, Humphries & a couple of others.
July 26th, 2017 at 6:01 am
I’m with DR. Wideouts are the strength!
July 26th, 2017 at 6:03 am
The cb depth is more quantity after grimes and Hargreaves than quality. Hey Jude? Ryan smith? Elliott? Robinson? Anyone comfortable with any of those 4 be a long term starter if grimes or Vern get injured?
July 26th, 2017 at 6:43 am
Don’t know that I would call either “deepest”. Does quality factor into “deepest”. I mean if some guys can step up at corner that would be huge cause if Hargreaves or grimes goes down, that could spell trouble. Plus , 3 of the guys in this “deepest” conversation seem to only play mostly inside / nickel (Elliot , hey Jude, new guy from Carolina )
July 26th, 2017 at 6:45 am
Sorry leighroy. Didn’t read yours. Seems like we are saying same thing
July 26th, 2017 at 6:51 am
BTW Joe, Jenna’s prediction for the 53-man roster looks pretty good at this point with 2 exceptions. She kept 5 WRs & 5 TEs … doubtful we keep 5 TEs (6 WRs & 4 TEs seems more likely). She also kept 10 DLinemen & 5 LBs … doubtful we keep only 5 LBs given Beckwith’s situation at this point (9 DL & 6 LB seems more likely, although if George Johnson lights the world on fire in training camp Jenna could well be right). I’m sure she’s right that Bucs will only keep 2 QBs, but I wouldn’t be too quick to write off Griffin (Jenna gave the nod to Fitzpatrick).
July 26th, 2017 at 7:06 am
Bucs appear deepest at TE!
July 26th, 2017 at 7:06 am
SOunds weird but deepest maybe Center: Ali marpet, joe Harley, Evan smith, and josh Allen. All have started at some point for bucs!
July 26th, 2017 at 7:09 am
Hawley- dang auto correct
July 26th, 2017 at 8:09 am
A long way from the Loaf Jennings, Leonard Johnson, and Major Wright days..
July 26th, 2017 at 9:39 am
Agree with D.R. and Bird’s observation.
Does depth mean little falloff if he starter goes down?
Say a position where we keep five spots…is two great players with three meats as deep as five decent players?
The fact that we’re even having this conversation with several good nominations is just terrific. The Bucs are really, really close now. We have stars or potential stars across the field and at long last we are beginning to develop some quality depth.
July 26th, 2017 at 10:16 am
Jenna Laine knows who will make the team as much as I do. I’m sure she’s a decent reporter, and well liked, but her insider scoops are non existent. Just watch how Jameis and Dirk answer her questions. They know she’s always looking for the “bigger” story. They don’t allow her into the inner workings or actual thought processes. Her opinion to me is just that. Her opinion. Nothing to hang your hat on. Koetter, and Licht will let us know who makes the team. No one else knows.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:51 am
I call BS. “Dept”, to me, means “quality in quantity” and the ONLY “quality” DBs I can see are Grimes and Hargreaves, that’s it. In my my mind, DB is probably are worst position depth wise and I wouldn’t be surprised if we drafted a DB or two in next year’s draft!
Now … if Ryan Smith and Elliot maximize their potential, we will indeed have depth and be sitting pretty, but, that’s a big “if”.
July 26th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Yea – NO.
No way can CB be considered a “strength” when our best player is 34 years old in the last year of his contract and has already talked about retiring.
Grimes and Hargreaves as outside starters is fine for this year. Better than a # of team’s starting corners (assuming Hargreaves plays stronger in his 2nd year and makes more impact plays). But we don’t even know who the 3rd CB is yet and that nickle corner is on the field at least 50% of the time. God forbid either Grimer or Hargreaves gets injured….
Ryan Smith, Jude Adjei-Barimah, Javien Elliot, Josh Robinson – these names hardly instill confidence that the Bucs have enough talent to be considered having a “strong” CB group. Hopefully at least 1 or 2 of those names will emerge as solid starting corner prospects this year.
Chances are very high we draft a CB in either the 1st or 2nd round in 2018.
July 26th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
A “strength”? I’m not so sure but, you do have depth in terms of players that have game experience. It’s likely that this theory will be tested with Grimes’ age.
July 26th, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Cornerback is probably our second weakest position group depth wise, with only linebacker being weaker. Jenna Laine is clueless I’m not sure how she got her job???
July 26th, 2017 at 5:10 pm
Elliot will not be cut guy makes big plays consistently in practice and showed he could handle the full time nickel position. He will be here come week 1.
July 26th, 2017 at 7:34 pm
Lots of people forget about Robert Mclain. Solid sold backup if not the nickel, loads of game experience, including many starts. Played for ATL And CAR…knows those NFC South QBs from inside and outside the wire.
July 26th, 2017 at 9:54 pm
Damn straight Fred!! Go Bucs!!!