The Cincinnati Bengals poured a $7.8 million signing bonus over former Buccaneer Antonio Bryant, then cut him without an appearance in a single game. In his place is the 2010 preseason phenom and 4th round draft choice Mike Williams.
Derrick Ward signed a two year contract last year as an insurance policy for Cadillac Williams knees. Enter 2009 Undrafted Free Agent Kareem Huggins. Exit Derrick Ward.
Five of the six 2009 draft choices are either starting or second in line (Freeman, Miller, Moore, Biggers, Stroughter). The same goes for four members of the 2010 draft class (McCoy, Price, Williams, Lewis).
Does anyone question the ability of General Manager Mark Dominik's front office to judge talent anymore?
Chris Hovan, longtime mainstay in the middle of the Buccaneers defense, was not offered a new contract by Dominik during the past offseason. The St. Louis Rams did pick up Hovan, but he has been on IR since early July (back) and has not taken a snap during the preseason. It is unlikely he makes the Rams opening day roster.
A quick prowl around the web shows Jermaine Phillips and Torrie Cox are not be in any NFL camps this fall. Derrick Brooks has retired, as has Warrick Dunn. Ike Hilliard never played another snap.
What would you think about your General Manager if your team drafts a player in April, then trades him away before the end of training camp in August? Isn't it more impressive to find a Sammie Stroughter in the 7th round? Obviously!
It seems the eight years Dominik put in as the Pro Personnel Director are paying off for the rebuilding Buccaneers. No talent is "leaking" away from the team in the form of veterans with viable playing time remaining. Dominik seems to understand when a veteran has given all they have to the franchise. Knowing when a player has reached the end of their career is as important a talent for a GM as organizing the draft efforts -- mistakes in either case can cost the team cap space and roster opportunities for developing additional talent onto the depth chart.
Now Dominik must dig into his bag of tricks for another tool: correctly choosing between two talented players at the same position. Granted, this type of decision falls heavily on the shoulders of the coaching staff, who must be able to identify players which can perform the tasks presented to them at the highest level. But, also, Dominik must manage his cap, the roster, and the practice squad while keeping an eye on the waiver wire, so the final decision rests in his office. This is not a task for the squeamish; you know not all decisions will be winners. In the modern NFL you don't have to hit with every decision, but you do have to nail the majority of them. The core of the roster is the 44-man two-deep (that is, the starter and his backup for all positions) plus the punter, kicker, and perhaps a specialist long-snapper. On a 53-man regular season roster, that leaves room for around six "others" -- versatile special teams performers, young talent to groom, or . . . mistakes, which will need to be corrected. And a GM does not have time to deal with mistakes.
The final preseason game is tomorrow, after which rosters will be pared down from 75 players to 53-man rosters. Those last few decisions may not be as critical as a first round pick in April, but they will impact the season and the future of the franchise. Dominik has shown the ability a GM needs for the task. As the talent on the roster continues to improve, the decisions will get tougher. With the right choices, the rewards will escalate as well.
Showing posts with label 2009 draft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 draft. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Kyle Moore Emerging Quickly
With 10 days of training camp in the books some trends are starting to emerge and some trends are continuing.
One of those continuing trends is the stock of the Buccaneers 2009 Draft Class. Not just because first round pick Josh Freeman is showing leadership and keeping a firm grip on the starting quarterback position. Not just because third rounder Roy Miller is continuing to develop into a dominating physical presence inside. Not just because seventh rounder Sammie Stroughter could be an opening day starter.
The big boost to the power of the 2009 draft class is the player showing the most improvement during training camp of all the 2nd year players: 2009 fourth round defensive end Kyle Moore.
Moore has been a consistent force from the right end position during camp. He shows no signs of the nagging injuries which haunted his rookie year. And he looks every bit the part of an emerging difference maker.
His improvement shows the faith placed on him by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will reap deep rewards. Those rewards are easy to see -- without such faith, the Buccaneers would not have one of defensive tackle Brian Price, wide receiver Arrelious Benn, cornerback Myron Lewis, or wide receiver Mike Williams, opting instead to draft another defensive end with one of those 2010 picks. Considering all four of those players have worked their way into the two deep (with two possibly starting on Week 1), the value of Kyle Moore and the importance of his emergence becomes obvious.
Solid play by Moore can also bring another benefit -- Tim Crowder can continue to backup Stylez White, putting the Buccaneers top two sack producers in a rotation at right defensive end. Keeping the pressure coming from the right puts the heat right in the quarterback's face and will help the Buccaneers improve their defensive performance in 2010.
Watch for Moore (#94, left defensive end) on the first defensive series Saturday night against the Dolphins. It could be the next piece of a nasty pass rush falling into place.
One of those continuing trends is the stock of the Buccaneers 2009 Draft Class. Not just because first round pick Josh Freeman is showing leadership and keeping a firm grip on the starting quarterback position. Not just because third rounder Roy Miller is continuing to develop into a dominating physical presence inside. Not just because seventh rounder Sammie Stroughter could be an opening day starter.
The big boost to the power of the 2009 draft class is the player showing the most improvement during training camp of all the 2nd year players: 2009 fourth round defensive end Kyle Moore.
Moore has been a consistent force from the right end position during camp. He shows no signs of the nagging injuries which haunted his rookie year. And he looks every bit the part of an emerging difference maker.
His improvement shows the faith placed on him by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will reap deep rewards. Those rewards are easy to see -- without such faith, the Buccaneers would not have one of defensive tackle Brian Price, wide receiver Arrelious Benn, cornerback Myron Lewis, or wide receiver Mike Williams, opting instead to draft another defensive end with one of those 2010 picks. Considering all four of those players have worked their way into the two deep (with two possibly starting on Week 1), the value of Kyle Moore and the importance of his emergence becomes obvious.
Solid play by Moore can also bring another benefit -- Tim Crowder can continue to backup Stylez White, putting the Buccaneers top two sack producers in a rotation at right defensive end. Keeping the pressure coming from the right puts the heat right in the quarterback's face and will help the Buccaneers improve their defensive performance in 2010.
Watch for Moore (#94, left defensive end) on the first defensive series Saturday night against the Dolphins. It could be the next piece of a nasty pass rush falling into place.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Let Expectations Grow for Rookies in 2010
With OTAs heating up and the 2010 season on the distant horizon it seems many are looking forward and who can blame them? Buccaneer fans, fanatical about their defense, have two young defensive linemen coming in. And Buccaneer fantasy fans have two young wide receivers to watch.
Then Pat Kirwan shows up on NFL.com a couple weeks ago to apply water to the flames the blowtorch known as the 2010 draft put into the Buccaneer fan base with his article about having too high of expectations for the rookie defensive linemen. Just a flat out harsh to the love. I understand why Kirwan said it. I just wish he would have used a bigger sample size. Namely, a six foot two inch three hundred ten pound sample called Roy Miller.
Kirwan makes a pretty good case about first round defensive linemen not producing incredible numbers during their first season. I think Buccaneer fans get it -- it takes time for younger players to work well with the players around them, they make mistakes, they think too much, etc. But I don't think Buccaneer fans have to lower their expectations.
Here's a Tampa-sized sample of why: Roy Miller was the second Tampa Bay draft pick in the 2009 Draft class (arriving in the 3rd round). He was touted as a strong, stout interior line presence. Miller was one of 37 rookie defensive linemen last year. He dove into the regular season war and nobody heard much about him. Such is life when the TV only shows your back just before a play begins. But he emerged with a solid, impressive season behind him. Quietly.
Miller was the third most productive rookie defensive linemen in 2009 (according to NFL.com statistics) recording 27 total tackles, better numbers than 25 of 26 defensive ends drafted in 2009. Only Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Tyson Jackson had better numbers from a standing start. Only Terrance Knighton (also a 3rd rounder selected by Jacksonville) had better rookie numbers from the defensive interior.
Miller also had two sacks (only four other rookies had two or more) and was even credited with one pass defensed. For comparison, Warren Sapp had three sacks and an interception for a touchdown as a rookie in 1995. Not exactly comparable (the NFL did not keep individual tackles until the 2001 season), but not that far off either.
So no matter how you look at the numbers, Roy Miller brought it to the table in 2009. He reached the field in 15 of 16 games and even started one. And there is no doubt he will be improved for 2010. Clearly he has the right stuff. And what have you heard from him since? Nothing but a quiet mouth and more hard work. This is the kind of leadership the new Buccaneers management was hoping for.
The real reason why the Kirwin article can be easily dismissed by Tampa Bay fans is the same guys who found Miller in the third round were evaluating McCoy and Price in 2010. Many still do say they do not think the new front office has it figured out in Tampa. I could not disagree more with that opinion and I look forward to the 2010 season as proof. Will any of the rookies from 2010 go to the Pro Bowl this year? Probably not. Will they be impact players? Will they be productive? Will they get the Buccaneers back to the playoffs? Those questions get the excitement rolling for the 2010 season and it's well deserved.
Don't let a national media wonk ruin it!!
Perhaps Mr. Kirwan should have looked a little deeper into the draft -- his analysis is based on 17 players from the first two rounds between 2006 and 2009. Sadly, he has overlooked some of the best performers by going to sleep on the third round.
Thank goodness the Buccaneers did not!!
Then Pat Kirwan shows up on NFL.com a couple weeks ago to apply water to the flames the blowtorch known as the 2010 draft put into the Buccaneer fan base with his article about having too high of expectations for the rookie defensive linemen. Just a flat out harsh to the love. I understand why Kirwan said it. I just wish he would have used a bigger sample size. Namely, a six foot two inch three hundred ten pound sample called Roy Miller.
Kirwan makes a pretty good case about first round defensive linemen not producing incredible numbers during their first season. I think Buccaneer fans get it -- it takes time for younger players to work well with the players around them, they make mistakes, they think too much, etc. But I don't think Buccaneer fans have to lower their expectations.
Here's a Tampa-sized sample of why: Roy Miller was the second Tampa Bay draft pick in the 2009 Draft class (arriving in the 3rd round). He was touted as a strong, stout interior line presence. Miller was one of 37 rookie defensive linemen last year. He dove into the regular season war and nobody heard much about him. Such is life when the TV only shows your back just before a play begins. But he emerged with a solid, impressive season behind him. Quietly.
Miller was the third most productive rookie defensive linemen in 2009 (according to NFL.com statistics) recording 27 total tackles, better numbers than 25 of 26 defensive ends drafted in 2009. Only Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Tyson Jackson had better numbers from a standing start. Only Terrance Knighton (also a 3rd rounder selected by Jacksonville) had better rookie numbers from the defensive interior.
Miller also had two sacks (only four other rookies had two or more) and was even credited with one pass defensed. For comparison, Warren Sapp had three sacks and an interception for a touchdown as a rookie in 1995. Not exactly comparable (the NFL did not keep individual tackles until the 2001 season), but not that far off either.
So no matter how you look at the numbers, Roy Miller brought it to the table in 2009. He reached the field in 15 of 16 games and even started one. And there is no doubt he will be improved for 2010. Clearly he has the right stuff. And what have you heard from him since? Nothing but a quiet mouth and more hard work. This is the kind of leadership the new Buccaneers management was hoping for.
The real reason why the Kirwin article can be easily dismissed by Tampa Bay fans is the same guys who found Miller in the third round were evaluating McCoy and Price in 2010. Many still do say they do not think the new front office has it figured out in Tampa. I could not disagree more with that opinion and I look forward to the 2010 season as proof. Will any of the rookies from 2010 go to the Pro Bowl this year? Probably not. Will they be impact players? Will they be productive? Will they get the Buccaneers back to the playoffs? Those questions get the excitement rolling for the 2010 season and it's well deserved.
Don't let a national media wonk ruin it!!
Perhaps Mr. Kirwan should have looked a little deeper into the draft -- his analysis is based on 17 players from the first two rounds between 2006 and 2009. Sadly, he has overlooked some of the best performers by going to sleep on the third round.
Thank goodness the Buccaneers did not!!
Monday, March 22, 2010
General Manager Dominik's Plan, Year 2
Tampa Bay General Manager Mark Dominik has stated his intent since taking over at the top of the Buccaneers was to mold the Buccaneers into a powerful, fast team and build through the draft for the long term, not through free agency for the short term. Let's see if that is indeed the approach he has been taking so far.
Getting Younger
As documented here many times before Dominik has made the hard (and, in retrospect, dead on right) moves in this area. The intent behind the veteran purge during the 2009 offseason was to provide opportunities for young players to step up and demonstrate they are capable of competing at the NFL level. Although the team did not put up many wins, players like Geno Hayes and Maurice Stovall demonstrated skills that the team can build around. In addition, those moves helped the Buccaneers to reduce payroll from $104 million in 2008 to $94 million in 2009, generating room to retain young talent as they become free agents. While the CBA has changed free agency into a chess match this year, the Buccaneers nonetheless have ample resources to play the game.
Stability at Quarterback
After the selection of Josh Freeman with the #17 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft GM Dominik stated his intent was to make the quarterback position a source of strength and stability for the franchise instead of the revolving door it had been during the previous regime. And not just the Freeman pick -- during the season Dominik picked a young quarterback off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. This foresight removes the Buccaneers from the QB drama of the 2010 NFL Draft and allows the team to take the best available player with the #3 pick. New Cleveland Browns GM Mike Holmgren is fighting the same battle, first year GM Bruce Allen may be looking to get a young QB with the #4 pick for the Redskins, and the Rams are looking at that quarterback at the top of the draft with pick #1.
By settling the quarterback position last year, the Buccaneers will have plenty of great choices during the 2010 draft to address other positions on the team. How confident was Dominik that this part of his plan was working as he wanted? Rumor has it he attended the Oklahoma @ Nebraska fooball game on November 7th, 2009, in Lincoln, Nebraska (for the record, that was the Buccaneers Bye week in 2009). If so, looks like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft preparation for 2010 was right on the mark long ago as the top two non-quarterback prospects played in that game in the persons of Ndamukong Sun (DL, Nebraska) and Gerald McCoy (DL, Oklahoma). In 2008 Dominik attended a college game which involved 2009 first round pick Josh Freeman -- seems a pattern could be developing!
Moving foward
For 2010, the workings of the next phase of the plan could not be clearer. During the offseason the NFL roster limit is 80 players. Just prior to free agency, the Bucs trimmed their roster to 70 (anticipating 10 draft picks) by cutting Josh Bidwell (P), Dirk Johnson (P), and Torrie Cox (DB).
Nine men were then tendered free agent offers:
- Rod Wilson (LB)
- Byron Storer (RB)
- Matt McCoy (LB)
- Brian Clark (WR)
- Jimmy Wilkerson (DE)
- Jermaine Phillips (S)
- Angelo Crowell (LB)
- Antonio Bryant (WR)
- Will Allen (S)
Here is what has transpired since:
Lost: 3/8/2010: Brian Clark (WR, 4th season) signed by Detroit
Lost: 3/8/2010: Will Allen (S, 7th season) signed by Pittsburgh
Added: 3/10/2010: Reggie Brown (WR, 6th season, 6' 1", 197); Tampa Bay also gave up a 2011 6th round pick.
Lost: 3/10/2010: Antonio Bryant (WR, 8th season) signed by Cincinnati
Added: 3/12/2010: Jon Alston (LB, 5th season, 6' 0", 235 lbs)
Added: 3/16/2010: Sean Jones (S, 7th season, 6' 1", 220 lbs)
Lost: 3/17/2010: Matt McCoy (LB, 6th season) signed by Seattle
The pattern here is clear if you consider these transactions as sets of swap-outs: one with wide receivers (Antonio Bryant for Reggie Brown), one with safeties (Will Allen for Sean Jones), one with linebackers (Jon Alston for Matt McCoy), and one without a match (WR Brian Clark). These transactions are a good look into the thinking of the General Manager.
From the point of youth, the safety swap was a push, the wide receiver swap goes younger by two years, and the lineback swap goes younger by a year. These all fit the plan for getting young talent to create competition at all positions.
From the point of position these three swaps do not change the team composition. This, to me, is a glimpse into the head of the GM. There is a certain mix of players which is preferred, and the cuts before free agency landed the team at that mix. The obvious intent with tendering the nine free agents is to get them back at market value (playing the expiring CBA to his own advantage) or release them to a team which places a higher value on the player. When a free agent is hired away, a suitable replacement is signed. This shows that the organization does not feel a need to change the internal chemistry of the team. Put another way -- the Buccaneers are committing to their young players and not grabbing free agents which would reduce the minutes of the key players in the young core offense or defense. This is exactly what we've been told time and time again by General Manager Mark Dominik -- this team will be built around young player development and not around a crop of veteran free agents.
Now the interesting part: The team is "down" one wide receiver. Going by the trend this offseason, we should expect the Buccaneers to sign a wide receiver soon with somewhere between 3 and 5 years of experience. If Tampa Bay does not make such a move in the near future it tells me that the Buccaneers are anticipating drafting more than one wide receiver to bring the numbers into balance or the spot is staying open for a possible post-draft move later in free agency. I think both options are equally good and equally likely. UPDATE: This unbalanced free agency loss has been offset by the award of a compensatory 7th round pick for the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft. Expect at least one pick in the draft at WR because of the pattern outlined in this paragraph!
Barring another signing, the following players would rejoin the team at their tendered offer sometime in the near future:
- Rod Wilson (LB)
- Byron Storer (RB)
- Jimmy Wilkerson (DE)
- Jermaine Phillips (S)
- Angelo Crowell (LB)
These actions performed by General Manager Mark Dominik show that he is running this team with a steady hand, sticking to the principals he has stated he wants to build the team around, and keeping an eye open for young talent. These are tried and true philosophies teams like Pittsburgh and Indianapolis have used to stay at a highly competitive level for many years. I expect it will do the same for Tampa Bay.
Getting Younger
As documented here many times before Dominik has made the hard (and, in retrospect, dead on right) moves in this area. The intent behind the veteran purge during the 2009 offseason was to provide opportunities for young players to step up and demonstrate they are capable of competing at the NFL level. Although the team did not put up many wins, players like Geno Hayes and Maurice Stovall demonstrated skills that the team can build around. In addition, those moves helped the Buccaneers to reduce payroll from $104 million in 2008 to $94 million in 2009, generating room to retain young talent as they become free agents. While the CBA has changed free agency into a chess match this year, the Buccaneers nonetheless have ample resources to play the game.
Stability at Quarterback
After the selection of Josh Freeman with the #17 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft GM Dominik stated his intent was to make the quarterback position a source of strength and stability for the franchise instead of the revolving door it had been during the previous regime. And not just the Freeman pick -- during the season Dominik picked a young quarterback off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. This foresight removes the Buccaneers from the QB drama of the 2010 NFL Draft and allows the team to take the best available player with the #3 pick. New Cleveland Browns GM Mike Holmgren is fighting the same battle, first year GM Bruce Allen may be looking to get a young QB with the #4 pick for the Redskins, and the Rams are looking at that quarterback at the top of the draft with pick #1.
By settling the quarterback position last year, the Buccaneers will have plenty of great choices during the 2010 draft to address other positions on the team. How confident was Dominik that this part of his plan was working as he wanted? Rumor has it he attended the Oklahoma @ Nebraska fooball game on November 7th, 2009, in Lincoln, Nebraska (for the record, that was the Buccaneers Bye week in 2009). If so, looks like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft preparation for 2010 was right on the mark long ago as the top two non-quarterback prospects played in that game in the persons of Ndamukong Sun (DL, Nebraska) and Gerald McCoy (DL, Oklahoma). In 2008 Dominik attended a college game which involved 2009 first round pick Josh Freeman -- seems a pattern could be developing!
Moving foward
For 2010, the workings of the next phase of the plan could not be clearer. During the offseason the NFL roster limit is 80 players. Just prior to free agency, the Bucs trimmed their roster to 70 (anticipating 10 draft picks) by cutting Josh Bidwell (P), Dirk Johnson (P), and Torrie Cox (DB).
Nine men were then tendered free agent offers:
- Rod Wilson (LB)
- Byron Storer (RB)
- Matt McCoy (LB)
- Brian Clark (WR)
- Jimmy Wilkerson (DE)
- Jermaine Phillips (S)
- Angelo Crowell (LB)
- Antonio Bryant (WR)
- Will Allen (S)
Here is what has transpired since:
Lost: 3/8/2010: Brian Clark (WR, 4th season) signed by Detroit
Lost: 3/8/2010: Will Allen (S, 7th season) signed by Pittsburgh
Added: 3/10/2010: Reggie Brown (WR, 6th season, 6' 1", 197); Tampa Bay also gave up a 2011 6th round pick.
Lost: 3/10/2010: Antonio Bryant (WR, 8th season) signed by Cincinnati
Added: 3/12/2010: Jon Alston (LB, 5th season, 6' 0", 235 lbs)
Added: 3/16/2010: Sean Jones (S, 7th season, 6' 1", 220 lbs)
Lost: 3/17/2010: Matt McCoy (LB, 6th season) signed by Seattle
The pattern here is clear if you consider these transactions as sets of swap-outs: one with wide receivers (Antonio Bryant for Reggie Brown), one with safeties (Will Allen for Sean Jones), one with linebackers (Jon Alston for Matt McCoy), and one without a match (WR Brian Clark). These transactions are a good look into the thinking of the General Manager.
From the point of youth, the safety swap was a push, the wide receiver swap goes younger by two years, and the lineback swap goes younger by a year. These all fit the plan for getting young talent to create competition at all positions.
From the point of position these three swaps do not change the team composition. This, to me, is a glimpse into the head of the GM. There is a certain mix of players which is preferred, and the cuts before free agency landed the team at that mix. The obvious intent with tendering the nine free agents is to get them back at market value (playing the expiring CBA to his own advantage) or release them to a team which places a higher value on the player. When a free agent is hired away, a suitable replacement is signed. This shows that the organization does not feel a need to change the internal chemistry of the team. Put another way -- the Buccaneers are committing to their young players and not grabbing free agents which would reduce the minutes of the key players in the young core offense or defense. This is exactly what we've been told time and time again by General Manager Mark Dominik -- this team will be built around young player development and not around a crop of veteran free agents.
Now the interesting part: The team is "down" one wide receiver. Going by the trend this offseason, we should expect the Buccaneers to sign a wide receiver soon with somewhere between 3 and 5 years of experience. If Tampa Bay does not make such a move in the near future it tells me that the Buccaneers are anticipating drafting more than one wide receiver to bring the numbers into balance or the spot is staying open for a possible post-draft move later in free agency. I think both options are equally good and equally likely. UPDATE: This unbalanced free agency loss has been offset by the award of a compensatory 7th round pick for the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft. Expect at least one pick in the draft at WR because of the pattern outlined in this paragraph!
Barring another signing, the following players would rejoin the team at their tendered offer sometime in the near future:
- Rod Wilson (LB)
- Byron Storer (RB)
- Jimmy Wilkerson (DE)
- Jermaine Phillips (S)
- Angelo Crowell (LB)
These actions performed by General Manager Mark Dominik show that he is running this team with a steady hand, sticking to the principals he has stated he wants to build the team around, and keeping an eye open for young talent. These are tried and true philosophies teams like Pittsburgh and Indianapolis have used to stay at a highly competitive level for many years. I expect it will do the same for Tampa Bay.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)