Kiper's take

Just spent the better part of the past couple hours on a conference-call interview session with ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper.

I got a few tidbits out of it that I found interesting -- not all of them Bucs-related, however.

* For one, Kiper is convinced USF cornerback Mike Jenkins could land here and has him destined for Tampa in his latest mock draft. I think we all feel there's a realistic chance of that happening, but my biggest question is whether Jenkins will still be on the board. That will depend on the order in which the top cornerbacks are selected. Kiper does have some pretty good insight into what teams are thinking and how they view certain players, so there's something to be said for his projections. Time will tell, I suppose.

* Regarding Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, Kiper insists he will be the real deal.

"I can't see any way he gets past the first round," he said. If Flacco had played at a major college, Kiper added, Flacco would be debated as potentially the best quarterback in the draft. Kiper cites Flacco's size and arm strength and coachability -- determined from personal workouts with teams -- as his best qualities.

* And, finally, like a lot of us, Kiper said he fully expects the Bucs to address quarterback somewhere in the draft, though not in the first round. With quarterback being a position many teams perceive to have good value even in the later rounds, it might make a lot of sense -- despite the 49 quarterbacks already on the roster! My guess is you should look for move anytime after the second round.
 

Comments

[Billy]

Yes, because we know Kiper is 100% correct each year. The guy knows his stuff as evidence by his 3% success rate. Thank you for an insightful blog post

[Nate Dogg]

Wowww Billy...retract the claws, man.

At least to my knowledge, you aren't a fulltime writer of a sports team for a mjor newspaper...or couldn't get a hold of Mel Kiper Jr.

Thanks for any insight you can provide, Stephan! Muchos gracias

[Nate Dogg]

In all honesty, would it really be that far of a stretch to see the Bucs take someone like Brohm or Flacco with their 1st round pick?

In my opinion, the Bucs' most glaring hole in the short and long term is a quarterback to give the reigns to after this upcoming year (I'm sorry, but I just don't see Garcia going a third year as a Buc)

Being that there really aren't any quarterbacks other than Johnson that the Bucs would seem interested in taking, I would think the bucs could easily find a WR and CB in the 2nd and 3rd round that better fit for our systems. I mean, Manningham, Caldwell, and maybe even Kelly or Doucet could still be available for the 2nd round.

The only problem with taking Flacco with our 1st round pick (assuming he's still available), is that he doesn't have the mobility that Gruden would covet to help keep his west coast offense adequet.

Brohm has shown flashes of brilliance in the past and has shown solid mobility at his pro-day, but is the underachieving performance of the whole Louisville team enough to dispell Brohm's great performances before this mediocre last year?

Just food for thought..

[Brent]

Billy I agree Kiper is an idiot!!!

[DR]

Man, at least football experts have the same opinion about the Bucs QB situation as I do. Having 6 QBs doesn't mean much when they are either old or lack talent.
Again, the bucs should take the best player available, regardless of position.

[mkurbo]

Nate Dogg - are you saying that we have full time writers around here ?

..because I have not any articles that are fresh or constructive for years (since McKay stopped feeding them info). Give them something negative to write about and "kinda" sound like writers...

[Billy]

Nate Dogg - Mel Kiper has yet to be correct on any picks in the last 5 years. Spending time with him to pick his brain is useful if you want to learn little. I think the writers could use the time more effectively and because they get paid doesn't mean they do a good job.

[Vince]

Billy -- what a ridiculous criticism. To suggest that Mel Kiper offers no insight into the draft is preposterous. Since when does success in indentifying team picks have anything to do with player evaluation? Are you suggesting, for example, that Stephen should ignore Kiper's comments on Flacco?

Typical comment from a Ham n Egger sitting on the sidelines. I am no Kiper fan, but think about it. His full-time job is evaluating college players. He has been in the same work for years and years. He has a well-established track record on player evaluations. Yet, you think the Times should ignore him? Good point. Pass the ham, please.

[Billy]

Vince - Yes, I am suggesting that Kiper has no clue as to how to evaluate talent along with projections on where a player will be drafted. He offers no insight at all and for an employee of the Times to waste 3 minutes with him, in my eyes, isn't productive.

Can you tell when Kiper has been right in the past 10 years of covering the draft?

Did you know that Kiper said that Harrington and Carr will be stars in the league?

Did you see the GM blast him on-air during the draft a few years ago?

I suggest that you are the pot calling the kettle black here.

We as Buc fans should want more than what the Times or Trib offers.

[epbuc16]

ya i have to agree kiper is not the "draft expert" i would wanna hear from, if anybody it would be mayock

[Billy]

At the very least Mayock has played the game, at the very least. He's not one to predict too much because he knows the future can't be predicted. Kiper hasn't played, has no real clout other than working for ESPN, which to those with half a brain knows means little.

[Stephen Holder]

I don't know what Kiper did to tick everybody off around here, but here's what I'll say about this:
you might always agree with his take on players or what teams should do, but that doesn't mean we should ignore the guy. He has made a pretty nice living at what he does because he was the original draft analyst, long before everybody with a website became an "expert". Again, you might not like him, and I find him occasionally annoying myself, but his information can be valuable because much of it comes from scouts and talent evaluators. And, in the end, that's what we're about around here: information. Right? Remember, for every GM that thought Harrington would be a joke, there probably was one who thought he would be a star. I don't think Kiper is the only one to get taken on that one.

[Stephen Holder]

QUOTE: "Nate Dogg - are you saying that we have full time writers around here ?

..because I have not any articles that are fresh or constructive for years (since McKay stopped feeding them info). Give them something negative to write about and "kinda" sound like writers..."

Yawn...

[The Swam]

Say what you will about all of the so-called QBs on the roster. Simms likely will be on another roster come august, Gradkowski probably won't make the cut and McCown isn't the answer either. Griese is a decent backup, but Garcia's the only viable option we currently have. Drafting a qb is not only a good idea.....it's a necessity! Start grooming for tomorrow today!

[mkurbo's Mom]

mkurbo, didn't I ask you to clean your room and take out the garbage when you came home from school?
If you spend your time on opinion blogs writting nonsense you will never get into college.
You are grounded!!!
No American Idol for you tonight!!!!
Now clean the dishes and go walk the dog!!!!

[Australian Buc Fan]

I appreciate Stephen Holder's blog and I would rather have info about Mel Kiper's comments than no info at all!

[Vince]

Billy:

I would like to retract my prior statement that you are a "Ham and Egger" and apologize to all the Ham & Eggers I may have offended.

What was I thinking. Of course Kiper knows nothing, of course Kiper has no clout, of course ESPN knows little. Stephen, no more conference calls with Kiper and ESPN. From this day forward Billy is your source for all player evaluations and draft issues.

Stephen, what were you thinking attending that conference call?

[Billy]

Vince:

This is a blog where anyone can spit their opinion. I'm of the opinion that the local rags offer scraps in terms of Buc related stories. Mel Kiper doesn't have the knowledge that ESPN leads you to believe. I'm not saying I do but over and over with incorrect predictions on players is what he's known for.

Listening to Mel is like calling a 900# psychic without the fee.

I would like better coverage of my favorite team than what the local papers offer. Certainly these guys need to bring their game up a few levels.

[Another Aussie Bucs Fan]

You know...the immaturity displayed on this blog never fails to amaze me. Yeah, it's just a game, and its enjoyable and fun etc...but some of the crap you guys go on with, particularly your personal attacks, is unbelievable. No wonder your country is in such a state...

Stephen - personally I appreciate the job you do. Thank you.

[duane]

GEEESSH, what a tough crowd. I'm no big fan of Kiper's but am glad holder spends the time to talk to someone and post fresh news and insights rather than grinding out press release type material. Thanks Steve, I try to read you daily.

[Billy]

You don't simply accept the work that's done because it's there. It's time to hold the guys more accountable for their work. Bring your A game because there is an outlet that provides the indepth coverage most Buc fans crave.

[Stephen Holder]

Billy, you should keep in mind that just because a certain media outlet SAYS they're the best for Bucs news doesn't necessarily make it true. We make no such claims around here nor do we denigrate the work of others (which is more than I can say for some). We let the work speak for itself. The majority of our readers are sharp enough to know where to go when they want edgy coverage of the Bucs. Whether that's the SP Times or not is really up to the individual.

[Vince]

Stephen, I think your coverage of the Bucs is very good. Even handed and insightful. I take issue with Billy's comments about Kiper (and I am not a Kiper fan) only because I get tired of the crazy citicism. It is certainly OK to disagree with Kiper, but to say he knows nothing? Like it or not Kiper is a professional. He makes his living analyzing players. The suggestion that he does not know what he is talking about, or worse, that the writer knows more, is absurd.

[Nate Dogg]

haha...Stephen...not only am I going to waste my time by going out of my way to say you're an awful "part-time" writer, but how much you suck at life.

I mean Mel Kiper doesn't have ANY nice information that the public wouldn't know...oh and yeah...HE'S NEVVVVER GOTTEN ONE PICK RIGHT...but hey, compared to all the other oracles in the football world, he really does seem human for misgrading some players.

On a serious note...Mel Kiper is annoying, but he does bring information reguarding team personel and solid player evaluations to the table...

Also, Billy, I remember watching the draft with Joey Harrington when he was coming out of Oregon, and in no way do I recall Kiper saying he'd be a star in the league.

If S.Holder is appearently bringing nothing to the blog or isn't coming up with any solid stories...JUMP ON IT. Put your money where your mouth is. Start WRITING. Get your own damn blog. Show the writing skills and get the connection to have a newspaper start paying you for it. You can obviously disagree with Stephen about his views or articles that he writes...but this is a blog! Not an article! Especially to hate on the man...in a blog!

The world doesn't need haters!
Nate Dogg

[Nate Dogg]

Here, here, "Another Aussie Bucs Fan"

Last comment before I pass out...I know it's been said before that Gruden can't develope a quarterback.

Except for Marques Tuiasosopo, Chris Simms, and Bruce Gradkowski...I can't think of any young quarterbacks who never panned out under Gruden's tenure with his respective club at the time. If there are more, someone sincerely say so. But if we are to talk about those three quarterbacks and assume that Gruden can't groom or coach a young quarterback to be successful, then forget about it!

I doubt any coach in the entire NFL could've gotten any solid play out of Tuiasosopo, Gradkowski (even tho technically he still has time for the jury), or Simms.

Yeah, Simms was probably the only legitimate quarterback prospect out of the three...and that's as a one year starter with great receivers around him at UT. But there are only so many ways you can try and teach somebody to NOT throw the ball into the extended hands of the opposing team's d-line (what seemed like 100 times a game)!

I'm telling you. Give Gruden a truly decent prospect like Brohm. Give him two years to develope him. Let Brohm hold the clipboard and get comfortable with Tampa Bay.

Excluding injuries, if Brian Brohm doesn't pan out like and nullifies all his potential, then yes, Gruden can't groom QB's. But until then, we'd be better off labeling him that after giving him a solid QB prospect.

For once.

...Godspeed fellow bucs fans,
Nate Dogg

[DR]

You guys are a bunch of idiots. Talking trash to a good writer and trashing a millionaire football analyst. These guys speak to the source and see so much more in one week of football than any of you have seen in a lifetime. None of you have brought any new info to any of these blogs ever. Just criticize with nothing to back any of your opinions.
To say Kiper has never gotten a pick right is beyond stupid. getting picks wrong is the norm. Ask the teams who passed on Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, Randy Moss, Tom Brady, etc. I've read scouting reports on Jerry Rice that would shame the scout if it ever came out since the scout is still working in the league. The scout said Rice had no work ethic, ran bad patterns, and was slow, and more. There has been way more busts in this league than guys that pan out and live up to expectations.
If you want to dog anybody out, dog the people drafting these players who do nothing. Look at the 2005 draft, the Bucs drafted the most players, 5, who are not even in the league anymore. Was that Kipers fault? Was that Stroud and Holders fault? You idiots probably think so.

[John]

No DR...It was Gruden's fault right?

[Billy's eighth grade math teacher]

Billy, Obviously things haven't changed since 8th grade math. To say that Kiper NEVER gets picks right and does not know what he is talking about is completely false according to the FACTS.
During the last two drafts in the first round, Kiper has gotten 24% of the picks correct.
Kiper has also correctly predicted the correct position the team will be drafting 41% of the time. That means he knew whethr a team would select a QB or a WR over 40% of the time.
Using the word NEVER is not accurate in this case.
Once again you get an F for your lack of knowledge, DUMMY!!!!

[Billy]

Kiper is a blow hard character built by ESPN. It's a waste of time ingaging him for any length of time. Your #'s are not correct, he is consistently wrong about predicting the future.

[Skylar]

Who is consistently right?

[Billy]

That's te point skylar, nobody knows what these teams are going to do.