Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Owner: Malcolm Glazer
Founded: 1976
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
2010 record: 10-6
Last playoff appearance: 2007, 9-7, NFC South Champs, L24-14 NYG
General Manager: Mark Dominik (2009 – current)
Head Coach: Raheem Morris (2009 – current, 13-19 record)
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Olson
Defensive Coordinator: Keith Millard
Defensive alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 21.3 PTS (20th)        335.1 YDS (19th)               210.1 PASS (17th)             125.1 RUSH (8th)
DEF: 19.9 PTS (9th)          332.7 YDS (17th)               201.0 PASS (7th)               131.7 RUSH (28th)
Pro Bowlers: Donald Penn OT
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 vs. Lions 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 at Vikings 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Falcons 4:15 PM Tickets
4 Oct 03 vs. Colts 8:30 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 at 49ers 4:05 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 vs. Saints 4:15 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 vs. Bears @ Wembley Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets
8 Bye
9 Nov 06 at Saints 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 at Packers 1:00 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 at Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 vs. Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 17 vs. Cowboys 8:20 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 at Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Falcons 1:00 PM Tickets

TEAM NEEDS: RB, CB, S

Potential Free Agents:
James Lee OT – re-signed –
Jeremy Trueblood OT – re-signed – 2 yrs
Davin Joseph OG – re-signed – 7 yrs
Stylez G. White DE
Adam Hayward OLB – re-signed
Quincy Black LB – re-signed – 5 yrs, 29 million, 11.5 million guaranteed
Niko Koutouvides MLB
Connor Barth K – re-signed –

Free agent acquisitions:
Michael Clayton WR (Giants)
Michael Koenen P (Falcons) – 6 yrs, 19.5 million, 6.5 million guaranteed

Free agent losses:
Carnell Williams RB – signed with Rams
Maurice Stovall WR – Signed with Lions
Barrett Ruud MLB – Signed by Titans

Picks in 2011 NFL Draft: (overall draft grade: A): GM Mark Dominik set out in 2009 to build the Bucs back into a contender. After 2009, it looked bleak for the franchise that lost its identity. They were slotted at number three in the 2010 draft after a poor 2009. But it appears now, after the 2010 season, that the Bucs have found a new identity. Head Coach Rahim Morris and Dominik have turned the Buccaneers around in a very short time. Excellent drafting has been a huge boost to the franchise as 2009 first rounder quarterback Josh Johnson is the starter and many other young players are contributing early on. As for the Bucs’ 2011 draft, I loved what they did again. Defensive end was a need and it was addressed with players who were at the right value. The defense got the majority of the picks in the draft class and we should see steady improvement. Last season’s 10-6 record doesn’t look like a fluke.

(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 20 (20) Adrian Clayborn DE, Iowa – Bucs needed a pass rusher and they got one. The condition with his shoulder and lackluster senior season are only concerns.
Grade: B              Rated: 23

Rd 2, Pick 19 (51) Da’Quan Bowers DE, Clemson – I didn’t think he should have fallen this far. Although, I don’t have the doctors reports that teams have.
Grade: A+           Rated: 17

Rd 3, Pick 20 (84) Mason Foster LB, Washington – Bucs get one of the most productive tacklers in the draft. Fits a need for them as well.
Grade: A+           Rated: 57

Rd 4, Pick 7 (104) Luke Stocker TE, Tennessee – Luke Stocker TE, Tennessee – There’s nothing behind Kellen Winslow at tight end on the Bucs.
Grade: A-            Rated: 83

Rd 5, Pick 20 (151) Ahmad Black SS, Florida – The only thing that has held Black this far down the board is his size. He was one of those prospects who has much better game speed than his 40 speed at the combine.
Grade: A              Rated: 126

Rd 6, Pick 22 (187) Allen Bradford RB, USC! – big back with quick feet. More of a between the tackles runner and didn’t catch many passes at USC.
Grade: B-             Rated: 238

Rd 7, Pick 19 (222) Anthony Gaitor DB, FAU! – insurance for when Aqib Talib is let go.
Grade: A              Rated: 206

Rd 7, Pick 35 (238) Daniel Hardy TE, Idaho – decent hands and size, will be competing with Luke Stocker for number two tight end.
Grade: C+            Rated: NR

2010 Buccaneers Draft review:
Ever since the Morris/Dominik era started, they said they wanted to build the team through the draft. GM Mark Dominik has also said that he’s not going to force a player onto the roster because he fills a need. The Bucs called first round pick Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy before they picked him and told him not to cry, but he did anyway. Being a natural three-technique fit was important, so McCoy was the guy they targeted. He was a two-time captain at OU. Being a captain in college is another important thing Dominik is looking for. If him or Suh were both available, according to Morris, McCoy was exactly who they wanted. He’s the perfect fit for their system. “Cornerstone” for defense was said repeatedly by Morris. As soon as they saw the Rams pick Sam Bradford, they knew McCoy was their guy. West coast scout Jeff Abrams said second round pick Brian Price fit at nose tackle on the Bucs. 2011 was the first time ever the Bucs had taken two defensive tackles with their first two picks in a draft. Abrams was surprised to see Price still on the board where they took him. Midwest scout Seth Turner said that Arrelious Benn’s pro day 40 time was 4.4. Dominik after second and third round: Price was brought in as one of their 30 player visits. Coach Morris is a very good talent evaluator according to Dominik. Morris recruited Benn while at Kansas State and obviously had coached Josh Freeman while there, as well. Morris draft wrap: Concerns about Mike Williams? They did their due diligence on him, talked with people who were close and personal with him, and were comfortable with taking him. Dominik draft wrap: Grimm, Watson, Lorig were all team captains. When the Dominik/Morris era began they added a check box on every player evaluation card to indicate if the player was a team captain. A reporter asked if there was any interest in signing LeGarrette Blount as an undrafted free agent and Dominik immediately said no. He thought he was a great kid, they brought him in on a player visit, but they, as an organization, decided to not go after him.

Rd 1, Pick 3 (3)                   Gerald McCoy DT, Oklahoma – 13 games, 13 starts, 28 TCK, 3 SCK, 4 PD, 2 FF, ended season on IR

Rd 2, Pick 3 (35)                 Brian Price DT, UCLA – 5 games, 3 TCK, ended season on IR

Rd 2, Pick 7 (39)                 Arrelious Benn WR, Illinois – 15 games, 9 starts, 25 REC, 395 YDS, 15.8 YPC, 2 TD, 6 ATT, 35 YDS, ended season on IR

Rd 3, Pick 3 (67)                 Myron Lewis CB, Vanderbilt – 10 games, 1 start, 9 TCK, 3 PD

Rd 4, Pick 3 (101)              Mike Williams WR, Syracuse – 16 starts, 65 REC, 964 YDS, 14.8 YPC, 11 TD, 2 FMBL LOST

Rd 6, Pick 3 (172)              Brent Bowden P, Virginia Tech – signed to practice squad, later let go.

Rd 7, Pick 3 (210)              Cody Grimm FS, Virginia Tech – 11 games, 9 starts, 57 TCK, 2 PD, 2 INT, 1 TD, 1 FF, ended season on IR

Rd 7, Pick 10 (217)            Dekoda Watson LB, Florida State – 15 games, 1 start, 30 TCK, 1 PD

Rd 7, Pick 46 (253)            Erik Lorig FB, Stanford – 9 games, 1 start, 1 REC, 10 YDS

Looking back at my grades for the 2010 Buccaneers draft class: Looking back at my grade for the Buccaneers’ 2010 draft class makes me feel like I may have a future in this. I gave the Bucs an A- and the players didn’t disappoint. Gerald McCoy, Brian Price, and Arrelious Benn were all given A’s. Each of those players ended up on IR, but the draft class as a whole accumulated 51 total starts. McCoy wasn’t Suh-like, but he was very solid and getting into the groove of things before he went to IR. Obviously, Mike Williams receiving a B will have to be changed to an A since he could have been the offensive rookie of the year (see stats above). Selecting punter Brent Bowden was given a D, and he ended up being let go from the practice squad. I really liked the late pick of Dekoda Watson (A+) and he backed me up with 15 games played, 1 start and 30 TCK. I am a huge fan of what Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik are doing in Tampa and I expect to see them as perennial playoff contenders in the coming years if they continue to draft the way they have been. Their grade remains the same at A-.

Last 5 First Round Picks: Gerald McCoy DT, Josh Freeman QB, Aqib Talib CB, Gaines Adams DE, Davin Joseph OG

2010 Stat Leaders
Josh Freeman  291-474  61.4%  3451 YDS  7.3 YPA  25 TD  6 INT  95.9 RTG

LeGarrette Blount  201 ATT  1007 YDS  5.0 YPA  53 LNG  6 TD

Mike Williams  65 REC  964 YDS  14.8 YPC  58 LNG  11 TD

Connor Barth  23-28   82.1%  53 LNG

Barrett Ruud  119 TCK

Stylez G. White  4.5 SCK

Aqib Talib  6 INT

Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)