In case one missed it last Saturday, a defensive back few have seen play previously, E.J. Biggers, started against the Dolphins in the Bucs preseason opener and played damned well.

That would be E.J. Biggers, seventh round draft pick. He was drafted in April 2009 by the Bucs and missed the regular season with a bum shoulder.

Seems as if the Bucs may have found another gem, so writes Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.

E.J. Biggers, whose first pro season was derailed by a shoulder injury suffered in the last exhibition game, may have the inside track at nickel corner, fighting off challenges by rookie Myron Lewis and Elbert Mack. “Spirited would be a good word for the competition at nickel,” said veteran cornerback Ronde Barber. “E.J. had a great offseason and an awesome camp. He went to every meeting and put the work in last year, even though he was injured. We know what we have in E-Mack … he’s a heck of a competitor. We haven’t seen much of the rook (Lewis), but the way he looks, he has to factor in.”

Biggers, and Stroughter, and a few other players are why Bucs general manager Mark Dominik is leading the Bucs and no longer are Bruce Allen or Jon Gruden. Consistently, annually, that duo whiffed on latter round picks.

Unlike his predecessor, Dominik seems to be hitting on his late round picks. It appears, thanks to Biggers, Stroughter and others, that Dominik’s mantra of “building through the draft” is beginning to blossom.

JII