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A Word Or Two From The GM

Posted Mar 3, 2009 by Roy Cummings

Updated Mar 4, 2009 at 08:44 AM

If you look back at what the Bucs have done in free agency so far you’ll notice a pattern. Almost every move they’ve made so far has been geared toward shoring up the offense.

That was by design, according to Bucs general manager Mark Dominik, and while there are still some needs on that side of the ball, the Bucs will start paying a little more attention to defense now.

Don’t look for them to make a big splash there, though. You get the feeling from listening to Dominik, who spent about 15 minutes with the beat writers earlier today, that he likes what he’s got here.

Though their plans include re-signing safety Jermaine Phillips and cornerback Phillip Buchanon and adding some pieces elsewhere, they seem content with the competition they’ll have for starting jobs elsewhere.

Here are a couple of nuggets from Dominik’s sit-down, in which he discussed the plan at linebacker, defensive tackle and how the Bucs hope to go about improving their pass rush.

On the plan at linebacker: We’re still excited about Quincy Black; Geno Hayes flashed a lot last year in his ability to play. Adam Hayward, we’ve got a Rod Wilson, Matt McCoy, Jamall Johnson who we signed form the CFL. So we’ve got a good group of players that we think can compete at the positions, and we like their athleticism; their speed to cover grass, cover ground. And we intend to give them every opportunity. But a lot will be said in March and April to get a feel for how they’re doing, how they’re learning the system, and we’ll go from there.

On the plan at under tackle: We have Chris Bradwell, Dre Moore, Greg Peterson - all young players that fit this new Jim Bates system in terms of defensive tackles and what we’re asking them to do. That was a big part of why we wanted to get Ryan Sims signed prior to free agency. He’s a young, bigger-bodied guy that can push the pocket. With Peterson and Dre Moore, they’re big-bodied guys that are - I think - able to step into those roles, and they’ll get their opportunity to step into those roles.

On improving the pass rush: Part of it is the system that Coach Bates puts them in. Again, just like we were talking about with Ryan Sims and the Chris Hovans and the other guys that are under contract now. You create pressure in the pocket so you can push the pocket back and pin your ears back off the edge. Then you move Gaines Adams out on a straight line and you say, “Good luck quarterback, cause we’re coming.” So a lot of it comes from there. And we’re expecting a lot of big things from Gaines Adams. And I think he can deliver them.

Reader Comments

Por (Jason) on March 03, 2009 (Suggest removal)

i think Black, Hayes, and Hayward can be good LB’s IMO..but peterson and dre moore at DT…not sold on that one yet, i think we need to make a splash at that possession either in FA or in the draft.