You’ve bought your Prius. You take your aluminum, Paper, and plastic to the curb. Now your Tampa Bay Buccaneers will do their part to. These Bucs are Green folks! While last years squad was young, this years 2010 version will have a little more experience at some key areas, but the youth movement continues in Tampa as the Buccaneers will build a foundation first, much as they did in 1995/96. The biggest difference with the new version is the offense isnt getting left behind. Its NOT an afterthought. Especially in the passing game, Tampa Bay will feature a sophomore Quarterback and one similar Wide Receiver (Sammy Stroughter). Added to the mixture are two rookies with unlimited potential; Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams. The hopes here are that Josh Freeman will develop WITH his young receivers a la Dan Marino and Clayton/Duper, or how Marvin Harrison came along with Peyton Manning. The premise is sound, and with an offensive line that is now veteran to protect him, the passing game could be an improvement. Assuming that is Donald Penn is signed, because the Green you see could be Demar Dotson starting at left Guard! While the running corp is veteran, and secondary is too, linebackers are coming into their own now that they have the benefit of a full season under their belts (which they would not have if Derrick Brooks or Cato June had been kept. You start a veteran, you prevent a young player from developing. Not a good recipe on a team that is supposed to be building. You sacrifice the future for a few wins now). Geno Hayes showed some signs of stardom and Quincy Black got a lot of rookie stuff out of the way at the Sam linebacker position. Barrett Ruud is perfect at Mike in the Tampa Two, as its obvious from last year he is NOT in any other system. The new kids on the block (yes, I had to go there) are on the defensive line, an area that really hasnt been addressed like this since the mid 90s. A solid pass rush was part of the Bucs lore since 2005, Simeon Rice’s last full complete season in Pewter. Twin Defensive tackles will be exciting to watch as they grow, learn, and hopefully invade enemy space in the backfield! Why is this so important? At the heart of the Tampa Two defense (no matter how they line up behind the linebackers) is a defensive line that is capable of penetrating and disrupting the offensive backfield. Sacks are not as important as pressure, because just having someone in your face hurries throws and causes interceptions, much more important that just a turn over on downs, a turnover, on the spot! Even Special Teams are not exempt from this landscaping renovation! The Bucs will start their defense with a rookie Punter! Last Rookie kicker to make the team? 1999 and Martin Gramatica made us chuckle with is GOOOOAAAAALLLLL type celebrations after making a FG. Cardinal fans simply upchucked when his brother pulled a hamstring doing similar celebrating.
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