There’s a chance that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to make a decision between Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy with the third pick in the 2010 draft. In what could be an interior defensive line version of the Manning-Leaf conundrum of 1998, the Bucs may fear that they’ll end up with the defensive tackle version of Ryan Leaf.
So they’re doing their homework. And their homework includes asking a guy who faced both players to provide some input.
According to JoeBucsFan.com, last week’s visit to Tampa by former Texas Tech guard Brandon Carter included a point-blank question from Bucs G.M. Mark Dominik regarding whether Carter would pick Suh or McCoy.
“That’s just between me and him,” Carter told JoeBucsFan.com. “I don’t want anyone to have any hurt feelings out there. One of those guys might be a teammate next year.”
Still, the man who never allowed a sack against either player shared his general views on each of them.
“I think Suh was one of the greatest college defensive linemen of all time and potentially he could be one of the greatest NFL linemen of all time,” Carter said. “He has the ability that most other human beings are not even close to having. He can move people at will. He is incredibly strong. I don’t know him personally so I don’t know if he understands the game as well as others. But he makes such great plays, smart plays. He is just physical. I think with him, his [best asset] is his strength. He’s able to push linemen into the backfield or shed the block and throw the lineman into the backfield.”
Carter had a different assessment of Suh’s Oklahoma counterpart. “McCoy is quicker and faster,” Carter said. “Whenever I watched him on film, I can tell he is such a smart player. If an offensive lineman makes a mistake, he will take advantage of it. He’s one of those kind of players; he’s willing to go around you. . . . He has great moves and great mechanics. He is just a great technician.”
Notwithstanding his success against Suh and McCoy, Carter is regarded as a low-round prospect in the draft. So maybe Carter will be a teammate of either player -- at least until the day before Labor Day.