RB Stewart scheduled for visit

The Bucs are getting down to business in their preparations for the draft, and that means there will be a parade of prospects coming through town for private meetings with the team.

One of them, it turns out, will be Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, a projected first-round pick who conceivably could be available when the Bucs draft 20th.

Stewart is a candidate to be selected earlier, but the recent news that he underwent toe surgery that will take a couple of months to heal could result in a drop for the big 233-pound back.

Last season, Stewart set single-season school records in rushing yards (1,722) and all-purpose yards (2,481). He led the Pac-10 in both and scored 13 total touchdowns.

Somehow, I still see the Bucs as more likely to select a receiver in the first round. Running back seems a more stable position with Earnest Graham, Warrick Dunn and Michael Bennett all in the fold. But running back is certainly a position that you can expect to be addressed early in the draft, perhaps even in the first round.

Comments

[Kurt]

Man, they better not pick a receiver or a running back in the first round. We still need D-line help and a LT is not a bad idea either at that spot. It's a lot easier to find 5' 10" talent than 6' 5". I hope we don't fall for that same "Reggie Bush" hype. I'm just saying...

[Ty Guy]

I would definately go WR (Jackson or Sweed) or CB (Jenkins) in the first round. In the 2nd round I would either pick Andre Caldwell or a CB like Reggie Smith if he were still available. If the player we needed wasn't there THEN I would pick a RB like Jamaal Charles or Matt Forte.

[Matt]

In a sick kind of way I'd love to see them just ignore the needs at DT, CB & WR and draft Brohm in the first round then just watch the fan sites explode with abuse.

[Kurt's 5th Grade Teacher]

Kurt, why do you still end all your paragraphs with "I'm just saying..."? It is bad grammar, highly annoying, and takes away greatly from a very good posting. I thought I broke you of that habit when I gave you an F in English. Catch phrases are silly. Know what I mean....

BTW, a running back in the first round would be as silly as Kurt's catch phrase. A CB, WR, or D-line help are more pressing needs. The Bucs should take the best available player at one of those positions.

[DR]

Matt, I agree. I think Brohm will be the best QB in this draft. He would be a second string QB this year. Mccown, Simms, and Gradkowski put together wouldn't equal a solid QB.

[Chris]

I covered the Bucs for an online website for about 8 years, and one of the things I noticed was that the team is very good at disguising their intentions going into the draft. If they are targeting a player, it works in the team's favor to not announce it, and run the risk that another team trades up just in front to grab that player.

An efficient drafting strategy is to make selections that (1) fit the team's needs and schemes, and (2) provide value relative to where the player was taken.

Stewart is a power back, with more size than Graham and just as fast in the open field. He would be a good complement to Bennett. Yes, the team has other, perhaps more important needs. But if the team doesn't see value at CB or WR at that spot (and personally, none of the WRs excite me in the 1st round), I'd rather see them take Stewart than to reach for an OL who might still be around in the 2nd. But then again (my nod to Kurt's teacher, who deplores catchphrases), what do I know....

[glenn]

Don't forget that Gruden's first love is a reliable running game which, of course, sets the stage for everything else in his quiver. I wouldn't be at all surprised or disappointed if Stewart falls to 20 & we grab him. With the OL improved (Faine aboard, Petitgout returning & another year's experience for the youngsters), Gruden could get that ball control he's been hankering for (Stewart is a punishing plowhorse with speed) & that ultimately results in lots of openings in the passing game.

[BE]

I'm in agreement with Chris on this one. If there's no CB or WR worthy of a the #20 pick, and the Bucs can't trade down, I wouldn't be upset to see the Bucs take the best available player. Even if it is a RB.

[devin]

look retards u need a wide reciver cause galloway and hillard and clayton r not going 2 get the team 2 a super bowl and we need 2 stop relying on the defense 2 do all the work we have a offense lets use it 2 our best ability

[Dumb Dumb Devin]

remember guys, you are the "retards" but I can't spell any better than Kurt did in the 5th grade

[Stephen_Holder]

Chris, this info wasn't announced by the team, which as you probably know gives no details on its pre-draft plans. This came through other channels, so this might not be a case of smoke screening. Who knows?

[Mike]

Best available athlete. While enticing to draft for a perceived need, it guarantees you nothing. Here's a little known fact...More than 50% of WR taken in the first round are busts. Busts are defined as a player who is no longer with the team that drafted them 4 years later. It's the most BUST prone position in the first round. Oh, and I can't remember a first-year, first-round receiver making a Pro Bowl. Maybe Randy Moss was the last...like 15 years ago.

[shane]

why not pick kevin smith to play running back(get jenkins in the 1st rd) he might still be available in the second/third (hopefully rd. Why not pick a guy who set a NCAA single season rushing record and led the NCAA at UCF

[ND]

I hope jenkins is still available at 20 and we grab him. Go WR in the second round and then I like the idea of taking kevin smith in the third round. It would be great to see us find a couple hidden gems on the oline and dline for the later rounds.

[Tom]

Wow! I may agree with DR on this one. Brian Brohm would not be a bad pickup. The kid is big, accurate and mobile. And we don't have a QB of the future.

I'm weary of drafting small WRs like DeSean Jackson. There aren't too many Steve Smiths out there. And we definately don't need another big WR.

Mike Jenkins could be enticing as well. However, I would trade away the first round pick for Chad Johnson if possible!

[Valrico Rick]

Picking on people's grammer, calling people retards. I thought this was a Buccaneer's football blog. My mistake, apparently. I usually don't read the comments anymore, too many of them sound like a bunch of kids at recess picking on other kids because they feel itty bitty inside. Makes 'em feel better when they hurt other people. How many of you walk around saying things like, "watta u lukin' at? Pardon me if I step out and get a breath of intelligence!!!

[Tom]

That's great Valrico Rick. I agree with you 100%!

However, I would be ashamed coming from Valrico considering your representative is Rhonda Storms!!!!! Doesn't show too much intelligence within the Valrico voters.

[Rube]

The hope is that Jenkins or Rodgers-Cromartie is still around when the Bucs pick. Either would be great than address the WR position in the second round. Why waste a pick on another RB or QB? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Graham stepped up last year, and can carry the load even if Caddy doesn't come back full strength. We are set at QB. Garcia is the man, and we have a reliable backup with McCown. You can't expect your backup to be just as good as your starter, they are just there as an insurance policy. I would be very disappointed if the Bucs drafted anyone besides a CB or WR. Maybe everyone will pass on Rodgers-Cromartie and the Bucs can nab him to play opposite of Barber. Can you imagine a secondary of him, Barber, Jermaine and Tanard? Two great cover corners who make plays and two hard hitting safeties. Awesome!

[Mike]

Brohm would be an excellent pick! He could sit back the first year and learn from the bench rather than throwing him into the fire right away. Not to mention tha he would be mentored by a pro bowler in Garcia. With only 5 picks you know the bucs are not going to try and address EVERY position of need right now (WR,CB,DT,FB). I would bet thatthey wil pick up a few guys that get dropped from other rosters close to the draft.

[JS]

why would we draft Stewart? He just had surgery on his big toe and he will miss alot of time... If we wanted 2back field adrian peterson would have been that guy... not stewart.... Brian Brohm? I can't imagine the bucs picking brohm in the first round? why? because we have 5 qbs (quality not relevant) and obviously we have bigger needs obviously, CB, Wr, and Dl

[Mark]

Brain Brohm is a good qb........... but I really like Joe Flacco. Flacco has a huge arm and is around 6'5. Hes supposed to be a 2nd round pick anyway so I say the bucs grab DeSean Jackson and Flacco

[John P]

There aren't any obvious impact players at #20 in this year's draft. I'd suspect they'll go the safe route and take a DT, OL or CB. No knocking the WR's - but what you'd get in round three would be near the same quality as round one. Why waste a pick on Sweed when you can get the same guy 80 picks later? DJ Hall, Adrian Arrington and my personal favorite Harry Douglas should all be on the board after round two. Tell me that the Bucs will overpay for a position they can get a cheaper price (and same quality) on later in the draft and I'll ask you how much you've been drinking.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them reach a little and take Pat Sims from Auburn in the first. He might even be worth it. If they go with a corner - Aqib Talib is one they've got to like if Mike Jenkins isn't around.

Guys they'd have to like in the 2nd round would be Sam Baker or perhaps Andre Woodson (big QB with arm and attitude).

Whatever they decide, there's absolutely no way they're going to take a wideout in round 1. Not this year with the depth at WR.

[Scott]

Gruden will not draft a big QB. Please research your team before you make a comment about them. Devin Thomas is as fast as Joey and big like Clayton. If not him then B.A.P.

[Danny]

Scott: Chris Simms at 6'4 and 230 was small?

[Bill Justafan]

..the Bucs select Jeff Otah OT from Pitt...Now that would make my day! Petitgout can't make it through a season. Otah is a big, powerful, nasty, drive blocker. It would be sweet to see him grow old with the other drive blockers on the team (Sears, Joseph, Faine, Trueblood, and Penn). With that group even a fifth grade teacher could gain yardage! Who needs receivers when you can consistently run the ball?

[Tony M.]

Jeff Otah, nice! Too bad I have him going to the Broncos quite a few picks earlier or I would be all over your bandwagon. I think the Bucs would definitely pick Jenkins if he were there, and Aqib Talib is possible too, if he is. But you always have to take the best player available. They're looking at Stewart to make sure that they're not passing up talent, but to be honest with you I don't think he'll be there. Has anybody else noticed how old Brian Westbrook is getting?

[bucboy]

dont like 4 da bucs 2 get this guy like 2 get jenkins or desean jackson in the 1st round who eva is still on the board when we pick and also like the idea of getting kevin smith in the 3rd round i know him personally when i spoke with him 2 weeks ago he told me that the bengals are saying there ging to take him in da 3rd round so sorry buc fans

[glenn]

I think we're in better shape than anytime I can recall to simply pick the best available this year. So who might be available? Let's eliminate the top ten as 2 Longs, Dorsey, Ellis, Ryan, Gholston, Clady, McFadden, Otah & Rodgers-Cromartie. Now it gets harder, but maybe the next five are McKelvin, Rivers, Harvey, Mendenhall & Talib. So maybe we hope that one of these falls to 20: Thomas, Merling, Jenkins, Stewart, Williams, Kelly, Jackson, Sweed, Brohm, Cason, Davis, Phillips, Jones or ????? I quit. Every time I try something like this to simplify the problem, I end up more confused than when I started. By the way, does anybody have any hints on how to survive to that first week in Sept.? The Rays are a poor substitute, altho squashing the Yankees helps a lot!

[j.k.]

Brohm is to slow to play the way Gruden's offense works. DR probably knows this and would love to see it happen so he can bash the Bucs next year about the terrible decision they made.

[aaron]

If malcon Jenkins is not there at 20, you have to go for a LT. Sam Baker would be a very nice fit. He can pass and run block. we have youth at all of the other OL positions now we need it at LT. we could have a great line for years. luke will probably get hurt again and while Penn did an alright job as a fill in, he is not a starter. other than center this is the most important position on the line. we need a good young left tackle.
we can get a wr in the second round , Adarius Bowman, Hardy, and even Doucet could be had in the second round.

[bucs fan 4life]

I don't think picking up Steward is a good idea. We have enough quality at RB, and plus this is a very deep draft at RB. I like the idea of picking up a WR over a RB because there aren't a lot of top flight WR this year. I think the highest the bucs have drafted a CB in the last ten years is B. Kelly in the 2nd. I love the idea of the Bucs making Jenkins the first USF player taken in the 1st round. But he probably will go before that. I think they should possibly trade down out of the pick and pick up and extra 2nd and a 3rd or 4th round pick that way we can take care of two positions instead of spending all that extra money on a 1st rounder.

[yackson]

I'd like to counsel against picking Talib. It's probably not safe to draft a member of the Taliban. Other than that we're in good shape. How's my grammar? Stay classy.........San Diego.........!

[Boom]

Limas. Sweed.

[Valrico Rick's 5th grade teacher]

Valrico Rick, Do you know what is really irritating? People who come to Football blogs to complain about contributors who leave non-football related posts, then fail to leave ANY football related comments. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!

BTW, the Bucs need to stick to the defensive side of the ball this year as well. Too many years have passed with the defense being ignored in the draft; it will take this draft and possibly next draft to find eventual replacements and backups for Barber, Kelly, Brooks and Carter. Sapp's replacement has never been found either. Use one pick for Offense if the Bucs only have four and pick a second or third round WR or RB. Use the 1st rd pick on a DB or DL.

[Kurt]

I'm glad to know that an opinion pertaining to my grammer has sparked such controversy amongst one of you. Have fun with that while the rest of us talk football.

I say we pick Merling (DE) at the 20 spot in the draft, if he's there. Best fit; biggest need (pass rush) and worth the pick. If he's not available, trade down a few spots and add a 3rd if possible.

Why is Jackson rated higher than Caldwell at WR? Did I miss something? I'd take Caldwell in the 2nd and feel like I got a great value over a "?" on Jackson in the 1st.

I'm not in favor of another QB on the roster from an early round pick. I like the idea of picking up middle aged QB's for the "now" and developing late round QB's just like we're doing? Some may berate it, but this is the healthiest stable of QB's we've ever had on a Tampa Bay roster.

[DR]

such insight...such eloquence...

[Kurt]

Please don't listen to anything I have to say. I'm beyond stupid.

[Kurt]

I'm truly pathetic. I'm just saying...

[Kurt]

Look at all the fanfare you got from using my name for stupid comments. Good luck with that DR.

[Kurt]

It's not like everybody hasn't tasted their own poo. Come on... who's with me?!

[DR]

I don't have to resort to your crap Kurt. I'm not an idiot like you.

[bayoubelle]

Too bad we coulnt have gotten Flynn & Dorsey now that would have been entertainment