“Turning Heads”

August 6th, 2017

There’s Joe and fans evaluating players on the training camp fields, and then there’s the real evaluation behind the scenes.

Joe’s got a little of the latter here.

Tampa Bay director of college scouting Mike Biehl was a guest on the official Buccaneers Insider show recently and said rookie seventh-round pick Stevie Tu’ikolovatu is “definitely turning some heads.”

Interesting. The manbeast 330-pounder out of Southern California is a unique, 26-year-old, late-bloomer prospect out of the University of Southern California. He’s got a long way to go to make the roster, but file that Biehl assessment away in your memory banks. Maybe Stevie T. will stick. Late-round Bucs picks in recently years have struggled to cut it, and that’s no surprise.

Biehl added that his college scouting team uses training camp to study the current team, which helps give them an idea of how to attack the draft next year, as directed by Jason Licht.

“We really want to know our team when we hit the road just so when we go out we know what we’re looking for,” Biehl said.

Scouting does change slightly each season, Biehl noted. “Of course, when Lovie was here we graded defensive guys differently than when Mike Smith came in.”

Amen to that.

25 Responses to ““Turning Heads””

  1. Jooehelldeloxley Says:

    I hope they are grading them differently !

    Lovie’s D was that good ….

  2. BucEmUo Says:

    Lovie sucked

  3. Blackmagic00 Says:

    This article is extremely interesting to me. I have a hunch Lovie may have been all black and white when scouting, only looking for a mold of the old Tampa D. With Smitty, seems there’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that, most notably the beef coming in on the D line. We aren’t watching Tampa 2 constantly forced as if it’s a video game and every 4th down you get lucky. Nope, we have 3-4, 4-3, heck, I’m even waiting to see some 11-0 and 0-11 lol. I love it, I love Smitty and most of all, I love these Bucs!

  4. Blackmagic00 Says:

    I meant to put in the middle of that, the article is a tattle tail of the past. Of course everyone knows love forced it, this scout just pretty much confirmed it.

  5. SB Says:

    Guys I have re-opened the JoeBucsFan.com Pigskin Pickem for all of you that want to play again this yr or would like to join us.
    http://games.espn.com/nfl-pigskin-pickem/2017/en/group?groupID=99276
    We had over 60 players last yr!!! Lets shoot for 80 This Year
    AND CARRY A BIG FUTHERMUCKING STICK!!!

  6. Bucamania Says:

    It’s nice to have some man-beast power on the Dline now, I also like that this D isn’t so darn predictable now. Understand what your players do best and put them in a position to be successful. Smitty is the man.

  7. darin Says:

    Thanks SB looks like fun. Looking forward to seeing this team hit the field, especially the new guys….this coming week! Learn some more on hard knocks. Bout time to sign up for hbo. Go get em Stevie. Go Bucs

  8. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Hope Stevie-T makes it…..he can be our first “CHUNKANEER”

  9. Pickgrin Says:

    “Late-round Bucs picks in recently years have struggled to cut it, and that’s no surprise.”

    Um – well yea – if you are talking about the Dom years , sure – but that applied to most of his high round picks as well.

    Licht by contrast has owned the 1st round (Evans, Winston, Hargreaves, Howard), gotten a # of good players in the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Sims, D.Smith, Marpet, Spence) and he’s also done better than average w/ his late round selections
    2014 – 5th rd Kevin Pamphille – entrenched starter at LG
    2015 – 4th rd Kwon Alexander – starter, never leaves the field, 5 star pick
    2016 – 4th rd Ryan Smith – currently 1st back up at outside CB
    2016 – 5th rd Caleb Benenoch – 1st back up swing tackle – vying for RT starter
    2016 – 6th rd Devante Bond – current front runner for starting SLB spot

  10. Pickgrin Says:

    If Stevie T makes the final 53 – then its a high probability that every rookie the Bucs drafted in 2017 will be on this team and contributing. That’s not easy to do considering how much the overall talent level has already risen.

    At least a couple of these 2017 picks are going to be big name players in the future (Howard, Godwin) and the rest have a chance to make some noise as well (J, Evans, Beckwith, McNichols).

    Solid, solid drafting – bordering on outstanding.

    A hat tip to Jason Licht. Keep it up and we are looking at a legit dynasty moving forward with Winton as the centerpiece.

  11. Mike Evans GOAT Says:

    Looks like we are playing jay cutler week one!!!!

  12. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Mike

    Are you sure he can beat out Moore? Would seem the ‘Fins believe that or they wouldn’t have handed him 10 million.

    Cutler does not scare me any more than Moore or Tannehill. None of these guys are world beaters although obviously Cutler has a great arm…his head? Not so much.

  13. Joe Says:

    Are you sure he can beat out Moore? Would seem the ‘Fins believe that or they wouldn’t have handed him 10 million.

    Go look what Cutler did with Gase as his offensive coordinator (for one year) two seasons ago in Chicago. That’s why the Dolphins hired Gase. They figured if he could resurrect Cutler’s career, he could fix Tannehill (which he sort of did).

  14. BigHogHaynes Says:

    I just don’t get it …at this time of Cutler’s Career…Colin is a far better pick and neither Moor or Tannehill could never hold Colin’s jock strap…so I use a term that is currently haunting president elect DT, Callusion, and a word that all 32 owners know very well (shame on you Glazers) BLACKBALLED!!

  15. SB Says:

    BigHog………..You are the biggest Racist on Any blog I visit. Hope you get some help because YOU are what perpetuate racism.

  16. SB Says:

    Not to mention a Top Ten in football stupidity

  17. SB Says:

    Joe you are Spot On! Gase ALMOST revived Cutler’s career! Almost. Cutler is what he is but with Gase he has extra Juice!

  18. SOEbuc Says:

    Took a lot of people to come around to Licht.

    I’ve liked him since he was jumping in swimming pools, all though it didn’t happen very often.

    Always loved his strategy of “Build through the Draft” cus he seems to be damn good at it.

  19. fred mcneil Says:

    Kap recently gave high praise to the Castro Regime. That would start a total distraction in Miami.

  20. fred mcneil Says:

    Do we have room on the line? GMC, McDonald, Baker …. Some Ayers and Gholson. ,,,,, Maybe.

  21. DigBog Says:

    he just looks awesome I have a feeling he’ll be a fan favorite soon. Prob be in top ten bucs jersey sales. Like Andrew “beef” Johnston on PGA tour, we need a guy like this badly. This team getting harder to make which is a great sign

  22. SB Says:

    I see LUV is In!!! Awesome first night of enrollment!! Great to see you Brother!!!

  23. unbelievable Says:

    Oh hell yea SB I’ll Be joining again

  24. GhosofSchiano Says:

    Big hog haynes.

    Kap brought this on himself when he disrespected military veterans
    Past, present, and families of veterans. Make amends to them and he could find himself back in the NFL

  25. GhosofSchiano Says:

    As a US military Veteran the National anthem and the American flag hold a special place in my heart. It does for anyone who has worn the uniform, picked up a weapon and fought for this great Nation. Mr. Kapernick’s actions was a slap in the face to those of us who served. To the families who’s loved ones died in defense of the flag. I fully support Mr. Kapernick’s right to protest. There are thousands of ways he could protest. Is he maybe unaware of the resentment his actions caused? The hurt to this Nation’s military community, Veterans, families of our fallen heroes. This item is never addressed, easier to make it a race issue, a “Stay in your place” subject. I call equestrian feces on that. He spat in the face of all those wearing the military uniform past and present. I am of the opinion that he is a good athlete, awesome skills, has the tools. I do not oppose his protest or his right to protest. Which is something else the flag and anthem represent. But his kneeling was seen as disrespect for two symbols held in high esteem by American military personnel past and present.