|
With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror we take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers "Off The Clock" with pick-by-pick analysis, the Bible's take and our grade.
 (1-17) Josh Freeman, QB (Kansas State): To say that the quarterback situation in Tampa Bay is unsettled would be an understatement. Add Freeman into the mix, along with Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich, and this appears to be a three-man quarterback competition. Look for the veterans to get the first crack, as Freeman needs time to develop—ideally the Bucs will red-shirt Freeman for the 2009 season. The former Wildcat exceeds prototypical size and possesses a cannon arm, but is raw with a capital “R”. With the threat of Denver selecting Freeman, the Bucs gave up a sixth-round pick to jump up two slots. (Pick From New York/AFC via Cleveland)
(3-81) Roy Miller, DT (Texas): He looked more like a fourth- or fifth-round pick, but Miller at least brings the upside of becoming a starting defensive tackle in the league. He is a wide-based run stuffer who excels at taking up space and occupying blockers. Miller will never be a premier pass rusher in the mold of Warren Sapp, but could be a very valuable contributor on first and second downs. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but has a higher floor than others and will make life easier for the players that line up behind and next to him.
(4-117) Kyle Moore, DE (USC): Moore is pretty solid against the run and is coming off a very good senior year. He isn’t terribly fast or agile, but is pretty athletic and has shown some power and strength. He can get into the backfield and cause havoc as well. However, he doesn’t have much upside, hasn’t always been considered the toughest player around, and will have to work hard to carve out a place in the new Tampa Bay defense. (Pick From Dallas)
(5-155) Xavier Fulton, OT (Illinois): Fulton was a nice pickup in the fifth round. He is a very athletic tackle with good balance and the ability to recover when beat—he can handle speed rushers coming off the edge. On the downside, he needs to bulk up a little, can get knocked over, and lacks that killer instinct which the best tackles have when finishing blocks. While he is raw, he has upside and can play several spots along the line.
(7-217) EJ Biggers, CB (Western Michigan): Biggers is a reliable open-field tackler who is a willing participant in run defense and an overall aggressive player. The problem is, he’s a bit of a tweener—not quite athletic enough to hang with NFL receivers and lacks explosiveness. He’s likely to contribute on special teams first. (Pick From Jacksonville)
(7-233) Sammie Stroughter, WR (Oregon State): Stroughter had a lacerated kidney and was a medical red-shirt in 2007. It’s been a long climb back but he is coming off a strong 2008, where he showcased his ability to run very crisp routes, good body control, and solid ball skills. But he’s not quite as big as you’d like, can’t get much separation, and has had some off the field issues. Still, in the seventh round, he wasn’t a big risk and while he may not have a ton of upside, he could develop into a contributor. (Pick From Baltimore)
Team Needs: DT, QB, OLB, RB, WR
Needs Filled: Three of five.
Bible’s Take: Several of the picks, like Miller and Moore, were on the money but Freeman is a risky project pick which they didn’t need to move up for, especially given the projects they already have. Stroughter was a nice value selection, but there were too many question marks at the end of the weekend to feel that they have improved their team that much.
Grade: C+
Photo Credit: College Press Box (Kansas St.)
|
