Bucs Left Mel Kiper In Shock
April 28th, 2019
Iconic helmet hair draft guru Mel Kiper of BSPN absolutely can’t believe what the Buccaneers did in Round 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Kiper put Tampa Bay first on his major head-scratcher list for Rounds 2 and 3 yesterday.
At No. 39 overall, the Bucs selected cornerback Sean Bunting out of Central Michigan.
Kiper was flabbergasted.
Here were the better corners available when Tampa Bay reached for Bunting, who is No. 87 overall on my board: Greedy Williams, Justin Layne, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Julian Love, Joejuan Williams, David Long, Trayvon Mullen and Amani Oruwariye.
Yes, I had eight corners with higher grades than Bunting who were still on the board. Tampa Bay absolutely needed a man-cover corner, but I would have gone with Greedy Williams.
Keep calm, Bucs fans. Keep calm.
Bunting might be a heck of a player but his selection will get more scrutiny than most picks.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:02 am
Mel Kiper:
Trent Dilfer is a franchise QB.
Lost credibility in 1994
April 28th, 2019 at 12:04 am
Wait…Greedy was still on the board? WTF?
April 28th, 2019 at 12:11 am
Didn’t other teams pass on Greedy
April 28th, 2019 at 12:13 am
Who the hell is Mel Kiper???
April 28th, 2019 at 12:14 am
Technically, the only team that wanted Greedy was the Browns
April 28th, 2019 at 12:15 am
Greedy is a man-press corner that doesn’t like to tackle and get his hands dirty.
Why would we want that??
Bunting is MUCH more physical here….
We gonna need that when Bowles is sending full blitz packages!!
April 28th, 2019 at 12:15 am
That’s the thing lol. Every year, every draft, everyone talks about how it’s a crap shoot and you never know what’s going to happen. Well, I give the world my beloved Bucs, they believe this philosophy like a football bible. They will go out of their way to try and re-live the Brady experience to no avail. Welcome to the Bucs life.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:16 am
Bellicheat passed on Greedy as well and went with Joejuan Williams so perhaps Greedy had a couple of red flags concerning his tackling and other physical/mental aspects but it still seems that with the possible exception of the Raiders and the Giants that the Bucs really had the most bizarro draft of all the NFL teams with so many reaches of players not too high on any of the “experts” big boards. Time will tell, isn’t Kiper the guy who got Colts GM Bill Tobin to just about stroke out over passing on oe Heath Shuler who made Dilfer look like an All Pro????? Just saying that being a Bucs fan I tend to expect the illogical from One Buc over free agents, the draft and anything else that could help the Bucs become competitive but lets see how these kids perform and re-evaluate everything in 3 or 4 years to see if the Bucs braintrust had a rock bottom 2019 draft……
April 28th, 2019 at 12:18 am
BucAllNight: LOL, I do believe that little gem was uttered by Bill Tobin 25 years ago and Kiper’s hair looks like it has the same Jimmy Johnson hold gel on it all these years…..
April 28th, 2019 at 12:18 am
Greedy was the only name I knew, and he had great measurables, but something was up as he fell down the board. A bunch of corners went right after Bunting – and they also weren’t named Greedy, so I don’t know what was up, if basically every site had him ranked too highly or if something went on behind the scenes we haven’t heard about yet.
Anywho the more I read on Bunting the more I like the pick. Also while I don’t in any way like Kiper, he’s been wrong on a ton of guys (which happens when you literally have scouted tens of thousands), and based on the order guys were drafted it seemed the various websites and teams had different ideas of who was good.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:19 am
And by the way? I’m fully on board with all the selections until we grabbed a kicker. I’m now down with the kicker. No choice lol.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:20 am
I was really critical of MJ and Evans for the past two drafts. I know the issues with Greedy, he basically shut down his effort midway thru last season and does not like to tackle.. but I might’ve gambled. No corner looked more natural in coverage than Williams.. Bunting at least has the physical tools that warrant a second round pick.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:23 am
To be Honest do we really care what these critics think?
Previous years according to them we drafted very well and we got A and B grades. where did that take us? to the bottom again. so doesn’t really matter what these guys think good or bad.
April 28th, 2019 at 12:28 am
Blackmagic00, yeah the 5th round kicker is mystifying. The only other teams that went in for a punter or K in the draft to my knowledge were the Niners where Lynch burned a high 4th on a punter and the Brownies who like the Bucs have essentially been cursed with their kicking game forever and also burned a 5th rounder on one…. The 5th rounder could have been used on a RB or OL help IMHO but wtf do I know……..
April 28th, 2019 at 12:32 am
So Hyper Kiper did not like the pick.
I do not approve of your methods Mr. Ness.
“Well, you’re not from Chicago”
April 28th, 2019 at 12:47 am
Only time will tell..
April 28th, 2019 at 12:59 am
Kiper has no credibility, he is wrong more often than not.
Happy and at present optimistic with all the picks, thought the kicker pick could of waited longer but Licht and gang thought he was the best. So many negative people on this site sometimes especially during draft time.
Devin White is a quality person and player-have a strong feeling he will be very successful in the NFL.
April 28th, 2019 at 1:09 am
Yeah, because Mel is always right. Whatever. PSometimes you take the right players, not the best players.
April 28th, 2019 at 1:18 am
Now the Joe’s are rolling with Mel Kiper. This site (AS GOID AS IT IS) is grasping at straws to use Kiper to make themselves feel better and us worse…just because they don’t agree. Love you Joes and this site, but this site, if indication of this weekends coverage and comments, is becoming cancerous and beginning to morph into most of the readers and commenters here at JBF. It’s slightly starting to get pathetic and way too negative.
April 28th, 2019 at 1:38 am
Greedy is a questionable tackler. Several other teams passed on him that needed a CB too. So why he is questioning just the Buccaneers? Basically teams doubted his heart or courage. A 180 lb. guy in the NFL has to have ton of courage.
April 28th, 2019 at 1:52 am
ESPN talking to BA….
On his first year with Jameis Winston, what he wants to see from him
“Just more consistency, regardless of the other team, make better decisions. The athletic ability is there, the arm is there, and hopefully with the defensive picks we won’t be playing from 20 behind all the time.”
Wow, he’s quoting my message board posts!
April 28th, 2019 at 1:54 am
Licht is a buffoon
April 28th, 2019 at 1:57 am
Ryan Smith is a great tackler with great speed, can really chase down all those guys that blow by him in coverage and get them to the ground 35 yards down field.
April 28th, 2019 at 2:28 am
Plenty teams passed on Greedy not just the Bucs. I don’t know a thing about Bunting but his film, stats, and measurable are impressive. Gave up 0 TDs this past season. Potential lockdown???
April 28th, 2019 at 2:36 am
JGhoti86… perfectly put… guessing a whole lot more feel the same way… tap the brakes Joe’s, please
April 28th, 2019 at 2:53 am
Licht is garbage. It’s why we were picking 5th AND had no cap space to sign difference makers in FA
April 28th, 2019 at 3:11 am
Don’t know how you don’t see it. This is all a prank by BA making JL look like a fool. No GM with a sane mind re drafts the same positions over and over again like that. We were to understand that last year was coaching issue and system that doesn’t fit the talent. Why redraft the corners then? Doing it is admitting you’re clueless. I’m sure BA and his staff were rolling on the floor laughing when JL had to face the media and talk about the kicker “he” has just picked.
April 28th, 2019 at 3:20 am
Rod that’s funny, why is he still here? We need to start calling him Ryan Myron Smith because he just sticks around.
Mel you’re not the only one in shock, but I hope they prove us both wrong.
April 28th, 2019 at 3:21 am
Sorry Joes I’ll watch my language, it was a rough couple days.
April 28th, 2019 at 4:23 am
To be fair, a good amount of teams passed on Greedy Williams, so maybe there were some red flags that these teams know about.
April 28th, 2019 at 4:34 am
Kgh4life:
Heard Greedy wasn’t doing well in interviews. Turned off a lot of teams. There was also his issue of non-tackling which didn’t help.
April 28th, 2019 at 5:14 am
Bunting didn’t allow a td all year. He fits what we need in a corner he can play inside and out and can tackle. You can’t say about the other guys .
April 28th, 2019 at 6:01 am
Licht always has a huge focus on character, heart, willpower etc. Greedy doesn’t seem to fit that bill.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:18 am
Greedy dropped because Greedy was trying to preserve Greedy for the NFL. He did not play as hard when he decided to turn pro half-way through the year. Guess who was on his @$$ for that, one of his best friends – Devin White.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:19 am
Jason Licht is a flat out clown GM for this draft. Fireee Licht!
April 28th, 2019 at 6:22 am
Greedy doesn’t have character issues.. he had cash issues. Should’ve picked him.bunting would’ve been available later. As far as the kicker? Has trouble with short range kicks. So it looks like the Bucs will be using my 2 kicker model. Santos for the shorts and Gay for the long. Hahaha
April 28th, 2019 at 6:28 am
Kiper also said Donnie Abraham was a total reach in the 3rd Round. Maybe he’s right on Bunting, who knows. I’ll wait and see, that’s the only way we’ll really know.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:33 am
Lol who cares. Mel is joke
April 28th, 2019 at 6:36 am
The more I think of it, our coaches know who want they to develop. Perhaps someone with a big name in Greedy may have an SEC a reputation and ego. Whereas someone from a smaller conference has more to prove and will work harder in the NFL. Just a thought
April 28th, 2019 at 6:38 am
Also, if Mel Kiper was shocked at out 2nd round pick, imagine if Devin White was not there at 5. We would all be shocked. Our new regime select picks like Gruden and the Raiders. They are unpredictable, outside of Devin White, and it’s scary. I just hope the picks fit the scheme and they are well coached.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:42 am
I’m pretty sure that Jason and Bruce has plenty of opportunity to ask Devin White about Greedy…they picked Edwards because of what his teammates said about him…if Devin didn’t want him nor do I.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:47 am
Bucs selecting Bunting with our #39 pick caught me totally by surprise I’ll admit. There were a LOT of very high-caliber players still available who met what I felt were our PRIORITY NEEDS: DLine, OLine & RB. Coach Arians (and expecially Todd Bowles I suspect) disagreed with what those priority needs are. They also have a different vision of TEAM BUILDING than what I had. He won out. Surprise surprise.
A big part of what caught me by surprise I realize is that I had never heard of Sean Bunting. The more I read about him the more I’m warming to picking him early. He MIGHT have been there in Rnd 3 or later, but the Bucs for some reason disagreed, so I’ll trust their intel. This coaching staff obviously feels that our Secondary (and LBs it seems) aren’t fast enough to execute their defensive schemes. And because of that, some of the DBs we have stockpiled apparently don’t fit. None of us know what this defense will REALLY look like (an ‘unpredictable hybrid’ works for me), but I do feel that the coaches have every right to bring in whoever they need to make their concepts work. I’m tired of the ‘Musical Coaches’ merry-go-round.
I still can’t believe though that they didn’t ask me who to pick at #39, but I’ll get over it. And Joe will too, I hope. People who constantly mutter “I told ya so” get tiresome rather quickly.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:57 am
Kiper has his opinion. Walterfootball and others gave the Bucs good grades except for the kicker. No one will know for a couple of years.
April 28th, 2019 at 6:59 am
This year’s picks courtesy of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:01 am
Worst draft ever
April 28th, 2019 at 7:10 am
There’s no confidence in Jason Licht. Other than his first round picks that anyone of us could make with probable success, he’s been dismal in later rounds. The Bucs 2019 draft picks may be great. But, I don’t blame anyone for taking a “seeing is believing” approach.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:13 am
I warned against taking Greedy before the draft. Very talented kid but he’s a knucklehead that doesn’t tackle. Have a couple of buddies inside that program that told me this and predicted his fall in the draft. BTW, same guys predicted the fall of D. Guice last year. Only that guy is much more a mental case than Greedy.
Same guys told me that Devin White was a “can’t miss” stud and would be a leader on this team. Said he was a leader both on and off the field and worked his ass off.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:17 am
Did Kiper bring Greedy in for an interview……did he bring Sean Bunting in for a workout…..an inteview?
We have scouts and coaches studying these players for months…..sure mistakes are made….but you have to let things play out.
I think the bottom line is they want this personality/skill set on the team. Period.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:20 am
In addition to Walterfootball giving the Bucs a good draft grade, so did si.com-mmqb, which gave the Bucs an A-, the highest grade in the NFC South. I had to go to other websites to get positive vibes. Bucs fans are ridiculously negative. Some of that is understandable, but this year seems to be especially brutal.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:23 am
Maybe Mel would like to discuss this with us at Mike Williams hall of fame induction speech? He is a tool.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:28 am
I’m only leaning with Kiper on this one – due to our 2nd round draft history…
April 28th, 2019 at 7:29 am
Some of you want to deflect and shoot the messenger(Kiper).
Yet the Bucs seemingly draft in the top 5 every year(it must be because of all those great drafts!) Just like the Colts, when they had that clown Tobin.
This draft pretty much assures the Bucs will be getting top 5 picks for at least the next 5 years.
I think the Bucs have positioned themselves well for the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes in the 2021 draft.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:30 am
The problem for fans is unmet expectations…..not only did we not draft certain players they wanted, we didn’t draft the positions they wanted.
If we simply replaced the Jamel Dean or Mike Edwards pick with a RB or OG….the entire draft would look different.
And then, you drive them crazy by “wasting” a 5th round pick on a Kicker…..that rubbed Licht’s previous Kicker mistake in everyone’s face.
Relax….let it play out….and maybe this is our kicker….no risk it, no biscuit!!!
April 28th, 2019 at 7:30 am
The Bucs ranked last in draft grade with EVERY NFL Draft expert. I really can’t believe we drafted a kicker again. We also let Will Grier get away to a team in our division.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:35 am
Look at the positive guys: We are the first team in NFL history with a male cheer leader. He may also serve as our 4th string “tight end”. Pre game meal: TOSSED SALAD.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:38 am
@Pittsshore Says:
April 28th, 2019 at 7:30 am
No and No
April 28th, 2019 at 7:45 am
Pittshore: You are simply wrong. There were several reputable sites that gave the Bucs good grades for this draft.
IF you are truly a Bucs fan you should be encouraged by this draft. It’s an indication that we have people that know what their doing in charge. The defense, specifically the secondary, was an abomination last year. We happen to play in a division with the Falcons (Jones, Ridley, Sanu) and Saints that can spread you out and expose your deficiencies.
We got bigger and faster yesterday which last time i checked are good things. Were there questionable decisions? Sure. I like Bunting but probably could have moved down and acquired more picks to get him. But obviously, they were worried someone else would grab him.
Also, choosing a Kicker is always questionable. However, end of the day you can’t argue that they don’t need better kicking. If Gay turns out to be great for the next 10 years then it’s one of the best 5th round picks in the history of this franchise.
All in all, none of us really know anything and we have to trust their judgement which is difficult given the recent history of this team. However, we have a new regime in place and you have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Personally, i feel we go as JW goes. If he plays well then this team is in the hunt. If not, then we are likely picking early again next year.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:48 am
Adderly, Ford and Risner were availed when Bucs picked Bunting. Enough said.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:49 am
TBBF,
I’m upset with the fact that Licht just redrafted all of the same positions that he has spent multiple early picks on over the last couple of years. It just reinforces that the prior picks were for not.
I wanted Ed Oliver/Josh Allen. The pass rusher.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:49 am
and which team has hire Mel to scout for them? i’ll wait
April 28th, 2019 at 7:49 am
We also tied with the worst grade given out with 5 or so other teams with a C+
Listed at the very of the article so I’m assuming worst of the bunch. This team is the definition of 1 step forward and 2 steps back.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:51 am
Oh sure.. NOW Licht listens to me.
Kahzin Daniels UFA. Dude might be the real deal. Look out for him in Camp.
He’s a real pass rusher. Just only has 1 eye.
But dude can play. Shoulda been our 7th rder
April 28th, 2019 at 7:52 am
Just watch the highlight reel on Bunting. At one point the announcer exclaimed that they were picking on Sean.
Imagine, the opposing team game plans against Central Nowhere State and after careful analysis they decide that Sean Bunting was the weakest player on that 1-11 team.
He is playing against high school kids, who sometimes just heave the football as far and as high as they can into a group of players and some how SB catches it. That’s a highlight???
This kid will never play a down in a single real NFL game. That’s what Kiper saw but is too politically correct to say.
After that disaster pick it went downhill fast.
April 28th, 2019 at 7:57 am
TB22 Says:
April 28th, 2019 at 7:29 am
Some of you want to deflect and shoot the messenger(Kiper).
Yet the Bucs seemingly draft in the top 5 every year(it must be because of all those great drafts!)
__________________________________
Bucs have picked in the top 5 three times since Gruden left, including this year. If by “seemingly every year” you mean 3 out of 11 then sure.
I hate Bucs fans
April 28th, 2019 at 7:59 am
Las Vegas odds are out and the over under on Buc’s draft picks that make the opening day roster is……….2 1/2.
I’m taking the under.
White and if they get a roster exemption for that disabled guy./
April 28th, 2019 at 7:59 am
Defense Rules Says: April 28th, 2019 at 6:47 am
You have given voice to several similar thoughts and reactions that I have had to this year’s Buccaneer draft. It’s uncanny. I am in agreement with your last paragraph especially. I loved it! 🙂
‘I still can’t believe though that they didn’t ask me who to pick at #39, but I’ll get over it. And Joe will too, I hope. People who constantly mutter “I told ya so” get tiresome rather quickly.’
April 28th, 2019 at 8:00 am
This was very weak draft for Offensive lineman and Running Backs. It is apparent that the Buc’s did not want to reach for those positions.
Also, the buc’s were clearly looking to upgrade their speed.
I will have to get used to the 3-4 defense, but it appears teams like New England and Green Bay have a lot more defensive backs on the field and play a lot of nickel and dime packages.
Our defense gave up 77% completion rate last year. Just maybe the guys we drafted can help us get to 65% completion rate. More around league average.
It seems to me that you need at least 8 “capable” cornerback/safety types to be good in this new 3-4 defense. So Evans, Davis, Hargreaves, Stewart and Whitehead.
If these three guys work out, then I love that we would be able to cut Isiah Johnson and Ryan Smith.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:00 am
I say this every year:
The one thing I have learned after decades of drafts and watching football, is that the rankings mean absolutely nothing.
All they are is the opinions of fans or media written down, and most of them are based of the most talked about players. In other words, they are based on popularity, not talent and ability.
That’s why ‘reaching’ is a myth.
If rankings were accurate, there would be no busts, because all the best would only be taken. You would see no sixth round successes, because that’s where only busts would be.
With that said, I don’t know anything about the players the Bucs picked because I didn’t do any research and didn’t watch a single college game the past year. As a result? Each player will have a chance to win me over from here forward.
And sure, I would have liked to see another position or two addressed, but so long as the team becomes better, I’m happy. It doesn’t matter where our players were ranked.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:02 am
“If Jimmy Clausen is not a successful QB in the NFL, then I’m done”
– Mel Kiper, 2010
“I think Russel Wilson will have a Seneca Wallace type career where you can bring him off the bench and he can add a spark”
– Mel Kiper, 2012
I have pages and pages of these. Mel hits and misses at the same rate as most everyone else with draft prospects. Not worth singling him out as a supremely expert opinion.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:03 am
I said it all weekend. This whole offseason we talked abut how much power Arians and Bowles would have during the draft.
Yet as soon as a pick happens that people dont like they call for Licht’s head.
We actually have a good, proven coaching staff with a track record of success. Maybe they got the guys they think can fit their system? You guys get caught up way too much in names and rankings.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:08 am
See, this just proves that our fan base has questionable knowledge at best. Central Michigan is in the MAC which is D1. Last year they played a MAC schedule plus at Kentucky, Michigan State and Kansas.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:08 am
I can hardly wait for Ira’s next podcast. That should be a rousing post draft discussion! 😉
April 28th, 2019 at 8:15 am
Joeypoppems,
How many playoff appearances for the Bucs since Gruden left?
That fact alone shows you that they are drafting pretty high every year–even if its not top 5.
I would be willing to bet that these next 5 drafts will see the Bucs as mainstays picking in the top 5.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:20 am
Listen to the interview with the kicker. He himself was shocked and surprised that he was drafted. His only problem at Utah was blocked kicks. The kid is the only FG kicker in the world that needs a running start.
He also alluded several times that he wasn’t going to change his style.
Happy Gilmour???
April 28th, 2019 at 8:32 am
Kipper gets paid to support Kiper picked players
April 28th, 2019 at 8:32 am
Mel Kiper might be a clown but Licht is the clown car driver.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:34 am
Seems pretty clear to me that BA intends to add a G later before the season. He has said that you draft OL early for the next staff and clearly they have a need on the right side.
Obviously they need to clear cap space first but once that is done i expect them to add a vet at G.
April 28th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Geno says, “This was very weak draft for Offensive lineman and Running Backs. It is apparent that the Buc’s did not want to reach for those positions.”
It was a minor miracle that 1st Team All American RB Darrell Henderson fell to the 70th pick. The LA Ram’s boy genius GM conned Gump into giving him up for two magic beans. The 94th and 99th pick even though they had 2 better 3rd round picks in their pocket.
Henderson had 2300 yards last year for Memphis and 27 TD’s. Despite playing behind the coach’s favorite Pollard. One game where Pollard was banged up, DH was allowed to return kicks he took one 95 yards to the house. Desean Jackson anyone???
Of course at 5’9″ DH was 2″ shorter than ideal. You have to have the ideal measurement for the Arian Nation. No players with one eye, depressive paralysis, politically incorrect names or cripples with 3 bad knees. They all must be fast, fast, fast because MJ Stewart is too slow and can’t cover crossing routes
Of course, the Bucs had no need for a Touchdown Machine since Gump believes the Bucs had one of the greatest offenses of all time and were nearing 99% Red Zone efficiency. The Bucs must also be one of the finest kick return teams starring Adam Humphries. Oops!
April 28th, 2019 at 8:50 am
Reading today the Raiders were linked to him at 40 (they took Clemson CB who was also below most those guys listed).
Bucs better have felt there was a huge drop off between him and whoever else they took in a trade back which Licht said they were offered..
Then they moved back in r3 with Ferguson / Winovich / multiple great RBs on the board…
Ugh.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:05 am
I’m with Mel, Bunting was the 35th rated corner in the draft. I don’t care what his tape showed, he played for a small conference. They are simply fodder for larger conference opponents when they play them. Stupid move Gump. Then drafting a kicker instead of an OL or even a DL – Patrick Willis. The Bucs are a total clown show. I seen a lot of stupid drafts since 1976, but this one is right up there. The Bucs will be lucky to get to 5-11 this season.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:05 am
From my perspective, Bunting was OK in this slot maybe a little high. Picking the kicker in round 5 is the reason Licht should be fired….made no sense especially considering our aging RT in Dot and major need for an upgrade at RG. Nelson was a nice pickup. Miller will not replace Hump; thats a joke right? Edwards looks like he may be able to add some consistency to the back end. I am not sure what they saw in Dean’s tape but he had too many ups and downs IMHO; there was better athletes in that spot to be had. You pick the best player/athlete available when you draft for need too much it corners the franchise. Licht will be fired before the next draft after another sub-par season.
Grade C- to D+ range (kicker pick was kick to gut)
April 28th, 2019 at 9:05 am
Anyone who’s followed Todd Bowles at all should have known he wouldn’t draft a CB who doesn’t tackle.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:11 am
It’s funny because all the people whining now about the picks are the same people whining about the positions that we needed on the team. They addressed that now you are mad about the names selected because it’s not who you wanted. I don’t understand, do you want to win football games or do you want to win the draft. BA knows what he is doing and TB knows what he is doing. Name a bad defense that TB has had. I’ll wait. You jackwipes think you know so much because you watch YouTube videos and listen to so called “experts” that you go all in with them knowing they are wrong a good majority of the time. All of these so called experts didn’t have Tom Brady ranked high either, the qb’s ranked higher than him and picked before him are laughable. I keep telling you stop getting caught up in the names. This is a new regime stop judging them by the standards of coaches who didn’t have a clue. Let them complete their plan and if it doesn’t work then you can argue your point. But when you whine about something being bad and you have no way of knowing, no information about what the people in question plans are, and no idea about why they are doing, you come across like an idiot who is just being negative because it’s not what you want. I don’t know the playbook or the schemes, but I do know BA wants the same thing I want, and that is to win games and compete for a SB. Winners don’t have time for whiners!!
April 28th, 2019 at 9:18 am
Terrell Davis on NFL Network just picked the Bucs as his most improved team in the draft. I’ll take his opinion over Kiper. His job isn’t to try and justify his Mock Draft selections.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Loved the help the bucs got up front and the RB the bucs got along with signing tj yeldon really makes me feel positive on 2019, and successful franchises can never draft nor have enough fg kickers in camp, im saying now the bucs at least host a playoff game this season. Jason Licht makes winning crafty smartest guy in the room moves that translate into championships.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:34 am
Buc_U
Thanks for saying what had to be said. I agree with you and I’m sure many others do also.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:40 am
I never take Kiper seriously after what he said about JaMarcus Russell, that he would “immediately re-energize that Raider nation, that fan base, that football team…three years from now you could be looking at a guy who’s certainly one of the top five elite quarterbacks in this league.”
April 28th, 2019 at 9:43 am
White is a 1-man wrecking crew!!! We drafted Bunting because he fits our new D… We need help on R side O-Line… I hope this late round DE can be of service. I bet that at least 2 out of the 6 Top defensive pics will not live up to pick… White will not be one of them… I’m ok with our draft… I hope we win 8 games this year… It will take more than 1-Year to right this pirate ship…
April 28th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Imagine if the Bucs simply went off of Mel Kiper’s big board? They would be an 8-8 team.Then add good coaching, a playoff team.
With Gump’s picks, nobody in professional football since Ray Perkins or Schiano is that stupid or incompetant. I’m beginning to believe that there may be a more serious problem, like substance abuse. The Redskins’s GM was let go for similar issues.
Besides Kiper, who is generally made fun of, one of the most brilliant football minds I’ve seen is former Buc, Chris Simms. His mocks were spot on and he was the only one I saw that nailed the Giant’s QB pick at 7. That pick altered the draft.
Chris has an excellent football pedigree and has literally rubbed elbows with football legends since he was a toddler. If you watch his podcasts, he rules with complete control and delegates authority well. He always does his homework and does not tolerate anything less.
His breakdowns for individual positions are independent and brilliant
His football chats with Florio are amusing because they go head to head often and each stand their ground. You can see Chris bristle because he is not in control of the show but there is mutual respect.
Now that Passover is done, the Glazers should should get on the phone with Chris Simms and make him a generous offer to take over this sinking pirate ship before his media career explodes. I think he would take the job at this time.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Greedy Williams is a showman. He kinda avoids tackling. He avoids the physicality. Lets give this kid Bunting a chance. The scouts saw something in him. You never know. He could turn out to play lights out. Looking at his film, the kid is very fast, aggressive hits hard and very rarely missed tackles. He has a nose for the ball.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:54 am
Joe,
I don’t think the Helmet Hair moniker suits him anymore.
If you watched him yesterday and the helmet is getting pretty thin.
April 28th, 2019 at 9:56 am
Miguel Grande Says:
Now that Passover is done, the Glazers should should get on the phone with Chris Simms and make him a generous offer to take over this sinking pirate ship before his media career explodes. I think he would take the job at this time.
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.
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very interesting post…very
April 28th, 2019 at 9:57 am
Miguel great idea on simms and he loves the bucs, love his podcasts too
April 28th, 2019 at 10:02 am
@SouthFloridaBuc
“To be Honest do we really care what these critics think?”
NO! Again…there are NO draft experts including NFL GM’s.
If you take the time to do research you’ll find that even the so called “hot” GM’s eventually fail.
Here is an interesting chart…rate of success not just by round drafted but also weighted for position. QB’s are the hardest which is why this season is so important for JW and the Bucs.
1st Round – OL (83%) LB (70%) TE (67%) DB (64%) QB (63%) WR (58%) RB (58%) DL (58%)
2nd Round – OL (70%) LB (55%) TE (50%) WR (49%) DB (46%) QB (27%) DL (26%) RB (25%)
3rd Round – OL (40%) TE (39%) LB (34%) DL (27%) WR (25%) DB (24%) QB (17%) RB (16%)
4th Round – DL (37%) TE (33%) OL (29%) LB (16%) WR(12%) DB (11%) RB (11%) QB (8%)
5th Round – TE (32%) DB (17%) WR (16%) OL (16%) DL (13%) RB (9%) LB (4%) QB (0%)
6th Round – TE (26%) OL (16%) DL (13%) WR (9%) DB (8%) RB (6%) LB (5%) QB (0%)
7th Round – DB (11%) OL (9%) QB (6%) WR (5%) DL (3%) LB (2%) RB (0%) TE (0%)
And so Kiper is pontificating as if he is spouting facts on a less than 50% chance for a DB in that round. In short…he and ANYBODY who talks about draft picks with certainty is just full of manure.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Kiper pretty much sucks and knows nothing at all! Sean is a very gifted athlete and physical corner who plays the ball and tackles.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:11 am
Correction “the Giant’s QB pick at 6”
He knew that J Allen and Oliver would be available at 5 but liked White at that spot.
Problem (Licht), Reaction (fan revolt), Solution (Simms)
April 28th, 2019 at 10:12 am
I’m not going to prejudge these players. Rankings are wrong year after year, yet fans keep buying in.
They are Bucs now, and I will hope for the best.
However…
…I said MONTHS AGO that we don’t need offensive line because our future right guard and tackle are on the team. Most of you disagreed. Clearly, BRUCE ARIANS agrees with me.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:13 am
Get off Mel’s back….before the WWW he single handedly made draft research mainstream….before that it was reading about the players in the newspaper the next day…I wish I still had his published draft guides
April 28th, 2019 at 10:19 am
Let’s face it, we have an entire roster of average to below average talent. Thats been our problem for several years now. That’s what Jason Licht has delivered.
The only 2 players on our entire team that are “elite” are Evans and OJ. We have a couple guys like JPP, Godwin, Marpet and Lavonte that are probably better than average. Everywhere else…..RB’s Below Average….Oline Below Average…..QB’s Below Average…..Dline Below Average……DB’s Below Average….LB’s Average (giving them the benefit of the doubt here because of White)
I guess having an Above Average WR/TE group is better than nothing, but obviously still not enough to win more than 6 games a year. We just have not drafted well of late, and it’s coming back to haunt us!
April 28th, 2019 at 10:20 am
Greedy, rumor is, fast but soft. We did more intel on LSU than likely any other team, considering that White has been at the top of our radar for months. We didn’t pick him for a reason. Just because Kiper loves him means nothing.
April 28th, 2019 at 10:58 am
Listening to the Jackwads like Kiper (who has a track record of dubious quality) who claim to be draft “experts” is like listening to some guy who claims to know how to beat the Vegas craps tables.
It’s the idiots who think these guys are “experts” who get their knickers all twisted in their buttcracks when a team doesn’t follow their script.
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
Agreed. You nailed that one. I thought they would draft at least one OL, a G.
I also said if the Bucs did not draft a RB higher than the third round they are happy @ RB and have confidence in Jones, and they did not draft a RB at all.
Interesting to see that WR drafted. That does not spell well for Bobo or some of the other marginal WR’s.
The team needs a kicker. Santos was servicable and stabilized the position last year, but he has a weak leg. I don’t know if Gay is the answer, but at least the team was aggressive in fixing a problem. Bucs fans should know by now that contrary to popular belief, kickers do not grow on trees.
In total, I’m OK with this draft. It was not sexy so casual fans are flummoxed. They got an incredible talent at MLB. They flooded the some in a very weal position, and I have to believe one or two will pan out. They got a WR with quicks and speed that could be a Humpries replacement. They got a DE that fits a 3-4 and prolly spells the end for Gholson. The rest is throwing darts.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:09 am
@Jaboo
Agree totally with your take!!!
@Miguel
Why are you still here? You said last night you’ve become a Ram’s fan. Why aren’t you on the Rams fan sites? People here could give a rat’s patootie about a team on the other coast.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:19 am
This guy is wrong every year, no idea how or why he’s still working
April 28th, 2019 at 11:25 am
Mel Kipers opinion is just that, an opinion. He has a .0013 percentage of players making an impact. Why ESPN keeps him employed is more baffling than us taking a K in the 5th rd.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:30 am
The kid from C.Mich is a lock-down slot-corner…that was a HUGE need.
I get it…but he would likely have been there in the 3rd.
OL Dalton Risner – QB Drew Lock – C Elgton Jenkins were all 1st Rd talents…All would have filled a pressing needs in 2020 – if not sooner.
(Who’s the RT in 2020, after Dotson’s age&knees expose his sudden decline? Is Jensen worth $10M in 2020 for a ton of bone-head penalties?? Is JW3 worth north of $30M/yr on his next contract???)
April 28th, 2019 at 11:30 am
2 cbs didn’t give up a TD last year. One was bunting. But Mel has 8 ranked higher than him.
Oh and 20 teams had him in for an interview.
Mel kiper’s analysis doesn’t add up.
April 28th, 2019 at 11:36 am
When are we putting up “Licht the fire” bill boards?
This man is a horrible gm
April 28th, 2019 at 11:46 am
Ok so Kiper had Julian Love graded higher than Bunting, but Love went 108th overall???? Hmmmmm. Maybe, just maybe Bunting was a better pick. Maybe other teams saw the same thing Bucs did!
April 28th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Its not so much that they drafted Bunting but that they drafted two more DB’s right after that with plenty of OL & DL left. So I guess it comes down to this. Why in the hell is Licht still the GM? Are the Glazers really that stupid or maybe they just don’t give a rat’s ass. Of course I’m sure Licht told the Glazer’s it was all BA’s fault. Not to say he didn’t have a hand in all this. Hell fire everybody.
April 28th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
We already took the superstar SEC everybody liked.
His name is Vernon Hargreaves III.
I’M totally on board with these picks.
Plus, a HUGE injection of speed.
Scott Miller is Wes Welker/Julian Edelman mold but way faster.
We got 3 guys that can return kicks.
April 28th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Right off the top of my head, Julian Love went in the 4th round and Oruwariye went in the 5th. So it’s pretty clear that NONE of the 32 teams in the league valued either one as high as he did.
This guy is a hack, and I don’t understand why he still has a job after all this time. NFL Network analysis blows ESPN out of the water, even without Mayock.
April 28th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Per Sporting News
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Whom they drafted: ILB Devin White, CB Sean Bunting, CB Jamel Dean, S Mike Edwards, DE Anthony Nelson, K Matt Gay, WR Scott Miller, DT Terry Beckner Jr.
Somehow, the Bucs managed to finish all the way down here even after the terrific pick of White in the first round. They overloaded and reached on defensive backs; somehow took a kicker too early, three years after the Roberto Aguayo disaster; and didn’t address offensive line and edge pass rush to the level they should have.
April 28th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
This draft sucked after D. White!!!…lots of reaches, and we ignored the trenches other than Nelson!!!
Bottom line, we’ll see what happens. Part of me is trying to trust the process and knowing im just a casual armchair gm, the other part of me is WTF guy?
We’ll come away looking good, or we’ll be picking top 5 next year again…which i really dont see happening. I think we go .500, which is an improvement but I WANT PLAYOFFS!
April 28th, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Mel Kiper also hated when the Seahawks picked Richard Sherman in the 5th round… just saying!
April 28th, 2019 at 9:48 pm
The lemmings live scrong on here. Hows the flavor aid. Welcome to Jonestown…errrr…Tampa. We have the dumbest fans on the planet.
April 29th, 2019 at 1:58 am
Blackmagic00 Says:
That’s the thing lol. Every year, every draft, everyone talks about how it’s a crap shoot and you never know what’s going to happen. Well, I give the world my beloved Bucs, they believe this philosophy like a football bible. They will go out of their way to try and re-live the Brady experience to no avail. Welcome to the Bucs life.
Huh?
April 29th, 2019 at 6:55 am
kiper’s doo is straight getting crazy as time moves forward…he’s got like a heart shaped forehead due to his hairline…he should get a buzz cut like licht sometimes does…big meaty heads are better with less hair…
like the guy from the 3 stooges used to get…his name was curly if i’m correct…moe used to slap to fugg out of him and larry…
#StoogeItMovingForwardMel
April 29th, 2019 at 10:30 am
Kiper’s “grades” mean very little to the Bucs, who obviously had him much higher on their board. Also, any “grades” given to the draft are meaningless since none of these guys has played a down in the NFL.
April 29th, 2019 at 11:20 am
The Bucs were never going to draft Greedy Williams, he doesn’t tackle and that is a deal breaker with Arians/Bowles.