Defensive End Is The Next Mission
January 6th, 2011
Alex Magee had a huge hand in the Bucs' 10th win
Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik reiterated his top three priorities for building a football team this morning on The Ron and Ian Show on WDAE-AM 620.
Step 1: Get a franchise quarterback
Step 2: Keep him upright via blocking and a good running game
Step 3: Get after the QB on defense
Hmmm. Step 1 and Step 2 are in damn fine shape. It’s got to be on to Step 3 this offseason.
After drafting two defensive tackles last year and finding serviceable Al Woods and Frank Okam, it seems that the inevitable next step for Dominik is at defensive end.
Former anointed starter Kyle Moore is still waiting on his first NFL sack after 16 games played, a nearly impossible feat in Joe’s mind. And Stylez White’s 4.5 sacks in 2010 surely didn’t make anyone believe he’s a returning starter.
Michael Bennett and Tim Crowder are talented young guys who seem well suited as role players. Alex Magee flashed some great stuff and two sacks in flimsy minutes.
But the Bucs’ defensive ends cranked out just 10.5 sacks as a unit. Frankly, that’s ugly.
Joe wonders whether Dominik will snatch a free agent defensive end and draft one as well. Looking at how he’s addressed receivers and defensive tackles, Dominik’s not afraid to do things in pairs.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
part 1. Sign Lamar Woodley in FA to play a 4-3 DE. Pay him out the nose, somewhere around 6 yrs 60mil.
part 2. Draft Ryan Kerrigan/Adrian Clayborn (if Akeem Ayers is off the board) to play the other end.
Akeem Ayers is going to be a monster id love this guy to be a buc, but if he is drafted grab our other DE of the future
that would solidify the Dline tremendously.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Travis,
I would love to sign Woodley. I’ve been suggesting that for months. But, I don’t see him playing DE. I saw him as an upgrade from Quincy Black.
I could be wrong, but I think he would play SAM backer in our defense.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Woodley played DE @ Michigan in a 4-3, the guy knows how to put his hand on the ground and he is stout, he would have no problem playing DE
January 6th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Frankly, I would:
1. Be surprised if we pick up any elite tier Pass Rushers in FA.
2. Not be surprised if we used a first and a third rounder to get TWO DE’s.
(Kerrigan and Romeus please… thankyouverymuch.)
January 6th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Drafting a DE in the first round is somewhat risky, just as any D lineman. We found that out before with Gaines Adams. I also like the idea of trying to get a proven DE through free agency. I think we need a franchise type Middle Linebacker as bad as we need a DE, and I would look possibly there in the Draft, or possibly FA again. With the 20’th pick we could also land another very good CB like Talib or Safety. Whatever happens, this is probably the time to spend the big bucks on a couple big name free agents. The Bucs have a good team now and could lure them in finally.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
I know I have said it before but I will keep saying until the draft:
Rounds
1. DE
2. run stuffing LB
3 or 4. DE
4 or 3. O-Line
Would LOVE for them to snag Duenta Williams in the later rounds. This guy is a great safety: big, fast, good tackler, ballhawk. Projected round 1 but broke his leg badly in the bowl game, could slip pretty far.
Also love the idea of trading Josh Johnson if they can get a 3rd rounder (or even second, though I doubt that). Carpenter would be a decent backup and they could bring in a vet as well.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Big Mac Attack:
drafting any position is risky. Their needs are at rushing the passer first and foremost. They have said over and over they are building through the draft. I see them drafting 2 DEs in this draft in the first 3 rounds.
The only FAs I see them signing are tier B guys who are young (ie. Sean Jones) to fill some holes as backups.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Kamerion Wimbley who is young (27) is also an option. He is a pure speed rusher with tons of athletic ability. With the firing of Tom Cable no Raider is going to be rushing to resign, so this guy could be an option, he will also demand a massive contract, but not quite as much as Woodley, probably around 6yr/45-50mil
January 6th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Why are some ppl thinking that Josh Johnson would get us a 3rd round pick?? get a clue ppl, we’d be lucky to get a 7th rounder for him
January 6th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
maybe cause I a m A OSU Alum but Cam heyward at # 20 would be great. If you saw his Sugar Bowl performance plus he is great against the run
January 6th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
The BUCS will go
DE
LB
DE
in the first three rounds.
I just hope that Claiborn from Iowa is the 1st
Or Kerrigan from Purdue
January 6th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Cam Heyward at the Bucs pick in the first round is too high
and he won’t be there at their pick in the 2nd.
January 6th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
im with Joe. Sign one of tha best proven FA DE and draft one. Worked out with Simeon Rice when he was here.
January 6th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Just heard that JJ Watts is declaring for the NFL this year
January 6th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
The truth is … I dont think there are any FA anywhere near Simeon Rice’s caliber .. I think Ray Edwards from the Vikes is the top FA .. He is a glorified LE that averages around 5-8 Sacks a yr and will get overpaid.
January 6th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
@Travis, @-HGO- Having Woodley would be awesome. With the way Raheem’s defense works he would almost certainly play both defensive end AND linebacker. Its possible that Raheem would keep him at linebacker in the 4-3 but not likely. He’s considered a decent pass coverage linebacker in the Steelers 3-4. But in a 4-3, the coverage responsiblities are considerably tougher than what a 3-4 OLB usually has to deal with. The most likely scenario is that he would play DE when the Bucs are in a 4-3 and then stand up as a linebacker when they are in a 3 man front to utilize his supreme blitzing ability. The similarly bodied Tim Crowder played that exact role at times this year and pretty much sucked at it but I’m sure Woodley would excel. Woodley is exactly the player the Bucs need if these three man fronts they are playing are going to scare anyone.
January 6th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
I’d rather get the best DE in free agency rather than draft one in the 1st round. This team should be making a serious push for the playoffs next season, and not just that, but look to make a run in the playoffs also. Check out our schedule for 2011. It’s VERY TOUGH!
We need someone who’s gonna make an impact immediately. If our line underperforms again next year, there’s no way we’ll be able to make the playoffs especially with the schedule we have. Realistically, if we get a DE out of the 1st round, he won’t do crap his first year which is typical for most rookie D lineman. And when we’re making a playoff push, that’s not what we need. Plus, our line is ineffective enough and young enough as it is. We need to surround McCoy and Price with sure, proven guys. Doing that will make them both better players. Moore, Bennett, Crowder and White won’t.
McCoy played very good the second half of the season this year. And Price went to IR before we could really see him. I realize that McCoy was only a rookie this past year, but I’m positive the lousy talent we’ve had at DE has been a big reason for no impact from our DT’s. This goes for Roy Miller also. If we can get two proven DE’s, not only will we have good DE’s. It’ll make our whole line better.
What we do at DE is very important this offseason. We’ve already built a good group of young players from the past two drafts. Now it’s time to dig into free agency to push us over the top.
January 6th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
All interesting comments. It seems to me the Bucs will want to do this draft at DE that they did at WR last draft. That would be great, but as pointed out here, D-linemen take a few years to develop, so signing a Free agent DE & drafting another makes the most sense.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
@jvato24- Edwards might get over paid a little but its not like he’s going to get Julius Peppers money. Probably something more like Kyle Vanden Bosch money. The Bucs should absolutely be in the market to spend that kind of money this offseason. Edwards might only have had eight sacks each of the past two seasons(as well as exploding for four during the 2009 playoffs) but when ALL of your DE’s combined only managed 10.5 sacks, getting eight sacks out of one guy is definitely an upgrade. The thing is Edwards is only 26 and still probably hasn’t maxed out his upside. There may not be a Simeon Rice in this free agency at DE. Charles Johnson has the most upside to become a true superstar but also is much more likely to be resigned by his own team than Edwards. Linebacker Lamarr Woodley, on the other hand, is definitely a star caliber talent. He is the classic “tweener” type player at 6’2″ 265lbs, who has the potential to be able to play both 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE. He would have incredible versatility, which would make him invaluable in Raheem’s multiple front defensive scheme. It’s looking like it will be very tough for the Steelers to be able to resign him if he becomes an UFA. If he is available and willing to come to Tampa, he is one free agent I would hope that the Bucs would pull out all the stops to sign.
January 8th, 2011 at 9:53 am
adrian clayborne