Dominik Explains Bucs’ “Swagger Mentality”
October 22nd, 2011
In one of the funnier moments of rockstar general manager Mark Dominik’s appearance on WDAE-AM 620 Thursday night, a caller with a very serious presentation greeted Dominik and called him out on his late-round draft busts, asking what it’s like to fail after all that research.
The guy finished his take and was off the line, then Dominik explained to the audience that the caller was his “friggin’ brother” busting his balls live on the air. Funny stuff.
On a more serious note, host Dave Moore asked Dominik about his draft methodology, and the general manager opened up.
Dave Moore: Different GMs have different philosophies. We talked a little bit about tangibles and intangibles. Are you more into the guys that fit your system, or do you rate your players and take the best available?
Mark Dominik: I like to look at the way they play the game. And I’m not so much, ‘You have to fit the system.’ There are certain crtiteria I have for different positions on this football team. Again, through the journaling and through watching production over the years, I have a personal opinion on exactly what our receiving corps should kind of be like, height, weight, speeds, all those kinds of things, because I think that’s going to be that most productive for our football team. At the same point, intensity and physicality are a big part of what I want to be defensively. And that was what we really focused on in this year’s draft.
Having the chance to be fortunate enough to have Adrian Clayborn be there at No. 20, I think every GM in the league says, ‘I couldn’t believe he was there at No. 20.’ “Well, I’ll be honest with you, I’m very excited Adrian Clayborn was there at No. 20, and I think its paying off dividends. And I think the Buccaneer fans that are watching our games are seeing a guy that’s relentless, who’s physical. Last [Sunday], he may not have had a big stat line but was in Drew Brees’ background and I bet you he was in Drew Brees’ mind the entire game. … I think he helped us have three interceptions last week that really changed the game.
Da’Quan Bowers has done a good job for us, and certainly Mason Foster. It’s an intensity. It’s a swagger mentality we want to have here at this organization because I appreciated what the Baltimore Ravens did. All the way from winning the Super Bowl back in 2000 with that defense, the way they’ve consistently been a great defense.
The Jets have been obviously a good defense, Pittsburgh Steelers. We want to build that defense that we had back in the 90’s. … Warren Sapp always said, ‘You get me 17, I’ll get you a win.” The league might be a little different; It might take 24 these days because of the rules and everything, but that’s the mentality we want to have on defense to be a championship caliber football team.
Interesting stuff. Joe likes the desire for the “swagger mentality,” but Joe’s not sure what Buccaneer on defense could step forward as true lead dogs, like Sapp and Derrick Brooks did years ago.
October 22nd, 2011 at 11:33 am
I’ll tell you who could step up…how about a D-line consisting of McCoy, Price, Clayborn and Bowers who are in their 3rd and 4th year of NFL experience?? I think that D-line is going to be a beast of a line and they are showing signs of that already. Foster reminds me a lot of Derrick Brooks and McCoy is coming on strong this year. I really believe this defense will be better than any defense we’ve ever had once the pieces are in place. We have to replace Ronde but I like this Gaitor kid and still think he is going to be a great player. If Quincy will start playing up to his paycheck and Watson gets more time out there…I see this being a hard defense to score on.
October 22nd, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I’m sorry but you can’t truly believe that this is the best defense they’ve ever had.
Now if you mean that in a few years if they plug in the right pieces and the talent develops to its full potential this could be a great defense that’s another thing.
But to say something like that is a disservice to one of the greatest defenses to ever exist.
October 22nd, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Swagger is not how I describe anything with the Bucs right now. Up and Coming is the proper description. Teams that show and use swagger don’t get beat the way they did at the 49ers anytime. The losses are close games not 48-3. This is a promising young team that would probably be further along if they had better coaching. Olsen still using a dumbed down version of Grudens playbook and Raheem learning on the job where he really should be cutting his teeth as a defensive coordinator here or somewhere. Still think the coaching is the weakest link here. Go Bucs!
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Bobby- Foster has a lot more Hardy Nickerson in him than Derrick Brooks. Not nearly as fast a Brooks but is fiery and can lay the wood like Hardy did.
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Sgt. Mike- Nice comment. Apparently you weren’t able to see the game last week. Raheem’s gameplan was perfect. Thats two games in a row vs. the Saints that Raheem has confused and abused Drew Brees with his defensive gameplan. But yeah. The coaching sucks. Did the 99 Bucs not have any swagger when they lost 45-0 to Oakland? They just went on to reach the NFC championship game. Nothing special. The ignorance of people like you never ceases to astound me. The primary reason this phenomenally young team is as far along as it is at this point is because Raheem and his staff are such great teachers and motivators and the young players relate to them so well.
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:14 pm
The 2002 Bucs were all about Swagger. Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, and Barber in their prime- textbook swagger. The Raiders beat them even worse, 44-0. Every once in a while, some team just has your number. I’ve seen it happen to The greatest teams. Its not a big deal. A bad day as a team. You throw the tape away, you don’t all about, and ya move on to next week.
10-6 with the youngest team in history??? Coaching is the reason we may get to the playoffs, not any sort of problem. This team hated and layed down on Gruden. They fight to the death for Raheem. What he has accomplished here is amazing. He got a lot of votes for Coach of the year. He should have gotten more!
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Plasma playbook isn’t anything like grudens west coast ” dink and dunk” that I hated. More does it include any of Grudens stupid ” constant motion” that fooled no one, and caused his own line to jump off sides.
Olsen’s playbook looks a lot more like his Mentors, Mike Martz. Except Olsen has wisely made great use of his tight ends- Martz never has gotten a handle on that.
We went 10- 6 last year. We are in first place, and 2-0 in our division this year- with a team of babies.
What problems are you seeing, Sgt.? Looks to me like we are on the right track!
October 22nd, 2011 at 6:27 pm
BecklesHeartsRuud Says:
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Bobby- Foster has a lot more Hardy Nickerson in him than Derrick Brooks. Not nearly as fast a Brooks but is fiery and can lay the wood like Hardy did.
perfect call on Hardy,never thought of him like that.
October 22nd, 2011 at 8:06 pm
We need to keep adding some stud Defensive players early in the draft.
Next years draft:
1. Best DB/RT
2.RT/DB
3. WR/RB
4. Screw Philly
5,6, and 7. Mismatch blitzing pieces/ passing down specialists.
October 22nd, 2011 at 11:46 pm
@ Capt. Tim:
The 45-0 loss to the raiders was in 1999, not 2002.
October 23rd, 2011 at 2:08 am
Fridge bob- yer right!
Biggest need on Defense is OLBers, Cbs, and a safety.
I think Cb is first Pick.
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:29 am
I think the Bucs are going Falcons style in next years draft. They will be looking for an elite speed reciever to put Freeman over the top. But they wont mortgage the farm like the Falcants did. Hopefully we get a crack at a potentially elite speed reciever near the end of the first round where we will hopefully be picking.