Here Comes Marcus!
March 13th, 2015
Bucs general manager Jason Licht was at Marcus Mariota’s pro day at the University of Oregon yesterday, and (coincidentally?) Mariota will be in Tampa on Monday for a visit, per the Twittering of Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud.
Stroud also penned on the TampaBay.com blog that Mariota will return to Tampa in April for an on-field workout.
Joe can’t wait to read all about Monday’s events on Buccaneers.com, complete with video of Mariota with team multimedia guru Scott Smith. Joe expects pictures of Licht smiling with Mariota, and Vincent Jackson, or another Bucs leader, chatting with the young Oregon QB.
Joe would wager that will happen. The Bucs have the No. 1 overall pick and with that comes the chance to court the big names and ramp up hype for a team that’s won 30 of its last 100 games.
The Mariota Gang will have a great next week. Joe’s happy for that minority.
March 13th, 2015 at 11:52 am
I will bet anyone my Josh Freeman jersey it won’t be as overhyped as JW’s visit.
March 13th, 2015 at 11:54 am
His pro day sucked – like his arm
March 13th, 2015 at 11:55 am
^^^ not on this site buddy
March 13th, 2015 at 11:57 am
I’m sure Mike Evans will be in the building. And Mariota fans are not
Minority, just on this site they are.
March 13th, 2015 at 11:57 am
All part of the process, just like Winston’s visit.
I’m also really looking forward to seeing Winston and Mariota on with Coach Gruden!
March 13th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
At least Bucs won’t have to lock up the silverware. Now this kid is what you’d call #TheFaceOfTheFranchise Have you noticed how Mariota’s under house arrest and was ordered to shut down all social media? Me neither.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
There’s an old saying that goes…”You don’t make your own furniture look any better by chopping up your neighbors!”
That is what has saddened me most about this entire debate. There is a segment of posters who seem to feel the need to denigrate the player who is not their favorite with all kinds of hyperbolic insults.
BOTH of these young guys are outstanding PROSPECTS..nothing more. BOTH of these young men have enjoyed tremendous success and BOTH have won a Heisman trophy. BOTH have reputations as hard workers, great teammates, and as winners at all levels in multiple sports…Fameis baseball..MM track and field.
This is a truly tough call between two very talented young men. Trying to low rent either of them not only doesn’t make YOUR guy look any better many times it makes you look stupid.
They’re BOTH great college players. They BOTH could turn out as terrific NFL players..or not. But some of the crap flying around from both sides is actually kind of embarrassing if posters had pride and any football knowledge.
I’m just a long time sports fan and I do not earn my living at this much less as an NFL front office guy. L&L get the big bucks and take all the heat and so they’ll give it their best shot. Since Lovie has added Koetter and Bajakian I feel he has improved his brain trust enormously.
Whether we take Fameis..Marcus..or Leonard Williams or trade down I’ll still cheer for the Bucs.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Yawn
March 13th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
ESPN reporting that Greg Hardy has opened contract talks with an “unnamed” team….hmmmmm?????
March 13th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Agreed Dallasbuc…
March 13th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Yep Armando, his arm sucks but they decided to bring him in for a visit anyway….just being nice I guess.
The one thing he needs to say, that he hasn’t yet…is that he WANTS to be a Buccaneer…and he has to mean it. That is one thing that I really like about Jameis, I think he really wants to be here and he has expressed that.
I haven’t gotten that vibe from Mariota yet.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
You’ve gotta give props to Rams General Manager Les Snead. That brotha thinks in 3-D for real–for real
March 13th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
@jacko101
“Mariota fans are not the minority, only on this site they are”
I invite you to go to dcallprosportsreport.com
Where you will clearly see Mariota chosen by less than 5% of at least the last 70 mock drafts.
If that isn’t putting Mariota squarely in a severe minority I don’t know what is.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
I’m loving the irony.
JBF posters are constantly saying…
“Licht & Lovie are idiots…they don’t know how to evaluate talent”….but they’re really smart if they choose Winston.
“Nobody wants to play for the Bucs”…..except Winston.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
You know that New Yok Yankees chant…it goes like this:
MAH. REE. OH TAH!!!
March 13th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Jacko101:”And Mariota fans are not Minority, just on this site they are.” You might want to check out the “Winstota” meter on the Tampa Bay Times site.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Willing to bet Lovie Smith is in the minority that wants this guy. After all, Mariota is a squeaky clean Boy Scout. Never made any human mistakes off the field. I guess that is the new bar, not talent or ability. So all you ‘best player available’ guys out there need to change that to ‘best Boy Scout available’…BBSA.
Welcome to the Lovie Smith bible study, better known as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
“I guess that is the new bar, not talent or ability. So all you ‘best player available’ guys out there need to change that to ‘best Boy Scout available’…BBSA.”
hy·per·bo·le
hīˈpərbəlē/Submit
noun
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
synonyms: exaggeration, overstatement, magnification, embroidery, embellishment, excess, overkill, rhetoric; More
Just funnin’ with you Dallas. It’s a sports blog. Hyperbole is what we expect.
In fact I think some of us may crave it.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
@DallasBuc
What do you have against Godly people that you go out of your way to attack them? You must be very proud of yourself.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
The real key is going to be Mariota’s meeting with the Glazers. They know that the QB will probably be in Tampa long after Lovie Smith, and probably Licht too.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Dallas,
What’s wrong with being a Christian or going to bible study?
March 13th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
StPete- That’s exactly what it is but you can’t believe there is no truth to it. Lovie values the lack of off field shenanigans over on field ability and that is why I fear we end up with the good guy instead of the better football player.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
As for an explanation for why Mariota still warrants consideration here and at No. 1 overall, Greg Peshek’s QB metrics breakdown on Mariota, Winston and Brent Hundley helps. Peshek charted every throw made last season by those three quarterbacks, uncovering a couple things that flow against some Mariota scouting reports. To wit: Mariota threw a higher percentage of his passes from 11-20 yards deep (33.4%) than did Winston (23.0%); he was more accurate from 11-20 yards (70.1%) and deeper (58.1%) than Winston (60.0% and 46.9%, respectively); and hit more passes than his likely Round 1 counterpart when pressured (67.7% to 57.7%).
March 13th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Where all the “They must want him badly if they are bringing him in so early!” comments like we heard about Winston a few days ago?
JFat Says
“The one thing he needs to say, that he hasn’t yet…is that he WANTS to be a Buccaneer…and he has to mean it. That is one thing that I really like about Jameis, I think he really wants to be here and he has expressed that.”
Winston wants to be picked first. He wants the bigger paycheck. Watch the combine pressers.
Mariota hasn’t named a specific team, you’re right there. What he has done, however, is say that he wants to prove himself the better quarterback with whatever team puts their faith in him.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Whoa!! Slow down you hyper-sensitive Bucs fans. For the record there is absolutely nothing wrong with bible study or Christians. I never suggested as much. NFL football teams are not bible study groups. Get a grip fellas
March 13th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Yawn X 3
March 13th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Dallas,
If L&L decide to choose the better person as you say, do you honestly believe they would choose him just because he is the better person. What if they chose him because THEY believe he is the better prospect?
March 13th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Of course they are bringing him in.
How else can they get the last best offer for the number one.
Then, of course, they will take Winston.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
THE FUTURE IS FINALLY COMING TO TAMPA!!!
MARI-OTA!!!
Draft day can’t come soon enough, when everyone (except me) is shocked to hear Mariota go #1 overall. Then we see Winston go to Tennessee and BOMB with no offensive help.
I’m jumping with joy right now 😀
#MariotaorBUST
March 13th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
It will be the same hype and media when Leonard Williams comes to town also. Bucs just trying to build hype about that #1 pick
March 13th, 2015 at 12:46 pm
@DallasBuc
Oh I get it. Freedom of religion…unless you play football. Makes sense.
😉
March 13th, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Dallas,
It was just a question. Not being over sensitive. Have you noticed the number of players that gather around to pray after the game?
You are correct, the game itself is not bible study nor is the preparation.
Do you think Joe likes Winston more because he believes Winston has more ability to pull than Mariota?
March 13th, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Will he get the same pomp and circumstance that Winston got?
March 13th, 2015 at 12:47 pm
I think they are doing due diligence. Winston will be brought in as well. In fact…he’ll now get the last chance to impress them.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Winston wants to be a Buccaneer because he fears he will drop like a rock in the draft if not selected by the Bucs.
And, not just the money & prestige at #1 overall…surely he would love to play for his home team…nothing wrong with that.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Why was the Winston visit so secret?
Why are they getting the word out about the Mariota visits?
March 13th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Bonzai- what are you talking about? You consistently argue against a contention that was never made to make yourself and your sad canned arguments look better. Classic Bonzai debate always goes there. You know nothing about me, my faith or my opinions of others’ faiths. Just making sht up like always.
March 13th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
@ Joes,
Just remember that the ‘masses are asses’…
I prefer to be in the minority; especially when I’m right. (Like Icam about Mariota being the better prospect overall)
March 13th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
rdbucsfan- “What if they choose him because THEY think he is the better player?”
Well, let’s see? I will disagree with it on those merits but also believe that the off field shenanigans by Winston is what really took precedence in the decision making.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Maybe they think Jameis is the better person.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Dallas,
Trust should be a factor in their decision. But what do I know, according to the Joe’s I’m a neanderthal because I don’t believe a QB is going to fix this team. If it is a QB were still a couple of years away imo.
I was against the Winston pick at first due to the rape accusations. Now after reading everything I just really hate FSU even more now. If charged they most likely would have been dismissed. But FSU’s athletic department and boosters did everything they could to make sure that didn’t happen. I can’t blame the kid any more.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:04 pm
LOL.
Truer words have never been spoken. People spin things based on how they want the “facts” to be presented…whether they’re actual facts or not.
The next will be people that claimed that Winson’s visit meant nothing while Mariota’s visit means everything.
Why is it that just because he wants to be picked first means he wants the bigger check? Couldn’t it just be that he knows that if he’s picked first then teams think he’s the better prospect? Why is wanting to be picked first such a bad thing?
Why wouldn’t it be that he would love to stay in the state of FL?
When he was at the board with Mooch, he stated that he hopes to be throwing those TDs to Vincent Jackson. What is wrong with that?
Its commical that you make wanting to be picked first a bad thing. Do you say the same thing about every other prospect that wants to be picked first?
If that was their way of keeping a secret, then it was a horrible one.
————————————-
Its so commical that some people in here claim to know what is going on in someone’s head or behind closed doors that they have no access to.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Either qb will work out great! We should be more concerned with the lines than the quarterback.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
@DallasBuc
With a mouth like that, it’s clear you are not Christian. Or respectful.
And, judging from your daily posts of insults and negativity, its pretty clear what kind of person you are.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
@Bonzai – I know Mariota has spoken in generalities about being happy with whatever team drafts him. I’d just like to hear him say he wants to play here. I’m in the MM camp, but I don’t want him here if he doesn’t feel like he deserves the #1 pick or doesn’t feel like the Bucs are a good fit for him.
He doesn’t need to say “face of the franchise” 20 times, just give me more of a hint that he would be really happy to come here. Outside of the financial benefit of being the first pick.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Bonzai- that’s it, keep on judging others. It’s what you are best at. I can guess where you picked up that pious practice!
March 13th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
@Celly
By the same token, someone saying Mariota not saying he wants to come to Tampa is a bad thing is silly.
I actually liked it when he said Vincent Jackson with Mooch too. Made me snicker.
Since that interview, however, it was revealed that they actually went over the play several times over a span of twenty minutes, and the film was edited to make it look good.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
@DallasBuc
There you go again. And seeing you protest judgement is ironic, considering your daily activities on this site.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Anybody who says “it’s clear you are not Christian” in order to judge people has some serious problems. As if worshipping magical cosmic santa claus was required to be a decent person. Ridiculous.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Bonzai- that’s because Mariota is throwing into wide open windows more often. Numbers are important but you also have to look at how those numbers happen. Winston is throwing into tighter windows and more complex route trees from his receivers. Note I did not use NFL ready or pro style(because most of it is bs) but think of this like a sport that has judges. Usually the person doing something with a high degree of difficulty will get higher scores if they both do it well. Mariota may be slightly more accurate by the numbers but Winston’s passes have a higher degree of difficulty
March 13th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
@salish_seamonster
Birds of a feather…
March 13th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Marcus Mariota is going to be the next QB and you’re going to like it, JOE.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Celly,
Joe even said that the Bucs asked Winston and his advisors to keep it under wraps before he arrived. I did not see a report anywhere until the day he arrived.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Bonzai- you never respond to arguments, just more deflection. I am hard on both Lovie and his lapdog GM but my judgements are always made in the context of football. I do not know those men and therefore do not judge them personally. You do not know me, my faith or anything else about me but you are enormously comfortable judging me as a person from what you have extrapolated from the things I say on a sports site. Ya know, good people couldn’t possibly use foul language, right?
You take yourself way too seriously.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:28 pm
@BONZAI- THATS why no one can stand these bonehead Winston fans there like trying to make children understand that everybody has a god given right to his or her own opinion. say one thing about Winston and they come out like ants. just sickening! really keep up the good work.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Check this out! Is Winston guilty?
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/415269/cinematic-railroading-jameis-winston-stuart-taylor-jr
March 13th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Celly,
To continue my previous post. I wasn’t implying the choice is Mariota. Just asking why this visit is announced days ahead and the Winston visit was that day.
Joe mentioned the fact Winston was requested to keep quiet a couple of times.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Yeah It’s me! …Joe won’t like that link, and I already posted the title of the article yesterday for all to Google it if they dare to. Some won’t read it though, because they are already dug in.
March 13th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
mikeh Says:
March 13th, 2015 at 1:28 pm
“@BONZAI- THATS why no one can stand these bonehead Winston fans there like trying to make children understand that everybody has a god given right to his or her own opinion. say one thing about Winston and they come out like ants. just sickening! really keep up the good work.”
Mike….you call him every name in the book so whatever…
March 13th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
John Says:
Greg Peshek’s QB metrics
————————-
means nothing. how well did he do predicting last year’s qb’s? his information hated carr, but damn, carr was really good. also, his information liked manziel, and that is still out of service at this time.
March 13th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
“You take yourself way too seriously.”
most religious people do.
March 13th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
salish_seamonster Said:
March 13th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Anybody who says “it’s clear you are not Christian” in order to judge people has some serious problems. As if worshipping magical cosmic santa claus was required to be a decent person. Ridiculous.
———————————————
amen!
March 13th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
If the Lord sees all sins as equal, and judging others is a sin….
Well, he who judges may as well be having an abortion party while getting gay married and smoking a doob
March 13th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Even if they don’t want MM, it would be silly for them not to act like they do. If anyone wants to trade to #1, they’ll need them to think the Bucs highly value whatever prospect the other team covets.
March 13th, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Who are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting in the second round? Because we know jameis will go number 1
March 13th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
This is what I like about JBF….can come here….learn all about Football, grammar, spelling, stats, criminal history/allegations, racism & religion….with a bit of Pablo humor thrown in……
Wow…JBF has it all.
March 13th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Lurker,
Stats means something. I don’t care about who he likes its about the numbers.
Marcus is better than Winston in every category this year, including head to head.
Winston was 25td v 18 int last year in his “pro set” offense against basketball schools. He was statisically much worse under pressure.
March 13th, 2015 at 3:47 pm
john,
believe what you want. i’m right though in that winston is the better qb and will be. mariota’s trick offense helped his stats. oregon played some very soft teams. he got sacked 7 times by a 3-9 washington state team despite his “athleticism”.
did you watch any of marcus’ games, or winston’s? i have seen the whole games. winston is clearly better, same at the combine, same will be at the pro day’s.
you can like the second-best qb prospect this year, i will take mr. winston #1.
win, it’s in his name. jameis christ is coming to resurrect this franchise.
#winninwithwinston #justwinstonbaby
March 13th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
funny how most knowledgeable experts say that winston is the better qb prospect.
March 13th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Experts also stated Aaron Rodgers was a system Qb and would be a bust. they also said he did not have a very strong arm. Mariota is better than Rodgers coming out of college.
March 13th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Winston seems the choice. I believe he will like the heat and humidity being from the deep south. Mariota. not so much.
March 13th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Drew Bree’s….spread offense QB in college.
March 13th, 2015 at 4:31 pm
drew brees and aaron rodgers did not play in the same gimmicky offense as mariota. smh
March 13th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Buccfan37 Says:
March 13th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Winston seems the choice. I believe he will like the heat and humidity being from the deep south. Mariota. not so much.
Mariota comes from Hawaii. I think he knows a little bit about heat and humidity.
March 13th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Now that the psychiatrists’ reports are in mariota’s the pick. Apparently flying back on the plane with the GM.
March 13th, 2015 at 5:47 pm
buddha Says:
March 13th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
“Now that the psychiatrists’ reports are in mariota’s the pick. Apparently flying back on the plane with the GM.”
Do tell us where you found this info out?
or
Is it just more made up BS by the MM mob?
March 13th, 2015 at 9:15 pm
RdBucfan: please give examples of how FSU and their boosters held up the investigation of Jameis. Please support with fact and not conjecture. I’ll wait.
March 13th, 2015 at 9:25 pm
RdBucfan…actually your wrong.
Hawaii doesn’t get nearly as hot as Tampa and the humidity is usually much lower.
Hawaii’s average temperature is around 84-85 degrees annually. I’ll take that over Tampa summers all day long.
HawaiinBuc can back me up on this I’m sure.
March 13th, 2015 at 9:34 pm
Average arm. don’t want him! If he runs a 4.72 and not a 4.52 he goes in the second round. The 40 is no reason to take a qb high much less #1
March 13th, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Joey Harrington…. Spread huge numbers in college.
March 13th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Just Win Jamies ….please fix the spelling in your name it’s bothering me.
It’s Jameis not Jamies.
March 13th, 2015 at 11:33 pm
87
I never said it gets as hot or humid as Florida. I said he knows about heat and humidity. 85 degrees with 85 percent humidity can be uncomfortable. I have read that they have one of the best climates in the world. I’ve also read that the temperature depends on which island, proximity to the ocean and elevation.
March 14th, 2015 at 12:05 am
Remember all the “Experts” who said Mariota has no experience from under center and it will be a long time before he is NFL Ready. The importance of Mariota’s Pro Day is he showed he can easily transition to the NFL. And the stats show he is the better QB. Jamiss has too high a turnover margin and Lovie won’t tolerate that no matter what the position.
March 14th, 2015 at 10:57 am
^^^”Jamiss has too high a turnover margin and Lovie won’t tolerate that no matter what the position.”
Like he didn’t tolerate that turnover machine McTrash who led us to one whole win against the hapless Redskins? Lovie Smith talks plenty but there has been a single thing he has said that has been true, he has abided by or ever made a bit of sense in context. This is the guy that told us we didn’t need an offense because his good defense and special teams would notch 10 wins alone. This is the guy that arrogantly threw out “we are a 4-12 football” all year. This giant of mental awareness had the audacity to say we are close to being a great football team.
I will gladly take Jameis and his turnovers because I am also going to take all those fantastic wins that he brings. Lovie Smith is grossly incompetent as it stands today. Any pick other than Winston should put him in his basement permanently.
March 14th, 2015 at 6:39 pm
@joe: Not such a minority…probably more like the silent majority, but I do appreciate the sentiment.
It will be nice seeing a classy QB come to Tampa and have his moment in the sun…just before heading to Tennessee where he will become a legend…meanwhile, FSU fans will begin spending the better half of their Sunday’s explaining “…well see, what had happened was, all the o-line, wide receivers, and RB’s just let Fameis down, again…” like the way they did this year on Saturday.
yay. can’t wait.