Pancake Blocks Mock Draft: Pick No. 20
I tend to agree with the comments that this draft has good a little more according to plan/logic than will happen. Doesn't make any of the picks poor, just not huge surprises. Robert O. has a bit of sleeper here, choosing for the Bucs
Conventional wisdom, at least for "good" teams, is that a winning team is built in the trenches first. With that in mind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers actually performed well on both the offensive and defensive lines last year. While the Bucs could use an infusion of youth at Defensive End, Tim L. made an eloquent argument (and saved me a few words) that there is no DE of value available at this point in the draft.
The Buccaneers most glaring need, painfully on display in their pathetic playoff game against the Giants, is a big pay wide receiver to go along with and eventually replace Joey Galloway. The other major need, with the departure of Brian Kelly, is cornerback. I was fully prepared to argue that Tampa Bay should select Limas Sweed with the 20th selection in the draft. He not only is the safest wide receiver available in my opinion, but a great value at this slot as well as a need. His big play ability would be a perfect complement to Joey Galloway and to Warrick Dunn's prowess in the short and mid-range passing game. However, in the interests of due diligence, I put on my Monte Kiffin glasses and took a look at the available cornerback prospects.
While Jimmy and the Texans saved me from a decision on Mike Jenkins, his strength (man-to-man coverage skills) is just not that big of an asset in the Tampa Cover-2 scheme (cough..Jason David..cough). Brandon Flowers, while a good fit for the Tampa-2, is a step too slow and doesn't recover well enough to be considered at this position in the draft in my opinion.
Antoine Cason, on the other hand, looks to be a perfect match. His strengths of reading the field along with reacting to and making plays on the ball likely would have Monte drooling all over the Buccaneers war room floor. Not only could Cason be a replacement for Brian Kelly he just might represent a significant upgrade. So because of his ability to take the Buccaneers once-vaunted but improving defense to a new level, I believe that Antoine Cason should be Tampa Bay's pick in this years draft.
2008 Pancake Blocks Mock Draft
1. Miami Dolphins (Scott L.) - Chris Long
2. St. Louis Rams (Evan Silva) - Glenn Dorsey
3. Atlanta Falcons (Troy Hill) - Matt Ryan
4. Oakland Raiders (Stephen G.) - Jake Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs (Jeremy S.) - Darren McFadden
6. New York Jets (John B.) - Vernon Gholston
7. New England Patriots (Gregg R.) - Sedrick Ellis
8. Baltimore Ravens (Ryan F.) - Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati Bengals (Jacob C.) - Ryan Clady
10. New Orleans Saints (Scott K.) - Keith Rivers
11. Buffalo Bills (James N.) - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
12. Denver Broncos (Taylor C.) - Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers (Matthew W.) - Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears (Zone) - Branden Albert
15. Detroit Lions (Adam P.) - Rashard Mendenhall
16. Arizona Cardinals (Scott C.) - Aquib Talib
17. Minnesota Vikings (Tim L.) - Jeff Otah
18. Houston Texans (Jimmy) - Mike Jenkins
19. Philadelphia Eagles (Andy G.) - Devin Thomas
20. Tampa Bay Bucs (Robert O.) - Antoine Cason





Comments
Surprised you didnt go with drafting Brohm to add to TB's herd of QB's
Posted by: Matt Grant | April 16, 2008 04:24 PM
Good call. Maybe he can cover better than "hole in zone" David. This draft may end up with more first round CBs taken than ever. Stewart......still falling.....
Posted by: b roo | April 16, 2008 04:34 PM
skins gotta go with sweed now
Posted by: jeff | April 16, 2008 08:22 PM
I'm a little surprised Jonathan Stewart is still around. He might be the best player left on the board. I must confess that I didn't even think about going with him. Tampa Bay had a solid running game last year. The other needs were just too big.
I don't see Stewart lasting that long in the real draft. I could make cases for Cincinnati, Denver, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, Arizona and Houston. ANY of those teams could draft him in my opinion. I've read several scouting reports that still have him as the #2 RB and one that has him as the #1 RB.
Posted by: Robert O. | April 16, 2008 10:00 PM
No more comments? Controversy?No Bucs fans railing against me for not picking a wide receiver?
I do believe I feel slighted here.
Posted by: Robert O. | April 17, 2008 12:40 PM
The Bucs have fans??
Posted by: b roo | April 17, 2008 01:10 PM
Should take Brohm - BPA by far. Bucs have a herd of QB's but none worthwhile. Garcia's had his decent year, now he follows form and reverts to mediocrity.
Plenty of decent DB's available especially the type to play Tampa 2.
Posted by: Cammee | April 18, 2008 09:35 AM