Position Analysis

Offensive line

The Buccaneers have eight picks in the 2011 NFL draft, scheduled for Thursday-Saturday in New York City. In anticipation, the Tribune will showcase eight positions, one each day, leading up to the big event.

Today, we look at offensive linemen.

The Bucs have two Pro Bowl-caliber starters in left tackle Donald Penn and right guard Davin Joseph, plus solid starters in left guard Ted Larsen, center Jeff Faine and right tackle James Lee. There's some depth in the middle with Jeremy Zuttah, who is capable of playing either guard spot or center. Depth at the tackle positions is thin, especially if former starting right tackle Jeremy Trueblood leaves in free agency. At the very least, the Bucs will look to improve their tackle depth in this draft and might opt for a major upgrade at right tackle if the opportunity arises.

On the Bucs' roster

Pos.

Player

Ht.

Wt.

Age

Exp.

T

Will Barker

6-7

320

23

1

G

Brandon Carter

6-6

319

23

1

T

Marc Dile

6-4

300

24

1

T

Demar Dotson

6-9

319

25

2

C

Jeff Faine

6-3

291

30

8

T

Derek Hardman

6-6

300

24

1

G

Davin Joseph*

6-3

315

27

5

G

Ted Larsen

6-3

305

23

1

T

James Lee^

6-4

305

25

3

G

John Malecki

6-2

298

22

1

T

Jeremy Trueblood*

6-8

320

27

5

G/C

Jeremy Zuttah

6-4

308

24

3

*-scheduled to be unrestricted free agent

^-scheduled to be restricted free agent

Dream pick

TYRON SMITH, USC

Smith has been groomed as a right tackle, and he's a good one. He's quick off the ball and quick enough to get to the second level with some pop. He's not a road grader as a run blocker, but he is only 20 years old, so he hasn't grown into his body yet. That's why he'd be a good fit for the Bucs. They could spend a year grooming him to be the starting right tackle.

Hidden gem

KEITH WILLIAMS, NEBRASKA

Williams isn't a great athlete but at 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds, he has elite-level NFL size and strength. He can knock defenders back with his punch alone and gets into good position as a pass protector. Though limited athletically, Williams is quick to get to the second level. His footwork needs work, but he has good technique and has played on a big stage at Nebraska.

Scheduled NFL free agents

Pos.

Player, Team

Ht.

Wt.

Age

Exp.

RT

Tyson Clabo, Atlanta

6-6

331

29

6

T/G

Marshal Yanda, Baltimore

6-3

325

26

4

RT

Ryan Harris, Denver

6-5

300

25

4

LG

Justin Blalock, Atlanta

6-4

329

27

4

RG

Chris Chester, Baltimore

6-3

315

28

5

Note: It will not be clear until an NFL labor agreement is reached whether there will be a free agency period before the 2011 season. It is possible all scheduled free agents will remain with their previous teams.

Bucs history

The Bucs have done a better job in recent years finding linemen elsewhere than in the draft. Though they hit on Joseph with a first-round pick and Trueblood with a second-round pick, both in 2006, the bulk of their linemen have come via free agency, waiver claims and practice-squad signings. The Bucs have hit on some top linemen: tackle Paul Gruber (first round, 1988), center Tony Mayberry (fourth round, 1990) and tackle Charles McRae (first round, 1991). For the most part, though, the team's early-round linemen, such as Kenyatta Walker, struggled to justify the team's selection.