Bucs still like players from state

Green and Anthony were disappointments, but team says state talent is too good to pass on.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 19, 2002

TAMPA -- History books show that the Bucs have been fond of drafting players from the state of Florida.

The team's philosophy has been that players who were productive at college would be productive in NFL. And nowhere was there more production than at the three top state schools: Florida State, Miami and Florida.

"The percentage of guys from Florida who have become players in the NFL is pretty darned good," said Tim Ruskell, the Bucs director of player personnel. "We are very fortunate. People ask us why we take players from the state of Florida. Well, all the colleges come here to recruit, so there's something going on down here. The best players in the nation are in Florida. We just have to weed through them. Some will hit, some won't. I bet the batting average around the nation is pretty good."

For the Bucs, that affinity for homegrown talent has been a gold mine. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp (Miami) and linebacker Derrick Brooks (FSU) are largely considered the best at their positions. Fourth-round pick Dexter Jackson (FSU) starts at safety.

But offensively? Tampa Bay hasn't been as fortunate.

Aside from two Pro Bowl seasons by Warrick Dunn, a number of the Bucs' "can't-miss prospects" from the state schools struggled to live up to expectations. Remember running back Errict Rhett and tackle Jason Odom? What about receivers Lawrence Dawsey, Lamar Thomas, Horace Copeland, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green?

The Bucs say some of it is because of injury, as in the case of Copeland and Odom, but most of it is bad timing.

"We weren't on the same page with our past offensive coaching staff and a lot of the guys we brought in did not develop," Ruskell said. "Now, why did that happen? Some of it was (the scouting department), the guy just wasn't ready to be a good pro. Some of it was (the coaches), the guy was not a good fit for their scheme.

"We have not done a good enough job of developing the offensive guys that we have brought in here. Dunn you could say reached his potential, at least we saw what he was capable of. But obviously the two receivers from Florida did not, for whatever reason. We just never got on the same page."

Starting with the 86th pick in Saturday's draft, the Bucs and new coach Jon Gruden have a chance to get on the same page. This year, the state schools provide their usual dynamic crop of offensive stars, such as offensive tackles Bryant McKinnie (Miami) and Mike Pearson (Florida) and running back Clinton Portis (Miami).

Bucs general manager Rich McKay said none will be more scrutinized than Gators receivers Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell, who likely will be compared with other former Gator receivers who didn't achieve in the NFL the way they did in college.

"They will be evaluated on their own merits," McKay said. "Now they may be scrutinized a bit more, with a little more evaluation over what they are asked to do in the scheme and those types of things. But I don't think it would affect their status. It shouldn't."

McKay said that the struggles of previous state products were more a series of individual coincidences than a collective failure.

"I think every experience, every player, every circumstance is different," he said. "So much of the success or failure of a draft pick depends on circumstances. What was asked of that player? How was the player coached? What opportunities were that player given?

"So, I don't think you can say as a blanket rule that the players that played at Florida State or Florida or Miami have become risky on the offensive side of the ball. I don't think that the history of Reidel or Jacquez is going to affect, in any shape or form, the two guys coming out this year."

As for Gruden's likes or dislikes, Ruskell said the new coach has nothing against state college players.

"I think he realizes the obvious," Ruskell said. "There are a lot of good players in this state. This state feeds the NFL with a lot of players. So, we'd be crazy not to take a good long look."