Why The Bucs Will Draft Russell Okung First
April 13th, 2010
With all the stars aligned that the Rams will draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, it appears a safe bet that either top defensive tackles manbeast Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy will fall to the Bucs.
Anwar Richardson, of the Tampa Tribune, isn’t exactly sold on this theory. He believes that instead of Suh or McCoy, the Bucs instead will draft Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung.
In short, Richardson believes there are five reasons why the Bucs will draft Okung. Here’s one of his reasons:
We all know the Bucs are not completely sold on starting left tackle Donald Penn. I like Penn and think he’s incredibly productive, but the Bucs have expressed concerns about his weight since he has been here, and as a result, continue to hold off on rewarding him with a big contract. If Tampa Bay has to reward a left tackle, should it pay Penn or Okung?
Joe thinks the world of Richardson but to answer his question — maybe Joe is naive — but Joe would prefer to pay a guy who has already proven he can play; Okung, only in theory, can play in the NFL.
It’s quite possible that Penn is the Bucs best player. In Joe’s eyes, drafting an offensive tackle in the first round is borderline criminal when the defensive line is so porous.
April 13th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I love Okung and would love to see the Bucs take him…………….as long as McCoy & Suh are gone
If one of those DT’s is on the board and the Bucs pass, I’m done with the team………
April 13th, 2010 at 8:14 am
If Penn is our best player, then we are a 3-13 team!
April 13th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I agree with you 100% Joe but the way Dominik is rolling these days this is the kind of move that fits his recent activities. He let’s AB go and weakens or WR receiver position more, although I know Wilkerson is coming off injury and is extremely old in the Bucs eyes, letting a starter go still weakens the team when you are only using the draft to better your franchise. So taking Okung when we already have a great player at that position makes perfect sense. IMO opionion Dominik needs to make something big happen in the draft and getting Suh is what will get the fans fired up. Drafting Okung would be PR nightmare.
April 13th, 2010 at 8:49 am
Unless you look at this way.
We have pay a left tackle big money.
We have to pay a #3 pick big money.
So if we cut or trade an existing tackle and draft a new one we have cut our expenses in half.
I’m not saying that is what they are doing, but if you’re cheap enough you could look at it that way.
April 13th, 2010 at 8:51 am
So , for a team full of holes , we would elect to fill a position that”s NOT a hole.
That would be brilliantly STUPID.
April 13th, 2010 at 8:57 am
LOL! Good one Scott. 🙂
April 13th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Bingo Finerdetailz!
Joe’s not suggesting the Bucs should break the bank on Wilkerson. Hardly. Also, defensive linemen that push 30,. well, that’s the magic number for when a defensive lineman — specifically a tackle — begins to cycle down. Joe would sign Wilkerson to an incentive-laden two-year deal and hopefully by then someone will be groomed to fill his spot.
April 13th, 2010 at 9:38 am
Let’s assume Okung is rated above McCoy on the Bucs board. They should still take McCoy because that’s how bad our DL was last year. Sure they had moments, but those moments were highlights. Those same moments should be expectations, not kudos for the occassional good play.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Lets just hope the Lions take Okung to prevent the Bucs from doing something stupid.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Not sure Anwar wasn’t smoking something when he came up wth this scenario.
If Mccoy and Suh are gone,the bucs will trade back so far that Okung will be
long gone.Maybe Dez Bryant is the man.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Louie , perfect statement my friend…the offensive line is not the problem here! Why havent we seening any of the big boys on BSPN say something about the O-line here??? All ive heard is there young and talented and with a bunch of stupid moves by trueblood could be one of the best!?!? Screw going for the LT and get one of the DT’s…IF for some godly reason that there not there and something happens….we better look at one of those LB’s to help these’s cheerleader size Lb’s we have here. Defense with the first pick and make that M’fer count!
April 13th, 2010 at 11:15 am
If they take a left tackle, when they don’t really need one, they need to turn in their resignations immediately.
Of course, IMO they already should.