The Bruce Allen era

[goflyhelo]

The Bruce Allen era

Five great moves

• In 2004, Allen dealt disgruntled WR Keyshawn Johnson to Dallas for veteran Joey Galloway. Johnson had 12 touchdowns in two seasons in Dallas and retired a year later; Galloway has had 28 touchdowns in five seasons in Tampa Bay, with three 1,000-yard seasons.

• Allen saw something in WR Antonio Bryant, who was out of football in 2007. Bryant, left, had a breakout 2008 season, with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. Same for DE Greg White, who went from the Arena Football League to 13 sacks in the past two seasons.

• Allen leaves the Bucs in a far better salary cap situation than he did Oakland, in part because he has been able to cut ties with veteran players whose best days were behind them, something he didn't do with the Raiders.

• QB Jeff Garcia had played for four teams in four seasons when the Bucs signed him. He has been a leader in his two seasons, with 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions.

• Best draft pick? Could be LB Barrett Ruud, a second-rounder in 2005, or S Tanard Jackson, who has started all 32 games since he was picked in the fourth round in 2007.

Five not-so-great moves

• Big contracts for veterans past their prime. RB Charlie Garner, OL Todd Steussie, OL Derrick Deese in 2004 were the biggest names to disappoint after expensive signings.

• The entire 2004 draft? When first-round WR Michael Clayton, left, with two TDs in the past four years, is your best pick, it's a rough draft.

• Giving QB Chris Simms a two-year contract with $5 million guaranteed after he suffered a ruptured spleen in 2006. He played in just three games in those two years.

• Picking WR/KR Dexter Jackson in the second round last year. Jackson, left, was active in just seven games, with zero receptions. Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson, drafted nine spots earlier, had 62 catches for 912 yards.

• Overall inefficiency. Of his 51 draft picks since 2004, only 23 were still with the Bucs at the end of the 2008 season. Of 33 unrestricted and restricted free agents signed under Allen, 17 weren't on the opening day roster in 2008.

The beginning

Allen joined the Bucs in January 2004 after nine years with the Raiders, including three division titles. He was reunited with Jon Gruden, Oakland's coach from 1998-2001. Allen's first NFL stint was as a 12th-round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1978 after playing as a punter at Richmond. He is the son of Hall of Fame coach George Allen.

[big#44]

So drafting pretty much isnt his strong suit is it?

[goflyhelo]

So drafting pretty much isnt his strong suit is it?

It doesn't look like it... it does make you wonder doesn't it? I hope he does way better here but could it be possible Vinny drafted better?

[vainglory]

epic failure: drafting Sebastian Janikowski (K) in the first round for Oakland

[Saqs]

Also interesting is how they (Gruden/Allen) were both fired. The year before (2007) they were both signed to nice 3 year extensions. 2008 the Bucs started 9-3 and finished 9-7.

[Warhead36]

I want to see his draft/FA history in Oakland.

[SkinsHokieFan]

I'd also look at his record in Oakland

If he has a strong scouting staff and Snyder keeps a good budget, Bruce can do some things

Remember, the Glazers cut funds down in Tampa in recent years

[goflyhelo]

Only 23 out of Allen's 51 draft picks during his time as Tampa Bay Bucs GM (2004-08) still remain with the team.

A 45 percent success rate doesn't give him much bragging rights....

[Califan007]

Yeah, why does everyone restrict Allen's FO experience to the 5 years with the Bucs?...I'd love a similar breakdown for his time with the Raiders.

[The Evil Genius]

epic failure: drafting Sebastian Janikowski (K) in the first round for Oakland

Of course - that same year that took perhaps the best punter ever in the NFL in the 5th round - Shane Lechler.

And SeaBass hasn't been that bad for the Raiders.

[DieselPwr44]

I'd also look at his record in Oakland

If he has a strong scouting staff and Snyder keeps a good budget, Bruce can do some things

Remember, the Glazers cut funds down in Tampa in recent years

Weren't the Bucs like 40+ million under the cap when Bruce was let go??

He won't have that problem here.

[goflyhelo]

While with the Raiders, his picks were:

2003
1a. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, California
1b. Tyler Brayton, DE, Colorado
2. Teyo Johnson, TE, Stanford
3a. Sam Williams, DE, Fresno State
3b. Justin Fargas, RB, USC
4. Shurron Pierson, LB, South Florida
5. Doug Gabriel, WR, Central Florida
6. Dustin Rykert, T, BYU
7a. Sideeq Shabazz, S, New Mexico State
7b. Ryan Hoag, WR Gustavus Adolphus

2002
1a. Phillip Buchanon, CB, Miami, Fla.
1b. Napoleon Harris, LB, Northwestern
2a. Langston Walker, OL, California
2b. Doug Jolley, TE, BYU
5. Kenyon Coleman, DE, UCLA
6a. Keyon Nash, DB, Albany State (Ga.)
6b. Larry Ned, RB, San Diego State
7. Ronald Curry, QB, North Carolina

2001
1. Derrick Gibson, S, Florida State
2. Marques Tuiasosopo, QB Washington
3. DeLawrence Grant, DE, Oregon State
5. Raymond Perryman, S, Northern Arizona
6. Chris Cooper, DE, Nebraska-Omaha
7a. Derek Combs, RB, Ohio State
7b. Ken-Yon Rambo, WR, Ohio State

2000
1. Sebastian Janikowski, K, Florida State
2. Jerry Porter, WR, West Virginia
4. Junior Ioane, DT, Arizona State
5. Shane Lechler, P, Texas A&M
7a. Mondriel Fulcher, TE, Miami (Fla.)
7b. Cliffton Black, DB, S.W. Texas State

1999
1. Matt Stinchcomb, T, Georgia
2. Tony Bryant, DE, Florida State
4. Dameane Douglas, WR, California
5a. Eric Barton, LB, Maryland
5b. Roderick Coleman, LB, East Carolina
6. Daren Yancey, DT, BYU
7. JoJuan Armour, LB, Miami (Ohio)

1998
1a. Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan
1b. Mo Collins, T, Florida
2. Leon Bender, DT, Washington St.
3. Jon Ritchie, RB, Stanford
4. Gennaro DiNapoli, G, Virginia Tech
5a. Jeremy Brigham, TE, Washington
5b. Travian Smith, LB, Oklahoma
7a. Vince Amey, DE, Arizona State
7b. David Sanders, DE, Arkansas

1997
1. Darrell Russell, DT, USC
3a. Adam Treu, G, Nebraska
3b. Tim Kohn, G, Iowa State
4. Chad Levitt, RB, Cornell
6a. Calvin Branch, CB, Colorado St.
6b. Grady Jackson, DT, Knoxville

1996
1. Rickey Dudley, TE, Ohio State
2. Lance Johnstone, DE, Temple
5. La’Roi Glover, DT, San Diego State
6. Tim Hall, RB, Robert Morris
7a. Sedric Clark, LB, Tulsa
7b. Darius Smith, C, Sam Houston St.
7c. Joey Wylie, G, Stephen F. Austin

[The Evil Genius]

Most of those Oakland drafts were solid.