Bucs need to spend first round picks on defensive line.

[STULAAKE]

Theme of the off season at One Buc...Consistent pressure from our front four on the on the opposing team's QB

[bradentonian]

Been asking for this for a long time

[yuccaneers]

well if they adopt that theme that will be two straight off-seasons lets hope that the front office and coaching staff feel the same way this off-season and spend money and picks to fix the problem the teams has along the defensive line.

[yuccaneers]

Bucs havent used a first round pick on a DT (or even a pick in the first *four* rounds at DT) since the team drafted Anthony McFarland in 1999. Until last season the Bucs didnt draft a DE in the first round since 1996 when the team Drafted Marcus Jones and Regan Upshaw in the first. But that changed last season when the team drafted Gaines Adams. That is 8 years since the team has invested in the most important position in the Tampa 2 a pass rushing UT. It was 11 years in between taking a DE in the first round. For the pass rush to get better the team needs to spend the picks to have a chance or sign quality players

Sedric Ellis in the 1st round!

[1Va bucsfan]

Besides the obvious one's (Dorsey & Ellis) what Dts could you say are worth a 1st?

Besides the obvious one's (Dorsey & Ellis) what Dts could you say are worth a 1st?

Kentwan Balmer of UNC could be a 1st rounder imo.

[yuccaneers]

Not sure Balmer is worth the risk, he has been shooting up the boards this season, but before this year he has not shown that year in and year out ability, if Sedrick Ellis falls to the 12 to 16 range think the Bucs need to trade up if there is a willing trade partner and if the team covets him.

[sammy8887]

Here is Todd McShay's top 32 at the moment:

Player Position School Height Weight Speed
1. Darren McFadden* RB Arkansas 6-2 212 4.40
2. Chris Long DE Virginia 6-3 1/4 266 4.80
3. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU 6-1 1/4 310 5.10
4. Matt Ryan QB Boston College 6-4 5/8 221 4.80
5. Jake Long OT Michigan 6-7 309 5.30
6. Sedrick Ellis DT USC 6-1 1/4 305 4.95
7. Ryan Clady* OT Boise State 6-6 317 5.15
8. Vernon Gholston* DE Ohio State 6-3 5/8 255 4.65
9. Brian Brohm QB Louisville 6-3 225 4.78
10. DeSean Jackson** RB California 6-0 179 4.35
11. Kenny Phillips* S Miami 6-1 3/4 203 4.45
12. Mike Jenkins CB South Florida 6-0 200 4.49
13. Malcolm Kelly* WR Oklahoma 6-4 217 4.50
14. Samuel Baker OT USC 6-5 312 5.30
15. Derrick Harvey* DE Florida 6-4 1/2 250 4.65
16. Andre' Woodson QB Kentucky 6-4 219 4.84
17. Aqib Talib* CB Kansas 6-1 1/2 201 4.50
18. Limas Sweed WR Texas 6-4 3/8 219 4.45
19. Keith Rivers OLB USC 6-2 3/4 236 4.60
20. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon 5-11 233 4.50
21. Dan Connor OLB Penn State 6-3 228 4.60
22. Calais Campbell* DE Miami  6-7 5/8 279 4.80
23. Fred Davis TE USC 6-3 1/2 245 4.84
24. Early Doucet III WR LSU 6-0 210 4.56
25. Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina 6-4 1/2 297 5.05
26. Rashard Mendenhall* RB Illinois 5-11 225 4.55
27. James Hardy* WR Indiana 6-5 1/2 218 4.58
28. Ali Highsmith OLB LSU 6-0 221 4.55
29. Jeffrey Otah OT Pittsburgh 6-6 339 5.3
30. Pat Sims* DT Auburn 6-3 7/8 310 4.96
31. Mario Manningham* WR Michigan 6-4 1/2 297 5.05
32. Quentin Groves DE Auburn 6-3 1/2 249 4.43

[alldaway]

20. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon 5-11 233 4.50

Hello!

[STULAAKE]

Not sure Balmer is worth the risk, he has been shooting up the boards this season, but before this year he has not shown that year in and year out ability, if Sedrick Ellis falls to the 12 to 16 range think the Bucs need to trade up if there is a willing trade partner and if the team covets him.

Your assessment on Balmer sounds like Pat Sims of Auburn...stay away with the 1st pick...would agree wholeheartedly on the Sed Ellis trade up if he falls to the 12-16 range...even though we are a long ways away

[Pick6]

i can't really recall every draft in my head, but it seems that alot of times when we've picked in the 1st round (which was rare before 2004), the best available DTs weren't really good value at our spot....and don't forget that as late as 2005, we still thought booger could be the man.

i agree, though - our high picks are paying dividends on the offensive line, i'd love to see similar talent and potential on the defensive line, particularly at UT...but sometimes UT seems as tough to project in the pros as QB....plenty of high profile "next warren sapp" types who have washed up in recent years, i wouldn't mind us trying to grab a veteran to do the job for us.

[STULAAKE]

20. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon 5-11 233 4.50

Hello!

Is this your endorsement of our 1st round pick, ADW?

[sammy8887]

20. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon 5-11 233 4.50

Hello!

Is this your endorsement of our 1st round pick, ADW?

Yep...get this guy running behind a stud offensive line for the next few years and see if that doesn't "improve" our defense...

[RedAlert]

20. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon 5-11 233 4.50

Hello!

Thinking the same thing..