The Bucs And Devon Achane
April 4th, 2023
Years ago, Joe would sometimes make time to go watch an elite high school football player in the Tampa Bay area.
Dexter McCluster was one of those guys.
The historic standout running back at Largo High School hammered and hammered away while standing just 5-8 and lacking much size. And he was a man among boys, averaging roughly 200 yards and 3 touchdowns per game as a senior.
McCluster starred at Ole Miss and was an early second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2010. Former Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said on SiriusXM NFL Radio today that he fell in love with rookie McCluster, and McCluster went on to be a successful third-down back and a Pro Bowl returner.
McCluster was a subject on the air today during a discussion of Texas A&M running back Devon Achane, aka “The A-Chain.” Weis was barking that Achane is McCluster, except Achane is faster sporting 4.32 speed.
The draft gurus largely see Achane as a third-round pick later this month. Joe hears Achane’s name and wonders if the Bucs will decide to prioritize their punt/kick return game and target Achane, who is so darn fast that he also represents a change-of-pace running back for nearly every NFL team.
Joe isn’t worrried about Achane’s size (5-8 1/2, 188 pounds). There have been a lot of successful small backs in recent years, including Devin Singletary, who Joe was lusting for in free agency. He signed with the Texans last week.
Joe isn’t lobbying for Achane, but Joe would love to see some juice added to the Bucs’ return game, and not the kind being squeezed from Deven Thompkins. Plus, Achane sure would be a unique complement the more deliberate running style of Rachaad White.
April 4th, 2023 at 2:25 pm
I would’nt mind this if they can squeeze a 4th rnd pick and get him there
April 4th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
I Know this article made MadMax happy.
I am all for Achane!
April 4th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Would love to see Achane in a Bucs uniform. Watched a lot of him and despite his size he balled in the SEC!! Also, I think the pic listed is WR Anias Smith. But I’d take him too next year! 😎
April 4th, 2023 at 2:38 pm
Mohamed Ibrahim
April 4th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Trade down late first extra third there you go.
April 4th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
I love Mo too, he will probably be available 6yh or 7th. Achane is a guy I’d rather have than the guy from Texas as we need trenchedge / edgetrench in rounds 1 & 2.
April 4th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
I played for Seminole High in 2007. Mccluster was the fastest and also quickest person I’ve ever seen on a football field. We errounesly punted to him in the fourth quarter and he blew my doors off while taking it to the house.
April 4th, 2023 at 2:54 pm
Fine with me – Both Terrell Davis & Isiah Pacheco were late round steals
April 4th, 2023 at 2:55 pm
Thompkins is just as fast with experience in our system-Pass.
April 4th, 2023 at 3:01 pm
I’m thinking we need more power at RB…..but I wouldn’t mind if we traded down and got another pick and selected him in the 3rd of 4th….
April 4th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
For anybody that pays attention to pro days, Achane got a ton of work running routes and catching passes. Dude is a different type of fast, sometimes track guys turn in to decent football players and I think Achane is a good football player who just so happens to be a diversified track star. Still 2nd-3rd rounder for another RB is a tad rich for my blood in comparison to the big picture unless we finagle some way to get back up to draft him. Worth a pick yes, but idk how high or what’d be deemed “enough” to get in place to draft him. Still have to consider what 5-man personnel group will we have for an OL
April 4th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Mohammed Ibrahim (Career)
• Rushing Attempts: 867
• Rushing Yards: 4668
• Touch Downs: 53
• Average: 5.4
• Fumbles: 4 <- Insane
April 4th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
I’d be all in with picking this guy in round 3, even with arguably more important needs elsewhere. If we could add an actual return guy to this team, plus an explosive element to the offense, that could be a difference maker to cover for weaknesses elsewhere.
April 4th, 2023 at 3:27 pm
LUV, it’s not just his stats. He is an A++ human. My son went to U of Minn and he will almost certainly coach when he is finished playing. He is one tough hombre to bring down, a bowling ball tough runner, like Lenny at his best. Not to be confused with a speed merchant but he is as physical as they come, which is what we need right now.
I’ll put flowers in my hair and wear a mumu if we draft him or sign him UDFA.
April 4th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Mo had some ridiculous number of consecutive 100+ yard games, when he was Minnesota’s only offense and everyone was keying on him. For much of his career, Minnesota had no passing game. Everyone ran to Mo and he got his yards anyway.
April 4th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
@ Goatfarmer
Hands down, he’s an amazing kid.
Lol, good man!
April 4th, 2023 at 3:50 pm
@ G.Farmer
Yeah I pulling for kid big time.
April 4th, 2023 at 3:51 pm
Wait, so now people hate Deven Thompkins?
Why?
Also Thompkins lead all of college football in deep receptions and yards on those deep receptions, plus he has elite quickness, and isn’t exactly slow running between a 4.37 and a 4.44.
As a WR he’s just too small, but as a returner, he showed plenty of promise.
Hopefully the Bucs don’t waste any picks on a RB, as it’s not a need and you can find a RB anywhere.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
On a different note, I just noticed the contract they gave our new kicker, Chase McLaughlin. $990,000 with $100k guaranteed. That makes a lot more sense than the early PFF nonsense where they said something like he was due a $4m contract. No way that made any sense. So the Bucs will certainly bring in at least one more young guy to compete with him I’d assume.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
Rod, who hates Thompkins?
April 4th, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Mohamed Ibrahim was a great running back in college. I don’t know if he has the speed to be successful in the NFL. However, I love watching him run over people and get tough yards. I think he’d be a great goal line/short yardage back and a great compliment to White in the backfield. I’d be pretty happy with this pick if he was there in the 5th round.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Maybe Achane is a guy, but anytime the bucs draft small guys they dont ever really work out. I’d pass.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Rod Munch
You can find “any ole running back” anywhere. Hmm…
” Any ole running back” will do for Rod’s team. Hmmm….
I suppose that would work just fine for your team but there are a few of us that have a different perspective on whether or not that has, is, or would continue to NOT WORK OUT for our team.
Sure you’ll argue that it’s the Oline and I’d have a hard time disagreeing with a lousy Oline last year BUT a special running back finds away REGARDLESS.
Having a decent to elite Oline just makes it That Much Sweeter and Go Ahead and ADD a whole lot More Yards and POINTS….! Heck, someone like that might just make either one of our questionable QB ‘s look like stars 🌟 to boot.
We’ve already tried that angle Rod and I’m afraid “any Ole running back” just isn’t gonna cut it in the real world.
GO BUCS!
April 4th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
In fact I suspect they will be bringing in multiple RB’s because we have a whole new (yet old) style of Offense we’re “running with” this year.
And that’s probably going to include a BUNCH of “Ground and Pound”. A BUNCH! Well, and dump off passes to…. Running Backs.
That’s what they’re describing anyways. If they don’t bring in many backs then it’s just pretty draft smoke and mirrors. I also expect a TON of UDFA running backs to.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:28 pm
“pre draft”
April 4th, 2023 at 4:30 pm
A third round RB with no oline. Great idea. So many don’t want the chance with Bijan at 19 and that is the only way they should go after a RB before our multiple late rounders. Ki’Shawn is going to get his opportunity finally, and I’m excited to see.
April 4th, 2023 at 4:41 pm
Josh Wells picked up by the Jags, probably weren’t planning on bringing him back anyways
April 4th, 2023 at 4:43 pm
As a lifelong Aggie fan… YES PLEASE!!
April 4th, 2023 at 5:27 pm
He is quite good from what i ve watched and he has speed for days. He can add value and a spark in the return game.
April 4th, 2023 at 5:54 pm
To the point about Mo’s speed – yeah he’s not running a 4.4 40! He is the pounder for sure.
April 4th, 2023 at 6:10 pm
Speed kills but this is a luxury pick – we need depth at WR far worse than RB – let’s look for a combo returner with blazing speed there perhaps
April 4th, 2023 at 6:13 pm
@SB Yes sir, you know it. I think you and I were the first here talking about him.
I know people are going to say we dont need a RB, but he’s more than just that. A return specialist….and a fast one too. And yes, he will also help the RB room. That speed and the way he can cut is unlike anything we have right now.
I remember Canales pushing running game and TE game from his presser. Cade is pretty much all we have at TE since the other guy just blocks and doesnt catch. Well, freakish TE D. Washington does both very well. Go watch his combine, especially at the end where he made that beautiful one handed catch.
Now we need a Steve Avila story….the swiss army knife of the O-line who might be able to replace Jensen if he goes down again…plus he can play RT if we move Tristan to LT (which i believe will happen).
April 4th, 2023 at 6:33 pm
In the best drafts it’s a crap shoot. None of these – even the sure thing quarterbacks – are locks. High character guys who have talent seems to be what JL looks for and I applaud that. It’s why this moron from Georgia isn’t coming here and probably won’t get drafted in the top 10.
April 4th, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Chris Rodriguez played behind a crappy line last year for Kentucky and STILL got the job done getting the TOUGH yards! I think he checks all the boxes with size,hard to bring down,and pass pro. Good chance he will be available in the later rounds for the Bucs
April 4th, 2023 at 10:18 pm
Great article Joes. A useful and doable draft and sign possibility,
A lot better than the “should the Bucs sign Ravens QB Lamar Jackson” click bait that is unrealistic and out of the Bucs budget.
Well done Joes!
April 4th, 2023 at 10:51 pm
if he drops to the 7th get him as a KR/PR good value, Please lets spend our high picks on OT and get someone decent and Edge Shaq is toast and JTS == N. Spence bust needs are Edge, DT, OT, O-line backup
April 5th, 2023 at 3:30 am
Obvious … who was the starting RB in the Bucs 2020 SB run?
Oh right, just some guy they signed as a free agent in the preseason.
Yes, you can literally find RB’s anywhere. Plus the Bucs already have a star RB in White. Just give him the ball, and he’s going to get you 1500 yards rushing / 700 yards receiving.