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TAMPA, Fla. - Lovie Smith is well aware of Tampa Bays shaky track record in the NFL draft, as well as the role recent failures have played in the Buccaneers missing the playoffs the past six seasons. The franchises third coach in four years has spent the last two months overhauling the roster through free agency. Now, Smith and first-year general manager Jason Licht are counting on filling more holes with an infusion of young talent. Barring a last-minute trade to move up or down in the selection process, the Bucs have six picks in this weeks draft, beginning with No. 7 overall. Needs include wide receiver, offensive line, and possibly targeting the clubs quarterback of the future. As expected, Smith and Licht have given little indication of how they may be leaning. "I think if we had to play tomorrow, we could line up a pretty competitive team at every position, but youre always trying to upgrade," Smith said. "There are some positions we would like to upgrade, but Ill be saying that every year, and thats the way you should always be thinking." The Bucs have signed career backup Josh McCown to be their starting quarterback. They also acquired six other projected new starters in free agency: defensive end Michael Johnson, cornerback Alterraun Verner, centre Evan Dietrich-Smith, tackle Anthony Collins, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald and tight end Brandon Myers. To ensure long-term success, though, Smith and Licht are adamant they have to build through the draft. The Bucs, who havent made the playoffs since 2007, have only one player remaining on the roster who was drafted in 2009 or 2010 — the first two springs of the reclamation project the team launched under former GM Mark Dominik and ex-coach Raheem Morris. It helps that its two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the third overall pick in 2010. But an inability to nurture other young prospects into productive pros ultimately led to the demise of Dominik and the two coaches he worked with: Morris and Greg Schiano, who was dismissed in January after just two seasons. "Is it hard to make up, and is it a hindrance? Thats probably one of the reasons why Jason and I are both here right now," Smith said of failed drafts in general. "If you have to have one guy remaining you would like for it to be Gerald, of course," Smith added. "Our plan is for us to do better on the draft and make that our foundation. I feel like well do that." Five things to remember as Smith and Licht continue to put their stamp on the Bucs: QB? MAYBE: While the consensus is Tampa Bay has a pressing need is for a speedy receiver to play opposite Vincent Jackson, the Bucs lack a clear-cut quarterback of the future. McCown is 34. And, theres no indication Smith and Licht consider second-year pro Mike Glennon the long-term solution. So if Johnny Manziel is available at No. 7, would the Bucs balk at selecting a player who would almost certainly bring a circus-like atmosphere to town? "In terms of fan interest and selling tickets, we are lucky to work for the Glazers, who have hired us both to make us a better football team. ... We are just going to make the best football decision, whats best for our football team," Licht said. "I think Lovie and his staff can handle the rest of it." IF NOT A QB, THEN WHO?: Clemsons Sammy Watkins and Texas A&Ms Mike Evans are among the top-rated receivers . Most people feel Watkins will be long gone by the time the Bucs turn comes. WELL-PREPARED: Smith spent the past year out of football after being fired by the Chicago Bears following the 2012 season. Being off gave him more time than usual to watch college games, thus get a head start on evaluating talent for the draft. DONT BE SURPRISED: The Bucs have one pick in every round except the fourth. They may be tempted to trade out of the seventh spot, dropping lower in the first round while adding additional selections in later rounds. That seems more likely than moving up into the top five. NEED VS. BEST PLAYER: Licht offers this spin on the traditional draft-day strategy: "Our team needs in September are going to be totally different than they are right now. The player you take you may not think we have a need for him now, but a lot of times youre thankful you have them when the season starts." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL replica jerseys china . Erik Cole scored on a breakaway with 4:49 to play, and the Stars rallied to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Saturday night. wholesale jerseys china . Miralem Pjanic dribbled through the defence to score an extraordinary goal in the 43rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico and Gervinho added another from a rebound in the 65th for Romas ninth straight victory — ending Milans five-match winning streak. https://www.chinajerseysreplica.us/. You can watch the game live on TSN2 and TSN Mobile TV at 9pm et/6pm pt. Jonathan Huberdeau and Quinton Howden are expected to make their debuts for Team Canada. fake jerseys china . -- The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have completed a buyout of his contract, clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent. cheap china jerseys . Acclaimed by world football leaders but held in contempt by many football fans. Blatter should arrive at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo to watch host Brazil play Croatia confident that this tournament -- his fifth as president -- wont be his last leading the worlds favourite sport.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- These arent sunny days for the Buffalo Sabres. Theyre off to an NHL-worst 2-10-1 start, have two players currently suspended and Sunday night traded star scorer Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders. But longtime general manager Darcy Regier doesnt want to consider himself under pressure, despite his current situation. "I dont do well with that word," Regier said. "I think theres a better word. Is it a bigger challenge? Yeah. Id substitute the word challenge for pressure." As far as challenges go, its a monumental one. Regier is in the midst of trying to rebuild a roster around a young core without losing the support of fans, ownership and his veteran players. Trading Vanek was another step in that process, which could include shipping out franchise goaltender Ryan Miller and others before the March trade deadline. Its up to Regier get the best return out of such moves. "If youre under so much pressure, its paralysing, so you cant operate that way," he said. "You have to operate as though its a challenge and its something that you have to get done as a part of our team thats working on this. And you have to find the enjoyment in doing your work." Its not enjoyable for Regier or any man in his position to hear home fans chanting for him to be fired. But with Buffalo in the Atlantic Division basement after failing to qualify for the playoffs the past two years, that frustrated sentiment is certainly expected. Lindy Ruff, who coached the Sabres for 14 full seasons before being fired in the middle of 2013, gets it. "I understand where theyre at," said Ruff, whose Dallas Stars were in Buffalo to face the Sabres on Monday night. "Its tough to see where the team is at in the standings, but I watch how these players play and how some of the young players play and I think theres a lot of promise there." Its a long rebuild, and one Vanek told reporters in Uniondale, N.Y., that he didnt really want to be a part of. Regier knew Vanek would not re-sign, so he took a major step toward the future by acquiring winger Matt Moulson, a first-round pick in 2014 and a second-rounder in 2015 from the Islanders. "I dont want to show any lack of respect to our fans, but internally its just doing the work and focusing on what our plan is and trying to execute it as well and as soon as possible," he said. "I dont love where we are. I love what were doing and I believe in the direction were going in." That plan includes stockpiling draft picks. The Sabres have 17 first- or second-round picks from 2012 through 2015, the most in their history, something that is by design. Buffalos two first-round picks from 2012, Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons, and 2013, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, are all getting NHL experience right now. Thanks to the trades of Vanek to the Islanders, Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild and Robyn Regehr to the Los Angeles Kings, the Sabres have two first-round picks and three second-rounders in Junes draft, and one first and three thirds in 2015. "With where our hockey club is the first and second-round picks are important," Regier said. "Whether we use the picks to select players at the draft or whether we usee them to continue to improve the hockey club as we go forward through this season is yet to be determined.dddddddddddd." Its also yet to be determined how many early picks the Sabres will have by the time theyre done dealing. Like Vanek, Moulson is a pending unrestricted free agent, so its very realistic to think he goes to a contender by the deadline in exchange for more selections and/or prospects. Moulson isnt worrying about that right now, preferring a "day-to-day" approach. "Being from Mississauga Im well-acquainted with Buffalo. I used to love coming to Bills games," he said. "Its a great city and who knows, it could be for a long time. Well see what they have in store." Of course the biggest question surrounding the Sabres roster has to do with Miller, the 33-year-old goalie who has been a franchise cornerstone since he became the starter in 2005-06. Miller is in the final season of a US$31.25-million, five-year deal and figures to generate significant interest in the trade market. "I think any time a player plays better, you get more and when he plays poor, you get less," Regier said. "I think that will happen. I think its obviously good for our organization, its great for Ryan and it means a lot." Miller has a no-trade clause that allows him to block a move to eight teams. Asked if he had received any inquiries about Miller, Regier said: "I probably talk to a third of the league of my counterparts on a weekly basis. You end up talking about a lot of things." Impending free-agents Steve Ott, Cody McCormick and Henrik Tallinder could be talked about, too. What the Vanek trade showed is that the Sabres are open for business, and players know it. "Everybodys job is kind of up in the air right now," said Ott, who became the full-time captain after the trade. "I dont think anybody has a free pass in trying to rebuild and I guess you could say restructure the whole organization and thats something right now we can only control what you can control as a player, and thats something Im planning on continuing to preach to the team." Regier said its "too early" to know what value veterans could have in the coming months. "Teams, I think theyre dealing with a very heavy October schedule, which is a little bit unusual that were getting because of the Olympics," he said. "There are quite a few injuries around the league, so in some cases theyre waiting for players to get back, get healthy and get back before they start to assess what their needs are. But I would also say that theres probably more conversations now than there have been in the past." Regiers focus is on getting younger and relying on his scouting staff to find the next-generation versions of Vanek, Pominville, Regehr and others. Its very different from the task of building and retooling a playoff team. "Its a process that you work through," Regier said. "And it is exciting when you can get young players and you can see them grow. The hard part is when you dont win games while theyre growing, and it makes it difficult. But the nature of this business is short-term pressures and its a long-term plan that is going to get it done." ' ' '