Still Second Best
April 26th, 2015
The Buccaneers stunned the NFL and Bucs fans last year, drafting tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the second round.
“The Dunkaneers” were born. But they died prematurely when Josh McCown played quarterback like a six-year-old girl playing Wiffle Ball.
The surprise in drafting Seferian-Jenkins was because the Bucs didn’t need a tight end, but Lovie Smith and Jason Licht couldn’t believe Seferian-Jenkins was still available, so they pounced on the big playmaker and later traded Tim Wright.
After a season filled with injuries, including a bad ankle sprain on opening day, Seferian-Jenkins returns for his second season.
He was the second tight end drafted last year, and NFL.com’s Marc Sessler says that was where the manbeast from the University of Washington belonged.
Still, ASJ’s 6-foot-5, 262-pound exterior gives Bucs passers a massive target. His work against the Ravens in Week 6 might serve as an appropriate preview of what new coordinator Dirk Koetter has planned for 2015. Against Baltimore, Seferian-Jenkins caught a tough 14-yard ball in traffic before, one quarter later, splitting Ravens defenders down the middle to take a Mike Glennon pass for 30 yards. He’s strong enough to blast past initial blockers into space and fast enough to win one-on-one battles.
The Bucs employed Seferian-Jenkins on plenty of crossing routes while also trying to set him free downfield. More than once he dominated smaller defenders up the seam.
Final analysis: Can he stay healthy for a full season? If he does, will Tampa put a functional quarterback under center?
Hopefully, Koetter will know how to maximize Seferian-Jenkins’ massive skillset. But really, Seferian-Jenkins just needs to stay healthy and he’ll be fine. That’s his challenge.
Joe watched Seferian-Jenkins stand out in so many practices, and display his talent in games. But like every other player, he’s worthless when injured — and while getting dumbass Captain Morgan penalties.
April 26th, 2015 at 3:47 pm
ASJ being injury prone this year would be a big bummer for the Bucs and their fans.
April 26th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
ASJ is quite likely to have a breakout year. Staying healthy and available is the key of course.
Winston will have plenty of weapons to work with. If the Oline can become serviceable, then we are likely to see a lot of points scored this year. Koetter will find ways to utilize the talent we have at the skill positions. i have confidence we will see a MUCH better product on the field this year.
April 26th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
I was really glad we made this pick. I believe if healthy he can be a top 3 tight end. Only behind Gronk and Graham. Being that he is 22 with so much room to improve he can easily take that #1 spot if we hit the $$ with our new QB.
April 26th, 2015 at 4:09 pm
Nick O’leary in the fourth.
April 26th, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Just read an article on Kahil Mack and Anthony Barr being the top rookies. Everyone remembers Barr…
April 26th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
If we can protect Winston, he will love it here in Tampa. He was used to throwing to Kelvin Benjamin, a big receiver in College. He will love our big receivers, and Sims out of the backfield.
April 26th, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Nick O’Leary is a beast.
Did you ever see that video of him getting hit on his motor scooter by a car that ran a stop sign?
He goes flying about 20 yards and slams into a bus. Breaks the busses windshield.
Gets up and dusts himself off and says… ” What’s up?”
April 26th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Not drafting another TE.. Question is will we have the Balls to draft Lockett. We need that quick twitch receiver and ST player. Tired of the slow, plodding receivers that need to much time to get separation.
April 26th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
With MG8 and a healthy Jenkins the Bucs could have 3 one thousand receivers and a thousand yard rusher in Martin.
#DP #HGH #PEDs #MushBrainRetard
April 26th, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Nick O’leary has that alstott/ditka trait: when he’s got the ball in his hands, he looks for defenders to hit
Still holding out hope ASJ can live up to his potential
April 26th, 2015 at 4:34 pm
MAYNE ONE Says
“Nick O’Leary in the fourth.”
I would love this, but I don’t see it happening now.
Had Jason Licht signed at least one offensive lineman of quality in the off season, say a center, then it might be possible.
Instead, he signed no true starters (oh, a couple might actually start for the Bucs, but they wouldn’t on a good team) and traded away our extra 5th rounder for a backup DE.
Losing that 5th will hurt us badly. We already didn’t have enough picks.
April 26th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Nick O’Leary would make a great halfback.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
#5
April 26th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Bonzai
He’d make the perfect hback for winston. Sure handed, good blocker and the chemistry between is an winston is outstanding.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
ASJ is the least of our worries….he is simply to talented to fail….give him a good OC, QB…and some fortune on the health issue….and he’ll be fine.
He’s now the #2 TE in the division……IMO
April 26th, 2015 at 5:15 pm
@R.O.
Yes please on Lockett but he’s coming off the board in the 2nd round so it’d be tough to take him over a quality OL/DL prospect (if available).
April 26th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
that captain morgan penalty was stupid . his putting
his cleats on top of the football on the ground in the end zone. that was a huge penalty and a very selfish move on his part. I think the team should fine players that do stupid stuff like that during a game to discourage it from happening. what next spinning the football at mid field on the cowboys symbol at texas stadium. oh wait a minute someone else has already done that…
April 26th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
The Packers will snag O’leary in the bottom of the 3rd and he will go on to have a great career. It’s too much of a luxury pick for the Bucs unfortunately because I love the guy too.
Joe bashing McCown is just classless but I realize it’s just too fun to pile on. We get it you don’t like the fact that he took too many chances pushing the ball down field when he was under duress. He played to win his stats be damned much like Winston will do. I rather have a guy like that than someone who plays it safe and runs out of bounces instead of trying to get the 1st down.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
R.O. Says
“Not drafting another TE.. Question is will we have the Balls to draft Lockett. We need that quick twitch receiver and ST player.”
I’m sorry, but given the needs this team has and the number of picks, I think that would be a bad move.
Carter is NOT a good choice for MLB. He would be required to tackle in the backfield and he doesn’t have the stamina. He’ll be injured quickly…like every year he plays.
The holes on this team are many, and WR is the second lowest priority (RB being the first).
DE, MLB, SS, FS, QB, RT, LT, C, G, WR and Punter.
The most important of those needs are Quarterback, Center (which would allow us to move EDS to Guard for now) and Middle Linebacker. These I would consider first tier.
The second most important would be Defensive End, Free Safety, Strong Safety and Punter. These I would consider second tier.
The next on the list would be Free Safety and Strong Safety. Third Tier.
Truth to tell, most of these should be priorities, but we simply do not have the picks.
When we pick in the second round, the BPA at Center or MLB is the one we should take. Same in third. BPA at the positions of need.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Bonzai
There’s value to drafting a WR bc if our starters go down what do we have behind them? But you are right, there are too many holes. I just wish someone could develop the talent we already have.
I read that Green Bay has 1 guy on their roster that they didn’t draft, can that be correct? If so we need to find coaches that can do the same, develop our picks into probowlers. I mean they got rid of EDS replaced him with a rookie and didn’t skip a beat. Oh and I’m not referring to the HC but his coaching staff.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:47 pm
Trading wright was an aweful move. Can we get him back? Especially if Glennon is going to play those two have chemistry. Did ASJ or Meyers have 5 tds bc wright did during his rookie year. Plus wright isn’t always hurt, he doesn’t fumble and he doesnt celebrate. Just saying our FO needs to figure this out quick or it’s going to be another very long depressing season.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
You keep saying that Carter is not a good MLB, yet all indications are that he is going to be our starting middle linebacker. Its getting kind of annoying dude.
Also, you really believe we should draft a center in the second round, a position that is at the very least filled, before a LT or guard, positions that are far worse off? We get it you don’t like EDS, but again indications are that the bucs are going to stick with him so its pointless to keep making that silly argument.
April 26th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
We could really use some speed at WR……perhaps if we can get our hands on a burner WR/KR/PR……it would be worth a pick.
We have so many need areas though, its hard to see us pulling the trigger on a WR.
I agree with Bonzai…….but I think with the FA acquisitions thus far…we are picking Oline in 2nd & 3rd….
April 26th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
He will be just fine
April 26th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
winston will work great with our slow receivers. he will hit the anticipation throws and not wait for them like mike geoffrey glennon.
April 26th, 2015 at 6:01 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo was crushed with the Aaron Hernandez verdict. Pablo was hoping he would be acquitted and the Bucs would give him the “Lovie second chance”….then Pablo looked at the list of the top 50 TE prospects and couldn’t find one….not one of Pablo’s amigos. Pablo will have to hope that ASJ learns to speak Spanish for Pablo.”
April 26th, 2015 at 6:16 pm
@ BB
Also, have you even taken a look at the Center prospects in this years draft? There’s only one with a 1st round grade, so he’ll most likely be gone, and then there’s only one with a second round grade and that’s it. There’s waaaay more talented tackles and guards in this draft compared to centers. for example, there are four 1st round and three 1-2 round graded tackles in this draft. Could you really see us passing on one of those 1st round graded tackles if one of them were to fall to our #34 overall pick, which is possible? I sure can’t.
April 26th, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Hau’oli kikaha in the 3rd round should be a no brainer if he’s still there.
April 26th, 2015 at 6:51 pm
“Against Baltimore, Seferian-Jenkins caught a tough 14-yard ball in traffic before, one quarter later, splitting Ravens defenders down the middle to take a Mike Glennon pass for 30 yards”
Wait this didn’t happen did it ? Mr. Glennon can’t hit a receiver down field for 14 yards then added with another 16 YAC? another thing Mr. Glennon has never been reported to be able to do. That’s a 30 yard pass from the QB most here on JBF say can’t get the ball in a receiver’s hands where they can make Yards After Catch. Sounds like this play went almost a third of the field to one receiver say it ain’t so Joe!
Go Bucs
April 26th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Hey Pablo. Aaron Hernandez is as guilty as they get. Trust me on this one. He deserves whatever he gets from here on out. I was always skeptical of him when he was with the Gators
April 26th, 2015 at 7:10 pm
@ rustyrhinos
Nice post. ASJ caught a 14 yard pass and stood there for a quarter before he ran the other 16 yards. Excellent reading comprehension on a dick post.
Glennon isn’t the worst QB we’ve ever had and in fact I think he would be a decent QB if he had an incredible cast around him, but he’s never going to be a 10-12 year franchise type guy. Keep hoping for .500 seasons though if thats what you’re satisfied with.
As far as Joe’s article, I totally agree. If healthy, ASJ should be a 60+ catch per year TE with a good QB and competant OC.
April 26th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Guys, with ME a perennial 1,000 yard guy and VJax having a couple more of those yrs in him too how many extra passes are there actually available for the TE if we have a strong running game???
April 26th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
@ Gator that loves the Bucs
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo hopes Hernandez breaks out of jail and joins you on one of your camping trips and meets your .44…..Pablo thinks that will be the quickest justice for Aaron…Pablo knew he was guilty….they arrested him, didn’t they?”
April 26th, 2015 at 7:23 pm
LOL TBBF! It is So Awesome that you keep us in touch with Pablo. I like to think he is still alive!
April 26th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
In unrelated news …. Winston has been spotted again in Tampa. This time at the Brooks charity event at the Hard Rock. Sure is spending a lot of time in Tampa and involved in the community!
April 26th, 2015 at 8:18 pm
He is in Tampa!
April 26th, 2015 at 9:10 pm
You would have thought playing behind the best o line in the nfl he would have played better.
April 27th, 2015 at 12:09 am
Someone call Ghostbusters. I just saw the State Puff Marshmallow Man!
April 27th, 2015 at 7:17 am
“Dunkaneers”? Dumbest effn name and still can’t believe that bobbleheaded fool said it out loud. However, I’m not surprised the easily amused fans were so enamoured with the nickname. When the bobblehead lapdog GM made some Godzilla nickname reference for Mike Evans last summer it made fans go bananas.
April 27th, 2015 at 9:20 am
Andrew 1 Says
“There’s waaaay more talented tackles and guards in this draft compared to centers.”
Which is why you go center. You take the hardest to fill position first, so you have more options for it.
If there are so many good guards and tackles, you can wait until a later round.
And EDS can move to guard, so by drafting a center, you fill TWO roles instead of one.
He cost us 2-3 games himself last year at center. Wake up.