After making the tough decision that change has to be made in coaching with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we now have to ask ourselves if the General Manager’s job is safe. Some of that will have to do with whom the Bucs target as new head coach. The new coach may have his own GM as a package deal similar to how Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen were precieved.
Before this season, Dominik was looked at as a rock star, do no wrong GM who seemed to make all the right moves. But not ALL of his moves were the right ones. Dominik misfired on Michael Clayton when rehiring him on the assumption that once removed from Jon Gruden Clayton would re-establish himself in his rookie 2004 form. Instead he makes a remark about still cashing his paycheck, and was gone in 2010. Derrick Ward turned out to have poor practice habits. But Dominik hit the payload bringing in Practice Squad players that looked like a million bucks when the team was winning and 10-6. Now were talking about how poor the talent is, and that falls on the GM.
In 2011, The Bucs went into the season with only Earnest Graham as a pass protector. HIs backup was supposedly a talented Kregg Lumpkin that we heard about all year last year. Lumpkin is a major disapointment, and Cadillac Williams was allowed to leave to the St.Louis Rams. His talents were not that expensive, so why was he let go when there was so little depth? Because of cheapness? or an attempt to put more emphasis on the younger players on the team.
Now draft picks are being questioned, something that happens when you lose. Is Gerald McCoy a bust because he hasnt been able to play more than half a season in his second year? Mathew Stafford, the Lions QB also missed his first two years with injury, but is now one of the more dangerous QBs in the league. Time will tell if Gerald McCoy or Brian Price were good picks, but so far Da’Quan Bowers and Adrian Clayborn appear to be the real deal, but linebacker is another story. Rookie Mason Foster could be a serious franchise type star, but Quincy Black and Geno Hayes have regressed to the point they are no better than a back up on any other team in the league. It should be noted Dominik did not draft either of those two linebackers, but he is in charge of stocking the Bucs roster.
In the secondary, several picks are now being questioned, including Myron Lewis and E.J. Biggers. In fairness though, even Ronde Barber was close to being released in 1997 before getting a chance to play in 1998 when he became a Bucs defensive star. Time will tell, and so I think Mark Dominik should be given a year or two to see how his picks are coming along. Depending on the new coach, he may or may not get that chance.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
