Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2004 Draft
Report Card
By Bryan McGovern, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay
Buccaneers have been one of the busiest teams early in the
offseason, so it was no surprise when the club turned up the heat
on the second day of the draft. However, the club can be
questioned for its tactics on the opening day of the draft.
With several good defenders still
on the board, including DT Vince Wilfork, LB D.J. Williams and
defensive ends Kenechi Udeze and Will Smith, the Bucs shocked the
4,000-plus in attendance at the MSG Theatre by taking LSU wide
receiver Michael Clayton.
The shock and awe wasn't so much
about Clayton, a fast-rising prospect with great size and
potential, but instead the fact that the Bucs chose to go with
offense over defense. It was also a curious selection since the
Bucs already have Joey Galloway, Keenan McCardell and Joe
Jurevicius on the roster.
"Every receiver that came
out is an exceptional athlete," Clayton said of the deep '04
class of receivers. "When you're comparing it, you have to
look at what each one brings to the table because we were so
different. You had fast, small guys, you had big, physical guys,
you had big guys who weren't so physical. You had a variety of
things to choose from. But when you compare, everybody was good,
so I don't think a team would have lost out on picking any one of
us. One thing that I can say that I do bring to the table is that
I won a championship at LSU and I worked hard for it. Just
learning the process of how to be successful, I do have that under
my belt and that's one of the things I'm going to bring to the
table here in Tampa."
Clayton should develop into a
solid No. 2 receiver in the NFL. Once he puts more muscle on his
6-foot-3 frame, he will be a lot like Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro
Hines Ward.
The Bucs finally dipped into the
LB pool by selecting Marquis Cooper in the third round. The
Washington product needs to bulk up, but he will improve by
learning under Derrick Brooks. Cooper already possesses the
ability to track ball carrier's from sideline-to-sideline.
Solid pick by the Bucs in round
four with the addition of veteran safety Will Allen from Ohio
State. Allen will get a chance to show his wares on special teams
and eventually work his way into the Bucs' defensive backfield.
He's a playmaker with the potential to play either safety spot.
Tampa Bay also made some
interesting picks to close out day two. Jeb Terry is a solid
pass-blocking guard who needs to work on his lower-body strength.
Yale tight end Nate Lawrie was a featured receiver in college, but
he was drafted by the Bucs to be a blocker early in his career.
Tennessee wideout Mark Jones will get a chance to make the team as
a return man. Casey Cramer and Lenny Williams will also improve
the special teams units.
The 6-foot, 245-pound Cramer
could find a home as an extra tight end/H- back/fullback while
also playing special teams. Such a versatile player was worthy of
a late-round pick despite his lack of ideal size. He stood out at
the East-West Shrine Game for his ability to play multiple
positions. Cramer's ability to recognize and react to defenses
will help him on the NFL level as a short-yardage receiver. He's
also a powerful and effective blocker.
The Bucs failed to add a
substantial upgrade in the linebacking corps, but they added an
interesting mix of rookie talent geared toward improving the
special teams.
2004 Draft Picks: (1st round-15th
overall) WR-Michael Clayton, LSU; (3-79) ILB-Marquis Cooper,
Washington; (4-111) S-Will Allen, Ohio State; (5-146) OG- Jeb
Terry, North Carolina; (6-181) TE-Nate Lawrie, Yale; (7-206)
WR-Mark Jones, Tennessee; (7-228) FB/TE-Casey Cramer, Dartmouth;
(7-252) CB-Lenny Williams, Southern.
Sports Network Draft Grade: C
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