Tampa Bay selects Michael Smith, RB, Utah State

With the 212th overall pick in 2012 (7th round, Pick 5), Tampa Bay selected Michael Smith, running back, from Utah State.  Smith is 5'9" and weighed 205 lbs at the 2012 NFL Combine.


NFL Draft Scount highlights:

Smith was clocked in 4.33 and 4.34 in his two 40-yard dash runs (Utah State Pro Day).  Smith once again excelled in the broad jump, clearing 10'6", with Lloyd right behind him with a 10'3" jump. Smith would shine once again in the vertical jump recording a 40.5, which was the best jump of the day.

CBS Sports:

Positives: While shorter than ideal, possesses a thick, well-poportioned frame. Excellent timed speed and has some lateral agility to elude defenders. Possesses natural hands out of the backfield, demonstrating the body control to handle poorly thrown passes and quickly secure the ball before getting upfield. Experienced kick returner with the speed to have a chance at remaining in this role in the NFL. Used as part of a rotation at Utah State and therefore comes to the NFL with relatively fresh legs. Performed well when given the opportunity to be "the guy." Named the MVP of his final game at Utah State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), as well as the Players All-Star Classic and demonstrated eye-popping speed during his Pro Day workout after not being invited to the Combine... Negatives: Not quite the sum of his parts. Doesn't run as well on the field as his timed speed would suggest. Appears to have limited vision. Will run up the back of his linemen and can get too cute trying to elude defenders in the open field and fail to get yardage available to him... Missed much of the 2010 season with an injury to his right foot (big toe)... Used a change of pace option behind Robert Turbin and projects best in a similar role in the NFL. --Rob Rang

 Not invited to the NFL Combine;  Smith's college statistics.


Just for fun YouTube Highlights:
2011 Bowl Game Film
Pro Football Weekly Draft Profile

Tampa Bay selects Drake Dunsmore, TE, Northwestern

With the 233rd overall pick in 2012 (7th round, pick 26), Tampa Bay selected Drake Dunsmore, TE, Northwestern.  Dunsmore is 6'2" and weighed 241 lbs at the 2012 Combine.  He is from Lenexa, KS (Saint Thomas Aquinas HS).  Dunsmore was also a 2012 John Mackey Award Candidate.

From Northwestern Athletic Department site:

The 2011 Scouting Report: One of the Big Ten's top returning tight ends and one of the league's most dynamic multi-skill players ... Named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list for a second consecutive year ... Named to the Big Ten preseason second-team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's ... Possesses a terrific skill set: good route runner, great hands, excellent ball skills, and with his added strength and weight, a solid blocker ... Talented all-around athlete ... Sat out the past two spring seasons to rehab from injuries ... Adds another dimension to NU's passing game.

NFLDraftScout:

04/23/12 - Dunsmore probably will be selected later in the draft. More of a receiver than a blocker, he caught 143 passes and scored 14 touchdowns at Northwestern. NFL teams are increasingly looking for tight ends with receiving skills, so Dunsmore has received interest from several NFL teams and worked out for a handful, including the Chiefs, Patriots, Bears and Rams. “I’ve kind of tried to keep a level head about it,” he said. “My main focus is just to be on a team into camp in August. People have said I’ll get drafted. Some said I won’t get drafted. There are so many different things out there. I’m trying not to ride that roller coaster. “This has been a great experience, because until the last couple of years I didn’t anticipate it. I got the late start in football. It was my dad’s family rule: No football until high school. He got into the game late. He didn’t start playing ball until his senior year of high school out in Iowa. “But it’s worked out. When you’re younger, you can develop bad habits. There’s potential for bad coaching. Football is a game that once you’re fully developed physically, you can pick it up pretty quickly.” - Adam Teicher, The Kansas City Star

Combine:

Dunsmore is an intriguing offensive weapon from Northwestern, a college tight end who shows the frame and skill set to be used in a variety of ways at the next level. Much like Chris Cooley in Washington, or the development of Aaron Hernandez this year in New England, Dunsmore has the ability to be a threat from various spots on the field and be a reliable short-yardage option to pick up first downs and create mismatches.

Drake Dunsmore's college statistics at cfbstats.com.


Just for Fun YouTube Highlights
66-yard touchdown versus Auburn 
One handed touchdown versus Penn State
Combine Workout

Chiefs murky the Buccaneers #5 pick

With less than two weeks until the 2012 NFL Draft, no transaction is without consequences in the NFL.

Consider the Buccaneers upcoming #5 pick.  A couple weeks ago, it seemed the Buccaneers would get to choose between Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.  Then free agency started.

It was not the Buccaneer's head first dive into free agency this season which may have changed their draft   fortunes.  The Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Peyton Hillis away from the Browns, leaving Cleveland with two rookie and two second year running backs, only one of which ran for more than 20 total yards last season.

Richardson would be a solid prospect to add to the Buccaneers lineup.  However, many draft rankings have Richardson as the only running back in the 2012 NFL Draft with Round 1 credentials, and clearly the Browns need another runner.  Richardson is the obvious need, and many predict the Browns will select him, but consider this:  if no other running backs are selected after Richardson, there could still be a solid running back prospect on the board for Cleveland in Round 2.  It's far from a done deal but it does make a lot of sense both from a need and a value perspective.

So it could be that the Kansas City Chiefs, with a free agency pick-up which went down with little fanfare, may have guaranteed the Buccaneers select Morris Claiborne, CB from LSU, with the #5 pick.

It's all related now.