Mark Dominik Has Done A “Brilliant Job”
March 25th, 2011
Is Dominik's next stroke of brilliance letting Barrett Ruud walk? A top NFL.com expert says that's in the cards.
The way Bucs general manager Mark Dominik has handled his first two drafts with the Bucs and the way he has taken to the national media, both with the looks and mannerisms and natural quips of a TV anchorman, Joe dubbed Dominik the rock star of general managers.
Seems someone well-connected and well-respected in NFL circles agrees with Joe.
In a recent article detailing the draft motives of the NFC South teams, NFL.com analyst, Sirius NFL Radio talking head and CBSSports.com expert Pat Kirwan both waxed poetic about Dominik, and indirectly dropped a mini-bomb shell that will likely provoke many shallow-minded Bucs fans to race to Ybor City to tilt a few bottles.
GM Mark Dominik has done a brilliant job in his first two drafts and needs to put another class together. The team got 52 starts from its rookie class a year ago and quickly developed WR Mike Williams, WR Arrelious Benn, S Cody Grimm, DT Gerald McCoy and RB LeGarrette Blount.
It’s no secret a pass rushing defensive end is missing, and should be available with the 20th overall pick. I also hear middle linebacker Barrett Ruud will not be brought back, so a signal-caller who can play the Tampa 2 defense is important. CB Ronde Barber re-signed, but the team must find and develop the 14-year veteran’s eventual replacement.
Whoa, so the Bucs won’t be bringing back Barrett Ruud? This comes as a surprise to Joe. Kirwan kindly gave Joe a few minutes of his precious time at Super Bowl Media Day last month where Ruud was the lone subject Joe discussed with Kirwan and this never came up in conversation.
Joe knows Kirwan is very plugged in with the Bucs — he lives in Naples. Now the puzzle is trying to figure out where Kirwan got his information, from Ruud, from Raheem Morris or perhaps from Dominik himself?
Kirwan does a considerable amount of draft prep and general research by buttonholing general managers and scouts.
Knowing the vast amount of high-level contacts Kirwan has and the amount of insiders he speaks to on a daily basis, this isn’t like some unnamed blogger in Charlotte throwing out wishful thinking.
As for Dominik, if his draft next month is anything close to what he raked in last year, Dominik, to the absolute gall of a few haters, will be around for quite some time.
March 25th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I’m no fan of Barrett Ruud, but I do think he’s serviceable…..if they let him go they better damn well be able to find someone that’s an immediate upgrade
March 25th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
dominik has gotten more production out his two years worth of 4th round thru 7th/undrafted free agents than bruce allen ever did with his 1st thru 3rd rounders.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Oh Gosh, is JBF getting redundant as heck. Please end this lockout!!!
March 25th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Kirwin got this from JBF. He keeps reading it and it has finally sunk in as a possibility.
March 25th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
We can only pray that Kirwan is right about Barrett. Please no more
arm tackles of rumbling running backs breaking off for 30 and 40 yards. I have seen enough!! Please get someone who can step up into the hole and destroy someone. We haven’t had that since Derrick and Sheldon.
March 25th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
The Bucs got another 7th round pick (244 overall)
March 25th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
*Lagarette Blount
why did Mark Dominik not draft him?
Without LeGarrette Blount efforts and success…it would have been dismal
no guarantee LeGarrette Blount won’t get tangled up with a freak training camp injury and never revisited his rookie form…..witness Carnell
just a reality reminder how utterly barnen our RB barn is….
all the DC’s next year KNOW THIS !
March 25th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Are we sure that this is not pure conjecture on the part of Kirwan. He did not quote Dominik and as I recall this is quite unlike Dominik to release someone in the press. I prefer to err on the side of caution, and wait to hear officially from the Bucs before I run with this.
March 25th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Immediate upgrade from Barrett Ruud? Any one of the 3 stooges……
March 25th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
“Word has it” that Sabby Piscatelli has bulked way up, and is prepared to return to Tampa to replace Barrett Ruud. NOT !!!!
March 25th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
I heard from a good friend that Kirwan’s ‘source’ was a barber who cuts Derrick Brooks hair. He overheard Derrick saying that he was working out and was going to One Buc Place and replace Ruud next season.
March 25th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Joe here,
Well done, Mr. Lucky. Nothing like a good barber joke.
March 25th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
The gall of some “haters” requiring that Mr. Dom actual produce a playoff team or division title before drooling all over him and labeling him the “rock star”.
Or, how about a championship?
A probowler?
Something?
March 25th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Joe here,
@Eric — If it makes you happy, rock stars usually fall from grace quickly, get hooked on drugs, bang sleazy broads and end up on VH-1.
March 25th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Really Eric, you hate the guy because in his long tenure (two years) as NFL General Manager he hasn’t managed to draft a Pro Bowler? You have got to be the only person on earth that can’t see the talent that he’s put on this team, I take that back, there’s two more whiners like you posting on these boards. Get a grip dude.
It is possible to support the team while having some doubts about certain aspects of it but lets be realistic here.
The future’s bright and all you and your little friends can do is cry about every single topic.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
Barrett’s #1 problem is he is too slow. He could be a little stronger too, but he is too slow to run down TE’s and receivers in coverage. He was 4.75 and I’d bet he’s lost at least 2/10ths since his draft.
March 26th, 2011 at 12:03 am
Hey Joe are your inferring that we’ll see Tanard Jackson on VH1? 🙂
March 26th, 2011 at 12:33 am
eric…..you sir are a true idiot!!! please return to your shift at burger king and leave the talk to people who have a brain, keep working hard though pal, soon you will get to work the drive through!!! and dont screw up my order…DUMMY
March 26th, 2011 at 1:38 am
…hmmm…while I think Barrett Ruud is “serviceable” in his current role as MLB, I know that Kirwan gives him a lot of respect for properly diagnosing and then setting the defense…but this is the first time I’ve heard him allude to Ruud not getting another contract here in Buc-land.
I have to wonder if the reports we’ve been hearing about the Bucs possibly becoming active in free agency, and specifically concerning a LB…aren’t ALSO rooted in fact?
I think the old style of Tampa-2 is ready for a hybrid step – we’ve rebuilt the interior of the defensive line, we’re going to address the edge-rush – but didn’t we also hear that we need to get bigger in the middle…?
…quick…can anyone tell me if: A) Lance Briggs plays bigger than Barrett Ruud? B) the Bears are still trying to dangle him as trade bait?
March 26th, 2011 at 2:30 am
GotBBucs I love ur posts….anyone hating on MD is def a doofus.
March 26th, 2011 at 9:31 am
MD = Dr. Draft
March 27th, 2011 at 4:41 am
Ruud has more value elsewhere than he does here. He is currently listed as the number one FA linebacker on most boards, including WalterFootball. MLB in our scheme is not going to get top dollar, as it is primarily a pass coverage posistion. Ruud will get a huge contract, and excell as a more traditional LB. This will cause his critics to go into seizures,or talk of how the coaching staff failed to utilize him properly. In truth, he does exactly what a MLB in the Tampa scheme is supposed to do, as noted by every former Buc player, Scout, or coach- except Ian Beckles, who sadly is just trying to get anyone to listen to his sad excuse for a show.
We will find another MLB who excels at pass coverage, and will be fine, except for the cries of the uneducated, whining how the new guy isn’t physical enough- just like those idiots have about every MLB that’s played here in Monte Kiffin’s Scheme.
The important question is, who is gonna replace the BLAcK and Hayes, who both failed miserably last year. That is the question being asked by all the experts. Those two both played horribly against the run last year, and have to be replaced to improve the run defense.