2011 NFL Draft Results: Tampa Bay Bucs Intend to Stop the Run with Foster Mason

Foster Mason, run stopper.

That's what the Bucs need, it's what they got with the third-round selection of linebacker Foster Mason out of the University of Washington.

He has size and speed. At 6'1", 245, he can bring it.

His selection gives the Buccaneers a defensive trifecta:

Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers, two defensive ends as the Bucs used the footprint from the 2010 draft and went back-to-back with what they truly needed.

They followed that up with Mason, the Huskies linebacker who is good against the run. He's not a great pass defender in the open field but he'll flat out put the smack down on a ball carrier and that is what this defense needs, isn't it?

He'll play the SAM linebacker in the 4-3, which means the Bucs may not be finished looking at linebacking prospects.

Notice that there hasn't been a corner taken in the first three rounds.

Common sense might tell you that if the "dumping" of Aqib Talib rumor has any teeth, then there might have been a cornerback in those first three picks.

This 2011 draft is off to a good start and the Bucs have five more picks.

The defense just got a whole lot better in the past 48 hours.