Clayborn Is Left-Tackle Approved

May 5th, 2011

Joe has growing warmth in his heart for Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik. Speaking Wednesday on The Jim Rome Show, Dominik referred to himself in the third person, just like Joe does!!

Rome asked Dominik a question about his “pods” drafting philosophy, (a story delivered to the masses by Joe and Justin Pawlowski), and the GM praised Rome for “doing research on Dominik.”

Nice.

During that interview, Dominik referenced how he spent loads of time interviewing former college left tackles and offensive linemen all over the place asking them who their toughest defensive-end matchup was in the college game. Dominik said Adrian Clayborn’s name was given repeatedly as the nastiest load on the block.

Hearing that reminded Joe of Dominik drilling Brandon Carter about Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh last year.

Seems like a simple, wise method by Dominik. Hopefully, the college O-linemen weren’t blowing a bunch of smoke.

16 Responses to “Clayborn Is Left-Tackle Approved”

  1. BucsnBeer Says:

    Nice article.

  2. Capt.Tim Says:

    Dominick just seems to stay steps ahead of the competition! I think Clayborn will be a great RDE. He works hard, is passionate, and a pretty interesting guy. Think Tampa is gonna love Adrian’s skill and personality. Yet another highly motivated and people loving person! We made the right pick!

  3. gotbbucs Says:

    ^^^What he said^^^

  4. Jrock Says:

    I hate to sound like the pessimist here, but I’ll be more approving when he makes his first sack or gets a couple tackles for loss in a game. I’m exciting about the guy, but his numbers dropping because “teams started to notice me” doesn’t bode well in the NFL.

  5. Fear The Glow Says:

    Dominik seems to be everywhere.

    Bruce Allen would do like 3 press conferences a year and he always looked disgruntled that someone pulled him off the golf course.

  6. rick Says:

    @ Jrock, that excuse (double teamed, or keyed on more) never flies with me either. that said you should know that before clayborn’s SR. season the team changed D coordinators. new scheme for the defense to learn and gel in, and maybe the play calling was sub par to previous regime? I think we got a heck of a player.

  7. Piratic Says:

    Jrock Says:
    May 5th, 2011 at 11:54 pm

    “…his numbers dropping because “teams started to notice me” doesn’t bode well in the NFL.”

    Can anyone confirm that the Hawkeyes changed defensive schemes last year?

  8. dan Says:

    probably… but would you believe them or that it mattered once confirmed? i mean i heard his coach and him say it pre draft… but, a pessimist could say (not calling you one by the way) that that was just snake oil salesmanship, a coach angling for noteriety.

  9. buc40 Says:

    DREW BREES “The All-Pro quarterback helped organize three workouts this week at Tulane University which were attended by 37 players from the team’s 2010 roster. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Brees will pay as much as five figures for Tulane staff to help out with the practices, insurance and lodging for younger players. He also flew in his personal trainer to oversee the conditioning program.”

    LIKE THE SAINTS OR NOT, THATS A LEADER BOYS AND GIRLS…

  10. RahWillBringBackRuud Says:

    Dom is a very creative guy. I mean he is always thinking outside of the box, literally manufacturing competitive advantages vs the other teams with his extra and unique information gathering and analyses.

    He knows that too. I am impressed… but he needs to hold his cards closer to his vest else he will get copy cats.

    One thing Belichick (the misspelling is better) does is he employs math geniuses to help him analyze data and probabilities in order to gain a competitive advntage. He has some of the smartest guys he can find helping him analyze the numbers, with math and statistical methodologies, that are not clouded with bias.

    But probably the most important trait of Billichieat, is he doesnt show his cards. He keeps his tactics close to his vest. A trait Dom needs to adhere to real quick.

  11. BigMacAttack Says:

    This Lockout is really starting to suck. It has gone on long enough and the legal system is just the wrong place to settle this, in which I agree with Goodell. All these new toys for the Bucs and you can’t play with them, or even take them out of the box. Too too bad.

  12. Dave Says:

    JROCK, I absolutely agree, BUT from what I have seen and heard, I do not believe Clayborne was a one hit wonder. The guy strives to be great and gives his all.
    I hate making excuses, he should have had better numbers, but according to his coaches and even other teams, they did double team him almost every play of the year! That is amazing.
    Also, he had a new D-Coordnator and new scheme and new assignments.

    Anyway, I agree though, he has to prove it on the field.

    I can’t wait to see how McCoy, Price, Clayborne, and Bowers progress together. Plus I like Miller and Bennett. They have the makings of something real special and real nasty!!!

  13. Architek Says:

    I see Clayborn and Bowers coming in and by the 3RD quarter of the season they should be humming and kicking butt. I love that our line is bigger. I can’t wait for my trip to Tampa!

  14. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Bowers is right tackle approved. Foster is every-blocker-on-offense approved. But of course, Talib is Smith & Wesson approved and TJax is High Times approved too. Gotta do something about those two as soon as possible.

  15. lowlife Says:

    @piratic

    No. Norm Parker is about as vanilla a defensive coordinator as you can get. He never changes. 90+% of the time, he operates out of the base package (4-3) even against spread offenses with a depleted linebacking corps. It’s a two gap DL scheme, with VERY little rotation. Clayborn maybe took off 5 snaps a game (out of pure exhaustion). Already a hefty DE at 275, he gained an extra 15ish pounds in the offseason to play stouter in Parker’s heavy set scheme.

    With very little breaks in the game and simple cover two defense being eaten up for long drives, Clayborn would get winded constantly with the extra weight.

    I’ve held the opinion that if he were rotated a bit and lost about 15-20lbs, he’d be a dominant NFL end…. then again I’m a Hawkeye homer.

  16. Piratic Says:

    @lowlife.

    Thanks for the info. I’d swear that I read somewhere that their scheme changed, but since you’re a Hawkeyes “homer”, you would know more than me.

    I LOVE hearing that he played that many snaps!!