MVN - Most Valuable Network

What The Management Has To Say

With the draft over with, Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden have decided to speak out on their draft picks, and some current Buccaneers. Here are a few excerpts I have picked out.

Bruce Allen

Why did you choose a quarterback on Day Two?

“We like the talent of Josh. He has not good statistics, not great statistics, he has spectacular statistics. He has been coached by coaches that we are very familiar with, Johnnie Morton has said some very positive things about him, and Coach [Jim] Harbaugh has said some great things about him. We want to give him a chance to see what he can do in the NFL.”

What does this mean to Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski?

“I have said to you before, and I will say it again, we will bring five quarterbacks to training camp. That is what we planned on doing and that is what we will do. How that works out, we have until July 25th to go to training camp, we will make those determinations.”

Why did you select Aqib Talib?

“We like him. He is a playmaker, he has all the speed and agility that you are looking for. He has great ball skills and his persona fit into our organization. We think he is a guy that can excel in our defense and help our football team.”

Is Jeff Garcia likely to get a contract extension?

“I have had dialogue with his representative.”

Jon Gruden

How about Josh Johnson?

“He is a late fifth-round pick, and we did a lot of work on the quarterbacks. You can’t deny that he comes from a small college. You certainly can’t deny that he was very productive, he dominated statistically. 115 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions, 68 or 69 completion percentage, and 2,000 yards rushing. When you do the individual make up of this kid you see a 6-3, 215-pound youngster that has 4.5 speed. I think he is a heck of a kid. Some of the coaches at San Diego I am familiar with, they were on my staff in Oakland, and so we have known a lot about this kid for some time. Is he the quarterback of the future, I don’t know, but he will compete and he will be very interesting.”

Do you feel the offense gained explosiveness?

“Well you can’t just look at the draft. We added Warrick Dunn, he has 10,000 yards, I saw him playing, he is getting older but I still see great quickness. We are hoping Cadillac Williams comes back; he is in the bullpen right now. We think Ben Troupe can do some things athletically. We have a Pro Bowl quarterback here. Our offensive line is going to be older and more experienced. I think Antonio Bryant can come through, Michael Clayton comes back, I guess that is it. I make no promises in April, I will just tell you this, and we are very enthused. We are adding a 4.3 wide receiver that has home run potential and legitimate return ability. We are excited with Talib, we think he is going to make life interesting on the other side of the ball.”

Will you take six quarterbacks to camp?

“No, we won’t take six to camp. There will be obvious decisions that’ll be made. There’s been a lot of people saying we’ve had six quarterbacks. I haven’t seen [Jake] Plummer, and Chris [Simms] unfortunately hasn’t played in the last couple of years. We have had a tremendous amount of injury. We’re not like some of these teams that have enjoyed good fortune of having the same starter for five, six, eight, 12, 15 seasons. We’ve had three different starters play, I think, in four out of the last five seasons. Here in Tampa, we have a different perspective, I think, on the position, but we do have a Pro Bowl returner at quarterback, and we’re really excited about [Jeff] Garcia. We think [Brian] Griese’s proven he can play here, and if statistics mean anything, he’s backed that up. Luke McCown came on last year and did some good things, so here comes a youngster in here… The roster is reduced. You’re only allowed to take 80 to camp now, so there’ll be some very difficult decisions on every coach in the league before camp starts.” 

Is Johnson more of a project than Chad Henne and Brian Brohm?

“Those guys played in the big Division I, they played in a higher level of competition, but they also had pretty good players around them. I’m not saying San Diego didn’t have a lot of good players, but until you do it at the next level, you will be subject to question. It will be a faster pace. He will be hit harder than he has ever been hit and he’ll be challenged more than he has ever been challenged. He dominated at his level because of his talent. But he is going to be at a level playing field now and I’m anxious to see how he handles it.”
There are two things I want to say about this. I like how Bruce Allen said that Talib’s persona fit in with the team. If that persona is a thug, drug addict, or all around troublemaker, then yes, he fits in with the Bucs. Secondly, he gave a piss-poor answer to Jeff Garcia’s contract situation. I think he might be dodging something.

Analyzing The 2008 Draft Class

Another Buccaneers draft is in the books, and another seven players are on the team. While this draft gave Bucs fans a lot of questions, some of them were answered as well. The Bucs effectively used trades to pick up a few more players. In this draft, the Bucs gained a Jayhawk, a Mountaineer, a Scarlet Knight, a Terrapin, a Torero, a Seminole, and a Gamecock. Here is the Bucs draft class.

Rd. 1- Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

In 34 career games, Talib had 162 tackles, 43 passes blocked, and 13 interceptions. The Bucs surprised many by going for a cornerback in the first round, and then taking Talib over hometown favorite Mike Jenkins. Talib has character concerns, as he has not only tested positive for marijuana while at Kansas, but was also suspended because of disciplinary issues. He runs the risk of being a big star or a big bust. Talib is physical, and has good hands, and he looks to fight for a starting spot on the roster.

Rd. 2- Dexter Jackson, WR/KR, Appalachian State

Another Dexter Jackson comes into the Bucs history. The last one was the Super Bowl MVP, and we as fans can only hope this Dexter Jackson can live up to that potential. In 55 career games, Jackson had 110 catches for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns. He mostly spent time as a kick returner, which is why some Bucs fans are speculating about this decision. The Bucs traded down with the Jaguars, when Limas Sweed was still available. Hopefully size won’t be a factor, as this speedy guy has great hands and toughness. The Bucs needed a wide receiver to breakout as their playmaker, and Jackson will have to be the guy.

Rd. 3- Jeremy Zuttah, OG, Rutgers

Zuttah has the versatility to play a couple of positions in the NFL. He anchored his offensive line at Rutgers, where he started in 28 consecutive games. In a two-year span of 698 pass plays, Zuttah allowed zero sacks. He could possibly shift to an interior lineman position if needed. He is explosive off the snap, and has solid hand techniques. He will join a young offensive Buccaneer line, possibly fighting for a starting spot.

Rd. 4- Dre Moore, DT, Maryland

In 44 career games, Moore recorded 140 tackles, 17.5 for loss, and had 10.5 sacks. Moore will join a very talented defensive line that was second in the league last year. He can play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme, making him very useful to the Bucs. His work ethic has been brought into question, but he has great strength and speed. He also has a mean streak that will help him in this league. Moore will probably be a backup, but could see some playing time on various downs.

Rd. 5- Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego

There was no doubt in my mind that the Bucs would pick up a quarterback. It just surprises me that they picked up this one. Johnson did not play against top competition in college, giving him very little experience against tough opponents. However, he could be the hidden gem of the draft. The MVP of the East-West Game is the NCAA’s all-time leader in passing efficiency at 176.7. One stat that is unbelievably astounding is this: Johnson threw only 15 interceptions in his entire college career. It’s very mind-boggling. That’s 15 picks in 1,065 attempts, including only one pick among 301 attempts in his senior season. In 42 career games, Johnson completed 68% of his passes for 9,699 yards, 113 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He needs to bulk up, but has great speed and solid throwing mechanics. The quarterback carousel is still going, but Johnson might be the quarterback of the future.

Rd. 6- Geno Hayes, ILB, Florida State

This pick is a little confusing. The Bucs have three very talented linebackers, and picked up another three in free agency. They are beginning to stock linebackers like they are quarterbacks. Not that Hayes isn’t talented. In 36 career games, he had 156 tackles, 29.5 of them for loss, 8 sacks, 7 passes blocked, and 2 interceptions. Hayes is another player that has character issues, making that two players alone in this draft for the Bucs. He has been charged with assault on an officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. He is also one of the Florida State players that was involved in the cheating scandal. He was suspended for the final game of the season, a bowl game. He is undersized and not very physical, but has great speed and has an outstanding range. If he proves troublesome, some people may be wondering why the Bucs didn’t select Bo Ruud, Barrett Ruud’s younger brother. At least he would stay out of trouble. As of right now, Hayes appears to be someone who will stay on the bench for a while.

Rd. 7- Cory Boyd, RB, South Carolina

Another non-surprise on the Bucs behalf, they picked up a running back with their final selection. With Cadillac Williams’ future uncertain, the Bucs added an extra incentive. In 46 career games, Boyd ran the ball 464 times for 2,267 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He can also be a receiving threat, catching 117 passes for 1,303 yards and 5 touchdowns. Boyd can also fall under the “character concerns” label, as he was suspended for an entire season for a violation of athletic department policy. The Bucs happen to like the diamond in the rough. Boyd has the potential to be a big steal in the draft, as long as he keeps his head on straight. He has average speed and trouble protecting the ball, but he is strong and has good hands. He could see some playing time if the Bucs are still without Cadillac.

The Bucs filled their needs in every position. I’m going to keep my eye on the Dexter Jackson situation. The Bucs gave up Limas Sweed for Jackson and a few more picks. If Jackson doesn’t fufill his potential, and Sweed is a pro bowl caliber player, I will be pissed. This was an interesting draft for the Bucs to say the least. I wish nothing but the best for all of these players. I hope they all stay out of trouble, and can be effective for the Buccaneers.
Overall Grade: B

Draft Thoughts and Surprises

Even though I was invested in the Bucs draft class, that doesn’t mean I can’t pay attention to the rest of the draft. I watched a lot of college football last year, and I got familiar with many players. Here are my thoughts on the draft.

• It surprises me that the second QB taken was Joe Flacco. From the start people were hailing Brian Brohm as the second overall QB in the draft.
• Brian Brohm and Chad Henne, two of the top quarterbacks, fell far in this draft.
• No faith in Aaron Rodgers? The Packers not only picked up Brian Brohm, but they also nabbed Matt Flynn. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
• I hate that Chad Henne fell as far as he did. I also hate that he wound up with the Dolphins. I only hope that he can be the face of that franchise and turn them around.
• For somebody that won two Rose Bowls and led the elite USC team, John David Booty fell far in the draft as well. I hate that for him, but I hope he does well with the Vikings.
• Colt Brennan also fell far, which is unwarranted. I wish he could have wound up with a better team, but maybe he will take the starting reins away from Jason Campbell, and lead the Redskins.
• Rashard Mendenhall, one of the top running backs in the draft, fell to the 23rd spot, to a Pittsburgh team that isn’t hurting for a running back. I hope they can utilize him effectively.
• Chris Johnson, the running back from East Carolina, was selected in the first round, over several, if not better candidates. This was a surprise.
• Mike Hart should have never fallen as far as he did. He was picked 202nd in the draft, in the 6th round. With all the waiting, he at least wound up with a very good Indianapolis team.
• The Cincinnati Bengals grabbed Jerome Simpson, a wide receiver out of Coastal Carolina, when three of the top wide receivers were still available. Truly a questionable move.
• I hope to see Tom Zbikowski shine in the NFL. Too bad he wound up with Baltimore, but they usually are pretty good defensively.
• This is the feel good story of the draft. Caleb Campbell played for Army, and was good enough to be draft eligible. If he wasn’t selected by a team, he would more than likely be shipped overseas. If he was picked, he would get to play in the NFL, and not have to worry about shipping out. It took until the 7th round, pick 218, but Campbell was finally selected by the Detroit Lions. Kudos to the Lions for selecting him. His getting chosen or not could literally have meant life or death. I wish him the best. I hope that he becomes a house-hold name in the league.
• Remember the guy from Appalachian State who blocked the Michigan field goal that secured an App. St. win? That guy is Corey Lynch, and he was selected 177th overall by the Bengals. Good luck to him. 
• You know the linebacker that plays for the Bucs by the name of Barrett Ruud? Well, his younger brother Bo was drafted this year. He was drafted in the 6th round, unfortunately by the Patriots.
• J Leman (LB, Illinois), Paul Smith (QB, Tulsa), Davone Bess (WR, Hawaii), Ryan Grice-Mullen (WR, Hawaii), and Danny Woodhead (RB, Chadron State) went undrafted. All five are very good, capable players, who went home without a team. I hope they can find their way into the NFL and put every team to shame that didn’t draft them.

Yes, it was a very interesting draft to say the least. I hope the players who didn’t find homes can get on a team. I wish luck to all the Bucs draft picks, but also to several others who were mentioned above.

With The 58th Pick In The Draft…

The Buccaneers select:

Dexter Jackson!

Okay, I’ll admit it. This is a pleasant surprise. Honestly, I forgot about Jackson, but I’m not disappointed with this pick. What the Bucs did was risky, but hopefully it will work out. Unfortunately, some speculate that Jackson may only be a 3rd or 4th wideout, never a starter. The Bucs need an explosive player to carry the load.

In 55 career games, Jackson had 110 receptions for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged 16.8 yards per catch. He became the face of the Appalachian St. program following their knockoff of Michigan this season. His 4.37 40-yard dash was the 2nd fastest among the wide receivers.

Jackson doesn’t have the ideal height for a wide receiver, and he’s not very tough, but he’s got great speed, vision, and is a deep threat. The Bucs need a speedy receiver to be the face of their franchise, and they hope Jackson will be it.