Sources all say the Glazers are going to do something they don’t want to do, but realize they must; they are going to fire Raheem Morris as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Glazers like Morris, heck, I like Morris. The Press like him too, but he has lost this team, and that means he cannot come back as head coach. Its not all his fault, in fact he’s probably no.3 on the blame game scale, but change is coming, and he will be the captain that goes down with ship. I would not be surprised if the Glazers make the departure as comfortable as possible for him.
Don’t think that Raheem will be the only one to pay the price for the failed dream, plenty of coaches and players will be seen with pewter on for the last time Sunday vs the Atlanta Falcons, and it’s possible that the performance of the team or players could have an impact on their future. SLIGHTLY Possible, for some; but for the most part, the following are good as gone January 2nd 2012.
Raheem Morris– If Pewter Report is calling for your job, you need to shake in your boots; they never do that. Now they quote sources that say Morris will be dismissed at Head Coach. Im buying it, and I agree with it, it needs to be done. I am a big Raheem Morris fan, and I put the fault of this mess in the following order;
1)Glazers
2)Players
3)Morris
4) Mark Dominik
Glazers are probably the ones who came up with the No money, young players only. The Players have quit on Morris, and first and foremost that’s on the Players. Morris has not done a good job of motivating his players, getting them to buy in. Dominik was a yes man and went along with the Glazers plan like Ollie North. Speaking of Ollie…
Greg Olsen– The Offensive coordinator had a horrible year calling plays, and really only a few times (Green Bay, 1st Qtr of Jacksonville, 2nd half of Minnesota, Atlanta, New Orleans) had a good vibe for play calling. The rest of the time it was a joke. LeGarrette Blount is the most dangerous player on the roster, and he gets pulled out of the game on 3rd and 2 on a consistant basis. It’s not good to change offensive coordinators for a young QB, Kudos for the Bucs for not getting too many for Josh Freeman, but now is time for a new one, so lets make sure this one is a good one, because you cant change him again for years!
LineBacker Coach Joe Baker– In 2011 The Bucs linebackers are simple horrible. Joe Baker has coached them up since last year, he was the DBs coach in 2009. The linebackers have completely regressed in that period. Geno Hayes the second on the team in tackles in 2009 with 136, he had 104 last year. Geno Hayes has 61 total tackles now, LESS than half of 2009. Opposing teams are game planning against the Bucs weak linebackers, and its so easy to block this group, and teams are doing it with text book results. If there was ever a time to go out and get a free agent pickup like Hardy Nickerson, linebacker is the place to do it.
Safety Sean Jones– No player has been a greater example of the problem with the defense than Sean Jones. Even though he leads the team in tackles with 88 (no safety should lead the team in tackles, and NO ONE should lead the team in tackles with 88!), Jones game in and game out takes bad angles, and suffers from bad tackling. But the worst part about this….he is in a contract year! This is how Jones is playing with the hopes of getting a new contract. In a twist of irony, #26 was also Will Allen’s number. A rookie took his job in the second half of the 2007 season opener, and the same person will take THIS #26’s job first game of 2012- Tanard Jackson.
Albert Hanesworth– I was one of the people who thought bringing in Hanesworth was a great move- it provided veteran leadership to young players without a clue. But it seems that insiders who see the Bucs locker room first hand say Hanesworth has just lost it in terms of playing football. After a few weeks of losing, the recent Hanesoworth has re-appeared. Since then, he has reportedly had attitude issues, suffers a lack of production, and once again, stop me if you’ve heard this before, lack of conditioning. It’s a shame, but I guess what he’s been through was too much for someone like Albert. It seems like his career in the NFL is pretty much over. Geno Hayes– There is just no reason to bring back this guy who is simply not good. There is a reason he is a 6th round pick, because he wasnt viewed as an NFL caliber linebacker. For some reason the Bucs seem to brag about how many undrafted players they have, players that no one else wanted on their roster, or at least werent worthy of using a pick. On top of that, a guy who is late, who was late for his first ever start, he doesnt put in what he needs to, and it resulted in a benching. That wasnt enough, firing is next for Geno Hayes, and its doubtful anyone will give him a shot. He may have played his way out of pro football.
Kregg Lumpkin– Last year we heard all about these undrafted Free Agents the Bucs picked up, LeGarrette Blount and Kregg Lumpkin. Lumpkin was a little banged up, so Blount got the shot. Thank Goodness for fate , because I would hate to see what would have happened had Lumpkin got the nod last year. This year, we heard about how much confidence the Bucs had in Lumpkin, so much that he was the only option below Earnest Graham. Well guess what, Graham went down, and we got to see Lumpkin. The result? He’s on this list. Bye Pumkin; with your entire career 3 yards of YAContact!
Josh Johnson– This one is not based on merit or performance; Josh Johnson is a good guy, and a good QB. J.J. will probably be given a shot to battle for a starter position. But Josh Johnson was the draft pick of Jon Gruden who liked the West Coast ability of J.J., and his 1 INT he threw at college. But for the last three years he has been the back up of choice for the current regime. That will probably change, because a more veteran coach will want a veteran
QB back there to provide not only insurance for Josh, but a challenge for him too. So you Don’t think a little fire helps a QB? Joe Montana was getting stagnant when Bill Walsh traded for Steve Young; Montana had some of his best years afterwards. Who the Veteran QB will be in anyones guess, but Rudy Carpenter is the likely 3rd string guy, then you need someone with experience to help Josh with the What, When, Why, Where, How etc. Yes I know the Bucs have or will have a different QB Coach, but I’ve learned a lesson on this stance too; Players listen to coaches differently compared to their team mates.
BUBBLE PLAYERS- FIRE? SECOND CHANCE? The new coach will decide.
Quincy Black– He was given a lot of money in the offseason as the Bucs paid money to re-sign a core group of players. It would seem it either went to his head, or was given to him too early. Black severly lacks in playmaking, and as a veteran provides nothing in terms of leadership that is so desperately needed from the Bucs. Was he given money without merit? Or did he deserve the money but hasnt produced since? That will be up to the new coaches to decide, the new head coach, and the new linebackers coach too.
Kellen Winslow JR.– No, seriously, the NFL stands for “What have you done for me lately”. Ok, it doesnt line up with letters and such, but thats pretty much true isnt it? K2 was a great idea for a young rookie QB, a nice Tight End to throw to. But K2 is damaged goods, he has the knees of a 40 year old, and its a shame, but thats what the current situation seems to be. Josh Freeman is trying to force the ball in to K2, but Winslow lacks the skill set he had in the past, and the result is interceptions and more turn overs. Luke Stocker is there, but you should probably go out and get a veteran Tight End; either to compete against K2 which will bring the best out of him, or to replace him.
Earnest Graham– Insurance Graham is what he was called, but was it because you need to have insurance to play him! Graham has gone down to injury each year, and this year is no different. A new coach is going to have to decide how valuable Graham is; he knows the playbook? Not really it will be new. No doubt Graham is versatile, but so are a number of backs that will be free agents. Graham may be the most ‘bubble worthy’ player on the roster, and it’s anyones guess what fate awaits him. His recovery time from his ankle injury will have a lot to do with it too. Graham is a popular player too, so that may help save him.
Then we have another list, of players who are going to get what they need! OTAs!! These guys need it, and they’re going to get it.
Tanard Jackson needs a good offseason of OTAs to get back into the swing of things after a year + of being out of football.
Josh Freeman needs a good offseason of OTAs too, in fact more than anyone. It was the 2010 offseason that Freeman lived at One Buc Place, and this year he will have all that film of his mistakes to learn from. Josh Freeman will have a monster 2012 season. bank on that.
Maybe no one will benefit more from OTAs than LeGarrette Blount, who has NEVER been to a Bucs OTA practice. If we hear about a Blount who cannot be on the field for 2012’s 3rd downs, then you may as well get used to him being a change of pace back for the NEW back that the Bucs pick up.
E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis need OTAs bad too! Don’t be too down on these guys, remember how mad you were at Elbert Mack last year? This season Mack played solid, and Ronde Barber didnt impress in 1997 either, but in 1998 he got a shot and ran with it, all the way down the sideline to put the Bucs in the Superbowl!
Other players on Bucs active roster who havn’t had an OTA in Tampa ever…
Mason Foster, Larry Assante, Luke Stocker, Da’Quan Bowers, Adrian Clayborn, Zack Pianalto, Mossis Madu, Anthony Gaitor, Dezmon Briscoe, and Ahmad Black. Add LeGarrette Blount to that and 6 more practice squad players, as well as 3 more on Injured Reserve.
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