The Film Draft
March 21st, 2020
Scouting godfather and Hall of Famer Gil Brandt weighs in after making calls around the league.
Nobody knows what next week will bring, but as of now the NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23.
And the nation’s most experienced draft explained how it will be like no other.
This afternoon on SiriusXM NFL Radio, the godfather of NFL scouting, Cowboys legend Gil Brandt, talked about how he’s been up at 6 a.m. daily poring over combine data and more to get a good read on this year’s draft. Yes, Brandt is in fine shape at 87 years old.
Brandt also said he’s made calls to general managers recently to see what’s changed since Pro Days have been cancelled and teams can’t visit with players in person or work them out.
Brandt told hosts Alex Marvez and Vic Carucci that he’s routinely hearing GMs saying they are getting assistant coaches more involved than ever to call players and set up and be a part of meetings, and that this draft will “rely much more on tape than ever before.”
A ripple effect of all this Coronavirus disruption is coming for the 2021 draft, as well, Brandt explained. After Pro Days, colleges have junior and senior days that have been cancelled, and that’s where NFL scouts learn a lot about who they will scout in person early in the following season. Without that knowledge, Brandt said, there will be more guess work during the 2021 season.
Joe found that aspect of this national football mess very interesting.
But Joe’s real message of this post is that the 2020 draft will be a quite a test of a front office’s film skills, and their ability to read players through virtual interviews rather than via the high-pressure environment of in-person visits and private workouts.
Joe sure hopes Bucco Bruce Arians and Jason Licht are up to the task.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:17 pm
Pretty sure they will take one of those top 4 OTs. Can’t miss. And much needed.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Hey Joe and Bucs fans,
Let’s do some polling on our GM.
First year draft (2014), other than Mike Evans who turned out to be a Superstar and a no brainer, the rest of the picks look awful in retrospect. What grade would you give GM Licht his first year (IMHO, a D+, Evans is awesome but that was an easy pick.
Pick 1.7 – Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M (Yes)
Pick 2.38 – Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington (Yes)
Pick 3.69 – Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia (No)
Pick 5.143 – Kadeem Edwards, OL, Tennessee State (No)
Pick 5.149 – Kevin Pamphile, OL, Purdue (Yes)
Pick 6.185 – Robert Herron, WR, Wyoming (No)
March 21st, 2020 at 7:24 pm
Year Two under GM Licht (2015)
Jameis wasn’t a difficult pick. What grade would you give Licht this year? Winston started 5 years, Smith and Marpet still playing. Kwon played well but not worth what the Niners paid for him in free agency last year. I’d give Licht and his staff a B.
Pick 1.1 – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State (Yes)
Pick 2.34 – Donovan Smith, OL, Penn State (Yes)
Pick 2.61 – Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart (Yes)
Pick 4.124 – Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU (Yes)
Pick 5.162 – Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska (No)
Pick 6.184 – Kaelin Clay, WR, Utah (No)
Pick 7.231 – Joey Iosefa, FB, Hawaii (No)
March 21st, 2020 at 7:26 pm
Year Two under GM Licht,
What grade would you give him and his staff? First four picks were starters and two are still contributing. I think a B.
Pick 1.1 – Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State (Yes)
Pick 2.34 – Donovan Smith, OL, Penn State (Yes)
Pick 2.61 – Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart (Yes)
Pick 4.124 – Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU (Yes)
Pick 5.162 – Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska (No)
Pick 6.184 – Kaelin Clay, WR, Utah (No)
Pick 7.231 – Joey Iosefa, FB, Hawaii (No)
March 21st, 2020 at 7:30 pm
I like the philosophy BA gave to Licht last year, “speed kills.” If Licht follows the same philosophy this year, I am confident the Bucs will do well this year.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:33 pm
ASJ is a “no” ^
March 21st, 2020 at 7:37 pm
ScreamingEagleVet1991 – Charles Sims was one of, if not the, best receiving back in the NFL. In a passing league, that is a big deal. He was no bust.
Pamphile started 33 games for the Bucs as a 5th arounder. If you get any starts out of a 5th rounder, that’s a good pick, to get 33 starts means that was a really good pick.
ASJ, I’m not sure where you put blame. Did the team ignore huge red flags, or did he become an issue once he got here? The guy was mega talented and looked special and would still be playing today if he wasn’t such a f-up. So yeah, it’s a bust, but it’s not like the Dexter Jackson pick (not the good one, the bad one).
To me, you got 3 guys with a ton of play time, and a 4th guy who did play a lot for a short period of time. That’s not a bust of a draft.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:38 pm
ScreamingEagleVet1991 – BTW, I should have said good post. I don’t agree with you, but at least it’s not the same boring talk as usual.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:39 pm
Most definitely O Line at least by the 2nd round but more than likely for our 1st rd pick. I don’t care what B.A. says, I’m hoping the draft or FA finds us a RB also.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Nah Eagle. Munch is right. Pamphile for a 5th RD pick was solid and Sims was right around 3rd rd value. He hit on half of the picks which is pretty decent. Too much is made of Licht’s batting average on picks. I think he’s above average. The big problem is when he misses, he misses big. It’s brutally difficult to get over a kicker in the 2nd round. It’s just about “Walrus as a goalie” ridiculous.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:44 pm
I am far more confident with BA & Bowles’ influence on Licht……..and now, perhaps even Brady…..
We need at least a RT, RB and perhaps a QB on the offensive side this year…
A Safety & DT/DE on the defense
Licht puts a great deal of stock on character and while a lot can be gleaned by a video interview……nothing can substitute as well for an in-person session.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:51 pm
i guess pretty soon tampa jason licht will get blamed for Winston Pick…the team needed a QB in the draft and both Winston and Marriotta were supposed to be shoe ins. seriously tampa had Glennon or mcknown, and marcus and Jamie’s are both not starting..
March 21st, 2020 at 7:55 pm
Screaming eagle Vet And everyone else who does this every single year.
Please stop with the hindsight bashing of GM’s and their draft picks. It really is ridiculous. Look at the success rates for each round of every draft- It’s dismal. It’s guesswork.
Even players with all the talent in the world can end up sucking. See Brian bosworth and Tony Mandarich and Ryan leaf and hundreds more.
The bucks were about 15 turnovers away from being an 11 win team last year. That tells me that through draft and free agency they have built a pretty damn good team and had to get rid of one big flaw, which they just did.
March 21st, 2020 at 7:55 pm
The next Aguayo awaits…🙄
March 21st, 2020 at 7:59 pm
Lots of time to drink beers and watch film
March 21st, 2020 at 8:15 pm
Jason Licht just put Brady and BA together. Shut the f#ck up Licht haters unless you do not like getting the GOAT. Lichts made more than less great moves for cheap in FA.
March 21st, 2020 at 8:17 pm
Watching players against good competition in the big conferences on film should not change a lot.
It might be detrimental to big time players at smalltime schools and conferences.
Without first-hand knowledge of their mind and seeing them physically, teams might be less willing to take someone like Ali Marpet until much later
March 21st, 2020 at 8:17 pm
RB Anthony McFarland Jr in the 3rd or 4th. Got a lot of giddy up speed, ruthless cuts, pass catcher, and sheds a lot of tackles.
March 21st, 2020 at 8:19 pm
Would like Jedrick Wills Jr. pick if it came down to OT in the first. Long arms and very big, strong legs.
March 21st, 2020 at 8:28 pm
ASJ is back in the pokie.. and they crack on him on the show a Curb your Enthusiasm
March 21st, 2020 at 8:28 pm
“And the nation’s most experienced draft explained how it will be like no other.”
What does this sentence mean?
March 21st, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Screaming, you are the problem with fans grading drafts. I see that you adhere to the misconception that other GMs hit on most of their picks in the draft. Additionally you have unreal expectations as to what a good draft pick is. I tell people all the time to go look at the drafts of whichever team that they consider good drafters. You will ne surprised as to how few picks pan out. I know that you don’t truly understand the complexities of football by the examples you chose. The 2014 draft was not one of Licht’s best yet he drafted a future hall of Famer, a good TE that had a drinking problem, and a starting guard in the 5th round. Pamphile is still playing to this day. That’s a good draft. Your other example is almost comical. The 2015 draft was a top 3 draft ever by the Buccaneers. The bucs drafted a starting QB, a pro bowl guard, a starting LT, a pro bowl level MLB, and a kick return specialist that is still in the NFL. If you believe that most teams hit on the majority of their picks, you have no idea what you are talking about.
March 21st, 2020 at 8:54 pm
The problem I have with Licht is building a roster overall not just drafting… plus, I feel like he continuously waits until we have a big need then goes all in drafting for that specific position, such as DB’s the past few years, or weapons for Winston when we loaded up on skill players for the Offense… just think he needs to be more balanced. For example, when we first started our rebuild, why not build through the trenches first? Then bring in a solid RB, build the defense, then draft your franchise QB…. Just never felt like he had an actual plan, just reacted to the holes on our roster (some of which he and Lovie created)
March 21st, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Depending on this year’s draft results we could see a major shift on the evaluation process moving forward. I’m interested to see how this thing will turn out.
March 21st, 2020 at 9:06 pm
Jason Trash Man LICHT weight will F IT UP
Don’t worry, that’s his nature. He will never be able to make consistent good decisions
March 21st, 2020 at 9:09 pm
Check this out ….
Jason Peters gave up fewer sacks than Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson combine in 2019 despite being older than both other players.
Bucs are interested in Jason peters. Now than jameis is gone licht has thought in improving oline at least for one year.
March 21st, 2020 at 9:18 pm
Adrnagy, that statement didn’t make sense. Peters should have less sacks against than 2 players combined. I’m sure you meant something else. Also Peters only played 13 games
March 21st, 2020 at 9:29 pm
“Bucs are interested in Jason peters. Now than jameis is gone licht has thought in improving oline at least for one year.
I flippin’ hope so
March 21st, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Good point by ElBajito43, we can sure use a tight end early in this draft.
March 21st, 2020 at 11:12 pm
Bucs Geriatric Tour – Tampa 2020.
March 21st, 2020 at 11:12 pm
It doesn’t matter who Licht picked before. He’s no longer making the picks. Or picking the free agents.
March 21st, 2020 at 11:14 pm
Last year was a pretty good draft and free agency. This off season has been good so far.
I’m in favor of a very late round kicker to compete with Gay.
March 21st, 2020 at 11:23 pm
ManzielMadness is right. With the exception of last year Licht never seems to have a plan. Say what you want about OJ. I hope he turns out to be a stud, but TE was not a need when his number was called. There were better options available
March 21st, 2020 at 11:26 pm
I think some of you forgot that BA runs this team…Licht just does what he is told. This is not a democracy under BA. Its his team and the Glazer brothers want it that way.
March 21st, 2020 at 11:33 pm
I hope that BA runs the team. I don’t think I could handle another Licht draft.
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:28 am
donut, I disagree strongly.
JL may not be the super genius GM in all aspects that some would like. He certainly has continued to play a major role in what is going on since BA was brought in under his leadership. He and BA have a partnership much like a marriage. Their “family” is not going to function unless both of them work well together and make decisions together.
And, oh yes, they both do work for the Glazers.
Here’s hoping that “their marriage was made in heaven” and they they succeed in fielding a team that brings this franchise another Lombardi.
March 22nd, 2020 at 1:10 am
All 32 teams face the same problem. The more nationally recognized players who have been on television should have no problems but the small school prospects will be greatly impacted by this, as it will affect their main means of increasing their visibility.
March 22nd, 2020 at 1:25 am
I honestly have no real issues with JL’s picks. Maybe a couple head scratchers? But, even agui-oh-no was cool with me at the time. Dude was the best in college football in history at the time. And JL with Arians last draft was a bang in my opinion. Really looking forward to this draft.
March 22nd, 2020 at 1:36 am
And while everyone is debating this? Look at the roster. It’s almost stacked with young talent from 1 to 3 years old. Plus the 4 and 5 year olds. No GM is going to hit stellar numbers unless they get lucky. The saints have been pretty petty lucky the last couple years with hitting on starting players. So have we. The only thing that makes us different is JL loves to try to find that next generational player.
March 22nd, 2020 at 3:12 am
I will add… While Gay cost the team two W’s last year, Roberto never missed a kick that mattered.
Gay, meanwhile, has never in his life, at any level, kicked a game winning FG.
I know it sounds like I’m bashing Gay, but I think he will be just fine this year, and then go on to be a pro-bowl’er by next year.
But everyone wanted Roberto ran out of town when he literally never missed a kick with the Bucs that changed the outcome of a game. Gay, by losing that Atlanta game, most likely cost Winston his job.