Isaiah Crowell & The Bucs
February 14th, 2019
Last March at the NFL Owners Meetings, former Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter talked about how the Buccaneers were chasing at least one free agent running back but the bidding got high.
The implication from Koetter was that it got too high.
Maybe the target was Jerick McKinnon or Carlos Hyde, or maybe it was former Browns RB Isaiah Crowell, who the Jets gave $4 million per year.
Regardless, Jets beat writer Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported yesterday that the Jets and their new coaching staff expect to part ways with Crowell after one season. It’s all part of their rebuild, and what could be a clearing of room for Le’Veon Bell.
Crowell, 26, is an interesting and solid running back, averaging 4.3 yards per carry through his five-year career, including 4.8 yards per carry last season for the Jets, whose head coach was new Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Crowell has missed just three games in his five seasons, and he has just six fumbles through 880 career carries.
Undrafted in 2014, when the Bucs grabbed Charles Sims in Round 3, Crowell shined on very bad Browns teams and did what he could with the Jets. Imagine what he could do on what Bucs GM Jason Licht calls one of the greatest offenses in NFL history?
No, Crowell isn’t a great back, but he’s probably better than Peyton Barber, and the thought of the Bucs gambling on depth/quality in the draft again is enough to send Joe a therapist.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:27 pm
Imagine what he can do when constantly hit behind the LOS. When are we going to see the Bucs are serious about having a top 10 OL?
February 14th, 2019 at 4:34 pm
Wow. For some reason I thought Crowell was making it into his 30’s. He’s not the amazing RB that everyone expects the Bucs should go after, but he is the opposite type of runner that we could use in a one-two punch with him and PB.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Isn’t he the guy who tweeted about slitting cops throats?
February 14th, 2019 at 4:48 pm
I’m in the camp we draft one. Less expensive with 4 year option.
February 14th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
A very well thought out premise.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
imo, we only have 1 nfl quality RB and thats barber and even he would have a hard time making other teams….wouldnt be mad at all if we signed him….
can he catch out the backfield?
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 14th, 2019 at 5:06 pm
Go after Duke Johnson.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Watched the Crow play a few times over the last few years, and did not see anything from him that suggests he brings something different than what Barber does. The louder Joe keeps yelling on the podcast about how our lack of a running game is all because of our talent at RB, and he points to 2014 when we had a line of no names but produced the same YPC in rushing as last year as a proof. Well I use my eyes as proof, and can say that this line was routinely beaten by opponents, got no push, could not open holes, and allowed defenders straight through to hit us in the backfield more than any other line I watched during the season. Even an elite back like Zeke would have struggled to gain yards for us last season. I don’t put all the blame on talent alone though. Play design, play calling tendencies, coaching, and chemistry all factor in as well. That is why I am confident that BA can turn this thing around even with just Barber back there. I do think we will add a change of pace type guy to compete with RoJo for carries, but Barber is a bruiser who makes his own yards and takes what is there, and can succeed with new coaching and a better RG. I like the Crow, but he isn’t worth the cost for this team because he is not an improvement over Barber.
February 14th, 2019 at 5:40 pm
I agree @Geno!
Often times I find cracks and weaknesses in @Joe’s player proposals, quite often actually, but in this case, this idea of Crowell is well thought out, if we are targeting a B to B- running back. Money might be reasonable, Crowell is pretty darn durable, great pass catching skills, hits the whole hard, and much better than Peyton Barber as an overall RB.
I say $3.5-$4mm per year times 3 years isn’t horrible.
Go Bucs!
February 14th, 2019 at 5:48 pm
Same name from last year. If this team has a salary cap issue just draft a back and let barber play the veteran role. You can actually find a starter in the draft at this position but people are so hung up on free agents looking for a payday. Just draft a guy and save cash for the o line
February 14th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Someone……anyone…..please……we need help…..and preferably a RB that can shake off three tacklers in the offensive backfield.
February 14th, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Duke Johnson would be a good value signing and an upgrade to Barber. The browns undervalued Nasib….take advantage of their mistakes and sign Duke Johnson would be a good move.
February 14th, 2019 at 6:32 pm
Do something! Anything! Give me a tough back like Kentucky’s Benny Snell or a homerun hitter like Stanford’s Bryce Love in the draft rounds 3 or 4. Definitely add 1 or 2 FA RB 1st then draft one of these guys. DO SOMETHING! Let’s go!
February 14th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
I think we liked McKinnon last off-season, if we wanted Crowell and missed out we probably would’ve drafted a similar type back like Guice.
February 14th, 2019 at 6:42 pm
4.8 is solid
He caught 40 balls one year which is pretty good.
Someone needs to catch ball out of backfield. Rojo has worse hands than my sister. How do you Not know how to catch a 10 yard pass when you have been playing football your whole life
How did the Bucs not see if lack of catches during career at usc or lack of catches at pro day / combine.
February 14th, 2019 at 7:42 pm
Anyone is an upgrade. RoJo should be cut, keep Barber and sign a quality back.
February 14th, 2019 at 7:57 pm
Don’t pay this re-tred $4 million. He is not worth it and has already flamed out on at least two teams.
February 14th, 2019 at 8:07 pm
L.J Scott is still my choice
February 14th, 2019 at 9:21 pm
Fix the real problem! Fix the o line and watch this team take off!
February 14th, 2019 at 11:08 pm
Ol’ Light Weight and his greatest show with a nerf offense…best ever. Tough to live those comments down and I’m glad isn’t letting that one slide. Licht Ale must produce amazing beer goggles.
February 14th, 2019 at 11:55 pm
FIRE
here is a reference to that instagram post
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/07/browns_isaiah_crowell_i_was_ve.html
February 15th, 2019 at 1:16 am
@ Bucafan951 – Fix the real problem! Fix the o line and watch this team take off!
I agree, no point in adding more running backs if you don’t fix the REAL problem. Fix the Oline.
February 15th, 2019 at 4:34 am
@Joe … ” Imagine what he could do on what Bucs GM Jason Licht calls one of the greatest offenses in NFL history?” You must have that line on speed-dial by now Joe.
@Not There Yet … “If this team has a salary cap issue just draft a back and let barber play the veteran role. You can actually find a starter in the draft at this position.” We supposedly did … LAST YEAR, but RoJo is ‘not there yet’.
Don’t mind spending a 5th Round (or lower) pick for a RB this year, but we’ve got too many other NEEDS right now (DLine, OLine, LB for starters). There’ll be plenty of quality RBs available in free agency for a decent price; no need to panic in February. And BTW, RoJo was a very expensive miss to this point as a result of being drafted in the 2nd round … his dead CAP hit if Bucs cut him is $3.2 mil according to Spotrac. That’s the cost of a decent veteran RB right there. Hopefully RoJo comes around this year & gets to be almost as good as Charles Sims was when Licht replaced him with RoJo last year.
February 15th, 2019 at 8:48 am
@ARGH…
Bryce Love just tore his ACL in December…no thanks!
However LJ Scott in the 2nd round (here we go again–ROJO wasted pick) looks like a promising RB that has the hands and right build for today’s NFL, if relying on a drafted RB.
Go Bucs!
February 15th, 2019 at 9:33 am
Rodney Anderson or Miles Sanders from Penn state are my 2 favorite backs, 3 down ability and both shifty 220 pounders
February 15th, 2019 at 11:08 am
PLEASE STOP SAYING DRAFT A RB!!! We have so many other holes that need to be filled in the draft!!! Get one of the good guys in FA that won’t empty the vault at OBP along with PB. Crowell would be nice. We need a QB in the fourth. You can draft a RB in the fifth.
February 15th, 2019 at 11:17 am
Not to mention the Bucs totally busted in the second with who was said to be the third best RB in the draft. You think they’re gonna even think of making that mistake again? Are they not giving RoJo another chance under a good coaching squad that can hopefully build an oline? Anyone who thinks we’re drafting a RB in rounds 1-3 without getting more picks in those rounds, I can refer a nice treatment center to you.
February 15th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
I believe at least two OL, a CB, DT, LB & then a RB in the draft.