2009 record: 3-13
Key additions: WR Reggie Brown, LB Jon Alston, FS Sean Jones
Key departures: WR Antonio Bryant, WR Brian Clark, S Will Allen
Unrestricted free agents: DE Jimmy Wilkerson, LB Angelo Crowell, CB Torrie Cox

For years the Tampa Bay Buccaneers relied on a stifling defense led by a revolutionary defensive scheme. But Warren Sapp, Darrick Brooks, Simeon Rice and pretty much every link to those great defenses are gone. Jon Gruden held this team together with a band aid for a couple years, but with him gone, the team completely fell apart. The Bucs are now the Bucs of old again, a team woefully short on talent. 2009 first round draft pick Josh Freeman really struggled like expected, but he did show enough that Bucs fans can be excited about the future.

Top five positional needs.

1. Defensive tackle. The Bucs were the worst team in the league at stopping the run. Very worst. #32. Allowed over 158 yards a game. A far cry from the defenses we are used to. They started rejects Ryan Sims and Chris Hovan. Amazingly those two players are not only still in the league, but starters. Luckily for the Bucs, they are in the perfect position to draft a stud, assuming the Rams go with a quarterback.

2. Defensive end. The outside was not much better for Tampa. They traded former first round pick Gaines Adams, right before he died mind you, RIP, and didn't have much to replace him. Stylez G. White has the best name in the NFL, but if he's your leading sack guy, at only 6.5, you need help.

3. Outside linebacker. Do you see a theme here? The Bucs have a stud at middle linebacker in Barrett Ruud. Aqib Talib is a solid cornerback. Tenard Jackson is the unquestionable starter at free safety. But other then that, every other position is up for grabs. Geno Hayes had a nice season, but he's going to be coming back from a tough injury. Quincy Black is decent, but the Bucs need a playmaker. Angelo Crowell was an overpaid disaster. Derrick Brooks, where are you?

4. Strong safety. Sabby Piscitelli was one of the worst starters in the NFL last year. He is a liability in coverage and can't really tackle anyone either. 31 year old injury prone Jermaine Phillips is not the answer, either.

5. Wide receiver. The Bucs strangely resigned Michael Clayton to a nice deal, and he rewarded them with 16 catches in 13 games. Besides the departed Antonio Bryant, the leading receiver was Sammie Stroughter with a whopping 31 catches. Kellen Winslow is a great target, but the Bucs need to find a way to get Josh Freeman some targets. And Reggie Brown is not that answer.

First round possibilities.

DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma. This is assuming Ndamukong Suh goes #2. It's not like the Bucs are settling for second place. A lot of people think McCoy is the better tackle prospect. He will fit perfectly in the Bucs scheme as a big, strong tackle who can get to the quarterback. He may be Tampa's best pass rusher right away.

S Eric Berry, Tennessee. In my opinion, the only other option for Tampa if both tackles are gone. Like I said above, Piscitelli was an embarrassment. Berry is a play maker, and would give the Bucs defense some swagger and toughness.

Second round possibilities.

Tampa Bay has two picks in this round. #35 and #42.


DT Jared Odrick, Penn St. Yes, if I was Tampa I wouldn't be against taking defensive tackle with my first two picks. Odrick is a taller and stronger then McCoy and could be a nice compliment as a run stopper.


CB Patrick Robinson, Florida St. The Bucs need to find someone to play opposite Aqib Talib, and they have always liked taking college players from the state of Florida.


WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech. I know I said the Bucs need to go defense defense defense, but if Thomas is available with their second second round pick, they might have to think long and hard about it. He would be better then Clayton, Stroughter and Maurice Stovall.

DE Ricky Sapp, Clemson. Sapp is a bit undersized to be an every down defensive end, and is a project, but he is very talented and the Bucs can afford to develop him. They need a true pass rusher bad.


In conclusion, Tampa needs to spend multiple picks on the defensive side of the ball. On offense, they could use another receiver, but would a mid round pick really make a defense? They could also use some depth along the offensive line. But if I was running the draft, I would use every pick to address the defense. At least two picks on the line, an outside linebacker, a safety and another cornerback. Us fantasy players used to draft Tampa's defense in the mid rounds and forget about it. Not any more.

With the third pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select...




 













DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma