Dominik Must Reach Elite Status Quickly
April 19th, 2010
While the New York Times story excerpt below is about Giants general manager Jerry Reese, it struck Joe as something of interest to Bucs fans who ponder the potential impact of this week’s draft.
Reese, in his first time with final say on the draft, went a staggering 8 for 8 on picks, remarkable in a business in which even Reese said the goal was merely to get on base and to not strike out. Every rookie played a role in the Giants’ stunning run to the Super Bowl championship that season, and Reese established himself as one of the N.F.L.’s most astute drafters.
“If I listened to everybody who said to do something and I signed what I consider a marginal free agent?” Reese said in an interview last week. “They hired the wrong guy if I would crack under that.” … …Gil Brandt, an analyst for NFL.com, keeps track of how drafts pan out. The Giants have had 24 picks in the last three years — Reese’s tenure — and by Brandt’s count, seven of them are starters, nine are backups and just one is out of the N.F.L. The Patriots, considered astute drafters, have had 28 picks in that time. Four are starters and eight are backups. Seven are out of the league.
For a team like the Bucs that is admittedly putting all their eggs in the draft basket, Mark Dominik needs to quickly become an elite GM in the league. That’s a very tough task, no matter how deep the draft might be, especially for a young GM.
At least Dominik is aware his job is liklely on the line with this draft.
However, the more Joe thinks about it, the current regime’s longevity really comes down to Josh Freeman’s success first and foremost. Barring a miraculous return to the glory years of the Bucs’ defense, Freeman must reach a near Pro Bowl level for Dominik to survive.
Joe sure hopes Dominik picks the right wide receiver this week.
April 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
I think it’s very possible for MD to do the same thing, so many people focus on the negative. Sammie Stroughter was a 7 round pick and one of the steals of the draft. But you don’t hear that from so-called fans. People including JOEBUCSFAN hated the idea of drafting Freeman, nobody wanted K2, he has made some great moves. Give credit where credit is do people!!!!!!
April 19th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Chargedcbh:
Maybe you didn’t read the day he was drafted that Joe thought Sammie Stroughter was a steal?
Speaking of giving credit where credit is due…
April 19th, 2010 at 11:33 am
This guy started in this business right out of college. He has been around some people who have been successful and my guess he has learned from them. This draft is going to be a success and Mark will prove all of you negative second guessers wrong. GO BUCS!
April 19th, 2010 at 11:43 am
LOL @ Dumbinik becoming elite … L-O – Freaking – L !!!
April 19th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
How many times did we see Bust In Waiting on your website? Get Real!!
April 19th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
@Chargedcbh
I am one who was upset the Bucs drafted Freeman – still am.
Do I believe Freeman has potential? He sure showed it at times last season – only time tells if he improves.
What I was decrying was the focus of the Bucs – I wanted a return to a strong DEFENSE and believe that the Bucs are focusing too much on offense – hence Freeman.
If Dominik picks 6-11 GREAT picks and the Bucs record next year is 3-13 then he’s still FIRED.
April 19th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Plenty of times. Where’s your credit for Joe calling Stroughter a steal the day he was selected, fraud?
BTW, Joe was HARDLY the lone voice calling the Freeman draft a mistake. Where were your writings from last year that picking Freeman is the equivilent of selecting Terry Bradshaw?
Waiting…
April 19th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Joe,
Come on man. I don’t think anyone said that Freeman was equivelant to Terry Bradshaw. I wasnt’t thrilled with the pick but you did beat the kid up pretty bad without him ever taking a snap.
Not to mention the stuff you wrote about Winslow after we got him until he called you out and asked you to stop.
April 19th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
OK, great you got 1!! I’ve responded to your post before about Freeman last year. No, I don’t have a web site to post my thoughts, just because you weren’t the only one to believe Freeman wasn’t worth the pick means what? Nothing….. Theres thousands of people who like Sarah Palin and what does that mean? If the Glazers fire Mark and Raheem, so be it. It’s going to be hard for anyone to come in here and work with the Glazers.
April 19th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
d-money:
Two things:
1) Once the season started, Joe stopped the Freeman moniker.
2) Winslow asked Joe to stop his nickname because he was uncomfortable. Joe agreed. What’s the problem here? Joe still thinks trading a second round pick for Tony Gonzalez would have been better. One of Joe’s concerns is that Winslow is oft-injured. Guess what, Winslow’s own offensive coordinator just last week came out and said how concerned he was with Winslow’s health.
But Joe is the asshole, right? I see.
April 19th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
You stopped because he was uncomfortable! How do you think a 20 year old kid feels about Bust in Waiting everyday!!!!!!
April 19th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Wow Joe you have an unbelievable knack for putting words in people’s mouths.
When did I say you were an Asshole?
Just like no one said Freeman was the second coming of Terry Bradshaw.
If I’m not mistaken this conversation started when someone said Dom should get credit for some of the moves he made. I’m just pointing out that although you may have been on top of the Straughter pick you really let them have it for those two moves(Freeman and Winslow).
Not to mention the moves we’ve seen this offseason that haven’t had a chance to materialize.
I doubt that if and when any of those moves prove to be good ones you will make a point to admit you were wrong.
You’re all about stirring up controversy and i get that. It brings people to you Website but don’t act like you’re some kind of Saint.
April 19th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
d-money:
Never said Joe’s a saint. You took issue with how Joe had a problem with the Winslow trade, and it so happens Joe’s main problem with the trade is now shared by Winslow’s own offensive coordinator. Yet I didn’t read where you mocked Olsen?
Joe’s not anti-Dominik. Hardly. Does Joe agree with everything he does? Of course not (Santonio Holmes ring a bell?). Joe obviously hopes for the best.
If you go through the draft posts, you will notice Joe thought Stroughter to be a steal and thought the Roy Miller draft was a good pick.
April 19th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
OMG!!!!!!!!! If a 20-year kid is going to fold over what’s written about him, maybe playing in the NFL wasn’t such a smart career choice? Ya’ think?
April 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Then WHY DID YOU STOP FOR K 2? Scared?
April 19th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Because he asked me to stop. It bothered him. What, you want Joe to be a total dick? As for Freeman, Joe never had a problem with Freeman. Joe had a problem with the pick. Big difference.
April 19th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Joe, I understand your criticism of Freeman and respect your decision to lay off KW. I think your criticism of Freeman — which was hardly unique in this area — only underscores that Dominik and Morris (we don’t take Freeman w/o Morris) have great potential. Freeman still has to produce but he looks good so far and, most importantly, he has one intangible that few have– poise. You cannot coach play under pressure. Freeman still has a long way to go, but everyone should remember the touchdown pass to Strougher in the corner of the end zone. Every NFL quarterback can throw that pass in practice, but how many of them throw that pass, in those circumstances, when they are 21 years old playing in the NFL? None. Maybe only the greats. Not saying Freeman will be great, but he definitely possesses one of the key elements.
Cue all the over-the-top Dom and Morris haters claiming Freeman sucks and he is just lucky etc.
April 19th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
@JimBuc
Heres a rarity, I agree with you!
Freeman did way better than anybody should have expected given the circumstances.
He was much more impressive than the last two fist round QB’s for the bucs, vinny and trent.
I have just a slight concern with some of those INT’s, but he looks like a very good prospect. Rah must have seen something when he was at K-state.
April 19th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Eric — I hope he turns out to be great, but who knows. Gotta also love that he has supposedly spent the whole offseason at OBP. It’s still very early but good signs.
April 19th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
You would have taken Gonzalez’s old washed up ass, who has about one season left( 2 max) , over Winslow??
Wow , you couldn’t have been more wrong on that one , Joe , lol.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Mr. Mushmouth,
Whats wrong with an old washed up ass?
I try to get one of those dang near every weekend. (after failing miserably with the young washed up ass of course)
April 20th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Dominick looks like a d1ck with ears, and if we did our jobs to the equivlent of the way he does his job we would all be fired, the whole organization sucks and we will be the laughing stock of the nfl for the next decade.
April 20th, 2010 at 7:40 am
Nick — don’t hold back buddy, tell us what you really think.
April 20th, 2010 at 7:45 am
LOL @ Eric
and unfortunetly Nick is right….
April 20th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Nick and RM: If that is what you beleive then why would you be on a fan wesbite?
April 20th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Worst typer on the planet. LOL.
April 20th, 2010 at 9:45 am
JimBuc:
Don’t feel bad. Last time Joe was clocked, he typed over 80 words a minute, though not by much.
Factoring in typos, that rate drops significantly. 🙂