Joe's not sure whether to believe the report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Joey Galloway's chances to catch on with the Steelers

Joe has to take a major whack here at Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who will hereby be known as “Dr. No Source.”

Today “Dr. No Source” reports that Joey Galloway, who visited the Steelers this week, has not been offered a contract by Pittsburgh but the Steelers might still be interested.

Of course, Dr. No Source doesn’t attribute this information to anyone in the Steelers’ organization.

Galloway, 37, and [Chris] Carr, 25, each visited the Steelers this week, and each left without an offer from the team. That does not mean the Steelers are not interested in the players; rather, they think there is no urgency to sign either Galloway or Carr, even at the expense of losing them to another team.

This is not the first time Dr. No Source has tossed out unattributed alleged facts, a major no-no in the journalism world where Joe once made a living. 

Heck, Dr. No Source did it earlier this week regarding Galloway again. That time he wrote how the Steelers want to “pursuade” Galloway to join the team and how the Steelers “are convinced” he “still has the speed to be a viable part of their offense.” 

Here’s the exact quote.

The Steelers are hoping to persuade Galloway he can be part of an opportunity to make another run at a Super Bowl championship. But they are convinced Galloway, who has been clocked at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, still has the speed to be a viable part of their offense.

Joe finds this to be shameful, lazy and pathetic journalism. This is why people don’t trust what they read.

Put a source to your information, Dulac. That’s journalism 101. Joe does it every day. So can you.

Now Joe did call and e-mail Dr. No Source right after the first fuzzy Galloway story to get some more details. Not surprising that no response was forthcoming.

In today's Rough Draft podcast, NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski explores how far Michael Crabtree will fall in the draft. He got open in the Big 12. Can he do it in the NFL?

Joe’s exclusive daily NFL Draft coverage continues with resident draft genius Justin Pawlowski talking about the huge decision facing teams considering wide receiver Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech.

There’s much more, too. Is Al Davis in love with Percy Harvin?

Joe knows you’ll love this podcast, as well as the free $10 gift certificate to Courtside Grille for all subscribers.

Look for the full written defensive tackles breakdown on Saturday.

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Though Chucky refused to talk to Joe on the record Thursday, Joe understands that Chucky wasn't completely flipping him off.

As Joe has documented in recent weeks since Chucky was fired by the Glazer Boys, Joe has attempted to contact Chucky for an interview if not a series of stories. Joe even went so far as to offer to make a sizable donation to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg in return for a brief interview.

Despite Joe sending the offer to Chucky at his residence via certified mail, Chucky blew off Joe.

So, being the intrepid reporter Joe is, he has stayed hot on Chucky’s trail. Wednesday night, Joe conveniently bumped into Chucky at one of his son’s sporting events in Tampa.

Joe must be candid: Chucky was quite kind to Joe and if they were together at one of Chucky’s favorite chicken wing joints, Joe thinks Chucky would have shared a beer or two with him.

Joe and Chucky chatted about his good friend, Seminole High School football coach Sam Roper, and Chucky’s sons.

But when Joe tried to ask Chucky a few questions on the record about the NFL combine which Chucky covered for the NFL Network, Joe was very quickly shut down.

“No, man, I’m not making any comments, I’m on vacation,” Chucky said with a big grin on his face.

Joe tried once again to coerce Chucky into talking about specific players in next month’s NFL draft promising Chucky he wasn’t going to ask him about the Bucs (this time), but Chucky politely refused saying he was making no comments and just wanted to get ready to watch his son.

Fair enough. Chucky joked around with Joe and was quite polite to him. If a man doesn’t want to talk, he doesn’t want to talk. Joe wasn’t going to press the issue.

But Chucky should realize by now Joe doesn’t easily give up. Chucky still lives in the Tampa Bay area and Joe still has his blog.

Joe knows where to find you, Chucky.

Joe must make a confession: He’s never been to Disney. Ever. Unless one calls the BSPNZone “Disney.” If that is true, then, yes, Joe has been to Disney.

Joe’s not an amusement park kinda guy. It’s not cool to pound beers and then wait in line for an eternity in 90 degree weather just so he can hurl on the 50ish woman in front of him holding hands with a bawling kid after walking off some dizzying ride.

Additionally, Joe once covered an NFL training camp in the midst of a (just as bad as Florida) hot and ghastly humid Illinois summer amid the cornfields. It bored Joe to death, mainly because the NFL team Joe covered ran drills exactly like Joe’s high school team which gave Joe terrible flashbacks of two-a-days and muscles so sore Joe could hardly walk.

So it has always confused Joe why so many Bucs fans make the pilgrimmage to the House of Mouse. It’s a combination of horrid Snorlando traffic, not so great weather, no beer and painfully redundant drills with blocking sleds and blocking pads.

No thanks.

But for Bucs fans that enjoyed Mouseland, Joe has to repeat some depressing news: The Bucs will no longer hold training camp at Disney.

Instead, training camp will be at One Buc Palace, per Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel.

But details on how the Bucs will be able move and seat the hundreds of fans that attend training two-a-day camp workouts will be hammered out over the next few months. Team officials also will have to find a nearby hotel to house players.

Joe’s not sure what to think about this. In some respects Joe suspects it’s a good thing in that it should save the Bucs all sorts of cash. But then again, how many fans will be allowed in the place?

And there was also something sentimental about having an NFL team take over a hotel or a school’s dorm for a few weeks of the summer. Those days are vanishing just like spring baseball in Florida: slowly but surely.

Sad.

The Bucs stretching their budget brings great news for fans; training camp is returning to Tampa in 2009.

The Glazers Boys press on in money-saving mode and will bring Bucs training camp back to Tampa this summer, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Score one for the average Joe who couldn’t afford to trek out to Disney’s Wide World of Sports to watch training camp over the past several years. The team now will prepare for the season at One Buc Palace across from Raymond James Stadium.

The Chucky era saw the Bucs leave Tampa for Disney. Before that the Bucs had preseason training before huge crowds at University of Tampa’s Pepin-Rood stadium.

Joe remembers those days well, sitting in the covered stands while the big guys were out there sweating their butts off.  

This is great news. Joe is sure the Glazer Boys will find a way to accommodate big crowds. Big crowds mean money, and they like money.

If the Bucs do draft Missouri's Evander Hood, Joe hopes he can raise the level of play of the Bucs' defensive front line.

Here’s a name Joe hasn’t heard or read about in connection to the Bucs.

In his (once-in-a-while) weekly mock draft, former Bucs beat writer and current SI.com columnist Don Banks has the Bucs taking a defensive tackle. No shock there.

But here’s where the surprise kicks in: Banks suggests the Bucs will tap the shoulder of Missouri defensive tackle Evander Hood.

The Derrick Ward signing keeps Tampa Bay away from a running back like Knowshon Moreno or Donald Brown here, and that puts the Bucs into the market for the defensive tackle they missed out on when Albert Haynesworth chose Washington.

The only thing that spooks Joe about this is that the Big XII, as a whole defensively, was nothing short of a sieve. Though Joe knows there had to be solid if not very good individual players on Big XII defenses, Joe can’t get Oklahoma racking up 62 points on Missouri in the Big XII championship out of his head.

The Sooners basketball team moves up court slower than Oklahoma’s football team ran up and down the field at Arrowhead Stadium that night.

The Karl Williams story shows how an undrafted player can get a shot

The NationalFootballPost.com has a real neat story on former Bucs wide receiver and return specialist Karl “The Truth” Williams and how he was discovered by a scout.

It’s a great scouting story — a true tale — about how a little extra work by Williams in his pro day and a little extra work by said scout turned into a nine-year NFL career.

After the scouts were done salivating over the studly group of linemen, who were recruited and groomed by current Eagles O-line coach Juan Castillo, I could only convince one scout to stay and work out Karl. He was Rustin Webster of the Buccaneers, now with the Seahawks, who was willing to stay in beautiful Kingsville for one more hour to work out the skinny receiver.

Jack Bechta, who authored the piece and represented Williams, went on to document how Williams was not drafted. But Bechta and Webster reached out to each other after the draft. Webster remembered Williams’ work ethic and his cooperation that day and decided to have then-Bucs general manager Rich McKay sign Williams.

We all know the rest of the story.

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski explains why Liberty's Rashad Jennings and others are high value options in the 2009 draft.

You had a chance to read NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski’s breakdown of 13 running backs last week.

Now hear about him talk about these guys in detail in today’s Rough Draft podcast.

Good luck finding better draft coverage anywhere.

And yes, Justin says nobody should be surprised if the Bucs grab a running back in the middle rounds.

Remember, every subscriber gets a free $10 gift certificate to Courtside Grille.  …The defensive tackles breakdown is unveiled on Saturday.

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Ex-Bucs QB Jeff Carlson says Luke McCown and Mark Sanchez are better quarterbacks for the 2009 Bucs than Jay Cutler

All this talk about Jay Cutler demanded that Joe check in with the house expert, former Bucs quarterback  Jeff Carlson.

Joe’s a little numb that the boss of America’s Best Quarterback  is down on Cutler, even comparing him to a cauliflower of all things.

Carlson talks about the Broncos’ undisciplined gunslinger and other potential Bucs quarterbacks below.

Joe knows you’ll appreciate Carlson’s expertise and candor. The guy really needs his own weekly QB show on ESPN.

Joe: Your pluses and minuses for Jay Cutler

Jeff Carlson: One of Cutler’s positives is he can make big plays like Brett Favre (not quite as many), and one of his negatives is that he can make really bad plays like Brett Favre (but hasn’t led his team to anything of significance).  He seems to have the personality of a cauliflower, which doesn’t inspire men to do great things, unlike Brett Favre, whose personality inspires many.  A positive is that Eli Manning, whose personality isn’t much more than a cauliflower (although I do like a couple of his commercials with his brother), won a Super Bowl recently.

Joe:  How much should the Bucs give up for Cutler?

Carlson: I hope the Bucs don’t give up anything for Cutler.  I don’t want a younger Jeff Garcia type at QB.  I want a guy that will play within the system, read defenses and make the right choices.  Cutler depends on his arm strength (like early Favre) to get the ball places it shouldn’t go, which causes bad things to happen.
 
Joe:  Can he and should he want to overcome his new coach, Josh McDaniel  trying to trade him? What does he have to do if he stays in Denver?

Carlson: Since he and his coach really don’t know each other, they should try to make nice and give it a go together.  There isn’t much else out there to get.  Chris Simms is not going to become a great starting QB in the NFL and Cutler is popular in Denver (at least I think he is). 

It is time to get the Broncos back in the playoffs next year if he wants to continue in Denver.  He is at the same place Brian Griese was after taking over for John Elway.  It didn’t end well for Griese.

Joe:  Is there any QB in the 2009 draft that you’d like to see on the Bucs?

Carlson: I really like Mark Sanchez from USC in this draft. I spoke with Jon Gruden at our kids’ flag football practice and he said the same thing to me that he said on the NFL Network at the combine.  and that was Mark Sanchez wasn’t very big, not a great arm, and not many starts or great comeback wins at USC.

I disagree [with Gruden] and say that his mechanics are spot-on (best in the draft), he anticipates throws better than most, and I like his athleticism in and around the pocket.  I also like his personality and leadership style better than a Jay Cutler.  I do not think the brooding, quiet type leads men onto the “battlefield” well.

Joe: So what do you think of Luke McCown.

Carlson: I think he is the best of what is available for the Buccaneers this year.  Everyone is new to the system, but the new offensive coordinator’s style should fit McCown’s and his athleticism is unmatched at QB.  He also has good mechanics that translate into accurate passes.

The great Vacation Man, ESPN.com NFC South reporter Pat Yasinskas, gives an update on the salary cap room of our beloved Bucs.

Plenty of dough available, according to the always mysterious “league sources.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to have the most cap space in the entire league. According to league sources, the Bucs have $39.9 million available. The Carolina Panthers are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Joe takes great comfort in knowing that Raheem The Dream can shore up his defense. Whether he will be allowed to is a mystery for the Glazer Boys.

Justin Pawlowski offers a sneak preview of his defensive tackles breakdown in today's NFL Draft podcast. Pawlowski says Robert Ayers of Tennessee can contribute significantly in 2009.

After a brief hiatus, JoeBucsFan.com NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski of The Sports Animal returns with his daily podcasts.

In this edition of “Rough Draft,” Justin answers your e-mail in this 16-minute podcast that is pure heaven for any draft geek.

Pawlowski also reminds us of his life’s priorities: “God, family and NFL Draft.”

Pawlowski’s defensive tackles breakdown will be here on JoeBucsFan.com on Saturday. A fresh detailed mock draft will be here, too.

Subscribe today and get a free $10 gift certificate to Courtside Grille. {+++}

"Yo Dream, Dominik. Forgive and forget baby. I'm ready."

Yesterday, Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times inferred that former Bucs great (Joe still has a tough time typing that) Derrick Brooks has left the door open to return to the Bucs for his final NFL season, based on conversations with Brooks and his agent, Roosevelt Barnes.

“All 32 teams I’m entertaining, including our own,” Brooks said. “If something happens and [the Bucs] call me, I’ll consider that. Most people think once a team cuts you, you want nothing to do with them. But if they called, I would listen to what they have to say.”

This is a no-brainer Mark Dominik: Pick up the phone and call him!

By any measure, the Bucs’ linebackers are a weakness, maybe the weakest link on the team thanks to Dominik’s moves of cutting Cato June and Brooks.

Before the cuts, sure, the Bucs weren’t strong there but there weren’t gaping holes either. And it’s not as if Dominik stocked up on linebackers (thus far) in free agency.

Some suggest the Bucs need linebackers worse than defensive tackles.

Do the right (and smart) thing Dominik: Call Brooks. Get him back in the fold. Not only do the Bucs need linebackers, bringing Brooks back for his final NFL season will go a long way to repaing a lot of damage you did by cutting him and June.

Joe isn’t saying Brooks was his Hall of Fame self last year nor that June was an All Pro. But there’s no convincing Joe there are linebackers on the market who are as good as those two.

Swallow your pride Dominik and admit your mistake. Bucs fans — including Joe — will forgive you.

Jay Cutler may be back on the market for the Bucs soon

Almost-traded-to-the-Bucs quarterback Jay Cutler had a scheduled make-nice session with the Broncos on Monday, and reports from the Denver Post say it didn’t go well.

According to an NFL source, Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler came away from a conference call with team officials Monday believing that for the right deal, he would be traded between now and the NFL draft, which begins April 25.

Joe gave you a heads-up last week that Cutler’s judgement day was coming March 16. That’s the date of the Broncos’ next voluntary workout.

Now it looks to Joe that Cutler’s comments show he’s trying to force a trade.

Cutler said the meeting didn’t go as hoped, according to the NFL source, adding that McDaniels reiterated no one is untradable for the sake of improving the team and that the quarterback was expected to report for the team’s offseason conditioning program that begins Monday. Offseason conditioning workouts are — by de-finition — “voluntary,” but players understand coaches expect them to attend.

According to the source close to the Broncos, McDan-iels said only that the team looked forward to seeing Cutler on Monday.

Thus, the next stage in this McJaygate drama

Joe hopes Mark Dominik keeps his cell phone charged. Scoring Cutler would be a tremendous pickup for the Bucs.

Sure, the Bucs have major holes on defense, but landing a Pro Bowl young QB is more important than beefing up the defense.

Running back Andre Brown of N.C. State could be great value for the Bucs as a third or fourth round pick. JoeBucsFan.com analyst Justin Pawlowski analyzes 13 running backs worthy of a pick in the 2009 draft.

Today NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski has released nine pages of analysis on 13 running backs worthy of a draft pick. You’ll learn everything you want to know about them, plus when, where and how each could impact the Bucs roster.

Enjoy.

Joe wants to remind you there are 49 days until the opening round of the NFL Draft.

And JoeBucsFan.com has you covered every day with unmatched analysis by Justin Pawlowski, of 620 WDAE-AM, The Sports Animal.

Get in the game today. Everybody in gets a $10 gift certificate to Courtside Grille. {+++}

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
5-11, 217, 4.63
First round
 
Why I’m taking him:
Moreno does it all. The guy can run between the tackles. He can run outside. He can block. He can catch.  He can do it all.  He’s a very balanced back who could help my team in all sorts of ways.  I remember watching him for the first time a couple years ago and saying to myself that he’s going to be a hell of a running back. He hasn’t disappointed yet.  By the way, don’t question the man’s heart.
 
Why I’m staying away:
Moreno concerns me as a premier back in the NFL. I’ll talk about this more in my “NFL Comparison,” but his running style has me worried. His lack of ideal size and hard running could lead to injuries in the NFL.  Also, his lack of breakaway speed convinces me that he is not an elite prospect in this draft.  Right now, he’s no better than half of a two-headed monster in the NFL.  The good news for him is that many teams in the NFL use that.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
As I state in this section with Beanie Wells, there just isn’t a very good chance that the Bucs look at the running back position in the first round of this draft.  They might look later, but with Graham and Ward in the backfield, they have bigger needs to address.  If, by chance, they draft Moreno, expect Cadillac Williams to either be cut or placed on injured reserve for the 2009 season.  Ward and Graham would handle most of the carries on first and second down.  Clifton Smith would stick mainly to special teams.  Moreno would end up being the Bucs third down back.
 
NFL Comparison:
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and Brian Westbrook:  It’s a strange comparison, but I see a little of both these running backs in Moreno.  We’ll start with his running style, which reminds me a lot of Williams.  Moreno isn’t the biggest back, but has a very hard running style.  That style has led to injuries for Cadillac and could do the same for Moreno.  Moreno’s biggest strengths might be his blocking and receiving skills out of the backfield.  That’s where the comparison to Brian Westbrook comes into play.

Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State
6-1, 235, 4.59
First round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I’m taking Beanie because I feel he can be a legit every down back in the NFL.  He has excellent size and vision to succeed at the next level.  He has remarkable agility and balance for a man his size.  He should be able to add to any rushing attack.
 
Why I’m staying away:
Durability is my main beef with Beanie.  With all the talent he has, he just hasn’t been able to stay healthy over the course of his collegiate career.  For a bigger back like he is, his durability issues would force me to look at other players available.  Another concern of mine would be his leadership skills and overall competitiveness, or lack thereof.  This kind of goes with his durability issues, and his lack of heart to play through certain ones.  Many of his injuries that forced him out of games weren’t of the serious kind.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
Let’s face it, the odds of the Bucs drafting a running back in the first round dropped once they signed Derrick Ward.  If, by chance, the entire Buccaneer organization goes insane and they draft Beanie, that would most definitely end Cadillac Williams career with the Bucs.  It would also put Jeff Jagodzinski in a position where he has a bunch of running backs and only a certain amount of carries to go around.  Most likely, one of the running backs will be frustrated with his lack of carries.  Who knows, maybe this is part of “The Dream’s direction?  Personally, I think it would be stupid!!!!
 
NFL Comparison:
Michael Turner:  I see a lot of Michael Turner’s running style when I watch Beanie Wells.  Also, much like Turner, Wells isn’t a huge threat to catch the ball out of the back field.  The one glaring difference between the two is Turner’s speed.  Then again, there’s a reason they call him “The Burner.” 

 
Lesean McCoy, Pittsburgh
5-10, 198, DNP
Fringe first round
 
Why I’m taking him:
McCoy is a threat every time he touches the ball.  He’s a big play waiting to happen.  I got to see him first hand run over some of the best run defenses in the country last year.  He’s got excellent hands out of the backfield, very good vision, and excellent body control. He’s always leaning forward.   One of his negatives is that he doesn’t break tackles if the defender gets a good shot on him.  Did you catch the word “if” in there?  Good luck getting a good hit on this shifty back.
 
Why I’m staying away:
Size is the major concern with McCoy.  With his lack of ideal size comes the worry of him not being able to carry the load of an NFL offense.  Another concern of mine is his propensity to bounce everything to the outside looking for the big play.  Hey, I love big plays as much as the next guy, but sometimes the smart move is taking what the defense gives you.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
A player like McCoy would fit in very nicely with what Jeff Jagodzinski is now running with the Bucs.  I believe McCoy could thrive in a zone blocking scheme, allowing him to use his athletic ability and vision.  In addition, one of McCoy’s negatives is that he can’t carry the load.  In Tampa, he wouldn’t have to with Earnest Graham, Derrick Ward, and Clifton Smith looking for their own carries.  This would likely spell the end for Cadillac Williams.
 
NFL Comparison:
Darren Sproles:  Although he’s much bigger than Sproles, McCoy and Sproles have many of the same attributes.  After Sproles proved he could carry the load in the playoffs last season, I believe that helped guys like McCoy.  Both these players are big play threats every time they touch the ball whether it be on a running play or in the pass game.  McCoy should be a part of a good 1-2 punch in the NFL.

 
Donald Brown, Connecticut
5-10, 210, 4.51
Second-third round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I’m taking Brown because I know he can carry the load.  In 2008, he had over 2,000 yards on the ground with 18 touchdowns.  I also know he has tremendous work ethic and leadership skills.  Anyone that plays four years under Randy Edsall has to have a good work ethic.  Trust me; I only made it through one season under Edsall.  Then again, I didn’t have a good work ethic.  I was more interested in talking about football than playing it, especially under Edsall.
 
Why I’m staying away:
Two words: stutter step.  One thing that always pissed me off about Cadillac Williams was him trying to juke someone out while still in the backfield.  If there is a hole, the running back needs to hit it.  Every carry I’ve seen Brown take has him stuttering in the backfield.  That’s a bad habit that needs to be corrected.  In college you might be able to get away with it, but in the pros, that hesitation means you’re being tackled in the backfield.  Don’t believe me, ask Cadillac Williams.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
I don’t see much of an impact from Brown if the Bucs draft him.  He’ll be no better than third on the depth chart, and probably lose out to Derrick Ward for third down responsibilities.  Unless the Bucs acquire a second round pick somehow, the only way the Bucs get Brown as of right now, would be to draft him in the latter part of the third round.  If that’s the case, I wouldn’t have a huge problem with it because it would be tremendous value.
 
NFL Comparison:
Justin Fargas:  Brown isn’t the flashiest of running backs, but he is consistent.  Fargas might be a stretch as a comparison because Brown has the potential to be much better than Fargas, but right now, on film, they look very similar. 
 
 
Shonn Green, Iowa
5-10, 227, 4.72
Second-third round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I’m drafting Greene because I know he’s going to be an every down back for me.  He has the body to withstand a beating in the NFL, and still get the ball 25 times a game.  With that big body, Greene rarely has injuries.  In 2006 he missed three games with a sprained ankle.  He missed no games last season.  He also reads his blockers well, and runs right through arm tackles.
 
Why I’m staying away:
The value of running backs has dropped significantly over the past few years.  With that being said, when comparing Greene to other running backs in this draft, he just isn’t explosive at all as a running back.  Along those lines, he does not have very good speed at all to break long runs in the NFL either.  His hands are very suspect, which makes him unusable on third downs.  He has also had some problems keeping his weight down.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
If the Bucs draft a running back in this draft, and that’s a big “if,” I expect it to be more of a playmaking type of running back.  To me, drafting Shonn Greene would make absolutely no sense to me.  I wouldn’t expect it, but if it were to happen, expect him to be the third running back off the bench during games and to not see many carries in 2009.
 
NFL Comparison:
Jamal Lewis:  Greene doesn’t have the speed Lewis possessed once upon a time, but he is a big physical back that a team could rely on for 25-30 carries a game.  He’s a workhorse, but not a game changer.
 
 
Rashad Jennings, Liberty
6-1, 231, 4.59
Second-fourth round
 
Why I’m taking him:
Jennings is an every down back who will bring power to my run game.  He’s a horse, and possesses very good vision to find the hole.  He isn’t just going to run you over though.  He has great agility to juke and go around a defender.  He doesn’t have any character issues.  He transferred to Liberty after one season at Pitt to be closer to his father who was ill.  As a true freshman at Pittsburgh, he was second on the team in rushing with close to 500 yards on the ground.
 
Why I’m staying away:
I’m not so sure Jennings brings as much power as I’d like him to.  That makes me question whether or not he likes contact.  Also, he won’t be a big threat in the pass game.  He lacks the explosion you’d want through the hole.  He’s also had some ball security issues during his collegiate career.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
If drafted by the Bucs, Jennings would be the relied upon to be the power and short yardage back.  Of course, with Graham and Ward there, Jennings wouldn’t get a lot of carries to begin with, but that might be a good thing for him to develop.  Bye-bye Cadillac.
 
NFL Comparison:
Brandon Jacobs:  This guy reminds me of Jacobs when Jacobs was in the draft.  Because he transferred to Liberty to be with his ill father, Jennings might go under the radar for the first few rounds.  If he stays at Pitt and progresses the way he did at Liberty, he might have been a first round pick.  Jennings doesn’t have as much power as Jacobs yet, but the size, strength, agility, and vision are there.  Remember, Jacobs was a little quiet his rookie season then exploded.
 
 
Andre Brown, North Carolina State
6-0, 224, 4.49
Third-fourth round
 
Why I’m taking him:
The combination of power and speed stands out most to me when watching Andre Brown.  The stiff arm he put on a Seminoles defender on his way to a 65 yard touchdown run was amazing.  He’s got excellent vision.  He went under the radar due to his lack of carries in college.  In four years at N.C. State he never carried the ball more than 175 times in a season.  That means one thing to me: fresh legs.
 
Why I’m staying away:
On the flip side of having fresh legs, by never carrying more than 175 times in a season would mean that Brown never had to carry the load.  He has also had a few injuries which makes durability a concern.  He’s not a threat out of the backfield either.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
Brown is the type of running back I always talk about when I say you can get good value at the position later on in the draft.  Brown has a good balance of power and speed, and the later he lasts in the draft, the more he’s going to make the team that drafts him happy.  For the Bucs, I’d rather have Brown in the third round than either Knowshon Moreno or Beanie Wells in the first round.  Brown would be the third back for the Bucs behind Graham and Ward, but would be a good fit in the zone blocking scheme.
 
NFL Comparison:
Larry Johnson:  Brown has the good vision and big body to find the hole with some power.  He also has pretty good agility to make defenders miss.  He’ll be an underrated prospect going in, but he’ll be an absolute steal late in the third round or into the fourth round.
 
Mike Goodson – Texas A&M
6-0, 208, 4.54
Third-fifth round

Why I’m taking him:
I’d take Goodson with the knowledge of making him a third down back and a home run threat.  He has a good burst in the open field, and maybe the best hands in the draft for a running back.  He doesn’t have much experience as a returner in college, but could succeed as one in the NFL.
 
Why I’m staying away:
He didn’t have the production in 2008 that I expected after going over 700 yards rushing with four touchdowns in 2006 and 2007.  Actually, his stats steadily declined over the course of his career at Texas A&M.  Injuries played a role in this which has me questioning his durability.  There are also reports that he might have had a strenuous relationship with the former *and* current coaching staffs at Texas A&M.  I’d be very concerned about that.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
Goodson is the type of back I could see the Bucs taking a long look at on draft day.  Goodson is more of a homerun threat that would pair well with the power that Graham and Derrick Ward bring.  Goodson also has good vision to find the hole which is very important in the Bucs new zone blocking scheme.
 
NFL Comparison:
Leon Washington:  I expect Goodson to start his NFL career as mainly a third down back and on special teams.  If he improves the same way Leon Washington did, he’ll find himself more involved in the offense that selects him.
 
Ian Johnson, Boise State
5-11, 212, 4.46
Third-fifth Round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I was very impressed when watching Johnson on film.  There are many reasons I’d draft him.  I think the main reason I’d take a player like Johnson is his desire, heart and leadership skills.  I was also extremely impressed with his vision and decision making.  What I mean is that when he decides on a hole, he hits it hard.  I also don’t understand the knock on his speed.  The guy ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine which was one of the faster times.  By the way, he has excellent hands.
 
Why I’m staying away:
I’m staying away from Johnson because the odds are that he won’t become an elite running back.  Injuries have also plagued him the last couple of years at Boise State.  He doesn’t possess an elite burst to see the hole.  He’ll see the hole and he’ll hit the hole, but the burst is what gets you through that hole.  That might hurt him in the NFL.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
I couldn’t imagine a team that wouldn’t want Johnson on their team.  That includes the Bucs, who already have running backs.  Johnson will contribute on offense and special teams.  I believe he would mesh really well with Graham and Ward, and also become a fan favorite with his team-first attitude.
 
NFL Comparison:
Earnest Graham:  Johnson doesn’t have elite speed.  His measurable aren’t up there with other top tier running backs.  He’ll have to start his career playing on special teams.  He’s got very good vision and hands, and can help your team in multiple ways.  He loves the game of football and allows that to show on the field.  If that doesn’t sound like Earnest Graham, I don’t know what does.
 
Glen Coffee, Alabama
6-0, 209, 4.58
Third-fifth round
 
Why I’m taking him:
When Coffee gets a carry, he runs like he’s angry.  I like that.  He sees the hole and has surprising burst through it.  When struck with a decision as to whether to take on a defender or run around him, Coffee always chooses to make contact.  He’s a physical football player who loves the weight room.
 
Why I’m staying away:
A sports hernia forced Coffee to miss the 2006 season while he dealt with a shoulder injury throughout all of 2007.  With that, durability is definitely a concern.  Remember that “liking contact” thing I wrote above? Well, it’s not necessarily a good thing to like contact in the NFL.  It could lead to more injuries.  Coffee lacks elite speed and size.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
I’m not so sure Coffee would be a good fit for the Bucs.  He’s not much of a special teams player and I don’t think he’ll account to much more than a role player.  To me, the Bucs could address other needs or draft other running backs no matter what round it is.
 
NFL Comparison:
Tim Hightower:  While not as big or fast as Hightower, Coffee runs with reckless abandon.  The worry is that Coffee will continue to run like that even though he doesn’t have very good size.  Expect injuries to be a big part of Coffee’s career.
 
James Davis, Clemson
5-11, 218, 4.6
Fourth-fifth round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I’m taking Davis because of the balance he has as a running back.  He can run between the tackles, but also has the speed to run outside.  He has good hands and good vision. 
 
Why I’m staying away:
I think there are other running backs in this draft that bring a lot more to the table.  Davis is good at a lot of different things, but when I watch him, he isn’t necessarily great at anything.  Timed speed was less than desired at the combine.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
If the Bucs select him, I’d hope it would be later rather than earlier.  He’d be nothing more than a No. 3 running back for the Bucs.  I’m not so sure he’d get much higher than that in the next couple of years.
 
NFL Comparison:
Ryan Grant:  Davis has a good overall combination of skills.  Much like Ryan Grant, Davis can be a good back, but I don’t expect him to ever be elite.
 
Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon
5-9, 209, 4.67
Fourth-fifth round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I like Johnson’s balance of skills.  He’s a patient runner with nice balance and great instincts.  He’s the type of runner that can give you a good punch off the bench.  He’ll also be a threat on special teams.  As for his lack of timed speed, on film, he must be deceptively fast because he was running past defenders.
 
Why I’m staying away:
Johnson doesn’t have ideal size or speed for a running back in the NFL.  I’m not so sure he’d be able to take a beating like he would in the NFL.  He was never really utilized as a receiver at Oregon, and also never had to carry the load.
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
Johnson would be nothing more than the third running back and contribute on special teams.  I’m not so sure he’d be an upgrade over Clifton Smith.
 
NFL Comparison:
Leon Washington:  Johnson best bet at making it in the NFL is to start out the same way Washington did with the Jets.  Johnson could be valuable as a team’s third down back and returner.
 
Javon Ringer, Michigan State
5-9, 205, 4.6
Fourth-sixth round
 
Why I’m taking him:
I’m taking Ringer due to his elusive agility and balance.  He plays much bigger than his stature.  He has excellent hands and does very well in pass protection.  He also has great character, he’s a hard worker, has excellent work ethic, and was a team leader.
 
Why I’m staying away:
His size might prevent him from carrying the load in the NFL.  He lacks ideal size and speed.  With that lack of size, durability becomes a concern. 
 
Impact on the Bucs roster:
I’m not sure Ringer would be a good fit for the Bucs.  The most Ringer will probably be in the NFL will be a third down back due to his great receiving and blocking skills.  If the Bucs draft him, it shouldn’t affect the other running backs on the team at all.
 
NFL Comparison:
Michael Pittman:  Much like Pittman, Ringer will be very good on third downs.  Jon Gruden tried to make Pittman an every down back, but he was at his best as a receiver and a blocker.

Joey Galloway is wanted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Joe finds it interesting and amusing that Joey Galloway is the first free agent invited for a visit by the Pittsburgh Steelers, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he isn’t worth the Bucs’ time.

You know, he’s not part of “The Plan.”

The Steelers are hoping to persuade him he can be part of an opportunity to make another run at a Super Bowl championship. But they are convinced Galloway, who has been clocked at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, still has the speed to be a viable part of their offense.

Forgetting about Galloway, Joe surely doesn’t understand how the Bucs couldn’t find a use for Ike Hilliard.

Joe can’t fathom how it doesn’t benefit a young offense to have a reliable veteran running underneath routes on third down to help move the chains.

 Three and out never developed a young quarterback.

Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com sits down with Bucs legend and front office employee Doug Williams. The former Bucs quarterback discusses with Smith his involvement in the current free agent signing period and the upcoming NFL draft.

Williams also talks in detail about the Bucs changes at general manager and coach. Williams is direct in his contention that the Bucs are not in a rebuilding period. Time will tell Joe if Williams is accurate or not.

Second-year Bucs linebacker Geno Hayes was stabbed with a pair of scissors and a knife in the head and neck by his girlfriend Saturday night, so reports Josh Poltilove of the Tampa Tribune.

The girlfriend of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes stabbed him in the head with a pair of scissors and in the neck with a knife, Hillsborough County deputies say.

Hayes was taken to a hospital by a friend, and he was treated and released, Hillsborough County sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

After a fight Saturday, Hayes’ whack job girlfriend took a scissors to him. Hayes then disarmed his girlfriend who then grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the neck.

After posting $25,000 bond, she was released.

Memo to NFL players with crazy girlfriends: make sure all sharp implements are locked up.

Interesting sidenote: Hayes’ girlfriend, per the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office website, is 5-3, 190. One would think an NFL player can pull something bettter than that?

It appears the Packers have more than moderate interest in Bucs unrestricted free agent defensive end Kevin Carter.

Moving from a 43-defensive front to a 34-front, the Green Bay Packers are clearly going to juggle their defensive personnel. Strangely, they apprently are of the mind that 36-year old Bucs unrestricted free agent Kevin Carter can play defensive end, Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

Carter will be 36 on Sept. 21 so his days as a full-time player are over. But he has proved effective in a rotation since he joined the Dolphins 2005 after four years with the Tennessee Titans. Carter had 49 tackles and four sacks last season for the Bucs, his team the past two seasons.

At 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Carter’s the prototypical size for a 3-4 end, which is what he played his two seasons with the Dolphins. Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers coached Carter in ’06. He can also play inside on pass-rushing downs.

Joe has no opinion on this. Joe really likes Kevin Carter for being a stand up guy and for being arguably the most dependable defensive lineman in the game (so long as it’s not a Super Bowl). Even though he’s a graybeard by NFL standards, Carter has never missed a game.

For Carter’s sake, Joe just hopes whatever team he is on doesn’t need him for the final play of a Super Bowl.

Per ProFootballWeekly.com, the Bucs biggest hole is at linebacker, largely thanks to the offseason moves of Mark Dominik. As a result, its quite possible the only reason Joe would buy a Bucs ticket this season is to ogle Rachel Watson.

ProFootballWeekly.com just posted an interesting article on the needs of every NFL team and what each team will likely focus on in the 2009 draft.

Currently, the site suggests the Bucs biggest hole is at linebacker and Joe points the finger directly at general manager Mark Dominik for creating this hole having turned loose Derrick Brooks and Cato June.

Quarterbacks: The Bucs are interested in adding another quarterback to compete with Luke McCown for the starting job, but they’re most likely targeting a veteran in free agency or through a trade. If they’re unable to get a veteran signalcaller before the draft, there’s a chance they could spend a pick on one.

Running backs: Having signed one of the best free-agent backs on the market in Derrick Ward, this should be a low priority for Tampa in the draft. With Ward, Earnest Graham and Clifton Smith in the mix, adding another running back would be a luxury, not a necessity.

Receivers: Tampa is set at tight end after acquiring Kellen Winslow from the Browns, but it could use more depth at wide receiver. The Bucs don’t have a clear No. 2 receiver to play opposite Antonio Bryant, the team’s No. 1 target.

Offensive line: The Bucs have invested several draft picks in their offensive line over the past few seasons, resulting in the formation of a strong, young O-line. There’s a chance Tampa could use a late-round choice on an O-lineman, but this is not a pressing need.

Defensive line: Tampa’s “D” is badly in need of a versatile pass rusher at left defensive end. This is potentially a first-round priority. The Bucs also need to replace starting DT Jovan Haye, who departed in free agency, so tackle will also be on the team’s radar.

Linebackers: It’s conceivable that the Bucs will spend multiple picks on outside linebackers in this year’s draft. GM Mark Dominik released Tampa’s starting outside ’backers, Derrick Brooks and Cato June, leaving two gaping holes in the defense. This is a major need that must be addressed.

Defensive backs: The Bucs used last year’s first-round pick on a corner, and they may have to spend another early pick at this position. CB Ronde Barber is on the decline, and starting CB Phillip Buchanon left in free agency, leaving a void in the group. Adding competition for SS Sabby Piscitelli will also be on Tampa’s to-do list.

Special teams: The franchise appears to be in good shape on special teams. Matt Bryant and Mike Nugent will compete at placekicker, and Josh Bidwell is entrenched at punter. The Bucs found a diamond in the rough in RS Clifton Smith, who made the Pro Bowl as an undrafted rookie last season.

Summary: Tampa will have to rebuild its LB corps following the release of Brooks and June. The Bucs also need to find a pass-rushing end and a run-stuffing tackle.

Joe doesn’t have a monster problem with the Bucs letting go of Brooks and June, so long as they had a plan to replace them with adequate players. Raheem The Dream talks about “The Plan” but offers no specifics, sort of like Joe talking about how he has a plan to coerce Rachel Watson into his lair. Talk is cheap and often empty.

Yahoo! Sports has an element on its Bucs page called “Inside Slant.” In this piece, it tries to determine what a number of Bucs fans don’t get: Why wide receiver Michael Clayton was re-signed.

In short, Raheem the Dream likes Clayton’s attitude.

Although Clayton, the team’s first pick in 2004, has only two touchdown catches in the past four years, the Bucs made re-signing him a priority in the off-season.

After visits to the Lions and Vikings, Clayton cancelled a trip to Seattle and returned to Tampa Bay, where he signed a five-year, $26-million contract that includes $10.5 million in guarantees.

The reason? Clayton has always been willing to do the dirty work and represents what new coach Raheem Morris is trying to build in his first season – a young, tough-minded team that loves to play and practice.

The Bucs also believe Clayton will be rejuvenated now that he’s out from under the heavy hand of former coach Jon Gruden.

The way Joe looks at this is that it’s a decent gamble for a team counting nickels. Clayton was not an expensive signing. If he continues to drop passes and as a result, teams pretty much leave him alone and double- (or triple-) team Antonio Bryant, then it’s not that big of a loss financially, if the Bucs toss Clayton to the curb.

Look, Joe LOVES wide receivers who throw their body around and punish would-be tacklers. That’s why Meshawn Johnson was so good and why Hines Ward is one of the most lethal wide receivers in the game and a favorite of Joe’s.

The difference between Meshawn and Ward and Clayton is that Meshawn and Ward haul in damned near everything they get their hands on. Clayton can’t say that.

And the first and foremost important talent a receiver can have is catching the damn ball.

Joe’s a bit late on this but it’s still good stuff. Joe’s good friends J.P. Peterson and his sidekick/producer Dave Ortiz of WQYK-AM 1010 had an interview with Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber. The All Pro had some interesting things to say.

“I think we knew there was going to be change when Jon got fired and Raheem took control. I think we knew, how drastically, that wasn’t for any of us to say. But I think today kind of proved the fact that we’re going to go in a different direction. Obviously I knew we wanted to get younger, which we’ve obviously done. I think we let go of five of what we would call our key veteran guys. You know it’s somber because those guys had great careers and I’m definitely proud to have played with Derrick…

“… [Raheem the Dream] knew and I knew that I still had it in me to play, and I’m still doing a lot of good things out on the football field. I’m not ignorant enough to think that my good years are behind me. I feel like I still have a lot of good years left in my future. But when I’m done, I think I’ll know. But what I think they’re saying with some of these guys, with some of the decisions they’ve made is they don’t think they can play for us anymore. And that’s their decision. And like I said, you want to make that decision on your own, but sometimes you don’t get that opportunity.”

Wow. Good stuff there from Barber.

Nearly two weeks after Brooks was let go, Joe still can’t believe the Bucs couldn’t have found some way to use him and let him retire a Buc. Joe still isn’t buying the excuses.