Expect Mark Dominik To Draft A Defensive End
January 27th, 2011
Bucs fans cringe when reminded of the lack of pressure Bucs defensive ends put on opposing quarterbacks last season.
Save for a game against the 49ers when the Bucs suddenly thought they were the old New York Sack Exchange, most quarterbacks could surf adult websites they had so much time in the pocket.
Expect Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to change that. First, defensive line coach Todd Wash was shipped Seattle. Second, while speaking to good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times at Senior Bowl practices this week in Mobile, Dominik all but told Holder the Bucs would draft a defensive end this April.
And the defensive building effort continues. The Bucs are confident the pass rushers in this draft offer an opportunity to address a key need. And they’re giving serious consideration to a number of ends. They anticipated the depth at end in this draft and waited to address that position.
“Before we go into any draft, we always talk to our scouts and say, ‘Okay, what’s 2012 going to look like?’ ” Dominik said. “It’s a heck of a group (in this year’s draft at defensive end). I don’t know how many are going to go in the first round, but it’s going to be a good number.”
Dominik could go several ways here. If there are several defensive ends that are good, don’t be surprised if Dominik loads up, like he did last spring on defensive tackles and wide receivers.
Also, if the defensive end pool is deep, Dominik may go after a linebacker in the first round if he believes he can get better quality defensive ends later in the draft than he could linebacker.
All in all, it sure looks like Dominik will load up on defensive ends and perhaps linebacker.
January 27th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Joe, I love what the Bucs have done in the draft. You cant say enough about what they have found on the scrap heaps either. Considering the turn around we made this year dont we have to hope they consider signing some free agent LB’s and DE’s to come in an compete?Assuming there is not a lengthy work stoppage. You cant do it all in the draft.
January 27th, 2011 at 9:31 am
As he should. With good pass rush we could be the team to beat.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:07 am
a traditional linebacker in the 1st round this year is not an option. i wouldnt be suprised if 8 or 9 de’s or de/olb’s go off the board in the 1st this year. if there’s a rookie pay scale in place i could see alot of moving around in the 1st round.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:30 am
@gotbucs – agreed. That’s why I think Mark would be more inclined than ever to move up. We all know he’s willing. With a rookie cap in place, it doesn’t cost a team that much more financially, so it’s all about what picks you will give up.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:59 am
I doubt the new CBA with a rookie wage scale will be done by the draft…
January 27th, 2011 at 11:07 am
that’s why i said “if”.
January 27th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Looks like everyone agrees that they need to beef up their front 7 with playmakers and depth. That depth should come from resigning their own in Ruud and Black.
January 27th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Here is the remainder of the quote
” There’s a lot of work to do, but there are other positions that we feel like we can upgrade at. We could always use more depth.”
I think he is clear about getting a DE, but if there was a run on DE I would expect us to take possibly an OT like Carimi who has been fairly dominant at the Senior Bowl.
Kerrigan,Quinn and Watt should all be in front of an OT ..
If you have not seen JJ Watt highlites .. I recommend you do .. He is a true monster at 6’6 292 LBs and reminds me of Julius Peppers
January 27th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Agree with Joe, why take the 6th or 7th DE at pick 20 when you can get the 2nd or 3rd best LB?
January 27th, 2011 at 11:36 am
I stand by my prediction of:
DE
LB
DE
OT
in the first four rounds. Would love it if he was able to trade Josh Johnson for a 3rd and snag another LB in the 3rd
January 27th, 2011 at 11:55 am
@Buc This Because the 6th or 7th DE might be a better player than the 2nd or 3rd LB. And because the need is great at DE.
Maybe we should just draft Ingram. He’s the best back available and could be there at 20!
January 27th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
I think the DE position is a bit easier to learn than DT, so immediate help may be obtainable.
Middle Linebacker is another story.
Throw in a speedy back to switch things up and the primary needs are addressed.
January 27th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Has there been any talk about looking for another Cameron Wake from the CFL? Phillip Hunt was a monster last year for Winnepeg (http://www.bluebombers.com/roster/show/id/2831). 16 sacks? A sack in 12 consecutive games?
Uhh, we could use that…
January 27th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
@DAVE… Im not too sure i agree with trading josh johnson. What would happen if freeman goes down. Who do you have in mind to replace him????
January 27th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
@Teddy: Vikings have shown interest: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/114715674.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EPaL_V_9E7ODiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU
CBA is an issue right now…
January 27th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I feel good about our chances of getting a good young DE in the first round. Almost expect Dominck to trade up for a higher pick. I think we go DE,LB,LB,DE. While this class isn’t particularly strong, it is very Strong at DE and LB. Perfect for us, as those ate our areas of great need. I feel much Better about O-line than I did last year. We found some real players , without drafting them! Also the intriguing Demar Dotson will be back, looking for a fight at Right tackle. Think we might have Safety solidified also. Grimes, Lynch,Asante all showed real skill at that spot. We need a Tight end Badly, but that position is weak this draft- Luke Stocker is the only one I think MIGHT pan out. If we get a DE, G, And TE in FA, Then adress 2 DEs and LBs . Think the rest of our draft is just Depth, no real screaming need, and that Is a nice change!
January 27th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
I feel like I’m not only one here who thinks that we will prioritize OL over LB. Am I crazy?
Every time Dominik opens his mouth he talks about protecting Freeman…
January 27th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Matt, the Vikings just signed another CFL standout in Emanuel Arceneaux, so it wouldn’t be surprising that they’re hot on Hunt’s trail too.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Matt-I kind of like Ingram with the 20th pick.Talk about a big bruising backfield.Ingram and Blount would be a punishing pair of running backs with Caddie sprinkeled in on 3rd downs.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Lakeland Bob, I for one am a firm believer that running backs should not be drafted in the first round unless they are an absolute no-brainer pick. Unless my memory is fading (a distinct possibility, mind you), the only guys in the top-15 in rushing this season to be drafted in the first round were Adrian Peterson, Rashard Mendenhall, Stephen Jackson, Darren McFadden and Cedric Benson. That means that 2/3 of the top RBs in the league were not first rounders, and one of those five was a bust when he came out of college (Benson).
RBs are great value in the 3rd and 4th round, or as we’ve witnessed this year, on other teams’ scrap heaps.
January 27th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
I too would love to take Ingram if he slips to the Bucs. Best player available all the way(unless its QB or WR) If the Bucs can become a truly elite offense I can live with not taking a first round edge rusher.
January 27th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Is there really any chance Ingram slips to the Bucs though? Isn’t he the top rated RB? If he is I would expect him gone way before #20.
January 27th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
I disagree about the DE, at least with the first pick.
Raheem Morris said their #1 priority is protecting their QB (Freeman) during an interview with Ronde and Duemigg.
He said it would be addressed in the off season, and they are obviously not going to be involved in free agency.
That leaves the draft. As much as I want the defense to improve, I don’t blame them for going OFFENSIVE LINE if they do indeed do so. People will disagree with me on this, but the offense is the closest unit to completion, and the Oline has not been getting it done. We need guys there. I think they will address defense with a later pick or two, but Offense will get the first pick.
Afterall, we can do well with a complete offense. We get the young guys in there excelling and then more attention can go on the defense.
I DO think we will get 1-2 DEs, but I suspect they will be 2nd or 3rd day picks