Gruden's Consolation Prize Is Gaines Adams

With the 4th overall pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders tells you all about it.

Gaines Adams revolutionized the "Bandit" position at Clemson. It was a tough job: he had to sack quarterbacks while driving a black Trans Am with Sally Field in the passenger seat.

Actually, the Bandit is just a right end who rushes the passer. Clemson has cool names for many of their defensive positions: the strong safety is a "Cat," one of the outside linebackers is a "Joker", and the fourth-string 3-technique tackle is the "Rabid Chipmunk."

Adams is a tremendous pass rusher, and the Bucs need a pass rusher, having sacked just 26 quarterbacks last year. He's also young, and the Bucs need youth on a defense that looks like a casting call for a Cocoon sequel.

Of course, Jon Gruden spent the off-season salivating over Calvin Johnson like a fat kid staring at a White Castle crave case. Gruden now has a case of Johnson envy. When you have Johnson envy, you have to consummate a trade, and the Lions (29 sacks last year) would love Adams . This, by the way, explains the appeal of the draft: it's all a giant double entendre for something really disturbing.