Focused On Free Agents Out Of Playoff Hunt
December 26th, 2012
So what’s rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and his staff up to during the final two weeks of the season?
First, every last Buccaneers scout is at bowl games, not NFL games, Dominik said Sunday on the Buccaneers Radio Network. That’s surely a by-product of being elminated from the playoffs.
Also, the Bucs are dialed in on the film of potential free agents they like and have identified as potential targets, in order to see how they perform through the final two games. Dominik said extra attention is paid to players that are out of the playoff hunt. Dominik said it’s key to study whether a player can rise above his team’s situation “to find out how important football is to him.”
Of course, it’s safe to assume the Bucs also are heavily self-scouting their own team to see whose effort might have fallen off in December.
The Bucs have lots of decisions to make on soon-to-be free agents, such as Roy Miller, Michael Bennett, E.J. Biggers, Dallas Clark, LeGarrette Blount and more.
December 26th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Miler and Bennett will be here…
Biggers ,Clark and Blount will be gone….book it ..
December 26th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
There are two things that I observed that somebody at the Bucs ought to have on the front burner – Blount was not used and Michael Smith never played. Something needs to be done about the RB situation to complement Doug Martin in 2013. Let me share two things that I know as a matter-of-fact.
The Rams have intimated and every NFL analyst agrees that they will not bring back Steven Jackson at 7mil a year plus roster bonuses. I saw with my own eyes, Fisher give Blount a big hug after the Rams game last week. He has openly said that he regretted placing Blount on the PS when he was at the Titans. My opinion – there’s a trade for a pick opportunity there.
At the end of the draft last year, an unnamed team offered the Bucs a 6th round pick for Michael Smith after the Bucs selected him in the 7th round. I believe that team to be the Seahawks after they drafted Robert Turbin in the 4th round. Turbin and Smith were quite a 1-2 punch at Utah State before the draft. With Smith not having been exposed at the Bucs other than preseason where he looked the part, I believe that trade opportunity is also still there.
I have no idea what Schiano and Dominik will do with either player, but I was left wondering what they were thinking this year. If the rumors are true that Butch Davis is headed to FIU, somebody over there needs to sharpen their edge for 2013!
December 26th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I agree I would like to either see the trade of Blount or let him get more involved. I believe they brought Ware in to let Blount and Smith develop because he was fimiliar with Sullivans offense, but I don’t know now. Really thought both of those players would have seen more playing time in the last couple games. Personally I would think they’d use Blount to pound it and Martin on 3rd downs untill the 2nd half then let Martin go at it. I just feel Martin would be more effective if the Defense was tired and Martin fresh. Nice change of pace. Would love to see them get Michael Smith back on KR/PR just to get him involved with live game play instead of practice all year.
December 26th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
After Sunday Blount is a restricted free agent and there are many teams licking their chops thinking they have a shot. If I were the Teflon Dom, I would be spending this week signing LGB to a long term, cap friendly contract with the intention of trading him for maximum value.
I’m not an expert on restricted free agents, I believe the Bucs will receive some compensation when he leaves, but how much? LGB cost the Bucs virtually nothing and he’s averaging one carry per game. They might receive a case of powdered Gatorade and a bag of used footballs.
Maybe, Belicheat could use him and a 4th round pick(Talib trade) for Ryan Mallett since the Pats aren’t using RM and they only have 5 picks. The Boston papers and fans would love it.
December 26th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Macabee,
Blount is restricted. We could receive as high as a first round pick if we tender him that high (which isn’t much when compared to other starters in the league).
I am 99% sure the team that offered a 6th rounder for Michael Smith was the Washington Redskins. Smith came from a read-option offense in college and obviously the Skins planned on running that O frequently. Also, the Redskins picked not too far back from where we picked Smith. I can’t remember why exactly, but there were other reasons why I was sure it was the Redskins.
BTW, we don’t need to trade Smith, we need to use him. He was the best kick returner so far this season but because he hasn’t worked his way to the top 3 as a RB he hasn’t been activated. Danny Ware is nothing to write home about so it Smith ever figures out the offense, perhaps he moves up the depth chart.
December 26th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I think the Bucs should give Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie a serious look.
December 26th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Let me help you out here, Miguel. A restricted free agent is subject to the tender that is placed on him by the contracted team. In Blount’s case, If the Bucs place a 3rd or 4th round tender on him the interested team would have to yield a pick commensurate with the tender and negotiate a new contract with Blount.
With respect to Ryan Mallet, no team is going to bet it’s franchise on a player that has had a known substance abuse problem without overwhelming on field performance and demontrated proof that recidivism is not an issue. A long shot not likely to even be considered.
December 26th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Brandon, I can’t argue whether it was the Seahawks or the Skins. I knew for a fact that an offer was made. I don’t remember it being disclosed. I do know about the Turbin pick and Smith’s college relationship with him.
As you suggest, I knew that Blount will be a RFA. But I’m sure you’re well aware that Blount is not a starter andiIf the Steelers couldn’t move Mike Wallace with a 1st round tender, Blount has no chance.
For the record, I’m not for trading Blount or Smith. I firmly believe if you have a player with trade value and you don’t intend to use him, makes sense to me to trade him! Simple!
December 26th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
There are teams out there that definitely view Blount as a starter.
December 26th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
All I’m going to say is that Mark Dominic better do everything in his power to draft outstanding corners and at lease try to get Dominic RogersCromartie down here!!! He set us up for failure with the Talib trade I don’t care what no one else has to say about it. He knew Eric Wright was going to be suspended and he still traded Talib while we were still in the playoffs hunt!
December 26th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@Fan
Yes. Dominick absolutely knew we would fail and put his job at risk fully knowing that we would suck horribly when he traded Talib. Lol. I cant do anything but shake my head at that comment.
December 26th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I like DRC connection here as well, he would definitely be our best corner and also draft a corner with first pick, looks like we may be in top ten. There may not be any top tier shut down corners but they can’t be as bad as we have now.
December 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
We take Dee Millinar with our first pick than trade back into the first with our fourth rounder and snag Banks from Mississippi State. It would be the best scenerio for us and its totally possible. That would give us the option of signing whichever QB the FO thinks would be best to compete with Free for the job. If we are looking for a smart accurate QB my choice would be Alex Smith.
December 26th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I like the idea of Rodgers Cromardie. If the Bucs land him, maybe draft a DT in the first round to go along side GMC. The draft appears to be deep in DL. If Steven Jackson is a FA this year, he would be a good addition to go with Martin.
December 26th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
PRBucFan
If we could even get Alex Smith even looking east toward Tampa i would be excited for that.
December 26th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
One of the concerns I have with Shiano, and I have a few, is the pounding of D.Martin game after game. martin is a talented kid and has stayed healthy, BUT, look around the league and tell me how many teams feature a single back. he not a small guy, but not a big guy either, and statistics do not lie, the more carries you get without injury, your chances get greater with every carry. This feature back stuff may have worked in college, but we all know this aint college. I hope Martin doesnt go the way of Earl Cambell, and get beat up so quickly he’s loses his edge after couple of years. All NFL team use a combo back system to some extent, even the most successful college teams use two backs as ‘Bama and Georgia come to mind. D. Ware is not that guy, that Blount could be,but apparently not for Shiano, but we better get a RB to take some carries from Martin of we’ll use him up real fast, IMO.
December 26th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
DRC would be a big upgrade for this secondary in terms of coverage, but damn that guy is one SOFT tackler..
December 26th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
@ SilenceTheCritics
I never said “Dominick absolutely knew we would fail and put his job at risk fully knowing that we would suck horribly when he traded Talib.” I said he traded Talib knowing Eric wright would be suspended. So take that how you want too, but how do you leave your secondary out there without a true starer?
December 26th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
@Fan
Simple. Talib is not a true starter and never was. He is good for a few picks every now and then but he is also good for letting receivers run by him and catch long TDs. Sounds familiar? Our pass defense was horrible with him and they are the same without him. Would he upgrade our pass defense right now? Sure. Would he take us to the playoffs? I seriously doubt that. I would take the 4th round pick for him any day and try to draft his replacement.
December 26th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
We disagree on that silence. Talib is absolutely a starter. His only issue on the field was always his aggressive style which can be coached. It was an extreme disadvantage in Tampa where he was put on an island every snap and where he had absolutely no help whatsoever as far as talent goes in the CB area.
December 26th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Trade for Ryan Mallet to push Free, D. Byrd is a RFA so do anythig to get him. sign DRC, draft J. Banks the dude is 6’3!! and finally re-sign Roy miller and Micheal Bennett