Bucs trade up to get Maryland DT

The Bucs moved up five picks in the fourth round in a trade with Chicago, to 115 overall, to select Maryland DT Dre Moore.

The 6-foot-4, 311-pound Moore is a quick interior lineman (4.8 40-yard dash) considered one of the strongest in Maryland history (when that past includes Shawne Merriman, it's pretty impressive). Moore can stuff the run and rush the passer; his six sacks last season were the most by a Terp since Merriman (8.5); Moore had 17.5 career tackles for loss.

Moore is apparently a late-bloomer, having only played one year of varsity football after Independence High (Charlotte, NC) coach Tommy Knotts spotted his huge frame in the hall and convinced him to try out. At Independence, Moore played with former Florida quarterback Chris Leak.

More about Moore to come. In the trade with Chicago, the Bucs gave up picks No. 120 and No. 158, but netted pick No. 175 in the sixth round.

The Bucs still have their original fifth-rounder, which is No. 153.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

(Photo: Maryland's Dre Moore, right, chases Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford. AP photo. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

Holy crap, they drafted for need.

Interesting pick.

[JS]

I think this could be a great pick for us... he had great numbers... lets see what else we do later on the draft.. we got tenard jackson last year in the fourth round and the rest is history

[kevinmmills]

Right now I'm happy with the draft. I think with the first 4 picks we've filled the positions we needed depth at, CB, WR, OL, and the DL.

Whether we got the right players is obviously up for debate.

I think we have depth at every position on defense now. We have a full compliment of TE's and QB's.

I'm guessing a RB is next, maybe FB.

Good pickup - if it weren't for a questionable work ethic he would have been gone by the 2nd round. Lets hope Coyer, Kiffin and Hovan can light a fire under his rear.

[Valrico Rick]

311 lbs ran a 4.8 in the 40? Downhill in a wheelbarrel maybe!

[B]

The last 2 picks have been good. Checking out their measurables on TSN, both guys are athletic linemen. Zuttah has a 4.98 40 and did 35 reps at 225. Both numbers are tops amongst all guards in the draft. Moore has the fastest 40 amongst DTs with a 4.85. He did 31 reps at 225. I like both picks alot.

Maybe some of the know-it-all geniuses will stop whining now, but I doubt it.

[Donovan]

Definitely a player need and MAN is he BIG. I also hope a FB is next with 2 great ones still available. If Alstott can mentor the next big FB we get, BUCS will have a great draft weekend. Come on: Owen Schmidt or Jerome Felton :)

Josh Johnson and Trae Williams would really round out this draft.

[Matthew]

The Bucs should look to trade up and get John David Booty. He is a steal in the 5th round. This guy was meant to play the West Coast offense. Dre Moore is a 2nd round talent in the 4th, great pick up, raw talent and still only getting better. I'd like to see either Booty or the WR from Wisonsin who's a track star and also still learning the WR position, would round out a great draft.

[Pete]

Hey Donovan, Alstott turned down a coaching opportunity with the Bucs...remember?

[Pete]

Hey Donovan, Alstott turned down a coaching opportunity with the Bucs...remember?

[Pete]

Hey Donovan, Alstott turned down a coaching opportunity with the Bucs...remember?

[Ty Guy]

I could see the Bucs drafting Josh Johnson in the 5th round. They really seem to like this guy and we all know how Gruden feels about QB's. Good pickups so far in this draft. The first round was questionable with Devin Thomas on the table but athletically Aqib Talib is a great player. Adding youth to both sides of the ball is what the draft is all about and so far the Bucs are doing a pretty good job.

[ben bolt fan]

This pick in this spot is better than the receiver they took and traded down for in the second round.

[todan23]

woo-- am generally happy with the draft except for the trade down--
I really wish we stayed with our pick, picked either Sweed, Henne, or Brohm--
but I have faith in Allen/Gruden--
Jackson might work out--
overall, I really think Tampa's muchhh better at this point than any point last year-- I'm really excited about this upcoming season-- some of you need to get off Allen/Gruden's backs-- Allen rescued us from the salary cap mess Mckay put us thru and Gruden brought us 3 division titles and our only SB Title! -- GOOOO BUCS!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[chuggin that sweet rose colored syrup]

WOOOOOOO FREE PASS! TWO HOME PLAYOFF ONE AND DONES!! YEAAAAAAAH BABY!!! MEDIOCRITY OWNS! LIFETIME EXTENSIONS!

[JS]

josh johnson in the 5rd would be great!!!

"WOOOOOOO FREE PASS! TWO HOME PLAYOFF ONE AND DONES!! YEAAAAAAAH BABY!!! MEDIOCRITY OWNS! LIFETIME EXTENSIONS!"

^ not a Bucs fan

I'd say 3 division titles and a Superbowl in 5 years is more than mediocre to anyone who isn't blinded by love for Dungy or hatred to Gruden.

[M. Reynolds]

Speaking of free passes:

1997
NFC Wildcard Game
W 20 - 10 Detroit Lions
NFC Divisional Playoff
L 7 - 21 at Green Bay Packers
1999
NFC Divisional Playoff
W 14 - 13 Washington Redskins
NFC Championship Game
L 6 - 11 at St. Louis Rams
2000
NFC Wildcard Game
L 3 - 21 at Philadelphia Eagles
2001
NFC Wildcard Game
L 9 - 31 at Philadelphia Eagles

That means that Tony-whom we all love and no doubt-went 2-4 in the playoffs with Tampa. Gruden? 3-2 including the lone Super Bowl title.

Move to Indiana.

[Keith]

Why do people have to keep bringing up Dungy? I love the guy, but he isn't the coach anymore, hasn't been for over six years. I'm annoyed by the people who still worship his achievements here (respect them, yes, but quit living in the past) but disgusted by the people who throw his name out as a means to belittle the man, his faith and what he means to people that don't necessarily care for Gruden the man as opposed to Gruden the coach.

IMO, I don't want Gruden run out of town but I don't let 2002 rule my perspective. Division titles every other year are nice but if all it is going to bring is a quick exit, there's something wrong. If it happens again this year, no more excuses - give him the boot.

Don't hate the man but I don't let my love for a coach overrule my love for a team and its future. Just a fan's perspective.

[Keith]

"That means that Tony-whom we all love and no doubt-went 2-4 in the playoffs with Tampa. Gruden? 3-2 including the lone Super Bowl title.

Move to Indiana."

Here's what gets me though - and as I stated I neither hate Gruden nor do I worship the ghost of Dungy.

Dungy was fired after being vilified for being unable to get this team out of the first round. Gruden got us over the hump but since then, what? If Dungy was summarily canned due to two quick first round exits in Philly, what is the factor that keeps Jon Gruden's biggest fans (we're all supporters but I refer to the many who put him above the team) clamoring for a lifetime pass? I mean, Brian Billick won a title as well. If God forbid we go 7-9 this season, what are we going to chalk it up to this time?

I kinda understand what All Caps was saying but in a much more logical manner.

[M. Reynolds]

You sound like a logical and reasonable fan, so let's reason a bit here. What's the situation right now and what has it been? Can you honestly look at the situation since the Super Bowl and say that we've been doing anything but rebuilding since then? Did Gruden make personnel mistakes early on? Yep. Were we in a cap hole because we had spent to win the big one (a justifiable expense in the eyes of ANY GM)? Yep. Were our players mostly over the hill? Indeed. So why did we go 11-5 in 05? Caddy, and having several games gift-wrapped for us that we did everything we could to lose. So what's the difference now coming off another playoff year? Almost the entirety of the team on both sides of the ball are on the beginning of the upswing of their careers and yet are producing. Which means what? It means that Dungy and McKay built a team, it ran its course, it got a ring, albeit with someone else in charge. It died a slow and painful death and a new team has been slowly built. That team is just now starting to get going and has found itself in the position of being the #2 D in the league last season and the #18 offense despite having nearly the entire O go on IR. Look at the situation instead of making gross generalizations. This is a young team with solid personnel that is already producing and is clearly on its way UP. That's why Gruden and Allen are still here, not because someone is giving them a free pass. The Wall Street man that sells the stock 2 days after it starts going up isn't going to have a job much longer, and the Glazers clearly know better than to do that.

[Keith]

Correct, he did make personnel mistakes and we were in a salary cap hole. He and Allen get blamed primarily for the triumvirate of Deese-Garner-Steussie even though the cap situation was already crappy when those guys were signed; those three only added more to the pile.

He's made some really terrible picks but we HAVE to balance that out with the picks of guys like Ruud, Jackson, Sears etc. Two seasons ago we were bereft of young talent and now it seems we have a fully stocked, youthful OL, prospects littered all over the defense and hopefully more to come on offense.

When I say free pass, I refer to the people who maddeningly defer every mistake to the McKay-Dungy regime. Some, such as the salary cap mess after deals for Booger went pear shaped, can be tied to Rich. The offensive struggles are tied to not having proper Gruden players which is a result of a lack of funds and draft picks thanks to the 2002 trade, yet a lot of them wanted to trade last year's draft for Calvin Johnson. These are the people that would point to 2002 if we went 5-11 for the rest of the decade, which believe me I want no part of.

I just like to hear reasoning for the differing viewpoints of the coaches here, which you have eloquently and reasonably provided. Like I said, I don't hate Gruden and I don't worship Tony - I respect both men and I want Gruden around to take this burgeoning force to the top once again.

"IMO, I don't want Gruden run out of town but I don't let 2002 rule my perspective. Division titles every other year are nice but if all it is going to bring is a quick exit, there's something wrong. If it happens again this year, no more excuses - give him the boot."

Only one team wins the superbowl each year and at most only 6 teams will win a playoff game each year -- so by your logic 26 teams should be firing their coach every year. We don't have Superbowl caliber talent yet but we're getting there slowly but surely IMO, after years of Rich McKay giving bad contracts and the cap hell that ensued to our franchise (and for those who would defend McKay, see the Falcons and how he got neutered there this past off season as my evidence.)

On top of that Gruden is one of only 5 coaches (by my count) in the NFL that have won a Superbowl, so who out there is your savior? I wouldn't even get rid of Gruden if we didn't make the playoffs and Cowher wanted come back to coach the Bucs cause I feel he and Allen have a good partnership and players around the league respect them both, regardless of what the newspaper writers with agendas and idiot supposed Bucs fans seem to think.

[Dwayne]

i know i already posted this in the other article, but if you didnt see it and dont believe Zuttah the guard/tackle from rutgers cab fun fast look at this video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q8wPeK1qx2Y&feature=related

DUNGY LEFT 8 YEARS AGO. HE ISNT COMING BACK. GIVE IT UP MORONS

[Keith]

"Only one team wins the superbowl each year and at most only 6 teams will win a playoff game each year -- so by your logic 26 teams should be firing their coach every year."

Well by that logic Cam Cameron should've kept his job because only one team wins the Super Bowl. Mind you, I don't want Gruden fired and there's no "savior" necessary or desired. My potential issue isn't that we can't win the Super Bowl every year - it's more that we seem to be inconsistent with our performance, which hopefully ends in 2008. Lots of coaches don't win it all but there are many who have their teams consistently contending. I just want the off and on winning to stop is all.

If a serious losing season or two like 2006 come about, however, we can't just stay the course based upon who is or isn't out there.

[Keith]

Another offensive prospect on board, Josh Johnson.

[Jon]

Keith, if you were to go back and watch the Washington loss Simms played in, you'd realize we not only should have won the game, obviously, but debatably, did win the game. And that was with a crappy rebuilding team.

For the NYG loss, we had no galloway, no Jackson, no Kelly, an inneffective offensive line, and an injured quarterback. I believe there were two other injuries too mid game - not to mention the baker's dozen on IR.

Obviously Gruden's fault, his yelling "injured" them right? Get out of here, tool.

[travis]

Gruden and allen have done a very good job turning an old slow team into a year end year out playoff team. This time last year, no one wanted Gaines Adams, we should have taken a receiver over Sears, and Tenard Jackson was an afterthought. Like the Zuttah pick and love the Dre Moore pick. Dexter Jackson was not a reach in the second round, he was essentially the same player as Desean Jackson without the attitude. Look at his combine numbers and productivity in a run oriented offense.

[Keith]

"Keith, if you were to go back and watch the Washington loss Simms played in, you'd realize we not only should have won the game, obviously, but debatably, did win the game. And that was with a crappy rebuilding team."

No need to go back, I was there. I remember it vividly. The defense had a performance for the ages and the offense was unable to muster up anything save for a controversial non-catch. Should've but didn't.

"For the NYG loss, we had no galloway, no Jackson, no Kelly, an inneffective offensive line, and an injured quarterback. I believe there were two other injuries too mid game - not to mention the baker's dozen on IR."

That ineffective offensive line was dominating before the Giants decided to put eight men in the box and before we abandoned the run. The Giants were simply hungrier and more talented than we were. Was this all Gruden's fault? Nope, so don't assume it is the theory to which I subscribe.

"Obviously Gruden's fault, his yelling "injured" them right? Get out of here, tool."

You seem to be putting more blame on him than I am. As the head coach he's ultimately held accountable and responsible, regardless of how deserving he is of the blame. I could care less if he yells - that little addition is just absurd.

Nice try though, jackass.

[JH]

I was VERY disappointed when Moore was passed up in the third round in favor of G Jeremy Zuttah. Right now, though, I am ecstatic, and this has more than made up for not getting a few other coveted players. I was shocked that Moore was still available. You take what the draft gives.

[Jimmy Mack]

Good to see that the Bucs are going for a great defense, because a great defense will certainly win football games. But you still need to put points on the board first. What good is it to have a great QB,RB, or FB, if there is no one there to block for them? For the past three years, the Bucs have had only a marginal OL, and I have seen very little from them to correct this.

jimmy mack. The bucs have picked o-lineman consistently in the draft. And they address each year in free agency. Do you not pay attention. C'mon man if your gonna talk crazy at least know a little bit of what you are talking about.