Another Pac-12 Linebacker?
April 2nd, 2012
Calm down. This is a just a mock draft.
However, it’s always a thoughtful one when it comes from NFL draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, who has pumped out takes on the first two rounds.
The Commish has the Bucs snagging the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year with the fifth pick of the second round.
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mychal Kendricks
MLB – Cal
5’11” – 239 lbs – 4.47Comments: Toss a coin between Kendricks and Lavonte David for this pick. I go with Kendricks because I still feel Mason Foster might be better at outside linebacker, which was his original position.
Now Joe’s more of the mind that the Bucs would grab a running back in the second round, assuming they don’t get all wacky and take Trent Richardson in the first round. But who knows what will be on the board come Round 2?
If the Bucs nabbed Kendricks, that would mean they would have taken three Pac-10/Pac-10 defensive players in the first three rounds of the 2010 (Brian Price), 2011 (Mason Foster) and 2012 drafts. That would be a somewhat interesting stat.
April 2nd, 2012 at 10:21 am
“If the Bucs nabbed Kendricks, that would mean they would have taken three Pac-10/Pac-10 defensive players in the first three rounds of the 2010 (Brian Price), 2011 (Mason Foster) and 2012 drafts. That would be a somewhat interesting stat.”
…and we all know the Pac 12 has some of the most fearsome defenses in the Nation…
April 2nd, 2012 at 10:33 am
I don’t know CB in the first and RB in the second makes more sents. Now if we trade down and gain an extra 2nd I can see us taking him.
April 2nd, 2012 at 10:39 am
Based on the Commish’s mock, I’d be shocked if the Bucs passed on Doug Martin in the 2nd.
April 2nd, 2012 at 10:44 am
lavonte david please!!! the guy is a tackle machine!!!!
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:02 am
I’d be okay with this. Not GREAT value at rb with number 36. Defense is much worse off than offense; adress D first, rb in third would be fine.
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:02 am
LMAO…well Barrett Rudd was a tackling machine too. Same school too….;)
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:03 am
Yeah, assuming we go Claiborne at #5, we need to go Lamar Miller, or Martin in the 2nd round. And like @Sensible said….Pac 12, wow, impressive! Maybe start looking at MLB from SEC defenses, otherwise draft MLB at appropriate value, not the 36th pick.
Like I said also several days ago on another thread here, Jax might seriously entertain trading in front of Rams to us at #5 if Blackmon is still available to us? That would certainly cost them a 2nd rounder. That’d be sweet.
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:12 am
Draft lamichael James.
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:20 am
Running back before linebacker? That makes no sense to me, we have a running back in Blount plus Madu looked decent when he actually got some burn last year. How can anyone justify drafting a back over a linebacker in the second round, we have the worst group of linebackers in the NFL, addressing linebacker in free agency would have solved all of this however does not look like that will happen.
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:38 am
Better get a RB with that second or risk going into the season with Blount and Madu and Lord knows…Lumpkin will be resigned!
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:44 am
@ Architek
Fortunately Lumpy is Pete Carroll’s problem now 🙂
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:44 am
I think Lumpkin already signed elsewhere
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:54 am
This guy seems like he’d make a great Safety.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Two of the biggest weaknesses on the team
Cornerback and Linebacker
HAVE to take one of each ASAP
Claiborne in the first
Kendricks in the second – then M.Foster can move back outside again.
Still would like to see a veteran for some leadership in the LB Corp.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:16 pm
In some order, the Bucs need to look at drafting the following:
Rd.1: CB or RB
Rd.2: RB or CB or LB
Rd.3: LB
Rd.5: S
Rd.6: TE
Rd.7: LB or RB or CB (maybe Dom works his 7th round magic)
Plug in any other holes with a couple more free agents, and take the team into camp and see what happens.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:18 pm
is that Nelly?
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:39 pm
I am far more comfortable with Black, Foster, and Watson than I am with Wright, Lewis, and Biggers. That is out starting LB and CB line ups for the 2013 season if we don’t make a move at either.
Now, I’m positive we will make a move at both in this draft and next as well as free agency, but our CB corp is jacked when Barber and Talib are gone next season. Gotta invest high in both. I’m talking round one and round two high.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Joe, do we not have the 4th pick of the 2nd round? I am under the impression we alternate with the Browns every round.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I’m about 75% against taking a running back with our second pick, unless someone really great falls to us.
Actually, I’m skeptical as to whether we should even draft one. With our upgraded offensive line, we could bring in an undrafted FA and he could do well.
Something tells me Schiano will turn Blount into a feature back.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Doug Martin in round two with the 4th pick.
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:15 pm
It’s hilarious to see all the SEC Homers bash other conferences because they AREN’T the SEC. How many ELITE players in the NFL actually came out of the SEC? Not many, folks.
QB Pretty much only Peyton Manning. Other than that, Brady was Big 10, Brees Big 10, Rivers ACC, Roethlisberger MAC…
RB Peterson Big 12, Chris Johnson C-USA, ARIAN FOSTER-TENNESSEE, LaDanian Tomlinson (the best RB of the past 10 years)-WAC or Mountain West-can’t remember what TCU was at the time
WR Andre Johnson ACC, Calvin Johnson ACC, DeSean Jackson PAC-10, the list could go on WITHOUT mentioning an SEC WR (Dwayne Bowe isn’t elite).
TE Do we need to go here? Gonzales PAC 10, all the TEs from U of Miami, Gates Kent St. where ever that is-MAC?
How about skill on D?
MLB-Here’s one, Patrick WIllis… Urlacher WAC, Ray Lewis ACC or Big East, whatever U of M was at the time.
OLB Best of the past 10 yyears… Brooks ACC, this is absurd… seriously, conferences mean NOTHING when it comes to success in the NFL… NOTHING!
Glenn Dorsey was a monster at LSU then he tested like a JuCo backup but still the Chiefs took him anyways… and he’s played not much better than an SEC backup.
JaMarcus Russell… 2/3 of the defensive players from Florida… seriously, quit downgrading players because of their conferences.
Mychal Kendricks would be a solid choice if we passed on the ACC’s Luke Kuechly and drafted somebody other than the SEC’s Richardson in round 1 (SEC CB Claiborne is fine with me, but rarely do CBs make a defense significantly better-but MLBs do).
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I watched him at the combine. Incredible speed and quickness. He would make a GREAT WLB. With his experience as a MLB, he would make a great Weakside LB in the NFL.
I really hope we invest a pick in someone who can develop alongside Mason.
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Drafting a RB would be stupid for tons of reasons, but one not listed is that a RB’s importance is greatly diminished when a team has only had 2 possessions on offense and is already down 21-0. Defense is the priority, not strengthening a strength.
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I’m going out on a limb here.
If I am the bucs I am going to trade out of the the top 10 say between 10-15 and draft Dont’a Hightower and make him my MLB. He is going to be a star in this league.
Great size, great strenghth, loves football ran a 4.6. Very intelligent. Loves to bang and will start from day one.
He’s a great leader, will stop the run, he’s a winner, he is only getting better. Nick Sabin knows defence. He has been taught by the best in college football.
Great kid with lots of character.
If you watch his 2011 tape. It speaks for itself.
If you can get two more early picks in this draft. Say another 2nd and 4th round pick for moving down. I would do it in second.
Get our corner, a running back and another lb in the later rounds.
Just remember where you heard it first.
April 2nd, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Im worried about our LB’s The draft id deep with Linebackers but nobody worth a top 10 pick. Wait and see i suppose.
April 2nd, 2012 at 4:34 pm
@Brandon “Strengthening a strength”? Offense wasn’t really a strength with the team last year. People tend to forget that the defense gave up so many big plays and yards because they were on the field damn near 70% of the time. That and the injuries. A position that no one really mentions is the DT position which was hit the hardest by injuries. I’d LOVE to the BUCS shock some people and draft a starting caliber DT as well as LB. Gerald McCoy AND Brian Price NEED to be pushed for those starting positions. Pressure up front would alleviate the absolute need for a “shutdown” corner like everyone is crying for.
Oh yea, You know who else was a “tackling machine”? Mason Foster
April 2nd, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Ronde starts over Biggers and Lewis Have A Nice Day, so a combo of Wright Barber and Biggers is better than what you said, however it is worse than what we had last year. We will be getting a corner in the draft no matter what, same for LB and RB.
April 2nd, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Joe says,
“assuming they don’t get all wacky and take Trent Richardson in the first round.”
C’MON MAN!!!!
Richardson is an awesome prospect, and you are WHACKY for thinking otherwise….
April 2nd, 2012 at 7:04 pm
we need to stop drafting player from pac 10 an out west.
April 3rd, 2012 at 10:49 am
I hope we go RB in the 2nd round. Thats means we passed on Trent Richardson!!! I want a CB or OT with the 5th pick in the draft if we can’t trade down which is my ultimate wish. Unless Mo is still there of course. Even if he is dumb as a rock off the field who cares. They get paid millions to play football not take test.
Claiborne 1 and LaMichael James 2. Enough said!!!!!!!!!
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:03 am
Even if Mo is still there…IF Cincy offers both 1st to move up to get TR3 then we have to do it. We can get our LB and CB with their 2 picks. That would be the biggest no brainer of the draft. And we could probably get a 4th or 5th out of the deal as well to replenish our terrible trade last draft for Puke Stocker!!!! That dude blows. He did at Tennessee and has so far in Tampa!! What a JOKE!!!!!!!! But since they signed the Lawfirm of BJE I don’t really see this happening. But reports have said for a couple months now that Cincy is enamored with TR3. Lets hope so!!