Alex Smith Not Used To ...

The new cheerleaders? The heat? Gruden's intensity?

Of course not!!

"The speed and tempo at which the Bucs play," Smith said. "It's 10 times faster than in college. I'm trying to learn the plays quickly enough where I can play at that tempo."

Is this a stock quote that every reporter just keeps in their notebook? EVERY ROOKIE says the exact same thing every spring/summer. Not exactly breaking news here.

Charles Lee Leaves for Arizona

WR Lee Leaves Bucs, Signs With Cardinals

I really think it's too bad that we couldn't do more with Charles Lee. He seemed like such a promising (and cheap) prospect in 2003. I guess he just couldn't make it work in Tampa, and going to a WR-stocked team like Arizona can't be the best situation for him.

Sal Tells Everyone Else What We All Know ...

We stink. And Gruden is in trouble.

Paolantonio does a very good job summing up the problems over at One Buc Place. Recommended reading for the casual fan or outsider who wants to be brought up to date on the fall of the Gruden regime.

Bucs Promote Webster

Tampa Tribune: Bucs Promote Webster
St. Petersburg Times: Bucs fill key post with a promotion
ESPN.com: Bucs hang on to their own, promote Webster

This is fantastic news. Ruston Webster was just promoted from director of college scouting to director of player personnel, which means he'll be in charge of the Buc's pro and college scouting.

Webster is a highly sought after personnel man, and probably would have left for Seattle or Miami had we not promoted him. It's crucial that we stem the "brain drain" going on in our well-regarded front office and defensive coaching staff. Allen has insisted the last couple of years that assistant coaches like Rod Marinelli honor their contract and do not interview with other teams. Coaches like Marinelli and front office guys like Webster are some of our biggest assets, and keeping Webster around is a very good sign.

Will Heller, Edell Shepherd, Jared Allen

Heller Re-Signs [second item]
Heller is a solid option at TE, and had a huge game last year in DC when he caught two TDs against the 'Skins. He'll be fighting with Dave Moore (who is also a great long snapper) for the #3 TE spot on the roster, behind Anthony Becht and Alex Smith.

New Deal for Edell
I'm glad we re-signed Edell, he showed flashes in last year's training camp and will compete this year for a roster spot with this year's three WR draft picks and an assortment of other no-names.

Allen Gets a Shot
Looks like FAU QB Jared Allen did well enough in the rookie camp to get a look during mini-camps and (possibly) training camp. Gruden can't get enough QBs on the roster, but I'd be really surprised if we see this kid break camp with the team.

Ike Hilliard Signed

Looks like we signed ex-Gator Ike Hilliard to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. This was a crucial move for us, we really needed a veteran presence at WR. Hilliard is still a solid possession WR and hopefully he'll stay healthy and contribute as a #3 or #4.

Bucs hoping Hilliard boosts receiving corps
Buccaneers Like Ike, other Alex Smith
Bucs Look to Hilliard for Help

Quarles Takes Paycut, Agent Denies It

St. Pete Times: Bucs' Quarles Takes One For The Team
Tampa Tribune: Quarles Helps Bucs Gain Cap Space

The St. Pete Times article makes it pretty clear that Shelton took a $1.5 million paycut to clear some much needed cap space, and Shelton is even quoted as saying:

"It was definitely a tough decision, but I'm a team guy and when you're a team guy, you think differently," Quarles said. "I had opportunities to go to other teams (in the past) and make more money, but I chose to stay here and be with the team that gave me that chance ... It's a big pay cut, but I guess I'm a team guy to a fault."

But then the Tampa Tribune article takes a completely different take on the deal:

``I didn't take a pay cut,'' Quarles told News Channel 8's JP Peterson. ``I just restructured my contract.'' The agreement ``does not reduce Shelton's [actual total payout for 2005 of $2.5 million] in any way,'' Steiner said. It only reduces the salary cap number from $3.575 million to approximately $2.5 million, the agent said.

Looks like a little backtracking and coaching from Shelton's agent to try to make this look a little nicer. But what's the bottom line

Rookie Free Agents / Character Issues

Watson is one of four rookie free agents we signed after the minicamp, he's got an interesting / troubled background.

I really don't get all the hand-wringing over bringing in "problem" players. Gruden and Allen have made it clear that they'll overlook personal issues, as long as they don't affect the TEAM. They have no problems dropping these players if their problems (like drugs or laziness) spills over onto the field.

If the player isn't causing trouble for the TEAM, then I could care less what he does / has done in his free time. It also gets us good bargains on players as compared to franchises who are too afraid to take a guy based on character issues.

Now with Watson, I'd be very surprised if he beats out E. Graham / I. Smart for one of the last tailback spots on the active roster. I see him as a practice squader at best.

Round 7, Pick 39: J.R. Russell

J.R. Russell
WR | (6'3", 206, 4.51) | LOUISVILLE
Scouts Grade: 68

J.R. could be one of the big steals of the draft. He's a tall receiver with decent speed and was projected by many to go in the 3rd or 4th round.

So why did he fall down to the bottom of the pile? There's gotta be some issue with him that the public doesn't know about, and we actually decided to take Paris Warren earlier in the 7th round before Russell, so we couldnt have been that interested in him. Either way, it's a great value pick this late in the draft.

Tampa Tribune
4.25: When Russell Slides, Bucs Snap Him Up

Round 7, Pick 17: Hamza Abdullah

Hamza Abdullah
S | (6'1", 213, 4.68) | WASHINGTON STATE
Scouts Grade: 34
Flags: (S: SPEED) Player lacks ideal speed at position

Let's hope Hamza's time in the 40 doesn't translate to his "football speed" because 4.68 is really really slow for a safety. Looks like another Donte Nicholson-type player. Big hitter and good in run support. Could he possibly put on 20 pounds and play OLB for us?

Round 7, Pick 11: Paris Warren

Paris Warren
WR | (6'0", 219, 4.55) | UTAH
Scouts Grade: 40

This guy strikes me as simply mediocre. At 6'/220, this guy should be much faster than he is, and at that size he's just not big enough to be a really effective possession receiver.

That said, Paris is a smart guy who knows how to play football and has produced throughout his career. He was the pet receiver of #1 pick Alex Smith at Utah. Maybe he'll turn into a Karl Williams type, but I just don't see it happening. Not a bad pick in round 7, though.

Round 7, Pick 7: Rich Razzano

Rich Razzano
FB | (6'0", 238, 4.8) | MISSISSIPPI
Scouts Grade: 20

Razzano is one of the only "true fullbacks" in the draft, and I like this pick here. It looks like he'll get a chance to block for Alstott in the "jumbo" package in short yardage and goal-line situations.

There's been a lot of talk about an incident in which Razzano beat the crap out of an Ole Miss law student, but I could really care less. I'll talk about these "character" issues some more later.

St. Petersburg Times
4.30: Rookie Hopes Legal Troubles Are In The Past

Tampa Tribune
4.27: Jury Hung In Case of Bucs Draftee
4.30: Razzano Hopes To Have Smooth Transition With Bucs

Round 6, Pick 4: Anthony Bryant

Anthony Bryant
DT | (6'3", 337, 5.12) | ALABAMA
Scouts Grade: 51
Flags: (B: BULK/SIZE) Lacks size/bulk for position

I'm not sure why ESPN flagged him as lacking size, because this guy looks like a beast at 6'3"/340. I like this pick because we certainly need help/depth at DT and we especially need bulk up the middle. Scouts call him a huge run-plugger who has good leverage and is tough to move off the line.

Unfortunately he doesn't look like a hard worker and he isn't much of an athlete. So we won't see him chasing down RBs or QBs any time soon. This also continues the pattern of drafting defenders who don't look like they quite fit into the "Buc defender" mold of speed and athleticism over bulk and strength.

Hopefully he'll make the team and break into the DL rotation as a run stopper in early downs, but I could also see him gone by fall.

Round 5, Pick 19: Larry Brackins

Larry Brackins
WR | (6'4", 205, 4.66)
Scouts Grade: 62
Flags: (M: MENTAL) Does not retain and learn the system

This is our first big gamble of the draft, and I like it. While he's not explosively fast, Brackins is a tall leaper with big-play written all over him. He had two years in a junior college and decided to go straight to the draft instead of transferring to FSU or USC. With one or two more years at a top notch D1 school, Brackins could have easily gone in the first day.

Sure, he may be a bust, but his upside alone is definitely worth a 5th round pick.

St. Petersburg Times
5.1: Hidden Pearl

Round 5, Pick 5: Donte Nicholson

Donte Nicholson
S | (6'0", 212, 4.57) | OKLAHOMA
Scouts Grade: 70

We needed depth at safety, and Nicholson provides just that. He's a great run-support and blitzing SS who delivers punishing hits. Unfortunately, he's not very fast and doesn't have great coverage skills. His style reminds me of a young John Lynch, but it's still to be seen if he can make it on the NFL level.

With Dexter Jackson back on the squad competing with Will Allen for starting FS, Nicholson will probably back up Jermaine Phillips at SS.

Round 4, Pick 6: Dan Buenning

Dan Buenning
OG | (6'3", 320, 5.31) | WISCONSIN
Scouts Grade: 63

Buenning looks like another Barret Ruud. His "measurables" aren't off the charts and he's not the most athletic player, but he produces consistently. He was a punishing run blocker at Wisconsin and it looks like Buenning will have a shot to compete for the starting RG position with Jeb Terry and Matt Stinchcomb.

St. Petersburg Times
4.25: A Day's Wait Gives Ex-Badger Incentive

Tampa Tribune
4.25: Bucs Put Priority on O-Line

Round 3, Pick 27: Chris Colmer

Chris Colmer
OT | (6'5", 310, 5.35) | NORTH CAROLINA ST
Scouts Grade: 79
Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

We finally address our OL -- what I consider our biggest need -- late in the third round. Colmer seems like a solid pick here, he dropped down to the end of the 3rd round because of an illness that made him sit out the whole 2003 season. Otherwise, he would have gone higher. So if he's healthy and recovered, we may have gotten good value.

It's already been announced that with the addition of Colmer, Anthony Davis is going to switch over to guard and compete with Jeb Terry, 4th round pick Dan Buenning, and underachiever Matt Stinchcomb for Cosey Coleman's vacated RG position. I'm guessing Colmer will back Kenyatta Walker up at RT, although with aging Derrick Deese at LT, there's no gaurantee that Walker won't be moved back to the left side at some point.

The line is in flux again this offseason, and it doesn't look to be in any better immediate shape than it was last year, although the draft picks will help with cheap depth and hopefully long-term stability.

Round 3, Pick 7: Alex Smith

Alex Smith
TE | (6'4", 258, 4.75) | STANFORD
Scouts Grade: 83

Interesting pick here. TE isn't an obvious need due to the FA signing of Becht, but the TE position is crucial to Gruden's offense -- especially in the red zone. Smith was the second best TE in the draft and probably decent value at the top of the 3rd round.

Only concern about Smith is his perceived inability to block, but I'm sure he can be "coached up" on that. Also another easy pick to second-guess, as there were much greater needs than at TE. Looks like one of Gruden's pet projects and I'm guessing he pushed hard for Smith.

St. Petersburg Times:
4.24: Supersizing at Tight End
5.2: Gruden: Future Bright with Rookies

FAVORITE TOY: Nothing got more of a response from Gruden than when Smith went vertical. The third-round pick is a weapon that has not been available to the coach in Tampa Bay.

"Merry Christmas!" Gruden shouted after Smith hauled in a pass of about 25 yards. "Hey, that looked big and fast!" he said another time. "I've been trying to hit this play for six years."

Gruden didn't mask his enthusiasm for Smith. "Well, I mean, who wouldn't he excite?" Gruden said. "No disrespect to the tight ends who have played here in the last 10 or 15 years, but Alex Smith is what you're looking for as far as a tight end as a vertical threat. He can get downfield in a hurry. He's a quick study. ... We put a lot of plays and shifts and looks in this camp to stimulate him and get his attention, and he responded quite well."

Round 2, Pick 4: Barrett Ruud

Barrett Ruud
ILB | (6'2", 247, 4.75) | NEBRASKA
Scouts Grade: 87

Ruud is a solid pick, he's a producer with countless tackles at Nebraska.

I obviously give a huge benefit of the doubt to the scouting and coaching staff when discussing draft picks, but I am concerned that Ruud is built like a traditional middle linebacker, not a speedy Bucs-style tweener. Is he fast enough for our defense? Can he get down the field and "mike the pipe" quick enough?

One of the best parts about our defense is that we get GREAT value on tweeners who work perfectly in our system because noone else really wants them or values them as highly as we do. Would we have been better off getting good value on a tweener later in the draft?

Clearly the brain trust didn't think so, and hopefully Ruud turns into a solid starter at MLB. It looks like they're putting him as a SLB right now, so he doesn't have to call the defensive plays early as a rookie.

St. Petersburg Times:
4.24: Husker Likes His New Colors
5.1: Ruud Awakening (see 2nd item)

Tampa Tribune:
4.24: Ruud Knows He's In Good Hands

Round 1, Pick 5: Cadillac Williams

Carnell Williams
RB | (5'10", 217, 4.51) | AUBURN
Scouts Grade: 97
Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

Big sigh of relief here. Cadillac is the obvious choice at pick #5 and I'm so glad Gruden didn't go on an ego trip and trade up for Smith.

Gruden has always mixed and matched backs, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Cadillac not as a pure feature back, but rather combined with Pittman / Alstott / Garner (if he's not cut). Cadillac's durability is a question, so Gruden's system should work well for him.

Cadillac was also the consensus pick of columnists and fans. The only other acceptable choice was local favorite Mike Williams. If Gruden had gone in any other direction with this pick he would have risked some serious criticism and alienation from fans, something he isn't in a good position to take right now.

St. Petersburg Times:
4.24: Loaded With Options
4.26: I'm Definitely No Bo
4.26: Pick Tickles Caddy Dealers
4.30: The Jitters Have Never Felt So Fine

Tampa Tribune:
4.24: Bucs May Have Found Guy To Pound Rock
4.24: Bucs Get a New Ride
4.25: Williams News Conference Transcript
4.25: Cadillac Pulls Into Town
4.26: Cadillac Is Right at Home