Draft Preview - Receivers Last weeks article on the offensive line was more of a necessity than anything else, the perception is that we need offensive linemen (be that right or wrong) so I really needed to look at them first, but I imagine that I’m like most people watching football the less time spent looking at the offensive line the better. There is a reason they are often referred to as the “big uglies”, for me you only notice the O Line when its bad. It is easy to sit here and talk about D’Brickshaw Ferguson because of his profile this year the coverage of any University of Virginia game is like watching a game through Sky’s player cam. When the play gets beyond the line of scrimmage very few people keep watching to see if the left guard sustains his blocks, so it is much more interesting to look at the skill positions. Therefore this week it’s the receivers. Tight End The question is do we want one or need one. I would not usually spend a lot of time on a position that it appears we are set at with Smith and Becht but it appears that since Gruden arrived in Tampa his mission has been to provide the offense with as many weapons as possible and there are a lot of tight ends in this class that are weapons. He might not want to pass one up especially if one slips to late in the second round. About a week before last year's draft Alex Smith (no I won't say it) was still been looked at as an end of the first round pick. He would grade out well against this year crop and might be the 2nd or 3rd taken this year. Vernon Davis, Mercedes Lewis, Leonard Pope, Anthony Fassano and Dominique Byrd are the among the most recognisable Tight Ends in this draft. Davis will probably be the first one off the board due to his immense athletic ability there what sets him apart from the other tight ends is his ability after the catch, his results from the combine should be dramatic. Some ‘experts’ have said that Davis is a better prospect than when Kelllen Winslow Jr entered the draft, I however believe Winslow’s blocking set him apart from Davis Lewis and Leonard Pope are still very athletic and big targets in the passing game but they have a bigger frame and may be more productive in blocking at the next level. Fassano is the best blocker of the bunch which was more of a necessity than anything else, Notre Dame’s Offensive Line was poor last year and he had to stay in to block a lot of the time, would certainly have benefited from another year under Charlie Weiss. Wildcard Pick: Dominique Byrd, given the weapons at USC at times Byrd has become more of a safety valve in the passing game than a weapon, many predicted that he could be ‘the X Factor’ in the Rose Bowl but he just didn’t have that type of impact. Impressed many watching at the Senior Bowl practices . There are concerns that he is too short to play TE and is more of a H back in the mould of Chris Cooley. Wide Receiver Michael Clayton looked every bit a home run of a draft pick following his rookie season, and less so after his sophomore campaign , so the feeling is that with Joey Galloway not even training fully during the week to save his legs for Sundays that wide receiver is a bigger need than 12 months ago. The problem is that this year a lot of the names that are floating around are possession receivers for example Hagan, Stovall, Avant etc. I would not be surprised to see the Bucs take someone like Avant or Pittsburgh’s Greg Lee at the end of the first day or start of the 2nd but the need at this position is speed. There are 4 name that stand out at wide receiver that I could see the Bucs targeting at some point in the draft. Santonio Holmes, top end speed who’s production has been hampered by the instability at quarterback for Ohio State, Ted Ginn Jr gets all the publicity for his game breaking ability but Holmes is the best receiver for the Buckeyes. He has however really struggled against high level competition and has been shut down by the better corners in the Big 10. Would imagine he is gone before the Bucs pick Sinorice Moss, the brother of Santana Moss and much like Santana is short and fast , the success of Moss and Smith the last few years make Sinorice Moss a hard prospect to place some teams want a combination of speed and size (e.g Jaguars drafted Reggie Williams before Clayton) and may pass on him but one team will no doubt fall in love with his play making ability. With the ball in his hands is as dangerous as anybody in college football. Is very similar to Roscoe Parrish who was drafted by Buffalo in the 2nd round. I have seen projections ranging from last pick in the 1st round to last pick of the first day. At only 5’8 and he does drop some easy catches he could go anywhere between the two, his stock is on the rise at the moment. Chad Jackson. A physical specimen, great combination of speed and size will test off the charts at the combine. Is a big play vertical threat, but his average per catch is down this year because of the spread option offense he plays in. Takes too many play off, and needs a coach to motivate him, could be a star but needs the right coach. Is moving up a lot of teams draft boards and will continue to do so after the combine/pro day. Martin Nance. Some people have Nance as high as a 2nd round pick, I think he will go much lower, it is often the case with smaller school prospects they have obvious talent but the level of competition is in question, it is just a matter of time and when a team pulls the trigger, Rashean Mathis is a recent example of this. Nance is recovering from a torn ACL and has not been really effective since Roethlisberger entered the draft early, stock is falling, could be a good later round pick up. Wildcard Pick(s) Return Specialists, there are a number of wide receivers that have potential at the position but will have an immediate impact in the return game Devin Hester (CB/KR/PR/WR) has been moved around and never spent more than one year at any given position, could develop in to very dangerous target and is already very dangerous on special teams, could be a difference maker on any side of the ball. Skyler Green - build like a running back was never used much as a deep threat at LSU, is very tough and played hurt all last year. Has the vision and speed to change a game on offense or special teams. I still can’t see the Bucs taking a tight end but with all the athletes this year I won’t ignore the possibility especially if someone like Mercedes Lewis (Mercedes blocking for Cadillac) falls because of a lack of speed, I would not be surprised to see any of the wide receivers mentioned as Bucs during this years training camp, I have a feeling that speed at wide receiver will become a valuable commodity in this draft class the projected positions of these guys could change very quickly as the draft approaches. The Combine starts this week (22nd-28th)so my next attempt will be following the combine when the draft picture maybe a bit clearer, but I doubt it Wayne Maw, February 2006