TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
The Writers
Roy Cummings
Ira Kaufman
@TBO_Buccaneers
TBO Buccaneers
Roy Cummings
Anwar Richardson
Ira Kaufman
Ask a question
More Links:
Most Recent Entries
- Whitney: Tampa will always love you
- Mackerel starting to show near beaches
- Linsanity leads to Lin-credibly inflated prices
- Bucs blocked again in search for staff assistant
- Super Bowl: The Greatest Show in the World
- Hillsborough’s Sherit lands offers from Oklahoma, Ole Miss
- Mays is first Topps Prime 9 redemption card for 2012
- Rays accepting applications for the Community Fund Grant Program
- Gaither’s Stanger ranked tops in his class by Golfweek Magazine
- Former Shorecrest football coach Hayford among 34 applying for Brandon job
- Jesuit QB Tommy Eveld accepts USF walk-on offer, joins brother
- USF at Boise State in 2012?
- Panini Playoff football is no longer a secret
- 2 baseball players make commitments
- State cross country meet leaving Little Everglades
More
- Bucs Report -Tribune staff
- Rays Report - Roger Mooney
- Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
- Bulls Report
- Gators Report - Tribune staff
- Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
- Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
- The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
- Storm Report - Nick Williams
- Prep Report - Football
- Prep Report - Hillsborough
- Prep Report - Pasco
- NFL Draft Report
- Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
- Prep Report - Region
- Grapefruit Report - Spring Training
- Boxing Report - Eddie Daniels
- FC Tampa Bay soccer - Tribune Staff
- Youth Sports Report
- Scenes From College Football
- Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
- Bucified Bert Blog
- BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
- Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
- Highlands Sports
Monthly Archives
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.
Post a comment
Members:(Requires free registration.)
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2010 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company. Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
Reader Comments
Por (Todd) on March 03, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Ward is a great pick up but..Damn !!! HAVE THEY QUIT TRYING TO SIGN ANYONE ELSE ?? COME ON !!! HURRY UP AND GIVE US ANOTHER SPLASH PLAYER OR SOMEONE. WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING ?? WAITING TO SIGN A THIRD STRING PLAYER ??
Suggest removalPor (BucFandango) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
I just read on joebucsfan.com that one of the Mock Drafts predicts the Bucs pick Darrius Heyward-Bey at 19. The more I think about getting another #1 WR to go along with Bryant the more I like the idea. Harvin or Bey, either one would add a new dynamic to the Offense. Bey’s coaches at Maryland, pretty much refer to him as the best thing since sliced bread. At 6’-2”, 210# & 4.3 in the 40, he could be the next Randy Moss. I would love to see this guy as a Buc. Sure we need D linemen, but that can come later. Get the QB in 2010’ or maybe he is already on staff. Soon find out. Bey would beat the heck out of Freeman, big 6’-6” joke.
Suggest removalPor (Redskins Fan) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Who are these people?
Hi, I was just driving by to see if Jason Taylor would end up here, and I have to say that I have no idea who those players are that your GM is referring to.
I don’t recognize the linebackers names or the tackles names… who are these people?
Suggest removalPor (greg) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Hey Duminik: sign Tank Johnson, he is the run stopper the Bucs NEED!
Suggest removalPor (hfxbuc) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Thank you Dallas! Who would have thought the Roy Williams trade would work out so good for us. When the QB’s start to slide there will be lots of teams hungry to move up ahead of QB needy Detroit who sit at #20 ...right behind us. This spot just might be coveted if the run on LB’s starts to happen as well. The Pats will be going LB this year so will Baltimore, Atlanta and Maybe Miami…who all sit just behind us.
Lets move back still grab a good WR or DL talent and get back our second or an additional pick next year…
Suggest removalPor (greg) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Halifax: Not the year to pass on a blue-chip WR. We need speed on offense and this years top four WR have it. Not the year to trade down.
Suggest removalPor (GloboBall) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Real earth shattering news from our new GM.
If this “word or two” truly represents his direction, assessment, etc., then the Buc defense is in trouble.
And although I’m excited about a hopeful new look offense with Antonio Bryant plus Derrick Ward, the Bucs are still not built for offensive shoot outs.
They still have a few significant holes to fill on D and Gaines Adams better show up this year.
Suggest removalPor (Harvey) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
General manager Mark Dominik we need a run stopper so we don’t look like the team of last year that lost 4 games in a row and became the laughing stock of the league. Can you look into the services of tank Johnson and let us know?
Bucs 4 Life
Suggest removalThank you
Por (Roland) on March 04, 2009 (Suggest removal)
We are going to score 25 points a game… and give up 30.
That will still be better then watching Dungy win 6-3 and then bench his starting QB (instead of his sorry recievers).
Suggest removalPor (apkflanyc) on March 05, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Harvey 813, I agree, Tank Johnson is the stud DT that the Bucs desperately need. Dominik’s positive comments about defensive players that are signed is a “joke”. I also believe that V Holliday cut by Miami is also available. Johnson & Holliday would definitely upgrade the Bucs DL. Finally, Bucs 1st rnd pick in draft MUST be E Brown DE/FSU if he is available.
Suggest removalPor (BucFandango) on March 07, 2009 (Suggest removal)
I will say this much for Dummynick, he is the eternal optimist. I was listening to a few moments of Daydream Raheem’s speech, to the kids yesterday. He makes a point, but then he will use some off the wall analogy that doesn’t make any sense. They look at him like “Huh”, completely lost, and he will try to clarify what he just said. He does this in every press conference. He says only 3 words at a time, then pauses. Every 12’th word, he totally spaces out. I can’t believe anyone interviewed this guy before they hired him. I know why Denver passed on him. I hope his brain works better on the field. Maybe the Coordinators will give him a coloring book during the games.
Suggest removal