I feel that Richardson is the real deal for the Bucs at 5. He was the best back on Alabama's roster, even better than Ingram. Saban stayed with Ingram as he earned his time to start and didn't do anything to unseat himself. However, when Richardson was in there, Bama had no drop off in talent. For him to play at that high of a level in the toughest conference in college, gives everyone a good idea of what he'll do in the pros. Freeman has to have a back who can stay on the field and make the Bucs less predictable. Richardson has the speed to get outside but is an excellent short yardage runner as well. All this jazz about wasting early picks on backs is silly. When you have a guy of that caliber you can't let him go. He has the skill set to be special like A.D.

Love the idea of Richardson, but Claiborne is no doubt the safe bet. On another subject: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech is the STEAL OF THE DRAFT if he's still around in the top of the second round. I know we have other needs namley "LINEBACKER" which I like Lavonte David better than Zach Brown, but you cannot pass on this kid Hill if he's still available. Mark my words 'STEPHEN HILL WILL BE AN ELITE WR IN THE NFL."

I am actually surprised at his 225 bench with all the speak about the guys strength. 25 times is good but to me that suggests he has a great power burst but endurance drops off.

JonnyG: Our recent drafts haven't been too difficult to watch. Having to endure the actual games is another story. You can always start watching Beenie.

If we select "Cadillac" part two in the draft I may never watch another Bucs draft again. There is a common rule in drafts you don't select rb's that high anymore and with the desperate yet pathetic secondary we have now it's just an obvious selection to draft Claiborne, I have spoken

I totally agree with cbell96825, don't get me wrong, I love defense, but T Rich IS a game changer! Best way to be dynamic on offense is to have a threat from the top and the scrimmage line to keep defenses on their toes and not 1-demensional pass happy as some suggest. Besides we don't have enough threats in our receiver corps, but T. Rich would add one as he is just a good a catcher as he is a runner. Claiborne would not be a game changer, but T Rich would make an immediate impact. Pick up a CB in the 2nd or 3rd rounds and move Ronde to Free or strong Safety where he can make an bigger impact! We know he can tackle and run support, sack and read opposing QB's. Ronde at Safety would bring back that safety blanket we have been lacking in the secondary.

Hey Mark, I know the Bucs are not going to tip there hand on who they are going to pick . But did they have any of the coaches in attendance at Richardson's pro- day and who were they if you can tell us? GO BUCS

Richardson, and Blount running behind Nicks and company, with V Jac looking to 4.3 you deep, yeah I could get use to watching that.

How nice to flip on Pewter Report this afternoon and find a nicely worded "article" from BF47. You and I agree that we can't go wrong with the choice at # 5 of Morris Claiborne, but I must say, I am starting to warm up to the idea of selecting RB Trent Richardson if that's what Dominik and company decide. Unlike prior years when many Buc fans get their heart set on one player; this year seems to be a choice between two excellent prospects. Time will tell, but the Bucs can certainly use either player. My question would be what if the Vikings take Claiborne and the Browns take Richardson. Do we take Kalil, put him at LT and move the big-bodied Penn to the right side or try to get out of the spot? Always interesting. Great to read you BF, but sometimes your work is so long I need an intermission.

hey i liked caddy to bad he blew out his knees he was a good choice for us with injuries you just never know .I wish he was still on our team hes a good team player. I would love richardson with this pick we need some excitement and he would provide that.I also like a couple of other players or maybe trading down to get more picks but if we pick trent i would be more than happy no doubt. GO BUCS!! i'm looking forward to this year.

I would never waste a one on a RB. (see Caddy) . Their careers are too short. Use the ones for a playe who will be around more than 3-4 years at best. corner, receiver, lineman, etc. Like Ronde.

For all you buc fans that say claiborne is a no brainer your frickin nuts stop with this crap t rich is a game changer from day one and is the best player in this draft you wanna watch t rich ripping us for 50 yard touchdowns or watch claiborne chasing him for 50 yard touchdowns if he gets past the browns at 4 dominick better skip his happy a$$ to the podium and I better hear mr goddell say with the fifth pick in the 2012 nfl draft the tampa bay buccaneers select trent richardson running back alabama. He will take us to the next level I agree our secondary needs help but we cant fix it all in one year this guy is a beast and needs to be in pewter and red.remember the last time we past on a stud running back bc of need we ended up with gaines adams (rip) and peterson has been ripping up the league.if anything take a corner in the seconed round

@bucfan47 I could not agree more.

Trent "Bama-Slamma" Richardson wants to play for earnest byner and get a call on draft day from his hometown boy mr. derrick brooks. Check the vid-nice workout and interview http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/41023/video-trent-richardsons-pro-day

Well you cannot argue Richardson would help Freeman and this offense tremendously over the short run, which would help Schiano keep his job should the Buccaneers struggle to win again. I'm still for Morris Claiborne, simply because the LG is now a pass happy LG where you can never have enough good corners. I truly hope just because they convinced Barber to come back for another year and signed Eric Wright they are not content with that line-up. You have to prepare, and given the fate of Talib won't be known until after the draft, I do not think the Buccaneers can afford to pass up on Claiborne if he's available. My gut feeling is he won't be...I think the Browns get him at #4, to pair him with Joe Haden (scary)...unless the Browns trade down from their pick (a possibility). But IF both Richardson and Claiborne are there at #5, my guess is they'll select Claiborne. If Talib is off the team and the Bucs are stuck starting Barber and Wright, in the pass-happy NFC South, they'll surrender 25 points per game or more. I love Barber, but IMO he's not starting caliber any longer, which is why I think the new coach done the wise thing by not promising him a starting job. At this point in his career, it must be earned. Barber obviously thinks he can still play, and I'm sure he can, but I feel you don't pass on Claiborne. One thing to think about from the past...Didn't we draft another SEC running back at #5 years ago..How'd that work out? Running backs are a dime a dozen..Special running backs are worth IF they stay injury free..But how many do? It's the most injury prone position in the LG. They take more hits every game..Hard hits...Trent Richardson is a special back, no doubting that...But look back at the last few drafts..Running backs have nearly slipped out of the first round entirely. I think the first one selected last year was in the 20's (if I'm not mistaken). I'm not going to be mad if they select him, but the Bucs brass would be wise to select Claiborne. The upside may not be felt immediately in the stat column, but let me tell you, down here in the South, many feel Claiborne has more talent than Patrick Peterson.. Ask yourself...Since you've seen Peterson play for the Cards. If the Bucs got that from Claiborne, do you pass on him at #5? One thing I've learned with new coaches is you really never know how they will handle a draft. It certainly looks like it's Richardson or Claiborne. Schiano's rep as wanting to pound the football, the signing of Nicks, makes a lot of sense to sign Richardson, but the secondary and chance of losing Talib would leave the Bucs with no true #1 corner. In reality it's two great players, one tough choice.

bucfan47. very good "Soundoff". I have to agree with everything you have said. I am thinking that if Claiborne is gone then the Bucs will trade down; if they can't then I believe they will take a LB. It would be a small reach and then they pick a CB in the 2nd rd. For me this is a numbers game? We need 2 LB's, 2 CB's, 1 TE, 1 SS, 1-2 RB's, 1 FB, 1 OL, and maybe 1 DT. The only way we get there at this point is to trade down and often.

Horse something tells me they will not trade the #5 pick. I think they will select a player there. My early prediction for trading down would come in round 2 or 3.

at 100% and getting better! hard to pass that up.

I watched the highlights of his pro day on ESPN, and came away impressed. He ran a pass route making a great one handed catch. With the new rookie wage scale, it's not a great risk drafting a R.B. at #5. Fact is it makes sense, you get a great back for a low price for four years, which is about the life of a R.B.. Shiano said at the owners meeting R Rice turned the Rutgers program around. He loves a bell cow running back that can carry the load,and not have to leave the field on 3rd down. He also said he wants a back who doesn't put the ball on the ground, Trent lost one fumble running against SEC defenses. Blount is a power back who couldn't be trusted to pass protect, questionable receiving skills, trouble learning the play book,( not very bright) and fumbled alot. Add it up, we need Richardson. The best corner can't keep teams from the end zone, but the best running back can help keep the opposing offense off the field. If Trents there at five, and no one wants to trade up, I say he should,and will be a Buc.

I think Richardson should be the pick if both are available. Partially bc after reviewing game tape of Stephen Gilmore I think he's just as good an athlete as Claiborne just as fast and a better tackler. If they can get Richardson at 5. Trade back into the 1st and get Gilmore then I think that would be phenomenal. Then I think we can take a Zach Butler(Utah State) in the 3rd and my sleeper Bucs pick is Vontaze Burfict. I just think the kid has an extreme amount of talent just some character issues. If the Bucs bring him and are confident that this is a player they can coach he would easily be the steal of the draft in around the 5th round and could challenge for a starting position. But put simply if Richardson is available he has to be the pick at 5. It would give us a potent enough offense that we could mask some of our defensive shortcomings with one of the best ground attacks in the league. I mean the this is the same defense that held the Saints to their lowest point total of the season last year so they are capable when inspired.

For the Bucs to trade back up it would take next years first or second.

Every year there is "That Guy" that seems just barely out of reach but so good that April becomes the longest month of the year. Just think Richardson and Blount in the same backfield. Two 1000 yard rushers who manage to enhance our passing game and keep our defense off the field and fresh in the 4th quarter. 11-5, 12-4???? The reality is that we need to shore up our very weak defensive backfield and give Blount a mid round 3rd down back. Does anyone remember Mike Allstott and Warrick Dunn. What happened to the big back complimented by a break away speedster. Remember when Dunn would disappear into the the line and suddenly it was 2nd and 2. We could get a Darenn Sproles type in the mid rounds and add a new dimension to our offense with a La Michael James Type pick and still enhance our CB/LB deficiet. We appear accourding to some Experts????? to be sitting pretty good with the 5th pick and in the first three rounds. Plenty of Need talent available. Again forget the trade thing. Claiborne at #5. Go Bucs.....

I was on the Claiborne train but after watching alot of film on TR I just can't resist. Like others have said the thought of him in the backfield with Blount and all the new additions via FA is tantalizing. If they draft MC I will be happy, it fills a gaping need but TR also would fill a gaping need as well. The debate over RBs life span is a toss up. You can draft a great RB that runs for 1500 yds and 12+ TDs for 5-6 years in an almost best case scenario. While doing that he is helping grind defenes down and eat up time of possession. This will also make life on our QB all that much better. Will also extend Blount's career possibly. Claiborne to me is overrated a bit because I believe there are several CBs that have as good or better skills that can be had in the later RDs. They may be slightly slower, 4.48 instead of 4.40. I personally would rather have CBs that are physically more imposing that can equally play the run and pass. I don't know if MC is up to that task, especially against some of the RBs in our division. They talk about how the NFC South has all these pass happy QBs and teams, well, they run the hell out of the ball in this division too. I mean think about it...there are some damn good RBs in the South. So I am really starting to jump on the Richardson bandwagon so we can have an equal RB stable to compete with.

It's getting to the point honestly, we're gonna have to move up to get Trent if we truly want him. Yeah yeah ppl are gonna B&moan but just remind yourself we never moved up for Cj2k,DeSean, Megatron nor SUh. All guys our staff wanted.........all pro bowl takeover players. And the guys we "Settled" for aren't close(talib,dexter Jackson, Gaines & McCoy)

I could't agree more, I also say move up & get him!

@bucdiezel90 bro.. we got bowers, and the better pick was Clayborne and no way we were gonna Suh. And yea it does happen every year. But i wont be mad if we draft Mo Claiborne if Trent Richardson is gone. But most likely the Browns will trade down.... i hope lol

@arealbucsfan - All im saying is every year us fans get excited about the player we want the most in the first round. Then it eventually turns into actuallity somehow, especially on this postboard. So the point is, just like last year when everyone was all over getting Bowers or Kerrigan in the first, and before that I remember everyone thinking we were somehow getting Suh in the first round... It's not going to happen. I hope I am wrong but I wont be.

@bucdiezel90 the Browns mite end up trading down, so... u should prob stop talking. And if Richardson is there, we're taking him.

I think our coach working late with him is a smoke screen.. is there ANY chance we trade picks with cleveland(they got forth pick in a cointoss against us,how much would it cost us?) and then we deal the pick to someone else like a PHI,CHI,SDC to move up and grab their choice and reward us with a few extra picks or a player and picks then try our luck with a LB,CB or even richardson if he drops ?RB isnt a huge concern for folks who are picking early in this draft. Richardson is a stud,but if cleveland goes blackmon(or ?) ~I still think Bucs look for trade offers and then still pick up Clarborne.

TRENT RICHARDSON WILL BE DRAFTED BY THE CLEVELAND BROWNS. NONE OF THIS MATTERS.

From ESPN during Richardson's workout today is that Byner, our new RB coach, worked Richardson through multiple drills above and beyond anyone else. I know Tampa got burned with Caddy--I still remember how pleased I was on draft day, but it just never bore the fruit. I know the Bucs' need a CB, and a damn good one may be there at 5. I know Blount hasn't had his chance with coaching or play calling and his jersey is hanging neatly in my closet. But the idea that the Bucs could be punishing people with Pro-Bowl Guards and a massive two headed monster...and that one of those heads could possibly be Faulk-ish; man that's a nice thought. On 3rd & 5 the Bucs' go 3 wide with Richardson in the back field, how many defenders go in the box?--and then Freeman throws an Arrow route.

I am right with Scubog on this one. I was surprised that he is only 5'10" 225. I am not sold that he is a top 10 pick. Even if Claiborne is gone I would rather reach by taking Luechy than Richardsen. We can get a RB in the 3rd or 5th round. There is nothing wrong with Blount. Some of those fumbles was because he was trying to get more yardage and wasn't protecting the ball enough; I am sure he can correct that issue. Madu doesn't look that bad either.

I am very warm to the TR at five... build a unstoppable offense... and then build the bend not break defense with great coaching... Which we finally have on this staff

Exactly! Why not put your chips in the center of the table this year to complete the offense. I truly believe this kid is special & is well worth it. There are other CB's that are good this year. I also know there are also running backs but not the complete package that Richardson is Period! Whoever lands him he will punish teams for not taking him.

I'm starting to warm up to the idea of drafting Trent Richardson. He certainly looks the part and you can't argue with his college credentials. I just would be reluctant to draft a player in the top 5 whose position as a running back almost assures that five to six years from now his skills will start to decline. Contrast that with Morris Clayborn whose position as cornerback historically would be just reaching its' peak. I would be more comfortable if we somehow could move down a few spots to # 12 or so and get Richardson. The 25 reps seem good to me for a running back as does his 4.5 40 yard dash time. Those numbers won't deter anyone from selecting him.

Alstott400 I'm starting to think like you. They've spent alot to money and draft picks on the offense, qb, two highly rated linemen and a true no.1 receiver so it would make sense to finish it off with Richardson. Schiano wants a powerful run game and the defenses in the South aren't top notch so with with Richardson AND Blount in the backfield, Josh throwing to Jackson, Wiliams, Winslow and Regus we have a chance to have an offense that can comete with the others in the South. We can get a good if not better cb in the 2nd round. The coaching will make all the difference. It would be sweet to finally see the Bucs pay attention to offense. I think I'd be happy with a so so defense and an explosive offense! THE REAL BUCDIESEL not some fake *censored* wannabee posting up here with a facsimile of my screen name.

...I have been on the Morris Claiborne bandwagon from Day # 1. I saw clips from Alabama's pro-day today and now I'm totally confused !!! Trent Richardson is the truth !!! Added to our o-line, L. Blount and our crop of receivers...I can just imagine us running to ball 80% of the time with success. And that would be nerve-wrecking for defenses trying to stop us. But at the same time, I still remember the poor defense we put up against the pass last year. In a perfect world, I would take Claiborne at #5 and find a way to trade back into the 1st round to get Richardson somewhere between picks #14 and #20. Rent London Fletcher's services for two years, pray we can get line-backer help through OTA's and pre-season. In a perfect world, that is...go 'Bucs !!!!

strong running game always make poor defenses better and good defenses dominant and dominant defenses great,think back to the alstoott- dunn era good defense strong running game. The game has not change as much as the chicken lil's would have you to believe. Football is football. Run the ball,stop the run,that part of the game is never going to change. Do you remember who the qb's were when the bucs were dominant ,shaun king and trent dilfer which do you think is HOF material? R.athony & quez green wr's, this team won because special team & running gave brooks ,sapp & lynch a chance to become the players they became. Here's another chance to do the same thing,but the browns will be the wild card in this case. Oh and London Fletcher,why not dick butkus ,they are about the same age.

This seems like a bit of a tease ~though Richardson will be a great addition to a team,I dont believe it will be tampa..Cleveland might seriously grab him~if not and by some reason Blackmon,Richardson and Clarorne are all still on the board when tampa picks ~ I say Tampa deals the pick.. With the chance to have Ronde help the development of Clarborne for the next season(coupled with the Talib drama),I see him being our choice if we stay at 5. If we deal the pick,my guess we drop down and grab a LB... Eagles are looking to move Samuel(titans might get him for a conditional 3rd rounder due to his 10 mil price tag) AND they have extra picks ~ maybe we strke a deal with them if the titan deal falls through..