While reading a recent post on the grading Barrett Ruud, I felt that everyone had an basic understanding of what Barrett has to do, but no one fully understood his responsibilities. I went online to read many articles on what Barrett has to do in our defense the best 1 came from this site(http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/20/201926/tampa-bays-ruud-playing-the-middle-exactly-right/sports-bucs/).

Like I said most of bucnation already understand what Ruud has to do. So lets not waste a lot of time talking about, Ruud getting that depth in the middle of the field and calling the plays and what have you. 1 key thing that the article brought out is how the undertackle and the weakside linebacker have the most responsibility at stopping the run, and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. Another Key point is that Barrett is a failsafe guy who protects the gaps on the second level, meaning he is supposed to make plays 5 yards off the line where other guys make mistake playing their gaps, that is almost the role of a safety. 

This still does not change my view on Barrett, mainly cause of these 2 points. 

1. I think his range has a limit, when someone messes up on their gap assignment I think his ability to pick it up is limited. Also there are a lot of miss tackles at the second level with him manning the middle there should be a lot of gang tackles on the second level. Also since he has limited range, and has to do a lot of anticipating when he is wrong his broken plays lead to big plays and touchdowns.

2. I don't care who you are and what role you play on this defense the main role is making plays, of course you are supposed to make the play infront of you but it is important to be a playmaker. With the group of guys we have now and our D-linemen still under development, I think it is imperative that we have a play maker in the middle. Ruud is just not that guy. We need a guy there who can cover range in the secondary to get ints get knock downs and force plus recover fumbles consistently, all while taking care of his MLB responsibilities. 

What Rah wants from his MLB he gets in Ruud with a real good grade. But this teams needs more a lot more from the MLB position. Hayes is good but he is no Brooks, Mccoy will be great but he is no Sapp, Jones os good but he is no Lynch. We need a dominate playmaker in the middle. When it is all said and done Ruud is just not that guy.