Bruce Irvin, Najee Goode and Keith Tandy are all in the NFL now. Irvin was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and both Tandy and Goode were drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So will these players be able to make the transition from college to the pros? Only time will tell.
Bruce Irvin: Round 1 Pick 15
Many were surprised when Roger Goodell came up to the microphone to announce that the Seattle Seahawks selected Bruce Irvin number 15 overall. This makes him the second Mountaineer to be drafted in the first round since Adam “Pacman” Jones was selected in the first round with the sixth overall pick. Irvin is a player who in many people’s minds was definitely a second round pick and he more than likely would have still been on the board when it came time for the Seahawks to draft another player. However, this is a team that needed a lot of help defensively and many of their picks were defensive players. Irvin brings a lot to the table, since he can play many different positions. He was drafted as an outside linebacker, but he can also play defensive end. Both these positions the Seahawks need help in badly. In this situation though Irvin will more than likely be playing defensive end, but he may also be asked to play linebacker depending on the situation.
The Seahawks' defensive ends last year racked up 12 sacks, with Chris Clemons leading the way. Red Bryant came away with one sack and two interceptions, with one of them going for a touchdown. Clemons is getting up there in age, but shows no signs of slowing down and with Bryant putting up less than spectacular numbers the Seahawks will more than likely give Irvin the starting job. At defensive end Irvin can be a force to be reckoned with, he is quick and aggressive when going up against linemen twice his size and weight.
If defensive coordinator Gus Bradley decides to use Irvin as a linebacker he can be just as effective as if they have him lined up as a defensive end. Linebacker is also another position the Seahawks struggled to make an impact with. The linebacking corp. only came up with a pathetic three sacks last year and with Irvin also being able to play that position there is a very good chance that he will increase the sacks numbers as well as getting some interceptions.
The Seahawks have a somewhat difficult schedule playing against teams such as the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. While these will probably be their toughest games of the season, Irvin and the rest of the team have a long time to prepare for them.
Najee Goode: Round 5 Pick 140
Goode is a player who has a very good possibility of flourishing in the NFL, if given the chance. It will be no easy task though as he and everyone else on the team will be fighting for a roster spot come training camp. Goode was the second Mountaineer off the board and he now has something to prove since he was drafted so late. Goode was drafted as a linebacker and this is a position that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use some help with.
Last season Buccaneers' linebackers recorded three sacks and two interceptions. With the addition of Goode these numbers will hopefully be on the rise as he and the other drafted linebackers look to step up and show why they belong in the NFL. He has definitely has the speed and the ability to become a very quick and intelligent linebacker. This is also a good situation for Goode since he will also be playing with a new head coach that he has played against during his time at West Virginia. Greg Schiano coached Rutgers for 11 years before being hired by the Buccaneers. Schiano has tried to find ways to stop Goode in the past now he will try to find ways to make Goode a better player.
The Buccaneers' defense was ranked 29th overall and they are going to need Goode and every single defensive player to step up and play a lot harder this year. They were ranked 32nd against the rush giving up 156.1 yards a game on the ground and 21st against the pass giving up 238.4 yards a game through the air. This is where Goode can definitely help them out, he is great at stopping running backs in their tracks as well as popping any receiver foolish enough to be running a slant route near him.
Tampa Bay's schedule is very difficult and they will definitely have their work cut out for them. They have to play the New York Giants, San Diego Chargers, the Atlanta Falcons twice and the New Orleans Saints twice. Although the Buccaneers have had recent success against the Saints and with the bounty scandal and wiretapping scandal going on, this could be the year for them to make a significant impact in the division. Goode and the rest of the defensive need to prepare for any opponent that comes at them if they want to make a much needed improvement on last year’s stats.
Keith Tandy: Round 6 Pick174
One round after selecting Najee Goode, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to go after another player from West Virginia, cornerback Keith Tandy. Tandy will definitely have his work cut out for him as he will have to prove that he is ready to step up to the pro level. Cornerback was one position that the Buccaneers were in desperate need of and with Tandy being such a dynamic player in college they made a good pick.
With Ronde Barber getting close to 40 years old the Buccaneers definitely needed someone to fill in for him and this situation will give Tandy a shot to prove himself. Also with the Buccaneers missing out Morris Claiborne, Tandy seemed like a good option at the time. Last year the Buccaneers’ cornerback corps racked up one sack and six interceptions. These stats were not however beneficial to the defense as they were ranked 21st against the pass. With the addition of Tandy, he will be able to limit yardage as well as pick off passes and sack the quarterback when given a chance.
Like Goode, this is also another player that Head Coach Greg Schiano has coached against during his time at Rutgersand he couldn't stop Tandy when he took the field. So instead of letting someone else in the division grab him, Schiano took him to use to his advantage. With two players he has coached against Schiano and the test of the Buccaneers will look to make some noise in the NFC South.
It is also being reported that several other Mountaineers have signed on as free agents with other teams. Long snapper Cody Nutter will join Najee Goode and Keith Tandy in Tampa Bay, offensive lineman Don Barclay signed on with the Green Bay Packers, defensive end Julian Miller signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and will join former Mountaineers Adam “Pacman” Jones and Robert Sands and safety Eain Smith signed on with the Washington Redskins.
These former Mountaineers will definitely have their work cut out for them before and after training camps start, since no roster spot is guaranteed. Many who have come before have found this out and it doesn’t matter who you are or how good you are.
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