Back End Help

It's still early in the process to be guessing what players teams will be drafting but its still fun to see what people think the Bucs will do. One interesting mock draft was on NFL.com where Daniel Jeremiah, a past college scout for multiple NFL teams gave his two cents on the Bucs selection. He decided on Vernon Hargreaves CB out of Florida and here's his reasoning.

The Bucs need to add a playmaker to the back end, and Hargreaves has very good ball skills.

 Its true the Bucs do need a playmaker in the back end of the defense as the team only had 11 interceptions last year and 5 of those were from Lavonte David (3) and Kwon Alexander (2). Half the time the secondary looked lost last year, along with no consistency of keeping the same guys out there. Yes, the defense was a complete mess. Now was that due to no playmakers in the back end or players not being utilized correctly? On many accounts last season players would argue at each other due to not knowing where they were supposed to be. If Mike Smith has his way, he will study up on the secondary that he currently has and learn to use them the right way as he stated during his introductory press conference.

Put your players in the best position you possibly can

Put them in a spot they can be successful and be the best versions of themselves

 Obviously these guys didn't understand the zone schemes Lovie installed and couldn't execute them on the field. Lets see if Smith can find ways to simplify the defense to the strengths of his players. There is talent on this team with Alterraun Verner who was a pro bowler in 2013 and Jonathan Banks who has shown flashes in the past. Use what you have on the roster first as there is more talent in the back end than in the front line where Gerald McCoy is by his lonesome. The kicker here is Jeremiah had Noah Spence going one spot behind the Bucs, to the Giants at pick 10. To me pass rusher is the biggest weakness on this team and I'm sure Jason Licht knows that as well and will be searching high and low to fix it.

What about Shaq?

All the attention right now is all toward Noah Spence and about how high he's rising up draft boards due to his tremendous showing during the senior bowl. Bucs fans are being frantic already thinking he will not be available at pick 9 when just weeks before he was barely considered a first round pick. Time will tell with Spence but a more complete player that doesn't have all the athletic gifts that Spence has is Shaq Lawson and he would look just fine in red and pewter.

Shaq Lawson, out of Clemson stands 6'3 270 and compiled 12.5 sacks, 60 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss last year as a true junior. Most buc fans get scared at the thought of a Clemson DE to the late Gaines Adams who was a flop in Tampa, but Lawson is a different player. Unlike Adams, Lawson can play both the pass and the rush. He already has an NFL body and is strong enough to anchor against left tackles. In pass rush situations Lawson shows his technique on many occasions by using his violent and active hands to prevent tackles from locking down on him and pushing him out of plays. The guy played in every game since his freshman year at Clemson and even played in the National Championship game with a sprained MCL, where he ended up with 2 sacks.

His biggest knock is not having the elite speed and get off that Spence has and not many have that but Lawson can bring so much more to the table from day one. As stated before pass rush should be the bucs biggest priority this offseason and Shaq can bring that. He will be on display next week at the scouting combine and so will every other prospect hoping to get drafted. More news and rumors will surely start to fire up.

Draft Prospect:Graham Glasgow

The Bucs offensive line was much improved in 2015 but could still use some upgrades on the interior part of the line. This could be the year the Bucs draft a young center to pair with Jameis Winston as the Qb-Center relationship is very important for the team. Last years center Joe Hawley did a great job but was inconsistent with his play so I think the Bucs could use some size in the middle.

Enter former Michgan center Graham Glasgow who is 6'6 306lbs and did very well in the east-west shrine game and the senior bowl weeks. He provides good punch and has a solid base which makes him good in pass protection, but also showed good movement in the run game. Glasgow is projected to go sometime in the 3rd to 5th round, would be a good value pick in any of those rounds. He would be another solid addition to the young core already on the offensive line.

X-Factor?

When was the last time the Bucs had a player that could make you miss in space? Was it way back when Warrick Dunn was here. Thats way too long! Now it looks like they have that type of guy in Charles Sims. Sims had an injury plagued rookie season but really showed up in year 2. He is the definition of "Juice" as Jon Gruden used to say.

Standing 6 foot 215 Sims has the wiggle to make you whiff. Serving as backup to Pro Bowler Doug Martin, he still put up quite a stat line, racking up 529 yards rushing and 51 receptions for 561 yards and 4 touchdowns. Thats called getting your hands on the ball a lot. Sims may turn into the x-factor the Bucs have always needed and provide a miss match for any linebacker in the NFL. Here's a little taste of what Sims is capable of.

Possible Two Headed Monster?

The often injured yet highly talented Austin Seferian-Jenkins getting sidelined in week 2 of the season may have been a blessing in disguise. Why, because the bucs reacquired tight end Cameron Brate from the Saints practice squad. Brate who stands 6'5 and weighs 245 is one large target and his alma mater is Harvard. So he's one big smart man. He was praised early in the season for his work ethic and keeping his nose in the playbook.

“Cam is a very bright guy,’’ Winston said. “He’s a hard worker. Cam, he gets here close to the time the quarterbacks get here. He’s always working, getting his body right. He’s definitely cherishing and definitely taking adantage of this opportunity he has"

Although having a big brain is good, that doesn't always translate into performing on the playing field. But hey, it doesn't hurt one bit. He was one of a hand full of players that were able to grasp new offensive coordinator and now head coach Dirk Koetters offensive playbook. He accredited it to his fine education at Harvard.

“The biggest thing I learned at Harvard was definitely time management,” said Brate, who grew up a Bears fan in Naperville, Illinois. “I learned how to balance football and academics. Now, I can devote myself 100 percent to football.’’

 Time management in the NFL is exactly what you need to keep yourself out of trouble (Johnny Football?) and to learn the ins and outs of the playbook to better perform on the field. Cameron Brate has the right head on his shoulders and now needs to work on his craft. Dirk Koetter had a few nice words about Cam himself.

He’s definitely developing,’’ Koetter said. “Cam is a guy that we almost let slip away there. We really saw the potential in Cam. He can run a little bit, he has good ball skills, he’s getting confidence in himself and he’s improving every week, which is all you can ask from any player.’

Brate ended his season with 23 catches 288 yards and 3 touchdowns, not big numbers but showed flashes of what he could become. If Seferian Jenkins can stay healthy and Brate can continue to develop and put on weight, the buccaneers could be looking at a two headed monster at TE. Thats a huge "IF" but looking at the mismatches those two could produce are mouth watering for a play caller and I bet Koetter himself is smiling thinking of ways to utilize them. Time will tell.

Coach Analysis: Who Is Mike Smith

Every Bucs fan remembers Mike Smith from his days in Atlanta where he annoyed many Bucs fans with his constant yelling at refs from across the sideline, but who is he really?

Mike Smith is a former college linebacker that has brought himself up the ranks by being successful at every level. He came into the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens as a linebackers coach and had many noticeable names like Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper. He went on to be promoted to defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

No one thinks of Jacksonville as a defensive powerhouse right? Yet from 2003-2007 Smiths defense ranked 4th in overall defense. Proof is in the pudding. Those were the days you actually saw Jacksonville competing for the playoffs not the top pick.

Smith went on to become the head coach of the Falcons, taking them to the playoffs 4 out of the 7 years and missing the super bowl by one game in 2012. Smith was the coach of the year in 2008 and also has the title as the winningest coach in Falcons franchise history.

Mike Smith our defensive coordinator is one highly respected coach among his NFL peers and the Bucs should feel lucky and grateful to have him. He will bring a fire to this defense that has been lacking for years. Smith is one of those hard nosed football coaches with a highly intelligent defensive mind. He has gone on record as saying he will bring a 4-3 defense to Tampa as well as sprinkling in 3-4. Expect him to utilize his players wisely as many weren't under Lovies command.