Bucs Don’t Touch O-Line, Receivers
April 30th, 2011
The Bucs’ brass says it wants to build through the draft and treat free agency as a last resort. They speak of free agency as if dabbling seriously in it is like admitting to owning a frequent diver card at the Mustang Ranch.
Therefore, the Bucs’ offensive linemen and receiving corps should be breathing very easily right now. The Bucs didn’t draft an O-lineman or a wideout in the 2011 draft.
Joe believes this is a strong clue the Bucs think the NFL is likely to play the 2011 season under the 2010 league rules. If that’s the case, then the Bucs would have already locked up Jeremy Trueblood and Davin Joseph with restricted free agent tenders. And with Donald Penn, Ted Larsen, James Lee, Jeremy Zuttah, Jeff Faine, Brandon Carter and Derek Hardman, plus Demar Dotson returning from injury, the Bucs are darn deep at the position.
As for wide receiver, rock star general manager Mark Dominik already told Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, during an exclusive interview for WDAE-AM 620, that Arrelious Benn has made a miraculous recovery from his ACL surgery and his ready to take the field.
Since free agency is The Great Satan, Joe assumes the Bucs like their receiving corps. Rightfully so.
April 30th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
I look forward to seeing what Dotson does this year. Hopefully Larsen is not a one year wonder and continues to improve. I’m ready for the season to start already.
April 30th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
If we count all the free agents as back. Those are our two deepest positions. So many young wrs looked great last season. offensive line so many backups looked like starters it was crazy!
April 30th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Yeah, but where is that speed WR that Dominik said he wanted to stretch the field and open up the middle for Benn and Williams?
April 30th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I have to say I am so pleased w/ the Bucs picks. Being a Gator fan also I was glad to see them pick Ahmad Black! This kid was very good in college! With a little polish from a DB coach like Raheem he might be our new Tanard Jackson! All around great job this year. Now we can get after the qb! Go Big Bucs!
April 30th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
…And they barely touch CB.
Hey JOE, this means one of two things.
a.) The Bucs are NOT going to release Talib
or
b.)The Bucs are going to make it their duty to sign Asomugha once FA starts.
April 30th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
With all the jury rigging on the O-line last year I’ve really go to wonder what the starting line up of the O-line is gonna look like???
The ONLY lock is Donald Penn
Who will start at Center – Faine or Zuttah?
Will Dunderhead get to start?
Davin Joseph?
Any best guesses?
April 30th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Actually, the draft today confirms that the Bucs will sign both a free agent CB( probably Nnamdi) and a Wil LB (many options). Unless they believe Bowers will be ready to play this season, they may still sign a DE. NO doubt about it! Think they don’t sign a FA Tight end, as they have two good prospects.
Man, what an unbelievably great draft. Two excellent DEs that will bookcase the D-line for years! A great young Sam( maybe a pro bowler), an exciting TE, a safety and CB that should both get playing time. A steamrollerof a RB, and another TE that excells at catching in traffic. A great draft
Congrats Mark Dominick and Raheem Morris! You guys make the Draft fun again! Just excellent work!
April 30th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
MR LUCKY
Thats what I was thinking before the draft (we’ve got to address the o-line).
My guess is that the Bucs will make their duty to re-sign Davin, that they think Zuttah is the answer at center, Larsen is the answer at guard, and that they will let Dotson Lee and Barker battle it out at RT.
It doesn’t look great but Ive learned to support Dom’s decision making. He must have a plan and feel comfortable with the pieces we’ve got.
April 30th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
For the most part I loved this draft. But taking Anthony Gaitor was a huge waste of a pick. He has almost no chance to make this team IMO. We should have taken Greg Romeus with that pick even if he had to spend 2011 on the practice squad.
May 1st, 2011 at 7:27 am
Hey Joe, why do you keep insisting that ” FA is the great Satan”, when Mark Dominik signed quite a few FA last year( Keydrick Vincent, Sean Jones, the wr from Philly, etc), has also signed Derrck Ward, and tried to sign Albert haynesworth. Every quote I hear, he says he will sign free agents this year, even though he remains committed to building thru the draft
What gives with all the “Satan” comments? It doesn’t seem to match Dom’s comments or actions. Is he telling you something on the side?
May 1st, 2011 at 11:34 am
Smokescreen. Pure and simple.
I think Joe is referring to the general feeling that the Bucs avoid spending biig money in Free Agency. It’s easy to toss Haynesworth out there, but they possibly knew their offer would not be enough and it would be a good public relations move (proving they were willing to spend without actually doing it).
Personally, I think they are on the right track…and I’ve been saying we would be able to guess at whether they will spend money in free agency by the results of the draft.
I’ve always believed that Free Agency should be done cheaply UNLESS it’s to fill a final hole or two. After this draft, there are not many holes left.
I could see another Defensive End (on a one-two year deal), a Cornerback and maybe a field stretching WR.
However…either way it is going to take time to get the Defensive Line ready to go. GMS & Price have produced but are not quite where they need to be yet. Clayborn and Bowers will need time to adjust…perhaps as much as a year or more.
The biggest hindrance this team faced last year was injury. I pray to God that the team stays healthy this year. I really think we would have squeezed out another win last year if we’d had all our starters in there instead of 22 rookies.
May 1st, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Funny how ‘set’ you guys are about the D-Line considering that:
1. Price hasn’t played a down in regular NFL game
2. McCoy is coming off an injury and only demonstrated glimpses of good
3. The ROOKIE’ s drafted at DE have more sacks than last years starting DE but the ROOKIE’S haven’t played an NFL down
4. The middle of the Bucs D still has a seive called Ruud that acts better as a door stopper than run stopper.
Now I’m NOT saying I agree with the Pessimist but I AM concerned about relying so heavily on the D-Line when 3 of the 4 are rookies! (Price didn’t play)
May 2nd, 2011 at 10:34 am
I did not think they wouold take a WR. No reason for it.
OT is what I thought they would add in the late rounds. Taking a second TE instead was surprising.