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The Bucs have used their first three picks to select players that could make immediate impacts and whose learning curves wouldn't interfere with their 2008 Super Bowl run. They feel they can do the same with their fourth round pick, and examine their options.
My top ten, which of course they're following religiously, is as follows:
1. RB Mike Hart (Michigan)
2. RB Steve Slaton (West Virginia)
3. RB Matt Forte (Tulane)
4. OLB Bruce Davis (UCLA)
5. TE Martin Rucker (Missouri)
6. FS Simeon Castille (Alabama)
7. FB Owen Scmidt (West Virginia)
8. DE Kendall Langford (Hampton)
9. MLB Vince Hall (Virginia Tech)
10. QB John David Booty (USC)
Positions of terrific need for the Bucs (they'd like another WR, another CB, and DT depth) but nothing's particularly interesting for them at those positions. A couple players do stand out to them.
RB Matt Forte might be tempting if there were no potential starters left. Forte is the most appealing RB on the board because he's a bruiser -- the Bucs lack a good bruiser to counter with Michael Bennett and Warrick Dunn. Cadillac Williams is a wild card at this point as his health is dubious.
TE Martin Rucker is particularly intriguing because the Bucs have a bunch of guys at TE that aren't particularly noteworthy, but the Bucs don't want a pure receiver TE as much as they do more of a blocking type that they can work their run game around, but they seem to have addressed that position by signing a couple of veterans (how else would Tampa solve it?).
FB Owen Schmidt incited drool in Tampa's front offices, especially as they lost long-time Pro Bowler Alstott last year to retirement, BJ Askew is nothing special, and they could use a bruiser FB with his enthusiasm and ability to block. Schmidt would also be an energy injection into a backfield that's loaded with calm and collected veterans.
They also take a fleeting look at DE Kendall Langford, and the defensive line staff begs the front office to draft him as they believe they can evolve him into an effective 3-tech, but the front office believes he's too much of a project and that his size and lack of athleticism doesn't fare well in the Cover 2.
Deciding amongst Rucker, Schmidt, and Forte who would make the biggest impact the most immediately, the Bucs believe they would benefit the most from Owen Schmidt. He is the fourth immediate starter they believe they've drafted with their four picks, which is impressive considering how much they've loaded this team up in FA. Schmidt can continue to work on his blocking for two veteran slashers, and he can serve the classic Alstott purpose of blowing up a defense for the tough yards.
With the 116th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select FB (oooooooh noooooooo) Owen Schmidt from the University of West Virginia.
It pleases me to be the guy who grabs him off the board, so when he lights it up in a couple years I can be the guy who bragged about drafting him in a mock Draft without reaching, as Schmidt in the mid-to-late 4th was my projection for him.
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