Cassius Vaughn?
February 16th, 2015
Lovie Smith’s beloved 12th man, the nickel cornerback position he considers the 12th starter on his defense, gave the head coach headaches last season.
Keep in mind Lovie once simultaneously was head coach of the Bears and Chicago’s nickel back position coach, a true rarity in the NFL.
That’s how much Lovie is dialed into his nickel back play. The Bucs even had a dedicated nickel coach last season, Lovie’s old friend Larry Marmie.
Tampa Bay signed his former Bears nickel D.J. Moore last offseason, but Moore was cut early in the summer. Leonard Johnson emerged as the nickel starter, but he looked lost. Another former Bears corner was pulled off the street, Isiah Frey, and he struggled. But he did help Johnson significantly, and Johnson surged late last season.
Joe suspects Lovie will look for an upgrade to Johnson and/or competition at the position.
That’s why Joe’s keeping any eye on Lions free agent nickel corner Cassius Vaughn, as the free agency dinner bell prepares to ring in 22 days. The 27 year old emerged as the Lions’ main man late last year to rave reviews.
Vaughn played well against the Bucs, and he could be an inexpensive free agent looking for his fourth team in six years.
Hardly a major potential signing by any stretch, Vaughn has made 23 starts with seven interceptions. He’s got a nose for the ball, which Lovie likes.
The point here is the Bucs should not breathe easy with Johnson as their nickel, and rookie corners don’t dive into the complicated nickel role easily.
February 16th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Whats this have to do with Jameis Winston…
February 16th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Investing in your secondary makes little sense when your pass rush blows….The Bucs need another impact player on the d-line…Improve that and your secondary automatically improves with players that know the system….Suh is the ideal candidate to improve the d-line and take a rookie QB at #1…OR trade down, rebuild the o-line cheaply through the draft and start Glennon. Remember Lovie brought Julius Peppers to Chicago from Carolina….and Lovie is starting the season on the hot seat.
February 16th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
The Super Bowl champs were middle of the road in pass rush (13th in sacks), but a killer secondary was the strength of their D. We need to get better players everywhere, and the nickel was the Achilles heel of the Bucs D last year. Every third and long was going right to the seams where our outmanned personnel was gutted week in and out. I would like to see us get 3 starter quality corners that is where the league is headed.
February 16th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Maybe for depth if not too expensive, but drafting a CB would make more sense..
Besides: everyone saying Winston is more “pro ready” – isn´t ChipKelys offense a “pro-offense” also?
And players like Cam Newton (especially with Rob Chudzinski); RGIII; Kaperenick, Russel Wilson – didnt they had at least some success..?
Yeah, i know.. it did take a lot of “development” until they were ready…
February 16th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
or getting one sure starting CB in Flowers from SanDiego >> the obvious CB you would like to sign if you go FA..
I mean: Jonathan Banks showed promise and is still cheap >>> getting Flowers would bring the talent level up in CB posi, better compitiion
+
then you can decide if J.Banks is worth a contract extension (and how much worth)..
and in best case, we would have 3 very good CB´s and a free for lots of options, like trading one.. or be able to replace one (developing another CB..)
February 16th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Lovie will get atleast 4 years to coach this team. Just like dungy and gruden, this year is about the infamous ‘litch’
And the scouting department, not lovie neither the first round pick they hold in this years draft… i respect the glazers in what they have done for the community thru out the years im 24 born in raised around the tampa bay area in we wanna see these buccaneers win,, THIS IS THE BLUE PRINT!! TRADE DOWN WITH ANYBODY BE BOLD IN DRAFT BRYCE PETTY, FROM BAYLOR. BETTER THEN RG3 MENTALLY IN PHYSICALLY AND YOU DONT HAVE TO REACH.
DRAFT ILB PERRYMAN FROM MIAMA,
DRAFT CB OLOMU FROM OREGON
DRAFT WR NELSON ANGHOLOR USC
DRAFT CB STEVEN NELSON
DRAFT OT JAKE FISHER FROM OREGON
DRAFT DT GOLDMON FROM FLORIDA ST
DRAFT DE MARIO EDWARDS JR FROM FLORIDA STATE
DRAFT OG ANDY GILLICK BOSTON COLLAGE, IF LITCH CAN GET PETTY IN MOST OF THESE PLAYERS
THE BUCCANEERS CAN BE A FORCE AND THE NFL!
February 16th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
” the Bucs should not breathe easy with Johnson as their nickel”
Amen to that statement Joe.
February 16th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Kevin white out of TCU
February 16th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
thankfully, nickel is a high-impact upgrade without the price tag of a high-impact player. the way lovie runs his defense, it’s not smart to trust a rookie to be your nickel CB, so i think Joe is right on in anticipating that the bucs look to free agency to fill this hole.
February 16th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
“not smart trustin a rookie”
If the kid can play, he can play.. See: Tyrann Mathieu – god i was pounding on the table for that guy..
Guys like that are plug and play..
Well, but this year there seem to be some good FA CB out there:
Flowers from San Diego, that Cromatie guy.. both can play.. flowers would be yippie ei yeeeah!!
Lots of good FA WR out there >>> get one
DB´s: Devin McCourty would make sense.. at right price
a man called Suh (of course he would make sense.. improving D-line is always worth it + he gives great flexibility – rotation, we could always have one of the best two DT of the world on our line – tell that ain´t great?!)
good TE´s out there too >>> we could need it + afford it and see what we got in AustinSefarian-Jay..
February 16th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Good find Joe. We can get a good player at a low demand position. Which means signing him would still leave us plenty of room to address other needs.
With all these NBA tight ends a good nickel that can match up is vital. Especially the way Olsen shredded us last year. Johnson and mike linebackers Foster and Fletcher and Lansanah all looked lost in space.
February 16th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Every good investment pays off.
February 17th, 2015 at 2:25 am
Long as this doesnt stink things up even more, like the last CB signing from Detroit (eric wright)