The Miserable 2011 Draft (So Far)
June 7th, 2014
When people asked Joe about the recent Bucs draft, the first of the Lovie Smith era, Joe often responded to get back with Joe in three years. It is often a crapshoot to judge a draft before a training camp practice has even been held.
So, Joe thinks it is fair to ask about the 2011 draft. Looking back, with three seasons of history, it was a miserable draft, even though Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, who should never be allowed to do a mock draft (his record is abysmal) thinks the Bucs drafted OK. He game them a C-grade, in fact.
The Buccaneers have struggled stringing together strong drafts in succession. Although the team has certainly accumulated some talent on the roster, the holes at defensive end have remained a sore spot for a franchise that won a Super Bowl title on the strength of a ferocious defense and pass rush. In 2011, the Buccaneers attempted to address the void with Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers to no avail. While Clayborn has been steady, the team has gotten nothing from Bowers. Mason Foster helped upgrade the defense between the tackles, but his production couldn’t mask the woes of a defense that needed some more juice at the point of attack.
Sorry, Joe has to give that grade, as we stand, a “D,” which could change to a D- in a few months.
Thus far, the only reliable player the Bucs got in that draft is middle linebacker Mason Foster, who Joe has been high on for a couple of years and may be on the cusp of eating pineapple.
The rest of the draft is a big ol’ “Meh!”
Adrian Clayborn hasn’t had a decent year since his rookie year. Of course, he was injured his second year and played in a chaotic scheme last year while not quite recovered from his knee surgery.
Da’Quan Bowers’ shortcomings are well documented. He has made a bigger name for himself with a gun hassle in New York than anything he has done of the field of play, which hasn’t been much. Now his assistant coach is trying to light a fire under him. In June!
Luke Stocker is on the verge of being cut; he’s likely the fourth of four tight ends on the roster, and Joe would be shocked if Lovie kept four tight ends on the final 53-man roster.
It is awfully suspicious how Ahmad Black, who played quite a bit even under former Bucs commander Greg Schiano, hasn’t yet sniffed another team’s locker room since he was unexpectedly cut from the Bucs after the fourth game of the season last year. It wasn’t like the Bucs were stocked with safeties. You mean another team couldn’t use an experienced safety, even for camp meat, not even in Canada?
Allen Bradford lasted about as long as a cold beer on a hot summer weekend afternoon, and Anthony Gaitor was recently waved goodbye after seeing little playing time and being oft-injured.
There is no polite way of saying it. It is pretty bad out of a whole draft when only one reliable starter is left three years later. Joe’s grade for this draft could go way up or way down depending on what Clayborn and Bowers do this year.
June 7th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Agree with you Joe!
Even better:
The trade up for stocker cost us two fourth rounders, one of those picks was sent to the Texans for MLB Demeco Ryans.
Dominick proclaimed Luke Stocker had a second round grade, and it was a good deal.
We could have had Cam Jordan rather then Clayborn. Also, I was completely happy to get Bowers in the second. Whoops!
This draft is looking promising. Offense shouldn’t be cellar dweller.
How do you anticipate Mike William in. Buffalo? I think Evans is better this year.
June 7th, 2014 at 4:50 pm
“Of course, he was injured his second year and played in a chaotic scheme last year while not quite recovered from his knee surgery.”
Why say anything else?
June 7th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
JBF regulars could have formed a selection committee and done a better job than what Dom did. This was an awful draft
June 7th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Clayborn will come through and Foster will continue to excel. The rest is a wash.
June 7th, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Joe gives a conditional passing grade to Bowers who has barely seen the field on Sunday…and dogs Clayborn who has let it all hang out and been a 1/2 a step so many time from a kill….
June 7th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
@RastaMon: If Clayborn was often a half step away from the kill, he would have been highly regarded by Lovie as Michael Johnson is. Michael Johnson despite low sack total had a lot of pressures last year while Clayborn was among the worst DEs in that regard. I guess only the pewter colored glass wearing see Clayborn a couple of steps farther than where he is.
June 7th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
Didn’t Ahmad Black get signed by the Dolphins?
June 7th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
I would almost be willing too give it an F. Just horrible years of drafting by the Rockstar, Gerald McCoy fell into his lap so I really cant even give him any credit for that, just horrible. Not too mention our mega star free agents we brought in, Derrick Ward, Carl Nicks, Eric Wright, Michael Koenen, Kevin Ogletree, Byron Leftwich. I would even consider throwing the rivis trade in there, sure he’s a great man corner but we got donkeypunched on that deal. Im willing too cut him a break on nicks cuz u cant predict injuries but still a bad pickup. Its no wonder this team hasn’t been good in 10 years.
June 7th, 2014 at 6:05 pm
*Revis
June 7th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Clayborn always gets the knee injury excuse, why doesn’t Bowers get the Achilles excuse?
Black should sign with Colorado or Seattle where weed is legal.
June 7th, 2014 at 7:18 pm
I have more confidence in Clayborn than Bowers.
June 7th, 2014 at 7:39 pm
I often wondered what would have played out if Dom dropped his offer to the Jets. New York would get nothing (beyond last year’s service) from Revis, and the player was sure to be moving on this year. Why not drop the price in a captive seller situation? The Jets would have dropped the price or fielded a player going elsewhere.
Also, it seemed clear for much of last year that Revis was still recovering and that Schiano was covering for him. Indeed, I got the feeling that Schiano covered for several players and took the heat himself. Not that he got any thanks or props from the biggest perps. Revis was one of the first to toss the coach overboard. Especially to the national media — he was too special to talk turkey with the local scrubs.
June 7th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
Adrian Clayborn had a rough go at a it-a couple years. 1st it was the lack of inside rush pressure w/ GMC being injured to years in a row. The he himself got injured.-But a late 1st round pick-With all the BS that’s been going on in the organization-He’s been productive enough. Expecting big things from the Big guy this year
Ahmad Black is terrible in space, slow, and undersized (Not many 5’8 ish safeties in the league). Wish him all the best though-He should have-no shame in playing in Canada
June 7th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Just to name a few teams the bucs had more sacks than cowboys, bears, Steelers, Texans and because of a horrible scheme finished 23rd, coming off surgery clayborn was behind David and mccoy in sacks despite the stunting, the final year we had Bennett mccoy finally had 5 and stayed healthy but he was regarded as a superstar. Mccoy had one great year so did clayborn and without the help of mccoy so get of that dudes back Joe
So now you have the clout to question Bucky Brooks? When did mock drafts become more important than talent evaluating?
June 7th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Clayborn is a decent player. He’s got the effort and tenacity to be better than that in the new D. I like the guy and his attitude and I’d love to see him succeed and stick around for awhile, even if he’s a backup. Bowers is toast. Chaz Sutton will make the team before him, as will Steven Means (business).
June 7th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
@buc4lyfe: You might not BE stupid, but your posts sure make you SEEM stupid. Sheesh dude, learn how to put a sentence together. We shouldn’t be forced to decipher your gibberish.
June 7th, 2014 at 8:49 pm
Clayborn needs to step up, he has a motor but he doesn’t have the natural speed and agility to beat left tackles. And with his palsy I don’t think he is effective off the left side. He’s a good dude and hard fighter, but he just doesnt have the quickness. At least he hasn’t showed it yet.
June 7th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
@Piratic
Your a turd buglar
How long will it take to decipher that, I’ve had sentences come out much worse than that from my phone so don’t use the word WE, you deal with your own autism
June 7th, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Back on topic Joe you should be talking about Dominick and that photo should be of Bowers, how can a guy come to camp every off-season saying he needs to get into shape and stocker shouldn’t have lasted here long as he has. Really since Dominick has taken over with the exception of the last two years, we’d come out of am entire draft with one starter, the rest of his picks end up on other teams but mostly out off the league which makes him a perfect fit for espn analyst
June 7th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
@buc4lyfe: You meant to type “YOU’RE a turd BURGLAR.
–See what I mean? You can’t even put a four-word sentence together!
And don’t blame the phone. It’s you that’s the problem, not the phone.
June 7th, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Wow I’m being stalked by an English teacher….school is out and your sad awww but yea you seriously need to get help
June 7th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
@piratic
I’m done with you so I’ll see you on the post psycho
June 7th, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Piratic- quit being ridiculous. If I wanted English professors I would go to another site. So, if that is what you want…
I think Claybourne had a solid year coming off injury and will be a surprise this year when he gets double digit sacks. Why then did we get Johnson? We need a true RE pass rusher and Claybourne is more LE. Don’t give me the palsy crap, Claybourne rushed better from the LE last year then RE, should have had at least 2 more sacks that were taken away by penalties.
I still have a little hope for Bowers…but let’s see him in camp and preseason. It takes a few years for linemen.
June 7th, 2014 at 9:52 pm
Hence the unemployment line.
June 7th, 2014 at 9:57 pm
For all u English teachers out there, your brain can Decipher words with out them being spelled correctly. .an punctuation is overrated unless u write for a living..so if u cant read run on Sentences than your just not that good of a reader..oh yea an clayborn will progress in this d
June 7th, 2014 at 10:47 pm
@Piratic, I’m with you.
June 7th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
@jaydid I’m not as big on spelling n whatnot either, but at least spell the mans name right. Clayborn.
I think Clay is gonna show up n show out this year. He’s got talent. Just never had a decent coach. He’s healthy. I doubt he’s going to be standing up since Schiano is gone. Him n Johnson will switch from side to side. I can see 10+ sacks. I doubt bowers will make it over Gholston or Means. But for some reason I feel we’re gonna cut him and he’s gonna tear it up for like the falcons or sum shit.
June 8th, 2014 at 12:51 am
It isn’t Claybourne, it is Clayborn. Just an fyi. I understand phone or tablet issues. What I can’t stand is when people don’t know the difference between your and you’re, or to, too, or two. And while I’m at it, wash does not have an “r” in it, and it’s not beers avenue, it is bears avenue (pronounced bares; or like the animal). Learn that news traffic reports!! Grrrr.
Ahem.
I think Mason Foster will have a breakout year this year. Clayborn as well.
June 8th, 2014 at 7:42 am
The best thing we could have done in this organization is show Dom the door…been saying that for years. He and Bruce Allen were contract guys but not personnel guys. Expect great things in the future, liked last two drafts, but the truth was that Dom wouldn’t know a good draft player if it fell right in his lap.
June 8th, 2014 at 8:45 am
Cam Jordan had proven his was a far better prospect before the 2011 draft and yet we still took the one-armed no burst having RDE-only in Clayborn…I was pissed, still am. I thought we got a steal with Bowers in round 2…and I’m pissed about that too.
June 8th, 2014 at 9:15 am
And who was responsible for this draft Joe? Your described Rockstar
June 8th, 2014 at 10:11 am
Lol @ all the people butthurt because of their clear inability to construct a proper sentence. It isn’t that difficult to cohesively illustrate a thought with correct punctuation and capitalization, so it is either our population is hopelessly stupid, or they operate with a disgusting level of laziness. If someone fits into both categories I’d suggest you stop hanging out with Josh Freeman.
Considering the actual topic at hand, I see Clayborn developing in the Michael Bennett mold: not an overly efficient pass rusher, but stupendous against the run. Clayborn is a run-stuffing machine who can occasionally put pressure on a quarterback. That’s not 1st round value, but it is value as a rotational end. Bowers on the other hand, I have no hope for. Your team fires its head coach, brings in a consummate professional who has earned the respect of the entire league, and you can’t even get into shape? He doesn’t seem to have much motivation in the way of football and I won’t be surprised one bit to see him not among the 53 left standing.
June 8th, 2014 at 10:51 am
No biggie for typos or wrongly spelled words, we can figure out what you are saying. But if you are talking about the avenue in north Tampa, that would be Bearss Ave.
June 8th, 2014 at 10:52 am
Don’t forget Dom took Barron over Kuechly.
June 8th, 2014 at 10:54 am
Clayborne’s played with no heart last year. Just went through the motions. Didn’t play with aggression, took bad angles, let the QB slip away, and lost his bullrush.
Watch him on the double reverse that St. Louis ran on us last year. Perfect example.
June 8th, 2014 at 11:31 am
@ Ryan
Amen brother.
June 8th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
“Rockstar”!
Go Bucs!!!
June 8th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Orca Says:
June 7th, 2014 at 10:47 pm
@Piratic, I’m with you.
–Thanks man!
June 8th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
@Jaydid: Not being ridiculous, just calling out those who are too lazy to put in the effort to produce a cogent thought. Clearly, typos are acceptable, but when an individual consistently shows a lack of understanding of the written word, well, I reserve the right to call them out.
BTW, I’m a blue-collar guy, not an English professor.
June 8th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
“For all u English teachers out there, your brain can Decipher words with out them being spelled correctly. .an punctuation is overrated unless u write for a living..so if u cant read run on Sentences than your just not that good of a reader..”
@dabucs: I’ve copied your post so I can ridicule you, point by point.
First, it’s YOUR (all of us, that is) responsibility to produce a thought that DOESN’T HAVE TO BE DECIPHERED, not OUR responsibility to try and figure out what you’re talking about. Get that straight right now.
Second, punctuation is NOT overrated. Period.
Third, well…BWAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! You funny!
June 8th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Ryan Says:
June 8th, 2014 at 10:11 am
“Lol @ all the people butthurt because of their clear inability to construct a proper sentence. It isn’t that difficult to cohesively illustrate a thought with correct punctuation and capitalization, so it is either our population is hopelessly stupid, or they operate with a disgusting level of laziness.”
+1
June 8th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Dominick TRADED UP FOR STOCKER. He saw him and said, “I MUST HAVE THAT TALENT!”
Just like he re-signed Michael Clayton by looking at the body of work and saying, “YES!! MORE MORE MORE!!!”
The worst GM in Bucs HISTORY. We wasted FIVE YEARS under him. The one guy in 5 years who has received a contract extension was immediately traded for almost nothing.
And ESPN hires him as an ANALYST? That’s like hiring Michael Moore to comment on P90X.
June 8th, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Buccfan37 Says:
June 8th, 2014 at 10:51 am
“No biggie for typos or wrongly spelled words, we can figure out what you are saying.”
-1
Completely disagree with the idea that it’s ok. Typos happen, (proofreading is your friend) but I will never be of the belief that it’s MY responsibility to use my knowledge of the language to offset someone else’s inability (whatever the reason) to use the same language. If you’re going to create your own version of the language, expect to be criticized.
Understand, I not a prep school graduate. I went to public school, so I had the same opportunities as most.
June 8th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Lol
BucTrooper=The_Buc_Realist?
June 8th, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Piratic Says: Understand, I not a prep school graduate. I went to public school, so I had the same opportunities as most.
Lol I’ve got nothin
June 8th, 2014 at 3:33 pm
I believed and still do believe that picking the best available talent on the board is a better strategy then strictly picking for team needs. This is mostly true in the first and second round. The other rounds are for depth. It’s never a good idea to head into a draft with the plan of taking two defensive ends like that. This is chess not checkers. Dom needs to stick to being a rockstar(Joe’s words) and not a GM.
June 8th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Morris was a worse judge of talent I’ve ever seen.
I’m sure if Morris was HC today we would seeing
Manziel Buccaneer jerseys in Tampa.
“HEY! Lets trade up and draft Josh Freeman!”
June 9th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
@mpmalloy
And on top of being a horrible talent evaluator he’s not even that good of a DB coach (let alone HC, at least Schiano got rid of the slackers and added some young talent in the draft for the Bucs). Redskins secondary has pretty much sucked since Rah took over that show. Probably a real nice guy to throw a few back with, but how he is still employed in any NFL coaching capacity is a mystery.