The 2008 years draft proved to be one of the most exciting drafts to date. The NFL Draft is by far the greatest of all professional drafts for it's clear cut schedules, consistent evaluations and the fact that the majority of America is deeply involved in college football.
In Baseball, players are taken from High school as well as college and most everyone takes a good 4 to 5 years before having Major League ready talent. If that.
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In Basketball, you are lucky if 5 of the years First Round picks go on to even make an All-Star game... And Hockey? I don't even want to begin with Hockey.
Most NFL Hopefuls have in mind what they plan to do their final year of College whether it be their Junior campaign or Senior season. They begin the year with a heavy dosage of practices, they have the fun and always exciting Spring Game, they play 10 to 12 important games and then gear up for their final game in College which we all hope is a coveted Bowl Game.
It doesn't end there, then we have two established "All-Star" games, followed by extended training sessions to prepare for an all-too-important Pro Day on the field of their choice. Before you know it, the Combine is upon everyone and the constant media battle of evaluations takes way for the remaining 6 weeks before Draft Day.
It isn't easy for the players, but just as note able it isn't easy for the Scouting Officials for each team. It's a year round job that doesn't get any easier after the season like everyone else's.
With that said, let us appreciate the time and effort put in by all sides and I begin my review of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 NFL Draft selections.
Round 1 - Pick 20 - CB Aqib Talib - Kansas - 6′0 - 202 Pounds - 4.45 40 Yard Dash
All through the draft process the debates continued for the Buccaneers, Wide Receiver or Defensive Back? Eventually, the answer was provided with Kansas Corner Aqib Talib who is the perfect Make it or Break it type player. He is a great athlete who can run, jump and catch like a Receiver.
He's more suited for the Zone Coverage but he doesn't play physical. He's cocky, but he takes risk. He will push for the starting position in camp and be one of two things. He'll be a star or he'll be gone in 3 to 4 years.
He finished his College career with 34 games, 162 tackles, 43 pass deflections and 13 interceptions.
I Would Have Taken - CB Mike Jenkins - South Florida 5′10 - 197 Pounds - 4.40 40 Yard Dash
Had I been picking for the Buccaneers at pick twenty I would have gone with local star Mike Jenkins. Not only does he add excitement to an improving fan base, but he plays the type of physical that the Buccaneers ask from their corners. He has fluid hips, long arms and can change directions quick. I'd say his only downside is the fact that he has shaky footwork and would take longer to polish.
At USF, he often scared Quarterbacks from throwing his direction meanwhile racking up 133 tackles, 41 pass deflections and 6 interceptions in 53 career games.
Round 2 - Pick 58 - WR Dexter Jackson - Appalachian State 5′9 - 182 Pounds - 4.37 40 Yard Dash
This is the guy I would have taken, so I am proud of Tampa with this selection. He is a speed demon who can be as elusive as anyone in this league and has taken hits for his small size. Some consider him a poor mans DeSean Jackson, but I believe he's right there with him without the Character issues. He can make difficult catches and has great return skills for a team who has returned 1 kick(last season) for a touchdown in the history of the franchise.
now the fact that he is 5′9 scared some coaches from taking him, but Steve Smith has proved small receivers can strive and I have no doubt in my mind that he can contribute down the road in the likes of Smith and Santana Moss. The one thing that will keep him from immediately contributing rather than 2 or 3 spectacular potential proving plays is the fact that he played in a Spread formation in college and will have to learn to run routes in coverages that don't expose his speed like in Appalachian.
He played in 55 career games racking up 110 Receptions, 1,846 Yards and 14 Touchdowns.
Round 3- Pick 83 - G - Jeremy Zuttah - Rutgers 6′3 - 303 Pounds - 4.99 40 Yard Dash
I don't believe that the Buccaneers should have taken a lineman in the 3rd round in this years draft, because it wasn't a prying need for the Bucs and he wont contribute for 2 to 3 seasons at the soonest.
He does play with an explosive first step and is very powerful inside, but he isn't real big and doesn't have great footwork. Despite an amazing work ethic, he has never truly dominated an opponent on the college level. His real upside is the fact that he can play any of the 3 positions, though he will never see action at Tackle unless an injury forces his services.
I Would Have Taken - LB - Phillip Wheeler - Georgia Tech 6′2 - 248 Pounds - 4.67 40 Yard Dash
I really feel that the Buccaneers could have made good on improving this aging defense with the addition of Phillip Wheeler. He is a tremendous athlete with speed and the burst of Ray Lewis or our own Derrick Brooks. He can run sideline to sideline and he hits like a truck. One thing that I love about him is that he always wraps up, he never arm tackles. He has a great motor and is smart as you can expect from a Rookie. Though the Buccaneers wouldn't utilize him to his complete potential, he has a great first step in blitzing and proved to be one of the best in college the last 2 seasons.
now he isn't real strong and sometimes he can be a little too aggressive, but those are traits that can be fixed in the weight room and through Monte Kiffin.
He is like a big Safety who plays Linebacker, but I think he is going to shine in Indianapolis where he was taken. He reminds me a lot of D.J. Williams of the Denver Broncos.
In his college career he played 51 games with 247 tackles, 18.5 sacks and 4 Interceptions.
Round 4 - Pick 115 - DT - Dre Moore - Maryland 6′4 - 305 Pounds - 4.86 40 Yard Dash
Not often do you find a Defensive Tackle with the Bulk, Strength, Size and tenacity that Dre Moore has shown in Maryland. That is why I couldn't have been happier for the Bucs with this selection.
He has some character problems and has been seen to take plays off, but he has a nasty demeanor who reminds me of Warren Sapp. In fact, I think he could be better than Sapp when it is all said and done if he works towards his potential.
In Round 4, this was a steal to take a guy with Top 10 potential. Monte Kiffin and Jon Gruden will do 1 of 2 things. They can speak to this kid, he will listen and improve. They can yell at this kid, he will get frustrated and stall. Let's hope for the first.
In 44 games, Moore made 140 tackles and 10.5 sacks.
Round 5 - Pick 160- QB - Josh Johnson - Sand Diego 6′2 - 213 Pounds - 4.55 40 Yard Dash
Josh Johnson is an interesting prospect. I would have gone a different direction, but he has good mechanics, a good arm and is confident like he owns the team. Jon Gruden loves him(which is a good thing) and he has the frame to get big and play big.
During a career in Division 1-AA he threw for 9,699 yards, 113 Touchdowns and only 15 Interceptions. That is crazy. He had a 43 to 1 Touchdown to Interception ratio his senior season. That speaks volumes, but remember that it was in Division 1-AA.
He will have to adjust to a Professional Playbook and that might take some time. His potential is great, but he doesn't look as good on paper right now as fellow small school star Taverous Jackson who is having troubles in Minnesota.
The thing that keeps me on the fence with Johnson is the fact that he had a horrible showing in the combine. He did not throw well with the lights on.
I Would Have Taken - QB - Colt Brennan - Hawaii 6′2 - 220 Pounds - 4.85 40 Yard Dash
I would have taken this guy. Most people have came down on Colt Brennan. "He plays in a system", "He was kicked out of Colorado", "He is too small" and "His throwing motion won't work in the NFL." That's what I hear.
Newsflash, this kid can play. What is the difference in the level of play or system from Josh Johnson's? His numbers don't lie. He threw for 14,193 Yards, 131 Touchdowns and 42 Interceptions with a carer 70.4 completion percentage. This is in 38 games I might add.
He has the quickest release in the draft, he has outstanding touch and timing and he is poise in the pocket. He can stand and throw or he can throw on the run. He lead the Hawaii Warriors to National Notation. That speaks for something and he did it alone.
One thing that sold me on Colt Brennan is that his Offensive Line did not block for him in their Bowl Game with Georgia. He was sacked, beaten and pressured all game. He took hits that make you cringe. Yet, he stood in their and he kept his cool. He continued to make throws that his receivers would drop. He never dropped his head, lost composure and this was his final game of his career. I value that.
In the end, these 2 QB's are quite similar and Brennan plays in Washington. We will have to see.
Round 6 - Pick 175 - LB - Geno Hayes - Florida State 6′0 - 226 Pounds - 4.64 40 Yard Dash
Geno Hayes is a great player. He is fast, he is an athlete, he has a burst, he can wrap up and he can cover. That is why the Buccaneers took him. He can cover.
Now he is kind of small and isn't as physical as you would like, but he is the type of player that makes you feel like you 'haven't seen all of him yet'. He could have stayed at FSU for his senior season and who knows... He could have been a 1st round pick.
That's how I feel about this guy. He has a huge "Who Knows" on his jersey. At times, he was the force everyone expected from him coming out of High School when he joined the Seminoles. Other times he was burying his head into the ground after another costly mistake(Literally, pictures to prove it).
I want him to succeed now and eventually succeed Derrick Brooks. I feel he could beef up and play on that side. He is an interesting pick.
In 36 games for FSU he had 156 tackles, 8 sacks and 2 Interceptions.
I Would Have Taken - S - Caleb Campbell - Army 6′1 - 229 Pounds - 4.60 40 Yard Dash
I would have taken Caleb Campbell. He is a beast at Safety. For the Buccaneers, he would have been the second coming of John Lynch. From Army, he has incredible intangibles, is a work horse and is an outstanding leader. He gives off the vibes of a young Pat Tillman.
He is a big player who plays physical and uses his strength to pop and drive defenders. That is his bread and butter. He isn't a cover Safety and might draw later comparisons to Roy Williams of Dallas, but his intensity is bar none.
In just 43 games, he racked up 307 tackles, 12 Pass Deflections and 6 Interceptions.
Round 7 Pick 238- RB - Cory Boyd - South Carolina 6′0 - 213 Pounds - 4.51 40 Yard Dash
Cory Boyd was a steal in the 7th and I don't know how he fell so far. Running back is becoming stacked in the NFL with players with "potential" and that must have hurt his stock.
Still, he has the frame to one day play Fullback if he hits the weight room and improves his blocking. He has the speed and leg drive of that of our own Mike Alstott. He has great hands out of the backfield and has good vision for a big back.
Absolutely love this pick for the Buccaneers. In 46 games, Boyd ran for 2,267 Yards, a 4.9 Average and 23 Touchdowns. He also caught 117 passes for 1,303 yards and 5 Touchdowns.
2008 Draft Summary
In all, the Buccaneers went with players they like for the future of the team. However, Aqib Talib is the only player with the potential to start right away. I expect him to lose the starting position to Phillip Buchannon, but play great in the Nickel formation and special teams.
I also expect Dexter Jackson to see some action at Wide Receiver, but be used as a return man primarily for the first 2 seasons. Jeremy Zuttah should play reserve to a steadily stronger offensive line while Dre Moore could jump into the Defensive rotation and become a force.
Josh Johnson is a project player and Geno Hayes will play backup to fellow FSU Linebacker Derrick Brooks so he wont see much action besides special teams.
Cory Boyd has a tough road ahead of him with such competition at Running back, but with Michael Bennett on the fence and Carnell Williams still injured he just might squeeze out an opening day jersey.
In all I would say the Buccaneers draft went well and we could see good things from this years Rookie Class.
The 2008 Polk Bay Buccaneers Draft RecapKarmin - Hello Tube. Duration : 3.98 Mins.Music video by Karmin performing Hello. (C) 2012 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
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