My first review will be of the Buccaneers selections in the 2008 draft. Overall, I'm happy with the results of the draft. There were some good picks, there were some bad picks, and there was a bunch of filler...as usual in these affairs.

The Bucs started off with Kansas Cornerback Aqib Talib. Aqib was most likely the best of the available corners in terms of physicality and skill. As many have pointed out, he's an insane ballhawk who has a natural inclination to get there and get the ball. So what kept him on the board until number 20? He's a potsmoker. I think we got an insane steal in the first round.

Next we moved on to what I feel is a rather questionable pick...Dexter Jackson (no, not the safety, the receiver). We traded down in the second round...there hadnt been a big run on receivers as of yet, and both Brian Brohm and Chad Henne (two quarterbacks that we were eyeing) were still on the board. The Bucs figured a 7 spot drop to pick up a fifth round pick? pshaw they'll still be there when we get back on the board. Wrong. All three went within the next six picks. Jackson is an undersized speedster. These days in the NFL, receivers typically need a bit of height...if the corner who is covering them is taller, he need only reach his hand over the receiver's head to break up any pass coming his way...might even steal the ball right from the receiver's hands. This guy is a speed demon though. With the emergence of Devin Hester type kick return specialists...look for more teams to make moves like this and get their own 'return touchdown specialist'. Field position makes a big difference and this is a good pick. Trading down though, when we could have aquired Limas Sweed...can only be looked at as a bad move. The Bucs need more help at the receiver position than we do in the kick return game. Good pick, but I don't personally like it.

In the third round we drafted an offensive guard. This pick was rather offensive if you ask me. Depth on the o-line is never a bad thing...but we are fairly set on the line for the next few years. My best guess? The Bucs are looking at depth for Luke Peititgout. A great player, but getting up there in years...and becoming more and more injury prone. Perhaps we will move one of our guys to the left tackle position and plug this guy in at guard. Left tackle is probably one of the more important offensive positions and I, for one, don't want an unproven third round pick anchoring the left side of my line. This continues our lines youth movement however...

The fourth round brought us Dre Moore...defensive tackle. This was a great pick, and honestly a steal in the fourth round. This, realistically, should have been our third round pick. We needed help at defensive tackle and running back...and a project at QB. I think with our offseason pickups and Gaines Adam's emergence last year, that our defensive end spot is fairly set...some pressure up the middle is never a bad thing, and I expect Dre to challenge early for a starting position. Good pick, great steal.

Fifth - seventh round picks rarely make the team, or do so only as special teams players. That being said, the bucs picked up, possibly, our quarterback of the future in Josh Johnson. This kid is ridiculous accurate, throwing only 1 interception for his last 43 touchdowns. Yes. I did say 1 for 43. Im happy with this pick, and hope Jon can prove to the naysayers that he does have the capability of coaching up a young quarterback into greatness.

In all, our offseason was good, but not great. The additions of Jeff Faine at center, Aqib Talib at corner, and Antonio Bryant at receiver were our most noteworthy changes. I'm looking forward to the future though. Jeff Faine will anchor our line for many years...and do a bang up job of it. Talib will be a stud at corner, and I think Bryant will experience a re-emergence.

Incidentally, for my first book, I've decided on "Dies the Fire" by S.M. Stirling. Ive recently finished his "sea of time" trilogy and am looking a bit forward to the continuation of the emberverse. I, like others, find his books hard to put down...yet somehow...lacking. Supposedly he only gets better though. I'll be back in a few to let you know how it turns out for me