I like what they did in the draft. They put youth and speed back in the defense through FA and the draft. They brought in a solid QB and addressed the offensive line. Their WR core is their only problem. It might not be if David Boston steps up and Michael Clayton gets out of his slump. I think they could go 8-8ish...
The key to the Bucs having a winning season is their running game. You have to love what Gruden did in Round 2 of the 2007 Draft going with Aaron Sears, G, from Tennessee. He said this will move Dan Buenning to center.
With an OL that looks like: Petigout, Sears, Buenning, Joseph, and Trueblood, I don't think it is far fetched that Cadillac can get 1500 rushing yards in 2007.
The WR corps isn't really the problem. A lot of scouts said Tampa had a need at WR, which was not the case at all. If Calvin Johnson was available they would draft him only because a player like CJ never comes around in the draft.
As for the defensive side of the ball, I think the new look Bucs should be solid with Ruud at MLB and Cato June (from Indy) at the strongside LB position.
Kevin Carter will play the under tackle position, and Gaines Adams will likely be in a backup role giving Spires and Rice breathers every once in a while.
Do not be shocked to see Rookie FS Tanard Jackson and SS Sabby Piscitelli start Week 1 for the Bucs. Piscitelli is an instant upgrade over Jermaine Phillips, but Will Allen might hold down the FS position and that will be a training camp battle for sure.
__________________
"With the ninth pick in the two-thousand and seven NFL draft...the Miami Dolphins select TED GINN, WIDE RECIEVER, OHIO STATE! Houston Texans are now on the clock."-Roger Godell
"You have got to be kidding me."-Mel Kiper Jr.
Buc will go 7 or 8 wins this year. don't count on them to win for you. They are old players on the team that should be off....
Good luck
i agree with the 7-8 wins. but who are the "old players on the team that should be off...?"
i know you dont mean brooks: a 10-time-in-a-row pro bowler. or barber who was about the only bright spot in the secondary last year. also a pro bowler. rice... i think they should shop him around to find out what they can get for him. otherwise he stays putting up double digit sacks all but last year in tampa. kelly with barber forms one of the best corner tandems in the league. i think we should have kept dewayne white and gotten rid of spires. ill give you that one. on offense maybe john wade or (not likely) ike hilliard...
The key to the Bucs having a winning season is their running game. You have to love what Gruden did in Round 2 of the 2007 Draft going with Aaron Sears, G, from Tennessee. He said this will move Dan Buenning to center.
With an OL that looks like: Petigout, Sears, Buenning, Joseph, and Trueblood, I don't think it is far fetched that Cadillac can get 1500 rushing yards in 2007.
The WR corps isn't really the problem. A lot of scouts said Tampa had a need at WR, which was not the case at all. If Calvin Johnson was available they would draft him only because a player like CJ never comes around in the draft.
As for the defensive side of the ball, I think the new look Bucs should be solid with Ruud at MLB and Cato June (from Indy) at the strongside LB position.
Kevin Carter will play the under tackle position, and Gaines Adams will likely be in a backup role giving Spires and Rice breathers every once in a while.
Do not be shocked to see Rookie FS Tanard Jackson and SS Sabby Piscitelli start Week 1 for the Bucs. Piscitelli is an instant upgrade over Jermaine Phillips, but Will Allen might hold down the FS position and that will be a training camp battle for sure.
i agree with everything you typed. but i still think they should get a young, fast receiver to add for depth and just because they need one. galloway wont last forever and boston couldnt even make the roster last year. aside from them clayton is the fastest and thats not sayin too much. i at least hope that they can draft manningham or a good speedy receiver in next years draft.
bucsfan333 wrote:i agree with everything you typed. but i still think they should get a young, fast receiver to add for depth and just because they need one. galloway wont last forever and boston couldnt even make the roster last year. aside from them clayton is the fastest and thats not sayin too much. i at least hope that they can draft manningham or a good speedy receiver in next years draft.
I agree and I think that a speedy slot WR is one of Tampa's needs for the 2008 draft. Galloway is at the end of his career. There are several WRs I could see the Bucs drafting next year, but it is just unclear in which round they will go WR. It could be round 1 or round 4.
A few ideas are: Mario Manningham/Michigan, DeSean Jackson/California-Berkeley, Keenan Burton/Kentucky, Dorien Bryant/Purdue, Early Doucet/LSU and Andre Caldwell/Florida.
__________________
"With the ninth pick in the two-thousand and seven NFL draft...the Miami Dolphins select TED GINN, WIDE RECIEVER, OHIO STATE! Houston Texans are now on the clock."-Roger Godell
"You have got to be kidding me."-Mel Kiper Jr.
Well one thing is for sure you guys stacked the qb position this year. But the bucs have an aging defense and it its catching up to them.
Which is why the Bucs dominated last year's draft with defense. Gaines Adams, Sabby Piscitelli, Quincy Black, Tanard Jackson, and Greg Petersen should all be future starters on defense.
Which is
__________________
"With the ninth pick in the two-thousand and seven NFL draft...the Miami Dolphins select TED GINN, WIDE RECIEVER, OHIO STATE! Houston Texans are now on the clock."-Roger Godell
"You have got to be kidding me."-Mel Kiper Jr.
