Drafting for Defense or Job Security

In an earlier piece (click here), I stated that Bruce Allen needed to make this his draft for the future to avoid being tied to Jon Gruden’s fate at the end of the 2007 season.  So did Allen succeed?

For the first time since 1995, the Bucs drafted a defensive player in every round they had a selection.  In 1995, Rich McKay’s first year as GM, the Bucs used all 8 selections for defense.  The prior two drafts, Sam Wyche’s first two years as head coach, the Bucs only used 5 of their 16 selections for defense.

During the next six drafts (1996-2001), draft picks were basically balanced between offense & defense. Of the 49 selections, 23 went to the offense with 25 to the defense and 1 for a place kicker.  The scale tilts slightly to the offense when including the picks traded for Keyshawn Johnson and trading up for Kenyatta Walker.

During the Gruden 2002-2006 drafts, the selections heavily favored the offense as they did in Wyche’s initial seasons (28 offense to 16 defense).  At the top of the draft, 75% (9 of 12) of the first day selections went to the offensive side of the ball.

With the Glazer sons getting more involved with football operations and watching closely, the disparity of draft selections in the past five seasons changed.  So was Gruden leading the draft for defense or was Allen taking control for job security?  I believe Allen finally stepped up to being a General Manager instead just contract negotiator and a GM in name only.

That said, lets take a look at the defensive side of the ball and what there is to build a 53-man roster.  I’ve taken a look at how most teams allocate roster spots by position.  There are typically 50 spots allocated with 3 roster spots varying based on the team’s particular need.   Some keep an extra WR, others additional lineman, a kick return specialist may take up a spot or a late preseason injuries use up the spots. 

Most teams typically fill out the defense with these 23 roster spots and then adjust as necessary.  DL – 8: LB – 6: DB – 9

I’ve allocated 2007 roster spots to established players from the 2006 roster, free agents signed to contracts extending past the 2007 season and draft picks taken in the first 4 rounds.  All other spots (TBD) are up for competition.  The Bucs defense has 8 of the 23 roster spots open with rookies or marginal veterans looking to land a job.

Defense 23 roster spots
DL – 8 ( Rice, Wyms, Hovan, Spire, Carter, Adams, TBD, TBD, TDB)
LB – 6 (Brooks, Rudd, June, Chukwurah, Black, TDB)
DB – 9 (Barber, Kelly, Buchanon, Piscatelli, Jackson, TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD)

Despite all the rhetoric of addressing the defensive woes of 2006, I still see the big gapping hole opposing teams exploited in the running game going straight through the middle of the line and leading into the defensive backfield. 

The players selected this past weekend in rounds 5-7 may very well earn roster spots along side those selected in the first 4 rounds or be signed to the practice squad, but to expect major contributions in 2007 from this draft class is extremely optimisitc.  I believe Bruce Allen will be around in 2008 to watch them mature as players.  I’m not so sure about Jon Gruden.