I don't think people are putting Rodriguez as "god tier". These are all 2nd round picks.
I think people see Rodriguez as being the most NFL ready player and he has the playing and coverage skills we sorely needed.
Texas Tech isn't coming from the big sky or some shit so I'm not buying this "competition" thing. He played great against the Ducks in the playoffs. He played great vs BYU etc.
I always come back to "nothing is good or bad except by comparison". Rodriguez compared to Trotter or Hill.
Trotter is well below those 2 and Allen for me. I don't like having liabilities on coverage. I don't like 1 dimensional players because it tips your hand.
Trotter will need to learn to cover.
Rodriguez will not because as a former quarterback he can diagnose and react quicker than Trotter.
If Rodriguez is the most NFL ready player then he will have no problem beating out Brooks and Dodson for playing time as a rookie. But like I said I am not buying the hype with him because his rookie teammate Kyle Louis may end up being just as good if not better than him.
I don't think people are putting Rodriguez as "god tier". These are all 2nd round picks.
I think people see Rodriguez as being the most NFL ready player and he has the playing and coverage skills we sorely needed.
Texas Tech isn't coming from the big sky or some shit so I'm not buying this "competition" thing. He played great against the Ducks in the playoffs. He played great vs BYU etc.
I always come back to "nothing is good or bad except by comparison". Rodriguez compared to Trotter or Hill.
Trotter is well below those 2 and Allen for me. I don't like having liabilities on coverage. I don't like 1 dimensional players because it tips your hand.
Trotter will need to learn to cover.
Rodriguez will not because as a former quarterback he can diagnose and react quicker than Trotter.
If Rodriguez is the most NFL ready player then he will have no problem beating out Brooks and Dodson for playing time as a rookie. But like I said I am not buying the hype with him because his rookie teammate Kyle Louis may end up being just as good if not better than him.
But Brooks plays Mike and Rodriguez plays Will.
So why would he need to beat him out?
@tb-bucfan4life you’re probably right. And most of the fans on here that are talking up Trotter in the 2nd are doing it because of their love for the Bucs. Trotter does not have the film that J-Rod has. As a Bucs fan, I hope trotter turns out. But J-Rod has more of the intangibles that make a great all-around linebacker.
I don't like 1 dimensional players because it tips your hand.
Trotter will need to learn to cover.
This. All. Day.
I don't like 1 dimensional players because it tips your hand.
Trotter will need to learn to cover.
This. All. Day.
I agree and I think most would BUT its probably worth noting that the Bucs defense was #7 in scoring defense with Devin White in the same role. Better defense around him, arguably, but that doesn't stop opposing offense from going after a weakness and his coverage ability was described a lot like Trotter. White was not an early downs only player.
Right or wrong, Bowles seems to think downhill blitzer and run stopping offsets weakness/inexperience in coverage. Frustrating for the J Rod crowd (he was gone, right?) but I think DH is correct that the Bucs probably still take Trotter even if J Rod is there because Trotter is what Bowles believes in and he has a track record (2020/2021) inside OBP of success with a similar player in that role.
@bucsbits - I have a feeling DH says that to make a point that Bowles doesn’t get it that bad. 30 out of 32 teams take J-Rod over Trotter. I like to believe that Licht and Bowles would have made the right decision. Although it’s hard to argue what DH is trying to say.
It's all odds for me... Floor vs ceiling
Trotter is younger and less experienced so his ceiling is *technically* higher. His floor is considerably lower. His learning curve will be steep. He won't contribute as much right away.
If you prefer that over a much higher floor, a slightly lower ceiling, immediate need filled, immediate NFL read production, a true coverage lb that can make plays, and who understands coverages so well because he used to be a QB...
If you want that upside and age over the rest then we picked the right guy.
If we think we have the developers and scheme to achieve his full potential then we picked the right guy.
If we value some who is very good vs the run but can't cover over a guy that is good vs the run and can cover, then we picked the right guy.
Nothing is a guarantee it's all odds. What are the odds that Trotter is a better NFL player than Rodriguez or the other two available LBs?
I'd say slim but never zero
If we think we have the developers and scheme to achieve his full potential then we picked the right guy.
Todd did a bang up job of developing Devin White.
I feel extremely confident.
@bucsbits - I have a feeling DH says that to make a point that Bowles doesn’t get it that bad. 30 out of 32 teams take J-Rod over Trotter. I like to believe that Licht and Bowles would have made the right decision. Although it’s hard to argue what DH is trying to say.
I think DH and I are saying the same thing. I have said this was Bowles draft, as you would expect, and Bowles is 100% behind Trotter. I don't doubt they take him even if J-rod is there. Have you heard Bowles talk about him?
What are the odds that Trotter is a better NFL player than Rodriguez or the other two available LBs?
Bowles job is on the line. Bowles grabbed the guy who fits what he NEEDS now, a tough, fire starter and downhill LB
@bucsbits have you heard every coach talk about the guys they’ve just drafted? They all say they got the guy they wanted. They have to be all in. We will see how it works out. I mocked him to the Bucs in the 4th in one of my drafts. And obviously I did it because I hoped he’d turn into something for us.
If we think we have the developers and scheme to achieve his full potential then we picked the right guy.
Todd did a bang up job of developing Devin White.
I feel extremely confident.
White was not developable, so there is that.
Name the players that Todd has developed.
ironically, Kyle Louis is one of the players we would have accepted, and was available, later.I don't think people are putting Rodriguez as "god tier". These are all 2nd round picks.
I think people see Rodriguez as being the most NFL ready player and he has the playing and coverage skills we sorely needed.
Texas Tech isn't coming from the big sky or some shit so I'm not buying this "competition" thing. He played great against the Ducks in the playoffs. He played great vs BYU etc.
I always come back to "nothing is good or bad except by comparison". Rodriguez compared to Trotter or Hill.
Trotter is well below those 2 and Allen for me. I don't like having liabilities on coverage. I don't like 1 dimensional players because it tips your hand.
Trotter will need to learn to cover.
Rodriguez will not because as a former quarterback he can diagnose and react quicker than Trotter.
If Rodriguez is the most NFL ready player then he will have no problem beating out Brooks and Dodson for playing time as a rookie. But like I said I am not buying the hype with him because his rookie teammate Kyle Louis may end up being just as good if not better than him.