“More Calls From Head Coaches”
April 20th, 2020
University of Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart was talking about the NFL Draft late this morning.
Smart, whose new offensive coordinator is former Bucs OC Todd Monken, explained on SiriusXM NFL Radio that this is a draft like no other.
Why?
Because the coronavirus lockdown environment has led to his phone blowing up, and it’s big NFL names on the other end of the line.
Head coaches want more info than usual, Smart said, because their scouts fell short gathering the typical intelligence.
“The most unique experience between college coach and NFL GM, scouting department and coaches,” Smart said of his 2020 pre-draft experience. “I will say that I’ve received more calls from [NFL] head coaches this year than I’ve every received before, meaning they’re trying to get on-the-ground information. … I think these guys are going about it a different way.”
Joe has a visual of heavy-handed Bucco Bruce Arains on the phone with Smart. And Joe wonders whether Monken has a good relationship with Bucs general manager Jason Licht. Yeah, Monken wasn’t at Georgia last year, but there’s no doubt that Monken has pored over countless hours of Bulldogs film and has learned from all his assistant coaches.
Smart added that the wild card of this draft will be how teams scout undrafted free agents because most weren’t at the NFL Scouting Combine and interaction with them has been significantly limited.
A few Georgia players certainly could catch the Bucs’ eyes. Georgia left tackle Andrew Thomas is a likely top-10 pick and right tackle Isaiah Wilson is more of a late first-rounder. Smart said both can be play either tackle position very well.
The guy Smart wanted to gush about is QB Jake Fromm, who could be a mid-round draft target of the Bucs. Smart compared Fromm to former Jets and Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington.
Smart was on the 2006 Dolphins staff with Pennington, who ranks third in NFL history in completion percentage. He said both QBs share elite anticipation while throwing/reading routes.
April 20th, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Teams with good coaching has a lot to do with the draft. All the position coaches and scouts have been inside only able to watch film. Calling coaches to learn everything else, which is a lot to be known.
April 20th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Ugh. Fromm isn’t a pro QB. Sorry. Anyone who’s watched a UGA football game knows that.
April 20th, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Jake can play.
April 20th, 2020 at 2:57 pm
No telling how much of a difference it makes but with the virus screwing up scouting you gotta think having a coach like Arians, with deep ties around the league and it college, is a decent advantage…….. especially over teams like the Panthers for example who have fresh blood on staff.
April 20th, 2020 at 3:02 pm
ive been on the i.wilson bandwagon for a while…lol….
after the season some “experts” said he was a 4th rounder…then i saw 3rd….now i see late 1st early/mid 2nd….lol….
i think he’s a plug and play RT who wont need anytime to adjust….
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 20th, 2020 at 3:04 pm
Pretty sure Licht brain is looking at trading up and drafting the best kicker available.
April 20th, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Bill Bellicheat been doing that for years
April 20th, 2020 at 3:45 pm
Im a georgia fan and have to agree with snook. Still cant believe they let Justin Fields go to OSU. Buc fans remember Dilfers back up, UGA QB,Eric Zeier, probably what your gonna get from Fromm.
April 20th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
The “word on the street” is that ole stale biscuit has made the least calls out of all the coaches in the league!!!!!!!!!!!! Bruce Arrogance thinks he has all the information he needs, just ask him!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 20th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
Fromm is smart enough and competitive enough to be a pro QB. He needs the right team, though, or he will look like half a dozen other, former SEC QBs.
I think a few years behind Brady might be a good fit for him.
April 20th, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Go after Pat’s ex kicker he is all healed give him a try better then they got now
April 20th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
As a UGA fan,
Fromm ain’t got the stuff to be a big time NFL quarterback. He’s the definition and poster child of a Game Manager. A system QB. He may be the next Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he won’t be the next Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
April 20th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Sorry Snook, but on Fromm you are wrong. He is very much like a Purdue Boilermaker QB you may have heard of by the name of Drew Brees. Once given the chance, Fromm will be an NFL starting QB for years to come.
April 20th, 2020 at 6:27 pm
We need a QB. That QB is not Jake Fromm.
April 20th, 2020 at 6:38 pm
@alvin who’s the QB that you want ? Dak was drafted in the 4th round, Russell Wilson in 3rd round etc.
April 20th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
Fromm may be a for in New England !!
April 20th, 2020 at 8:55 pm
We can get Fromm in round 3 easily .
April 20th, 2020 at 11:56 pm
Jake Fromm sucks. Although he can probably kick better than Matt Gay.
April 21st, 2020 at 8:56 am
I would rather have Morgan (FIU) or Luten