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All right, draftniks. You know that Pewter Report is the undisputed king of Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft coverage. We've listed players, such as wide receiver Dexter Jackson (2008), offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah (2008), quarterback Josh Johnson (2008), defensive end Gaines Adams (2007), linebacker Quincy Black (2007), wide receiver Maurice Stovall (2006), quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (2006), middle linebacker Barrett Ruud (2005), cornerback Torrie Cox (2003) - among others, at their respective positions in the Bucs' Best Bets sections of Pewter Report's annual Bucs Draft Preview.

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, Pewter Report's resident draft experts, Scott Reynolds and Charlie Campbell, have spent countless hours watching over 12 college games per week and scouting which prospects would look good wearing red and pewter next year. With over 500 college games to review dating back over the last four years and countless scouting contacts throughout the NFL, Reynolds and Campbell are armed with the inside scoop needed to put together these scouting reports on players who might fit Tampa Bay's schemes on offense and defense.

The casual football fan already has a good deal of knowledge on likely first-round draft prospects, such as USC MLB Rey Mauluga, Oklahoma G Duke Robinson and Ohio State OLB James Laurinaitis. The goal of these regular Pewter Insider features on PewterReport.com is to inform you about players that will likely go in rounds 2-7 that might help the Buccaneers.

Will one of these players wind up being the next Ruud, Zuttah or Johnson? We'll all find out next April when Tampa Bay is on the clock.


KENTUCKY DEFENSIVE TACKLE MYRON PRYOR
VITAL STATS: Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor measures in at 6-foot-1, 310 pounds and has a body similar to former Buccaneers defensive tackles Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland. Pryor has stood out among a good group of defensive linemen on the Wildcats. Pryor has power and speed, and that gives him the ability to be an interior pass rusher. With his combination of speed and power he looks to be a good fit as an under tackle in the Tampa 2.

CREDENTIALS
Pryor is having a good senior season after two up and down seasons in the years prior. Thus far in his career in Kentucky, he has played in 45 games with 32 starts. In his career, he has 10.5 sacks with five forced fumbles and over a 100 tackles. In his senior season Pryor has started the nine games he has played in and has 3.5 sacks. This year, Pryor has also done an excellent job of pressuring the quarterback into sacks for his teammates.

HIS BIGGEST GAMES
9/16/06 Mississippi 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles, 2 tackles
9/30/06 Central Michigan 2 sacks, 5 tackles, 2 forced fumbles,
10/4/08 at Alabama 2 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one hurry, one pass defensed
8/31/08 at Louisville one forced fumble, one fumble returned 72 yards for a touchdown, 3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss
10/11/08 South Carolina 1 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 4 tackles

WHY HE COULD BE A RED AND PEWTER PLAYER
During the 2008 season and in the 2007 campaign, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line has had prolonged stretches of not registering sacks, and not getting enough pass rush on the opposition's quarterback. After 10 games in the 2008 season, the Bucs four defensive tackles have totaled 4.5 sacks, two coming from backup Jimmy Wilkerson, and 1.5 coming from backup Ryan Sims. Neither starter, Chris Hovan and Jovan Haye, had registered a sack this season until Hovan got one against Minnesota.

The most consistent pass rusher on the team has been defensive end Gaines Adams. Offenses have taken notice and are sending extra help to block Adams. Still, it has become a routine sight for quarterbacks to see or sense Adams coming around the edge and then stepping up in the pocket to avoid a sack or getting hit.

The Buccaneers pass rush, and defense overall, would be much more dominant if they had a consistent interior pass rusher. This would lead to quarterbacks not having the ability to step up in the pocket, and avoid Adams. An interior rusher would also force quarterbacks to scramble backwards and laterally, where it would be much easier for Adams to use his excellent closing speed to chase them down.

Pryor has shown the ability to be the kind of player Tampa Bay needs. He has good pass rushing ability for a defensive tackle, and is adept at getting into the backfield. This year, Pryor was out for the game against the Florida Gators, but against Alabama, Pryor had a banner game. He also produces in ways that do not show up on the stat sheet.

Against Mississippi State, Pryor did not record a sack, but blew up a number of plays from the interior. On two of those plays Kentucky defensive end Ventrell Jenkins recorded sacks, and credited Pryor with forcing the quarterback to him. The next week against Georgia, that same scenario repeated itself. This time, Wildcat linebacker Sam Maxwell benefited from Pryor's rush and recorded the sack.

Pryor is not a liability against the run. He holds up well at the point of attack, and uses his bulk and size to not get moved off the ball. While he is short compared to most of the Bucs linemen, his height helps him keep his pad level low and shoot the gap when rushing the passer. Against Georgia, Pryor also displayed good lateral quickness. On pitches and screens he did a good job of working through trash and getting in on the action outside of the hashes.

Around Lexington, Pryor is known as an extremely hard worker. The coaching staff says that he does not need to be motivated by the staff because of his intense inner drive. Pryor had a tough upbringing, but has been committed to graduating and taking advantage of his opportunity to go to the NFL. Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks has discussed that Pryor's play has been peaking at the right time. His opponents have noticed also. Alabama center Antoine Caldwell said Pryor is one of the best he has played this season.

Pryor has the look of Sapp and McFarland when he is healthy and playing well. He is the short, thick, and quick variety of defensive tackle that former Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinelli seeks out. Pryor's ability to push the pocket could be a great asset for Tampa Bay. He has the talent to take away the interior pocket and make his defensive ends better.

TOUGHEST TRANSITION IN TAMPA BAY
There were big expectations for Pryor in his junior season. Pryor started 11 games and appeared in another contest in his junior season, but was limited by injury throughout the season. Pryor did not record a sack in his junior year, and was unable to follow up his breakout sophomore season. Pryor missed one game thus far in his senior season, and will have to satisfy the Buccaneers medical staff that he can hold up at the NFL level.

Pryor would also need to get in better shape if he were a Buccaneer. He has a big body that will need to get acclimated to the Florida heat. Tampa Bay may also want Pryor to drop a few pounds to maximize his speed.

SPECIAL TEAMS FACTOR
Pryor does not appear to have the potential to impact Tampa Bay's special teams. He could be apart of its field goal and extra point blocking units, but his lack of height might keep him off the field there.

DRAFT PROJECTION
Pryor's play as a senior is answering some of the doubts that came about after the disappearance during his junior season. The demand for defensive linemen is as high as ever, and right now it does not appear to be a very strong crop of defensive ends or tackles. At this time, Pryor is probably a second- or third-round prospect.

THE QUOTE
"I remember not being able to go to football practice sometimes because we didn't have money for gas," Pryor said to The Courier-Journal. "When I was a kid, there were some pretty rough times. When I play football, I just think about where I come from and what I've been through. That's what motivates me."

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Pryor's touchdown against Louisville.

Pryor chasing down a screen and knocking out Georgia running back Mario Raley.

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