Year: 2012

Buccaneers Needs 2012

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Cornerback

Aqib Talib faces potential jail time in his March trial for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Talib was almost cut after he was arrested, but their GM was talked out of it by Head Coach Raheem Morris, who is no longer with the team. Even if he’s not released, he’s a free agent after the 2012 season and the Buccaneers suck against the pass even with him. They ranked 31st against the pass this year, allowing 8.2 YPA. Opposite Talib, the soon to be 37 year old Ronde Barber is on his last legs and could retire this offseason, while neither Myron Lewis nor EJ Biggers have proven themselves to be very good. Morris Claiborne looks like the heavy favorite to go #5 to Tampa Bay, should he last that long.

Outside Linebacker

The Buccaneers’ linebacker trio was really bad last season. Geno Hayes was the best of the 3, but that’s not saying much. Mason Foster was awful as a rookie, but he could get another shot at a starting job because he was just a rookie. Quincy Black was the worst of the 3. ProFootballFocus rated him the worst 4-3 outside linebacker in the league. He missed 16 tackles, most of any 4-3 outside linebacker, and only had 60 tackles on the season. I have no idea why Dekoda Watson, a 2010 7th rounder who has been good in limited action, doesn’t get more of a shot. Maybe he will in 2012, but either way, I think they have to add a linebacker at some point. They could draft one, but they also have a good amount of cap space so they could sign one.

Offensive Tackle

No offensive lineman surrendered more pressures last year than Jeremy Trueblood, allowing 50 despite missing a game with an injury, and Trueblood didn’t even match up with the opponent’s best pass rusher on a weekly basis. He was a right tackle. They stupidly gave him a 2 year deal after a poor season in 2010, but they should still look for a new right tackle in the draft this year.

Wide Receiver

Mike Williams followed up an impressive rookie year with a disappointing sophomore year. Even more disappointing were the reports about just how poor his work ethic was last season. The Buccaneers old coaching staff said that he frequently partied during the week and put very little effort in the weight room. Meanwhile, in 2 seasons in the league, Arrelious Benn has been a bit of a disappointment after going in the 2nd round in 2010. They need another receiver in the mix, particularly someone with speed to take the top off the defense.

 

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Safety

Yeah, literally point to a position in the back 7 and the Buccaneers suck there last year. Sean Jones was a major liability in coverage, surrendering a 140.8 QB rating when thrown at, while Tanard Jackson missed more tackles than anyone in the league, missing a whopping 24.

Running Back

Mike Williams wasn’t the only Buccaneers offensive skill player who was out of shape, LeGarrette Blount followed up a breakout rookie year in 2010 with a very poor season in 2011. Blount was given just 184 carries as the Buccaneers gave carries to bums like Earnest Graham, Kregg Lumpkin, and Mossis Madu down the stretch. Blount was also useless on 3rd downs once again. They really need a complimentary back for him at least.

Center

Jeff Faine used to be one of the best centers in the league, but those days are over.  He’s now overpaid and on the wrong side of 30. If they didn’t have so many other needs, he’d probably be a cap casualty, but he’ll probably go into next season as the starting center again. They could take someone late to groom behind him.

Guard

I have no idea why the Buccaneers gave Davin Joseph so much money last offseason. The guard was once again below average this season.

Middle Linebacker

They probably have to give Mason Foster another shot in the middle after a poor rookie year because they have so many other needs, but some veteran competition wouldn’t hurt.

Defensive Tackle

Gerald McCoy just can’t stay healthy, a big part of the reason why the Buccaneers were so bad against the run last year. Things were so desperate that they had to sign Albert Haynesworth off waivers. He’s been recently cut so they need depth at the position.

 

Buccaneers Moves 2011

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QB Rudy Carpenter (exclusive rights)

RB Cadillac Williams

RB Kareem Huggins (exclusive rights)

WR Michael Spurlock

WR Maurice Stovall

TE John Gilmore

OT James Lee (exclusive rights)

OT Jeremy Trueblood

OT Demar Dotson (exclusive rights)

G Davin Joseph

DE Stylez G. White

DE Tim Crowder

DE Michael Bennett

OLB Quincy Black

OLB Adam Heyward

OLB Jon Alston

MLB Barrett Ruud

MLB Niko Koutouvides

CB Ronde Barber- resigned 1 year

CB Elbert Mack

S Corey Lynch

K Connor Barth 

Offseason moves:

Resigned Ronde Barber

Cut Jon Alston

Draft

Buccaneers Draft Visits

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CB Josh Bellamy (Louisville)

WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)

DT Michael Brockers (LSU)

CB Ron Brooks (LSU)

MLB Tank Carder (TCU)

CB Morris Claiborne (LSU)

DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina)

OT David Gonzales (Washington State)

TE Ladarius Green (LA-Lafayette)

DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse)

OT Dennis Kelly (Purdue)

CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)

RB Trent Richardson (Alabama)

G Amini Silatolu (Midwestern State)

TE Taylor Thompson (SMU)

OLB Bobby Wagner (Utah State)

RB David Wilson (Virginia Tech)

S Tavon Wilson (Illinois)

 

Buccaneers Draft Grades

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20. DE Adrian Clayborn C

I knew they were high on Clayborn, but over Cameron Jordan? Huh? Jordan is clearly the better prospect at this point. He was more productive than Clayborn. He’s more athletic. He doesn’t have a medical red flag and he doesn’t have any character red flags. They do fill a huge need though.

51. DE Da’Quan Bowers A

I wouldn’t have taken this guy in the first because that’s a 5 year contract commitment. However, with a 4 year commitment in the 2nd round, he’s definitely worth it. I mean, this guy had the talent to be the #1 pick before all the injury red flags popped up. He also fills a major need for them. They needed two ends this year just like they needed two defensive tackles last year.

84. OLB Mason Foster A

Another good value who fills a major need. Foster can move outside if they resign Barrett Ruud and play opposite the emerging Dekoda Watson. He can also play inside if Ruud leaves.

104. TE Luke Stocker B-

I think they had bigger needs than tight end like cornerback, safety, and maybe another linebacker, but Kellen Winslow has a history of injury problems and more and more teams are going to two tight end sets. Stocker is also a better blocker than Winslow and fits the draft range.

151. S Ahmad Black A-

Tanard Jackson could be cut for disciplinary reasons. Sean Jones sucks so they’d need another safety opposite Cody Grimm. Black might not be athletic enough to be anything other than a depth safety and a special teamer, but he fits the range decently, though I think there were better safeties available.

187. RB Allen Bradford C-

They needed a running back behind LeGarrette Blount, but I think Bradford is a reach and I don’t think he compliments Blount at all. They’re very, very similar backs. Neither have great speed or can catch passes. They still need a speedy 3rd down back.

222. CB Anthony Gaitor B+

They needed another cornerback in the mix given Aqib Talib’s legal troubles and Ronde Barber’s age. Gaitor is a minor reach and there were better cornerbacks available, but it’s the 7th round.

238. TE Daniel Hardy C

A 2nd tight end? I wasn’t so sure they needed the first one. Hardy isn’t a huge reach though and he can play special teams.

Overall:

Their first 3 picks made a lot of sense in terms of filling needs. I think linebacker and 2 defensive ends were their biggest needs and the selections of Bowers and Foster were really good values. I think there were better available ends than Adrian Clayborn at 20, especially Cameron Jordan, but I like the idea behind their first 3 picks. They didn’t reach for anyone and they filled most of their major needs, especially on the defense side of the ball, the trouble side. If Clayborn and Bowers can beat injury problems and pan out early, they could have a very, very dangerous defensive line with those two, Gerald McCoy, and Brian Price. If Josh Freeman continues his development and their defense can stay healthy, this could be a very, very good team. I love their draft’s upside.

Grade: B+

 

Buccaneers Draft 2012

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Draft Grades, 2012 NFL Off-Season

 

7. S Mark Barron D

Hmmm, Mark Barron and a 4th round pick…or Morris Claiborne? That shouldn’t have been a tough question, but it was for the Buccaneers, who seem to have gotten it wrong. I know the Buccaneers had Barron higher than Claiborne on their board, but that’s ridiculous. Claiborne is a better player at a position of higher value. I had Barron in the 20s on my board. I don’t believe any player at a “luxury” position (linebacker, safety, running back, interior offensive line) should go in the first round unless they are an exceptional talent, which is why I gave Barron a 1st/2nd round grade. He’s not Eric Berry and he certainly was not worth a pick in the top 10. It’s only worth noting that everyone and their dog agreed that there were 6 blue chip prospects in this draft class, so I really don’t like the Buccaneers moving out of the top 6 for just a 4th round pick. The 7th spot was the one no one wanted, but the Buccaneers took it willingly.

31. RB Doug Martin B+

Martin fits the range and fills a need, but the pick isn’t getting an A just because they moved up for him. I don’t believe in bad teams moving up unless it’s an unbelievable value. The Buccaneers have too many needs to be giving up picks like this and they have so many needs that there would definitely be a player they liked that fit the range and filled a need at their original spot.

58. OLB Lavonte David A

Linebacker was a huge need for the Buccaneers, maybe even their biggest need. Since the stat has been kept track of, no team missed more tackles ever than the Buccaneers did last season. David is also a very good value at the end of the 2nd, so I have no problem with them moving up in this case.

140. MLB Najee Goode B-

This is a slight reach in the 5th round, but it’s not like they didn’t need another linebacker.

174. CB Keith Tandy A

Finally the Buccaneers get their cornerback. They could have gotten one earlier if they didn’t trade up twice. Anyway, Tandy is a very, very good value here in the 6th. I thought he was one of the underrated gems of the cornerback position in this draft. This need is not filled coming out of the draft, but they can’t be expected to fill every need.

212. RB Michael Smith B

Another running back? Again, you can’t hate 7th round picks, but Smith didn’t make my top 250 so this is a slight reach.

233. FB Drake Dunsmore A

I like this value a lot here in the 7th round. Dunsmore could probably be their starting fullback this year after they lost Earnest Graham and he also provides some depth at tight end.

I gave this a C yesterday and then I looked it that C after doing the write ups and that seemed a little ridiculous. Yes, I think they missed up big time with their first pick and that’s the most important one. However, the rest of their draft was really nice. I think they got 3 new starters out of this draft and while they didn’t address arguably their biggest need at cornerback, they couldn’t be expected to address all of their needs and they did address 3 prominent ones (S, OLB, RB). They might not be the most important positions, but 3 starters isn’t too shabby.

They also did some nice things in the late rounds, especially with Keith Tandy and Drake Dunsmore. Dunsmore might even make it 4th starters if he emerges as the starting fullback, but, then again, it is just the fullback position. Tandy, meanwhile, will provide solid depth behind Eric Wright and Aqib Talib. Cornerback will probably be a primary need of their 2013 draft because Wright is overrated (and overpaid) and Talib will be a free agent.

Grade: B-

 

Buccaneers 2011 Needs

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Free Agency Priorites

Offensive Tackle

Jeremy Trueblood was benched last season and is now a free agent. James Lee, his replacement, didn’t do much better. They should target right tackles in free agency. 

Running Back

They drafted Allen Bradford behind LeGarrette Blount. The problem is that Blount caught 5 passes last year and Bradford caught 3. They need a different back that isn’t a liability on 3rd down.

Cornerback

Aqib Talib could definitely be suspended next season, whenever that happens. They really struggled against the pass with him injured last season.

Safety

Tanard Jackson is suspended to start next season and he could be cut as well. Can Sean Jones start in his absence? I think we’ve already established he can’t. Can 5th round pick Ahmad Black? Maybe, but do you want to count on a 5th rounder. 

 

Draft Needs 

Defensive End

The Buccaneers had 28 sacks in 2009 and then didn’t address the defensive end position until round 7. No surprise they only managed 26 sacks this year, tied for 2nd fewest in the league. I wouldn’t be surprised if they double dipped at the position in the first two rounds of the draft like they did with DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price last year. I could see them adding a left end like Adrian Clayborn at 20 and a right end like Sam Acho in the 2nd.

Drafted Adrian Clayborn (#20), Drafted Da’Quan Bowers (#51) 

Outside Linebacker

One or two outside linebackers should be added depending on how they feel about 2010 7th round pick Dekoda Watson (who I personally feel fits their scheme like a glove and was a steal in the 7th).

Drafted Mason Foster (#84) 

Guard

One or two guards should be added depending on whether or not they resign Davin Joseph, who is coming off a season ending injury.

Middle Linebacker

Barrett Ruud is a free agent and all indications are that they don’t want to pay him what he wants.

Offensive Tackle

Jeremy Trueblood never lived up to the hype and was finally benched for James Lee this year, which also happened to be his contract year. If they want an upgrade over Lee longterm, they’ll take one fairly early and even if they like Lee, they could take some late round competition.

Safety

They may cut ties with Tanard Jackson this offseason after he was just suspended a year for a substance abuse violation (his 2nd suspension for substance abuse). If they do that, they’ll need another safety to pair with Cody Grimm, their promising rookie safety. Sean Jones isn’t competent enough in coverage to start.

Drafted Ahmad Black (#151) 

Cornerback

They drafted Myron Lewis in the 3rd round last year to be a potential future replacement for the soon to be 36 year old Ronde Barber, but they may want to add a 2nd potential future replacement this year. Besides, they need depth anyway. They couldn’t stop anyone once Aqib Talib went down.

Drafted Anthony Gaitor (#222) 

 

They drafted Myron Lewis in the 3rd round last year to be a potential future replacement for the soon to be 36 year old Ronde Barber, but they may want to add a 2nd potential future replacement this year. Besides, they need depth anyway. They couldn’t stop anyone once Aqib Talib went down. <p> </p><p id=”dontshowthis”> </p>
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Buccaneers 2010 Recap

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished last year at 10-6 and have a serious gripe about not making the playoffs considering they finished 3 wins better than Seattle Seahawks, who made the playoffs. In addition to that, they crushed the Seahawks 38-15 week 16. Also, they were a win against Detroit (an overtime loss week 15) from being 11-5 and in the playoffs for sure, so they’re close.

But, their fans shouldn’t complain. This team was clearly a year ahead of schedule. This youth movement and rebuilding project was supposed to be a 3 year project, but Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount, and Mike Williams had something to say about that. Josh Freeman got better as the season went on and the addition of LeGarrette Blount at running back gave this offense two dimensions.

Josh Freeman completed 61% of his passes for 7.3 YPA and 25 touchdowns against 9 picks. LeGarrette Blount rushed for 1007 yards and 6 touchdowns despite not receiving double digit carries until week 6. Mike Williams caught 65 passes for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. Oh, and all 3 of them will be 24 or younger when the 2011 season starts.

The team as a whole got better as the season went on. They went from a team that just beat up on bad teams and couldn’t hang with good teams (25 point loss to Pittsburgh week 3, 25 point loss to New Orleans week 6) to a team that hung within 6 of Atlanta (in Atlanta) week 9, within 7 of Baltimore (in Baltimore) week 12, within 4 of Atlanta week 13 and then beat New Orleans week 17. Josh Freeman legitimately outplayed Drew Bress in that game and just the week before went 21 for 26 for 237 yards and 5 scores. I know they were playing Seattle, but that’s an impressive performance against anyone. Blount also rushed for 164 yards on 18 carries in that game.

Even more impressive is that down the stretch they were playing with an injured defense. In addition to missing Tanard Jackson, who got suspended for the year after week 2, they were missing Aqib Talib since week 13, Gerald McCoy since week 14, Brian Price since week 6, and Cody Grimm (Jackson’s replacement) since week 12.

If they can add two legitimate pass rushers in the first two rounds, and McCoy and Price stay healthy, and Grimm stays healthy and Talib stays healthy, that’s a pretty talented defense, especially in the trenches. Also remember that all of those players will be 25 or younger when the 2011 season starts.

Their schedule next season will be a bit harder than it was this year (10 games against sub .500 teams and a 9-1 record in those games), but they’ll also be better as they’ll be healthier, more experienced, and carrying the momentum of a strong finish. I wouldn’t be surprised if this team won a couple playoff games next year and if they keep it up, they could be a Super Bowl team in the near future. Raheem Morris has done a great job of transforming this from a 9-7 wasteland of 30 somethings with nowhere to go but down in 2008 under Jon Gruden to a 10-6 team of young promising kids with nowhere to go but up. And remember he did all this in just 2 short years. 

 

Bryant McKinnie Ravens

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The Ravens were obviously very worried about their situation at both tackle positions. Left tackle Michael Oher struggled on the left side after an amazing rookie season on the right side in 2009. Meanwhile, 3rd round rookie right tackle Jah Reid has failed to impress in camp. However, I don’t know how much McKinnie helps. He showed up to Vikings camp a few weeks ago at near 400 pounds with dangerously high cholesterol levels. I don’t know how he could have gotten into game shape since. He wasn’t even that great last season and at his age, he’s a declining player. I don’t understand this being a 2 year 7.5 million dollar deal with 1 million guaranteed.

Grade: C

 

Bryant McFadden Steelers

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Deal for Steelers: One of the Steelers’ main objectives in this draft was to draft a cornerback to replace Bryant McFadden, who left to Arizona in the 2009 offseason. However, why not just reacquire McFadden, who struggled in Arizona, but is a perfect fit for the Steelers’ scheme, especially when the price is moving down from the 5th to the 6th.

Grade: A

Deal for Cardinals: I know McFadden struggled in Arizona’s scheme last year, but the Cardinals just handed the Steelers a starting caliber player for the right to move up for the 6th to the 5th. Most of these 5th rounders won’t even be on the roster in a few years.

Grade: C-