Category: NFL (Page 487 of 1282)

      Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2010 Team Needs

      February 11, 2010 /

      As part of our 2010 NFL Draft coverage, I will be breaking down positional needs for all 32 teams, starting in reverse alphabetical order. Next up is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Check out other team needs by clicking here.

      1. Defensive Line
      The Bucs have needs at every position outside of quarterback, but they’re in good shape with 10 selections in this year’s draft. Their top priority will likely be their defensive line, which has become a weakness under the new regime of Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik. If either Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy fall to them at No. 3, it’s hard envisioning a scenario where Tampa would pass on upgrading the interior of their defensive line. If both tackles are gone at that spot, then they may address their need at safety with Tennessee’s Eric Berry or hope to trade down and snag one of the defensive ends (Jason Pierre-Paul, Brandon Graham, Corey Wootten or George Selvie) that would be available later in the first round. But no matter how things shake out for them at No. 3, the Bus will attempt to upgrade their defensive line on draft day.

      Outside Linebacker
      Upgrading the strongside linebacker position is one of the Bucs’ top priorities this offseason and now that Geno Hayes (who had a breakout season last year) will be sidelined for 3-4 months after undergoing surgery in late January to repair a torn labrum, weakside may need to be addressed as well. Tampa signed Angelo Crowell to a one-year contract last offseason, but the deal blew up in Dominik’s (who overpaid) face after the oft-injured linebacker missed the entire 2009 season when he tore one of his biceps in August. It’s doubtful the Bucs bring him back seeing as how he can’t stay on the field and was plummeting past Quincy Black and Adam Hayward on the depth chart before being placed on IR. Black is adequate, but the Bucs need more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and could use one of their early round selections to beef up the strongside position.

      3. Safety
      Tanard Jackson is entrenched as the starter at free safety, but the strong safety position definitely needs to be addressed this offseason. Sabby Piscitelli proved that he’s a liability in coverage and quite frankly, he wasn’t that great against the run either (which was supposed to be his forte). Bringing back 31-year-old, injury-prone Jermaine Phillips isn’t the answer, so taking a player like Berry at No. 3 makes sense. The question is, will Tampa take Suh or McCoy if either of them fell at that spot? Good safeties are hard to find in the draft, but Suh and McCoy are two prospects that have the potential to anchor a line for years to come. Either way, the safety position opposite Jackson must be addressed.

      Cornerback, receiver, running back, guard and offensive tackle are needs for the Bucs this offseason as well.


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      Will Rams benefit from having a new owner in an un-capped year?

      February 11, 2010 /

      The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez have agreed to sell the Rams’ franchise to Shahid Khan, an auto-parts manufacturer based in Urbana, Illinois. The sale still has to be approved by three-fourths of the NFL owners for it to become finalized, however.

      Assuming the sale does go through, this could be yet another crucial step in the rebuilding process for the Rams. The first step was taken last year when the team hired former Giants’ defensive coordinator Steve Spaguolo to become their next head coach.

      According to the Dispatch article, Khan is an enthusiastic Rams fan who has attended home games at the Edward Jones Dome and who is committed to keeping the team in St. Louis. That’s obviously good news for the stability of the franchise, but what about the on-field product?

      Seeing as how the NFL is heading into an un-capped year, it could wind up benefiting the Rams that they now have a new, energized owner that is willing to spend in order to improve the roster. The team already owns the No. 1 pick in the draft and if Khan is willing to make a splash in the free agent market, the Rams could turn their misfortune around rather quickly.

      Of course, spending money doesn’t always result in on-field production. Washington owner Daniel Snyder has spent years shelling out big bucks for free agents and the Redskins only have two playoff appearances (2000, 2006) in the past 10 years to show for it. General manager Billy Devaney still has to acquire the right pieces this offseason, regardless of whether or not he has financial backing from Khan.

      Either way, this is shaping up to be an interesting offseason in St. Louis.


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      JaMarcus Russell could learn from Michael Vick

      February 11, 2010 /

      Here’s a shock: Michael Vick didn’t work hard when he was a member of the Falcons, or so he admitted in a radio interview with 790AM The Zone in Atlanta.

      From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

      “There was a lot more I could have done off the field and in the film room that could have elevated my game to a different level,” Vick said. “I was complacent at the time, somewhat lazy, and I settled for mediocrity. I thought what I was doing was enough.”

      “Just imagine what I could have been doing if I really would have been applying myself. That’s a regret I have.”

      Considering that he’s complacent, somewhat lazy and is settling for mediocrity, I can envision JaMarcus Russell saying the same things about himself in the next couple years when he’s looking for a job outside of the NFL.

      Russell’s on-field problems have been well documented. He doesn’t have good mechanics, his decision-making is horrendous and he has never been an accurate passer. But that doesn’t mean he lacks the athletic tools to become a decent starter. If he only applied himself more, then maybe he could make something out of the talent he does have.

      The problem is that he’s just like Vick was in Atlanta. He has had everything handed to him in life and he’s never had to work for something he truly wants. He’s lazy, unmotivated and he settles for being a lush because he knows Al Davis will support him no matter how bad he is on the field. But if he would heed what Vick said in the interview, maybe he would take this offseason to try and turn his career around.

      Personally, I wouldn’t bet on Russell succeeding. I don’t think he has the work ethic to become a good player and worse yet, I don’t think he cares. I agree that he’s not in the best environment in Oakland, but at some point you have to stop blaming other people and look in the mirror.

      But maybe he’ll prove everyone wrong and take this offseason seriously. It took Vick going to jail to realize the opportunity he pissed away in Atlanta, but maybe Russell (who is only 24 mind you) won’t need a life-changing experience to turn his career around in Oakland.


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      Bradford moving to the top of the Rams’ board?

      February 10, 2010 /

      Tom Kowalski of MLive.com reports that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford might be moving to the top of the Rams’ draft board if his shoulder checks out okay.

      In talking to a couple of well-informed folks from St. Louis last week at the Super Bowl, two interesting points came up.

      The first is one that I’ve been talking about for awhile — that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, once he proves his injured right shoulder is OK — could move into that No. 1 spot. The Rams are desperate to replace Marc Bulger, who is not in the team’s long-term plans.

      The other interesting piece of information was that the Rams had considered drafting USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the second overall pick last year. The Jets trading up to No. 5 and taking Sanchez was considered a reach so the Rams would’ve taken plenty of heat for taking Sanchez at No. 2 — which is why they didn’t. But after the rookie performance by Sanchez, it appears the Rams — who took tackle Jason Smith — made a mistake.

      Rumors like these will surface over the next couple of months leading up to the draft, so it’s wise to take them with a grain of salt. I worked with Kowalski in Detroit and can speak from experience that he’s a reputable member of the media. But as he points out in his article, the top of the draft fluctuates from one day to the next and nothing is guaranteed at this point – especially considering the scouting combine hasn’t even taken place yet.

      That said, it’s an interesting rumor and one that would certainly make sense given the Rams’ needs at quarterback. Many people believe St. Louis will select defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with the first overall pick in April’s draft but the fact of the matter is that if the Rams believe that Bradford (or Jimmy Clausen or whomever) is a franchise quarterback, then they’ll pass on Suh. There is no substitution for a franchise signal caller, no matter how good a player like Suh is.


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