Patriots - Buccaneers - Five impressive Bucs on offense

by Sander on Aug 21, 2011 8:00 AM EDT

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 18: Running back Allen Bradford #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown as defender Niko Koutouvides #46 of the New England Patriots cannot stop him during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium on August 18, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

With the positives and negatives on defense done, as well as the negatives on offense, we come to the positives on offense. Who managed to shine in a pretty abysmal outing?

T Jeremy Trueblood
I've been very critical of Jeremy Trueblood, who has been a poor pass blocker in the past, but he has actually put up two very strong performances this preseason. Mind you, he has not yet faced a real edge rusher, but he has prevented pass rushers from getting by him, and has looked his usual strong self in the run game. While it looked like he was beaten on one play, the rusher came past him at such a depth that the quarterback would not have been in trouble - if it hadn't been for a free rusher coming up the middle at him. Raheem Morris called this Trueblood's "most solid game" in a while, and I completely agree with that.

He has really separated himself from James Lee and clearly earned the starting job. Trueblood's biggest weakness has always been adjusting to speedy pass rushers, though, and he has not faced them so far this preseason.

QB Josh Johnson
While Johnson's numbers didn't look good, he continued to look like a competent quarterback. Drops hurt his, and a few of his passes were off the mark, but Johnson was constantly pressured and handled it well. He's obviously not pushing Josh Freeman for a starting job, but some team will give him a shot to compete for a starting job in free agency next year.

WR Preston Parker
Catching both passes thrown his way, Parker looked a lot better than he did last week. Although he didn't look great as a punt returner, the fact that he caught the balls he needed to catch and showed the ability to get open bodes well for him. With Ed Gant not really showing up so far, it's entirely possible that both Parker and Spurlock make the roster.

RB Allen Bradford
Bradford looked like a much better runner in this game. He showed some burst and some wiggle, and the ability to hit it inside. He still danced too much in the backfield for my tastes and I didn't really see the powerful downhill runner we were promised, but he did look like a better runner.

OT Demar Dotson
Dotson looked lost at left tackle last week, but looked much better at right tackle in the first half against the New England Patriots. He looked comfortable and consistently shut out the pass rusher across from him. In the second half he moved back to left tackle and did not look as comfortable, producing a false start once. Still, he didn't look bad at left tackle either.

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Preston Parker

There are additional reasons to think Parker will make the team, and they all have to do with Michael Spurlock. First, Spurlock showed last year he’s a very capable receiver. I was rather shocked to see him step in and do the job he did last year as a receiver, and with Benn injured this year and both Williams and Straughter injured last year as well as Benn and, well, it seemed like everyone on the receiving corps was injured last year, Spurlock gives them an option to use him not just in kickoffs and punts, but as a receiver as well.

But I’m not done. Yes, we all know Spurlock is a threat to break one loose every time he touches the ball as a returner, but Spurlock was a college QB and with the new roster rules (not being allowed to keep a 3rd QB off the game time roster but still use him if the first 2 get injured), Spurlock would have to do something severe, like punching out Freeman or something to not make the roster. Now, with a team expecting Spurlock to be able to play both Wideout and maybe take a few snaps at QB (we hope not, but we can’t be certain—I’d actually like to see him take some snaps in the preseason), I doubt the Bucs will want to be all that reckless with Spurlock. That means Preston Parker should be the guy taking a higher percentage of the returns, and even if he doesn’t, given the albeit unlikely possibility Spurlock is forced into emergency QB duty, the Bucs will want someone else to do the returning—just another reason Parker will be kept around IMO.

by Mackspane on Aug 21, 2011 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

wow what a theory.

Thing is, i’m more than comfortable with having Carpenter take over if Freeman and Johnson go down. so having Spurlock on the team for that very reason is just WAYYYYY out there. One way i think we could use spurlock is in some type of wildcat formation since we know he played QB in college. I think it’d be great to have Spurlock in the wildcat and have Johnson out as a WR. would be interesting. but just to have spurlock as a 3rd QB incase our 1st and 2nd string goes down is just crazy. Spurlock is a good returner and he can be a nice deep threat. thats why he will make the team, not cuz he played QB in college and could help in that way. Plus if freeman and Johnson went down for the season, we’d probably go into free agency and pick up someone like a JP Losman or Chad Pennington. but that scenario happening is just… crazy.

by Gage Tyler Bain on Aug 21, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

That's....one of the strangest things I've ever heard.

First off, we have 3 QBs. Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, and Rudy Carpenter. The only way Spurlock is going to see the field as an emergency QB is if every single one of those players gets hurt, in the same game. Because if it doesn’t happen in one game, they’ll sign a QB off the street and plug him in instead.

Spurlock is not going to make the roster just because he happens to be theoretically capable of playing QB. He’s going to have to make the roster the same way he’s done in years past, through receiving and returning. With the new kickoff rules, it’s less likely he makes the team because of his returning ability, so he’s going to have to stand out as a receiver. While he’s made some clutch receptions in his career, he’s also made some plays that really make you scratch your head. The Bucs have enough promising young receivers that no one can rest on the accomplishments they’ve made previously anymore, Spurlock is going to have to stand out in the pre-season to ensure a roster spot, because if other receivers stand out his chances of making the final roster go down quite a bit. There’re only so many spots, and being an excellent kick returner just doesn’t mean a whole lot this season, with the new kicking rules.

by KRoa on Aug 21, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually, it makes more sense than you think

This year, the 3rd QB rule is gone, but the active roster has been expanded by one. This means teams can now choose to either have their 3rd QB take up a roster spot (and do nothing in 99% of games) or have a hybrid guy on the roster who can actually contribute in most games, and could step in as an emergency QB as well.

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by Sander on Aug 22, 2011 5:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Parker?

He looked alright, did Sanders get any looks at returns against the Pats?

by BUCSwillDOMINATE on Aug 21, 2011 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

He got a few. Didn't look special.

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by Sander on Aug 21, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

what body of work does Josh Johnson have?

i keep hearing us potentially trading him to a team that needs a qb what has he done besides the few games he started in the 09 season which won’t help his case at all… a guys stock can’t rise from just preseason games or can it i don’t know but i think the only way he raises his stock if he lights it up in a couple regular season games of course that’s only if Freeman gets hurt

by Brian Ahmed on Aug 21, 2011 2:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Charlie Whitehurst was traded for a third-round pick and a swap of second-rounders without ever playing a game

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by Sander on Aug 21, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I bet SEA would like that one back...

by Cracker Ball on Aug 21, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

His starting opportunities have not really gone well...

and I personally don’t understand all the J.J. hype on here. Looked confused and did very little, so I’m not sure why a team would want to trade for him anyway.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 21, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

He's looked much better since then

And he has the tools to start. And QB-needy teams can go a long way for anyone remotely capable of starting.

That said, I don’t think any team is willing to trade for him with this offseason.

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by Sander on Aug 21, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

What about Matt Schaub?

That was a similar situation. I know he came in a few times for Vick, but alot of people are iffy about that one at the time. I think some team would be smart to try to get Johnson now. He’s smart, he’s got talent, he’s had a few years in the league…I’d say he’s an upgrade over several teams starters. But I agree that the time for someone to decide they really want to make that kind of move is probably passed.

by Brooklyn Buc on Aug 21, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions