Bucs Cross Fingers And Trade For Sims

The Buccaneers just traded an undisclosed draft pick to Kansas City for defensive tackle Ryan Sims, the #6 overall pick in 2002.

I am skeptical that Sims is the answer for under tackle. He has a history of injuries and only played six games in 2005 and was a spot backup last year. His production is very low, with only five sacks and 74 tackles in five years. If the trade was for a sixth rounder, I think that's a good risk to take for a guy with his potential upside. After all, you don't draft a guy at #6 if he didn't show some potential, right? But it concerns me that the head coach who released him is Herm Edwards. If Herm doesn't want him, what does that say about how well he'll do in Tampa? Maybe he would work better as a nose tackle, but Chris Hovan is manning that position expertly.

I have been bitching for a year (only a year?) for some depth on the defensive line, and after free agency and the draft, they finally have some. So I'm going to give Sims a chance to find a position and work his way into the lineup. If he works out at under tackle and stabilizes the position for several years, this will be like getting a pony for Christmas. If not and the Bucs wind up forfeiting a higher pick for a dud, it will be like getting a dead pony for Christmas.

(If I ever start a goth band, it will be called "Dead Christmas Pony".)