The Raiders signed QB Bruce Gradkowski. Needless to say they have more work to do in the NFL Draft.

With Al Davis still in charge, it’s a pretty safe bet the Raiders will look hard at the flashy receivers available in the 2009 NFL Draft.

But could Davis turn over a new leaf and snatch defensive tackle B.J Raji with the 7th overall pick?

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski stops in Oakland and San Diego for today’s podcast.

Pawlowski examines every team’s needs and options as part of the daily draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com.

Remember, every subscriber gets a $10 gift certificate to Courtside Grille.

{+++}

Former Bucs QB Trent Dilfer says the Bucs top priority should be to draft quarterback Mark Sanchez and suggests the Bucs trade up significantly to get him

Listening to Trent Dilfer on ESPN 1040 AM yesterday, you couldn’t help but wonder if he is somehow getting a percentage of former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez’s future NFL signing bonus.

Dilfer, now a studio analyst for ESPN, was so adamant that Sanchez is “the best pro in this draft” and the Bucs should do whatever necessary to draft him.

“I really believe this is the opportunity the Bucs have and move up and get a quarterback,” Dilfer said. “Mark Sanchez is the best pro in this draft. When the only bad thing you can say about somebody is that they’d only started 16 games, that’s pretty good. …The more film I watch, … the better he looks each time. …For the Bucs he’s a QB for 8 or 10 years and take them to a couple of Super Bowls.
 
He’s a far superior player to Matt Leinart at this point in his career. … [Sanchez’s] receivers at USC were not very good, undisciplined in route running. He had inxperienced linemen. …He carried the offense. …. He’s better than Carson Palmer, as well. …Mark Sanchez is a leader among leaders, a special individual who embraces the challenges in front of him. …
 
He does have a strong arm. He doesn’t have a [Matt] Stafford arm. …Study the film hard enough and you see a combination of quick release and strong arm. … His style makes it very hard for secondary players to break on the football. … He’s got great pocket maneuvering. … a remarkable ability to play the position the way it needs to be played in the NFL.”

Dilfer went on to say Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan are not as as talented as Mark Sanchez. And Dilfer makes the claim citing his “hours of deep film study on what translates to the NFL game.”

“Personnel people around the NFL are now digging into the film and more are falling in love with him, as well,” Dilfer said. “I really believe the Bucs need to do whatever it takes to get to the [No. 3 pick], or No. 4, 5 or 6 to get up there. … I’m confident in the Glazers having the money.”

Asked if the Bucs should make the trade for Jay Cutler, Dilfer said he believes that would be a good move for the Bucs but thinks Sanchez will be a better pro than Cutler.

“Denver might trade if it leads ultimately them to get Sanchez,” Dilfer said.

Dilfer went on to say the Bucs are in “a major rebuilding process.”

Despite the spin Raheem The Dream is concocting out of One Buc Palace, many NFL insiders seem to be of the mind that the Bucs will try to upgrade their quarterback position whether it’s a trade or via the draft.

Count Justin Hathaway among the believers.

NFL.com recently hosted a chat between a variety of NFL analysts and Hathaway suggests the Bucs will be one of two teams agitated Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler ends up with come the day of the draft.

He’ll be traded, probably on draft day as the Broncos collect the best offers. The top contenders, to me, are the Buccaneers and Jets. The Lions won’t give up their No. 1 pick for him.

The spin is so thick coming from The Dream Joe wonders if even The Dream understands what is truth and what is fiction. Joe considers The Dream talking up Luke McCown and Josh Johnson to be little more than damage control after the Bucs failed to acquire Cutler in a three-way deal back in February.

Justin Pawlowski continues his daily NFL Draft coverage with a look at teams' needs and likely directions around the league.

With new coaches and quarterbacks, the Broncos and Chiefs are major question marks entering the NFL Draft. Especially when it comes to what they’ll do on defense.

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski breaks it all down in today’s podcast.

Don’t forget. Justin answers your NFL Draft questions on Wednesday. Shoot him an e-mail today at justinpawlowski@620wdae.com {+++}

NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk is not much of a fan of Luke McCown.

NFL Network has a feature with former Bucs great Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk where they discuss the state of the Bucs.

Sapp seems to think Raheem The Dream will do fine as Bucs coach. But Sapp was far less enthusiastic about the Bucs’ defense, scolding them for sloppy tackling and little run-gap responsibility.

Faulk was somewhat critical of the Bucs’ quarterback position claiming it’s a franchise tradition to have lousy quarterbacks.

Charles Davis also breaks down the Bucs’ needs in the draft and makes a prediction for the Bucs’ first round pick (hint: think Penn State).

Along with his displeasure over his $9 million raise, Antonio Bryant is less than enthusiastic about the Bucs' quarterbacks.

Seems as though Antonio Bryant got just about the biggest raise an NFL player can make. Yet he’s angry.

Per Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, Bryant was on “The Tim Montemayor Show” on Sporting News Radio and whined about his massive pay raise where he is now making over $9 million.

“[But it’s] a one year contract, it’s a ‘prove yourself’ contract, again, and the circumstances for me have gotten a little tighter. Now I’ve got quarterbacks fighting for opportunities to showcase their talents so the ability that was there last year is gone. We lost a lot of leaders, so we’re going to have to find some leaders in the locker room. And we’ve got some guys that can step up but there’s a lot more tweaks and new things I’ve got to get comfortable with again. So it’s simple situation, but an unfair situation for myself.”

Wait a minute? You were making less than a million a year and you got a raise to over $9 million and it’s unfair???

Joe has some simple advice for Antonio Bryant:

Shut the f’ up!

[UPDATE: Here are the audio clips of Bryant’s interview, courtesy of TBO.com. Part one, part two and part three.]

If Wes Bunting of the NationalFootballPost.com is accurate, LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois will be wearing Pewter and Red.

Bunting has a three-round mock draft and believes the Bucs will go for a defensive lineman with the 81st pick.

A long-armed, explosive interior lineman who possesses impressive tools but is very raw.

Joe has no problem with this pick. The guy played in college football’s premier conference and excelled. Plus, the guy played on a winner.

Joe likes winners.

The Bucs will face Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans to begin their preseason schedule.

The NFL released the 2009 preseason schedule of opponents today, but not specific dates.

As usual, the Bucs will play in-state rivals Miami and Jacksonville and once again will play Houston. New to this year’s preseason schedule is Tennessee.

Below is the schedule. All games but Miami will be broadcast on WFLA locally. The Miami game will be broadcast on FOX for national distribution.

Preseason begins in mid-August and ends Labor Day weekend. Joe thinks this abortion of a four-game preseason schedule needs to be dropped to two.

Week 1: at Tennessee
Week 2: at Jacksonville
Aug. 27: vs. Miami
Sept. 4: vs. Houston

It was among the weekend news, so Joe is putting it out here for you.

Free agent defensive end Jason Taylor is still being kicked around as a possiblity for the Bucs, says Miami Herald reporter Armando Salguero.

A year ago, Taylor wanted out of Miami because he wanted to a chance to win right away. But in getting his wish, he learned that going to another team is no guarantee of going to the playoffs.

Taylor still has that grand postseason desire, and now New England is the sexy, and probably most logical team, for him to end up with in 2009 — assuming Brady doesn’t get injured again. Tampa Bay also beckons as a possibility, with former Dolphins defensive coordinator Jim Bates running that defense.

The choice will be largely up to Taylor. And the choice largely will determine who Taylor is and what he is about. If he is still driven by a desire to put himself in the best spot to win a title, he must go to New England.

But Taylor is said to also be motivated by a desire to remain close to his family and not put them through the difficulties of his disastrous 2008 experience, when he lived in Washington and they stayed in South Florida.

Now Taylor seems to be exactly the kind of guy Raheem The Dream and Mark Dominik don’t want — an over-30 veteran not interested in killing himself in the offseason.

But if the Bucs either trade their No. 1 pick in a package for Jay Cutler or use it to draft a wide receiver, Dominik and The Dream are going have to throw Jim Bates some kind of bone to shore up the defensive line.

Reuniting him with Taylor could be that medicine.

Raheem The Dream gets to stop polishing his interviewing skills and return to old fashioned coaching on Tuesday

The Bucs’ often confusing offseason schedule is clarified a bit today on the team’s official web site.

Raheem The Dream’s men hold their first official practice on Tuesday morning. The dreaded double session is in the afternoon.

The Buccaneers will hold a total of five full-scale practices from Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2. The team will conduct “two-a-days” on Tuesday and Wednesday and finish up with one final practice on Thursday morning.

The Dream has talked about how he values practicing very hard and working in pads through the regular season. Joe is certain he will set a demanding tone come Tuesday.

Bring it on!

Joe is intrigued to see how Bucs elder statesman Brian Griese responds.

After Son of Bob proclaimed he wants to be the starter last week, and his strong preseason last year, Joe lives in fear that Griese might throw Jeff Jagodzinski into the same trance he reserved for the last offensive genius.

Who would have thought these two guys would be out of a job within a few short weeks?

Clark Judge, not to be confused with Mike Judge or even Matt Drudge, writing for CBSSports.com, pens an article on the Bucs that describes what the team needs to be competitive in 2009.

To Joe’s surprise, Judge claims the Bucs’ defense will be geared toward MMA.

There is change everywhere in Tampa Bay. The head coach is new. The general manager is new. The players are new. Even the defense is new.

That’s right, say goodbye to the Tampa Two and say hello to Mixed Martial Arts.

“It’s about us becoming who we want to become,” new Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris said at the NFL owners’ meetings. “And that’s more physical and more violent because the more violent team always wins.”

He pointed to last year’s Pittsburgh Steelers, and he was right. He cited the 2007 New York Giants, and he was right. But does anybody think the 2006 Indianapolis Colts were more violent than Chicago? Hey, two out of three will take you far in the NFL.

Joe likes what Raheem The Dream says about how tough he wants the Bucs, but it’s hard for Joe to see with a weak defensive front and a porous linebacking unit how the Bucs are going to stop too many opponents.

Jeff George claims he's healthy and chomping at the bit to compete for a QB job

We don’t know him, but his future bosses say he’ll be in Tampa and ready for training camp.

He’s Mr. Fourth Quarterback Guy, who Jeff Jagodzinski and Raheem The Dream keep telling us will arrive from the shadows to compete for the Bucs’ starting job.

The Dream reminded us again of this fiery, competitive mystery man on Sunday, through the St. Pete Times.

The Bucs will monitor the Jay Cutler situation, and there’s a chance the Broncos could trade him closer to draft day. Short of that, the Bucs will wait to see which veterans might get whacked after the draft.

“You’re just looking for the most competitive guy, the one that’s going to come in and create the most competition whether he’s the Day 1 starter or whether he’s a Week 6 or Week 16 starter,” Morris said.

Thank you, Dream. Now we’ve learned even more about Mr. Fourth Quarterback Guy; he’s just got to be “the most competitive guy.” So it’s all about competition.

Sure sounds like Jeff Garcia is a good fit. Oh, that’s right, the Bucs are going in a different direction. Jeff George, perhaps?  He can stay in the pocket and throw deep, and he’s dying to compete, so he’s telling everyone.

Joe is getting a little confused by all of this.

Last week, Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer Anwar Richardson said on ESPN 1040 AM that Luke McCown and teammates already have been advised that McCown will get a two-year window to prove himself.

Is there going to be a competition or not? 

A quarter of BSPNers (Chris Mortensen, Mike Tirico, Mel Kiper and Trent Dilfer) discuss what the Bucs may do in the draft.

Dilfer actually makes sense that the Bucs will pick Mark Sanchez. Kiper describes how the Bucs will have to trade up to get Sanchez.

Joe has also devised a new drinking game: Whenever Mike Tirico is on the air, one must take a shot every time Tirico uses the tired and empty phrase “moving forward.”

If Tirico is broadcasting an NFL game, be careful, you’ll likely be smashed by halftime.

Can Missouri's William Moore tackle?

Safety isn’t the deepest position in the 2009 draft, but there are some gems and diamonds in the rough, reports NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski.

Listen to Pawlowski’s overview now, and get the full report on defensive backs here.

Remember, Justin will answer your draft questions on Wednesday in the popular – and free – E-mailbag edition of the daily podcast.

E-mail Justin today, justinpawlowski@620wdae.com (No nude attachments, please)

[audio:podcast0329.mp3]

Joe was mildly interested in the news that the Bucs are going to give a private workout to Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman. It seems Freeman himself, speaking on “Moving the Chains” on Sirius NFL Radio on Friday, let the cat out of the bag saying he was going to work out for the Bucs.

Joe isn’t as sold on Freeman as some. And earlier Friday on NFL Radio with Adam Schein and Jim Miller on “The Blitz,” Freeman was essentially taken apart not only by the show’s co-hosts, but by guest Tim Hasselbeck of BSPN.

In short, Hasselbeck and Miller, both former NFL quarterbacks, don’t drink the Kool-Aid that Freeman is a first round pick.

Miller, who serves as the color man for Michigan State football broadcasts (and, FWIW, is on record as having major reservations about Chris “Beanie” Wells) began the Freeman conversation as saying, “I don’t get it.” Miller went on to say how, in the films he has studied about Freeman, that the QB makes terrible decisions.

Hasselbeck, who has a way cute yet annoying wife, seconded Miller.

“The focus on arm strength has ruined more quarterback evaluations than anything else in the history of football. I remember people used to get all worked up about Kyle Boller’s arm. ‘Hey, he can throw the ball through the goal posts from the 50-yard line.’ So what?!”

Miller then said Freeman’s decision-making is “terrible.” Miller noted that Freeman couldn’t put up good numbers against a conference which had, collectively, an atrocious defense. Miller added if Freeman couldn’t make proper reads against defenses in the Big XII, he will get chewed up in the NFL.

While Joe isn’t a scout, he certainly knows a rotten defense when he sees it and Freeman wasn’t even in the top four quarterbacks in the Big XII, then why in the name of John McKay would the Bucs even consider drafting this guy with the first round pick?

In short, if a quarterback can’t make smart decisions against garbage defenses in the Big XII, then what makes anyone think he will correct his errors in the NFL?

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski explains why Oregon's Patrick Chung might be a major score for the Bucs in the third round

The Bucs’ needs in the secondary shouldn’t be overlooked, although it’s easy to gloss over them given the more glaring holes on the defensive line.

But in the off chance Jermaine Phillips’ transition to linebacker is successful, then the Bucs will have an especially thin corps of defensive backs.

Phillips’ move coupled with the loss of Phillip Buchanon to Detroit could have the Bucs targeting one or more of these 14 cornerbacks and safeties in the NFL Draft.

Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, of 620 WDAE-AM, The Sports Animal, gives a complete breakdown of each player below.

There’s no doubt Raheem The Dream, an accomplished secondary coach,  is salivating to land at least one of these guys.{+++}

Cornerbacks

Malcolm Jenkins – CB – Ohio St.
6’ – 204 lbs – 4.55
Top 20 Pick

Why I’m taking him: Jenkins has been one of the best corners in college football over the past couple of seasons. His size allows him to match up with any receiver. He also is very good in run support as he is an excellent tackler. His size and strength also gives him an advantage at getting a good jam on opposing receivers. Intangibles are excellent, as he brings a very nice work ethic and leadership skills.

Why I’m staying away: I’m still unsure who he is. Is he a corner or a safety? He might have the size, but he doesn’t have the speed or technique to match up with any receiver in football. One of the most important aspects of a corner is being able to flip your hips, and that is one of Jenkins biggest weaknesses.  

Impact on the Bucs roster: Well, the Bucs don’t need a free safety, so if they take Jenkins, it’s strictly as a corner. I do think the Bucs need another corner who thrives in man coverage, but Jenkins isn’t that guy. If the Bucs do take him, he would join the Bucs as a nickel back before eventually replacing Ronde Barber.

NFL Comparison: Antrel Rolle: Almost a perfect comparison here. After not being quick or fast enough to cover NFL receivers, Rolle has saved his career with a move to safety. A similar move could be destined for Jenkins. Rolle, much like Jenkins, was a standout shutdown corner in college, but just wasn’t athletic enough for man coverage in the NFL.

Vontae Davis – CB – Illinois
5’11’’ – 203 lbs – 4.40
1st Round

Why I’m taking him: There’s a lot to like about this kid. We’ll start with his athleticism and speed which might be the best for a corner in this draft. He also has nice size to match up with NFL receivers. Davis is tough, physical, and a reliable tackler. His tackling skills help support the run, but also help him in zone defense. Obviously with his speed and athleticism, Davis can thrive in man coverage as well. I should add that Davis never missed a game due to injury, and his potential might be one of the highest in this draft.  Davis is one of the best athletes in this draft.

Why I’m staying away: Arrogance is big with Davis as he loves himself. Now, this can be good for a defensive back, but Davis still has a lot to learn at the position to be good in the NFL. Speaking of learning, Davis has clashed with coaches at Illinois, and doesn’t take instruction very well.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Let me start by saying that the Bucs took a corner last year who had all the same characteristics that Davis possesses. I think Davis, if he gets his head on straight, would be an excellent pick for the Bucs. The Bucs do need another corner who can play in man coverage. Davis would come in as the 3rd corner and nickel back before eventually replacing Ronde Barber.

NFL Comparison: Darrelle Revis: I remember when Revis came out, and I thought that he had all the tools you want in a shutdown corner. Davis possesses all of those same characteristics. Also, that year, everyone thought Leon Hall was the best corner, but I stood by my statement that Revis was and he ended up being selected before Hall. I’m getting similar feelings this year between Davis and Malcolm Jenkins. The difference this year is that Davis might be the best corner available, but Jenkins has the ability to play safety and still might be the best defensive back.

Darius Butler – CB – UCONN
5’10’’ – 183 lbs – 4.53
1st – 2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: Butler’s on the rise, and why shouldn’t he be? He’s got a ton of skill and discipline to play corner in the NFL. He’s an excellent athlete with good speed, but it’s his ball skills and hands that make him stand out. Although I hate to say it because I didn’t get along with him, Butler’s coach Randy Edsall makes sure his players are disciplined when they leave UCONN, and Butler has tremendous discipline. Butler’s also tough and comes up to help against the run.  He’s smart, a team leader, and was a captain at UCONN.

Why I’m staying away: Bulk and strength are my biggest questions with Butler.  With those factors, durability has to come into question until Butler does add some weight. Butler could also improve the technique in his backpedal.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Butler is definitely on the rise and could go somewhere in the 20’s of the 1st round. So, do the Bucs draft him at 19? It’s possible, but I wouldn’t call it probable. Butler would be a good fit though, with his ability to play man coverage.

NFL Comparison: Asante Samuel: With proper time to develop, Butler has the potential to be a shutdown corner like Samuel. Butler reminds me of a player Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells would draft. Both Samuel and Butler excel in man coverage.

Sean Smith – CB/S – Utah
6’3’’ – 214 lbs – 4.47
1st – 2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: I’m not sure how you could not love Smith’s combination of size and speed. With that size, Smith matches up great with taller receivers, and really gives his defense an advantage in the red zone against teams with taller receivers for just that. Also, being a former receiver himself, Smith has excellent ball skills. He is very quick to support the run and uses his speed to attack screens and passes in the flat. Yes, he is a reliable tackler.

Why I’m staying away: This is another player who we don’t know which position he’s going to play, either corner or safety. Although he does have a lot of natural gifts, his hips are not fluid, and he does not transition well to run with a receiver.  He’s also extremely raw and needs to get better technique.  By saying he’s raw, what I mean is he’s only played defense for 2 years. That includes college and high school.

Impact on the Bucs roster: I was poking around different websites the other day and one had Smith rated as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. If he’s available in the 3rd round, I’d be shocked if Raheem The Dream didn’t pull the trigger on a position he knows best.  Don’t bank on him being there.  Smith needs to improve his technique, but the natural gifts are there.  If drafted by the Bucs, he could come in and learn behind Ronde Barber before starting opposite Aqib Talib.

NFL Comparison: Nnamdi Asomugha: When drafted, no one knew who Asomugha was, and some people still don’t. Since then, he has improved his technique and is now one of the top corners in the NFL. If given the chance, Smith could follow this path. It will come down to the team that drafts Smith and whether they view him as a corner or a safety. Personally, I’d try him at corner.

Alphonso Smith – CB – Wake Forrest
5’9’’ – 193 lbs – 4.53
1st – 2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: Smith has terrific technique, and might have the best footwork of any corner in this draft. He is an excellent athlete who displays outstanding instincts and superb hands. He’s also a physical corner who will come up and help against the run. Smith has a ton of experience and is a very confident player, but not overly confident.

Why I’m staying away: We start here with Smith’s lack of ideal height and speed. However, unlike DJ Moore below, Smith has excellent technique and footwork to allow him to still be successful in either man or zone coverage.  With his lack of size, Smith won’t match up well with taller receivers and might get overpowered by stronger receivers.

Impact on the Bucs roster: The 19th pick might be a little high for Smith, and I don’t see him falling to the third round, so unless a trade is made, don’t expect him in pewter and red. If he did somehow get drafted by the Bucs, expect him to be the Bucs nickel back in 2009 before battling for the starting job in 2010.

NFL Comparison: Antoine Winfield:  Smith and Winfield both lack ideal size, but make up for it with physical play, technique, and ballhawking skills. Winfield has gone on to have a very successful career, and I expect much of the same from Smith.

DJ Moore – CB – Vanderbilt
5’9’’ – 192 lbs – 4.57
2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: Work ethic stands out when breaking down Moore. He is a very intelligent kid who was a member of the French honors organization and always did whatever the coaches told him to. He also has very good quickness and agility. Moore has great hands and rarely drops a pass in his hands. Because of this, he has played both defense and offense. His quickness and agility also make him a threat on punt returns as he always makes the first defender miss.

Why I’m staying away: I’m worried about Moore’s straight line speed. With his lack of speed, I have doubts he can keep up with the faster receivers on seem routes. He also lacks ideal height to battle taller receivers. Moore’s probably not a good fit for defenses with man coverage, and might not be a good fit on any defense, and might have to try offense due to his excellent hands.

Impact on the Bucs roster: I’m projecting Moore as a 2nd round pick because even though he lacks ideal height and speed, he does have a lot of positives on his side. The Bucs don’t have a 2nd round pick, but if Moore falls to the 3rd round, I’d be interested to see if the Bucs would consider him.  He isn’t a perfect tackler, but his skill set reminds me a lot of Ronde Barber.

NFL Comparison: Ronde Barber: Well, I guess I should have saved my last sentence for this section. The year Barber was drafted, he was not tall enough, was too slow, and couldn’t cover NFL receivers. It worked ok for him. I see a lot of similarities with Moore. He possesses so many top intangibles including an amazing work ethic and intelligence that should help him progress as a player.

Coye Francies – CB – San Jose St.
6’ – 185 lbs – 4.56
2nd – 3rd Round

Why I’m taking him: I think physically, there isn’t anything to dislike about Francies. He is gifted. He’s got great height with long arms; he’s very athletic, excellent speed, great feet, and changes direction well.  Francies is also very physical and a good tackler.  Francies has tons of upside and potential, and is willing to work to achieve it.

Why I’m staying away: Experience is a concern with Francies since he only played in two complete seasons during his collegiate career. That brings us to my other concern with Francies; his character. Francies was dismissed from Oregon St.  for being arrested and charged with possession of a loaded firearm. He must improve his technique and footwork.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Where Francies goes depends on which team is willing to give him the time to grow.  The payoff could be huge if allowed to work towards potential. If available in the 3rd round, Francies would have a good opportunity here to learn behind Ronde Barber for a few years before taking over.

NFL Comparison: Al Harris: Al Harris came into the NFL as a 6th round pick by the Bucs out of Texas A&M-Kingsville needing time to develop into what he became. I see a lot of those same characteristics in Francies; however, Francies won’t last until the 6th round of this draft. Francies might have more potential then Harris ever had.

Victor “Macho” Harris – CB – Va. Tech
5’11’’ – 198 lbs – 4.51
2nd – 3rd Round

Why I’m taking him: When watching Harris, the thing that pops off the screen is his toughness and physical play.  Also, I was impressed with his ball skills. I thought he found the ball well, and made some impressive plays. He’s got great size and can deliver the big hit at anytime. With that being said, he’s obviously great in run support and an excellent tackler.

Why I’m staying away: I’m afraid Harris could be limited to a “Tampa 2” type of defense in the NFL. Although he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at his pro day, he ran it on turf which is a much faster surface making his time deceiving. That lack of speed might make it tough to turn and run with some of the faster receivers in the NFL. He can also play way to emotionally and draw penalties because of it.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Although I love the toughness Harris brings, I don’t think he’d fit in with what the Bucs are doing on defense now.  He’s a much better fit for a “Tampa 2” defense which, oddly enough, is not run by Tampa anymore.  If selected, I’d hope it would be later rather than earlier.

NFL Comparison: Charles Tillman: Obviously, Tillman playing in the “Tampa 2” defense in Chicago is a good match for Harris.  Who knows, Chicago might be a good fit for Harris as well.

Jairus Byrd – CB – Oregon
5’10’’ – 207 lbs – DNP
3rd Round

Why I’m taking him: Byrd’s a physical player who’s had a lot of success at Oregon over the course of his collegiate career. He’s never been injured, so durability is a big plus. He’s a ball hawk who locates the ball in the air and goes for it, but also is excellent in run support. He takes excellent angles and delivers big hits.

Why I’m staying away: Speed’s the big question with Byrd. He lacks a burst to close on receivers. He also lacks a 2nd gear to keep up with the faster receivers down the field.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Byrd probably won’t thrive in man coverage in the NFL. With that being said, he’s a good player, and if he falls to the 4th round, I’m not opposed to the Bucs taking a flyer on him. He’d be a nice nickel back for the Bucs.

NFL Comparison: Cedric Griffin: The Vikings corner has fit in very well with the “Tampa 2” defense.  Byrd might have to eased into the line up, but has the ability to start in the right system.

Mike Mickens – CB – Cincinnati
5’11’’ – 184 lbs – 4.53
3rd – 4th Round

Why I’m taking him: I’m taking Mickens because I feel I can get good value on a player with nice height, long arms, and good ball skills. I also like the way Mickens helps in run support and that he’s a very reliable tackler. You can’t forget experience either as Mickens was a 4-year starter at Cincinnati.

Why I’m staying away: I’m not a fan of Mickens lack of strength and bulk. This will hurt him against stronger receivers in the NFL. I also don’t like Mickens lack of straight-line speed. This will hurt him against faster receivers.  In conclusion, Mickens should do fine against taller lanky receivers with no speed.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Mickens is not a good fit for the Bucs. He doesn’t have the speed or strength to play man coverage in the Bucs new defense.  If they selected him, he would be a solid nickel back.

NFL Comparison: Jabari Greer: Like Greer, Mickens won’t be more than a solid backup and solid special teams player. Mickens does have some playmaking ability, but his lack of strength and speed will hurt him.

Safeties

Louis Delmas – FS – Western Michigan
5’11’’ – 202 lbs – 4.53
2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: I like my safeties to be tough and physical. Delmas is just that. He fills nicely against the run and delivers the big hit. He also has excellent awareness and instincts which help him in the pass game. He possesses great hands and always seems to find himself around the action. Delmas has proved over his collegiate career that he has a will to be the best he can be, and he displays that with a great work ethic and excellent leadership skills.

Why I’m staying away: I’m slightly worried, after watching film, about his consistency in taking proper angles.  To me, this is extremely important for a safety. What also hurts Delmas is that he tends to be overly aggressive at times putting him out of position.  I also feel it might take Delmas some time in adjusting to the NFL.

Impact on the Bucs roster: I grade Delmas as a pure 2nd round pick. He might sneak into the 1st round, but he has 2nd round value. With that being said, and the Bucs not desperate for a safety, odds are that Delmas won’t be wearing a Bucs uniform in 2009.  

NFL Comparison: Michael Griffin: When the Titans drafted Griffin a few years back, he had a lot of the same qualities as Delmas, not to mention the same hair. Griffin has learned to control his aggression and take better angles, and I expect Delmas to do the same.  It might just take some time.

William Moore – FS – Missouri
6’ – 221 lbs – 4.49
2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: At the safety position, you have to love the size and speed combination Moore brings. He’s an intimidating hitter over the middle that’s always looking to deliver the big blow. The good part with Moore is that he also has the speed to cover deep.  Moore was very productive at Missouri, but his interception numbers dropped in 2008 as he was told to play closer to the line of scrimmage because the Tigers front 7 needed help against the run. This tells me that Moore is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Why I’m staying away: I guess the main concern with Moore would be durability. He’s dealt with injuries to his legs, feet, and shoulders. He isn’t the best cover safety either, as he plays best with the action in front of him. Remember when I called him a big hitter? He is. The problem is that he fails to wrap up some times, and this leads to missed tackles.

Impact on the Bucs roster: Much like Delmas, I see Moore as a solid 2nd round selection. The Bucs don’t have a 2nd round pick or a need for safety, so the likelihood is that Moore will be drafted by another team.

NFL Comparison: Kerry Rhodes: I’ve felt Rhodes has gone under the radar in the NFL. He’s a big hitter and a very good safety for the Jets. Moore’s play reminds me a lot of Rhodes.

Patrick Chung – SS – Oregon
5’11’’ – 212 lbs – 4.54
2nd – 3rd Round

Why I’m taking him: Chung reminds me of the prototypical strong safety. He is very tough and physical, and is a very reliable tackler. He had an extremely productive career at Oregon, never missed a game due to injury. Unlike some of the other safety prospects, I feel Chung can bring an impact as a special teams player as well. He’s got a hell of a work ethic, and is a hell of a leader.

Why I’m staying away: Chung isn’t the fastest player on the field, and because of this, he might lack a little in coverage. Another thing I noticed is that Chung tends to play too aggressively and bites on play action passes.

Impact on the Bucs roster: I want the Bucs to draft Chung, maybe more than any other prospect in this year’s draft.  The main reason I’d want this is because I’ll be the first one buying a jersey with “Wang-Chung” on the back.  Anyways, I like Chung. And his potential value to the Bucs would increase if Jermaine Phillips does, in fact, move to linebacker. If available in the 3rd round, I would not mind one bit to see Chung in a Bucs uniform.

NFL Comparison: Gibril Wilson:  Wilson’s never been the biggest safety, but always seemsto play big.  Chung plays a similar brand of football.  

Rashad Johnson – FS – Alabama
5’11’’ – 203 lbs – 4.53
3rd – 4th Round

Why I’m taking him: Instincts stand out to me when watching Johnson play. He is so quick to recognize either run or pass, and always puts himself in position to make a play. He is also very smooth and has fluid hips helping him in coverage. He’s a sure tackler, tough, smart, and an outstanding leader.

Why I’m staying away: I’m not overly enthused with his size. Even though he measures in at the same size as Delmas, he seems to play a lot smaller, and that’s not good. Because he doesn’t play as big as he should, he sometimes gets caught up in the wash of the offensive and defensive lines, preventing him from making a play.  Character could be an issue as well, as Johnson was arrested in February of 2008 for disorderly conduct.  Then again, I always feel I’m exuding “disorderly conduct.”

Impact on the Bucs roster: I’m not so sure Johnson would be a good pick for the Bucs. With the Bucs having so many other pressing needs, Johnson doesn’t impress me enough to forget about other areas of need to draft him.

NFL Comparison: Tyrell Johnson:  The Vikings have had high hopes for Tyrell Johnson, who will finally get an opportunity to start consistently in 2009 with the departure of Darren Sharper. Rashad Johnson could be in a similar boat.  He’s got talent and good instincts, but it might take a few years until he gets on the field.

Son of Bob has not been seen at One Buc Palace during the offseason. Joe hopes that's a harbinger of his release.

Joe has documented in great detail what an unmitigated stiff Son of Bob is and that he’s been living off of his old man’s name far too long.

If recent days at One Buc Palace is any indication, Joe may be ready to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne. Tom Korun of WFTS-TV writes on his station’s website that Son of Bob has been nowhere to be found at One Buc Palace this offseason.

According to young Bucs QB Josh Johnson, veteran Brian Griese hasn’t posted yet during off-season workouts.

Normally, I would say no big deal considering Griese is one of the most intelligent QB’s in the league, and he knows every detail of the offense.

However, last time I checked, Jon Gruden’s offense is not in the Bucs official playbook this season. Jeff Jagodzinski’s new system is now in place.

Not to say that Griese wouldn’t pick this offense up quick. From what we hear, JJ’s “O” is far less complicated than his predecessor’s.

But not to show up at all? There must be a good reason.

Joe hopes Korun is right on the mark: That Son of Bob is about to be turned loose.

Look, Joe has nothing personal against Son of Bob. For all Joe knows the guy is a standup fellow. But this is football and this is business and this walking interception is taking up a valuable position on the Bucs roster.

What could Cullen Jenkins have to do with the Bucs' first round pick in 2009?

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox examines five players who could be there for the Bucs at No. 19 in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Fox makes a case for each in the JoeBucsFan.com Features section.

Check his analysis here.

Fox will release his updated Bucs-only mock draft next week. You can also read his previous mock draft in Features.

The Bucs have scheduled a workout for Percy Harvin, among others, reports the St. Pete Times.

If you’ve been following the NFL Draft coverage here at JoeBucsFan.com, you know a lot about the following college players. They are a group the Bucs are targeting for private workouts and personal visits, reports the St. Pete Times today. 

The Bucs have scheduled personal workouts with Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace, Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum, Jr., Florida receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, Maryland receiver Darius Heyward-Bey and South Florida receiver Taurus Johnson.

The Bucs also have scheduled visits with Hampton defensive tackle Chris Baker, Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson, Temple defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams.

Joe is intrigued by Terrance Knighton, Temple’s little known nose tackle.

The kid measured 6-3, 321 lbs. at the combine and he moves quite well. And he seems like one of those guys who has put in a lot of hard work and could be an excellent value in the late rounds.

Joe is issuing a hearty “Thank You” to Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com.

Today Mr. Florio posted a JoeBucsFan.com story on his immensely popular Web site: Glazer Boys Offered Derrick Brooks A Job. So Joe is returning the favor and posting one of Florio’s video reports, this one about ramifications of an expanded NFL season.

Joe is gung-ho for an 18-game season so long as the NFL abortion of a preseason is cut to two games and an additional bye week is added.

(An additional bye would push the playoffs further into February, which will very much please the beancounters of various TV networks, which in turn will add to the NFL’s coffers: Think February sweeps.)

Despite what the Glazer Boys, Mark Dominik and Raheem The Dream say, Joe’s confident the Bucs have their eyes on a(nother) starting quarterback whether it’s in the draft, a trade or possibly a free agent.

If the Bucs weren’t interested in upgrading the position, they wouldn’t have been in talks to acquire frustrated Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.

Steve Wyche of NFL.com seems to be of the same mind. Wyche is so convinced the Bucs are still looking for a starting quarterback he’s suggesting former Gators signal-caller Rex Grossman will be in the mix.

Luke McCown appears to be the starter for now but second-year player Josh Johnson and veteran Brian Griese are in the mix. The Bucs might not be completely sold on any of them, as they tried to foster a failed three-team trade that would have landed them Cutler. Now they appear set to give one of these players a shot. If new coach Raheem Morris isn’t satisfied after minicamps, a free agent, like Rex Grossman, could get a call.

This is disturbing to Joe. While it’s likely Grossman just needs a change in atmosphere, Joe is beyond skeptical of a Steve Spurrier quarterback.

If anyone can name a Steve Spurrier quarterback who has done anything in the NFL aside from blowing chunks, feel free to email Joe. 

And please don’t get Joe started on Dave Brown.

In trying to build up project quarterback Josh Johnson, Raheem The Dream actually undercut the poor lad.

For a period of Joe’s life he would rather not remember, Joe served time in Chicago practicing his craft. Unlike Frank Sinatra, Chicago is not Joe’s kinda town.

But one of the pleasant, albeit few, memories of Chicago Joe has is listening to sports radio personality Mike North, late of The Score, WSCR-AM. The guy was downright funny and a must-listen for sports fans.

One of North’s favorite expressions was when a caller either had too biting of a comment or was too outrageous or was too over the top, North would playfully bellow, “Take… it… EASY!”

North’s catch phrase sprung to Joe’s mind when he read a quote from Raheem The Dream in a piece penned by Jim Trotter of SI.com.

The Dream has already proved to be a master of speaking a lot but saying virtually nothing. Sadly for The Dream, what little substance he does say is spin that is way out of control.

In Trotter’s piece, The Dream was trying to stick up for backup quarterback Josh Johnson who has been labled by many as “a project,” fairly or unfairly remains to be seen.

The Dream was so gushing in trying to build up Johnson that he in fact threw Johnson under the bus when talking about the Bucs quarterback situation at the NFL owners meetings earlier this week in California.

“We’ve got two unproven guys: Luke McCown started six games, won one, has a bunch of talent that we see every day that you don’t,” Morris said. “We’ve got a [second-year] guy, Josh Johnson, should have been a second-round pick, absolutely bombed at the combine and became a sixth-round pick.”

Huh? Because a guy had a bad combine Johnson drops four rounds, really? C’mon Dream, you know better than that and Bucs fans know better than that.

Scouts investigate and research a prospect’s entire body of work, not just one weekend. Good grief, Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith did everything a player could do wrong at this year’s NFL combine (and more) and he will still be a first round pick.

It’s one thing to talk up one of your own players. But at least be somewhat realistic Dream. Your spin is so deep you’re setting Johnson up for failure if not indirectly ripping him.