Kelvin Benjamin And The Bucs
February 22nd, 2014
Joe talked to one of the most intelligent football thinkers around while at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Friday, and that was NFL Films guru Greg Cosell.
Joe will deliver the interview Monday, but one thing Cosell shared was that he didn’t think Bucs stud receiver Vincent Jackson had a great 2013 season.
Joe attributes part of that to Jackson getting swarmed like bees to honey because he was the only threat when Mike Williams got injured.
(By the way, Joe wonders what the pricey bill might be for repairs after a massive grease fire to a high-end kitchen?)
With Jackson on the wrong side of 30 and Williams all of a sudden being on the endangered species list, and no other reliable receiver on the roster, it would not be a shock to see the Bucs draft a wide receiver.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht remarked to Joe this week that projected starting receivers could be had in the third round this year because the draft is so deep at the position. Alas, the Bucs do not have a third round pick.
So could a stud like Kelvin Benjamin drop to the Bucs in the second round? Time will tell, of course, but Benjamin, who caught the national championship-winning touchdown for Florida State last month, showed the right attitude when he met with Joe and the fourth estate at the combine. He’s of the mind he has much to improve.
“I just want to be physical but I try to be smart, too,” Benjamin said. “I watch a lot of receivers. I don’t just watch the big guys, I try to watch the little guys, too. You watch the smaller guys to imitate their quickness off the line. Some guys, that first step, you can learn a lot from watching them do that.”
What Joe loved about Benjamin’s press conference was when he was asked what is his favorite coverage to break open against.. The 6-5, 240-pound, freakish speedy receiver said, “Off the jam, I love press coverages.”
So, what type of guy would Benjamin be if the Bucs called his name on the second day of the draft?
“I’m a good team guy, in the locker room, trying to meet other guys that are coming,” Benjamin said. “They’ll get a guy that’s never going to give up. And if I need to work on something, my route running, my catching, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Imagine having Benjamin book-end Jackson, only Benjamin is quicker than Williams? Don’t think that wouldn’t help out Mike Glennon or Johnny Football?
Man, Joe could only drool at the thought.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:07 pm
A great selection in round 2 if we don’t choose Watkins with #7. I still think we can trade down a few slots and pick up an extra 2nd or 3rd and still get a quality starter in the first.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Go all offense – to hell with it LOL.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:17 pm
Would really like to see us draft Watkins, but as you said Joe this draft is deep with WRs so we could wait until the second round and still get a very good WR. Still, a guy like Watkins could take a 5 yard slant the distance, something like Benjamin and the rest of our WRs really cant do. If we ended up with Benjamin though, I would be ok with that.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:24 pm
I can see NE drafting him late first round
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Not having a 3rd round pick hurts. If we do choose to trade down to gain a 3rd rounder it would allow us a chance to get someone like Benjamin. If we don’t trade down, Benjamin will be considered a reach with 6th pick 2nd round, and probably be gone by the 4th.
If anything good has helped us a little, at least we got a late 7th round compensatory pick.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:34 pm
The big Auburn Tackle is looking better and better. If only he falls to us, it would greatly improve our O Line.
He is a monster/freak athlete
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Sidney Rice anyone? He is supposed to be released by the SeaHags any day now.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:51 pm
The top OTs, especially Greg Robinson did their work today. Taylor Lewan put his name in the hat and technically Jake Matthews is still the most NFL-ready LT.
I’m waiting to see how the QBs perform. If they hold form like the OTs did today, the Bucs are sitting in a nice spot at #7 to get a really good player. Somebody is going to get pushed down to us by default.
Guaranteed Watkins or one of those OTs are going to be there. Also the ability to trade down goes way up and the price goes up too. I like our odds at #7. May even be staring a top rated QB in the face. Going to be interesting!
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:03 pm
Pull a Doug Martin. Trade back into the first round if he’s available.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:13 pm
I’ve been hoping we land this guy.
It all depends how the first round plays out.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Sidney Rice is injury prone
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:20 pm
We need offensive weapons…..Our defense is ready to perform the way it is with just a couple pieces needing to be added….our offense needs new bodies…playmakers!!!
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:22 pm
He’s FSU so I’m in.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Brandon cole maybe 3rd round?
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Watkins has size ,speed and hands , instant impact on KR and PR too
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:40 pm
With Watkins on outside safeties wouldn’t be able to load the box which would help D Martin and M James run wild
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Id really like if we trade down and gain more picks. We can get Kony Ealy in the first and possibly trade back into the 1st for Benjamin.
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:56 pm
I dont see Sammy Watkins falling to us
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:00 pm
I do, I just don’t see us going after him regardless.
QB or DE or OT
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Just watched Greg Robinson at the combine, I’m falling in love lol
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:17 pm
Would LOVE to see Benjamin in the new Bucs uniform! I dont think he will be there in the 2nd round though. Would have to move down or up to get him, imo.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:17 pm
He won’t make it out of the 1st round unless he runs a 4.7 40
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Smh, I respect everyone’s opinion. To each there on. But my brothas how the HELL are we just talking about acquiring a quarterback.
DO YOU SEE HOW MANY HOLES we have on this roster?
As a true football fan, DO YOU REALLY SEE HOW DEEP THIS DRAFT IS!!!!
I’ve never seen this much talent in a one draft. Seriously have you?
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Come on Joe…. There’s no way he’s there past pick 20. Too big, too fast, too good. There is no way.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:31 pm
WE NEED MORE PREMIUM PICKS. Real Talk!
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:42 pm
I don’t view us having that many holes.
Especially after we hit up FA
But either way, I believe you build around your QB, till you have that guy finding him should be priority.
Just my opinion
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:50 pm
Sir Tom Brady couldn’t do spit without talent this last year. How do you know what your QB is without weapons
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:00 pm
For sake of conversation( So are you happy with this?)
• QB -Dan Orlovsky
• WR Skye Dawson-Russell Shepard
• WR Tiquan Underwood-Chris Owusu-Eric Page
• FB Erik Lorig
• LG Carl Nicks-Jamon Meredith
• RG Davin Joseph-Patrick Omameh
Note: Won’t even mention Penn or Zuttah, or the Tight End Position.
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:07 pm
• LDE ??
• LDT ??
• RDT Gary Gibson
• RDE Steven Means
• WLB ??
• MLB ??
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:13 pm
I don’t view that as so many holes to fill lol.
There is nothing there that cannot be solved both in this FA and this draft whilst still addressing the QB position in the draft.
To add to that IMO I think Davin will be fine and I still don’t think Nicks is done.
We just aren’t coming from the same place, there will always be some holes to fill.
But you seem to think we are on some kind of rebuild altogether which is fine. But I don’t agree.
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:16 pm
That’s pretty much as much of a convo you’ll get from me on it broski lol.
That and there are many places where you see “holes” that I don’t see holes at.
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:22 pm
@PRBucFan
hahahahahahaaha, smh
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:22 pm
lol
February 22nd, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Kelvin Benjamin will be there when we pick in round 2. He’s who I have us taking in my mock draft. I’ve been pushing for this guy for two weeks now.
SAMCRO, you are insane if you believe Kelvin Benjamin will still be there later than round 2. Before you make such statements you might actually want to read up on the guy. He is comparable to Calvin Johnson. He just didn’t face the strongest competition.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:01 pm
So far as the holes, we can address DE in free agency. A decent 3rd CB as well.
Really, QB might be addressed in FA as well, depending on who is released.
I prefer that be handled in the first round though.
WR should be addressed in round 2.
Get a CB in round 4 as well.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Bonsai,
I like Benjamin in round two, but no one compares to Megatron.
February 22nd, 2014 at 10:39 pm
I agree SteveK, I like Benjamin too, but he is no physical freak like Megatron.
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:15 pm
With MG8 able to make all throws and a top 5 in arm strength, he can make Wakins etc… SuperStars.
February 23rd, 2014 at 2:08 am
Benjamin is pretty raw. But his skill set is everything you for in an outside receiver in NFL. Definitely no Calvin Johnson type prospect, more comparable to V-Jax, I’d say. Like some said above me… I’d take him in the second but I don’t think he’ll be there.
but I’d also live to see Marquise Lee fall as a result of, what I anticipate will be, a rise in Benjamin’s stock over the comings months. If we either pass on Watkins or don’t get the chance to, Lee is the next best fit for the hole that we have at receiver right now.
February 23rd, 2014 at 2:48 am
@barry
Why do you bother to tell the lie that Glennon is top 5 in arm strength? He actually posted the lowest ball velocity of all players at the 2013 scouting combine. It’s even worse when you consider what an overall putrid group that was. Also, he’s NOT able to make all the throws. He throws a terrible deep ball. I can only think of a couple through the entire season where he led the receiver properly. Whereas the other QBs who are actually good do it time after time after time after time within a single game. There’s a good reason he was last in the league in yards/a. Dinks, dunks and dump-offs are his best throws. A game manager, not a difference maker, which is why he was terrible in 2nd half production with games on the line and never produced one come from behind win, something even Freeman (who I was no fan of, even when he was drafted) did 4 or 5 times in 2010 with less talent around him.
February 23rd, 2014 at 5:51 am
Watch…. hes the best wr this year… I know he is but every1 else is late on knowing who he is..
February 23rd, 2014 at 6:00 am
Huh nah Watkins is on another level
February 23rd, 2014 at 8:28 am
Willie, NFLN/ESPN analysts have said it recently while discussing Bucs QB situation. One of Joes previous interview articles had it stated. 2013 draft analysis, Mike Glennon has the best arm in the class. He doesn’t run is what some don’t like. As a drop back QB, he reads defenses better and throws better than RG3, Cam, Russell, Geno, EJ, and Kap. If you like a
1 read or run QB then you don’t want MG8.
February 23rd, 2014 at 10:07 am
Barry Says
“Willie, NFLN/ESPN analysts have said it recently while discussing Bucs QB situation. One of Joes previous interview articles had it stated. 2013 draft analysis, Mike Glennon has the best arm in the class. He doesn’t run is what some don’t like. As a drop back QB, he reads defenses better and throws better than RG3, Cam, Russell, Geno, EJ, and Kap. If you like a
1 read or run QB then you don’t want MG8.”
He also does not use his feet to buy time in the pocket. He’s a statue most of the time. A good pocket passer uses his feet to buy time in the pocket while keeping his eyes down field.
February 23rd, 2014 at 10:32 am
Glennon has a weak arm, no doubt about it and he isn´t good with deep balls. He reads defenses well, but lacks the ability to put the ball in the right place.. which is why he misses some throws.. he seems to distrust his own abilitys.. Glennon is an okay QB, not bad not good.. perfect backup or fill in for a couple of years.. the first year of those couple has been already played, but bucs need to adressed other areas first. Later round QB could be upgrade, but we lack draft picks; thats sth. our GM has to figure out.. FA´s and next years offseason will be the most crucial, since we finally got a good coaching staff and some pieces in place: Lavonte, GMC, MikeWill is a decent WR, Mark Barron as SS, Revis: depends on contract situation an how many years he´s got left, plus, hopefully, great additons in this years draft.., RB looks good. Mason Foster is also good.. DE Goldson could be good one.. i am not realy sold on TE Wright yet(lacks blocking ability, but is a fine matchup on LB´s), but he looks okay too. Glennon, as said is okay FOR NOW.. Hopefully Nicks is able for a strong comeback!
February 23rd, 2014 at 11:12 am
Watkins, if he’s there, doesn’t make it past Atlanta at number 6, say bye-buh to Roddy White, who is on the wrong side of 30 and has become injury prone.
February 23rd, 2014 at 3:35 pm
They need lineman in the worst way, they won’t be taking watkins
February 23rd, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Watched him today and think it would be wicked to have VJ & MW outside, Wright @ TE, and putting this guys as WR3 is just mean to our opponents. As big as those 4 are, nobody has defenders to cover them. Trade picks next year to get TB, take this guy in rnd2, find DE in FA, add depth in 4, 5, & 7. Won’t have a #1 next year, but may not need it when we draft at the end of the round anyway and have NO question mark @ QB anymore…