An Early Look At The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Roster - Defense
by Sander on May 4, 2011 12:00 PM EDT
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PrintAfter looking at the offensive side of the ball yesterday, let's take a look at the defense. Who will start where, and who will be the backups? Here are my thoughts.
DE: Adrian Clayborn (Starter - unsigned draftee), Da'Quan Bowers (Starter - unsigned draftee), Michael Bennett (exclusive rights free agent), Alex Magee - Clayborn will get the chance to start immediately and Bowers will start if he's healthy. If he isn't healthy he'll likely be placed on PUP and Kyle Moore could make the roster while he continues rehabbing. Alex Magee really impressed me in limited time last season. Michael Bennett has a lot of potential and got the chance to start at right end late last season. The Bucs could also decide to re-sign Tim Crowder, who has been solid during his tenure as a Buc. Kyle Moore's career as a Buc is likely over, as the 2009 fourth-rounder has done nothing whatsoever this season.
DT: Gerald McCoy (Starter), Roy Miller (Starter), Brian Price, Al Woods - I think Miller retains his starting job another year as Price learns the ropes and rotates in on third down. McCoy is the obvious starter, and Al Woods will have to fight Frank Okam for the last roster spot. I think Woods showed a little more than Okam did, so he's more likely to make the roster.
LB: Dekoda Watson (Starter), Mason Foster (Starter - unsigned draftee), Geno Hayes (Starter), Adam Hayward(Restricted free agent), Tyrone McKenzie, A Special Teamer - Mason Foster will get the chance to earn the starting job at MLB immediately and I think he grabs it. Geno Hayes will likely return his starting spot as a weakside linebacker, while Adam Hayward and Dekoda Watson can platoon on the strong side. Yes, this means I think they resign Hayward, who's very valuable as a multi-purpose backup. The coaching staff supposedly loves Tyrone McKenzie, and there's no reason to think he doesn't make the roster. The Buccaneers need another linebacker to fill out the roster, and there's an outside chance they re-sign Quincy Black to start at SAM again.
CB: Ronde Barber (Starter), E.J. Biggers (Starter), Myron Lewis, Anthony Gaitor (unsigned draftee), Elbert Mack (Restricted free agent) - I don't have Aqib Talib listed here because he's likely facing a suspension and the Bucs may trade or release him anyway. Assuming Talib isn't back, this is what the roster will look like. If he is back, slide everyone down one spot and Elbert Mack ends up off the roster.
S: Cody Grimm (Starter), Sean Jones (Starter), Ahmad Black (unsigned draftee), Larry Asante, Corey Lynch - Yes, that's five safeties for the Bucs. This isn't unprecedented as they went into last season with five safeties as well. Grimm and Jones are the starters and it'd be a minor miracle if Black, Asante or Lynch could challenge them for a starting job. But all three are good enough to stay on the roster as backups, special teamers and situational players.
P - Robert Malone - He was decent as a punter last year and while the Bucs will probably bring in some competition in camp, he's good enough to hold onto the job.
And that makes 53! Of course, this will all change significantly if the labor situation changes, as the roster could be expanded and the rules for restricted free agency could add more players currently scheduled to be free agents to the Bucs' roster.
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Cornerback depth is scary in this scenario.
In a bad way. Keeping my fingers crossed for Talib to catch yet another break from Dom and Morris and then to see the proverbial light.
If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
If the front four improve the pass rush this year
you will find that all the CBs look better. Depth may not look good, but take time away from the QB, let the DBs know the ball is coming out quick, and you’ll think Biggers and Lewis have been to multiple Pro Bowls. It’s very similar to how last year we had no pass rush, but great coverage, and still had a very good pass defense. The DBs bail out the D-Line sometimes and the D-Line can make all the DBs look good.
Cornerback depth can be improved in FA when/if it happens
for starters, if we’re losing people via Free Agency, such as Ruud and Quincy Black, then it stands to reason that the Bucs will get people to fill the gaps we still have. And if the stories be true, there’s a chance the cap floor that teams have to spend on players will go up, forcing the Bucs to actually spend money on FA this coming year (which they can do as they’ve been under the cap the last 2-3 years, almost criminally so).
The 2010 Bucs: Considering their two-minute offense works wonders... Why can't EVERY offensive drive be run like that during the other 58 minutes of the damn game?!
It's a prediction, troll.
If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
by Kilgore on May 4, 2011 3:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
.
call me what you will – this dude cant write. ive been posting here for over 2 years and the quality of this guys articles are bad and getting worse. my point was that he needs to actually do the imperative research before making ‘speculative’ posts. instead of making predictions – put out something with substance.
So by your reckoning Craig T and Niko wrote better articles?
Give me a break. You show up and start pissing on someone’s writing, it equates to simply posting, “You suck!” Last I checked you aren’t paying to read this blog’s content. If there’s a better source of Bucs news, with articles that are up to your exacting standards, then please, do me a solid and spend your time commenting there. Honestly though, it seems you simply have a bone to pick with Sander for whatever reason and you’re coming off as incredibly childish.
If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
by Kilgore on May 4, 2011 5:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
So by process of elimination...
you like articles along the lines of “What do you like to eat during football games?”
To each their own.
If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
What?
WTH are you talking about? It was a really good article in my opinion. What kind of research do you think an article like this warrants during a lockout with no – as of yet – official workouts? We all know this story is purely speculative including you.
I don't get what you imply by this.
Awesome, the Christian in Christian Dior
Damn they don't make 'em like this anymore
I ask ?cause I'm not sure
Do anybody make real s**t anymore?
by 4QB on May 4, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
If you think you can do better
Feel free to write a fanpost. If it’s well-written, I’ll be sure to add it to the frontpage.
And yes, a lot of these posts aren’t very deeply researched articles with a lot of insight. But this site isn’t here just for people who follow the Bucs very closely and know all the details. It’s here for everyone who follows the Bucs, and for a lot of people these articles are very useful and informative. If I were only to post articles with actual original insight no one else has written, there would be 1 or 2 posts on this site per week.
Whenever I can I make a post on something empirically researched. Heck, just yesterday I wrote a post on Luke Stocker and 2TE sets and play frequencies for the Bucs. Something I guarantee you no other site has. But you can’t do that for every story every day, not if you want some regular output of content.
By the way, I have a name other than ‘this dude’ or ‘this guy’.
by Sander on May 4, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Their is
Constructive critisism, which is encouraged, and then there is just rudeness. Don’t like his writing? Give examples why and tell what you don’t like about instead of just saying he can’t write. Which he can pretty well, no offense why don’t you do better? You don’t have to write +4 articles a day while having a life.
"Ha, I'd swear Monty you're the devil himself..." " WHAT, WHO TOLD YOU I mean oh yes... yes..."- The Simpsons
I have to admit- Harry Potter+ Bucs= Cheezy
Awesome, the Christian in Christian Dior
Damn they don't make 'em like this anymore
I ask ?cause I'm not sure
Do anybody make real s**t anymore?
by 4QB on May 4, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
No mention of Tanard Jackson?
He’s suspension will be up and he’ll still be under contract from what I hear. He’s a pro bowl talent and I can’t see the Bucs at least trying him out during camp. Also, I noticed you predicted the Bucs wouldn’t resign any of the free agents; I find this hard to believe unless the front office really opens up their pockets for one of the big names in the free agency pool.
Our D-line, though, looks pretty good if thats the way the roster shakes down. Thanks for the work at keeping us interested in football during a lockout Sander.
The man with the hair makes 'em skared. Soul Glo!
Tanard Jackson won't be back until the second game of the earliest
Which is why I didn’t include him, as I was looking at the opening-day roster.
We’ll see what they do with Tanard, and I wouldn’t be surprised to bring him back, but it’ll be tough for him to make an impact quickly. Could be they try to get him on the PUP-list, if that’s even possible.
why do we need research on every article? some of them can just be opinions and that makes it fun to read
its a bucs forum right? so we can share whatever we want as long as its football and theres not much to share bro its a lockout and offseason to make it worse, good post sander
Zakattack
It takes a lot of work to keep pumping out content like Sander does despite the lockout being on. Like he said, stop complaining about other peoples’ work and be a part of the solution if you think this site is so bad. Put yourself out there and write a fanpost.
by Landlubber on May 4, 2011 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Another great article, Sander
The timing is perfect, now that the draft is done, speculating as to the roster is about the most fun we can have, at the moment. This is what my friends and I are all discussing and I think you are in tune with what is on our minds currently. thank you.
DLine
I think they keep 4 DEs, 4 DTs plus Kyle Moore. As he’s able to fill in at both positions. I know he hasn’t been great in his time here, but his experience provides some depth on a young line. Though I don’t know where you take away from one of the other 53rd spots.
Also I think the Woods/Okam race will be fairly tight. Okam is such a big body he can make an impact in certain situations.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
For The Most Part I Agree..
I do believe the roster does end up playing our like this or someyhing very similar. One common issue I keep seeing reoccurring is the look upon Quincy Black as being a easily replaceable figure. Grant it his numbers weren’t great this year and he ended the season on IR but the guy is a absolute beast. You cant make a complete judgment on a guy who had one full year to start. He was the ONLY defender to have a stat in EVERY category of defense which says alot about his talent. Also if completely healthy I say Brian Price beats ?Miller out to start simply due to the fact that Miller is a good run defender but just a serviceable pass rusher. With the aquisitions of Clayborn and Bowers Tampa has single handly acquired the best D line in all of football if health is not a issue. I also believe Tanard Jackson is far too good of a talent not to get on the field and i see him getting a few snaps in certain downs if reinstated which results in him starting because making plays is his middle name…
You could be right about Tanard Jackson
However, that will be by week 3 at the earliest, as he won’t be reinstated before that. So he won’t be on the opening day roster no matter what.
I think Miller beats out Price precisely because he’s a good run defender, and you need that on 1st and 2nd down. On passing downs Price probably replaces him.
As for Quincy Black, he’s not a bad player. But I didn’t see a dropoff when Dekoda Watson and Adam Hayward shared duties at the position at the end of the year.
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