Bucs Take CB Johnthan Banks In Second Round

April 26th, 2013

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik stood his ground, hung in and kept the Bucs’ No. 43 overall pick, snagging cornerback Johnthan Banks out of Mississippi State moments ago.

Now Bucs fans can exhale knowing the team is no longer painfully thin at cornerback. If Ronde Barber decides to return, then the Bucs will have legitimate, quality depth.

Banks is an interesting, versatile pick. He’s considered a “press corner” and stands 6-2, 185 pounds without blazing speed. He’s a playmaker who was a converted safety. He’s also a more mature talent, given that he was a four-year starter and turns 24 in October.

The Bucs tried to score a “long” corner in Myron Lewis three years ago, but that didn’t pan out. However, the desire for that uncoachable length remained a priority for the Bucs.

The reality is unreliable Eric Wright will be counted on heavily in 2013, and if Wright succeeds, he’ll be a coveted unrestricted free agent after the season. For that reason, Banks appears to be a wise pick for the short-term and long-term.

Ironically, a Banks analysis on NFL.com compares his skills to those of Aqib Talib.

STRENGTHS

 Height, length and competitive nature could make him a starter. Good hands for the interception, can high-point passes and make difficult catches with superb concentration. Effective on jump balls in end zone and knocks away passes from behind without interfering. Does not give up on plays even as receiver is catching the ball. Former safety is not contact-shy, solid tackler when coming downhill. Quick to attack running plays, even when playing off-coverage, making it tough for receivers to get a hand on him. Effective as a blitzer against the run and pass. Rips at the ball whether making a tackle downfield or attacking the quarterback in the backfield. Excellent mirror and change of direction skills, displays loose hips despite being a tall corner. Not asked to play a lot of press coverage and he’s not very strong, but he has a quick disruptive jam.

WEAKNESSES

Getting bigger, but still quite thin, especially in his lower half. Stronger backs can still carry him when they have a head of steam and physical receivers can block him on the edge and separate from him easily downfield. Plays a bit tall, will miss tackles coming in high and lacks strength to arm tackle receivers. Does not have elite straight-line speed, will not recover once losing a step. Rarely backpedals, asked to play mostly off-coverages and opens his hips early to prevent getting beat deep. Inconsistent looking for and finding the ball in the air, miss-timing jumps and taking bad angles to the ball. Can get caught peeking in the backfield.

NFL COMPARISON

Aqib Talib

BOTTOM LINE

SEC receivers were hoping Banks would head to the NFL after his second-team All-SEC junior season, but they had to deal with the tall, lean three-year starter’s ball skills and competitive streak for another season before he headed off to challenge pro receivers. He has experience playing a number of spots in the secondary, beginning his career as a safety, before eventually settling on the boundary corner and nickel spots. His skills is man coverage were under-utilized at Mississippi State, and if he can keep adding weight to his long, wiry frame, has the potential to be an excellent press-man corner, a skill that will make get him selected in the top 40 picks.

40 Responses to “Bucs Take CB Johnthan Banks In Second Round”

  1. Patrick Says:

    Just what we needed

  2. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Called Banks!

  3. Oldguy Says:

    Can he rush the passer?

  4. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Solid pick. He’s very polished, much more so than the other CB’s available who may run a half step faster on a track in underwear.

  5. DjoshFreeman Says:

    Rush the passer, the guy can do it all! One of the hardest hitting cbs.speed is good not great but with goldson behind him who cares.revis will be on Barron’s side, it’s perfect.ronde plays safety and wright will prob start season then be backup

  6. Rob Says:

    Perfect pick for Tampa!

  7. Kalind Says:

    Great…a guy that’s slower than my grandfather and Talib

  8. Bucfan4life7 Says:

    Awesome pick to solidify this secondary and make it a strength on this team. When I saw this it sold me on banks.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr_i3uH8UQE

    Congrats on joining the no fly zone Banks.

  9. Jacko101 Says:

    I’m happy with Banks

  10. K_bassuka Says:

    Wow, all this wait for an ok CB

  11. Robbie_G Says:

    Good pick, I liked the guy from Boise St better. With all the love Margus Hunt was getting, I was thinking he was the pick. Hope we get some DT and DE help.

  12. Tony Says:

    JB Highlights: http://youtu.be/9FuEbHN2YGs

  13. Oldguy Says:

    But the Bucs scouts said the same thing about Eric Wright last year. Have the scouts changed? And what will we do with Wright?

  14. Lev Says:

    He is basically an Aqib Talib that doesn’t smoke weed and get in trouble

  15. Oldguy Says:

    All right then!

  16. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Round 3 likely to be a DT, DE or TE. Brandon Williams, William Gholston, Travis Kelce or Vance McDonald.

  17. SeanyMac in SC Says:

    I like this pick, now lets get a pass rusher!

  18. K_bassuka Says:

    And he is slooooow.

  19. Dave Says:

    Why are some of you wondering what happens to Wright or Banks etc..?
    It seems obvious that Banks is there as a backup to Wright and Revis, a possible solution at nickel if Barber does not come back, and to learn for a year under those guys because next year is when he will be counted on to start.

  20. Oldguy Says:

    I think it’s an OK pick. We need CB depth. But I just thought a more pressing need was a pass rush. Our next pick better be a DT.

  21. Dave Says:

    I also think it is funny how some of you think he is so slow. He is not a burner at CB but he is a playmaker and is not SLOOOOOOW, as some say. Those 40 times at the combine are BS. IT is all about game speed and most the time he showed it.
    For the record his 40 time is faster than Jerry Rice’s time of 4.7. There are hundreds of examples like that.

  22. Macabee Says:

    Banks won the Jim Thorpe award as the best CB in college football, and playing in the SEC. That was no gift, this guy can play. For the NFL, a few more pounds will help. He’s a ball hawk, best game against……drumroll…..Tim Tebow at UF!

  23. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Anyone saying Banks is slow doesn’t know football. Go home. Either that or keep quiet and let the grown-ups talk. Being a tenth of a second faster on an indoor track in underwear means nothing in a real football game.

    Watch his film and you’ll see great playing speed. Watch his INT’s, how he outruns everyone on the field to score a pick six. He never got beat deep on any play I ever saw except once by Andre DeBose of Florida, but DeBose beat many top CB’s deep including Dee Milliner.

    Banks was by far the best available CB at that pick. Mayock and every other “expert” had him ranked there, too. So get over it and get behind your team you damn whiners.

  24. K_bassuka Says:

    Well Dave Jerry was slow too he was just a great rout runner and great hands. It’s different when you are a CB, how many great CB’s are slooooow?

  25. passthebuc Says:

    We love or hate the pick on draft day. Its the next 3 years that tell the tale. Speed is not as important as twitch and instincts.

  26. Oldguy Says:

    Glad to hear all those good things about him. Hope he starts. Ballhawk is good. I hear he is pretty good at punt returns too. A big plus and need for the Bucs. I’m happy. Next, a pass rusher.

  27. RastaMon Says:

    Knock on Ronde was he was slow…same with Emmitt…I like the pick

  28. Mike J Says:

    Oldguy, the people who scout pro players, and those who scout college players, are different people.

  29. K_bassuka Says:

    If anyone claims that Banks didn’t get burned but once, hasn’t watch tape on the guy and need to be quiet. He is slow and weak and if not because he played off receivers he would’ve gotten burned even more.

  30. K_bassuka Says:

    Ronde wasn’t asked to play man with the receivers and he is a smart player something we have to wait and see with Banks.

  31. chris Says:

    Ronde ran s 4.63…at 5’11 185…..great instincts. Now he’ s a future HOFer.

  32. Big Picture Guy Says:

    What does speed matter when Barron and Gholdson are there to back you up? “His skills in man coverage were under-utilized” I think about sums it up. Great fit, and this guy has a great story too. The weakest unit on the team may have just become the strongest!!

  33. JJ1977 Says:

    He’s the second coming of Eric Wright..

  34. Oldguy Says:

    Mike – You’re right. But I checked. The scouts said the same thing when Wright was drafted out of college. Sorry for the confusion.

  35. vincebucnation Says:

    I’m really not in love with this pick. Reading that he tends to get beat deep among other issues. Jamar Taylor was on the board. I think this’ll be another infamous lost 2nd round pick.

  36. Couch Fan Says:

    None of you are pro scouts or anything else that would make your opinioin better than Dom and Schiano… how about lettin the guy take a snap before posting negative predictions for his future. Sheesh.

  37. andres Says:

    Supposedly Banks ran a 4.51 at his proday after the combine either way he’s gonna be a heck of a player.

  38. Sneedy16 Says:

    Richard Sherman ran a 4.56 40. He is doing well

  39. K_bassuka Says:

    Sneedy16
    Sherman is taller, stronger, faster, and lack of speed or getting beaten deep was never a weakness. Get your facts right.

  40. tha truth is... Says:

    I pray he does good but im a little skeptical. We run more of a press man coverage and he played alot of off man coverage. he has decent speed and isn’t as physical as scouting reports suggest. if his man gets a step in him it’s over as he doesn’t have enough speed 2 recover. I like his instincts, quick feet and size. I see him as our #2 cb and making Wright play tha nickel so he can cover tha more shifty slot receivers.