Bucs’ secondary should be a primary concern in free agency
by Paul Mueller on Feb 9, 2010 2:58 PM EST
in 2009 Random Thoughts/Editorials
33 comments
When head coach Raheem Morris took over as defensive coordinator in Week 12, he inherited the 26th-ranked defense and a secondary among the worst in the league in allowing plays of 40-plus yards.
Despite their early season struggles, the Bucs’ defense finished among the top ten in the NFL against the pass. After Morris took over, the Bucs did not allow a 300-yard passer, allowing just six touchdowns through the air in as many games. Opposing quarterbacks averaged 204 passing yards per game on Morris’s watch, and eventual Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees threw for just 253 yards and one touchdown as the Bucs defeated the Saints in New Orleans in Week 16.
Still, with free agency . . .
. . . and the NFL draft approaching, the secondary remains a primary concern for Morris and general manager Mark Dominik. Though his play stabilized late in the season, strong safety Sabby Piscitelli got off to a slow start and struggled to adapt to former coordinator Jim Bates’s system. At cornerback, Ronde Barber, though he failed to intercept a pass, recorded his usual 69 tackles, forcing two fumbles and recovering one. On the other side, Aqib Talib recorded 56 tackles and a team-high five interceptions. The only concern at cornerback is Barber’s age, so there is a little breathing room in addressing cornerback, but not much. Free safety Tanard Jackson came back strong from a four-game suspension, tying Talib for the team lead with five interceptions and 59 tackles in just 12 games.
While Piscitelli recorded 66 tackles, more than Jackson or Talib, most of them came in run support. Teams began to pick on Piscitelli early in the year after the Cowboys’ Tony Romo torched the Bucs' secondary, most notably Piscitelli, for 42-, 66- and 80-yard touchdowns and a total of 353 yards through the air in Week 1.
The free agent pool is deep with veteran talent and youth to address the strong safety position if Piscitelli cannot turn it around in 2010, the final year of his contract.
For the next three days I will break down free agents the Bucs will likely look at to address the safety position. I'll discuss two players each of the next three days to explore different options. Morris was the defensive backs coach before shooting up the ranks to head coach, so that unit is likely near the top of his offseason shopping list. Let's see who's out there that the morris camp might have their eye on.
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'Sabby Piscitelli got off to a slow start'
Understatement of the year.
by Sander on Feb 9, 2010 3:53 PM EST reply actions 6 recs
Its fun to rec comments,
what his name who doesnt care is right, Buc em is the only site who doesnt utilize it!
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
EXACTLY,
Thank you Hook85
Official head of the Eric Berry bandwagon.
Buc'em- Your source for everything buccaneer.
by Some other guy who does not care on Feb 9, 2010 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
It was amazing the turnaround on pass defense once Morris took over the D
The rush defense however…….ugh.
Signature space available for rent - Got to pay the bills somehow
On paper, it did improve...
… but it may have much more to do with the inability to stop the run. If teams can run roughshod all over us, why take the chance of getting picked. Just grind out a victory instead.
That would have something to do with the defense looking better
But some stats sites also agree the Bucs got better at defense as the season went on. Specifically, FootballOutsiders (who look at it from a per-play perspective) ranks the defense 18th when giving more weight to recent games, vs 25th over the entire season. I remember the Bucs being around 30th in the league in defense for most of the early season in their metrics.
I will be interesting to see
if they actually address any positions in free agency. I agree with you that the secondary needs a lot of help, but I would say the defensive line needs more help than the secondary (the lesser of two evils?)
From the interview Dominik gave a couple of weeks ago, it didn’t sound good for free agency. At this point I would be ecstatic if they signed just one new defensive starter in free agency. It would be nice to land a serviceable #2 corner in FA, and if they don’t draft Berry, they will need a new SS as well. Looking forward to the evaluations forthcoming.
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them how you please." - Mark Twain
Yea, I figured.
I don’t think they’ll make many moves, but they’ve gotta at least entertain some of these guys at safety, particularly the young ones, unless they draft Berry. D-Line is a bigger need, for sure.
"I'm throwing rocks tonight. Mark it, Dude" - Donny
Agree.
With the exception of a couple of players, teams will generally look the same (with the addition of draft picks). Teams like the Bears with no first or second round pick could be in serious trouble.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
I definitely think this draft should be defense defense defense
With maybe one of the second rounders used for a WR
A couple of slick F/A signings could change our need dramatically...
… such as CB Donta Robinson of the Texans. DT Marcus Stroud of the Bills would fit nicely next to Roy Miller. Maybe a WR to add some depth.
Taylor Mays
and then teach him how fundementals on how to tackle.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
No thanks,
I like guys who know how to tackle, No projects please.
Official head of the Eric Berry bandwagon.
Buc'em- Your source for everything buccaneer.
by Some other guy who does not care on Feb 9, 2010 8:18 PM EST up reply actions
Projects please, more bang for the buck if they work out.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
THEN LET"S DRAFT
TIMOTHY TEBOW, HE CAN BE OUR FRANCHISE QB FOR YEARS TO COME
Official head of the Eric Berry bandwagon.
Buc'em- Your source for everything buccaneer.
by Some other guy who does not care on Feb 9, 2010 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
If hes avaible in the draft at a spot where success would be worth the chance the high chance of him failing, I would say yes.
I aint saying take Mays in the 1st round. But if the Bucs can get him in the second I dont think hes that high of a risk then. Most draftees in the second round have some sort of risk, and most wont have as much upside as Mays will. Sure there might be a guy who is a lock as a decent reciever who may be a little above average but you arnt going to draft someone out of the first round with potential to be GREAT unless he has some sort of issues that needs worked on if not hed be gone in the 1st.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Because that worked out so well with Sabby
Whoops.
I’d rather see Myron Rolle, smart guy, looked like a leader, looked great at the senior bowl. The only issue would be longevity and dedication – it’s clear that he wants to eventually go into a medical path, supposedly after earning heaps of cash in the NFL.
Seriously
What is the love fest with Myron Rolle?
Official head of the Eric Berry bandwagon.
Buc'em- Your source for everything buccaneer.
by Some other guy who does not care on Feb 9, 2010 8:54 PM EST up reply actions
I haven't heard a negative thing about him
Biggest question mark was how fit and ready for football he would be after spending a year studying at Oxford. He put in a stellar Senior Bowl performance to show that he hasn’t slipped, and he mostly showed off great football intelligence.
Where Mays looks like the complete physical package (see Sabby), Rolle looks like the inferior physical player but much better intelligent player who would excel through coverage and run support decisions.
I don’t know, all analysis of him I’ve read, both professional and fan analysis, talks of him as a great football player and prospect. The questions being his dedication – he could leave the NFL voluntarily after only a few years – and durability and experience, due to the year off.
he hasnt played in over a year. Thats a big negative. Sam Bradford would probly be going #1 or atleast a lock at the forst QB, now, not so much.
But cleary he is very smart, and was athletic enough to be a 5 star recruit. So he could be a good sleeper. I just dont think hes on Mays level at all, some experts have Mays not even making it to the 2nd. So I would have to say its not really an arguement on wich is a better prospect.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Hes a good pick at the right time, but I wouldnt touch him in the first 2 rounds.
This from a Noles fan.
Signature space available for rent - Got to pay the bills somehow
I think if he's available in the third round he's a must-draft, though
Unless we already have Berry at that point.
I dont think Sabby and Mays are even close to the same level of talent. I wont even look at Sabbys physical stats, I will just assume his is not a freak of nature like Mays. Who has had GREAT seasons at USC. Just this season with a weak ass USC defense his “going for the big hit” was exposed.
Last year he was a projected top 10 pick.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Heard Kiper on the radio tonight
saying that he was talking to a front-office guy saying most people feel he is a 3rd level talent with 1st round hype.
"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"
I have seen he is projected by most in the second, but some still have him going in the 1st. Maybe I wasnt looking but I havent even noticed where Rolle might go, so I assume later then the 3rd round.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Yeah you're right
Rolle had a much better Senior Bowl, but he still is a round or even several rounds behind Mays. (walterfootball.com has him going in the 4th)
Mays played well when surrounded by good talent (2008 USC) but when saddled with average talent (2009 USC) he vanished.
Signature space available for rent - Got to pay the bills somehow
Draft stock changes
And physical tools are only a part of any position. Again I mention Sabby.
Mays has been dropping hard because he’s shown poor football intelligence as of late, especially at the senior bowl. Great physical tools, but gets lost in coverage, takes poor angles on the ball and is off on his reads. And that can be hard to fix.
His draft stock will probably rise again with the combine, which would really speak to his forte, but I think he’s very boom or bust. Either his lack of football intelligence makes him a bad player, or he’ll be able to fix the problems he has in that area and come out as a great safety. The NFL’s history (and mostly the Raiders’ history) is strewn with the ‘corpses’ of great physical players who lacked too much in other areas.
Yea but those numb skulls would pick those players in the top 10.
Thats the difference.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
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