Historic Draft
December 31st, 2015
Historic 2015
Yes, it is almost draft season. Christmas presents have been broken by the kids, champagne bottles are on ice, the regular season ends in three days.
Just for the heck of it, Joe looked back at the second draft of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Actually, it was Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune who looked back and pulled up an interesting statistic that shows that Licht’s draft last spring, which landed four starters including America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, is one of the all-time best Bucs drafts.
Since the NFL draft became a seven-round affair in 1994, only six Bucs draft classes yielded more primary starters than the four in this one, according to pro-football-reference.com. …Should that happen and the four current starters keep their jobs for at least three years, this Bucs class will be only the second in the seven-round era to yield more than three players who hung around that long as primary starters.
The first was the 1997 draft class, which included running back Warrick Dunn (10 years), tackle Jerry Wunsch (three), guard Frank Middleton (six), cornerback Ronde Barber (15) and linebacker Al Singleton (three).
We shall see how this draft class goes. At this point, there is no reason to believe the “grand slam” of last spring won’t be starting for years. Just look how badly the defense missed Kwon Alexander at middle linebacker.
And the previous year’s draft class appears OK, with Mike Evans and Charles Sims (Austin Seferian-Jenkins looks to be on the cusp of a washout).
Unlike Lovie Smith’s secondary, Licht’s crew is getting the job done.
December 31st, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if ASJ actually played a full season next year? And maybe stopped committing retarded penalties when he does play?
Ah, a fan can hope…
December 31st, 2015 at 3:20 pm
That 1997 draft was good but I expect the 2015 draft to be better from an overall talent perspective because I think at least 3 of them will be Pro-bowl caliber.
December 31st, 2015 at 3:29 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if Evans actually caught the damn ball next year? And maybe stopped crying for penalties when he does play?
Ah, a fan can hope…
December 31st, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Don’t forget Pamphile…..he may turn out to be a starter before its all over….
December 31st, 2015 at 3:37 pm
I’m happy to hear that folks are using
pro-football-reference.com.
As a primary resource now
December 31st, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Licht’s drafting has given hope to Bucs fans everywhere despite the overall subpar showing by the rest of the team.
December 31st, 2015 at 4:27 pm
I thought that ASJ would become a star. Now I just hope he has just one TD catch that doesn’t end with him looking like an idiot.
December 31st, 2015 at 4:42 pm
If the Team does not have a winning season, it does not matter how many draft picks have starting jobs for 10 years!!!!
December 31st, 2015 at 4:46 pm
One draft class and free agency won’t matter if our defensive scheme is still crap (lovie smith)
December 31st, 2015 at 4:57 pm
ASJ (Captain Morgan) so far looks like an immature bust, and Evans will be also if he can’t consistantly catch the ball, especially on 3rd down.
The four starters from the last draft all look like the real deal. Marpet gets over-powered by much bigger D-Linemen, and Smith still needs help with speed rushers. However, these are still very young guys who will only get better. Plus it looks like Pamphile will be ready to step in for Mankins when he calls it a career.
Nobody hits on every draft pick, but Licht is drafting players that hopefully will contribute here for a long time.
So far, on 2 drafts, I give Licht a B-
December 31st, 2015 at 4:59 pm
So hopefully these gets don’t get worse under lovie. I guess the most of the studs on offense so koetter will keep them getting better. Lovie is only going to delay the inevitable
December 31st, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Has there been a single player for any Tampa team with more potential than ASJ?
December 31st, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Imagine if Kenny Bell lights it up next year, then it would be the best draft ever.
December 31st, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Deepest, not best…
December 31st, 2015 at 6:32 pm
Umm..Al Singleton only started one season in his six year tender
(2002).
December 31st, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Understood Joe
December 31st, 2015 at 7:33 pm
@Mike10:
“Potential” means that right now ASJ sucks.
December 31st, 2015 at 7:41 pm
I agree with Mr Edrington: ASJ is simply a bust! BTW; is it just me or is Mike Evans like a clone of one Braylon Edwards: that bust that dropped a record number of balls for the Browns a decade ago????
December 31st, 2015 at 7:47 pm
@joe
I wouldn’t give all the credit to licht.
Pretty sure LOVIE has COMPLETE PERSONELL CONTROL ON ALL PLAYERS
Everyone is quick to throw LOVIE under the bus FOR ANYTHING THAT GOES WRONG. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE CREDIT THEN WHEN SOMETHING GOES RIGHT.
He is the one that is supposed to have final say on all players. SO HOW ABOUT A LITTLE LOVE TO THE COACH JOE.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Lovie makes good draft choices.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:05 pm
“TheKevin” is right.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:07 pm
lurker Says
“Wouldn’t it be great if Evans actually caught the damn ball next year? And maybe stopped crying for penalties when he does play?”
Let’s be fair here…ALL of the top WRs try to get penalties called every time they go deep and don’t catch the ball.
ALL. OF. THEM.
December 31st, 2015 at 8:12 pm
“TheKevin”: if you want to give Lovie a bit of love for his draft prowess; thats okay but then you also have to hold him accountable for the numerous blunder which the Bucs have mastered via the free agent market and accept the fact that most of those choices appear idiotic if one uses hindsight! But realistically we can all complain about Lovie but have to realize that he is coming back and we might as well prepare for one more year of L&L. I will give credit for the 6-10 mark the Bucs will have Sunday night but also have to point out that the team failed him during the month of December with 4 straight losses…. Did they quit on him like the way the Bucs quit on Schiano after they beat the bills to go 4-9? No, but his coaching staff was below average during this losing streak and I still feel that Lovie and his coaches threw away 2 wins early at Houston and especially DC when the morons blew a 24-0 lead. Hopefully the 3rd year will be a charm for the Bucs as 6-10 in 2016 will get Lovie fired. I think 9-7 (8-8 under extenuating circumstances like Winston getting DL’d) will be the low bar for him to get a 4th year especially if the Saints continue to regress and the Falcons remain beatable…
December 31st, 2015 at 9:13 pm
bullspit…lovie does not control the draft
and evans cries way more than most receivers. the refs tuned him out.
December 31st, 2015 at 9:57 pm
@lurker
You’re full of sh it. Per his contract LOVIE has final say on all player decisions.
So go suck one. Get your facts straight.
You hater pretend bucs fan.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:00 pm
@lurker
I’ve seen your posts you may be one of the most uninformed idiotic morons on this whole website so stfu and leave the big boy talk to people who know what football is. Go watch soccer you idiot.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:11 pm
So the homo-phobic, misogynist, that lives in his own hate-filled world responds…
You have never seen the contract, you silly man. And no where did it say lovie was in charge of the draft. Also, after his debacle the first year with “his players” in free agency, I would hope the Glazers gave him a dose of reality…just like someone needs to do with you…silly man.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:15 pm
It is halftime. I had to go leave a Kevin in the toilet bowl. Those stinky Kevin’s are hard to get rid of, but it went down.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:16 pm
So the h0m0phobic, misogynist, that lives in his own hate-filled world responds…
You have never seen the contract, you silly man. And no where did it say lovie was in charge of the draft. Also, after his debacle the first year with “his players” in free agency, I would hope the Glazers gave him a dose of reality…just like someone needs to do with you…silly man.
December 31st, 2015 at 10:55 pm
Kevin is the most slow minded poster on this site. Always going around swinging from lovies nuttz. He know absolutely nothing about football and just comes on here to troll. We need to remember sometimes we have to entertain the ideas of the lesser minded kin folk, no matter how stupid and uneducated they are.
#FIRELOVIE
December 31st, 2015 at 11:05 pm
ASJ is only like 21years old, once he stops thinking about girls and matures, he will be good.
January 1st, 2016 at 2:41 am
What does thinking about girls have to do with dropped passes and idiotic penalties? And why would he stop thinking about girls, unless he doesn’t think about them to begin with? And why do I feel the need to reply to what was probably the dumbest comment of 2015?
January 1st, 2016 at 9:31 am
@hirejimbo
I’ve forgotten more about football then you know.
I’ve watched every single buc play since 1987
So suck on that.
You’re the idiots and its proven with every one of your posts.
Now go clean your room and eat your Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes that mommy is making you so you can go outside and play.
January 1st, 2016 at 9:32 am
@lurker
You’re so stupid. Before he was even hired the said one of the stipulations was that LOVIE had complete PERSONELL control.
Stupid it was talked about nearly everyday.
Probably a new fan. Obviously don’t know shiiiittt.
January 1st, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Kevin
You are slower than turtle sex. Please stop complaining/commenting on this site. The titans would love to have you. Go to their site. Get off lovies nutz. And I love your mom’s mickey mouse shaped pancakes. They are the best. And I’m not going to play outside, I’m playing inside (your mom)
#FIRELOVIE
January 1st, 2016 at 3:53 pm
@jimbo
You’re just a hater.
You’re not a true bucs fan. You’re just gonna complain not matter who the coach. No one is good enough ever. Unless they win a Super Bowl their first season as coach. I don’t even know why I talk to idiots like you that have absolutely no clue about football. You’re a complete idiot. You know absolutely nothing about how to build a team.
I bet you’re the guy that was saying “well look how quick the coach in Atlanta turned that team around” yea but your stupid as s isn’t saying that now. People like you think you know what you’re talking about but anyone with a brain knows how stupid you and half the other people on here are. Yea lovie takes over a talentless team and you idiots think they should be in the super bowl already. Stupids
January 1st, 2016 at 6:37 pm
HE WON LESS GAMES THEN SCHIANO DID. WITH MORE TALENT. HE IS A TERRIBLE COACH. Y DO U THINK HE SAT IN HIS BASEMENT FOR A YEAR. NOBODY WANTED HIM. HE IS A TRASH COACH AND A TERRIBLE TALENT EVALUATOR. Get off his nutz. If u love this team u would want him gone. I don’t expect for a coach to be great right away. But if your a defensive coach and ur defense sucks as$ then there is something wrong. He didn’t improve from year one to year two. HE TANKED LAST YEAR. we were a 6-7 win team last year. We should have won 2 or 3 more games this year. But he can’t keep his ego out of the way. Jennings or Jenkins or Jude are NOT better than Banks. So y play them? Because Banks was not HIS pick.
#FIRELOVIE
January 1st, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Yea I’m sure mike Evans dropping td which would have won us a game is lovies fault right? Or koetter putting Martin on the bench for 10 minutes in a winnable game while everyone is like “where the F is Martin” is lovies fault right?
Or kickers missing field goals which is their only job is lovies fault.
And don’t say well LOVIE picked brindza that’s true but Barth is half as sed too. He’s not that great.
Blame LOVIE but your stupid as s gives him. O credit for the good like the draft.
You IDOTS claim the draft is all licht and that’s complete and utter bull shi t.
If you wanna blame LOVIE that’s fine but there is plenty of blame to go around.
This defense was talentless and the offense was too which is why they’ve had to draft offense for 2 drafts. The offense looks good now they will focus on defense.
And give it up with the free agent crap. The crap they brought in was crap but they were better than what was here before. And stfu about revis.
When you have a team with a total of 5 decent players you have to give it time but apparently you f ing morons don’t get it.
If you don’t think this team is heading in the right direction you’re either stupid or just an idiot. You can’t keep changing coaches every two years you idiots.
When this team turns around next year after a good draft don’t you dare come in here and be all hooray bucs.
January 1st, 2016 at 10:01 pm
kevin you sound as if you are 12-15.
the gm, licht, is in charge of the draft. lovie’s defense has lost games, his game plans are poor as is his lack of adjustment, usually.
also, how are josh mccown, anthony collins, michael johnson, mike jenkens, alterraun verner, etc, etc better than what we had?
we had jeremy zuttah and revis. hell, most of those above were just here one year, so money and time wasted.
January 1st, 2016 at 10:09 pm
i hope the bucs turn the corner and i will cheer for them all the time. i just do not think that lovie is the man to lead the charge.
January 1st, 2016 at 10:15 pm
Koetter didn’t bench martin. That was your mancrush LOSER LOVIE. He did the same things last year. You fumble, u sit for a while. LOVIE makes koetter run on 1st and 2nd down. Imagine if we weren’t so predictable on those downs. LOSER LOVIE is even holding the offense back. The guy is trash. Nobody in the league would even pick him up for a DC whe n we dump his garbage as$.