Revisiting Dirk Koetter’s Draft Tipoff
April 26th, 2018
It’s been one month already and very little has changed that would affect what Joe considered a massive tip-off of what the Bucs will do in the early rounds of the draft.
Let Joe take you back to breakfast at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando in March. Candid Dirk Koetter isn’t one to blow smokescreens and there he was asked about adding talent in the secondary.
Koetter went right to the draft and took a tone of voice that sounded like it was obvious the Bucs will be selecting a new defensive back or two early in the draft.
“We said at the end of the year, the No. 1 thing we had to do is get Brent Grimes back. And we did that,” Koetter said. “Also, Vernon Hargreaves finished the year on [injured reserve], so when you have those two guys coming back, plus the experience that Ryan Smith got, and then Justin Evans coming back for his second year at safety. So then with all that said, now that the defensive line has had so many additions I would think secondary (chuckles) — it’s logical to think that would be a place that would be an area of target in the draft. Again, I think it’s a strong group in the secondary in this year’s draft. I know I’ve watched a bunch of guys and there’s a lot of guys I like.”
Koetter didn’t mention cornerback Javien Elliott, who had just been re-signed, and since then the Bucs didn’t add one cornerback in free agency. And then, about a day after those comments, the mysterious Hargreaves smoking (pot?) video appeared.
Remember what he Koetter said at the breakfast about Hargreaves’ prowess at nickel back — complete with a hypothetical that left Joe raising an eyebrow.
“I mean, if Vernon was your starting nickel and you had another guy you liked at the other corner opposite [Brent] Grimes, there isn’t another team in the league that wouldn’t like to have Vernon Hargreaves as their nickel,” Koetter said today.
It’s just hard to believe the Bucs won’t leave Rounds 1 and 2 without a starting cornerback, or at least a projected versatile monster in the secondary.
Joe asked general manager Jason Licht later that day in March if he planned to add more defensive pieces in free agency prior to the draft, or whether the Bucs are done there for now.
Licht said possible a few more but the total was zero — all they added was Charles Sims this morning.
Answers are forthcoming.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
I have to say I’m surprised that Joe hasn’t reminded us that he has no confidence in this coaching staff to develop a cornerback. 😀
April 26th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
target kevin toliver or tony brown in the later rounds……Holton hill is a player to watch too!!!!…..it we do draft a CB early, unfortunately, i’ll have my candle ready……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 26th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
If Licht can bring in a Secondary player if they can live up to top ten status it will make a huge difference for this defense.
Licht has done well with his drafts and earned some trust. Whoever we pick will draw excitement.
This draft could go so many directions it crazy!! One of the more exciting drafts Over the years.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:23 pm
This is the other joe.
There are 2 remember.
This joe knows we need db. This joe loves Jameis
The other joe loves loves loves Jameis (obsessively )and thinks we can’t develop a cornerback.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
I want Nelson or Barkley, but since they won’t be there when we pick… sigh
April 26th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
Spot on Bird
April 26th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
This Jack Daniels is going down really smooth,gonna be a fun draft to watch!
April 26th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
Joe, would you like a shot?
April 26th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Bring minkah home If the big 3 are gone!
April 26th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Just because Licht hasn’t signed more defensive players doesn’t mean we won’t. We still have roster cuts coming in August guys! And if you payed attention to Dirk he said it’s a STRONG GROUP of secondary players and there’s a lot he likes so that could mean we would and should wait until the 4th & 5th rounds to address secondary. Unless…we trade back,get Guice and Hernandez in the first(trade down with Bills) and pick up a CB and Safety in the 2nd. I really don’t want Derwin,I prefer to trade down and get Will Hernandez and Derrius Guice and get a CB/S in another round. We could have 2 starters come Friday night if we trade down but that won’t happen if we get Derwin. Plus nothing guarantees us Guice,Chubbs, or Michel will be their come round 2!
April 26th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
With only two picks in the top 100 as of right now !! I can assure you the Bucs will draft for need just as 90 percent of all teams will !!
April 26th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
“It’s just hard to believe the Bucs won’t leave Rounds 1 and 2 without a starting cornerback, or at least a projected versatile monster in the secondary.”
Its gonna be either Derwin or Minkah. Smart money is on Derwin James. RB in round 2 I guess.
I dont know much about OL play but apparently its a real deep interior OL class. Maybe a starting OG could be had at the top of the 4th round?
April 26th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Issic…..very good point. With the limited picks we have it does force you to draft for need more.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Plus maybe the way they go about getting an extra day 2 pick isnt by trading down, but by trading up from their early 4th rounder. Licht has done it before.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
It’s difficult to get excited about the thought of drafting a safety at #7. If that’s our pick, I’d rather trade down for value
April 26th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
The best way I see us maximizing our spot at 7 is to trade back. There is a lot of quality players in the middle of the first round, that may better align w our needs: CB, OL, DL, RB
April 26th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
Reid is still without a team and is a good NFL saftey that could fill an obvious need and allow more flexibility in the draft. But, he isn’t being considered probably because he took a knee and that angers the many ” ‘Mericans” that are offended by peaceful protests, especially those made by brown people.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
If the Bucs really do want a Safety at 7 and like both James and Fitz then our best bet is to hope for a trade down offer. If they trade down to 11 or 12 they should still get one of those Safety’s.
NYG will be an exciting pick for Buc fans. If they trade or pick a QB it hurts our ch@nces to make a trade.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Fitzpatrick turns up the intensity level as high as it will go and and rips off the knob until the game is over. Fitzpatrick has experience as a slot cornerback, but will likely be targeted as a “do-everything” safety who can be deployed as a sub-package linebacker, a blitzer or in the slot against big receivers and move tight ends. Fitzpatrick has consistently shined since his freshman season on Alabama defenses that have been loaded with NFL talent. His versatility, football character and desire to succeed should make him an early starter.
April 26th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
^^^ from nfl.com come on bucs draft him… do it!
April 26th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Can a probowl type safety make up for lack of talent at the corner position? Which is more important and harder to fill?
April 26th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
I want Nelson, but if Dirk is being honest…..I know……I am beginning to feel that Minkah could be our pick.
Dude is plug and play in any of the secondary slots.
“Fitzpatrick graduated from Alabama with a master’s degree in Saban’s defense, boasting the athletic versatility, conceptual instincts and flawless character to play any position in the secondary, projecting best as a nickel cornerback, who can make the transition to a full-time outside cornerback.”
April 26th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
It might be Denzel Ward we need a CB wouldn’t be mad with him at all
April 26th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Don’t take another nickel cornerback in Rd1. Didn’t they learn that lesson already?
April 26th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Will someone explain the two Joe’s theory. I have seen it referenced a few times. Does Joe have different opinions of the same subject? Split personality? Or am i missing something obvious?
April 26th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
How can we go wrong?
Great coach and GM plus the Glazer Boys…….nothing to worry about.
April 26th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Trade down and draft Jaire Alexander please….
April 26th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
@Eric … “How can we go wrong? Great coach and GM plus the Glazer Boys … nothing to worry about.” OK Eric, you win the ‘Best Sarcasm Comment of the Day’. Be wary though, some will take you seriously & use that as a quote years later.
April 26th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
@Pickgrin
That is my ideal scenario as well
April 26th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
And Im not one to knock a prospect because of the school he went to based off the success of previous prospects, but it does seem like Alabama defenders no matter how highly touted they are dont work out more often than not.
April 26th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
If we target a corner in the draft stay away from Ward… look at Josh Jackson or Jaire Alexander in a trade back.
April 26th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Joey – Its because Nick Saban maxes his guys out in College and they are always surrounded by talented teammates who make it easy for a good player to make plays and look “great” instead of good…
April 26th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
First Round Pick (unless we trade) will be one of the following:
Saquon Barkley – RB
Quenton Nelson – OG
Bradley Chubb – DE
Mike McGlinchey – OT
Marcus Davenport – DE
Will Hernandez – OG
Harold Landry – DE
April 26th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Bird Says:
April 26th, 2018 at 2:23 pm
This is the other joe.
There are 2 remember.
——
Yup. My comment wasn’t specific to just this post. Haven’t seen it said in several days.
April 26th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Not worth it unless we trade down. James, Fitzpatrick, and Ward are not top 10 players.
April 26th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
just be tickled you have a qb and arent considering BAKER MAYFIELD OR SAM DARNOLD AS YOUR FRANCHISE!!! LOL!!!!!
April 26th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
walter doesn’t know football..with that name?? derwin and minkah are 100% top 10 talents. malcolm jenkins was the eagles most valuable db the last 3 years.. .. hands down
April 26th, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Trade Winston for number 1 overall pick and draft Darnold.
I’d rather the Bucs start over at a lower cost than sink good money after bad.
There are not great prospects available at QB next year to draft.
April 26th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
2 reports circulating that we trade picks with the Pats. Any truth to those stories joe?
April 26th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Is our biggest need on D, pass rusher, lock down corner or safety.
On D its pass rusher. everyone thinks Chubb and his wanna-bees
But I maintain that the guy we are overlooking is Tremaine Edmunds. 6’5″-250lbs. Here is the kicker. he is 19 and only a kid. in the Buc’s weight room, this kid will be 260 over night and not lose a step.
We are going to look back in 3 years and say “what were we thinking”
Pity that the buc’s are always looking in the rear view mirror and not where they want to go.
April 26th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
EEK
where have you been, I seem to have been the only one with that mindset
April 26th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
I’m back and forth on James at 7, I asked a buddy of mine today (Jets fan) if He thought Jamal Adams was worth a top 5 pick last year… he said without a doubt. When you look up Derwin James Draft profile on NFL.com it reads
“He is going to be the dude in any locker room he ends up in. That’s his makeup. Physically, he’s probably more talented than Jamal Adams but Adams was more consistent as a player. Derwin is still learning so he has a sky-high projection if his play can catch up to the talent.” — NFC Scouting Director
I think it depends… there really isn’t a prospect who’s worth the #7 if the big 3 aren’t there IMO. Why I want to trade back. If he ends up being the pick then i hope we get the 2016 version of James.
April 26th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
One of the stories was on the Tampa Bay Times website –
This part is intriguing –
PATRIOTS (No. 23): Licht’s roots are in New England, so there’s a relationship there as well, though the Patriots’ penchant is to trade down, more so than dealing up.
But the Patriots traded away Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett last year, so there’s no heir apparent to Tom Brady, at an age where they need to be planning for his eventual retirement. They added the 23rd pick for Brandin Cooks and the 43rd for Garoppolo, so they could package picks to move way up into the top 10.
The Bucs could get back No. 23 and 31, plus a second-day pick (No. 95 late in the third would be reasonable) and still get a solid combination of defensive back and running back with the top two picks.
That looks like a pretty good deal.
April 26th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Read more here –
http://www.tbo.com/blogs/bucs/2018/04/24/five-options-if-the-bucs-want-to-trade-down-from-no-7/
April 26th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
I’m hoping Minkah, as a corner(outside) and then we compete with Julio, Michael Thomas, Funches, etc. But, I think James could make Olsen want to retire and should be able take away most TE’s and cover Funches and make Ginn’s arms shrink to alligator length. I’m flippin stoked…GO BUCS!!
April 26th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Ghost, I contemplated the NE connection too but those picks are low man.