Johnthan Banks, new Buccaneers’ cornerback. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added and subtracted from the roster this past weekend, and the end result is a team that is hopefully deeper and better prepared for the grind of an NFL season. But what can Buccaneers’ fans expect out of the newest members of their favorite franchise?
Let’s take a look at the newest Buccaneers in another edition of The Good, the Bad, and the Likely, and determine what the possible outcomes are for all of the new additions. (Note: There are three pages, scroll through and check them all out, then leave your comments on what you expect from the Bucs’ draft picks.)
Johnthan Banks, Cornerback
The Good: For Banks, the best case scenario would be to win a starting cornerback position and prove he’s able to keep up with NFL receivers after dropping down draft boards thanks to a slower than ideal 40 yard dash time. Banks is long, strong, and athletic, and plays faster than his 4.6 second 40 yard dash would indicate. With Dashon Goldson able to cheat to his side due to Darrelle Revis’ presence on the other side, Banks can use his size to jam receivers and jump routes to make plays on the football. Banks could conceivably be one of the best rookie corners in the league if he starts and is able to keep up with the speed of the game, and his ability to make plays could lead to an outside chance of Rookie of the Year contention.
The Bad: The worst case scenario for Mr. Banks is to be too slow to play outside, or at least not against certain receivers, and find himself playing less often. He would play in the slot in the role Ronde Barber played when not at safety in 2013, which could of course mean he’s competing with Barber himself. Banks would then turn into a long term project to develop into a suitable nickel corner.
The Likely: Banks isn’t going to be forced into a starting role, but he may compete for one. I think the most likely scenario is that Banks earns a sizable role in the defense, playing more than half of the snaps, but never being the official starter. He’s also likely to be pressed into duty when Wright has to miss snaps or games due to injury, so he’ll see the field enough to prove he’s worthy of a second round pick. I think he’s got the potential to be a very good player in this league and will show that from day one, because he’s not lacking in football IQ and instincts.
Mike Glennon, Quarterback
The Good: For Mike Glennon, the best and worst case scenarios are tied to the performance of Josh Freeman. Assuming that Josh Freeman is fully capable of starting and finishing the 2013 season as the Buccaneers starter at quarterback, the best case scenario for Glennon is to get his chance in mop-up duty in blowout wins, and perform well and earn confidence of the team and coaches should he ever be pressed into duty.
The Bad: The worst case scenario is to never see the field and never know what he’s capable of. Glennon is going to make the roster and is going to be the backup to Josh Freeman, so his worst case scenario is to never know how he’d fare in an NFL game. This is the best news for Buccaneers’ fans tho, because it means Josh Freeman plays every down of every game and plays well enough to never bring Glennon out for a tryout.
The Likely: Glennon is the perfect backup for Josh Freeman, and that’s what he’ll do in 2013. There’s not much more to say here. Long term, the likely outcome for Glennon is to be traded to or signed by a more quarterback-needy team, or to replace Josh Freeman in 2014 as the team’s starting quarterback. But in the short-term, he’ll be holding a clipboard.
Click the “Next” button to see the Buccaneers’ fourth round picks best and worst case scenarios.