Bucs 2012 Mock Draft

With the 5Th pick in the NFL draft the Bucs pick Luke Kuechly Lb Boston College. The Bucs need a great linebacker and Luke will get the job done for them.

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College (11)
Can play inside or outside and has a great worth ethic. He posted a 4.58 40 and performed 27 bench reps with a 38-inch vertical, which tells you he's fast, strong and athletic. He makes tackles in the hole and still covers in space. He is a rare talent who will be very good for a long time.

36. Josh Robinson CB Central Florida

Strengths: Robinson has the rare athleticism of a shutdown cornerback and is at his best in zone and off coverage. When he is focused on his technique and footwork, he is always in good position. And when his backpedal is compact, he can flip his hips to turn and run with receivers. (Vital statistics: 5-10, 199, 4.31 40-yard dash)

Relying on his ability to read the quarterback and route quickly, he can plant, drive and close fast on the ball. He has the elite speed to stay with even the fastest receivers on deep routes. If he allows separation, he can recover to get back into good coverage position. Once the ball is in the air, Robinson does an excellent job of tracking it—and he is able to make plays on the ball without committing penalties.

His explosiveness, top-end speed and instincts made him a dangerous punt returner at Central Florida. These skills will enable him to be a good return man in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Robinson has a bad habit of getting upright and on his heels in his backpedal. When this occurs, receivers are able to get him off balance and consistently create separation. From the press alignment, he does not use his hands aggressively to jam receivers, allowing too easy of a release.

Josh Robinson checks in at No. 33 in Sporting News' countdown of 2012 NFL Draft prospects. (AP Photo)Because he does not play physically against receivers in coverage, big, strong wideouts are able to push him around to get open. He is much less effective in tight man coverage and needs to improve his footwork and strength.

To be productive in the NFL on passes in front of him, he will need to become more physical. Even when he is in position to make tackles, he often does not get the job done. That’s because he uses poor technique of lunging and grabbing instead of wrapping up.

Draft status: Robinson, who came out early for draft after his junior season, was not highly regarded initially. But he performed so well at the Combine that he is likely to be a late first-round pick. A starter as a true freshman who started 36 of 38 games in his college career, Robinson was an impact player for Central Florida.

When he stays focused on his footwork and technique, he plays like a top-level athlete and can be highly productive. However, he must improve the consistency of his backpedal if he expects to be productive in the NFL. Within a few seasons, expect Robinson to iron out his technical issues to become a consistently productive starting cornerback, similar to the Chiefs’ Stanford Routt.

68. Tank Carder LB TCU

Millions of people saw Ricky "Tank" Carder (receiving the nickname fcrom his parents due to his size at birth) earn the 2011 Rose Bowl MVP in the team's win over Wisconsin (three tackles for loss, game-winning pass break-up), but few know the road he took to achieve that success. In the seventh grade, Carder suffered a broken back and punctured lung/diaphragm in a rollover car accident. He was his high school's kicker and punter to avoid contact until his junior year, when he got the medical go-head to play any position; opposing coaches have been paying ever since.

The lightly-recruited Carder earned some playing time (nine tackles, one for loss in 11 games) behind future NFLers Jason Phillips and Daryl Washington as a redshirt freshman, then earned second-team All-Mountain West accolades after stepping into Phillips' starting role in the middle in 2009 (89 tackles, 10 for loss, 10 pass break-ups). As a junior, he was named first-team all-conference (60 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, five pass break-ups), All-American by multiple outlets,.

TCU's aggressive 4-2-5 scheme asks Carder to attack gaps, taking himself out of plays, but his ability to close on the ballcarrier and make plays in coverage should earn him an early-round selection as a 4-3 strong-side linebacker or inside 'backer for a 3-4 team at the next level. The only bump in the road would be NFL teams' concerns about those injuries suffered years ago, and their potential to derail his career with the car crash-type collisons that happen every play in the NFL.

Analysis
Positives: Heady player who always seems to be at the right place at the right time. Attacks ball carriers in a hurry if a lane opens up in front of him. Regularly flows to the ball using the correct attack angle. Dips shoulder or attacks blockers directly when filling gaps. Can anchor to maintain the line of scrimmage. Identifies and avoids pulling guards and fights off multiple blockers in traffic using lateral quickness and strong hands to find his way to the ball carrier. Will hurdle trash on the ground to get into the backfield. Underrated athlete capable of covering running backs out of the backfield. Regularly breaks up passes. Possesses the length and aggressive nature to be a solid tackler. Strikes ball carriers with reckless abandon. Good closing speed and strong hands to be effective as a blitzer.

Weaknesses: Loses the ball and overruns plays at times, sometimes because he is attacking his assigned gap and other times because he is asked to be so aggressive. Lacks great upper-body bulk to keep from being engulfed by NFL-caliber linemen. Fair in dropping into his zone, but could be a bit more fluid moving backwards. Has only adequate upper-body strength to corral stronger ball carriers in the open field. Lacks pass-rush moves.

140. Chris Rainey RB Florida Chris Rainey can play special teams, Punt and Kick off returner. 03/14/2012 - Chris Rainey isn't concerned about his NFL Draft stock; he doesn't "want to hear all of that bullcrap." The former Florida do-everything back just cares about proving to NFL teams that he belongs in the league. He did his best to convince them Tuesday morning during UF's Pro Day in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Rainey didn't run the 4.1-second 40-yard dash he boasted about before the NFL Combine, but the 5-foot-9, 180-pound speedster clocked times of 4.3 and 4.33 Tuesday. "I did great, man, way better than the combine, I know that," Rainey said. "That 40 time, I've been thinking about that for the longest, and I had to come out here and redeem myself." Not only did Rainey redeem himself in the 40, but he also showed off his route-running ability and his hands during drills. Coaches, scouts and former players in attendance compared Rainey to former teammate and current Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, who was in attendance Tuesday. "[Rainey's] multitalented," Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said. "He can do a lot of things with the ball. You just have to get him the ball and let him do his thing. Probably a little bit like Percy - guys from the same school, same speed, same qualities that can hurt you in many ways." Although Rainey said the 5-foot-11, 184-pound Harvin is the "perfect comparison" despite the difference in size, Rainey said he wants to be like the New England Patriots' Wes Welker. Rainey already has workouts scheduled with the Philadelphia Eagles on April 2 and the Cincinnati Bengals after that. - Tom Green, The Independent Florida Alligator

•Full Chris Rainey News Wire
Overview
An extremely versatile athlete capable of making an impact as a running back, receiver or special teams standout, Rainey emerged during his senior season to be the first Florida running back since Emmitt Smith to lead the Gators in both rushing yards (861) and receptions (31). He followed that up with an impressive week of practice at the Senior Bowl in which his playmaking skills were largely put to the test at wide receiver, though his only touch during the game, itself, came on a five yard run.

A highly touted prep prospect, Rainey saw action immediately for the Gators but was sidelined after four games with a shoulder injury and eventually redshirted in 2008. He saw action in 48 more games over his Florida career, starting 19 contests. The all-purpose star left Florida having rushed for 2,464 yards (ninth all-time for the Gators) and caught 69 passes for 795 yards, scoring 19 touchdowns over his career.

At his size, Rainey certainly isn't a workhorse candidate at the next level. Some, in fact, see his greatest potential lining up as a slot receiver in a similar role to what Percy Harvin (himself a former Florida Gator) has with the Minnesota Vikings. If utilized as a back, Rainey's soft hands and playmaking ability could intrigue teams, especially considering the impact undersized multi-purpose backs like Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush and even Dexter McCluster saw for their respective clubs in 2011.

Analysis
Strengths: Perhaps the most explosive cutting ability and straight-line speed of any athlete in the 2012 draft. Can make defenders look silly due to his lateral agility and sudden acceleration. Versatile. Saw time as a running back, receiver, punt returner and kick returner for the Gators. Looks natural catching the ball out of the backfield and has shown the ability to track the ball over his shoulder and snatch passes outside of his frame. Has struggled a bit with durability over his career but is willing to play with pain. Relishes his opportunities on special teams but is not just a return specialist. Explosive burst led to his breaking the school and SEC record with six blocked punts.

Weaknesses: A bit of a luxury prospect for the next level. Certainly is a versatile, playmaking athlete but provides next to nothing as a blocker which means he'll be an obvious focus of the defense whenever he's on the field. Caught most of his passes on simple dump-offs and quick screens. Struggled tracking the ball over his shoulder as well as adjusting to poorly thrown passes over his career. Has had continued issues with his shoulders dating back to high school which will require a close look by team doctors at the Combine. Character red-flag … Was charged with aggravated stalking (a felony) after sending a threatening text message to a former girlfriend in 2010. The charges were dropped as part of a pre-trial agreement in which he had to complete an intervention program …

6th round pick Trent Robinson FS Michigan State

7th round Joe Martinek FB Rutgers

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