A day's wait gives ex-Badger incentive

By JOANNE KORTH
Published April 25, 2005

	Buenning

TAMPA - Dan Buenning waited all day Saturday for the phone to ring at his family's home in Green Bay, Wis.

It never did.

Finally, on Sunday morning, the Bucs called the Wisconsin offensive lineman, selecting Buenning early in the fourth round, 107th overall. Anticipating a long NFL career, Buenning plans to remember all the teams that didn't call.

"I got a great call from them and they sound excited for me to go down there," said Buenning, who expected to be a first-day selection. "I'm even more excited to go down there."

Several analysts, including ESPN's Mel Kiper, considered this a deep draft with perhaps its greatest value picks coming in the third and fourth rounds. In Buenning, the Bucs have a gritty, wide-bodied blocker who should compete for a starting job.

"This is a physical guy who gives us a 6-foot-4, 320-pound mass," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "He was one of the best pullers in our evaluation of the linemen, so he has good mobility. Hopefully he is ticked off coming in here with a chip on his shoulder. I'd kind of like to see that."

The offensive line has been a sore spot for the Bucs, who struggled the past two seasons to protect quarterbacks Brad Johnson, Brian Griese and Chris Simms. Attempts a year ago to rebuild with veteran free agents yielded mixed results.

Guard Matt Stinchcomb and tackle Derrick Deese started all 16 games on the left side. But Todd Steussie was a bust at right tackle, responsible for the sack that injured Simms' throwing shoulder at New Orleans, and replaced by Kenyatta Walker by the sixth game. Guard Matt O'Dwyer, who had a one-year contract, was injured most of the season after tearing a pectoral muscle lifting weights; he has since signed with the Packers.

The Bucs must replace guard Cosey Coleman, a four-year starter who signed with the Browns during free agency.

Buenning (pronounced BEN-ing) expects to contend.

A mainstay since starting as a redshirt freshman, he was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten pick as a senior. He played the left side at Wisconsin, and though Buenning said he can play all three inside positions, the Bucs plan to keep him at his natural position.

"It sounded like they want to keep me at guard and compete for that spot," Buenning said.

A team captain at Wisconsin, Buenning was credited with 10 touchdown-resulting blocks as a senior and gave up only one sack. Having played in a run-oriented offense, he said most of his improvement will come as a pass blocker.

Buenning helped pave the way for the Big Ten's fourth-best rushing attack at 160.9 yards per game. The Bucs running game ranked 29th of 32 teams in the league last season at 93.1 yards. After using the fifth overall pick on running back Carnell Williams, the Bucs made a strong commitment to the running attack.

Buenning is the third Badgers offensive lineman drafted by the Bucs, joining tackles Paul Gruber, a first-round pick in 1988, and Jerry Wunsch, a second-rounder in 1997.

Gruden, too, was surprised to see Buenning available in the fourth round.

"We're happy about him being here," Gruden said.

[Last modified April 25, 2005, 01:05:08]