Youth Is Served: Buccaneers Feature 12 Rookies in Win Over Panthers
by Craig T on Nov 18, 2010 1:00 PM EST
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How's that song go......"I'm in nuclear science, I love my classes, I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses, things are going GREAT....and they're only getting better....I'm doin alright, gettin good grades, the future's so bright....I gotta wear shades."
Well, the bright, sunny weather wasn't the only reason to don shades at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. The Buccaneers bright young stars indeed shone brightly on both sides of the ball. For the first time since November 2002, a team won when starting 7 rookies. The last team to do it was the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2002, when they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-19.
Fast forward 8 years. The Buccaneers rolled out 7 rookie starters on Sunday. On offense, Ted Larsen, Erik Lorig, Mike Williams, and Rejus Benn earned starts. For Lorig, it was his first career start. On defense, Gerald McCoy, Cody Grimm, and Dekoda Watson started, with the latter garnering his first career start in place of the injured Quincy Black. On the day, 12 (TWELVE!) rookies saw playing time, including LeGarrette Blount, Derek Hardman, Robert Malone, Preston Parker, and Al Woods.
So what does that mean? It means the early returns from the past 2 drafts are beginning to show their worth. It means that it was indeed time for a change and a youth movement after the 2008 season. And it also means that GM Mark Dominik and his staff deserve some early credit for the moves they have made. There's no doubt, the front office put itself out on a limb when it cut ties with Antonio Bryant March 2010 after an unproductive 2009 season. Many initially cricitized the move, including yours truly. However, as the front office preached patience in the process of building through the draft, they put together a plan. They targeted players they thought could help them, especially at wide receiver, and landed them. Think anyone misses Antonio Bryant right now? The guy is not even playing football.
Am I saying a complete core of talent is in place to start a new era of winning football? No, not yet, not by any means. Help is sorely needed in the front 7. The pass rush doesn't just need to be upgraded....it needs to be scrapped and rebuilt. Run support has to improve, and if it can't with the current roster, then it's time to upgrade those areas. Depth on both lines is needed. Clearly, there is a lot of work still to be done to keep this team moving in the right direction.
However, given the product on the field on Sunday, this front office just might be the group with the plan and the ability to get the job done.
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Yep
Dominik and his staff deserve all the credit in the world for drafting these great players. The future is definitely bright for this team.
"1 - 2 - Freddy's coming for you, 3 - 4 - Better lock your door, 5 - 6 - Grab your crucifix, 7 - 8 - Better stay up late, 9 - 10 - Never sleep again..."
Also did a great job by trading a 6th rounder for WR Reggie Brown
… oh wait, nevermind.
by Cracker Ball on Nov 18, 2010 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
Brilliance
RUN THE BALL ON FIRST DOWN!!!!!!
by bucfanlostiniowa on Nov 18, 2010 4:44 PM EST up reply actions
Can't wait for next year when we get a tougher schedule, then we'll see how "Brilliant" these guys are.
But they have made some good picks and moves, but it is a bit too early to put these guys in the HOF.
I'm not negative, I'm just telling you how it is.
Don't look for perfection...
either through draft picks or trades because you won’t find any in our front office or any other front office no matter what sport. With that said, i think Dominik has done a good job in evaluating talent, accepting his mistakes, and moving forward. I’m also really glad Haynesworth decided not to sign with the Bucs even though we were offering him more money….
The fact that they're willing to cut their losses quickly is encouraging
A lot of front offices have trouble admitting their mistakes and stick with their players too long.
lol
true
"1 - 2 - Freddy's coming for you, 3 - 4 - Better lock your door, 5 - 6 - Grab your crucifix, 7 - 8 - Better stay up late, 9 - 10 - Never sleep again..."
Its never to early for blind negativity.
nothing is ever good enough even when you 6-3.
I bet your one of those guys who thought we would win 2 games this year and your really upset that your own favorite team is doing so well. SMFH
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
I actually thought 4-5 wins...
and its just a reminder to folks that write using the word “brilliance” that there are also misses along the way too – not just the hits that are more fun to discuss. I think
Dom did a pretty good job overall, but time will ultimately tell. Too early to judge this 2010 draft class yet. People that start for us might not for other teams. We did pick 3rd if you remember.
Yes, I did have WR Carlton Mitchell as a later pick in my mock, along with choosing S Nate Allen, LeGarrett Blount, DE George Selvie and NOT choosing a P. I would have used ALL the picks instead of trading a couple for a 5th in a weaker 2011draft.
by Cracker Ball on Nov 19, 2010 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Very true
It takes a few years to truly judge a draft class. Just look at Michael Clayton, Tanard Jackson and Cadillac Williams to see how early returns can be deceiving. And there are plenty of cases of players who look like busts early in their career who turn out great anyway.
Nope, I figured 6 due to a soft schedule, and it's way more softer than I ever imagined.
But we’re still not as good as our record, something you’re blinded by.
I'm not negative, I'm just telling you how it is.
How are we not as good as our record
That makes absolutely no sense.
We suit up 53 players on Sunday against another team that suits 53 PROfessional players and we have won 6 our of 9 times.
So your assumption is because we havent beaten the best teams in the league on a weekly basis our Wins dont count for anything????
The Browns beat the Saints, The Browns also beat the Patriots. The lowly Cowboys and Jon Kitna beat the mighty Giants.
You play your schedule and understand that nothing in the league is guaranteed.
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
That doesn't mean you can't look criticially at the schedule and how the team has played
And then analyse how good the team is based on that.
Your strength of schedule has EVERYTHING to do with your record...
as we are now playing a cushy last place schedule. Last year, we were playing a difficult first place schedule. Far fewer patsies last year.
For example: If we were to finish with 8 wins this year, compared to the 3 of last year, how can you honestly say that you have improved as a team? You probably can’t, as the tougher teams we beat in 2009 (GB, NO and SEA) at 29-19 were substantially better than the teams we have beaten THIS year (STL, ARI, CLE, CIN and CAR 2 times) at a combined 14-40.
Given our record is better, but as a team, we may not be by much. Not negative – just stating facts. The collective record of the teams played in our victories is very poor to this point. You test your mettle against good teams, not the bad ones.
by Cracker Ball on Nov 19, 2010 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
Well this is the other extreme
It’s fine to look at the schedule and say “Well it’s pretty soft so we’re not as good as the record”, but now you’re discounting any and all accomplishments just because the schedule soft. Do you honestly not think the offense this year is miles ahead of last year’s offense? Or that the pass defense isn’t much better?
Last year’s team for the greater part of the season couldn’t close out a game and couldn’t beat some really weak opponents (Bills, Redskins). Yes, we’ve only beaten relatively weak teams this season. But beating them is still an accomplishment.
You predicted 4 or fewer wins before the season (and bet the wearing of a certain helmet on it, too). And you knew the schedule would be weak this year then, too. Don’t pretend that the schedule is that much weaker than you thought it would be. The Rams are better than they looked before the season. The Browns are better than they looked before the season. Sure, the Panthers are worse, but I don’t see why this team couldn’t beat last year’s Panthers. Yes, the Bengals are worse, but they’re not terrible. The Cards are about as good as they looked before the season.
Look, this team is 6-3 and has played some surprisingly good football at times. You can’t sit there and honestly tell me that this team is just as bad as it was last year, that’s nonsense. And beating the bad teams is in and of itself an accomplishment, because there are a lot of football teams out there that can’t.
I have said that the 6 wins are a surprise...
considering how many holes we have. We have won by the skin of our teeth on several occasions, against teams that are very poor. If we play CLE now, instead of Week 1 , we probably lose. I expected that one to be a loss in my totals. They just took longer to get going. The poor teams take turns beating up on each other, and some very poor play by several opposing QBs (CAR twice, ARI, CLE) has probably made us look better than we really are. By my count, 4 rookie QBs and Mr. Jake Delhomme. Our run defense is still very very poor (we may have actually regressed a bit, which is kinda what I expected with our F/A DE losses and starting a rookie), and the pass defense is much harder to judge just because of the weaker schedule and pretty “rookie-ish” play of the opposing QBs.
The offense IS actually much better thanks to Freeman, Blount and Williams. Freeman has improved greatly and really has the composure of a veteran back there. A pleasant surprise. The OL play has been a pretty big disappointment so far, and Blount has to sometimes make his own holes. Much attention needed here in the off-season.
Even though our W/L record is the same as NYG, NO, PHI and GB – no one is taking us very seriously because we haven’t won a game against anyone of quality. If we play some other teams with losing records, like MIN, DAL, DEN, SD or HOU – we would get lit up. We are clearly the benefactor of our crummy schedule.
So we are the toughest of the weaklings.
by Cracker Ball on Nov 20, 2010 12:05 AM EST up reply actions
I think the only part of this team that could possibly be seen as worse than last year is the run defense
And even that has changed as it at least doesn’t allow the big 40-yard runs anymore.
And actually, we are being taken seriously. The Falcons game gave us a lot of respect, and rightfully so. No, we’re not on the level of the Giants, Eagles or Packers – but we’re certainly better than the Vikings, Cowboys or Broncos now.
Look at the Seahawks for a good example of a team that has beat some quality opponents
But has been beat by terrible opponents too. They beat the Bears on the road and the Chargers at home. Those are some good football teams. But then they got blown out by the Rams, the Raiders, the Broncos and the Giants. You don’t make your mark against good teams, you make your mark against all teams.
yeah that was dumb
But if that’s it then I think you can’t complain to much.
"1 - 2 - Freddy's coming for you, 3 - 4 - Better lock your door, 5 - 6 - Grab your crucifix, 7 - 8 - Better stay up late, 9 - 10 - Never sleep again..."
a 6th Rounder for Reggie Brown true........
and a 2nd rounder for the late Gaines Adams. Which turned into Arrelious Benn.
If I remember correctly you also wanted us to take Carlton Mitchell a guy who cant crack the receiving corps for the BROWNS.
I think Ill trust the judgement of the FO before i trust the judgement of a guy who can never find the right side of the bed.
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
Curious,
How was Dekoda playing last sunday?
who would of thought we would be arguably the greatest of all time
around here we developed such a sound down here
but duplicate it off the steel it can only be found here
Solid but unspectacular
He and Hayward split snaps, neither stood out either negatively or positively.
Hayward made a splash play in the backfield.
I never saw him in pass coverage but I thought his run support was excellent. I’d like to see more of him on 1st and 2nd down. He already plays in many of the goalline sets. I really like his energy.
5 picks out of the first 100 in a draft saturated with talent. Yes, I'm optimistic.
by chuckyforpres on Nov 18, 2010 6:57 PM EST up reply actions
How easy it is to sit around a point out the few negatives
that the FO has done, and never bring up one obvious positive. So he traded a 6th rounder that would possibly be depth (benchwarmer) for a guy who possibly needed a change of scenery and also had produced in this league before.
Its also pertinent to note that we received a 2nd round pick for a clear underachiever who no other team would have compensated us such a manner. This pick turned out to be a rookie who is coming into his own a lil late Arrelious Benn. Seems like a pretty astute move to me.
Another guy wants to wait for a tougher schedule to see how “brilliant” the FO is. Which means exactly what??? When we play tougher teams next year we will have more experienced players who are no longer rookies and know what to expect. They will also have confidence and another year in the current system under RAHEEM MORRIS.
Blind negativity is a disease that you guys shouldnt try to pass on to real fans.
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
CARLTON MITCHELL, are you serious???
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
... and blind positivity does what exactly?
I am a Buc fan – irregardless of what you choose to say. Did you pick up the paper today?
Negative things happen. That is exactly how you learn to improve. DT Brian Price is on IR and not performing, so by your measure he would been a mistake. Like I said earlier, it is way too soon to know the long-term impact of our 2010 draft.
So relax and turn off your caps key…
by Cracker Ball on Nov 19, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
Im rather fond of my caps key when necessary.
emphasizing the name of a guy who cant crack even the situational lineup for the BROWNS is necessary
the point to be made about Calton Mitchell is that no one knows anything about these prospects besides height weight and speed. Considering how much our FO gets paid they are doing a great job seeing things that people like you and I dont.
Its easy to sit around and second guess everything, the FACT is we have alot of young players who are contributing in the best football league in the world. Im not saying vote anyone to the decision making hall of fame. But some credit is due for putting together a team below budget that is clearly producing. I am in no way blindly positive but do believe in giving a clear “pat on the back” when it is necessary. and considering our record and our unknown players, Now is as good a time as any.
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
You mean giving credit like this?
I think Dom did a pretty good job overall, but time will ultimately tell. Too early to judge this 2010 draft class yet.
Is it second guessing if the Mock Draft was BEFORE the selections were made? Besides, what is the purpose of a blog if not to discuss issues about the team? That IS exactly why we are all here instead of watching The Cooking Channel.
Yes… even the issues you don’t like or agree with.
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