Just some random thoughts about the team after the conclusion of tonight's game against the Jaguars:
Josh Johnson's development continues
The backup QB was 9-14 for 122 yards and a TD. Once again, he looked calm and in total control of the offense. That said, I would like to see more than three first half first downs. I think they got a fourth on a defensive holding call. The attitude and smooth ball delivery (minus the Stevens overthrow) was encouraging. I think the play tonight of both QB’s clearly showed us who the #2 QB is.
Reggie Brown didn’t earn a roster spot tonight
Man that was disappointing. He was targeted at least four times in the game and was unable to snare a single reception. I’ve still got him on the roster because I figure the Bucs would like a non-Clayton veteran presence at the position. He sure didn’t help himself tonight.
Earnest Graham is still a great red zone threat
The move to FB might not keep Graham from being a big offensive factor this season. His second quarter score was a nice reminder of how great of a weapon he can be down in close. Graham was a hard goal line / short yardage runner as a lead back, and I could see that happening again this year with the way the Bucs have been working Adam Hayward and Roy Miller at FB. Imagine a formation with Miller and Hayward both lining up in the backfield as lead blockers for Graham. Fire them cannons!
Barrett Ruud needs to get physical
Bravo for the INT and 80 yard return! We definitely need to see more momentum shifting plays like that from our MLB, but more importantly in my opinion, once the regular season starts, Crash needs to be Ruud’s middle name. He’s never been a great thumper, but I feel that he’s going to need to expand his portfolio if he hopes to continue his South Florida residency. Nothing stuck out from tonight’s game in this area, but I feel his physicality is going to be key to this defense’s success.
Derrick Ward’s roster spot should no longer be tentative
The Bucs have to be scouting other teams and be ready to pounce when cuts are made across the league. I know Ward had a couple of nice runs in tonight’s game, but that’s not enough for me to change my overall thoughts on the guy. I think he’s got to go. They certainly will be able to find a more effective, cheaper alternative in free agency. My top target would be Mike Goodson if the Panthers cut him, and I’m also fond of James Davis with the Browns. I’ll try to spend a little more time on this area this week and see if a little more digging reveals more possibilities.
OL needs to get better at handling pressure, establish a pocket
I’d have to do a rewatch to provide much analysis on this, but from watching the action live, I continue to be unimpressed with the resistance being put up by our front five. There’s little pocket for the QB to work in, and it resembles more of a thin rectangle than a circle. I saw Zuttah get zooted a few times, but he wasn’t alone.
Oh, and if anyone happens to know where Kyle Moore was while his team was playing football tonight, please let me know. I’m so glad he’s “earned” that starting job of his.
My revised 53
This is how I’d fill the 53 spots:
QB (3) – Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Rudy Carpenter
No change
FB (1) – Earnest Graham
RB (3) – Cadillac Williams, Kareem Huggins, FA
I think they’ll have a third back to go with Cadillac and Huggins, but I’m not sure who that player will be. I just don’t think Ward is worth the $3 million plus he’s due. Question is – will the Bucs admit the mistake in signing him by cutting him in the second year of his deal? Mike Goodson (Carolina) and James Davis (Cleveland) would be my top targets if they were to be cut by their teams. The Bucs should be burning the phone lines trying to deal Ward to a team like Houston or St. Louis this next week.
WR (6) – Mike Williams, Maurice Stovall, Sammie Stroughter, Arrelious Benn, Reggie Brown, Micheal Spurlock
Same six, but Reggie Brown certainly didn’t cement anything tonight.
TE (3) – Kellen Winslow, Jerramy Stevens, John Gilmore
No change
OL (9) – Donald Penn, Jeremy Zuttah, Keydrick Vincent, Jeff Faine, Davin Joseph, Jeremy Trueblood, James Lee, Jonathan Compas, Demar Dotson
No change
DL (8) – Stylez White, Kyle Moore, Tim Crowder, Michael Bennett, Gerald McCoy, Brian Price, Roy Miller, Ryan SimsLorig gets bumped this week. Again tonight he broke containment and bit on misdirection. I think he could use work on the practice squad.
LB (6) – Geno Hayes, Barrett Ruud, Quincy Black, Adam Hayward, Jon Alston, Dekoda Watson
No change, but Niko Koutouvides had a nice game tonight.
CB (5) – Aqib Talib, Ronde Barber, EJ Biggers, Elbert Mack, Myron Lewis
No change; guessing Derrick Roberson is a numbers victim and makes the practice squad
S (5) – Tanard Jackson, Sean Jones, Sabby Piscitelli, Corey Lynch, Cody Grimm
It looks like Grimm will make the team, and I’ve got to think Lynch has earned a spot as well. The question is – will the Bucs cut ties with Piscitelli? Personally, I think that would be a foolish move at this point. He’s a pissed off dude right now, so why not try to utilize that and see if you can more out of him? Demand growth? Yes. I just feel that a team lacking in talent should be a bit hesitant in dropping a former starter whose problems are mental not physical in nature.
ST (4) – Andrew Economos, Connor Barth, Brent Bowden, Clifton Smith
No change
Practice squad candidates:
George Johnson, DE
Erik Lorig, DE
Preston Parker, WR/returner
James Ruffin, DE
Lee Robinson, LB
Chris Pressley, FB
Rendrick Taylor, FB
Ryan Purvis, TE
In keeping with my philosophy that the universal wave function is determinisic in it’s mean quantum evolution, I have no random thoughts in as much as they are writ from the moment of the big bang, but I will take them as random since I am not privy to their detailed form:
ReplyDeleteJosh Johnson is definitely developing, but I am pretty sure no one is ever going to look at him as a #2 in the vein of a Schaub or even an Orton. However, he does bring something to the mix in terms of athleticism and a decent enough arm. Let me say in passing hee hee, in passing, he would have looked a hell of a lot better than Eli Manning against the Ravens.
We Buc fans had better hope that whatever ails Davin Joseph is short lived and not chronic. I like having Zuttah on the roster; I do NOT like having to depend on him to play 60 snaps, especially since if he’s a starter, it is going to be closer to 50 snaps.
I will give Benn a pass so far, but when a rookie receiver comes in and is head and shoulders above anyone veterans on the team at his position, my attitude is keep whoever is cheapest and can play special teams. At least Brown has done something in the league. He whose name cannot be mentioned will not be missed come cut day.
A couple of weeks ago on Hard Knocks, a big Samoan tackle was being released, and during the ‘we are letting you go’ chat, the Jets coach (maybe it was the GM Tennenbaum) told the young man something like ‘if you need us to give you contacts in the UFL or Arena league, we can help you out’. Whoever releases Xavier Fulton should give him an application to a local 7-11 and nothing else. HE. IS. AWFUL.
Remember that movie ‘Airplane’ where Lloyd Bridges says ‘I picked a bad time to stop sniffing glue’? Sabby, you picked a bad time to get a concussion. Corey Lynch is nowhere near as athletic or explosive as Sabby, but he certainly seems to know where to go as a play evolves. That kid has tremendous instincts, instincts that are going to allow him to stick around long enough to eventually draw an NFL pension.
I watched Suh against Cleveland. I have no idea how the Browns interior line stacks up against the Jags line, but I watched McCoy make his presence felt from both tackle and end, and Suh look very much like a rookie lineman going through growing pains. I would bet my paycheck Suh is going to be participating in many Pro Bowls, but the Bucs might have a couple of anchor guys in Price and McCoy. The d-line did look much better when Moore WASN'T PLAYING.
I don’t have the level of roster pickin’ acumen of those of you on BucChat, but I’d guess Carpenter is giving his papers, to be replaced by a veteran, Koutouvides stays and Watson goes to the practice squad, Preston Parker in and Reggie Brown out.
TPE
Ha, you scare me sometimes TPE!
ReplyDeleteI think Josh Johnson could be one heck of a #2 QB if he gets enough time and development from the coaching staff. Yes, I know Freeman is the franchise, but Johnson is a guy who came into the league needing quite a bit of work to get up to professional game speed.
Yeah, the OL is pretty soft, especially when it’s missing its best player. There doesn’t appear to be a reason for concern yet with Joseph.
I’m a bit surprised (not worried yet) by the quiet preseason Benn has had. Mike Williams is getting all the publicity, and rightfully so, but I did expect a little more noise from Benn. Still, far too early for me to get excited.
Fulton looks far too slow to make an NFL roster. I don’t see how me makes the final cut.
I’m really thinking they keep five safeties. Lynch must make the team, and whispers have Grimm making the final cut as well. I simply think it’s too early and the wrong time to dump Sabby. This is a bad football team, so it’s not like they’d have to cut a Hall of Famer to continue the Sabby experiment.
I’ll try not to comment much on Suh because I’m horribly biased. I still like what Tampa did in getting both McCoy and Price, but on a one to one comparison, it’s still Suh for me by far.
I thought Kyle Moore was a bad pick when they got him last year, and he’s done nothing this camp despite being handed the starting job opposite White.
Regarding Carpenter, as much as I’d like to see him replaced, I’m guessing the Bucs will stick with him. I don’t think they want a veteran like say Sage Rosenfels in house to give any cause for Freeman to look over his shoulder should he hit a rough stretch. I think they’ll stick with Johnson and Carpenter behind Freeman even though I’D PREFER they upgrade over Carpenter. Koutouvides did have a nice game, but I don’t think he brings much in terms of future use. Watson won’t make it through waivers IMO and would be a bad cut. Since Reggie Brown hasn’t shown a thing this preseason, I’m guessing he’s kept so that there’s a veteran presence on the roster. Otherwise, yes, Parker has outplayed him. I still think Parker makes the practice squad.