Watching teams like the Pats and Ravens masterfully move around the draft, moving backwards, and only moving forwards to get guys they targeted pains me as I watch my team unnecesarily trade up to get a guy in two different rounds.  I don’t think that moving that 7th rounder or that 6th rounder (6th in the Freeman deal, 7th in the Kyle Moore deal) will hurt us, because I don’t feel like we have that many open roster spots, but I also don’t feel like either of those trades were neccesary.  The Pats m0ved back numerous times and got a guy who I thought would have looked great in a Bucs uni in Ron Brace, and than proceeded to get another guy who would have been great in a Bucs uni in Darius Butler, and they got them both in the 2nd round.  Watching our new regime throw picks away to move up  2 spots in the 1st and 4 spots in the 4th, was a smidge confusing to me.  

Onto the players drafted.  

Josh Freeman – Obviously the main prize for the Bucs front office this weekend was the player they consider to be their QB of the future.  Raheem has a lot exeprience with Freeman after he was the defensive coordinator with the Wildcats in Freeman’s 2006 sophomore season.  I am concerned about Freeman’s subpar performances against the Big 12′s better teams.   Against the 5 best teams in the Big 12 (Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) Freeman was 89 for 170 for 218 yards a game with 5 TD’s and 6 INT’s and a combined 0-6 record.  Now I’m fully aware of the sucktitue of the Kansas State team, but those are not numbers that scream NFL Qb to me.  

Roy Miller – Miller seems to be a perfect fit for what Jim Bates is looking for in a DT.  A big 300+ guy that can clog the middle and stop the run is an integral part of Bates scheme.  The guy is a freak in the weight room bench pressing 500+ and 700lb squats.  This is not going to be a guy who comes in and gets sacks, but is in more of the Casey Hampton mold.  These kinds of players are not exciting on the stats sheet, but are an important part of a defensive scheme such as ours.  I think he will immediately be in the roation at the DT spot and might even end up competing with Chris Hovan for a starting position.  

Kyle Moore – Moore, like Miller is a guy who fits Jim Bates scheme to a T.  6’5″, 270 lb ends are right up Bates alley.  Seems like a solid to above average end at both rushing the passer and stopping the run.  I think he has the potential to be a Greg Spires like player in our new system.  Never will eye popping numbers but will have the chance to be extremely consistent.  Should compete for snaps at the LDE position with Greg White and Jimmy Wilkerson. 

Xavier Fulton – I can’t pretend to know much about this other than what I have read since yesterday.  I think that the Bucs are looking for a more agile player at the RT position where Jeremy Trueblood currently starts.  If Jeremy Zuttah were moved to RT, a real possibility, Fulton seems like a poor man’s Zuttah in his ability to be a swing offensive lineman.  He was formerly a defensive tackle, so he has experience moving roles and changing positions.  In my mind I thought the Bucs would go after a combo Olineman like this in the hopes of Zuttah starting at RT.  This will most likely move Trueblood to a backup LT and RT role if this were to happen.  

Mel Kiper has the Bucs 15th in his draft grades on ESPN.com.  

The Bucs could’ve stayed where they were and still gotten Josh Freeman, so I don’t understand the decision to trade up for him. He has a lot of upside, but he’s a risk/reward type of player because he isn’t as polished as some of the other top quarterbacks in this draft. The Bucs made some very solid picks throughout the draft, including defensive endKyle Moore in the fourth round and wide receiver Sammie Stroughter in the final round.

Q:  We’ve got a lot of cap space and unlike the last couple of years, with mid range free agents stealing free agent money, it seems like there could be some viable options out there.  I can’t imagine Jeff Garcia being here next year…who to take his place? I’m thinking Donovan McNabb (if he can handle the heat without puking) has to give Gruden a boner.  Everyone thinks Minny, but more often than not, the most obvious destination doesn’t happen…What other QBs are out there??  I can’t see us going after a Matt Cassel or anything like that.   Maybe David Garrard will be shipped out when Jacksonville fires Jack Del Rio. I would love to see Alex Smith given a shot…but then again I was also clamoring for David Carr and was pissed when Carolina got him. Shows how good my eye for talent is. What do you think?

A:  The QB position will almost certainly be different next year I would think.  Jeff Garcia never got his extension that he was seeking in the offseason, and I’m sure his early season benching hurt his feelings.   I echo your thoughts on McNabb 100%.  Anytime I’ve ever heard Jon Gruden talk about McNabb, it’s been glowingly.  If you think about it, Garcia is kind of a poor man’s McNabb.  McNabb is the perfect fit for this offense, and whether Philly wants to trade him, or release him outright, I think the Bucs will have plenty of interest. 

I disagree though that we won’t have any interest in Cassel.  Cassel has spent a lot of years under great college players and coaches, as well as NFL players and coaches that most people hold in the highest regard.  One thing that has caught me off guard about Cassel and one of the things that I really like about him, is his wheels. He’s completing 64% of his passes and thrown for over 3,000 yards even though he hasn’t played since like 1968 before this season.  If he is available either via trade (because of a franchise tagging) or because they let him walk, in my opinion, the Bucs will be plenty interested. 

I think David Garrard could always be a possibility because when Gruden first arrived here, and even one time the next offseason, the Bucs inquired about a trade for Garrard. 

Q:  I think we could also get a playmaker that Gruden has been asking for years (unless you think Dexter Jackson can turn the corner…HAHAHAHAHAHAH….seems like there will be quite a few out there. Houshmanzadeh maybe, but will he be a stud without Chad Johnson? Boldin wants out, and I would LOVE to have his mindset on this team…same question as to Housh though, can he be a number one without Larry Fitzgerald?

A:  A top tier wide receiver  like TJ Houshmanzadeh or Anquan Boldin is the missing piece of our puzzle at this point outside of a little more explosive QB (we just talked about this though).  I would imagine that answers your question about their ability to be true number ones without their current wide receiver brethren.  They both have a few things in common.  They are top tier run blockers and both play with a controlled on the field recklessness that every coach loves.  The only difference being one is an unrestricted FA, and the other is still under contract for two more years after this one.  It would be hard for me to imagine a scenario where Anquan was moved for anything less than multiple high round picks, I don’t think it would make sense for them.  In today’s NFL salary cap climate, teams can afford to pay their best players, and Boldin is one of those guys.  I think they’ll end up paying him.  Houshmanzadeh is our best target. 

Q:  What will it take to re-sign Antonio Bryant or will he pull a Thomas Jones on us and leave in hour 1 of free agency?

A:   I think that he might enjoy the resurrection to his career that Jon Gruden and his offense have provided him at this stage of his career.  I believe Bernard Berrian got around 22 mil guaranteed.  Antonio is actually a much more proven WR than Berrian was when he got that deal.  I’ll take something around that number and be happy, especially if we couple him with a big time player in FA. 

Q:   I Have to believe that Michael Clayton probably leaves but I would see it as a mistake…some team will turn him into a beast. He does as much for our running game as any O-lineman and I think can STILL be our Hines Ward.  Your thoughts?

I totally agree with you again.   I think he is an integral component of our running game.  The problem will be if we go out and give another blocking possession receiver such as Housh a big deal.  It would be a shame to let a similar caliber player as Clayton walk away, and him re-discover his Hines Wardesque rookie year on another team, at a cheaper rate than Housh.   Housh is a better receiver, period, but Clayton still has a ceiling.  Keeping all three would be ideal, and we have the money to do just that. 

Q:  I still think Greg White, Jimmy Wilkerson, Jovan Haye, Chris Hovan, and Kevin Carter are ALL playing at a better level than your boy Gaines Adams…I’ve been watching and trying to give him the benefit of the doubt and all I can say is he makes hustle plays but nothing else. He’s constantly out of position it seems and it’s pissing me off.

A:  I think he’s still experiencing a learning curve in the NFL.  He no doubt has the ability to make huge splash plays, not just hustle plays (as you stated) but certainly lacks the consistency of most of our defensive lineman.   I think his ceiling is still monstrous, and with the aforementioned consistent veteran leadership we do have, we have the chances to let him learn on the job (where most players need to learn). 

I am currently staying in a Marriot in the heart of downtown, which is about 4 blocks from Time Warner Cable Arena (where I attended the Cavaliers Bobcats game on Saturday) and about 3 blocks from Bank of America Stadium where I will obviously be attending tonights Monday Night Football Game.  The hotel is right in the middle of the nightlife scene in the downtown Charlotte area.  The aforementioned nightlife has been quite fun.  We frequented Stool Pigeons, BlackFinn and Foxx and Hound, all bars with a nice female ratio, as well as solid drink prices and a friendly crowd. 

Now let me get off of my Charlotte ass kissing rant, and move to a more pressing issue, the game. 

Injuries – Kevin Carter and Gaines Adams are both listed as questionable, and Jovan Haye is listed as doubtful.  This could be a little troubling facing a team with such a potent running attack.  Kevin Carter’s questionable due to an illness, so I’m not sure if he’ll be able to go or not.  I would expect Gaines to play, and Jovan Haye to be inactive.  These injuries should lead to more extended play for Jimmy Wilkerson and Ryan Sims who both have been playing well as of late.  The Panthers have no injuries of significance to report and will be playing with a healthy roster. 

Matchup of Note – Steve Smith vs. TB Corners (Phillip Buchanon, Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber) I don’t really need to go into the game breaking ability of Smith because it is pretty well documented.  He leads the league with 22, 100 yard games over the last few years.  Shutting his big plays down will be the key to the game.  We held Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to 40 yards on 20 carries last game, but I would expect a little more out of them at home.  If Steve Smith can get past the first level of our defense on some play action passes, the Bucs will be in big trouble. 

This is one of the biggest regular season games for the Bucs since our Super Bowl run.  Two 9 and 3 teams, fighting for a division title, home field advantage, and with the Giants loss yesterday, possibly not just a 2 seed, but homefield throughout.  On top of that, its freaking Monday Night Football.  With a win the Bucs have a good grasp of their 2nd straight NFC South title, the first time since realignment that the same team will have won the NFC South in consecutive years.  With a loss, the Panthers (who have a little tougher final 3 than the Bucs) will be in prime position to take that homefield advantage and the division.