Predicting Dominik’s Next Move
September 4th, 2011
There’s no question that rockstar Bucs general manager Mark Dominik worked through the night scouring the overflowing NFL trash bin after yesterday’s leaguewide cuts.
Joe’s not about to sit here and predict any specific player acquisition, other than Dominik is sure to make at least a couple of plays and the Bucs seem certain to grab a linebacker very soon. There are only five on the roster.
Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, offered up his take on Dominik’s cuts and next moves, some of which Joe disagrees with, such as this one on running backs.
RBs Allen Bradford/Mossis Madu: The Bucs kept sixth-round pick Bradford but released Madu, which seems a bit curious based on preseason performance. The Bucs have a group of backs who are very similar in that none of them possesses the quickness or elusiveness of Madu. LeGarrette Blount, Earnest Graham, Kregg Lumpkin and Bradford are all on the bigger side and run with power — not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Madu will be on the practice squad, which will give him additional opportunity to show his talents to the Bucs’ coaches. But, for now, the Bucs have opted to go without Madu’s skill set, which differs from the other backs who remain on the roster.
Madu had a nothing-special college career that included a drunk driving charge with a very high blood alcohol level. Dominik clearly has little, if any, interest in a scatback type, so Joe never saw any chance for Madu over Bradford. Feel free to read all of Holder’s thoughts by clicking through above.
Bradford, recruited to Southern California as a linebacker, was a special teams ace in college and seemed to embrace the role with the Bucs. John Lynch even gushed over his touchdown saving tackle and hustle in Washington.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Madu had a nothing-special college career and Bradford had what? Bradford’s college career was far from special. If they kept him for his special teams ability, they should have dumped him and kept a 6th LB that could probably run as fast and hit as hard as he can AND provide depth at LB… but what do we know, we’re just fans. Five LBs is probably enough to get through a 16 game season in the NFL.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:55 am
If you start cutting your own draft picks, who can you be known as a drafting rock star? who cares if they get out played, as long as we have the most draft starts of any team.
Bucs win prediction 6-7 wins
September 4th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Bradford can not run in the NFL…..simple as that
his footwork could not pass a road side sobriety test
September 4th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Bradford is a good keeper. Why would they keep a practice squad guy over their 6 round pick anyway? If someone else claims Madau off of waivers or signs to their practice squad then you might have a complaint.
As for the LB situation. Now this is funny. Raheem outright doesn’t want LBs in his defense… essentially giving up on the run for another season. Hmmm… wonder if this will cost him his job as a DC?
September 4th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Does anyone know how long it takes a player to clear waivers?
September 4th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Wow, dissenting opinions vary in the range from clueless to ridiculous.
Madu was okay… and yes, he wasn’t anything special in college. As a matter of fact, he barely got much play at all. He was even switched to WR for a time to attempt to get him on the field… and then he still didn’t produce.
Bradford on the other hand is the big RB-type that the Bucs like. As big as he is he doesn’t run with much forward lean, leg drive, nor does he have very good feet and balance. In his defense, he didn’t see much in the way of running room in the preseason AND unless you can evaluate practice tape, you have no idea how well Bradford looked on a daily basis.
In the mold of big backs with receiving ability that have recently been cut loose, Brandon Saine, Mario Fannin, and Lonyae Miller are available.
I don’t think the Bucs NEED to make a move for an LB. In years past, 4-3 teams commonly enter the season with 5 LBs… as a matter of fact, the Bucs carried 6 the past few seasons, with one of those LBs being Koutovides, which pretty much meant they had 5, as Niko never got on the field as an LB.
If Simoni Lawrence clears waivers I expect him to be on the PS. Mario Harvey, formerly of the Steelers, is a 5’11 250 lb fireplug Mike that just happens to run 4.46 and is an effective edge rusher in the nickel, would be a nice developmental prospect and potential special teams superstar. Eric McBride, Cobrani Mixon, Nate Bussey, Mike Morgan, Eric Gordon, and Ross Homan would fit the older LB profile.
At the very least, I expect to see a pickup of a TE. John Gilmore was cut by the Steelers… but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bucs ship one of their CBs for a TE or OL help. Seven is a bit much, even for a position as valuable as CB.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:57 am
From the article:
There is no way they go with a “young” veteran. They might bring in someone older so that they are not a threat to Foster, but not someone who can possibly take his job.
I think they’ll stay with Hayward as the backup. It saves a roster spot…a much needed one.
I think they plan to groom Bradford as a halfback or fullback. And he’s much better than you give him credit for.
I think you are discounting Okam. With him clogging the middle maybe Morris feels they can go one player lighter on LB. 5 of them is plenty barring injuries…especially with the number of linemen this team has now.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Joe, any word on my boy Armando Allen? Think he’ll make the practice squad?
September 4th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Adam:
Whenever the 31st NFL decides to pass on him. Could be minutes, hours, days.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Bradford is bigger, faster and outweighs Madu by 40 pds. Look at him as a watered-down version of Blount who needs more coaching and practice reps. Rah said after tha draft that he’s big back hunting, which would tire out defenses as tha game carries on.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Seeing Bradford run for 3 yards a carry is going to tire me out too.