Bucs

Paired with Cadillac, Peterson a luxury option

What if the best available player plays the same position as your most recent top-10 pick?

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published April 24, 2007

NFL general managers seem to enjoy the sound of themselves uttering, ad nauseam, one of the most repeated and annoying phrases heard this time of year: the best available player.

Don't draft for need, they argue, but take the best prospect on the board, position notwithstanding.

But whoever coined that cliche probably never considered this: What if the best available player plays the same position as your most recent top-10 pick?

That's the situation the Bucs might face when they go on the clock Saturday afternoon on the first day of the 72nd NFL draft.

Although there are an unlimited number of scenarios, one would have Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson as the most tempting possibility left when the Bucs prepare to make the fourth overall selection.

What would happen next is anyone's guess. The debate begins with Cadillac Williams, the 2005 offensive rookie of the year who is coming off a disappointing sophomore season but is far from a bust. On the other side is Peterson, who looks to be everything many predicted since his first day as a Sooner.

At first glance, drafting Peterson seems like overkill after picking Williams fifth overall two years ago. But don't make the mistake of dismissing the notion.

It certainly wouldn't be a groundbreaking decision when you consider the increasing number of teams willing to distribute carries between multiple running backs. Super Bowl contestants Chicago and Indianapolis had great success last season, and more teams are sure to follow, with even the Chiefs perhaps looking for someone to pair with star back Larry Johnson.

The success of such an arrangement depends largely on the makeup of the players. That brings us to Williams, who spent his college career at Auburn splitting carries with good friend Ronnie Brown, now the Dolphins' starting running back.

"It's definitely something I could benefit from," Williams said. "It's something I'm familiar with. I spent four years sharing the ball. Whatever happens on draft day, if that's the way they decide to head, then I'm prepared to contribute to the team however I can."

The biggest benefit, Williams said, is "the offseason work, us working together and working on our game, pushing each other. ... I think, for the most part, it makes you work just that much harder when you have somebody of that caliber behind you or with you."

Bucs coach Jon Gruden recently called Peterson "as good a running back coming out of college as I've ever seen." And the Bucs came away particularly impressed after one of Peterson's recent workouts, one that included a blazing 4.37-second 40-yard dash.

Could it all be a smoke screen? Absolutely. But when you consider some of the success stories, the case seems compelling.

"You can't have enough talented players at that position," said Saints coach Sean Payton, who is lucky enough to have Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush.

"Deuce has strengths that we try to feature each week and rely on, same with Reggie. I had to be flexible to adjust. It doesn't mean they're going to be on the field together the whole time."

Lorenzo Booker of Florida State spent most of his college days splitting time with Leon Washington, now with the Jets. The experience was so positive that Booker is hoping for a similar situation on the team that drafts him.

"A lot of guys might look at it as a bad thing, but it can only help," he said of using two backs. "When you have a guy like Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, as a defensive coordinator, you're pulling your hair out."

The Bucs, who were 28th in rushing offense in 2006, certainly didn't pose that kind of threat despite the organization's opinion that Williams is an elite back.

Of course, the only thing that might be better than one elite back is, well, two.

"If you're going to run the ball 35 or 40 times a game," Gruden said, "there's a lot of love to spread around if you've got two great backs."

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder can be reached at 813 226-3377 or sholder@sptimes.com.

Bucs' picks

Nine selections, including four in the first 68. Tampa Bay has two in the second round, including the one it received from the Colts (35th overall) for defensive tackle Anthony McFarland.

Round and overall selection for the Bucs

1 (4), 2 (35, 64), 3 (68), 4 (102), 5 (141), 7 (214, 245, 246)

First-round draft order

1. Oakland Raiders

2. Detroit Lions

3. Cleveland Browns

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5. Arizona Cardinals

6. Washington Redskins

7. Minnesota Vikings

8. Houston Texans

9. Miami Dolphins

10. Atlanta Falcons

11. San Francisco 49ers

12. Buffalo Bills

13. St. Louis Rams

14. Carolina Panthers

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

16. Green Bay Packers

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

18. Cincinnati Bengals

19. Tennessee Titans

20. New York Giants

21. Denver Broncos

22. Dallas Cowboys

23. Kansas City Chiefs

24. New England Patriots (from Seattle)

25. New York Jets

26. Philadelphia Eagles

27. New Orleans Saints

28. New England Patriots

29. Baltimore Ravens

30. San Diego Chargers

31. Chicago Bears

32. Indianapolis Colts

[Last modified April 23, 2007, 21:53:48]