Analyzing Depth Chart
August 8th, 2017
Depth chart released.
Before Joe gets rolling, a point of reference:
The depth chart released prior to the first preseason game is nearly as worthless as the preseason game itself.
(Joe loathes preseason games. The only reason Joe pays close attention to the Bucs preseason is to get the job done here.)
* In recent days, Bucs coaches have been singing the praises of defensive end Ryan Russell. Yet, even with Jacquies Smith on the PUP list (and who knows when he may be active), Russell is still listed as third string.
* Devante Bond is listed as the starting SAM linebacker.
* Despite Robert McClain and Javien Elliott practicing well, both are below Ryan Smith and Hey Jude at corner. Joe believes cornerback may be the deepest position.
* The famed lounge singer from the Vero Beach Ramada Inn, Freddie Martino, is listed as a second team receiver, ahead of Chris Godwin. Anyone who has watched practice this summer knows that is bogus.
* CFL legend Derel Walker is listed with the fourth team. Upon hearing the news, Walker had a football punched out of his hands.
* Tight end Antony Auclair is listed as third team, behind Tevin Westbrook and fan favorite Luke Stocker.
* Rookie running back Jeremy McNichols, who was getting reps with the ones earlier in training camp, is listed with the third team. Peyton Barber is listed on the fourth team.
Read into this with as much skepticism as you can muster.
August 8th, 2017 at 7:25 am
Agree Joe that this first depth chart is essentially worthless. However, there (potentially) might be more in play than meets the eye. Maybe the coaches are using it to send a ‘signal’ to certain players? Who knows. For instance, Robert McClain listed below Hey Jude? From the reports you & others have been putting out on training camp thus far, it certainly sounds like McClain is having the better camp. But, maybe Smitty is expecting more from him based on their experience together. We’ll never know I guess … until the final 53-man roster comes out that is.
August 8th, 2017 at 7:37 am
How many fans would rather there be an untelevised scrimmage or a pre season game?
After settling for 10 seconds here and 10 seconds there thus far….I’ll take the game. Maybe this bogus depth chart will look more genuine after the game.
August 8th, 2017 at 7:37 am
For the rookies, the 1st depth chart is more meaningless than any others because as a matter of principle, Koetter wont list them in front of a incumbent
veteran. So at least for the first one, the rookies maybe be shown lower than they actually are.
August 8th, 2017 at 7:41 am
I don’t mind the preseason games as they serve as an important opportunity for coaches to see how players like Kenny Bell perform in near game like situations. I just don’t think fans should have to pay full ticket prices for a practice game that winning is not a top priority.
August 8th, 2017 at 8:34 am
Hey Joe: why do you guys hate preseason games? They serve a valuable purpose in letting the coaches evaluate new players without worrying about wins. The vets get to limber up for the regular season. You have a weird mindset there.
August 8th, 2017 at 8:35 am
I like the preseason!!! You can learn a lot about a team and how well they are being coached!!!!!!! those that do not like it is the same as ordering an appetizer and complaining that it is not a main course!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 8th, 2017 at 8:45 am
McClain and Elliot are listed there because we don’t have a spot in the chart for nickel. They are our 1 and 2 at nickel. I’m more surprised that anyone thinks we are even remotely deep at corner. We aren’t!!
August 8th, 2017 at 8:49 am
Outside of Hargreaves and Grimes who are awesome, we have “4 teams in 3 years” McClain, “playmaking human rag doll” Javien Elliot, “I suck, have sucked and will always suck” Jude and “0 NFL snap corner” Ryan Smith. Who looks at that lineup and screams DEPTH?
August 8th, 2017 at 9:07 am
I agree completely with both of Dreambig’s posts.
Veterans are always shown deference over rookies in the first depth chart.
I hear Joe about the pre-season games but I think if they cut the pre season schedule to 2 games and simply added the other two to the regular season things would be fine.
I get that the players don’t wish to put their bodies through two more “real” games…I get that the owners struggling to get by on just billions do not wish to simply drop two games that they are currently stealing money from fans…
18 games is a LONG season…especially for those who make the playoffs…hell 16 games is a LONG season.
IMHO probably the fairest resolution is simply to eat two preseason games and the greedy owners FOR ONCE could do something for both the players and the fans.
August 8th, 2017 at 9:14 am
So most oy you guys dont mind paying $130 ea (or more) for tkt to preseason game when they dont matter?
August 8th, 2017 at 9:24 am
You can like pre season and oppose pricing….they are two different things
August 8th, 2017 at 9:39 am
Rooting for Stevie T. Any chance he doesn’t make the final roster?
August 8th, 2017 at 9:41 am
If you don’t want to pay the price or like the greedy owners getting the money nobody is FORCING you to go. Let the “chump change” people go. Then go to the regular season games.
August 8th, 2017 at 9:49 am
Fsuking, why so negative?
CBs normally stay on the field. According to Pro Football Reference (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2016-snap-counts.htm), Grimes was on the field for 93% of the defensive snaps, VHIII even for 97%. Which All Pro do you expect to come to Tampa to sit behind these two?
And sometimes it’s up to coaching. In previous years we brought in Pro Bowl CBs who get completely burned under Lovie, so why not believe in Smitty and his evaluation?
August 8th, 2017 at 10:00 am
I think the only reason any depth chart was published is that the NFL requires it.
Anyone with a lick of football sense knows it’s bullPelosi this early in camp.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:06 am
DBS
nobody is FORCING you to go. Let the “chump change” people go. Then go to the regular season games.
Actually DBS that’s not correct. Has been for the past decade but this is the final year for that. To get good seats, season tickets, you have to purchase the rip off games as well. If the Bucs continue to soar we might even see the old double dipping of “seat licenses” return.
Bottom line economically…I predict if the Bucs play well and reach the playoffs the season ticket holders return…a waiting list grows…and the ONLY way you can assure yourself of good seats is to pay for the “entire” package.
It’s been a buyer’s market for a decade….soon to revert to a seller’s market.
There is another way to look at it financially. I used to be a Lightning season ticket holder…after the Stanley Cup run and all the extra games wife and I were worn out…I honestly do not know how the players do it. When you start talking more than 50 games…that’s a serious committment…MLB even worse.
At least the Buc’s are only ten games.
So here is the deal…I now see only 3-4 Lightning games a year…I simply buy tickets from the brokers. Even at the much higher prices…three games..parking…food etc are still far less than season tickets.
I plan on doing the same thing with the Bucs…If Fan retreat has transportation from St. Pete I’ll buy tickets and transportation from them.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:12 am
Corner is our deepest position?
Uh, no.
If Grimes or VH3 go down (or Grimes suddenly gets old) the defense will be completely wrecked.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:12 am
The only depth chart that matters is the one on Sep 10 @1pm, and St Pete is right, you better get your tix now, cause we have seen this play out before. That waiting list is going to explode. If #3 plays to age 38 we have 15 more years.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:41 am
Doug Martin Starting!!!!
August 8th, 2017 at 10:46 am
“Upon hearing the news, Walker had a football punched out of his hands.”
Rimshot! lol Bonzai isn’t gonna like this.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:50 am
1 St Pete as usual you write a book on everything. 2 it is correct. Nobody is FORCING you to do anything. Nobody is making you be a season ticket holder. That is your choice. If you have the money and want to you do. Don’t have the money you don’t. I go to the Lightning games from Tallahassee as I can afford it. Nobody forces me to.
August 8th, 2017 at 11:06 am
Testing…
August 8th, 2017 at 11:21 am
My point is that if Grimes or Hargreaves gets hurt, we are not ok. We totally screwed unless Ryan Smith can play outside because nobody else can. That’s a big if!
August 8th, 2017 at 11:25 am
“Joe believes cornerback may be the deepest position.”
Um – NO. Not even close. We have 2 solid starters (one is 34)and all the rest are at best unknown as to how well they would do if thrust into a starting role.
August 8th, 2017 at 11:37 am
In 4 days we have the first preseason game vs the bengals. I found this interesting, check out what the competition is doing or has done thus far.
http://m.bengals.com/news/article-1/Camp-report-Dalton-Mixon-shine-Elliott-O-line-rebound/fb398e11-4500-42bf-951c-a038db6e1b61
August 8th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
DB55 … Interesting article on the Bengals. Particularly like this statement about the Bengals kickers: “Hang on for the ride. Jake Elliott was supposed to be the favorite in the kicking competition because he’s a fifth-round draft pick.” Well, Jake had the misfortune to miss 2 kicks. Bummer. Imagine if he’d been a 2nd rnd pick. Oh wait … we don’t have to imagine.
August 8th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
DBS
If they’re too long here’s a great tip….use the scroll wheel or your finger to simply pass them up. I’m always amused by folks who slam me or Joe or other posters or gripe about anything they read on a blog. Nobody is FORCING you to read anything here!
Force is a loaded term. Nobody has a gun to someone’s head but they do have marketing power. Perhaps you prefer coerce or is that also to strong for you?
August 8th, 2017 at 1:55 pm
That would be a large step in improvement.
August 8th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Def
I thought so too but what I found most interesting is that the bengals have managed to have reg TC, a night practice and a team scrimmage.
Just seems like some teams are a bit further a head of the curve than the buccaneers. Heck we just had our first fight yesterday.
Now if and when the practice facility is completed we won’t have to worry about rain one day and dehydration the next. I think practicing outdoors really puts us at a disadvantage vs our competition.
More data coming tonight at 10pm. I will be live posting on JBF. Lol
August 8th, 2017 at 3:55 pm
How dare you use “fan favorite” Chris Conte’s name on a scrub like Luke Stocker. Only Conte is the true fan favorite