Jerick McKinnon And The Bucs
March 13th, 2018
Rumor!
This has Joe’s antennae up.
The same ESPN NFL beat writer, who happens to cover the Steelers, who broke news at the combine that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht actually made a sweeter offer for Robert Quinn than the Dolphins, has more Bucs scuttlebutt.
It seems, per Fowler, the Bucs are panting over Vikings running back/free agent Jerick McKinnon.
This is interesting to Joe on a couple of levels. McKinnon did a nice job as a No. 3 back with the Vikings, averaging 3.8 yards a carry last year. The 2014 third-round pick missed only one game the past three seasons and also was fourth on the Vikings in catches (51) in 2017.
This also tells Joe, if Fowler’s information is accurate, that McKinnon, soon to turn 26, is looked at as an upgrade over one-trick pony and favorite of Ira Kaufman, Charles Sims.
As Joe detailed last week, McKinnon is highly appreciated in Minnesota, where Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are a powerful 1-2 combination.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Latavius Murray make it cut if he doesn’t take a pay cut
March 13th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Bucs also resigned Peyton Barber to a one year, $630,000 contract today which is good news. If the Bucs get McKinnon is Sims out the door? Most likely yes.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
He is absolutely an upgrade over Sims. I would still draft a RB to pair with him tho. Like Nick Chubb.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
anyone but the dancing poodle! [Sims]
March 13th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
The Charles Sims fan club consist of Ira Kaufman and who else?
March 13th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Is he a tier 3 fa? If yes, sign. If no, do not sign.
Sincerely
Jason Licht’s flip flops
March 13th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
How about a FA center and OG….that way we can focus on young home grown defensive talent in the draft
March 13th, 2018 at 2:44 pm
MAJOR upgrade over Sims!!! Had my eye on him since the end of last year. He has a great skill set and strong as hell! 32 reps for RB position on bench press at his NFL combine. He’s very explosive as well. Would be a GENIUS move by Jason to grab him!
March 13th, 2018 at 2:44 pm
In related news, Charles Sims is the NFLPA Twister champion of the year.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Anyone see this guys highlights?
Very average on film.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
He’s no upgrade to Charles Sims, he’s the same guy, who does well on turf and when he’s not the lead back. Would be pretty ridiculous to give him big money to be a 3rd down back when they can pay half of that and keep a really really good 3rd down back they already have.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Signing McKinnon would leave me suspect. Dirk likes to favor a feature back which this guy is not IMO.
I’m sorry but Dirk has mismanaged the running game so bad since he took over. One of the first things he did after getting hired was publicly ask for Doug Martin.
I see no hope for this backfield with this guy unless he is given a real treat as a feature back which is unlikely. Just as unlikely may be him making adjustments to our running scheme which should/could be the proper approach.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Wtf we talking about Sims for? We know he ain’t coming back
March 13th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
seems like a lateral move imo…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 13th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Would def be an upgrade over Sims; and still on the upswing in his career. Better in between the tackles and less injury history
March 13th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
Would rather put the money towards signing him into making an offer for Carlos Hyde.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
I’ll take it. He filled in will for Peterson and Cook. Reliable pass catcher and every down back.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
I’m not sure where all the Sim’s hate comes from. Obviously from folks who missed that Atlanta game.
Sim’s has one black mark relative to McKinnon…he’s not been as healthy.
Other than that these guys are clones. Sims is an inch taller and ten lbs larger but roughly the same size and speed. Their stats are almost identical. They each average about 4 yards per carry for their careers. They can both catch the ball and their total yards from scrimmage running and catching are very similar except that McKinnon has not missed as much as Sims and so his totals are a little ahead…but in the two years that Sims played his totals were slightly better.
Sim is a valuable player…as is McKinnon. Sims has been with us four years we know his game well…why make a lateral move talent and style wise?
But Sims has had two good years and two years hampered by injury. In his “good” years he averaged 4.9 and 4.5 yards per carry.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Being that the Bucs already cut Drugie Martin, if they don’t get a RB in Free Agency and instead rely on the draft to complement Peyton Barber, it is not outside the realm of possibility that they bring back Charles Sims. I would like to see the team upgrade Sims don’t get me wrong but I can see this orgazination bringing him back.
March 13th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Dirk changed the offense that took away Charles Sims abilities. He compounded that in 2016 when Doug went down and he tryed to force Chuck into a feature back. This year he made Sims irrevelant in the offense and even was caught lining him up in the slot…….to me it’s all just evidence the guy don’t know how to use Sims. Sims was drafted with a plan. A plan that Dirk destroyed.
But the guy back in a two back set and watch what happens. Nah, let’s just overpay for McKinnon instead and misuse him, or try to make him a feature back in the league which he is not.
For the record, I truly hope it doesn’t turn out this way but that’s the way I predict.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
I’ll take him over Sims.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah… please go after Isaiah Crowell of the Browns = youth, talent and packs a punch!!!
March 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
If Barber is our lead back he will lead the league in fumbles. He and Winston cannot survive in the same backfield with their ball security. And remember I’m an optimist.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm
StPete…..If Sims averages 4ypc in his career I guarantee you it has been less then that in Dirks offense.
He doesn’t know how to get one yard when needed(3years of failing I need that dept) and he doesn’t know how to use his RBs period.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
I don’t think I saw Koetter run one screen or check down last year and that’s what McKinnon is really good at so… I’d love to have him but is this the right coaching staff for him? Or any other RB with Koetters one and only running play. The awful single back set, up the middle run.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
My buddy is a huge Vikings fan, a former sports writer, knows his stuff and says McKinnon is a 3rd down back with an ego problem, the problem being that he thinks he’s a lead back yet every time he’s made a lead back he falls flat on his face. This makes zero sense when you can bring back Sims to do the same job – and Sims already knows the offense and is a really good 3rd down back and an excellent receiver. McKinnon meanwhile is a really good 3rd down back with excellent hands who doesn’t know the offense, is unhappy if he’s not starting, and wants a lot lot more money. I really have no idea why the Bucs would go this route and based on Licht’s history in free agency if this happens we all know how it ends…
It’s not the worst thing in the world if they sign him, it’s just not an upgrade, it’s a parallel move that eats up some extra dollars.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Isaiah Crowell hasn’t received a lot of talk this offseason but has proved to be a reliable starting RB, I think that’s the fix and could be for cheap if we move early
March 13th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
The grass is always greener on the other side. Watch what Pamphile will get in FA. Players are OVER paid for their services every March. We saw last year the danger of going for second tier talent with first tier money. McKinnon is Sims, but he has more upside running the ball, and both are good 3rd down backs. No problem with this move as long as we grab a RB in rounds 2 or 3. We need a home run threat that can be our number 1.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Im all about this prospect, he is not a bell crow by no means but is a good change of pace with barber imo. Shouldn’t break the bank either, and you never know let him, barber, and hopefully arookie we pick early 2nd 3rd round battle it out for starter and best man win the battle.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Can we sign some offensive & defensive linemen please?? McKinnon won’t make 1 bit of difference without better blocking. I’d prefer Hyde & a 2nd or 3rd round pick at RB. Old football truth…RUN THE BALL/STOP THE RUN!!!
March 13th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
underwhelming at best.
We need an authentic difference maker at RB to take the heat off Winston.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Mckinnon dont even waste your time… you dont want to be on a team run by a idiot general manager and a crappy coach
March 13th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Yay!
Pursuing Vikes 3rd string back!
We sure do alot of chasing, without any catching.
Guess we’ll get to watch Sims ho play somewhere else- and become their Bell cow.
Then we can watch Blount and Sims in the playoffs.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
why cant we just trade future picks for the #2 pick and get de chubb
March 13th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
How hard is it to get an upgrade over Sims? Now if only Licht can figure out we need someone to block for him, them maybe he’ll be on to something.
March 13th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Man..alls of you are Mad!! The Bucs should be going all out to get Carlos Hyde from the 9ers. But they won’t. BucLife baby!!
March 13th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Jimmy Jack
Agree with you. Sims has struggled with misuse by the coaching staff…some of it forced when Doug went down…Sims is clearly not a power back…neither is McKinnon..the good news is that Barber is…our backs complement each other.
We need one more servicable RB.
Actually Sims fared very well in Koetter’s offense when Koetter was just OC. In their first year together Sims averaged 4.9 yards per carry!!! He ended up with 529 yards rushing and 561 yards receiving and a very balanced 1,090 yards from scrimmage.
I think people largely got soured because the the season when the Bucs asked Sims to be the lunch pail RB…that has to be Barber or some other big bruiser but Sims can do his job well when Koetter calls an offense like he did his first year with the Bucs as just OC.
Again given Koetter’s clear success as just OC and his playcalling struggles as BOTH HC and OC…kind of makes me hope he lets Moncken call the plays this year or lets Smitty take over as HC and Dirk goes back to OC.
I’m a Koetter fan but he’s had two years to combine HC and OC and it’s not been stellar.
March 13th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
RawBucFan
“I’d prefer Hyde & a 2nd or 3rd round pick at RB. Old football truth…RUN THE BALL/STOP THE RUN!!!”
Hyde and a 2nd or 3rd round RB??? Uhhh…Don’t think so. If we got Hyde the only offensive player we would possibly get in Rounds 1-4 would be an OG.
March 13th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Jerick McKinnon is one of two RBs on my wishlist. He is a lot like sims, but better. He is healthier, has more yards on the ground, and has more yards per carry.
Sims is mainly just a pass catcher who made the offense predictable. With Jerick, teams will have to protect against the run while he is on the field.
He wants to be a featured back, which means he is hungry. Promises were made to him, and then Cook was drafted and he was robbed of opportunities to prove he could handle a starting role.
March 13th, 2018 at 6:02 pm
I disagree that Sims was misused. He merely was a one year wonder. He had plenty of opportunities to prove himself.
March 13th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
I would prefer Lewis, Hyde or Crowell — not McKinnon. He’s the only of the 4 RBs I didn’t want.
Maybe we’ll get lucky and he chooses to go somewhere else.
Looks like Bucs are going for 2nd and 3rd tier FAs. Here’s hoping we can get Vaccaro, Poe and Pugh. Already missed out on Star, Quinn, Norwell and others.
March 13th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
Who cares this offensive line will make sure he learns how to suck
March 13th, 2018 at 6:50 pm
Dion Lewis, isn’t he available…If so, I’d take him over McKinnon
March 13th, 2018 at 7:25 pm
This is where we are at, huh?
I could deal with Licht neglecting an area of need one season, or maybe even two, when he was finding gems and quality players. I was ok waiting on a RB…
But now we’re stuck in an off-season with almost no pass rush help available through free agency or the draft. And the last 2 drafts were very heavy on that kind of talent.
This franchise…
March 13th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
Need a better o line.
March 13th, 2018 at 8:13 pm
another loser. he will end up here, this is where mediocre free agents go to die.
March 13th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Please let this be nothing more than a rumor. Walterfootball.com has him ranked as the #8 FA RB — right behind Drug Martin at #7.
Carlos Hyde or Dion Lewis — say a prayer tonight Bucs fans!!!
March 13th, 2018 at 8:27 pm
No on McKinnon. Thanks. He’s Charles Sims with a bit more ability to run the ball. 3.8 yards a carry has people excited? Give up a lae round pick for CJ Anderson. That man can be a workhorse and had over a 1,000 yards on a terrible Denver offense.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:32 am
cmurda – He’s not a better runner than Sims, he is faster but Sims has more power. In any case he’s not upgrade, or if he is it’s a very very minor upgrade and he’s still just a 3rd down back. Sims is cheaper, already knows the system, has excellent hands (they both do) and is the better blocker.