Is He a Good Judge of Talent?

I was asked this question by "Bette" of GoTeamsGo.com sports forums,

ABuccsFan, we always laugh and make jokes about how many quarterbacks Gruden keeps around in the spring. Does kind of make you wonder. He still doesnt come up with a winner. So is he a lousy judge of talent, or isnt he such a hot shot at developing qbs after all? And maybe you are right about Gannon making him a legend and not the other way around.

Here is my response. Go ahead Gruden groupies, tear me up.


Hahaha, great question. I'm bashed and hammered and ostracized by my fellow Buccaneer fans for not being the type of fan that waives his pom poms around telling everyone how great we are, and how all our players are the best. I'd like to think I know football, and I'd like to think I know it well enough to know the difference between a good player and an average player. Know the difference between a good coach and a not so good coach.

Some Buccaneer fans are in love with Jon Gruden. Sometimes I think they really won't know what to do with themselves when he's gone. Some fans seem to love Jon more than the team. Not this Buccs fan.

Is Jon Gruden a good judge of talent? Obviously Bruce Allen and the Glazer family thinks he is. Sure the talent evaluation process falls mostly on the College and Pro scouting departments within the Buccaneer organization, but Jon Gruden has the ultimate last word that helps GM Bruce Allen decide who to bring in and who not to bring in.

Let's take a look at Gruden's drafts since he's been here. Only offensive players. Monte Kiffin has a major influence on defensive players drafted, and really the only side of the ball we have been successful on when drafting.

2002
Marquise Walker - bust
Aaron Lockett - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Zack Quaccia - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else

2003
Chris Simms - never developed, could say bust
Lance Nimmo - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Austin King - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Sean Mahan - serviceable to bad, you be the judge

2004
Michael Clayton - bust for a 1st round pick, but sevicable contributing player
Jeb Terry - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Nate Lawrie - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Mark Jones - been cut 3 times, and each time he plays better than the player Jon replaced him with.
Casey Cramer - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else

2005
Carnell Williams - bust(injury history, 5th overall make him a bust)
Alex Smith - decent player above average
Chris Colmer - bust, drafted him with knowledge off a nerve condition and never played a snap
Dan Buenning - played like a pro bowler his rookie season, then disappeared
Larry Brackins - dumbest Jon Gruden pick ever
Rick Razzano - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Paris Warren - was starting to show serious promise for a 7th rounder in 2007, then severe ankle injury in last preseason game did him in. Just resigned to Buccs because of WR depth issues
J.R. Russell - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else

2006
Davin Joseph - Future pro Bowler
Jeremy Trueblood - Possible future Pro Bowler
Maurice Stovall - looking like a bust even for a 3rd rounder
Bruce Gradkowski - he sucks
T.J. Williams - was showing huge sleeper potential in camp, then went on IR
Tim Massaquoi - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else

2007 - too early to tell for sure
Arron Sears - Looking like a future Pro Bowler
Chris Henman - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else
Kenneth Darby - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else

2008 - way too early to tell, but early assessment
Dexter Jackson - bust
Jeremy Zuttah - hit a homerun with this kid
Josh Johnson - incomplete
Cory Boyd - not in the league or making an impact somewhere else


That's all the offensive draft picks since 2002. Is Jon Gruden a good judge of talent? You decide.


*******Disclaimer: Buccs fans with a very good inside knowledge of the Buccs know Jon Gruden and Rich McKay fought over Brian Westbrook. Gruden wanted Westbrook, and McKay chose Marquis Walker. The following season, Gruden wanted Domanick Davis and McKay chose Simms. Gruden is supposed to be a molder of QB's and a QB guru, so you decide on that one.
...ABuccsFan/JJC