Draft preview - linebackers It has been described that the keys to the so-called ‘Tampa 2’ defence are held at three positions on the field. Undertackle, Weak-side Linebacker and Strong Safety. When you look back to the Buccaneers defence when it was at its dominating best that can be viewed by the presence of Sapp, Lynch and Brooks, today’s Buccaneers of Wyms, Brooks and Phillips don’t quite have the same intimidating feel to them. Indianapolis and Chicago are two other teams that are most commonly referenced in regards to the ‘Tampa 2’, Lovie Smith said all last year that Lance Briggs was the key to his defence, Briggs was his Derrick Brooks. I’m not sure however he feels that way following the franchise tag situation. For the Super owl winning Colts there Brooks was Cato June. This obviously raises a number of questions following the acquisition of June by the Buccaneers, while most of the Tampa media have focused on where will June play, in regards to the draft his contract is of more interest. Is Cato June viewed as long term replacement from Brooks on the weakside or is this nothing more than a glorified one year deal just like the one Ian Gold signed in Tampa a few years back? Depending on the answer could impact where you may look for linebackers in this draft. Outside Linebackers - This year for a change some of the biggest names tabbed as outside linebackers are not purely 3-4 prospects making the pickings at the top end of the draft linebacker better than usual. On the outside the number one linebacker is a close call between Paul Posluszny (Penn State) and Lawerance Timmons (Florida State) despite his injuries I would go with the unpronounceable one, while Timmons is certainly the better athlete Posluszny is a tough linebacker with great instincts and can play any of the line backing positions. He excelled as a weak side linebacker in his junior year. By the time the Buccaneers pick in the second round (assuming we still have the same picks) these two will probably be gone, although it does look like Posluszny is slipping on many draft boards, while I don’t see him sliding all the way into the second round there is always a chance. Jon Beason (Miami) is the next name on many lists, most call him an inside linebacker but he has played all three positions in college and I think he looked better on the outside. A very explosive athlete, who is still a little raw but he is full of potential he appears to be going the other way to Posluzny by rising into the first round, but his catalogue of injuries during his collegiate career is a major concern that could see him slide come the draft day. Following these three the drop off is on a large scale, for me at this point you can throw a lot of names together who will go sometime from the second round to early on the second day names such as Tony Taylor (Georgia), Earl Everett (Florida), Stewart Bradley (Nebraska) amongst others. The value pick here is probably going to be Earl Everett, during the season he was talked up as a borderline first rounder who was ideal for a cover 2 defence, then he ran at the combine and pro day and his timed speed was a lot slower than expected also the very low Wonderlic score (single figures) is another question mark. He should be there in day 2 and could be great value at this point. Stewart Bradley may be the best of the rest but is much better suited to the 3-4. Most of these later round prospects are grouped into two sets the above average linebackers from power schools such as USC’s Dallas Sartz who at times has looked good but when the offence is running away from Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga that can happen or prospects such as Justin Durant (Hampton) and Stephen Nicholas (USF) who were certainly stars of there program but these programs were all small football schools. It's hard to project a draft position on someone like Durant due to the level of competition he faced, I like both of these prospects especially Durant who is an exceptional athlete and a special teams leader in waiting. Also look for FIU’s Antwan Barnes a tremendous athlete who doesn’t really have a true position yet (either OLB or pass rushing specialist at DE) his combine numbers were amazing (and maybe over drafted because of them) but there is certainly some raw potential with this one for a later round pick along with Juwan Simpson (Alabama) he has had legal issues but looking back at his junior year he showed a lot of promise and has good size and speed to be a weak side linebacker in the NFL. Inside Linebackers - On the outside there are few big names to get really excited about, there’s some potential for depth, however on the inside it looks more promising. Patrick Willis (Mississippi) is a tackling machine, a one man defence at the collegiate level. Was dominant in every game he played despite a relatively serious foot injury, if the Buccaneers were tempted to trade down to stock pile picks, targeting Willis in the middle of the first round one would not be the worst idea, he stunned everyone with his play and speed at the senior bowl and combine. As said before Jon Beason can easily play the inside or outside, but following these two prospects there are 3 who could fit into the second round and still be good value. Buster Davis (FSU), Brandon Siler (Florida) and David Harris (Michigan). While Harris is probably the highest rated of the three he is more than likely a better fit in the 3-4 defence, he is strong and excels at fighting off blocks however you have to question his speed, actually anyone other than Ted Ginn Jr coming out of the Big 10(11) you need to question speed, Harris has a lot of potential but out of the 3 named he is probably the worst fit for the Buccaneers. Buster Davis is one of my favourite linebackers in this class (despite the fact he’s a Seminole) a solid tackler, big hitter, has great football instincts and a high football IQ. The big negative on him is his height (5-9) and at time has looked limited in coverage, but when it comes down it he is a good footballer who plays hard on every down and is all over the field. Siler hasn’t physically developed the way that many had hoped after he surprised many by starting in his freshman year (replacing current Dolphin Channing Crowder) has a ton of starting experience in the SEC and was a great leader for his team from day one. Is a good on the blitz and a good run stuffer and always appears to come up with or be involved in the big plays that turn games, may go lower in the draft than his talents deserve but may not physically be ready for the NFL yet, also needs to work on his pass coverage skills. Further down the draft I like prospects such as H.B Blades (Pitt) he was not offered by any of the big three coming out of high school in Florida, doesn’t have many of the desirable measurable’s scouts look for at the position, yet he has had outstanding production every year in college. He is a tough, hard hitter who out works everyone on his team for a potential late round pick these are attributes that really stand out. Also small school prospect Zak DeOssie (Brown) is intriguing he dominated in the Ivy League and has an NFL pedigree (sounds like Gruden will love him) along with his experience on special teams as a long snapper could help him get drafted in the late rounds, has experience playing in the cover 2 system has the potential to fit in as a strong side linebacker. A nice pickup late in the draft could be ILB Anthony Waters (Clemson) he was looking to enter the draft early last year, but returned to school and then tore his ACL in the first game back and missed the rest of the year, not really a cover 2 middle linebacker but a solid tackler with a nose for the ball. Is still nowhere near healthy and will require a lot of time to fully develop but there are some raw tools to work with here.