Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp Preview: Safeties
by Sander on Jul 19, 2011 4:29 PM EDT
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The most unlikely starter last season came in the form of seventh-round pick Cody Grimm, who stepped in at free safety when Tanard Jackson was suspended indefinitely. The rookie turned out to be a very good player, despite a conspicuous mistake in coverage in his first game. He proved to be solid in coverage, but was most valuable in the run game. He did a good job filling alleys, and boosted the Bucs' run game. In addition, he's one of the best tacklers on the field. Unfortunately his season was cut short because of a leg injury, but he seems to have fully healed and seems ready to get back on the field. He should be the starting free safety once the season begins.
At strong safety, the Bucs brought in Sean Jones to replace the disastrous experiment of Sabby Piscitelli. Sean Jones was a solid safety, but not much more than that. He surprisingly notched only one interception after having multiple-interception seasons with the Eagles and Browns. Sean Jones hasn't done anything to lose the job and should be able to hang onto it. A solid but unspectacular player at strong safety is very useful, and there's no one on the roster who could challenge him.
That is, until Tanard Jackson returns. He's eligible for reinstatement starting with week 3 of the regular season, and is likely to return to the Bucs at that point. He is still under contract for one more season, and could step in immediately as the free safety if he's in football shape. The Bucs may want to think twice about that, though, as it's doubtful whether Jackson can be counted on in the long term. Despite that, Jackson was a terrific safety for the Bucs and has always been an instinctive player. It should not take him to long to get back on the field.
If Jackson does get back on the field, expect Cody Grimm and Sean Jones to fight over the starting strong safety spot.
Behind those three players the Bucs have a number of young backups. Vince Anderson and Larry Asante joined the team as rookies last season and should be fighting for the same roster spot. I don't know much about Anderson, but Asante managed to get on the field a little last season, even picking off Drew Brees in the final game. Asante's mostly a backup for the strong safety position who will do well in the run game.
Finally, the Bucs have fifth-round draft pick Ahmad Black. The Florida Gator was an instinctive safety in college, but will struggle to keep up in the NFL because of his speed and size. While the Bucs can adapt their coverage to his limitations, I think he will be most suited for special packages. Specifically, I can see him working as a defensive back working on tight ends and slot receivers in nickel packages. He has the instincts and short-area skills to do well in such a role, but I doubt he will ever turn into a starting safety.
Previous Installments:
Quarterbacks
Offensive Tackles
Offensive Guards
Center
Tight Ends
Running Backs & Fullbacks
Defensive Ends
Defensive Tackles
Cornerbacks
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I would love to see...
Tanard Jackson at FS and Cody Grimm at SS. IMO, that would be an excellent duo for us; not to mention give 2 instinctive safetys that can also lay the wood. I keep hearing the Asomungha rumors, if it does happen, Nnandi, Talib, Tanard, and Cody IMO would be the best secondary in the league.
by ctd1977 on Jul 19, 2011 8:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
That foursome would still make Grimm the weak link...
I would love to have some actual competition for the position – and not just hand it to someone.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 19, 2011 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Sean Jones provides good competition...
For Cody Grimm if he moves to the SS spot. IMO SS is a better fit for Grimm than FS. I think he played exceptionally well last year, especially since he was new to the safety position. Taking that into consideration he can only get better. Cody Grimm can be just as good, if not better than Jim Leonhard for the NY Jets, who I think is a pretty good player. Grimm has a knack for being in the right place every time and you can’t coach that; you either have it or you don’t. Even when he gave up the touchdown in the Steelers game he was in position but didn’t get his head turned around. He just needs time to get use to his new position.
by ctd1977 on Jul 19, 2011 11:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
why does being a seventh round pick automatically make a player weak, or have no chance or being a star?
I think being small and slow...
has more to do with it than where he was selected (ironically, that may have something to do with where he was selected). I am just saying that he needs to beat out some added, and better, competition before you just give him the job.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 20, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
There aren't that many good SS in the league. Most of them are basically @ Grimm's level.
I focus on money my hands touch
If that right there don’t add up
I gotta let you know your math sucks
You don’t ever talk to a calculator
You don’t get caught with an ounce of paper
Every convo is about a favour
fair enough...
i didn’t get to see many games last year, mostly just highlights and they always look good. (obviously) How many times did being too slow and too small affect his play? missed or broken tackles? or maybe even just getting burned by a faster guy? I do get the point of competition being part of getting to the starting job.
The only other team thats looking at Aso is the Texans
I say make the push, lets Foster/McKenzie start since Ruud will find another team
[url="Check out this mean tune":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVaEHtHJqeM]
I suspect many teams are looking at Namdi...
but few would be cap-destructive enough to pay the expected $15 mil per season to sign him.
I hope we pass on Namdi – no pun intended. I would love to have him here as a Buc, but not at the expected cost necessary to do it. We need a few players to rise to the top of the NFC South.
That money would be better served being spent on 2 or 3 players – not just one.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 19, 2011 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You can sign as many average to slightly above average players as you want, but you can only get so far without a little sprinkle of elite talent.
by bucs24fan on Jul 20, 2011 12:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
and with talib+aso+barber+tjack = murder passing game
[url="Check out this mean tune":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVaEHtHJqeM]
by Titankillah on Jul 20, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions
By signing Namdi to a huge contract...
you will make it nearly impossible to re-sign Talib. He will want his own piece of that big contract money next year.
I was thinking that maybe signing CB Joseph or Cromartie for less ($5-7 mil maybe) would leave more for other players. We have other needs to address as well.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 20, 2011 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions
If they were to go to for Cromartie...
I’d much rather just go ahead and get Joseph.
Alright Joseph is still consenus, which is fine
I can dig it
[url="Check out this mean tune":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVaEHtHJqeM]
You’re assuming there’s even a possibility of Talib being re-signed. I honestly don’t know what the Bucs are going to do with him, but I find it hard to believe they’re going to be willing to shell out elite-money considering Talib’s history of off-the-field problems. Even assuming those are in the past, with his latest charge and trial Talib may have killed his shot at tier 1 money.
That being said, I’d rather they not sign Asomugha as well….with one caveat. If they choose not to sign Asomugha they still need to bring in above-average players. Joseph is one, but they need to bring in multiple solid players to justify not grabbing an elite player like Asomugha.
To continue what Sander spoke about in an article pertaining to Davin Joseph, if the Bucs wanted to get to the salary cap while still keeping flexibility in later years, they could just pay Asomugha a rather large bonus in year 1, which will keep his cap number down in later years of the contract. The contract may average 12-15 million a year, but later cap numbers could be significantly lower with that kind of contract.
I will assume there will be interest in re-signing Talib...
when the time comes, but all of that could change quickly depending on the outcome of that “gun-toting puppet show” he put on in Dallas. If he has a good season for us, I think its a safe bet we would want him back – if possible.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 20, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
If he has a good season all bets are off, because while the Bucs may want him back, they also have to weigh in the fact that he’s almost constantly in trouble off the field. If they think there’s a probablity those issues continue, they may just franchise him and try to trade to get some good compensation. I’m ok with havin players that aren’t choir boys, but it’d be nice if they made it through an off-season without punching anyone or shooting at anyone.
If Talib manages to somehow wriggle out of this mess...
one can only hope he learns to appreciate how precarious his position is – and his future earning potential. Crazy family aside, he needs to spend his off-season elsewhere and focus on his craft. If the dangers of going back home brings problems, then quit going back home.
by Cracker Ball on Jul 21, 2011 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions
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