FAB 3. BUCS WANT TO BECOME A FASTER FOOTBALL TEAM
Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter has stated his desire to have a more explosive offense in 2017 and took steps in that direction with the addition of wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who still runs in the 4.3-range even at the age of 30, evidenced by his league-leading 17.9 yards per catch average.

But the Bucs aren’t done on offense – or defense – when it comes to acquiring speed merchants. Based on the names that have been reported to have either worked out privately for Tampa Bay or scheduled a visit with the team, Koetter and general manager Jason Licht are looking for speed all across the board.

The Bucs have either met with or worked out three speedy tight ends with fast 40-yard dash times in Alabama’s O.J. Howard (4.51) and Miami’s David Njoku (4.62), who are first-round prospects, in addition to Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram (4.42), who is a second-round prospect.

The Bucs have also worked out Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen, who ran a 4.79 at the NFL Scouting Combine at 6-foot-6, 278 pounds, and is considered to be a second- or third-round pick. To put that in perspective, Cameron Brate came out of Harvard running a 4.77 at 6-foot-5, 249 pounds.

USF RB Marlon Mack – Photo by: Getty Images

Tampa Bay has also met with a pair of fast receivers destined to be drafted in the second round in Penn State’s Chris Godwin (4.42) and Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel, who improved his NFL Scouting Combine 40-time of 4.42 by running a 4.31 at the Buckeyes pro day.

Although the Bucs have been coy about their interest in first-round running backs Dalvin Cook (4.5) from Florida State and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey (4.48), both are on Tampa Bay’s radar. Tampa Bay has expressed a great deal of interest in USF’s Marlon Mack (4.5), in addition to Toledo’s Kareem Hunt (4.57), both of whom figure to be third-rounders.

Of course speed isn’t everything. The Bucs used a second-round draft pick on receiver and return man Dexter Jackson, who ran a 4.37 and flamed out quickly in the NFL because he lacked intestinal fortitude and physicality. Instead it was Clifton Smith, who ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash and wound up being a Pro Bowl return specialist in 2008 after Jackson failed early on. In fact, Tampa Bay’s greatest return man, Karl “The Truth” Williams, ran close to a 4.6, which illustrates that players need more than speed to be successful in the NFL.

Atlanta’s defense has gotten remarkably faster over the past two years under head coach Dan Quinn. In fact, it was the improvement on the defensive side of the ball, coupled with a stellar year from the offense that led to the Falcons making the Super Bowl last year.

Tampa Bay wants to improve its speed on defense and has a glaring need at safety. The Bucs have interest in three safeties in UConn’s Obi Melifonwu (4.4), Budda Baker (4.45) and Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers (4.46) who all have sub-4.5 times in the 40-yard dash. Those times are faster than any of the current safeties on Tampa Bay’s roster. The Bucs have privately worked out Melifonwu and Baker, while Peppers has met with Tampa Bay, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

The Bucs are also looking into pass rushers early, including one of the fastest defensive ends in Kansas State’s Jordan Willis (4.53), who is quickly move up draft boards. Tampa Bay has also brought in a couple of slower defensive ends Derek Barnett (4.88) and Taco Charlton (4.86), but don’t be alarmed at those 40-yard dash times. Former Bucs first-rounder Gaines Adams ran a 4.64 and was a bust, while another first-round defensive end, Terrell Suggs, who is a Pro Bowler in Baltimore, ran a 4.84 before the draft.

USC CB Adoreé Jackson – Photo by: Getty Images

Tampa Bay drafted Noah Spence in the second round last year after he ran a disappointing 4.8 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine before improving it slightly at his pro day. The Bucs also like Missouri defensive end Charles Harris, who ran a similar 4.82 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

After looking at a couple of the cornerbacks the Bucs have brought in and worked out, you can’t rule out the position in the first or second round despite Tampa Bay being happy with its current depth. There is tremendous talent and depth at the position this year and the Bucs should take advantage. Plus, these cornerbacks are fast. Washington’s Kevin King ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, while USC’s Adoreé Jackson ran a 4.42. Both of those cornerbacks are faster than Vernon Hargreaves, last year’s first-round pick, who ran a 4.5.

Forty times don’t mean everything in football, but becoming a faster football team on both sides of the ball is an obvious priority for Licht and Koetter this offseason when it comes to the 2017 NFL Draft.