What Does Jonathan Taylor Know?
April 19th, 2020
Researching Bucs QB.
Very interesting digging done by Jenna Laine of ESPN.
Laine late wrote a story about how new Bucs quarterback Tom Brady may affect the entire Bucs draft beginning in four days.
Yes, four days!
Buried in her story last week is how the Bucs may (finally?) beef up the running back unit. And one guy who is on Bucs’ fans draft radar just happens to be doing a lot of research on Brady.
That would be Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.
The need for a pass-catching running back to help in the screen game has only intensified with Brady’s arrival. No one relies more on the use of the running back in the passing game than Brady does. At No. 45 in the second round, keep an eye on Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, if they’re available — the Bucs have done a lot of work on both. Taylor told ESPN that he reached out to New England Patriots running back James White, who also went to Wisconsin, about playing with Brady.
So why would a guy who could be drafted anywhere from late first round to perhaps late second round, be calling around learning how he should play with Brady as his quarterback and what to expect from Brady and what will be expected from him?
That seems awfully suspicious to Joe. Could it be because he was told by someone at One Buc Palace that if he is available when the Bucs pick at No. 45, he will be there guy?
This is all very interesting to Joe.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:37 am
He wont be there at 45….not happening. Maybe 20-24…..Bucs trade back, snag a premier back along with some pics or trade back into first round with their 2nd and OJ Howard.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:46 am
I want Clyde but Im not against Taylor at all….has a lot of miles on his wheels, but remember, he also had an offensive line machine that churns out O linemen lately at the NFL level. So those are not too often hard fought miles….some are, im not taking away from that. But he’s definitely a burner and a catcher.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:50 am
Not rocket science here Joe…..
Brady definitely will affect our draft
#1. Gotta get a OL – tackle
#2. Gotta get a OL – tackle
#3. Gotta get a OL – tackle
Yes……..I said it three times…..that’s how important that pick is
The 2nd or 3rd round pick is quite honestly up for grabs…..
It could be a RB or a future QB or another DT………
April 19th, 2020 at 8:56 am
I’ve seen Taylor play many times. He has the unique ability to not only have the size and speed of a top notch RB, but has great timing in hitting the holes, as well as knowing when the play is over and normally avoiding the big hit. He does have a lot of runs and yards in his three years… but has been remarkably durable in his ability to minimize the impact of the hits and avoid injury. He has shown excellent hands out of the backfield. And actually based on his number of carries, is no more fumble prone than the other big name back.
I doubt we will have the opportunity to draft him, as someone else will likely draft him before we get a shot in round two. But believe me…he is the real deal.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:58 am
Trade down and grab him in the 1st
April 19th, 2020 at 9:00 am
One other thing…he is a bright guy, without the toys in the attic that Gordon had at U of Wisconsin. He will put in the grind to improve his game. And regarding the fumbling.. he will have to adjust to the NFL, just as Mike Alstott had to. Remember long term Bucs fans…he had a fumbling problem at a point in time in his career and was smart enough to adjust his way of carrying the ball.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:03 am
I”m OK with any of the top 5 RBs in the 2nd rd, but absolutely not in the 1st rd.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:08 am
How many draft prospects went to school with a RB who played with Brady?
Why wouldn’t you ask what it was like to play with him no matter what your prospects might be?
Not like he’s really busy right now……
April 19th, 2020 at 9:10 am
Joe just a “what if”, what if one of the top QBs falls to the Bucs….do we trade down or draft the kid? Tua maybe?
April 19th, 2020 at 9:14 am
If the top 4 O-linemen and the top 2 D-linemen are gone. I would prefer we trade back and pick up an additional pick. If not, I have no problem with the Taylor pick. Think of the immediate impact he would have on our team. Maybe we can then pick up Jones early in the 2nd round
April 19th, 2020 at 9:14 am
BScotty – Not a bad idea.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:16 am
Trade down definitely pick up an extra second or third round pick. Draft Taylor first round then in second round best tackle available.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:21 am
Sounds good to me.
I have been calling for Cam Akers because I didn’t Think Swift or Taylor or Helaire would be available around two. If they are, I am all for any of them. It seems they would all be able to be plugged in and start right away with a normal off-season. This year will probably take some split time with Ronald Jones because of the lack of an off-season.
Regardless, round one must be 0L
Grab one of those backs on RD 2
DE/DT in rd 3.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:26 am
@El….interesting take. Tua is gone by #5, but if he did make it to 14….dammit boy! A lot of time to heal sitting for a year behind Brady?….long recovery, he has the talent….changes everything. But we’re in win mode now so, no chance.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:28 am
*Their Not there or they’re. It shouldn’t be a mistake made by someone who talks about having a journalism degree. Just Sayin’ it’s a pet peeve
April 19th, 2020 at 9:28 am
“Trade a 3rd round pick to Jacksonville for Leonard Forehead and draft top 2 picks to replace Dotson and Cappa
TB12 should have enough to get us into the playoffs with these 3 starters”
Kobe Faker
April 19th, 2020 at 9:29 am
I think Taylor is the best back in the draft, but the top 5 backs are fairly close in their ability to be good NFL backs. The Bucs should sit tight at #45 in the 2nd round and select one of these young men:
1) Taylor Wisconsin
2) Swift Georgia
3) Akers Florida State
4) Edwards-Helaire LSU
5) Dobbins Ohio State
Any of them should be a huge positive to the Bucs offensive attack. I wouldn’t mind the Bucs adding a second running back in the draft in either the 5th or 6th round.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:32 am
Typo
“he will be there guy?” I
their
April 19th, 2020 at 9:35 am
I think there’s a chance Taylor will be there at #45. Remember RB’s are under-drafted each year. I prefer Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the Bucs though. He’s a much better receiver out of the backfield and played against better competition. Would be happy with either one.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:37 am
I hope that they do not trade up!! To much talent to be had in 1st 3 or 4 rounds!!!
If your OT isn’t there at 14 & Kinlow is off board. Trade down & load up!!!
April 19th, 2020 at 9:37 am
mark2001 Says:
“as well as knowing when the play is over and normally avoiding the big hit.”
That’s a red flag for me. That’s when power would get extra yards.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:41 am
Buc79 – Agree that trading down for picks makes more sense than trading up. A lot of talent in the first 4 rounds.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:44 am
This guy scares me for some reason
Clyde
Dobbins
Akers
Are my preference for pass catching type pass pro backs
April 19th, 2020 at 9:49 am
Don’t be shocked if he is indeed the pick in Rd1.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:55 am
Hard pass. I have as much faith in Wisconsin RBs as I do Clemson linemen. It’s gotta be Clyde or Cam.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:55 am
Jonathan Tayler has prototype size, stupid athleticism, brutish strength, and phenomenal vision and instincts as a runner with legit homerun speed as the icing on the cake. I wanted us to draft him or a RT in the first when I thought Jameis would still be our QB.
Now with a 43 year I’d say RT is more important of an acquisition. Brady takes too many hits this year and he’s done for. But by golly if Tayler is there at 45 I’d take him over just about anybody.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:57 am
At latest he will be first Few picks of second round.
(More likely end of 1st) so would be trade down for bucs
All teams try and move up for one of top picks in 2nd round to get that kind of guy.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:00 am
If the top 3 tackles are gone the Bucs can trade back just a couple spots and get a second teir tackle still a huge upgrade over what we have. Then have the draft capital to move up for either Taylor or LSU back.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:00 am
Thats some stiff competition he’s going against…. Florida Atlantic, Minnesota, North Western, Western Kentucky, New Mexico…
April 19th, 2020 at 10:07 am
@ Kobe Faker why would we replace Kappa ? He developed nicely last season and will be even better this year. The Bucs don’t need to trade for Leonard fournette, he is a basket case and would be a locker room disaster. Are you really a Buc fan or just a faker ?
April 19th, 2020 at 10:18 am
@ProudBucfan, he’s not a Buc fan because I can’t see any reason trading for Leonard when they’re 4 Stud RB and we will definitely get 1 at 46 on rookie deal. Why will we trade for Leonard and pay him at least €6M next year when his rookie deal expires
April 19th, 2020 at 10:25 am
People keep saying trade back like it’s so easy. I’m not against idea, but you have to have someone that wants to trade up for this to happen. Easy to say but much tougher to pull off.
Some of you are going to be really disappointed bc Bucs will NOT be taking a OT in 1st. Arians and Licht have shown this through their words and actions. I bet there is some small school OL that Licht will gamble on in 3rd or 4th (Marpet, Cappa).
1st- Kinlaw or Ruggs III
2nd- Swift, CEH, or Akers
3rd- best OL or S available
April 19th, 2020 at 10:44 am
Lol this guy could easily be a first round pick and why put that out to him when your under no obligation to tell him if he’ll be drafted by us especially in the second.
I think media think they are smarter than they really. No one relies on running backs in the passing game more than Brady does!!! That logic is implied to the team he played for 20 years not the Bucs, he had no choic but rely on running backs but that won’t be an issue here.
No one relies more on the use of the running back in the passing game than Brady does.
Only way more targets are going to a running back is if they don’t beef up the o line to protect him. No way you have those expensive targets on the outside and we overuse the damn running back a rookie running back. If we were going to do that why’d the hell waste time getting Brady might as well start a rookie to throw outlets passes at a high rate
April 19th, 2020 at 10:45 am
Hate hate hate the idea of spending a first round pick, wherever it is, on a RB. Then again I’m a RoJo fan. Take an OL in the 1st and don’t overthink it. Plenty of RB’s left after.
Strongly prefer the idea of drafting OL & secondary early then pairing a big, blocking vet RB to go with RoJo in case he continues to struggle picking up blitzes. Not sure why we’d want another rook back there who would need time to acclimate to NFL blitz and protection schemes.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:59 am
He won’t be there at 45. We can trade back (which I hate) or pick him in the first and ignore glaring hole at tackle. Maybe we move up from our second pick to get him but then, I don’t think a good tackle will be available at our current position.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:12 am
Because that’s the type of dude he is!!! He does all his homework man that’s why I like him over Edwards!! He is what you want at that next level!! He already knows what it’s going to take at the next level and wants to be the best!!
April 19th, 2020 at 11:17 am
If you are going to get a top back, this is the guy. Elite size, elite production, elite athleticism. I still wouldn’t want him in the 1st. I think the upgrade of him vs Rojo and a 3-5 rd guy is not near as big as from hang to one of the top 4 ot. I also think getting a solid st or top tier s in the 2nd is more important. I think the 3rd is where you start looking for a rb to compliment Rojo.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:35 am
I love it when people say “No way Player X falls that far! No way!”. I’m sure everyone said there’s no way Aaron Rodgers would fall to the 24th pick, or Lavonte David would be on the board with the 58th pick. Guys fall every Draft.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:43 am
Bonzai…not when you are being keyed on and driven into the ground by three guys. It is called being smart. Unless you want to be out of the league in a few years. And the guy is smart. Look at his yardage…his production. And you question his ability to make a play when the opportunity is there? Wow.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:43 am
“@Pround
Cappa is Mush
Cappa arms are Mush
Cappa rear end is Mush
Cappa plays like Mush
Cappa will get TB12 Scmushed”
Kobe Faker
April 19th, 2020 at 11:48 am
Barry Sanders knew how to do the same thing. And he retired while still being able to play. But you obviously prefer the Earl Campbell running style.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:51 am
Alaskabuc,
You realize that Wisconsin Rb stereotype doesn’t really work anymore? The last few backs drafted high from there have been Melvin Gordon and James White… We get it Ron Dayne was a bust but it happened 20 years ago.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:55 am
I wonder if they could have used an elite right tackle and an elite running back before this year huh I wonder?
April 19th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Ugh, and the discussion was so good before someone had to bring up the past. Yes, we could have used a OT and a rb before. But that’s not the reason James threw 30int and is no longer here. It shows a lot of his perception around the league that he isn’t getting a starting job offer after throwing 5000+ yards. Think about it, the bears would rather roll with trubisky and foles, Carolina with teddy, chargers with a rookie, miami with Fitz and a rook, jax with minishew, n.e. witminister, no one has determined his upside is worth his downside.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Never forget football is about making money not winning for a lot of organizations.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Yes bc a rt and rb threw those 30 ints!
That’s like saying I wonder if a new qb would’ve made the rt and rb look better?
April 19th, 2020 at 12:29 pm
TheBucsAnthem … B-I-N-G-O B-I-N-G-O B-I-N-G-O
Times must be REALLY tough at JBF World HQs right now. First I see that Joe keeps giving a car salesman (oops, truck salesman) full columns to enlighten all of us peons about what the Bucs will do in the upcoming draft. And now we find out that a Wisconsin RB called a previous Wisconsin RB to get his take on playing with Brady.
The horror of it all. Why would Taylor do that? That’s almost akin to someone like FSU grad Jameis Winston calling fellow FSU grad Derrick Brooks asking about playing for the Bucs. Like Joe says … “That seems awfully suspicious to Joe.” (I know, back in the cooler).
April 19th, 2020 at 12:43 pm
Where was Derrick Henry drafted? A bada$$ RB coming out of Bama? Second Round, 45th pick.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
951 your lack of intelligence is astounding.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Npuppy
Your constant name calling is astounding!
April 19th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Again you prove my point, smh dude just stop posting you’re embarrassing yourself.
April 19th, 2020 at 1:10 pm
So you’re telling me to do my best impression of NPUPPY and “take my ball and go home?” Gotcha!
Hey puppy, who will sign jw this year? Bahahaha
April 19th, 2020 at 1:13 pm
No doubt Taylor is an excellent running back however Brady needs a RB who can catch a swing pass, Brady’s signature move. I may be wrong but in the footage we just saw I don’t remember seeing any swing passes to this guy. Both Akers and Helaire I know have been prolific in their receiving game. I’d be very happy if were able to draft any of these backs and pretty disappointed if we miss on all 3.
April 19th, 2020 at 1:32 pm
It cracks me up the double standard college running backs are held to. If they’re productive, “they have too much wear on their tires. ” I just think that’s so ridiculous to say about someone that’s 20 – 23 years old. It’s like these kids have to be productive, but not too productive or it will be held against them. That’s asinine.
April 19th, 2020 at 1:36 pm
Ndog.
You gotta spot for Jameis to sit during the draft?
Talk about embarrassing yourself.
April 19th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
April 19th, 2020 at 9:28 am
“Trade a 3rd round pick to Jacksonville for Leonard Forehead and draft top 2 picks to replace Dotson and Cappa
Yes, trade a 3rd rd pick for a 1 yr of cheap labor before the 5th yr option puts his cap number at 9 million and then free agency after that! <— thanks to Greg auman for those numbers!
Kobe, do you even do a little homework before posting?
April 19th, 2020 at 5:23 pm
he is a very smart young man and takes pride in that…he’s not trying to be cool and thuggish like most yung guns…
tons of experience from overuse in college as well…
almost like a 2 year vet already…
this is the guy to pair with tom gravy…
#LetsRideTheFugginGravyTrain #NotOzzysCrazyTrain
#TomsCerebralMaintain
April 19th, 2020 at 5:26 pm
951 he’s not in school anymore so he doesn’t have homework like you. Grow up little boy.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Bucs don’t need a 2nd round RB, but they do desperately need a 3rd WR.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
So one question when Jameis does sign somewhere what other comeback are you losers going to post? I mean that’s all you got when anyone with a brain knows he is eventually going to sign somewhere. You guys are pitaful and embarrassing at debates.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
Yeah Adam…he played three years. Admittedly he was the No. 6 all-time rusher in the NCAA and the first player in history to rush for more than 6,000 yards in any three-year span. So he did have quite a few carries. He never looked worn out or suffered a serious injury. But believe what you want.
April 19th, 2020 at 5:42 pm
a bright group at the skill positions is what we need and kind of what we have:
brady – bright af…
godwin – bright, smart, level headed thinker…
evans – once a bit more thuggush and hot headed, has come around with age and life experience to become a much more cerebral hard working pro…and a walter payton award type…
cam brate – harvard…harvard man…
oj – might be a dumb loser who took over mccoy’s job as an ice cream server – so they might get rid of him…is he smart?…i don’t know…only they do…he might be gone for a number of reasons, including head smarts as well…who knows…
running back – no geniuses currently on the roster…jonathan taylor would quickly become the braintrust of the backfield
April 19th, 2020 at 6:01 pm
For me, it’s a no-brainer if this guy is there at pick 45 and he’s my favorite running back in this year’s class. If he’s not, I’m almost certain that one of the top 5 backs will be available. We MUST get two legit running backs this offseason that can threaten defenses down in and down out whether through the draft or free agency. Brady loves throwing to his running backs and not getting him at least two good ones is beyond dumb.
April 19th, 2020 at 6:09 pm
we might just try to trade back up into the later 1st round using ice cream man oj as bait…
to grab JT…
if he is there dangling in the wind for us…
April 19th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
NPUPPY…. riiiiight….
You ask what us losers are gonna say about jw when he’s signed?
“That team is stupid for signing him!” Haha
But for real, he’ll screw up like he always does so it won’t be hard to find something to dog on him about.
April 19th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
BF951…what is the point? He is gone…good luck to him. Let’s bury that chapter and move on. I’m excited about the draft…would love to see us land a quality RT and Taylor. To me that would make the draft at least a B without even considering the rest.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:51 pm
Man…you are kidding, right? Ohio State twice, Michigan, Michigan State, and most all the other big ten teams. Certainly not the speed of the SEC.. but certainly a top conference in the country.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:12 pm
Yes mark, he is gone. Thank you for reminding me…
April 19th, 2020 at 9:17 pm
Tua spooks the hell out of Joe.
April 19th, 2020 at 9:20 pm
951 you a petty little man. I mean who else looks to kick someone when their down?
April 19th, 2020 at 9:38 pm
NPUPPY,
*They’re
You’re welcome!
April 20th, 2020 at 8:39 am
951…didn’t figure you needed a reminder. Just figured you might want to show some grace. We 40 plus year Buc fans have learned when it is time to do so and move on. There is no honor in kicking a guy who is gone, even when we both said this would likely play out this way for a long time. What next? Man…that Eric Curry was horrible. The “sandman”…stunk. Rod “toast” Jones…man we need another corner, but not one that can’t cover. Charles McRae…could lift a tractor but couldn’t block the sun well enough to create a shadow. Bucs history is littered with missed first and second round picks, that didn’t live up to expectations.