Bucs Won’t Draft Defensive-Back Heavy
January 26th, 2013
Joe remembers the San Francisco 49ers, in the early Bill Walsh days, were in a similar position as the Bucs, where there was such a void in the secondary, Walsh drafted four defensive backs in the Niners’ first five picks.
Three of those rookies (Ronnie Lott, the good Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson) started right away and helped the Niners win their first Super Bowl.
But it is rare that loading up so early on one position works. Based on that information, the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, cautions Bucs fans not to expect Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to pull a similar stunt.
Q: Do you think with the extra fourth-round pick that Tampa rolls the dice and picks up three cornerbacks in the first three rounds? One of them could also play safety in case Ronde Barber retires!
— George Hicks, Alba, Texas
A: I can’t see the Bucs using their first three draft picks on defensive backs. That strategy rarely works and the Bucs have other pressing needs like tight end, right tackle and along the defensive line. There’s no question the secondary needs a significant upgrade, but focusing exclusively on cornerback in the premium rounds of the draft is risky business. The Bucs will know whether Ronde Barber is returning before they start the draft, and you are correct in suggesting that decision will play a role in their overall strategy.
— eye-RAH! Kaufman
eye-RAH! is correct. The Bucs, though in need of corners, aren’t going to go nuts using half their picks on cornerbacks. That just isn’t going to happen.
If the Bucs trade down and land, say, Xavier Rhodes out of Florida State, that doesn’t mean the Bucs are going to go on a run of defensive backs.
Joe can see Dominik drafting two corners, no more.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:17 am
I love that all of the Bucs holes are where the Rock-star has been trying for years to solve, yet the sheep still think we have an all-star rock star gm.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:17 am
Tyler Eifert in the first and Xavier Rhodes in second!
January 26th, 2013 at 10:34 am
@ the_buc_realist
I see you keep beating the same ol’ tireless drum. For the sake of all man kind, and all Buc fans, keep it up, cause eventually one day you may get it right, and then finally you can say, I told you so.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:46 am
i don’t want to say “i told you so” . I just want a playoff team again.
January 26th, 2013 at 11:25 am
Why not strive for excellence? The owners have been dragged kicking and screaming to spend equally to our opposing teams. Why not use that to their advantage?
I remember, the Teflon Dom loading up on DT’s in one draft, much to the consternation of most fans and analysts. Then Dini’s biceps blew out, first in his bust rookie season and then his busted sophomore season. Then Price’s legs blew out, although he fought back valiantly through physical and personal tragedy, he was ultimately given the coup de grace by a very butch Little General during the dreaded and unnecessary 110X16 gauntlets.
They shoot horses, don’t they?
January 26th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Even though I would love to see us picking up Banks, I feel that he is going to have a heck of a combine and get picked 10th overall by the titans. I see us drafting Rhodes and D.Trufant, instantly improves our secondary.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
See them taking an OT (Fisher or Jones) who can play both sides of the line and eventually replace Penn in the 1st and a CB either by trading up to the bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Here’s what Bucs are drafting: TE, OL, CB, DT, WR (in any order)
January 26th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Great post Flboy84, although I don’t think there is any chance Fischer makes it out of the top 10 after the senior bowl, Arizona at number 7 is where I think he will be picked. With Dee Milliner almost a certainty to be gone I’m not sure about Banks at 13, Bucs could look at a few options, a few to consider but just my opinion and I don’t pretend to know more than the front office or anyone else. Trade down and hope to acquire more picks and move up our sencond round pick. Even the Broncos again at 28 for a 3rd round pick if possible. Then scenario A: Draft D.Trufont, trade extra 4th from Talib trade and move up in second round and draft Q.Patten WR, makes sense a could develop into a number 1 in 2-3 yrs when VJAX begins to age. Scenario B: Draft T.Effert and in second take Logan Ryan just some wild assumptions what does bucs nation think?? Most likely scenario draft Banks at 13, T.Austin or M.Goodwin would be great in 2nd and take care or a true slot WR and if D.Amerson was avaible in the 3rd round that would make for a great draft. Dream scenario would have either Milliner or Star. L were to fall out of the top 10, less than 5% chance this happens IMO, sorry for spelling errors on the names, what’s bucsnation think?? I’m bored and do realize these are wild scenarios and impossible to know or predict just having some fun.
January 26th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Saskbuco,
Agree it’s impossible to know what the front-office has planned, but it is fun to speculate. I actually do my own mock-draft and choose 3 players the team might take at each pick they’re at to start the draft. WAAAYYYY too much time on my hands, I know.
January 26th, 2013 at 4:47 pm
I wonder if Belicheat would swap #1 picks with the Bucs and while throwing in Ryan Mallet to sweeten the deal. That way the Bucs get a good QB and the Pats can pick up Eifert to supplement Gronkowski and Hernandez.
January 26th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I would take a chance on Revis. High risk, but high reward if it works. Throw in a few mid round picks if that’ll work.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
First, I don’t care what I-Ra says. He’s proven to be more of a patriots fan, than a Buc fan. If I want Brady news( which I don’t), then I’d listen to I-Ra
Secondly, our secondary was league worst. Barely escaped being the worst secondary in history. We have 3 backup CBs. No starters. Dom needs to sign at least one starting caliber CB, then Draft 2 high level rookies. Otherwise, our secondary will continue to suck so badly, that it will affect the entire team. You can’t get sacks, when every Reciever is always open
Probably needs a safety that can cover. Also
This secondary has been horrible for years. Raheem tried to cover that up by playing an extra DB.
Dom better get it right this draft
January 26th, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Revis would be great. Rather doubt the Jets actually let him Walk, though
January 27th, 2013 at 1:12 am
The way the D-line played this year I can’t imagine us drafting a d-lineman high in the draft. When we have such huge needs in the secondary. The front seven played well together. Miller, Mcoy, Bowers, and Clayborn should be a solid group of starters. If they can stay healthy. And we have some depth because of all the previous injuries to those players a few backups got some playing time and and played pretty well.
As far as O-line A right tackle would be nice. Although they also played well considering the injuries we had on the O-line. We lost two probowl Guards too injury and still had a good running game.
January 27th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Bacarri Rambo
January 27th, 2013 at 11:02 am
Yeah when do we ever do that, except for DE and WR the last two years.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Pass Defense 32nd sacking the QB 29th. Both of those positions go hand in hand. Improving one improves the other. I would like a DE and CB in free agency and a DE/DT in the 1st and a CB in the 2nd. Move up in the draft. Trade with Jacksonville for the #2 spot. You can give them our #1 , Blount , and Trueblood. Then we draft
1st Rd Jax trade)Star Lotulelei DT
2nd Rd)Logan Ryan/ David Amerson CB
3rd Rd)Eric Reid/T.J. McDonald FS
4th Rd)Xavier Nixon OT
4th Rd)Jelani Jenkins/ Jonathan Brown OLB
5th Rd)Michael Williams TE
6th Rd) Josh Boyce/Chris Harper WR
Free Agency
Pick up Brent Grimes or Dominik Roger-Cromartie
Get Cliff Avril (Cause we’re not resigning Bennett)
January 28th, 2013 at 12:11 am
We draft 2 CBs back to back.
First we sit and wait to see if we can get Dee Milliner at 13. If we don’t, we then take trade offers to move back a couple of spots and receive extra pick. If we get no offers we take the next best player available. If we are successful then we wait until it’s our turn again and we entertain more offers to move back again and gain another additional pick. If no offers, we take next highest ranked CB anyway. If we do get an offer we move back and wait and take the next highest ranked CB. Doing this and we can possibly pick up at least two additional picks and be right in line with taking a CB according to his 1st round ranking status.
If all this works and we finally make our first pick, we then try to parlay our 2nd round pick with an additional pick or just use our two new additional picks to move back into the bottom of the first round or top of 2nd round and choose the next best ranked CB. This can work if Dom and Schiano are savvy.
January 28th, 2013 at 1:36 am
@SirustheVirus
How can you trade Blount and Trueblood when they are not under contract?