Intensity
April 29th, 2018
Type-A.
It is fairly clear that Jason Licht likes big personalities.
Licht explains his fondness for outgoing guys; if everything is even between a Type-A personality and a wallflower, Licht said his experience is the outgoing guy is more likely to max out his skillset and work his tail off to be the best he can be.
So this brings Joe to new Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis. When he spoke via conference call Friday night with the Bucs pen and mic club, his intensity just burst through the telephone speaker.
“Listen to me,” Davis ordered when he was asked about being beaten by receivers.
“I came in at Auburn as a true freshman. I didn’t come in early, I didn’t have workouts early. I didn’t come in in January. I came in in the summer and I came in and I played. I played 13 games. Every game I played in I started in; 12 of them, 11 of them. I’m a player that comes in and that buys into the system. I’m a player that comes in and listens and learns quickly. You can count on that, I’ll be playing in that first snap.
“You can count on me to be on that field, somehow, someway. Whether it’s special teams, whatever they need me to do, I’ll be on that field because I’ll do anything for it. My history shows it.”
Man, Joe just gets fired up listening to that recording. Dude sounded like he wanted to hit a football field Friday night and start busting heads — even though he would get flagged.
Licht likes passionate players and Davis has that Miami-attitude that sure seems to fit in with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and Kwon Alexander.
April 29th, 2018 at 12:10 am
Davis has tha action speaks louder than words attitude
Love it.
By the ways thnx joe (joes) did an excellent job keep it up .
April 29th, 2018 at 12:17 am
Most college players are schooled on talking to the press, and they sometimes comes across as a memorized sales pitch. Where as Licht gravitates toward, and recognizes a players passion. Players who may have a small chip on their shoulder, an axe to grind, or a story to tell. Let’s hope he found the recipe.
April 29th, 2018 at 12:21 am
I was surprised that Davis was selected AFTER MJ and was still available when it was our turn again.
Hopefully that means they have seen something in MJ that we haven’t.
Davis WILL Start next year
April 29th, 2018 at 12:33 am
great coverage this weekend!
April 29th, 2018 at 12:45 am
Davis player against the best week in and out. I still scratch my head wondering why MJ was drafted ahead of Davis. I’m just glad we have him
April 29th, 2018 at 12:49 am
Agreed, great draft coverage Joes !!
Thanks.
April 29th, 2018 at 1:36 am
Yeah–right on–Joes have done a great job–honestly no other team has a website anything like this. Good stuff especially at draft time.
This kid sounds motivated and that is what is gonna get him playing time on the team, can’t wait to see how it plays out. Just wish we had some defensive backs coaches that were really top of the line. I like this kid and glad to see VH3 have to compete to stay off the bench.
April 29th, 2018 at 2:17 am
Feels like JL is going a bit too far with the personality thing and he doesn’t always get it right anyways
April 29th, 2018 at 2:27 am
Give me another player drafted by JL who ever spoke like that. This headline is misleading. JL doesn’t pick these kind of guys usually.
April 29th, 2018 at 3:08 am
Marcella undrafted free agents
April 29th, 2018 at 3:13 am
Look at arms!
So long!!
He is 6-1 but has a 6-4 wingspan!
I love this pick!
April 29th, 2018 at 3:27 am
Loved that phone interview and how he made everyone not just know him but feel him.
April 29th, 2018 at 4:12 am
Yes I won’t lie I really wanted Jackson because his height and scheme fit. This guy is one heck of a consolation prize. Big physical corner (finally), that wins at the LOS. Hope he plays press more often than not because that is his strength.
I love Grimes and he is amazing at what he does but this is likely his last year here. I would love to see us transition to more press in the coming years after he is gone. Carlton Davis is a great first piece for that
April 29th, 2018 at 4:38 am
I was also a bit perplexed when we took Stewart first (seems like the 2nd coming of VHIII?) but was ecstatic when we got Davis. Hoping that his height & physicality will more than compensate for his average speed. Also hoping that the Bucs’ coaches really can develop Cornerbacks & Safeties Joe. It’ll be an interesting battle to see who starts besides Brent Grimes. I don’t expect either Ryan Smith or VHIII to go ‘quietly in the night’ as they say.
April 29th, 2018 at 6:19 am
T. McFadden?
April 29th, 2018 at 6:33 am
If we snag two solid contributors from this draft, Licht should be safe. The Vea pick is probably the most ideal next best thing if we couldn’t get Barkley/Nelson/Chubb…..The trade down was excellent…..three 2nd rd picks should snag us at least one guy who will start and possibly another that will contribute. Now we just pray we stay healthy…..
April 29th, 2018 at 6:39 am
A lot of us was surprised at the Stewart pick, especially with Isiah Oliver still on the board. That’s was my one and only WTF moment. I was good with every other pick.
The M.J. Stewart pick tells me that one they really him and two they felt confident they could get Carlton Davis next who has the same length and physicality of Oliver. I feel like they liked Davis and Oliver equally and saw this as a win.
April 29th, 2018 at 6:40 am
Either way I trust Licht and his staff. They have been an overall A group when it comes to the draft!! Go Bucs
April 29th, 2018 at 7:08 am
It will be interesting to see why Licht took MJ first…..doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me but it worked out.
There was a great deal of creativity with this draft for us…..many of the players were not the expected picks at their position at the time…..
One of my favorite picks was Cappa…..he very well may turn out to be another Marpet.
One thing the picks have in common is the personality of the players…..each and every one of them has a special story….part of their character that Licht wanted in the locker room.
April 29th, 2018 at 7:54 am
Agree with the comments here. The only puzzle to me is the UNC guy at CB. All the other picks look solid. But the staff studied these guys for months so they undoubtedly know him well. I thought Davis would rank ahead of him. A ranked draft, imo.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:03 am
Dang just listened to the conference call. Yeah fired up to say the least. He is more amped up than Kwon, just tons of energy. Wow.
If he is half as good as he says, we got a steal.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:12 am
You need 3 good CBs in the NFL these days. If they believe MJ Stewart can be a good starting slot CB then he is worth the 2nd round pick. If they had plans to take Carlton Davis then taking Oliver over Stewart wouldn’t have been a smart pick imo.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:15 am
Overall (after I checked out our guys) I am much happier than I thought I would be. The safety being a cousin of D Revis and him going to many camps with D Revis I like. The two CB’s seem to be more impressive than I originally thought they were. I even think we (might) have gotten a Good LB if the guy from Wisconsin is able to play. A much better draft than I imagined. Thanks JL for this.
And last but not least thank you Joes for your hard work.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:21 am
Something tells me he wouldn’t help them off the field after a big hit like some comic book loving pansy that we have on the team… for now.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:36 am
Didn’t play in the game against UCF. And you could tell. This dude is a difference maker.
April 29th, 2018 at 8:45 am
They drafted M.J. first because they liked his versatility. He can play outside, inside and SS. Davis is strictly outside. You can question why M.J. was selected over Duke Dawson and Isaiah Oliver. But again it’s because M.J. is multi positional. C’mon..!
April 29th, 2018 at 8:55 am
i like Reilly Ferg the UDFA QB we signed to beat out Ryan Griffen for the 3rd sppt he has way more potential then Ryan does to me what do you all think an MJ is very Veristal they wanted someone who can play the Nickle at a high level if VH3 dont work out dont hate on him cuz hes not one of the names the ESPN reporters didnt talk about the last 3 months lets see him play first
April 29th, 2018 at 9:08 am
All I can say is he is from the 305….that’s what you get outta Dade County, pure competitive guys who want to dominant in every way possible. Guys down here will compete with you in a shoe tying race and talk Cash S#!t while doing it.
https://youtu.be/Ay89-fJi268
April 29th, 2018 at 9:14 am
Yea – that conference call with Carlton Davis was great(despite barely being audible and not being able to hear the questions).
Dude’s basically like – “Vernon Who??? That’s my f–king starting spot. Watch….” and he means it and you believe him.
Awesome ‘tude. Ultra confident but doesn’t come off as arrogant.
Nice to get a CB with some size. First one over 6’ since Talib I believe.
April 29th, 2018 at 9:45 am
Nice! And man do we need that.
April 29th, 2018 at 9:46 am
Instead of”Miami” attitude. Looks like it’s becoming a “Tampa” attitude!
How does it feel to have first and second round draft picks that are good quality draft picks that have to compete now? Been awhile since we’ve had that. This year may have 4th rounders and back competing, and as the quality gets better roster wise, so does the competition level.
April 29th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Loved this pick and theme of lichts draft like he actually knew what the bucs were in need of, the WR pick is similar to the K pick though, he should have grabbed the oregon OT or griffen or a DE
April 29th, 2018 at 10:25 am
Everything I’ve heard about Oliver (CB) is that he fell not because of talent, but persistent questions regarding how bad he wants it. That’s certainly not a question with Stewart and Davis. Oliver may turn out better, but I can understand the rationale of our front office to prefer these two Alpha’s.
April 29th, 2018 at 10:41 am
OT seems to be the main (only?) area of depth concern right now. Perhaps a trade later? Or simply watch for the upcoming roster/salary cuts.
April 29th, 2018 at 11:07 am
Careful kid, you might get benched if you so much as breathe on a receiver. That’s one quick way to lose playing time. Here in Tampa its ten yards off MINIMUM or your on the bench pal!!!! It’s the only way to play defense here in Tampa!!! We don’t believe in being physical, you may offend the opposing team coaching staff and ownership. Be careful!!!
April 29th, 2018 at 11:08 am
The Stewart pick might be a real signal that VHIII is in deep roster doo-doo. At the very least, it’s a signal that he’s going to have to earn it vs being gifted a spot out of our sheer desperation and lack of depth at that spot. Licht had a great line in one of the pressers this weekend about perseverance and how some players simply can’t get over a bad play or series of criticisms/tough coaching. That once they’re in a funk, they can’t get out. I could t help but think of VHII when he was talking.
April 29th, 2018 at 11:26 am
LOVE HIS MENTALITY. GREAT PICK
April 29th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Really enjoyed following the draft at JoeBucsFan, the best Bucs site in the whole wide world.