Winners are built in two days

While some teams find gems and build depth, most of the Bucs' recent Day 2 picks are busts.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published April 26, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Willie J. Allen Jr.] Wide receiver Larry Brackins, a 2005 fifth-rounder, never went beyond the Bucs minicamp roster. [Times photo: Bill Serne] Marques Colston was there for the taking until the seventh round last year. But it was New Orleans, not Tampa Bay, that took him. Colston finished 2006 with 70 catches for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns.

TAMPA -- For all the ink and airtime dedicated to debating and dissecting players projected to be picked early in the NFL draft, it's those who are chosen in the later rounds who ultimately make up the majority of most teams.

Ask yourself: When was the last time you saw a starting lineup comprised of 22 first-round picks?

Of course, it never works that way, making it imperative that at least some of a team's second-day draft picks rounds 4-7 pan out, too.

Which brings us to the Bucs, whose recent track record beyond the first three rounds is anything but stellar. Beginning with the 2003 draft, the Bucs have selected only two second-day picks who have earned starting jobs -- safety Will Allen and guard Dan Buenning.

There have been a number of successes with the team's early picks, such as 2005 offensive rookie of the year Cadillac Williams, second-round pick Barrett Ruud (a projected starter at linebacker in the fall) and second-round choice Dewayne White, a defensive end who garnered a lucrative free-agent deal with the Lions last month.

But for each of those there have been three or four like wide receiver Larry Brackins.

A fifth-round pick in 2005 out of Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, Brackins was billed as a player with tremendous potential. In the end, he never came close to making the team and is out of the NFL. Ditto for 2003 fourth-round choice Lance Nimmo, an offensive tackle who never made the roster. The rest of the list is littered with players who played a game here and there but went largely unnoticed.

It's not for a lack of effort, the Bucs say.

"We want to know the player whether they're first-rounders, seventh-rounders or free agents," director of college scouting Dennis Hickey said. "We want to do our due diligence on all of them. Of course, the (top picks) get more attention, but we want full exposure to as many guys as possible. We put a lot of stock into our second day."

So how then can a team such as the Saints acquire receiver Marques Colston in the seventh round last season and have him go on to lead all rookies in receiving? Are they smart or just lucky?

"They were smarter on that day," said Bucs general manager Bruce Allen, who has presided over the past three drafts. "And there is some luck involved."

But it's more than luck when a team such as the Chargers snatches up three of its better players all on the second day of one draft. San Diego, for example, selected defensive end Shaun Phillips (fourth round), running back Michael Turner (fifth) and guard Shane Olivea (seventh) in 2004.

Allen believes the root of the problem in Tampa Bay lies not in the talent level of the players but perhaps a lack of opportunity.

"I think the key to it is creating an environment where everybody gets an opportunity not only to make the team, but to play, to show what they can do," he said. "There's dozens and dozens of players in this league who will get cut who aren't that much different than some of the players who are starting. It's just the opportunity on that particular team at that particular time that benefited them."

Whatever the reason, this much is certain: The Bucs need an influx of young talent and depth. Most often, that comes from players drafted late. Sometimes, they provide even more.

"You can be like Indianapolis and get an Antoine Bethea in the later rounds (sixth), a kid from a small school (Howard)," longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said of the strong safety. "Without a guy like him, the Indianapolis Colts are not in the Super Bowl."

After this weekend's draft, the Bucs will be judged largely by what they do on Saturday, in Rounds 1 through 3. But Sunday's picks will loom large in determining what the future looks like.

"I know the first round goes forever, and you have to hit on those first-rounders," Kiper said. "But your draft is made by what happens in Rounds 4 through 7."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at (813) 226-3377 or sholder@sptimes.com.

THE NFL DRAFT

oon Saturday (rounds 1-3), 11 a.m. Sunday (rounds 4-7), Bucs pick No. 4 overall; Radio City Music Hall, New York. TV: ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network

SECOND-DAY SUCCESS

Every team has a long list of failures when it comes to their later-round picks. But there are teams that have had notable success in collecting talent on the second day. Some examples:

San Diego Chargers

• DE Shaun Phillips, Round 4, 2004: Dominant lineman notched 111/2 sacks in 2006.
• RB Michael Turner, Round 5, 2004: Perhaps the best backup back in the NFL; 502 yards last season.
• G Shane Olivea, Round 7, 2004: A starter from Day 1.

Dallas Cowboys

• LB Bradie James, Round 4, 2003: Standout signed long-term extension last year.
• WR Patrick Crayton, Round 7, 2004: Reliable third receiver unearthed from Northwestern Oklahoma.
• RB Marion Barber, Round 4, 2005: Rushed for 1,100 yards past two seasons.
• S Pat Watkins, Round 5, 2006: Nine starts, three interceptions as a rookie.

New England Patriots

• C Dan Koppen, Round 5, 2003: Has started 56 of 57 games in career.
• CB Asante Samuel, Round 4, 2003: Former UCF standout now a franchise player.
• K Stephen Gostkowski, Round 4, 2006: Made winning kick in playoffs.

THE BUCS' SECOND-DAY DRAFT HISTORY

The Bucs have had a few hits but lots of misses on their second-day draft picks during the past four drafts, which Jon Gruden and, since 2004, Bruce Allen have handled.

2003

• Round 4: T Lance Nimmo, West Virginia (never made 53-man roster); C Austin King, Northwestern (was cut after one season)
• Round 5: G Sean Mahan, Notre Dame (started 36 games in four seasons)
• Round 6: CB Torrie Cox*, Pittsburgh (biggest impact has been on special teams)

2004

• Round 4: S Will Allen*, Ohio State (became a starter last season)
• Round 5: G Jeb Terry#, North Carolina (has made one start in three seasons)
• Round 6: TE Nate Lawrie, Yale (played just two games for the Bucs)
• Round 7: WR Mark Jones*, Tennessee (traded on draft day, re-signed a year later); FB Casey Cramer, Dartmouth (never made 53-man roster); CB Lenny Williams, Southern (never made 53-man roster)

2005

• Round 4: G Dan Buenning*, Wisconsin (has 23 starts in two seasons)
• Round 5: S Donte Nicholson*, Oklahoma (saw limited action in 10 games); WR Larry Brackins, Pearl River C.C. (never made 53-man roster)
• Round 6: DT Anthony Bryant, Alabama (played sparingly in four games)
• Round 7: FB Rick Razzano, Mississippi (played in one game); WR Paris Warren*, Utah (played eight games in two seasons); S Hamza Abdullah, Washington State (never made 53-man roster); WR J.R. Russell, Louisville (never played; now playing arena ball)

2006

• Round 4: CB Alan Zemaitis*, Penn State (yet to play in a game)
• Round 5: DL Julian Jenkins*, Stanford (played sparingly as a rookie)
• Round 6: QB Bruce Gradkowski*, Toledo (struggled while starting 11 games); TE T.J. Williams*, N.C. State (spent 2006 on injured reserve);
• Round 7: CB Justin Phinisee, Oregon (never made 53-man roster); DE Charles Bennett*, Clemson (played in three games); TE Tim Massaquoi, Michigan (never made 53-man roster)

* on active roster # restricted free agent

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 00:26:15]