Map For Curry Is Flexible

March 29th, 2018

Dirk Koetter’s initial plans.

Hey, a broken clock is right twice a day, right?

After the Bucs acquired defensive lineman Vinny Curry off the scrap heap, after he was a salary cap casualty with the Super Bowl champion Eagles, the Bucs initially projected Curry as a defensive end.

Since signing Curry, the Bucs traded for stud defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul from the Giants. So that’s two new defensive end starters.

Joe speculated that on passing downs, the Bucs defensive line very easily could be JPP at left defensive end, Gerald McCoy and Vinny Curry at tackle and Noah Spence at right defensive end.

Curry with the Eagles started all 16 games last season at DE but played mostly on first and second downs, then at tackle when he was used on passing downs.

Well, earlier this week during the NFL coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Koetter confirmed that Curry moving to tackle on passing downs and Spence entering the game at defensive end is his goal.

“Sure, yeah, he did that in Philly as well,” Koetter said of Curry playing defensive tackle on third downs. “[Curry] can play inside, so yeah, I can see that.

“We want to get Noah on the field as much as you can on passing situations, assuming that he comes back the way we feel. So yeah, I can see that happen.”

So, yeah, it’s still March. But already Koetter is planning for September.

What might really spice up Koetter’s plans is if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht bags Bradley Chubb or Marcus Davenport in the draft.

40 Responses to “Map For Curry Is Flexible”

  1. JAB83 Says:

    I feel Nelson would solidify the offense. Final piece to JLs master piece. We can roll in FA RBs for a decade if need be.

    To me Chubb smells funny and a RB is not priority this high in draft…

    I want Davenport worry about DBs and safties next year.

  2. Lamarcus Says:

    Davenport at 7. No question.

    Even if it’s a reach. Chubb will be gone. I’m off the Quentin Nelson thing

  3. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    If Licht takes Davenport over Nelson at 7, then he won’t be around for next years draft.

  4. unbelievable Says:

    Trade down and take Davenport or Vea later is my hope.

  5. Kstoges Says:

    lol @ Blake but yea hard pass on Davenport got talent but is way to raw and even if he winds up good we need help this year I personally want a DB round one as in minkah ward or Derwin but it be really really hard to pass in Barkley Chubb or Nelson if they fall but guys idk why but i really want the other Chubb RB from Gregoria I have a weird feeling he’s going to be a complete stud in the pros and we haven’t had a Boulder like him at RB since Blount

  6. Greecosuave Says:

    At pick #7 you have 3 premium picks in Nelson, Chubb, Barkley. After that we look for a trade down or likely draft Derwin James, whom the Bucs are HIGH on.

    Davenport helps none now and we just remade the D-Line. Licht all but said they are definetly drafting a RB, CB, and an Sweezy Replacement.
    LGhe Bucs like RBs Guice, Chubb, Michel, and Penny

  7. JAB83 Says:

    Only likr Davenport at this point because of JPP. I feel he would bound and develop faster than normal with this group. My eyes tell me Chubb has peaked or will flame out.

    I still believe the choice is clear. Protect the franchise, Nelson equals the final touches on #WeaponsForWinston.

    Davenport equals circumstances meet opportunity.

  8. JAB83 Says:

    We need to bring in Adrian Peterson and an Un Drafter free agent or two for kick returns. Plenty will hit the market when rosters get cut.

    Barber has earned the right to start.

  9. Not there yet Says:

    Barber hasn’t earned anything yet. You earn a starting gig on your roster because you are better not because the guy in front of you is bad and you still can’t get on the field. So all he earned was the right to compete to start, if he beats out the competition this year then he would have earned the right to start. Smells like gifting daquan Bowers a starting job. Earn it in training camp young man. If they draft someone in the first or second round he’ll be a backup for sure

  10. Jason Mclaurin Says:

    Yeah I’m thinking on passing on a running back in this draft. They need two Tackles in my opinion and they need a safety and a corner all before they even think about a running back. They need a safety, corner, or tackle in the first. They need to trade down with Buffalo and wait on Derwin James I think he will be on the board at twelve still. Take an offensive lineman with the second first rounder preferably a Tackle.
    Defensive line is good at this point to me. I like for Curry, McCoy at the inside full time and Spence and JPP at end full time starters at this point. We bring Allen, Unrein, Gholston and a drafted player in for rotation on second down or when positioned in mid field on early downs.
    Offensive line looks to be Marpet at LG, Sweezy back to his natural position to battle with Evan Smith for right guard. I like Beneoch as well but I can see a draft pick competing next season. I think they may trade back in the first and draft using a second round pick or mortgage future picks and get Orlando Brown Jr who is better suited for tag team help.so Jensen, C, Marpet,LG, Donovan Smith, RG, and draft picks to stay in the second round plus get two playeers.

  11. German Buc Says:

    My dream scenario would be to trade down with the Bills. We give our 7th (1,800 points in draft value) for their 12th and 22nd (1,050 + 780) plus whatever premium we get, maybe a pick in a later round or a higher next year.
    Then we can address the trenches (DL or OL, depends on BPA) at 12, take best RB at 22 (imho Guice) and best DB at 38.

  12. NFLNut Says:

    ^ If they were going to pass on drafting a RB, they likely would have signed Carlos Hyde or another free agent …

  13. NFLNut Says:

    And ….. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO …. to Davenport at #7!!!!!!!

  14. German Buc Says:

    Correction to my previous post: 12th pick has a value of 1,200 points

  15. Gambelero Says:

    Davenport at 22, not 7.

  16. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Top -7 Mock
    1 Cleveland – Sam Darnold QB | USC – 6’3″ 221 lbs
    2 NY Giants – Josh Rosen QB | UCLA – 6’4″ 226 lbs
    3 NYJ – Josh Allen QB | Wyoming – 6’5″ 237 lbs
    4 CLE – Saquon Barkley RB | Penn State – 6’0″ 233 lbs
    5 Denver – Baker Mayfield QB | Oklahoma – 6’1″ 215 lbs
    6 IND – Bradley Chubb DE | NC State – 6’4″ 269 lbs
    7 Tampa Bay – *Quenton Nelson OG | Notre Dame – 6’5″ 325 lbs

    Upgraded Interior
    LG *Quenton Nelson | Caleb Benenoch
    OC Ryan Jensen | Evan Smtih
    RG Ali Marpet | J.R. Sweezy

    2nd Round Pick – Derrius Guice or Sony Michel

  17. Bill Byrne Says:

    “….acquired defensive lineman Vinny Curry off the scrap heap!” Now that’s just mean Joe.

  18. Defense Rules Says:

    Limited number of ‘sure things’ in this draft & we all know who they are. If we move down further in the 1st Rnd, there are no longer any ‘sure things’. Bucs have several remaining major NEEDS (starters & key rotational players) … this isn’t the time to screw around. GRAB A SURE THING. At this point I don’t care if that’s a DE, DT, G, RB, CB, S … just GRAB A SURE THING with our #7 pick & I’ll be happy. Then in the 2nd Rnd grab a ‘most-likely-will-be-a-sure-thing’ who can fill one of our other major needs. After that, just pray that Licht can find players who can fill the rest of our remaining major needs, be that in the draft, FA or via trades.

    Fix the Secondary & fill a couple other needs & we could potentially go anywhere from 11-5 to 8-8. If we don’t, say hello to another 5-11 season, a new GM & a whole set of new coaches. We may not be in a win-or-else situation, but if this team doesn’t win, it’ll find out what ‘or else’ looks like. TIME TO WIN!!! Still cautiously optimistic …

  19. Defense Rules Says:

    LUVMYBUCS, JR Sweezy won’t be on the team come September. With his recurring injury situation, he’s become the weak link. Time to cull the herd.

  20. AKick'nTheBucNuts Says:

    “We want to get Noah on the field as much as you can on passing situations, assuming that he comes back the way we feel.”

    Please don’t count on continually injured players as if all of the sudden they will be healthy and productive. How has that been working out?

    Get Chubb.

  21. Reach87 Says:

    Luv
    Like your thinking. If we went that way I think I’d be inclined to target the best DT in the 4th (think the DT from Stanford might possibly be there). For me it hinges on Bucs detailed evaluation of Fitzpatrick. Could go Fitzpatrick, Guice or Michel, then Phillips . Going to be exciting, but either way we go will induce risk the staff is going to have to mitigate by scheme and coaching. Go Bucs!

  22. Evolvingbucfan Says:

    Koetter can say all he wants on how to use Curry, we will see how SHMitty uses him and I hope Buckner can light some Fire under their asses this year, on paper we should be much more productive, hopefully.

  23. Bird Says:

    They have 2% chance of drafting Davenport

    Needs at corner , running back , strong safety to great not to get a top guy at that spot would be careless Probably in that order too.

    Guard would be 4th need. Then dline. Not saying these guys on dline will automatically make them sack specialists ; however they brought on 4 guys and are paying them good money to start

  24. Pickgrin Says:

    “this isn’t the time to screw around. GRAB A SURE THING”

    I agree DR – especially if we are picking at #7 – you HAVE to get a good NFL player 1st and foremost.

    Which is why Derwin James should be the 7th pick if Chubb, Barkley and Nelson are all off the board and no trade down offers come.

    Aside from Nelson and Barkley – James is probably about the “safest” pick in this entire draft IMO. Safety is not the ideal position to be picking that high – but when you have an Eric Berry/John Lynch level player falling into your lap – you pounce and be grateful that you just provided a HUGE boost to your talent needy defensive backfield.

  25. teacherman777 Says:

    Licht made a mistake when Arizona drafted Jonathan Cooper in the top 10. I bet he is weary of drafting a guard in the top 10 again..

    Derwin James and Justin Evans would be a fast, nasty, and athletic safety combo.

    Still, I think it’s unfair that Reid form the 49ers is being blacklisted and not signed. He is a very good SS who now has WLB experience.

    I think we are risking a lot hoping to find a starting CB in the draft. Lots of first round cornerbacks are busts. Besides QB, I think CB is the most difficult position in the NFL.

  26. AlteredEgo Says:

    Davenport is NOT ready for prime time NFL….sure he has P&P…promise and potential …but not the other P&P….. plug and play…..which is what “this” team needs @ 7 !!!!!!!

  27. Pickgrin Says:

    teacherman – I guarantee you that Licht is not “weary” of drafting Quinton Nelson. Pretty much the definition of “plug and play” that AlteredEgo is referencing. I agree that James is in that category as well. Nelson and James are probably the 2 “safest” picks in this entire draft. (along with Barkley if you are in the mood to spend a fortune on a RB).

  28. Bird Says:

    What is a better plug and play location ?

    Mons or space odyssey ?

  29. Bucsfanman Says:

    I love how everybody gets hot in the shorts for the flavor of the week. It’s like a roller-coaster.
    “Oh, we must get ‘player A'” or “this guy’s raw but”.
    There are very few “sure-fire” draft picks in any draft. We can speculate till the cows come home, but chances are we won’t know until draft day. We ALL want our alma maters to be represented and we all have reasons for liking certain players. Just always keep in mind that there are very few sure fire draft picks, it’s a roll of the dice.
    IMO anyone outside of Barkley, Nelson, and Chubb is a gamble. Think about it. We only JUST started talking about James and Ward. If they were top 10 talent wouldn’t they have been discussed prior to the combine?
    Take the “sure thing” if its there.

  30. Evolvingbucfan Says:

    Altered, you mean we can’t spend 2 years developing him, barring injury, for him to have an impact? Like Noah Spence? lol, We have some horses now but i agree not @ the 7th pick, if we can get him in the later rounds i’m all for developing him he has a high ceiling but would rather get help in other areas CB, RB, SS, OG, if we can get that impact player @ 7.

  31. GhostofSchiano Says:

    “We want to get Noah on the field as much as you can on passing situations, assuming that he comes back the way we feel. So yeah, I can see that happen.”

    I’ve had one rotator cuff surgery, 2010. Never been the same. Granted Spence is younger (much younger) than me. But this is his second shoulder surgery. I understand both was for the same shoulder. Love this kid but I doubt he will ever be the same.

    ” So yeah, I cannot see that happen”.

  32. larry woods Says:

    I like nelson but with Ali moving to LG, I don’t see them spending that pick on him. I don’t like counting on sweezy but the smart people at obp are. I just think we take the best player available and keep it pushing

  33. SOEbuc Says:

    I really didn’t know who Vinny Curry was last year, so when I saw the first picture of him after we picked him up I thought he was a DT. He looks like it and wears 75. I think the Bucs might be looking for lots of really good rotation for the defensive line in this draft.

    1. Get Nelson at 7 then DE/ DT/ CB in round 2. I really know fans want a RB in the second, but I think the Bucs do believe in Payton Barber and adding Nelson would just be another reason to wait for them to get a RB.

    2. Trade back to Cardinals at 15 and see if we can get a second and third round pick. Pick up Vea/Davenport at #15, 2. RB, 2. CB, 3. DE/DT (depending on who we would get in the first).

  34. DB55 Says:

    Joe

    Bet you a dollar Clinton McDonald out performers Vinny Curry this year at a third of the cost. But as long as no one challenges McIceCream’s “leadership” the team will be “ok”

  35. DB55 Says:

    If you really wanna do something draft Nelson at 7 or trade back if possible. If you can get 2 second rnd picks I’d trade one to Dallas for David Irving. He’ll might give up the second anyway.

    Then you’ll have a rotation.

  36. DaveinFortMyers Says:

    How or why nobody seems to see that getting a beast like Dt Vita Vea @ 7 would be a steal and solidify a weak defensive tackle unit. McCoy has even stated himself that he is getting old and isn’t gonna last much longer. Chubb will be gone, as well as Nelson & Barkley. Top DT is a great pick @7. As always, guys will go down with injury and depth would be a difference maker on the defensive line. O-line, especially a guard @ 7 is a reach in my opinion. Vita Vea is arguably the best DT in the draft, paired with McCoy, JPP, Spence on passing downs would be something I’d like to see! Collect depth and destroy the opposing teams quarterback! I like the offseason additions but we could still use more pressure & depth.

  37. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    Nelson can play either guard spot, and while I think It’s incredibly stupid to move Ali to left guard on a whim when he’s already proven himself to be a very good right guard, that should not prevent us from drafting the most dominant O-line prospect since Zack Martin

  38. Lord Cornelius Says:

    ” this isn’t the time to screw around. GRAB A SURE THING. At this point I don’t care if that’s a DE, DT, G, RB, CB, S … just GRAB A SURE THING”

    The thing is… After Nelson (OG) / Barkley (RB) / Chubb (DE)

    There is no “Sure Thing” bluechip prospect… at least per most every scout..

    I’d say the next safest picks are Derwin James / Minkah Fitzpatrick but SS is typically not that high a premium pick in the NFL and Fitzpatrick isn’t the best fit since he can’t play outside CB and is more of FS than SS

    at CB Denzel Ward is undersized to be viewed as a top 10 elite blue chip talent. Jaire ALexander / Joshua Jackson may be viewed the same by most teams

    at DE Marcus Davenport is the next best and is very raw / will need time to groom

    at DT – you have concerns Vea is just a NT more than an actual disruptive complete DT. Or that Taven Bryan is raw. Or that Maurcice Husrt has a heart condition. Or that Daron Payne is never going to be much of a pass rusher and more a run stopper. All those guys are great prospects but not “sure things” to be elite

    So I guess MAYBE Derwin James could be a sure thing – but even he didn’t have a dominant 2017. Fitzpatrick is only a sure thing if you plan on playing him at nickle CB and FS which are where we already have talent. It’d be like taking another 4-3 LB; but I could live with it if they found ways to use him but i doubt it with this staff.

    So this is why so many are saying

    DE Chubb
    RB Barkley
    OG Nelson

    or trade down

    It wouldn’t be crazy at all to move to 12 and still get Derwin James. Or then you can justify taking Davenport to groom at DE behind JPP. That’d actually be a nice way for him to learn since JPP was a raw athletic freak that had to learn the nuances of the game before he became what he is.

    Then you’re getting another likely starter by doing this – in R2 – at either CB/RB/OG. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

    All that said – I could live with James at 7. I’ll be dissapointed by Ward/Fitzpatrick/Davenport/VEa/really anyone else other than Nelson/Chubb/Barkley/James

  39. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    This has been an unusual draft year on JBF. Usually we have lots of disagreements and heated opinions on the draft class.

    Seems this year I am sensing a lot of agreement.

    I certainly support NFLNut and others who are chanting…Chubb, Barkely, Nelson or trade down.

    I do find Vea an interesting prospect. He’s a physical freak with a ton of upside the biggest rap against him is he needs more seasoning. Now could be the year to maybe steal a player like Vea.

    As has been posted a million times the draft has about a 50% fail rate. I think for me as much as needs and positions matter my first hope is that Licht can continue to work his magic. Imagine what 4th rounder is out there who could break into our starting lineup? Does Licht have anymore 4th round magic?

  40. DaveinFortMyers Says:

    Our Defensive Line won us our championship they made the then secondary look better than they were in coverage. Vita Vea is the last piece to the defensive line and would be an absolute steal at 7. A guard, corner, safety or Rb would be ok but Defense wins and it starts in the trenches. Finish the D-line, pressure equals winshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyn_E-cLEdY