Hits and Misses from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2013 Draft
Oct 6, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive tackle Akeem Spence (94) prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
After a crazy weekend of wheeling and dealing, not even the general managers of the NFL can tell you who the best player selected in the 2013 NFL draft is, because the careers of these young players are months away from being tested on the field. But that should not stop us from looking at how the Bucs drafted, and judging them for the successes and failures based on an early assessment of the teams’ needs and how they have been filled.
Hits:
Cornerback: We got freakin’ Darrelle Revis, man. This made the draft a successful. Teams have to gameplan for a Bucs defender. They have not had to worry about that since the heyday of the Tampa 2, and this is a much different beast than the Buccaneers’ team defenses of the early 2000’s.
DT Akeem Spence: Call the police – the Bucs stole Akeem Spence with their first pick of Round 4. If you watch a lot of Big Ten football, which I do, you know that Spence is a real warrior and extremely durable – he started 38 games in college – and has the physical grit to fight for a starting spot at defensive tackle right away. He is not as big as a lot of 4-3 tackles, but he has a real nose for the ball. He finished with 72 tackles last year, a rare number for an interior defensive lineman at any level. He can push the pocket a little bit and add real depth to a position where the team has been thinned out because of free agency. I really like this pick.
Dec 31, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon (8) looks to pass against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half of the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Misses:
Where is the TE?: Clearly the front office and the coaching staff is comfortable with Luke Stocker. The free agent market is extremely thin at this position so it seems unlikely that someone with the potential to contribute will be brought in post-draft. It seems the staff is comfortable with the TEs currently on the roster: Stocker, Nate Byham, Tom Crabtree, Drake Dunsmore, Zach Miller, and Danny Noble. Anyone feel comfortable with any one of these guys lining up as the opening day starter? You had better get used to it.
QB Mike Glennon: Glennon was one of the guys that jumped up – way up – the draft boards. Glennon has a cannon arm and a thin build. At NC State his starting record stands at 15-10. Scouting reports compare him to Ravens QB Joe Flacco, by which I assume they mean he is tall and can throw the ball really far. Why spend a third round pick on a QB? If you do not believe in Josh Freeman, address the position in free agency in a year when the QB class is universally considered weak. Scouting reports say Glennon reminds them of current NFL QB Joe Flacco, by which I think they mean he is really tall.