2012 NFL Draft: Where Do the Tampa Bay Bucs Even Begin?

This time last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were heading into their season finale against the New Orleans Saints with a shocking 9-6 record. There were three ways to describe them then.

Playoff bound. Hopes high. Young and reckless.

Raheem Morris was in his second season as the Bucs head coach and was looking to prove critics wrong by making the playoffs as the youngest head coach with the youngest team in the NFL. With a roster chock-full of undrafted free agents and castaways, Morris' team was right on the edge of accomplishing what no one could've ever expected.

They would go on to win. But so would the Green Bay Packers. The rest is history.

No playoffs. Hopes still high. Experienced, but young and still reckless.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering this season's finale with a 4-11 record. The Coach of the Year runner-up is probably on his way out of One Buc Place. The young Bucs that had so much promise failed to stay true to their pinky swear of a playoff appearance.

No playoffs, again. Hopes rung dry. Only reckless.

I know Raheem Morris sings the praise of his "stats are for losers" mantra. So, for your LOSING team, Coach Morris, here are your stats.

Defensively, the Buccaneers have given up 51 total touchdowns (No. 32), 23 rushing touchdowns (No. 32) and 28 passing touchdowns (No. 31). They have been steamrolled and thrown all over for a total of 5,883 offensive yards (No. 30) and have allowed opposing teams to move the sticks 334 times (No. 30).

The Buccaneers have also turned the ball over 36 times this season and hold a mighty -14 turnover ratio (Only the Redskins are worse).

On the offensive side of the ball, the Bucs are 27th in total yardage, 16th in passing, 30th in rushing and 27th in scoring. In the red zone this season, Josh Freeman and the offense have managed to score only 48.57 percent of the time.

The Bucs D is also on pace to break the franchise record for most points allowed in a single season (473).

So, with the season coming to a thankful end, Mark Dominik and the Buccaneers are sadly looking to the future. The reason for the "sad" is that the time to scout has come too soon.

Where do the Bucs begin?

With so many flaws and eyesores, you would think it'd be a no brainer to sit down and examine what needs to be addressed.

Sure thing.

"Ok, well we can't seem to stop the run, right?," Mark Dominik might say. "Let's take an outside linebacker to compliment Mason Foster. Maybe Upshaw out of Alabama or that kid from UNC?" 

"But what about the passing game?," a young personnel guy will chime in.

"Which one...offense or defense," Dominik could counter.

For the ailing Buccaneer pass game (on both sides), do you look at a beast like Justin Blackmon out of Oklahoma State or some defensive help in the shape of Claiborne out of LSU or Kirkpatrick, from a Nick Saban defense in Alabama?

The run game has also been inconsistent with LeGarrette Blount carrying (or fumbling) the rock. Trent Richardson is a pure freak of an athlete and it would almost be too hard to pass up the opportunity if he was available.

Dominik and the Glazers will have their hands full this offseason. But how should it start?

A contract extension for Raheem Morris or the dreaded pink slip? With a guaranteed top-ten pick in this year's draft, should the Bucs go offense or defense?

Whatever it takes to win. Or fill the stands.