Defensive End Or Offensive Line?
April 8th, 2015
Will pot-smokin’ DE Randy Gregory fall enough for the Bucs to grab him?
There is a split decision at the headquarters of JoeBucsFan.com. In one corner there is demand for an offensive lineman — with the No. 34 pick.
In the other corner is the realization that a defensive-minded head coach is pining for pressure from the edge, so his defense will play the way he wants it in a draft top-heavy with defensive ends.
There really is no wrong answer here. But the Joe who went to the NFL Scouting Combine is convinced this is just simple math, given how many stud defensive ends populate the early part of the draft, and how the middle rounds are loaded with value at offensive line. No inside information needed.
The other Joe claims that’s all hogwash and the Bucs need offensive linemen desperately, since they have sat on their hands all offseason at the position and need to keep their No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston upright.
ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas, who seems to be in the offensive line camp, writes how he can easily see the Bucs go defense at No. 34.
UCLA’s Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Oregon’s Arik Armstead are two defensive ends who could be available in the second round. Let’s not forget that Lovie Smith is a defensive coach at heart. And let’s not forget the Bucs used all of last year’s draft picks on offensive players.
The Bucs might not be able to pass on a defensive end in the second round.
Again, there are a lot of defensive ends — really good defensive ends — in this draft. Surely, one could fall so that the Bucs could trade back up into the first round and grab him.
Keep an eye out for tokin’ Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory’s tumble. After his chronic-smoking ways have been revealed, he won’t be the top-five pick many believed he would be.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:06 am
Hey joe can you see us trading back up into the end of Round 1 if gregory is sitting there? and how much to go up lets say 5 spots to the bottom of the 1st.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:08 am
Take highest rated player at either position. If there’s a tie, i think you need to go OT, with the logic behind the tie breaker being protecting that #1 pick.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:14 am
I mean bucs must not think Joseph barksdale (RT) or Justin blalock (guard) are any good cause they could easily sign one or both these guys for cheap. Other experts say blalock was
Best oline man on Atlanta that had bad injuries and barksdae could easily start right tackle day 1 with no hiccups. Then they could go after defensive end, safety, etc. just don’t understand these non efforts for oline guys . are they hoping they will be able to get a guy that is waived or cut from other team as they are 1st on waiver wire. Who knows. Maybe just clueless in that area. I mean they did sign Gilbert gilkey and oniel cousins last year. Oniel cousins is worse then my actual cousin who weighs 125 lbs. just saying bucs being typical bucs here. By the way, how is Warhop the oline coach still. Hope they don’t blow the first pick by not going qb. 99 .2 % sure it’s probably Winston unless something happens to him in next few days
April 8th, 2015 at 7:16 am
There may not be a whole lot of value at DE, OT may be the value at that point, I know Lovie said weight doesn’t matter but do you really see a guy paying DE at 235 lbs like the Nebraska kid?? No way, that’s a LB
April 8th, 2015 at 7:19 am
I seriously doubt we trade up. I’m thinking OL, but L&L could definitely go DE. Gregory won’t fall that far.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:20 am
We need an anchor on our o-line.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:25 am
Pass. OL in the 2nd only. Trey Flowers will be there in the 3rd.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:46 am
Too bad Lovie can’t be flexible and create a defensive scheme that works with the strengths of his personnel. I would prefer a left tackle in the 2nd but his beloved tampa 2 requires a great pass rush.
I would prefer a LT I the 2nd but I think they need to go with BPA at RG, LT, or DE.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:49 am
I say go BPA. There are so many holes on this team if a good player slips due to other teams needs, go for it. I would not reach for any player due to need. There seems to be good quality O Line and DE talent this year, get one in rd 2 and another in rd 3.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:51 am
This is why they need to address the QB problem properly ASAP. Once done, you can finally look more clearly at the teams other needs. That is why I wished licht would have been successful moving up last year to get Carr so we could begin fresh this year. So bite the bullet get that QB this year and the best OT available and address some of the other holes. Next year, hit with two of the first 3 draft choices at OL. Watch the waivers closely this year and patch work the online for now.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:55 am
Please Joe
Time for a mobile app
April 8th, 2015 at 7:56 am
If Gregory falls to the 2nd Bucs pick, sure take him, but O-line is a much more pressing need. It’s not even funny. It really isn’t.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:57 am
DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT! Trade up in the first round for Gregory. There is a reason why that guy is falling. Do we need another Price, Bowers, Clayborne, etc of guys who fall for reason we are oblivious too.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:59 am
It has to be offensive line. You can put together a fair (but not spectacular) pass rushing rotation with guys from the waiver wire. You cannot do the same for the offensive line. We simply have to protect our rookie QB and the offensive line is missing multiple starters.
It’s easy. Offensive line.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:00 am
Randy Gregory is a 3-4 OLB not a 4-3 DE. He’s way too light to hold up at defensive end. Weight isn’t everything, but he’s not even close. Off field issues aside, he would be a terrible fit here.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:03 am
I do think they will look for a DE as second choice. I just hope that Licht does not pull a dominick. Where the draft was loaded in 2011 with Defensive Ends, but somehow dominick picked the 2 busts!!!
April 8th, 2015 at 8:06 am
2nd. Donovan Smith OT Pitt
3rd. AJ Cann OG SC
4th. Kikaha (his lack of size and strength has him dropping)
April 8th, 2015 at 8:08 am
Thank God Adam bomb wasn’t making the Buc’s draft choice when we were gifted Sapp who fell for the same stupid reason.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:12 am
No on here mentions Anthony Chckillo from the U. He dominated the Shrine game, is a 4/3 edge rusher who played a 3/4 defense. He will be incredible value as a fourth round pick.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:20 am
Stagger- Why do the experts have Dononan Smith going in the 3-4 rd? They also project him to play G in the NFL. Seems like quite a reach @ 34th pick for someone expected to go in the early 100s at best.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:26 am
I understand that Gregory should be punished by his incapability to refrain from smoking weed during the biggest job interview of his life but what is going to happen when weed is legal everywhere, cause that day is coming.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:29 am
they’ll probably go LB
ignoring the DL and OL until later. it’s worked great so far.
some where there’s a 39 year old OLman we can get for a 3rd round pick.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:36 am
If Armstead was there I’d take him.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:37 am
I would say go DE with pick # 2 but another way to approach it is which unit will most likely be on the field for more plays each game. Offense or Defense? Maybe this is just a 6 of one and half dozen of the other type decision. Maybe with the prospect of J.Smith having a break out season, the Bucs will see OL as a slightly bigger need. I guess we will have to see who the BPA is when it gets down to the back end of the 1st round. If someone too good to not try to go get falls a little at either position, I could see the Bucs going that route over what they project as a bigger need.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:38 am
Why trade up for a guy that has failed 3 drug tests? One i can get passed. Then he says he hasn’t smoked since December.
In the words of the honorable Captain O’Hagan “I’ll believe ya when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet.”
April 8th, 2015 at 8:40 am
Trade down, get a left tackle, a DE and a center and a partridge in a pear tree.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:41 am
Too bad TB doesn’t have the first pick of round 2, that’s a prime trade down spot.
OL or DE, whoever is higher on the board.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:41 am
I am just not a big fan of drafting for need over BPA unless it’s close.
Drafting for need is what had the Bucs pass on Adrian Peterson, because we had Cadillac Williams, and pass on Luke Kuechly, because we had Mason Foster.
Let’s say that Todd Gurley slips to round two or DaVante Parker or Marcus Peters somehow someway fall all the way to 34…do you seriously pass on those guys to take Cameron Erving or the 8th best pass rushing DE? Just my opinion, but you add talent to the team no matter what position.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:48 am
@UF Alum
While I am a huge supporter of the legalization and taxation of marijuana, I think the situation with the drug policy in the NFL may not change or will at least be slow to change. Employers can prohibit employees from using even if legal as terms of employment. I do not like that system and think that it is discriminatory since alcohol is not banned or tested. Perhaps one day it will be legal and not taboo. I recently traveled to Colorado for a vacation and obviously had to give the local dispensary some patronage, but even there, they have strict limits as to where you may use it. It will take a long time for public perception to change and for cannabis to be viewed in the same category as it’s far more dangerous cousin alcohol. OK enough of that. Go Bucs!! Can’t wait for the draft.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:56 am
I can see a OT like LT Peat being picked 1st rd by the Bengals who have both their OT in contract years. If they draft Peat they’ll cut Whitworth (Their LT) and the Bucs get the 1st picks off the waiver wire this year so there should be some good players released for salary reasons. So pay attention to who else is drafting OT/DE and their starters & contract situations.
April 8th, 2015 at 8:59 am
RayJay-This is why Unions are so important. Look at the NBA players union compared to the NFL. NBA’s is so much stronger.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:03 am
The Bucs can’t fix everything in one year.
Last year we effectively got one WR and one TE as future starters. Beyond that, we drafted part-time players at best.
OLine takes the longest to develop chemistry and gel. This year the Bucs need to use their 2nd and 3rd picks to bolster that group. At least one of them (hopefully two) will be starters right away.
I’m not holding my breath on two starting this year however.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:11 am
@Stanglassman
Very true! NBA does have a much stronger players union. It also does not have a dictator ruling over the league.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:12 am
There are college lines better then our line-‘we have to to line on nearly every pic
April 8th, 2015 at 9:22 am
The only acceptable reason to not draft Oline in the 2nd is if they are sure they can get equal quality in the 3rd.
Mission #1 (after Jameis) is protect the new QB.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:23 am
I’m reading up on all these OT and most of them are RT and none of the good ones will be there for our 2nd pk. I like T.J. Clemmings but he seems to be flying up draft boards. Maybe D.J. Humphries or maybe Flowers, guess that’s the best OT choices if they don’t go BPA.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:44 am
“Stanglassman Says:
April 8th, 2015 at 8:59 am
RayJay-This is why Unions are so important. Look at the NBA players union compared to the NFL. NBA’s is so much stronger”
And MLB kills them both. On one hand, the players have a union. On the other hand, the owners know the players want weed legal (in CBA terms). I’m sure the owners will use this by trying to give them less $ or to add more games to the season in exchange. Will the players give up money or games for weed?
April 8th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Yup- this has been our recipe for failure since this team started in the 70s.
Sadly- I’ve seen it so many times
And it always starts like this.
We all know we need major O-line help, especially since we are drafting a young QB 1st!
Yup, we all agree!!
Then it happens
” but what if a really talented long snapper drops down to us?
” well, we need a long Snapper!”
Next thing you know- O-line is ignored.
NO! NO!
You don’t throw an immobile rookie QB, behind our P.O.S line.
Are you crazy?
Let Jameis spend time behind those slobs!
You’ll have she’ll shocked our franchise QB into mister Happy feet, and wasted something we’ve waited 30 years for!!!
That damn draft better be Jameis, OT, OG, Center, and really OT and OG again.
If not- then every management member of One Buc should be horse whipped in town square.
I don’t care what defensive player you draft- we ain’t going to the Super Bowl.
Let’s build that line around Jameis. Next year- we build the defensive line.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:49 am
currently, some mocks have us getting Jake Fisher LT. In round 3 they have us taking Arie Kouandjio G. Although, if the Bucs are impressed with AJ Cann, they will probably take that.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:52 am
There IS a wrong pick here, and its going DE.
Bucs have to go O-line, or we risk losing our franchise QB forever, we arent going to win the superbowl this year, we can fill the DE hole next year in FA or Draft.
April 8th, 2015 at 9:59 am
So, do you think George Johnson will get his offer matched by Detroit? If he doesn’t, that eliminates a little pressure for a DE in the early rounds.
April 8th, 2015 at 10:10 am
I agree, we need to go o-line in the 2nd and 3rd. I really like our interior d-lineman, that rotation is pretty nice with McCoy, McDonald, and guy the signed from Dallas/Chicago. It seems to me we can maximize less talented players at DE (read: A motivated guy like Jacquise Smith can walk in here and get 7.5 sacks, why the hell do we need to spend a second round draft pick on an edge rusher) whereas on the offensive line we don’t have any dominant players. The current roster of offensive lineman seem better suited to teach a young gun talented rookie as opposed to carrying around a waiver wire signing with a marginal skill set.
April 8th, 2015 at 10:19 am
Nothing to see here move along – the #34 pick is OL unless of course you want to get your shiny new franchise quarterback killed.
April 8th, 2015 at 10:23 am
BlogTalkFootball Says:
April 8th, 2015 at 9:59 am
So, do you think George Johnson will get his offer matched by Detroit? If he doesn’t, that eliminates a little pressure for a DE in the early rounds.
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Not really. He’s a rotational guy at best and a stop gap if there ever was one. Still need a long term solution there with true upside.
As to Gregory, beyond the off field concerns he’s not really an every down guy. Right now he’s too meek physically to be anything other than a situational pass rusher. He got abused by decent OLineman in college. Great physical gifts, but he kind of reminds me of Bowers in that regard.
April 8th, 2015 at 10:54 am
Na man, just NO to Armstead! Big guy I know, but just NO!
I think we should use next year’s 1st or 2nd to trade up for a stud LT or DE.
April 8th, 2015 at 11:18 am
I think the Bucs need for a defensive end should not be over looked. However, assuming the signing from Detroit holds up, we have the luxury to draft offensive line for picks 2-4. If Ereck Flowers or Lael Collins is available, that would be a dream. However we will most likely have to go after AJ Cann, who will be a hell of a guard. So would Tra Jackson in the third.
What about Cedric Ogbuehi? Wasnt he a projected first rounder until he tore his ACL? Will he be ready to play this August? I think the Bucs should find out because he was a dominant pass blocker at A&M.
A more practical option though could be Oklahoma tackle Randy Williams. Can be picked as low as the fourth and was great fpr the Sooners last year. I would sign veteran Jake Ling then draft Williams to compete and if Long goea down like usual, we have a plan. I really dont like Dotson at left snd im glad we have the luxury to draft all of these talented o linemen.
April 8th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
The Bucs went all offense last year, continue that approach this draft despite Lovie drooling for defensive talent. If the team can’t outscore the opponent, it’s back to square one. Continue the offense buildup, that’s where the wins await.
April 8th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Problem is that if this draft goes heavy O-line you don’t take one in the 2nd. Why waste a 2nd round pick on the 8-10th best person at that position? When you could get possibly the 4th-5th best person at another. Come on now. Just because it is a need you do not NEED to reach.
April 8th, 2015 at 1:12 pm
We just signed a DE that’s serviceable plus ja smith gholston n English(lol). Get OT please, Dotson is no LT.
Lions may not have the cap room to match our offer.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Lions will probably match the offer just because they lost everybody else.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Gregory would be a huge mistake and a waste of a pick, as he will be suspended and lose his career Just like Tanard Jackson. Chronic chronic baby!
April 8th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Gregory will be gone in the 1st.
Maybe we could trade up with the Panthers at 25 for Peat.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Defense or Offense, it should be BLA – Best Lineman Available.