Swimming Upstream

July 26th, 2015
swimming upstream

Data nerds hook a Buccaneer

Some Bucs fans like to look and root for long shots to make the roster. Of course, these long shots also are bottom-of-the-roster kind of guys, and Joe detailed what that means.

For those fans who enjoy rooting for underdogs, the numberscrunchers over at Pro Football Focus have a name for you and that would be defensive tackle Quayshawne Buckley.

The nerds, who are trying to ruin exploit college football like they have the NFL, fired up their Excel spreadsheets to determine the highest graded undrafted free agents. Included in this top 10 is Buckley, types Gordon McGuinness .

Quayshawne Buckley, Idaho, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While the knock on Buckley is that he didn’t face top-level competition, it’s impossible to argue against how productive he was on the field. You can only beat the competition in front of you, and he did that routinely in 2014, grading positively as a pass rusher in every game he played last season. With 34 total pressures from 232 pass rushing snaps, he had the highest Pass Rushing Productivity Rating of any defensive tackle in this draft class at 11.3. Not a one-trick pony, Buckley also finished in the Top 10 in terms of Run Stop Percentage, making a tackle resulting in a defensive stop on 8.3% of his run defense snaps.

Here is the thing about Buckley’s chances: The Bucs are razor-thin when it comes to depth at most positions. Defensive tackle is likely the lone area the Bucs have good depth.

Joe has no idea and would like to find out later this week; if Buckley is that good of a pass rusher, might Lovie Smith try him out at defensive end as a dedicated pass rusher on passing downs as opposed to defensive tackle?

Lord knows there are openings for a talented pass rusher at defensive end.

24 Responses to “Swimming Upstream”

  1. Dick2111 Says:

    You’re right Joe, another interesting prospect. At 6-3 and 305 he’d probably be the biggest DE in the league, but he’s supposedly very quick and explosive so anything’s possible. Was projected as a 4th or 5th rounder (obviously that didn’t happen). Even if he doesn’t make the 53-man team, sounds like good practice squad potential.

  2. WS99 Says:

    Lovie Smith try him out at defensive end as opposed to defensive tackle?

    He’ll probably get cut. I’m guessing Joe is not a fan of junior Gilette bc of off field incidents but again if we don’t snatch him up someone else will like Carolina or Atlanta. Where does that leave us, with the mighty beast George I’m a back up Johnson and the high “potential” of Fatinikum.

    Mind you this is a after losing out on Jared Allen, Julius peppers, Trent Cole and Hardy. But hey I’m not a professional so I’m sure L&L know what they’re doing bc they get paid to do this and whatnot. Lord help us all.

  3. WS99 Says:

    Wait! this guy is 305lbs and runs after than Jameis. If that’s the case then why not just line up gmc at de. He’s the best pass rusher and with Melton n McDonald at DT we can still get pressure from the inside.

  4. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    We cannot have too much depth at this position. Remember our star player has a history of injury.

    Plus won’t it be relatively easy to hide him on the practice squad? I forget the rules. Do we get to protect 5 there or are they fair game for other teams? I thought only those we waive are fair game but I could be mistaken.

  5. BucsFan85 Says:

    He does sound promising. Would love them to get him in on the action in training camp. Also would like to see more from our DE’s and see just what we’re working with.

  6. Stanglassman Says:

    PS player can be picked up by any team if they put them on their starting 53.

    The big question besides charter and cost with Jr Gilette is why would he want to sign with the Bucs? They don’t play 3-4 Def and they would try to convert him to a DE. A position he has never excelled at. BTW He is a vested player you can’t just claim off the waiver wire.

  7. BlogTalkFootball Says:

    Right now, Junior Galette wants revenge against the Saints. The Bucs play the Saints twice a year. the Bucs only need to sprinkle a little money on the deal and he could get his shot at chasing Drew Brees around twice a year.

    Revenge is a huge motivator.

  8. BucsFan85 Says:

    Has anyone seen this dudes highlights? He’s a steamroller. W are talking about Sun Belt football though.

  9. Abdominal Snowman Says:

    Never heard of this kid but chances are he’s a diamond in the rough that we will allow the pats, the packers, or the ravens get a hold of.

    Please oh please, don’t go near this gallette bum. I mean seriously has nobody seen the video of this lunatic belt whippin a woman? Even the trashy bounty hunting saints don’t want him, which should tell you something.

    A quote from a teammate which I’ll paraphrase,” hhee played hard long enough the get paid then the true Junior came out, such a shame.” Sounds like our old boy Haynesworth.

  10. WS99 Says:

    My bad I forgot galette wouldn’t pass the ‘nice guy’ test therefore there’s no room for him on the bucs roster. Btw I think he play de 2 years ago with a hand in the dirt.

  11. Stanglassman Says:

    A little money? The guy got paid 18 million for a single season last year. He will want close to that and he doesn’t want to play DE period. He couldn’t play DE well in college what makes people think he can play it in the NFL? We already have a Jr. Gelette playing for us for peanuts his name is Larry English.

  12. Stanglassman Says:

    Why can’t people understand the difference between wanting a guy who play with attitude and intensity between the white lines and not wanting a jerk who puts themselves before the team who is a bad influence on young players. I’m not saying that Gilette is all these things it’s his former teammates.

  13. Abdominal Snowman Says:

    WS99 great name for you as you are quick to open your mouth. Do a little research on this guy and what he’s been saying since getting in trouble and getting the boot. He is a self richous buffoon who looks out of shape and would be playing out of position anyway.

    I am not opposed to giving players second chances. Shoot I would have taken Hardy in an instant and would still take Rice. At least they haave shown remorse for their actions.

  14. WS99 Says:

    He is a self richous buffoon who looks out of shape and …
    *********
    Sounds like a guy we all know and love. You forgot one adjective, productive. I’m all about results. I could give 2 fcks if he’s a nice guy this is football not girls field hockey. Once this town gets this concept through their holier than thou heads we may start winning games.

    Now onto Cracker Barrel for our post-service lunch.

  15. Joe Says:

    Now onto Cracker Barrel for our post-service lunch.

    Reading Joe at church???

    Joe is very, very, very impressed… and humbled!

    But you may have to answer to a Higher Authority for that!

  16. Buccfan37 Says:

    I like the underdogs, you know you are going to get their best effort and if they make it, what a great story. I hope Buckley makes the team, nickname him Buttered Buckley Potato, the slippery potato sack master and pressure potato masher.

  17. WS99 Says:

    🙂

  18. University of Seffner Says:

    Has anybody heard anything about Galette coming to the Bucs?

  19. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    They’ll probably try to hide Buckley on the practice squad. I think they’ll want to keep Spence. If not, Buckley could have a shot at the 53.

  20. Abdominal Snowman Says:

    Allegedly Gallette is coming to Tampa for something like 7m/yr

  21. Abdominal Snowman Says:

    http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2015/7/26/9041829/junior-galette-sounds-off-against-saints-through-rants-on-girlfriends …that’s the kind of great teammate we’d be getting.

  22. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Galette is not coming to Tampa.

  23. BucFan20 Says:

    I am confused. Why would the Jameis Christ mind if you read Joe at church? After all he is our Savior and QB!

  24. Fsuking Says:

    The Church of Jameis encourages the reading of any Jameis scripture no less than 3× daily. As a deciple, Joe accurately depicts accounts of our savior almost daily, making joebucsfan.com a great resource for followers of Jameis Christ. Amen