The Godfather Blesses Robert Herron
June 5th, 2014
Gil Brandt is an iconic figure to many current NFL general managers and draft gurus. Brandt is a living, breathing dinosaur of scouting, having been the architect of the ancient Dallas Cowboys dynasty and leading the player-evaluation way in many areas into modern times.
Brandt remains busy with various duties for the NFL and media, including penning a column for NFL.com.
In his latest identification of 20 third-day gems who could have a quick impact from last month’s draft, Brandt included Bucs rookie wide receiver Robert Herron, the pride of Wyoming taken in the sixth round.
Hooray! Joe’s going to toast that with a icy cold beer. Why not?
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht admitted recently that the Bucs had Herron ranked much higher on their draft board than where they took him. (Hmm, so the Bucs drafted for need with those O-linemen in the fifth round?) And Brandt seems to back up that claim.
Herron’s 4.3, 40-yard-dash speed clearly shows up on the practice field. Joe’s eyes have seen it easily and repeatedly. Now Herron hasn’t flashed the best hands, but it’s early and he very well could be adjusting to the “cannon” of Mike Glennon versus the noodle arm he caught balls from in college. Herron does seem improved from his debut at rookie minicamp.
Regardless, Joe’s certain Herron is a lock to make the roster, barring a Michael Clayton impression during preseason games.
Joe’s really anxious to see what kind of YAC (yards after catch) ability Herron has, but that will have to wait until August.
June 5th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
He is obviously almost as fast as Demps but a better Football player. Best of luck to you Jeff
June 5th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Mike Glennon’s superior arm strength is vastly underrated, especially by receivers. Witness the numerous broken fingers he caused during his career at NC State. Not widely known is that the Bucs hired an offseason QB tutor to help tone down his velocity in order to prolong the career of VJax and prevent an early retirement for Mike Evans. There are many nice-to-have problems caused by a legend in the making at the QB position, but broken fingers don’t have to be one of them. Play safe, MG.
#gingercannon #mikeglennongoesboom
June 5th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Mike Glennon’s arm strength really good, but not quite ‘elite’ status. Probably top-15 in the NFL. Anyone remember a preseason quote from last year saying that Glennon’s arm strength is good, but Freeman’s is elite? I do like Glennon, though his ‘cannon’ is a bit over-hyped.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Tex Schramm-The Architect of Advanced Scouting Analytics
“Schramm was known as the most powerful general manager in the NFL. Schramm was also known for innovations that helped redefine the modern NFL. These include instant replay, using computer technology for advanced analytics in scouting.
Schramm’s desire for a more comprehensive scouting combine led to the annual offseason NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. In 1960, Schramm hired head coach Tom Landry and chief scout Gil Brandt.”
Don Shula said of Schramm, “I truly believe he had as much, or more, to do with the success of professional football as anyone who has ever been connected with the league.”
June 5th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
I’ve seen this a few times, Herron is no where near as fast as Jeff Demps. Demps is a world class sprinter for god sakes.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Top undrafted free agents following 2014 NFL Draft (Gil Brandt)
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000349361/article/top-undrafted-free-agents-following-2014-nfl-draft
June 5th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Buc the Haters,
Freeman’s “elite” arm strength is overshadowed by his ELITE level of inaccuracy throwing the football.
Glennon’s arm may not throw as hard, but it is night and day better in terms of accuracy.
No more “miscommunications” (reasons Freeman stated why he missed WIDE OPEN WRs).
June 5th, 2014 at 3:13 pm
Herron said he would have to bet on himself in a race vs Demps, but I think Demps would barely win in a 40 yd sprint & maybe win by a slightly larger margin in a 100yd. But, it would definitely be close. Look at they’re times, silly.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Race with the football and pads on.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
@Arkitek
Exactly right. Speed on a track is completely different than speed in full pads and equipment. Demps is fast, certainly, but this kid may have a great deal more skill when he has a football in his hands. Personally I don’t see Demps as a guy who can remain healthy. He hasn’t done it in the pros, and he missed time in college with injuries as well. I’ll take this Herron kid in a heartbeat over Demps.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Leave it to Joe to use a Herron article to add his sarcastic “cannon” comment to ridicule Glennon….I know, “Joe doesn’t have anything against Glennon and wishes him well”. But Joe takes every opportunity to rub it in.
As for Herron…..Bucs desparately need some speed on offense…something we haven’t really had since Galloway. I think Herron will be very tough to handle when we have Evans, Jackson, ASJ on the field with him & a 1 back set with Martin or Sims.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:41 pm
Guys-
Jeff Demps is an elite sprinter. I don’t care what Herron says, he is not faster than Demps. Never will be. Now, he may be more elusive and shifty. When it comes to football, that may be more important.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
TBBF,
Proceed at your own risk.Joe run Buc1987 last night for mouthing off. Keep it up, he gonna run you too!
June 5th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Demps is fast with pads on also. We’ve all seen it. Herron looks to be equally as fast though. Would be fun to see them race.
June 5th, 2014 at 3:51 pm
@TBBF
I think you took it the wrong way. Looks more like he was knocking The Smith QB and not Glennon for once. Lol
June 5th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
I see Herron as the primary slot guy because he’s got more experience at WR. Yes, Demps is probably faster in pads, but my question is, how fast is fast enough? A 4.27 vs a 4.33 is picking the flyspit out of the pepper.
Go with better hands and the Bette route runner and not a gadget guy.
June 5th, 2014 at 4:21 pm
@ Mumbles & Couch
Joe hasn’t got problems with folks that disagree with him or respectfully call him out. Note, he didn’t comment on my remarks.
The “Cannon” sarcasm may not be criticism but it certainly isn’t a complement.
I think 87 was warned multiple times….Joe has never had to warn TBBF.
June 5th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Herron ran 4.3s at Wyoming pro day IIRC, his combine time was a few ticks slower. He is nowhere near as fast as Jeff Demps, who is probably in the top 0.1% of fastest humans on the planet.
June 5th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
Joe is right though. Glennon may have or be good at some things. But dude does not have this “cannon” of which you speak. I saw 13 games last year to prove he doesn’t have a “cannon”. He simply has a good above average decent arm. That’s all.
June 5th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
Herron is fast. Certainly true. But guys he is not Demps. Even Lovoe has referenced that Demps is faster (fastest player in football remember?) and why can’t we keep both?
Joe, I’m noticing a lot of people on here are either/or people. It’s crazy. Can you discuss that in one of your articles?? I don’t understand it.
Every personnel thing on here is either or with these people. “Well we have Herron, bye Demps!” Why???! That’s silly. They’re both making the team. Period.
June 5th, 2014 at 5:20 pm
@ knucknbuc
Agreed. Glennon’s arm is good, but not as strong as:
1. Joe Flacco
2. Tom Brady
3. Matthew Stafford
4. Peyton Manning (currently, Idk)
5. Ben Roethlisberger
6. Phillip Rivers
7. Colin Kaepernick
8. Jay Cutler
9. Aaron Rodgers
10. Carson Palmer
11. Andrew Luck
June 5th, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Glennon has a cannon alright. Different cannons shoot balls at varying speeds. I have not really seen enough of MG’s long throws to determine the velocity of his cannon.
June 5th, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Herron is probably a lock. This is demps what third year or fourth? His problem isn’t his speed just for the sake off argument say he’s the faster player in all of sports, this is the third team that’s hasn’t been able to harness that speed, I’d you can’t catch passes from two probowl elite quarterbacks, don’t see him being our Percy Harvin….to bad because I’d love to see both thosE speedsters on the field
June 5th, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Gotta admit I was scratching my head when I read about this pick. All I was thinking was how is this a better choice than Jackson Jeffcoat? Hope time proves me wrong.
June 5th, 2014 at 11:51 pm
Waiting for Glennon to step into his throw….perhaps he’ll show off the cannon when he doesnt take all day to throw?
June 6th, 2014 at 1:17 am
knucknbuc Says:
June 5th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
Joe is right though. Glennon may have or be good at some things. But dude does not have this “cannon” of which you speak. I saw 13 games last year to prove he doesn’t have a “cannon”. He simply has a good above average decent arm. That’s all.
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I’ll ask you the same question I asked the cop on the stand. Did you clock me on radar? Then how do you know how fast the car(football in this case) was traveling? Question of the hour now, would you be willing for Glennon to fire his cannon at your ass from 40 yards? Then you can tell us how strong his arm is.
June 6th, 2014 at 2:52 pm
what’s with the arm strength obsession? jeff george, ryan leaf, and jamarcus russell all had incredible arm strength, guaranteed them nothing in this league
June 6th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
From 2011 to 2014, Glennon finished in 54th place among 54 QBs who threw at the combine. He was the only one to finish in the 40s at 49 mph. That puts him in the same class as Josh Johnson, who also threw 49 mph back in 2008. So I guess Josh Johnson had a “cannon” too.
http://blogs.ourlads.com/2013/03/27/quarterback-ball-velocity-at-nfl-combine-2008-2012/