The NFL Draft

In the matter of six days the madness will begin. I know its no longer March but the madness of the NFL Draft is fast upon us. I always seem to get pumped up every single year for this event, usually trying to purchase The Sporting News NFL Draft Guide which I always find to be utterly fantastic. Seems in this year's edition they put in a draft tracker so us draft geeks can write down every single pick that occurs.

I've been doing a top five round up lately on a couple of message boards so I'll get to that in a moment but first I'd like to discuss something about my favorite NFL team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last year was a pretty brutal year to go through with a new coaching regime and struggling to find the right quarterback to put under center. Seems the organization is content with Josh Freeman but we'll never know how good he really is until he gets someone to catch the ball.

With the release of Antonio Bryant who went to the Bengals, the only proven pass catcher on the roster is Kellen Winslow Jr. who is usually a HUGE injury concern. He could fall off of the bench and miss a couple of games. For all of the offensive woes, the run defense in Tampa Bay has always been a problem dating back to when I became a fan, which was the Tony Dungy era by the way.

Even when they had Warren Sapp the run defense always seemed to have a hole and once he left, it became an open invitation for opposing running backs to run through like crazy. I've been reading that that front office is in love with Suh and I really can't blame them. After his performance in the Big 12 Title game that really put him on the national spotlight, he became a darling amongst the media.

For as dominate as Suh was against the Texas offensive line, he's still not as great as most think he is. I remember during the season listening to the Nebraska/Iowa State game and I never really heard his named called. Now was Suh just disinterested in playing a school that they've dominated for decades or did the Iowa State offensive line that wasn't in the same league with the Longhorns O-Line, were they better?

It could've been a simple off game but the fact remains that why was there such a difference in Suh's games between the lowly Cyclones who he could've ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner and that Longhorns game. Half of me thinks that Suh is the answer for the Tampa defensive line but the other half thinks he'll end up as Gaines Adams, may he rest in peace.

In my opinion the safer pick is probably Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy who was more consistent and has a bigger run stuffing body in order to free the linebackers to make the play. Then Eric Berry is also an option but safeties never get picked in the top three for reasons that I can't comprehend.

I just hope that the ship gets steered in the right course. Tampa Bay needs to spend their top four picks on a DT, WR, CB and another WR. I know I'm harping on this WR position but the NFL is becoming a passing league and with the top WR on the team being the one year wonder, Michael Clayton, the need to start collecting in order to help Josh Freeman become that potential franchise signal caller.

Now that I'm done discussing my Bucs, lets look at the top five overall. All the teams in the top five have more then one need, obviously. With the first pick, the St. Louis Rams will probably end up getting Sam Bradford although I think that Jimmy Clausen is the safer pick at this point. I'm not huge on spread offense quarterbacks and their transition to the NFL because one just simply must look at the QBs that have come out of Texas Tech.

Huge numbers but its all in the system. Sam Bradford had tons of talent around him to catch the ball and I believe he was a system quarterback. Jimmy Clausen on the other hand was part of an NFL based offense. Sure they both have concerns about injuries or character in Clausen's case but Charlie Weis was the Notre Dame head coach who brought that NFL style that Clausen played in. Matt Ryan played in that same type of NFL system at Boston College and thus far he's looking like the real deal.

But the first pick is usually a bust so we'll see who manages to come out of this draft better then the other. With the second pick the Lions need to select Russell Okung. They need a franchise left tackle to protect Matthew Stafford because Jeff Backus allows too many sacks at that position. Look at David Carr. Guy had the talent but he spent too much time on his backside to really get a good look at how good he could've been.

With the forth pick, the Redskins filled their need for a quarterback after they got McNabb from the Eagles. So now they also have huge holes at the offensive line and it would be a reach to get another offensive tackle. They're set at defensive tackle with Hanesworth so they don't need to get Suh or McCoy if either of them are on the board. In my opinion the Redskins should trade down and try to get more picks so they don't need to reach. They should trade with the Bills possibly so the Bills can get a franchise quarterback. Though it probably won't happen, it'd be the safer thing.

The Chiefs with the five pick will probably look so hard at Eric Berry and end up passing on him because their front office prefers to fill the trenches as they proved last year. Much like so many other clubs in the top ten, they need a franchise left tackle to protect their investment at quarterback. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Chiefs get Bryan Bologa from Iowa with their selection.

I would go into the rest of the draft but its just too much to really get into and I don't want to waste all night talking about it. I believe Tim Tebow will get selected in the second round by the New England Patriots. I don't know why but it just seems like the type of place that would take him and use him better then others maybe. Though with his attempts to become a better passer, he might go sooner, possibly in the first round just because he's Tim Tebow.

Just six more days though. I can't wait.