The early scouting report on new tackle Tony McDaniel on the Tampa Bay Bucs is an easy one.
He is large. Very large.
McDaniel, signed by the Bucs after being released by the Seattle Seahawks because of salary cap concerns after the team gave large raises to quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, joined the Bucs for his first practice with the team on Tuesday. McDaniel, at 6-7 and 315, was easly to notice.
“He has a big body,” coach Lovie Smith said. “Three hundred fifteen-pound guy that can clog up the middle a little bit. Most nose guards we’ve played haven’t had that type of height. That’s a big wall in front of the quarterback.
“He’s just not a nose tackle. We think he can give us some reps at the three-technique also. He’s played in the league for a long time for good reason. He’s a good football player we have added to our team.”
McDaniel seemed to fit in well with his new teammates.
“I think to win ballgames it starts up front, a nice, aggressive defensive line,” McDaniel said. “The defensive line is already pretty solid here and I think I bring some more toughness. I think with having me here we’ll win a lot more ballgames.”
“It’s kind of my job to eat up blockers and set up my linebackers to run around and make plays. I consider myself as a hybrid. I think I can play some end, play three-technique and I can play some nose. I can do it all.”
Still, McDaniel said he was surprised that the Seahawks turned him loose.
“Yeah, I’m a little shocked,” he said. “But things happen like that. They said they didn’t have any cap space and they’ve got to move on. You always have an edge when a team releases you. I just wish we played them so I could really show them.”
