Welcome to Sign in | Join | Help
in
Home Blogs Forums Photos Calendar ABCActionNews.com

Sports Talk - Tampa Bay Sports Blog

Buccaneers Draft Do's and Don'ts

Pick #20 is staring the Bucs in the face... It's coming! One week from today we will know exactly who the Bucs took with all of their picks in this years draft but, lets be honest... The only one you care about is #20, their first round selection. I know I'm right. Don't kid yourself. With this in mind, here is a list of things to think about. Some Buccaneers Dos and Don'ts for April 26th and 27th.

DOs:

1. DO keep an eye on this Jared Allen situation. That huge deal with the Chiefs will hinge on how much the Bucs want to give up for the highly-touted, super talented, 26 year-old pass rusher. The Bucs may have to give up multiple picks to get him in Pewter.

2. DO believe that Jon Gruden will NOT go defense two years in a row. Last season, the Bucs took Clemson DE Gaines Adams with their first round pick. This time around...don't expect the Bucs to be thinking 'D'. Sorry Mr. Kiffin. You had your turn. This year is all about "Chucky".

3. DO take a wide receiver with that 20th overall pick. Who? It depends on who is there but the Bucs are in desperate need of a wideout to take pressure off of Joey Galloway. #84 was shut down many times last year because teams focused on him and let Michael Clayton and Ike Hilliard run free. Those guys don't scare defensive coordinators. Not anymore. The Bucs need to grab a guy with speed and agility...DeSean Jackson from Cal maybe. He's a guy who can return kicks as well.

DON'Ts

1. DON'T draft a linebacker. The Bucs are SOOOOO deep at that position that it would be a waste of a pick. They may be tempted to draft a guy and groom him to fill Derrick Brooks' shoes after #55 calls it quits (much like they did with Barrett Ruud for Shelton Quarrels) but it's unlikely.

2. DON'T expect the deal for Chad Johnson to get done. Chad wants out of Cincy but Bengals head coach (and former Bucs coach) Marvin Lewis won't let him go. Furthermore, Gruden doesn't like guys with an attitude. Does anyone have a bigger attitude right now than Chad Johnson? Gruden didn't get along with "show-boating" wide receivers in the past. Do Keyshawn Johnson and Keenan McCardell ring a bell? Don't expect to see the Chad Johnson circus come to town.

3. DON'T rule out the Bucs trading that #20 pick to move up in the draft. Remember, for 5 straight seasons, the team that finished last the year before, won the NFC South the next season. The Bucs need a lot of things to remain atop the division, including DBs, CBs and RBs. If the Bucs see a running back they like around the 13-17 range (maybe a guy like Oregon's Jonathan Stewart) they may trade up to get him. Remember, Cadillac Williams may never get back to the runner he was before his injury last year vs. Carolina and who knows who will step up between Warrick Dunn, Earnest Graham and Michael Bennett this year. The draft is coming! Expect a lot of offensive picks from Jon Gruden.

Bobby Lewis
Published Monday, April 21, 2008 8:17 AM by blewis

Comments

No Comments
New Comments to this post are disabled

This Blog

Post Calendar

<April 2008>
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
303112345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930123
45678910

Post Categories

News

Add to Technorati Favorites
Directory of Sports Blogs
Sport Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory

Syndication

Powered by Community Server, by Telligent Systems
Inergize Digital Media This site powered by Inergize Digital Media. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of this station.