Draft preview - the backfield I’m a fan of Chris Simms, partly because I have followed his career since his senior year in high school. Simms was one of the most hyped high school recruits in recent memory (although Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin last year along with Jimmy Clausen this year may be close), Chris originally committed to Tennessee (Cadillac Williams was also a Tennessee decommit) to follow in the path of Peyton Manning but had a change of heart and decommited to sign with the Texas Longhorns and then on his first day of practice arrived in a Limo. On draft day despite the negative aspects associated with his game I felt using a 3rd round pick on Simms was a good pick at least from a value standpoint and so it has proved. With the signing of Simms to only a one-year deal it is not inconceivable that the Bucs will look to pick up a QB at some point in the draft and we all know that Gruden likes to take as many QBs in to training camp as possible. Obviously there are three marquee quarterbacks this year in Vince Young (Texas), Matt Leinart (Southern Cal) and Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt). Early speculation had Vince Young sliding rapidly down many draft boards and projected around 16-18th pick in the draft but more recently it looks as if he is going back up into the top 10, Cutler was a QB that was expected to be a late 1st rounder/early 2nd but following a very impressive off season, Cutler will find himself somewhere in the top 10 picks and has a good chance in the top five. Last year Aaron Rodgers who was one of the two quarterbacks in the number one overall discussion fell all the way to #24. If Vince Young starts to fall he won’t fall very far because some GM will pick him purely on his athletic ability if Cutler starts to fall he could plummet all the way to the back end of the first round. While the three top QBs are out of the question there is a big drop-off in talent levels to the next tier of signal callers one of these could easily be a 2nd day pick up to add to the clipboard carriers on the Bucs sidelines. Charlie Whitehurst (Clemson) – Will probably be the 4th quarterback taken and many can’t see him getting out of the 2nd round, I think this is still too high he will be over drafted because he has a very strong arm but watching his games last year he played in a very simple offence and given he was brought up in a quarterbacking family there has to be questions of how much room he has to develop. Brodie Croyle (Alabama) – A QB I would like to see on a Bucs roster he has ability but has had a chequered history in regards to injuries. He has a quick release, very mobile and his knowledge of the game will translate well into the NFL, when you look at him, physically he looks like a QB graduating High School not College, a few years in a NFL strength program should help him out. D.J Shockley (Georgia) A player that divides opinion among just about everyone, he made play after play for Georgia after waiting until his senior season to start for the Bulldogs, his performances at the combine have shown that he has a long way to go but I could see Shockley developing into a NFL starting quarterback with the right coaching. Marcus Vick (Virginia Tech) one of the more controversial figures in the draft was dismissed by the Hokies for stamping on defensive end Elvis Dumervil and has been in a variety of legal troubles. He is a better passer than his brother when he entered the draft but nowhere near the level of athlete. Someone will draft him but very late. Other names to keep an eye on:- Darrell Hackney (UAB) – Possibly the strongest arm in the draft. Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo) – West Coast QB compared to Jeff Garcia frequently. Brett Basanez (Northwestern) – Tough, intelligent passer who lacks ideal size. Michael Robinson (Penn State) – Could play wide receiver, but worked out at the combine at QB. Running Backs. Is everyone happy with Cadillac? Well I assume most are anyway. Alongside Pittman, this gives an interesting backfield but I just can’t imagine Pitman for the next few season playing backup to Cadillac. If we no longer have Pitman to give Cadillac a few plays off and Alstott probably enjoying his retirement that leaves Earnest Graham with the additional carries and I’m not sure everyone would be happy with that. If a productive college running back was available in the late rounds I would like to see the Bucs to draft him, while there are anywhere between three and six RBs that could find themselves in the first round and while not many things are guaranteed in the draft I think the Bucs passing on a running back in the first round is one of them. There are some later round backs that stand out and could be great value picks. Brian Calhoun (Wisconsin) – A tough compact runner, he lacks the ideal size and his forty time was not as fast as scouts expected, it was a surprise to see him enter the draft this year. Has great hands for a running back and despite his small frame is very physical. Leon Washington (Florida State) – Would have been a first rounder if he declared last year, turned up to spring training out of shape and never looked like the same running back as he did in his junior season. Has a poor injury record and lacks size for his style of running. Jerious Norwood (Mississippi) – This is just a sprinter in football pads, he doesn’t have the instincts that you want in a running back, but he is fast, illusive and has a great burst someone will take a chance on him if only for his speed. Andre Hall (South Florida) – Surprised scouts at the combine with his speed, is a great on special teams but a lack of size will make him drop in the draft. He has shown enough flashes of skill to get a shot somewhere in the NFL. Maurice Drew (UCLA) – very small and may only make a team as a member of special teams but that’s what everyone said about him in college as well, where he was very productive but was overshadowed by a couple of great running backs in the same city. Fullbacks When Rick Razzano was drafted he was viewed as potentially a replacement for Mike Alstottt in the near future however following his suspension and only registering as appearing in one game last year its almost impossible to know what the Bucs have in Razzano. There are a few prospects at the fullback position this year all of them would be a 5th or 6th round selection Lawrence Vickers (Colorado) – Accomplished tail back who needs to grown into the full back role, blocking must improve. Matt Bernstein (Wisconsin) – Injured for most of his senior year, powerful blocker and hard runner. Garrett Mills (Tulsa) if he was a bit bigger he could be a 1st round tight end, will be a HB/FB in the NFL . Quad Hill (Miami) – Signed with Miami as a running back, has good hands and a powerful runner, would be a nice fit in a west coast offence. Wayne Maw, April 2006