First Semester Is Over For Buccaneers Draft Picks. How Did They Grade?

by Douglas O'Connor
follow on Twitter @Ren_Daxt

     There was plenty of opinions on how the Buccaneers 2016 draft went. Claims that the Bucs had found 4 new starters, if you count a kicker as a starter. To cries calling for Jason Licht's head for drafting a Kicker in the 2nd round. I'm going to recap each pick and assign it a letter grade based on where the player was taken and how they have impacted the the team.

Vernon Hargreaves: Touted as the best cover corner in the draft, fell to the Bucs when they moved down 2 spots from 9 the the 11th pick. Hargreaves was inserted as the starting nickle back during training camp while playing the outside on the 2nd team. During the preseason Vernon was grading out as the best corner in the league, due mostly to a 2 interception game against the Jaguars. Only a few games into the season and VH3 has moved to a starting outside corner spot. Essentially benching Alterraun Verner and his $6.7 million contract. He's 4th on the team with 23 TOT and caused an interception on Monday night, deflecting a ball into the air that LB Daryl Smith circled under to complete the turnover.
My Grade: I'm giving Hargreaves an A. Besides all the reasons mentioned above there is no other position in the NFL that is a harder transition from college to the pro's, besides quarterback, than corner. Recently Head Coach gave Vernon high praise, when he mentioned that Hargreaves was low maintenance. Translation, you can treat  him like a veteran. He knows his assignment, he's where he's supposed to be in the defense, you don't have to hold his hand.

Noah Spence: Considered the best pure pass rushing defensive end in the draft and was linked to the Bucs with their 1st pick, early in mock drafts. Taken in the 2nd round as an answer to the Buccaneers decade drought of not having a 10+ sack man. Noah was praised for having great hands and an array of rush moves during training camp. His edge speed is undeniable, but fans quickly learned that he is to small to stand up against the run. Even with all the injuries along the defensive line Spence is still being used as a situational pass rusher.
My Grade: Noah earns a B. You may think this is a little generous but he does have one sack, one off the team lead. If that's still isn't enough to convince you checkout this clip. Spence is at the top of the screen.
  

Noah Spence here with a nice swim move getting pressure. If he holds it 1/2 a second longer he's on the gro... https://t.co/gZinztOiWO

— realbucstalk (@realbucstalk) October 16, 2016

He's going to be special.

Roberto Aguayo: Regarded as the best kicker, well ever. The Bucs gave up their 3rd round pick and the 4th rounder that the acquired in the Giants trade to move up and take this once in a generation kicker. The Bucs let loose of all his competition before training camp. Aguayo couldn't lose his job unless his leg fell off. That didn't keep him from trying though.
My Grade: D. The game winner against Carolina on Monday night saved Roberto from a failing grade. Actually I like the pick of Aguayo, but he has to kick for the Bucs for the next 10 years to ever grade out as an A draft pick.

Ryan Smith: Picked in the 4th round from North Carolina Central University. Brought into play safety even though he played corner back in college. A broken hand in the preseason has slowed Smith's progress. Mike Smith is bringing him along slowly in hopes that he's ready to go if the injury bug bites.
My Grade: C. Hard to give him a grade due to the lack of playing time. It is a bit concerning that he isn't getting any snaps at the position that is easily to worst on the team. On the plus side Ryan does return kickoffs for the Bucs and not a skill everyone possesses.

Caleb Benenoch: 5th round pick Benenoch came out his junior year when most draft experts thought he would improve his stock with another year at UCLA. There is some obscure NCAA rule about being in school and practicing with an NFL team. It's only a problem if your university grade on a trimester system. Guess which system UCLA uses? Due to this Caleb missed OTA's and fell behind.
My Grade: B. Caleb got a slow start but did make the team at the deepest position on the team. He also can play all 3 line positions and has been active for every game.

Devante Bond: Was all primed to have a breakout senior year at the University of Oklahoma. An ankle injury derailed most of his senior season but the Bucs found him and drafted Devante in the 6th round. Bond was drafted to take over for bridge free agent signee Daryl Smith once he learns the SAM LB position. Bond was put on IR with a hamstring injury and might return later this year.
My Grade: Incomplete. Bond could be the starting strong side linebacker next year or he could be on the street. Time will tell.
    I found this highlight reel of Devante back in his JuCo days, he was a man amongst boys.



Dan Vitale: Best fullback in the draft was the buzz. Jason Licht has used late round picks to try to find his team a lead blocker. Buc fans thought they had their man in the 6th round draft pick from Northwestern. Even though Vitale was an instant fan favorite his lack of blocking ability doomed him in the end.
My Grade: I'm giving Danny a C. Now hear me out. Late round draft picks aren't supposed to make good teams. Also, others must like his skill set because he's been picked from the Bucs practice squad twice. If Vitale was drafted in any earlier rounder his grade would be lower.

     You can follow us at our official Twitter feed @realbucstalk. As always thanks for reading and Go Bucs!

Big Hitting Safety Added To Bucs Practice Squad

by Douglas O'Connor
follow on Twitter @Ren_Daxt

     The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added big hitting safety Trae Elston to their practice squad on Monday. A 4 year starter from the University of Mississippi whose college resume includes a Sports Illustrated cover and consecutive wins against SEC bully Alabama.

     His measurables won't jump off the page at you 5'11" 195lbs. with a pro day time of 4.46 in the 40, but is adept at attacking the ball at it's high point and has soft hands, according to NFL.com. Find his full predraft bio HERE. 

     Starting Buccaneers safeties Chris Conte and Bradley McDougald have had some communication problems thus far and have let some receivers run free in the back end of the defense for big gains this year. 3rd safety Keith Tandy hasn't fared much better. While rookie Ryan Smith only sees the field as the Bucs kickoff return man.

    Given that the Bucs starting safeties aren't under contract after this year is telling that they are looking to upgrade. Trae could finish the year out on the practice going to meeting and learning Mike Smith's defense. That would put him in a good position to compete for a roster spot next training camp. No matter what happens with Elston, chances are that the Bucs shake up their safety position sooner than later and Jason Licht thinks this kid has a chance to contribute.

     I did find this highlight reel of Elston on the New England Patriots website. If you'd like to check it out you can find it HERE. 

     You can follow other Real Bucs Talk staffers on Twitter @realbucstalk. As always thanks for reading and Go Bucs!

    

Young DB's Have a Good Day

Yesterday the Bucs secondary came away with 4 interceptions and 3 were from rookies Vernon Hargreaves (2) and Ryan Smith (1). Hargreaves has looked as good as advertised in these first 2 preseason games and might even be pushing to be one of the top 2 corners. Ryan Smith made his first big splash of the preseason as well as icing the game with his late 4th quarter interception. Smith spoke to the media after the game describing how his progression has been.

I'm still learning the plays, its slowing down a little bit but I'm making the best of it at safety. Just gotta keep leaning and I'll be ok.

On him and VH3 getting interceptions.

Were getting better everyday. You know we came in here, they put a lot on us, in our books and film, The more we learn, the faster we play, the better we look. So we keep learning were going to be great. 

Smith has a long way to go before he see's any substantial playing time during the season but he has the right mindset moving forward. He was delayed early in training camp due to an injury but he has all the athletic ability to be a fast pace safety that can also play a little corner. The bucs have young talent on the rise and all seem to have their head on straight and have a goal of being great.

Player Profile: Elijah Shumate

Every year there are undrafted players that make the final 53 man roster and some go on to become really good players. I think the Bucs could have a sleeper in undrafted safety Elijah Shumate out of Notre Dame. Bucs signed Shumate shortly after the draft had concluded and they hope he can bring competition to the position. Shumate has the measurables you look for in a player with great size and good speed. Shumate is 6'0 216lbs and ran a 4.58 40 which is impressive for his size. Shumate is known for being a big hitter and is good against the run.

However, he needs work on his technique and footwork in pass coverage if he wants to become a more complete player. Inconsistency with his tackling has been an issue as well but with proper NFL coaching all of this can be corrected. Good news for Shumate is he is excellent on special teams and can make plays on kick coverage. The bad news is the competition at his position where the Bucs have returning starters in Chris Conte, Bradley Mcdougald along with reserves in Keith Tandy, and Major Wright. Plus the Bucs added Ryan Smith in the 4th round who will play the safety position so that gives the Bucs five solid safetys.

So it wont be easy for Shumate to make the squad as he will likely have to play really good to beat out one of the other five safetys. At the very least I expect Shumate to make the practice squad and could be a contributor for the 2017 season.

Potential 4 Starters

Now that the draft is over with whats the best way to sum up the Bucs draft picks? To me its to look at how much they have improved the roster and did they get potential starters. That answer is a complete yes and if you look at the picks they have a potential for 4 starters right off the bat in Hargreaves at CB, Spence at DE, Aguayo at K and Vitale at FB.

Licht set off to try and match or even surpass last years home run of a draft they produced 4 key starters on the team and he may have done that this year. No, this draft isn't the caliber of a Winston or Kwon Alexander but they are crucial starters that the Bucs needed and didn't have going in. They potentially have a shot at also getting a starting Saftey and kick returner in this draft as Ryan Smith will be given every opportunity to compete at those positions.

As a whole the draft is a success in my opinion. The team got better and is definitely more athletic. Spence will have all eyes on him not only because of his past but because of his incredible potential to become an edge rush talent the Bucs have not seen here since Simeon Rice. It's early but Jason Licht comes out of this draft smiling again knowing that he has made his team better.

Bucs Want Speed on the Edges

One thing is for certain after the draft concluded, the Bucs want speed on defense, especially on the edges. The Bucs added athletes in Vernon Hargreaves, Noah Spence, and Ryan Smith all of whom have outstanding quickness and speed. Spence runs a 4.60 40 when healthy to go along with a 1.62 ten yard split which is extremely quick for a defensive end. Hargreaves and Smith both run 4.40's and both have great short area quickness allowing them to be aggressive on the ball. The point is the Bucs are adding speed to the outside of the defense allowing them to be multiple and very aggressive.

In free agency, the Bucs added defensive backs in Brent Grimes and Josh Robinson both are very athletic and have great short area quickness plus great speed. To me this shows the Bucs are serious about showing 3-4 looks this season due to the changes in personnel. The Bucs already have great speed at defensive end, linebacker, and in the secondary now with the new additions. The Bucs already had pretty good speed at defensive end with Howard Jones and Jacquies Smith, and now adding Noah Spence only makes it that much scarier.

The Bucs could easily play a 3-4 look with three man line of Gholston, A.Spence, and McCoy, having Spence and Smith playing as the standup rushers. This would allow new DC Mike Smith to get very creative with his pressures and allow the team to play a more attacking style. The team now has the speed in the secondary to play more aggressive coverages which should generate more pressure on the Qb, due to more blitzes being called. Not sure how much we will see of this, but it obvious the Bucs want speed on defense, and will be attacking much more this year than in previous seasons. One thing is for certain, the Bucs defense is much faster than it was last week.

Day 3 Recap

The theme of this 2016 draft for the Bucs was versatility, especially on day 3 as they added guys who can play multiple positions. Bucs added guys that will improve the overall team's depth and all of them will have an impact on special teams. Most importantly, they have the potential to be starters whether it's this year or in future seasons which is what you want from your draft classes. Here is a recap of each day 3 pick below.

4th Round 108th- Ryan Smith- S/CB North Carolina Central

Smith is 5'11 190lbs, is super athletic with 4.4 speed which allows him to cover ground quickly to make plays on the ball. Smith has outstanding work ethic and loves the game. He is smart and has good instincts as a player. Bucs will start him out at safety but can play corner as well, and can also return kicks. Smith should have an impact this season, more on him here (Click Here)

5th Round 148th- Caleb Benenoch- OT/OG UCLA

Benenoch is massive at 6'5 311lbs and was a very productive starter as he started 35 games at UCLA with 31 starts at Right Tackle. Bucs see Benenoch as someone who can provide depth across the offensive line and could be a starter for the 2017 season. He was projected as a third round pick, so to get him in the 5th is great value. 

6th Round 183th - Devonte Bond- LB Oklahoma

Bond is 6'1 235lbs, very instinctive player, high football IQ, and will have an impact on special teams. Bond will provide depth at the linebacker position and could be a future starter at the SAM linebacker position. Bond is solid in coverage and excels as a blitzing LB due to his ability to shred blocks with good hand technique.

6th Round 197th- Dan Vitale- FB Northwestern

Vitale is 6'0 239lbs, he is a jack of all trades as he can block, catch, and can run with the ball. Bucs look to use Vitale as a H-back where he will play FB and TE, giving the offense more flexibility. Vitale gives Jameis Winston another weapon in the passing game and can lead block for Doug Martin as well. Good value pick here by the Bucs.

Prospect Watch: Ryan Smith

The Buccaneers have been busy lately as they are starting to bring draft prospects in for visits over the next couple of weeks in preparation for the upcoming draft. One of the new names added to the list is North Carolina Central cornerback Ryan Smith where the Bucs had one of their scouts at Smith's pro day workout per Greg Auman.

Bucs had college scout Tony Hardie at N.C. Central pro day today. 26 NFL teams there with DB Ryan Smith as the main draw ...

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 23, 2016

Smith is projected as late day 3 pick and could be one of the sleepers in this draft after a very strong pro day performance. Smith has 4.4 speed, to go with 36 inch vertical and did the three cone in 6.88 seconds. Smith has a scheduled visit with the Bucs according to Aaron Wilson of nationalfootballpost.com

North Carolina Central defensive back Ryan Smith to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 23, 2016

Smith has good size for corner at 6'0 190lbs and broke school records with 168 tackles and kick return average with 28.1. Smith returned his first career kickoff for 95 yard touchdown, so Smith would bring versatility. Had 31 pass breakups (24 pass defense, 7 ints) which is pretty good in 42 starts. Smith has really work hard to get where he is now as going into his freshman year he only weighed 155lbs and only played one year of high school football. Smith is hoping to go earlier than expected per Jonathan Jones.

“I pray I get drafted at a higher round than people expect,” Smith said. “My motto is shock the world. Wherever I go, I’m going to be grateful, regardless.”

Smith is someone that you want to root for, and wont have to worry about him working hard. Bucs need guys like this similar to Ali Marpet last year, this would be another solid pick.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/football/article67826332.html#storylink=cpy