Pewter Preview: Draft War Room

Tampa, FL – Going deep inside the war room, on a top secret mission to give you the readers a look at what players the Bucs may be targeting come draft day, With so many college prospects to choose from we will give you players that fit the Buccaneers scheme, as well as posses the specific traits the team is looking for when it comes to character as well as position specific traits.

After a busy off season in which the team filled must of there needs via free agency, it has set them up to take the best player available during the draft while still filling needs for the future.

The teams top five needs heading towards the draft.

CORNERBACK
With Brian Kelly opting out of the final year of his contract, the team will need to add a young prospect that has the upside to become a stud in the secondary. Considering Ronde Barber is 33 along with the contract status of Phillip Buchanon, Eugene Wilson and Sammy Davis being up at the end of the 2008 season is a must the team comes away with one in this draft

WIDE RECEIVER
With aging veterans Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard imagine what the team would have to rely on if injury befell one of them. Slow an unproductive at best, the team needs speed and play making ability at the receiver position.

RUNNING BACK
With the age and injury status of the teams RB corps in question, along with Graham wanting a new contract, the Bucs might be looking for the future, with such a talented group of underclassman declaring this year.

DEFENSIVE LINE
The Bucs could use another D-lineman either a defensive end or defensive tackle that can rush the passer. With must of the teams line being at 30 or older, the problem is that it is a lean year for pass rushers in this draft.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The team lacks depth along the offensive line after build a young line the team could use some depth to ensure itself against injury.

With the theme of this draft being playmakers wanted the Bucs are sitting in great shape to land a few that can contribute to the team this year and for the foreseeable future.

QB
QB Josh Johnson – Decent arm strength, good pocket presents, playmaker, elusive

QB Kevin O'Connell - Good size, decent arm strength, needs work in the film room, has good pocket presents

QB Joe Flacco – Big arm,good mobility, heady player

QB Brian Brohm – Leader, decent arm strength, not overly mobile

QB Andre Woodson – Accurate passer, slow release, lacks pocket awareness

RB
RB Chris Johnson – Playmaker, good speed, great hands, vision, a threat to take it the distance every play. slight build

RB Ray Rice – Short compact build, tough runner, good speed, doesnt go down easy, decent vision

RB Kevin Smith – Good vision, cutback runner, upright runner, decent speed, good hands

RB Matt Forte – Power runner, has decent speed, big physical, decent hands

RB Tashard Choice – Between the tackle runner, decent size speed combination, good hands, lacks elite speed

RB Jonathan Stewart – Power runner, great speed, good vision, tough runner, good hands

RB Jamaal Charles – Elite timed speed,decent vision and balance, good hands, has extra gear

RB Thomas Brown - Has a polished all around game, tough runner, decent picking up the blitz

WR
WR James Hardy – Decent size speed combination, great red zone weapon, decent route runner, good hands

WR Donnie Avery – Top notch speed, lets ball get into his body, lacks size

WR Jerome Simpson – Decent size, great hands, clean route runner

WR Jordy Nelson – Big, deceptive speed, good student of the game, decent hands

WR Dexter Jackson – Elite speed, not always focused, more a PR/KR at this level

WR Mario Manningham – Skinny frame, lacks top notch speed, decent hands, glory hound

WR Lavelle Hawkins – Polished receiver, decent route runner, shows good speed, good hands, understands the game

WR Eddie Royal – Needs work, elite speed, PR/KR, big play flare

WR Devin Thomas - Great size speed,good hands, very physical, solid build

OL
G Donald Thomas – Mean player, needs to add lower body strength, can play either guard or center

T Anthony Collins – Can pull, good size, need to improve footwork, athletic

T Chris Williams – Has a mean streak, better run blocker then pass blocker, smart heady player

T Daune Brown – Athletic, quick, lacks upper body strength

T Jeremy Zuttah – Good size speed combination, lacks height

C Steve Justice - High motor, lacks bulk, tireless worker

T Barry Richardson – Big frame, marginal footwork, decent football smarts

G Drew Radovich – Smart, has a mean streak, aggressive player, not a natural knee bender

G/T Branden Albert – Good size and bulk, needs to work on lateral quickness, can play either guard or tackle,

C Mike Pollak – Good quickness, physical player, decent pass protector, uses hands well

C Cody Wallace - Quick off the snap, better against the run, decent strength

CB
CB Mike Jenkins – Good technique, fluid hips, physical, good speed

CB Antoine Cason – Playmaker, good ball skills, lacks elite speed, perfect zone corner

CB Brandon Flower – Heavy hitter, good tackler, can play either man to man or zone, decent ball skills

CB Tracey Porter – Athletic, great speed, decent ball skills, not overly physical

CB Dwight Lowery – Great ball skills, doesnt have top flight speed, a zone corner

CB Jack Williams – Lacks size, decent speed, good technique, lacks toughness

CB Trae Williams – Decent hands, good size, needs work on his technique

CB Charles Godfery – Great size, physical, decent ball skills, competitor

DL
DT Trevor Laws – High energy, high motor player quick first step, uses hands well, good technique.

DE Derrick Harvey – Has good burst off the line, inconsistent against the run, decent speed, needs to use hands better

DT Dre Moore – Good speed size combination, has a mean streak, good upper body strength, immature.

DT DeMorrio Pressley – Decent run stopper, lacks pass rush skills, has trouble diagnosing plays

DT Athyba Rubin – Big massive wide body, lacks explosiveness, decent ahlete

DE Brian Johnston - Decent size, good production, plays decent vs th run, edge wave rusher

DT Pat Sims – High effort, high motor player, has ideal bulk, quick first step, tends to disappear at times, possesses mean streak

DT Carlton Powell – Good run stuffer, doesn't offer much in the way of pass rush, lacks speed, decent technique, anchors well against double teams.

DT James McClinton – Good speed, excellent first step, perfect fit for the Tampa 2, decent pass rush moves.

DE Jason Jones – Good size and speed, solid player, offers some rush ability, stout vs the run

DE Eric Bakhtiari – Great college numbers, high motor, high energy player, quick twitch player, needs to use hands better

DE Chris Ellis – Pass rusher, relentless pursuit rusher, lacks bulk, not stout vs the run

DE Kendall Langford – Big massive frame, stout vs the run, decent technique

DE Lawrence Jackson – Productive player, not stout against the run, decent speed, needs work vs double teams.

DE Darrell Robertson – Good balance and motor, speed rusher, needs to add bulk, plays soft against the run.

MOCK DRAFT
1. WR James Hardy – Big tall rangy receiver, good hands, more quick then fast, has the size to go over the middle, great red zone threat.

2. CB Brandon Flowers – Physical corner, has fluid hips, gets good break out of his back pedal, plays the ball well

3. QB Josh Johnson – Has that 'IT" factor that you cant teach, accurate passer, can keep plays alive with his feet, understands the west coast scheme

4. DE Brian Johnston – Quick twitch player, stout against the run, has the speed to get around the edge

5. G Donald Thomas – Underrated guard prospect that might be able to cross train at center, is a physical player with a huge upside.

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