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 Cheap Nike Shoes For Sale . - Alex Dostie scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the Gatineau Olympiques to a 5-3 victory over the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Sunday. Cheap Authentic Nike Shoes Wholesale . "There are a lot of things that are going very well in this organization. Im not coming in here to rip things apart," Nicholson told reporters Friday. "I know what Hockey Canada was when I started, and I know where this (Oilers) organization is today. http://www.nikeshoxcheap.com/.The 24-year-old quarterback spent four seasons at Northern Illinois and in 2013 was a finalist for the Heisman, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in U. Discount Nike Shoes . -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. Wholesale Nike Shoes Free Shipping .Y. -- Kristen Gillman rallied to win the U.DENVER -- His team-record hitting streak halted, Michael Cuddyer went in the other day for a much-needed haircut and shave. A new look for a new streak. Sure, this one is only in its infancy -- a mere two games -- but coupled with his 27-game streak that was snapped on Tuesday, hes now hit in 29 of his last 30 games. Cuddyer remains in a groove at the plate, hitting a solo homer and driving in three runs to help the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 on Thursday night. The only pitcher to silence his bat was Clayton Kershaw, when he kept Cuddyer hitless in four plate appearances. "Ran into the best pitcher in baseball and he pitched like it," said Cuddyer, who added a two-run double on Thursday as the Rockies avoided being swept by Los Angeles in the three-game series. "Throughout that whole streak, the whole season, really, Ive treated each at-bat the same, every pitch the same. Ive really been keeping my focus. Just because the streak ended, doesnt mean my focus went anywhere." Manager Walt Weiss couldnt agree more. "Cuddy keeps on rolling," he said. "He keeps on plugging away." As for his other outfielder, Weiss remains optimistic that Carlos Gonzalez will be fine after he left the game in the sixth inning with a strained upper back. Gonzalez apparently hurt his back while striking out in the fifth. "He said hes done it before. Were not too concerned," Weiss said. "It was enough of an issue to get him out of there." The Dodgers struggled to drive in runners against Jhoulys Chacin (8-3), a night after setting season highs in runs (10) and hits (17). The hard-throwing righty pitched out of trouble time and again, giving up four runs in 5 2-3 innings. "Wasnt my better game," Chacin said. "But the team picked me up, scored runs for me." Yasiel Puig was in the lineup a day after leaving the contest early with a bruised hip after crashing into the wall. He finished 1 for 5 with an RBI as the Dodgers had their four-game winning streak halted. Matt Kemp had a two-run homer, Adrian Gonzalez contributed four hits, including a solo homer in the ninth, and Hanley Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the last inning. Chris Capuano (2-6) had an uncharacteristic rough outing on the road, giving up six runs, five earned, and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. Capuano had a 1.35 ERA away from Dodger Stadium before Thursday. "Its frustrating," Capuano said. "I felt I was a pitch or two away from containing it." Mixing a four-seam fastball with a swoooping slider, Chacin got off to a rough start before finding his rhythm to win his fifth straight start.dddddddddddd He was taken out after allowing an RBI single to Puig in the sixth. Colorado got to Capuano in the third, scoring four times to grab a 5-2 lead. Cuddyer had the big hit in the inning, a two-run double over Kemps head in deep centre. But it wasnt without some theatrics. With Josh Rutledge holding in between second and third to see if Kemp caught the ball, Gonzalez nearly passed his teammate before applying the brakes. Gonzalez then followed closely on the heels of Rutledge all the way to the plate, sliding in at home just under the tag. Kemp put the Dodgers up 2-1 in the second, when he hit an 80-mph slider over the fence in centre. It was his second straight night with a homer. For Chacin, the homer to Kemp ended a career-best streak of 16 scoreless innings. Los Angeles had a chance for more damage, but Chacin struck out Mark Ellis and Puig to end the threat. Chacin also wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the third, striking out Nick Punto to end the inning. Punto threw down his helmet and bat in frustration. "That was a big strikeout," Weiss said. "We were at the point of the game, where it couldve gone either way right there." The night before, Los Angeles received a momentary scare when Puig jumped up to make a catch in right and smacked his left hip on a padded column below the scoreboard. Puig stayed down on the warning track for several minutes before jogging around the outfield. He remained in the game, but was taken out as a precaution the next inning. "When you play like that, youll end up getting banged up," manager Don Mattingly said. "You anticipate some of that stuff." Puig is hitting .430 with eight homers since his debut on June 3. The 22-year-old has energized his teammates with his energy. "Every day he impresses me," Ellis said. "Hes been so big for us." NOTES: Dodgers RHP Carlos Marmol may soon report to Triple-A Albuquerque. Marmol was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. ... Los Angeles will play in San Francisco on Friday night, with Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-3) starting for the Dodgers. ... Colorado begins a 10-game road swing on Friday in Arizona. ... Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki went through a light round of batting practice on Thursday with minimal pain from his broken rib and thinks he could be back soon, maybe even before the All-Star break. Tulowitzki leads the fan voting at his position for the All-Star Game and will attend, even if he cant play. ' ' '