Lots Of Holes

January 8th, 2013

If Michael Bennett brings in a haul in free agency, will that Brinks truck come from the Bucs or elsewhere?

The Bucs had a losing record. The players are watching the playoffs just like a guy in a bar. It has now been 10 years and counting since the Bucs last won a playoff game.

Straight-shooting Alan Dell has surveyed the Bucs thoroughly, and the Bradenton Herald columnist believes that getting the Bucs to the playoffs is a bit of a bigger task than some believe.

Two things that stick out about the 2012 Bucs are the horrible play of their cornerbacks and the inconsistency of quarterback Josh Freeman. The lack of pressure put on by the defensive front four is a major disappointment, especially with all the money the team has paid out in recent years for that unit.

The Bucs had 27 sacks, third worst in the NFL. The loss of injured defensive end Adrian Clayborn was devastating, but they did get a full season out of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy for the first time in his three-year career, and he made the Pro Bowl. Da’Quan Bowers will be a question mark every year at defensive end because of knee problems.

Injuries on both the defensive and offensive lines curtailed their productivity and showed the need for more depth. A third quality receiver would help. But there is only so much you can do in the offseason, so it’s unclear if all those needs will be met.

This is one reason Joe believes, if a defensive end that strikes Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik’s fancy, Dominik will jump at the chance at the No. 13 slot. There’s a myriad of question marks still on the defensive line, whether it be free agents or guys with health concerns.

There’s not much to be had as far as cornerbacks on the free agent market, but even pedestrian cornerbacks are an upgrade to what the Bucs have on the roster.

If Ronde Barber retires, Bucs fans will be looking at three new starters in the secondary for the 2013 season.

45 Responses to “Lots Of Holes”

  1. Ian's Gay Lisp & Ron's Drinking Problem Says:

    Thats why Bucs draft a Defensive Lineman @ #13 (unless they trade down which is highly likely and still could draft Kawann Short or Shariff Floyd). Dee Milliner will be gone by #13 and no other DB is worth #13 pick. Bucs trade down then trade up twice. …like they did last year…Mark D. has finally figured out the Draft!!!!!!!!!

  2. raphael Says:

    Hankins in the 1st would help our Pass rush a great deal…McCoy and Hankins would be tough to block and help our DE’s. CB in free agency and Jarious byrd
    is a must have…..

  3. PRBucFan Says:

    With the combine players will move up and there is a great chance Milliner could fall to us.

    If we don’t take a CB I would like if we drafted Johnathan Hankins from the BuckEyes. That pairing with McCoy would be very very very dominant for years to come and would cause a major issue for offenses because now who are you gonna defend??? Our lack of sacks were from all that stunting, which should go.

    DE/LB/TE other possibles depending on how it plays out

  4. the_buc_realist Says:

    i just hope that the pop star can fix the problems he has been trying to fix for 5 drafts.

  5. PRBucFan Says:

    Which is?

  6. Meh Says:

    I’d buy a DE at 13 if the right one is there. I might prefer a DT to replace Miller though, and let our DEs have a full year (hopefully) together.

  7. hamilton Says:

    the bucs shold pick up a cb in fa.

  8. the_buc_realist Says:

    @prbucfan

    the front four

  9. PRBucFan Says:

    Other than another DT we have our D-Line of the future. All the skill for an elite line is there they just gotta stay healthy.

  10. MadMax Says:

    Draft Mingo or Jarvis to add to the pass rush at LB plus if Mingo can put on a little weight and get stronger, he’d be hell at DE at the pro level.

  11. OptimisTroll Says:

    So the Bucs will take 2 or 3 years to become completely awesome instead of just 1.

    This season, although painful at times, was a blast to watch. Next season, the Bucs will be better than this year, even if they are not a great team, which will be even more fun.

    I am excited, even if we skip drafting cornerbacks at all this season, and just pick up some other needs: DL, TE/Slot, LB, QB challenger.

  12. Jacko101 Says:

    Jarvis? Will be long gone. Would you rather see the BUCS trade up with Buffalo to grab Millner before the Titans draft him? Maybe trade down to get Banks later? Or stay put for a chance to get Dion Jordan or Hankins from Ohio State

  13. Jacko101 Says:

    It’s not a guaranty Wright is gone. We will either cut ties or renegotiate his contract. I hear everyone saying get grimes etc. that’s easier said than done. Btw how is his recovery coming? We don’t know

  14. Ramdog Says:

    Supposedly the draft is deep at the Defensive Line Position and past the top 3 corners there is a drop off. Those three being Milliner, Banks and Rhodes. Rhodes is often injured so that may actually cause him to drop but he is talented.

    I wonder how early in the draft the BUCS draft a QB and who they target ?? This site says Landry Jones but I don’t think that is really who they are after. Ryan Nassib seems to be a name that is being tossed around as a possibility and I have even seen him going to the BUCS in some mock drafts. Apparently he has pinpoint accuracy, a strong arm, can throw nice on the run, makes good decisions and is good at reading defenses. Also his supporting cast was inferior so he could be better than advertised. The knock is he plays in the Big East.

  15. Illuminati Says:

    Lots of sacks do not equal playoffs. Arizona got 58 sacks this season, and I don’t see them in the playoffs. Denver got five fewer sacks on the year than we did, and they got a first-round bye.

    Of the ten teams who recorded fewer than 30 sacks this season, four made the playoffs. Of the ten teams who recorded more than 40 sacks this season, four made the playoffs. Of the ten teams who recorded 30 to 40 sacks this season, four made the playoffs.

    Zero correlation between team sacks and likelihood of making the playoffs.

  16. Meh Says:

    Rhodes is not a first round talent IMO. I wouldn’t mind him here, but he’s a round 2 target.

  17. PRBucFan Says:

    Its about pressuring the QB, not necessarily sacks. There is correlation there i’m sure

  18. Ian's Gay Lisp & Ron's Drinking Problem Says:

    Mingo overrated. Hankins has a bad body….injury prone written all over him

  19. FIRETHECANNONS Says:

    Illuminati – That’s not a very good argument. Arizona isn’t in the playoffs cause they have a worse QB situation then we do. And Denver has a first round bye because of Peyton.

  20. PRBucFan Says:

    #2 DT behind Star.

    Most boards have the panthers taking him after us.

    Does he have a history of injuries in college?

    He’s played in 22 straight games the past two years

  21. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    Great defenses dont mean much anymore unless they are absolutely dominant. Good offenses are going to get there points regardless. What we need to do is build up our offense to be elite and we will be in the playoffs and go deep. Solidifying our defense is a must no doubt but we dont need great players on that side of the ball. Just hard working competent players that can manage a few stops a game. Just my opinion.

  22. SirustheVirus Says:

    What do you think about Damontre Moore DE? I like DE in the 1st. You can pick up guys like David Amerson in the 2nd and mabey even Xavier Rhodes in the 3rd or move back into the 2nd to get him. Feel we need Pash Rush more than CBs. Also what do you think about moving Daniel Te’o-Nesheim to DT?

  23. PRBucFan Says:

    That didn’t bode well for us this season hahaha.

    Can’t always depend on offenses to put up 30 plus

  24. PRBucFan Says:

    I like him but I think he goes pretty high.

  25. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    @PR

    You already know my opinion why so I wont go into that lmao but I will say that we can still build around him in hopes…

  26. PRBucFan Says:

    lol 😉

  27. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    I’ve seen quite a few mocks where Star drops all the way down to #13. Thats a pipe dream but dam would that be nice.

  28. PRBucFan Says:

    ooooh would be a dream for sure…

    Imagine if Teo did!

  29. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    That would be as equally nice for sure. Only 3 1/2 more months.

  30. Sneedy16 Says:

    @PRBuc

    Did you see Teo performance in the National Championship game? That cost him a few spots. Alabama ran at will on ND and Teo was nowhere to be found.

  31. PRBucFan Says:

    I did, he had an off day happens to the best of em. I think that people will be looking at his season as a whole though which was nothing short of spectacular.

    Plus his combine is no doubt gonna keep him up there but i do see your point.

  32. SirustheVirus Says:

    Teo looked like Barrett Rudd last night lol

  33. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    Manti Te’o did not look impressive. Milliner looked good to me. I believe at the 13 spot some one great should fall. There seem to be a lot of quality OL in the 1st round.

  34. PRBucFan Says:

    One thing is certain, for the Elite guys one game isn’t going to impact their stock much.

  35. Sneedy16 Says:

    Te’o issue was technique. He doesn’t use his hands correctly. He was trying to manhandle Alabama’s All-American Guard which was a total fail. The guy out’weighed him about 100 lbs, guys like that you have to be finesse with because brute strength isn’t going to work.

  36. Nick2 Says:

    Mark Dominicks luck drafting defensive ends reminds me of Matt Millens luck in Detroit drafting wide receivers. Another one really??????

  37. PRBucFan Says:

    I think Bowers and Clayborn will be gold
    Along with getting undrafted Bennett

  38. BucMax Says:

    All of u are wrong. rock head will draft a guy that has:
    A. A bad knee
    B. head case issues
    C. Arrest record a mile long

  39. jarrett Says:

    Teo will be there and he will stay there, arthur jones and minter are better linebackers then teo and in the coming months everyone will know this

  40. jarrett Says:

    jarvis jones will slide past us too, he is highly overated right now

  41. PRBucFan Says:

    Mayock is that you? 😉

  42. jarrett Says:

    no just someone more informed than you

  43. PRBucFan Says:

    Ahhh now does that make you feel cool???

    Let’s have a cyber argument on how much more i know about football than you, so we can make ourselves feel good!!!

    No ty kido

    P.S. I’ll make sure to come back to this come draft time Ms.Cleo.
    Apparently your more informed than all the draft experts out there too! lol

  44. jarrett Says:

    no need for arguement its obvious. You keep thinking teo and jarvis are the first two picks. cute

  45. PRBucFan Says:

    No one said that genius lol.
    You pulling that one out if your ass too?

    It was said they would most likely be gone by the time that our pick came up and absolutely no order for that was given.

    Don’t back track now Bwahahahahaha.

    Done with you Ms.Cleo or is it Mayock Jr.? Lol nvm I don’t care I’m not wasting my time coming back to this thread lol.