, maybe even more than what is fair. | Forum
miaowang123
Dec 8 '17
TAMPA, Fla. Sam Acho Jersey . - Lovie Smith is well aware of Tampa Bays shaky track record in the NFL draft, as well as the role recent failures have played in the Buccaneers missing the playoffs the past six seasons. The franchises third coach in four years has spent the last two months overhauling the roster through free agency. Now, Smith and first-year general manager Jason Licht are counting on filling more holes with an infusion of young talent. Barring a last-minute trade to move up or down in the selection process, the Bucs have six picks in this weeks draft, beginning with No. 7 overall. Needs include wide receiver, offensive line, and possibly targeting the clubs quarterback of the future. As expected, Smith and Licht have given little indication of how they may be leaning. "I think if we had to play tomorrow, we could line up a pretty competitive team at every position, but youre always trying to upgrade," Smith said. "There are some positions we would like to upgrade, but Ill be saying that every year, and thats the way you should always be thinking." The Bucs have signed career backup Josh McCown to be their starting quarterback. They also acquired six other projected new starters in free agency: defensive end Michael Johnson, cornerback Alterraun Verner, centre Evan Dietrich-Smith, tackle Anthony Collins, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald and tight end Brandon Myers. To ensure long-term success, though, Smith and Licht are adamant they have to build through the draft. The Bucs, who havent made the playoffs since 2007, have only one player remaining on the roster who was drafted in 2009 or 2010 — the first two springs of the reclamation project the team launched under former GM Mark Dominik and ex-coach Raheem Morris. It helps that its two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the third overall pick in 2010. But an inability to nurture other young prospects into productive pros ultimately led to the demise of Dominik and the two coaches he worked with: Morris and Greg Schiano, who was dismissed in January after just two seasons. "Is it hard to make up, and is it a hindrance? Thats probably one of the reasons why Jason and I are both here right now," Smith said of failed drafts in general. "If you have to have one guy remaining you would like for it to be Gerald, of course," Smith added. "Our plan is for us to do better on the draft and make that our foundation. I feel like well do that." Five things to remember as Smith and Licht continue to put their stamp on the Bucs: QB? MAYBE: While the consensus is Tampa Bay has a pressing need is for a speedy receiver to play opposite Vincent Jackson, the Bucs lack a clear-cut quarterback of the future. McCown is 34. And, theres no indication Smith and Licht consider second-year pro Mike Glennon the long-term solution. So if Johnny Manziel is available at No. 7, would the Bucs balk at selecting a player who would almost certainly bring a circus-like atmosphere to town? "In terms of fan interest and selling tickets, we are lucky to work for the Glazers, who have hired us both to make us a better football team. ... We are just going to make the best football decision, whats best for our football team," Licht said. "I think Lovie and his staff can handle the rest of it." IF NOT A QB, THEN WHO?: Clemsons Sammy Watkins and Texas A&Ms Mike Evans are among the top-rated receivers . Most people feel Watkins will be long gone by the time the Bucs turn comes. WELL-PREPARED: Smith spent the past year out of football after being fired by the Chicago Bears following the 2012 season. Being off gave him more time than usual to watch college games, thus get a head start on evaluating talent for the draft. DONT BE SURPRISED: The Bucs have one pick in every round except the fourth. They may be tempted to trade out of the seventh spot, dropping lower in the first round while adding additional selections in later rounds. That seems more likely than moving up into the top five. NEED VS. BEST PLAYER: Licht offers this spin on the traditional draft-day strategy: "Our team needs in September are going to be totally different than they are right now. The player you take you may not think we have a need for him now, but a lot of times youre thankful you have them when the season starts." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ;Markus Wheaton Jersey . Venable and Jeremy Hermida drove in three runs apiece, and the Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 on Sunday to snap a nine-game losing streak. Tom Compton Jersey . The Mets made the announcement Sunday night. Parnell blew a save on opening day against Washington and the next day it was revealed he had partially torn right elbow ligament.SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After some early struggles to start the season, the Memphis Grizzlies appear to have found the formula that led to a franchise-record 56 victories in 2012-13. Zach Randolph scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and also had 10 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a 97-86 victory over the slumping Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Memphis was an efficient team offensively that played strong defence last season. That same formula has worked well in two straight victories that have evened the Grizzlies record at 5-5. Memphis shot just over 55 per cent and had a season-best 30 assists. The Grizzlies blocked four shots, played the Kings tough inside, and limited Sacramento to 38 per cent shooting. "Its where we are as a team, thats the important thing," Memphis coach David Joerger said. "Were trying to lay the foundation back down to who we are as a team. Zach and Marc (Gasol) were beasts and Mike Conley was really efficient today. " Gasol had 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds against the Kings, which followed a similar effort Friday night in a victory over the Lakers. "I always try to be who I am and I always help out," Gasol said. "I really dont care about numbers. I really dont. Teams go through struggles during stretches of the season. Ours have come to start the season. We just want to keep getting better." The Grizzlies led by 20 points in the third quarter and survived a second-half rally by the Kings to win their second straight on their four-game road trip that includes tough games Monday against the Clippers and Wednesday at Golden State. The Kings cut the margin to 82-79 on Travis Outlaws 3-pointer with 7:18 left. But Memphis responded with seven unanswered points for a 10-point lead, then put it away when Randolphs basket from close range made it 93-82 with 1:29 left. "Zach is playing well right now," said Conley, who also had 19 points and nine assists. "When hes got it going like that and is in a zone, we try to get him the ball." Outlaw helped fuel the Kings comeback and scored a season-high 18 points. The Kings have lost two straight and seven of eight. Isaiah Thomas added 15 points and Marcus Thornton had 12. Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins, who came into the game averaging 22.8 points, had nine points in 19 minutes. Cousins and the rest of the Kings starters, with the exception of Luc&nnbsp;Mbah a Moute, sat out the final 19 1/2 minutes. Jerrell Freeman Jersey. "Thats a talented team that went to the Western Conference finals last season," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "They shoot 56 per cent and get 48 points in the paint. We cant give forth the effort we were tonight if we want to compete against a team like that." Outlaw, who didnt play in the first half, made his first five shots before finally misfiring in the fourth quarter. He made 6-of-9 shots overall, including a pair of 3s. Outlaw came off the bench for 11 points and Thomas added eight in the third quarter, when the Kings finally demonstrated some offence and outscored Memphis 31-27 to pull within 74-65 heading into the fourth. The Grizzlies came out strong in the third quarter and built the lead to 61-41. Appearing to be upset with his defence, Malone pulled his starters with just under eight minutes left. The Sacramento reserves outscored the Grizzlies 24-13 the remainder of the quarter. "The biggest thing I saw was effort," Malone said. "We had guys playing like they cared." Gasol had 13 points for the Grizzlies in the opening half, when they held a 47-34 lead. Cousins had nine points for the Kings, who shot 32 per cent. It was a sluggish start to the second quarter for both teams, who combined for nine points in the first six minutes of the period. Despite the slow start, Memphis still outscored the Kings 22-16 in the quarter. "Once again I thought out offence dictated our defence," said Kings point guard Greivis Vasquez, who had eight points, all in the first half. "We just have to be more mature and understand if we dont make shots we have to put out effort defensively." Notes: Tony Allen was the fourth Memphis starter in double figures with 12 points. .. Patrick Patterson, who began the season as the Kings starting forward, bruised his left knee in Fridays loss to Detroit and was unavailable against the Grizzlies. . Reserve guard Jerryd Bayless made all three shots and had seven first- quarter points in just under three minutes of playing time. . The Kings had only three points during a near 7-minute stretch in the first half. ... An elbow from Gasol in the first quarter resulted in a cut above the right eye and 10 stitches for Kings reserve Chuck Hayes. He returned to play in the third quarter sporting a headband to cover the wound. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
Share:
