If you have a pulse, we want to hear it. Bucstop.com writers Brian Kornfeld and Steven Thompson go at it over 4 topics popular this morning on the eve of Free Agency which JUST STARTED at 10 am! If you think you can add some fuel to the fire, by all mean, burn this thing down!!
Welcome to the Trenches!
1) Should Barrett Ruud be wearing a Buccaneer jersey in September?
Brian: Sure, if you like every opponent to average an easy 2nd and 4 every set of downs. I know Ruud is a clubhouse leader and those are priceless, however they can only take you so far on the field. While Ruud has been a quality defender of the passing game, his run defense
has not improved and has been poor at best. This defense must thrive on keeping opponents at 3rd and long. That won’t happen as long as 51 lines up at MLB.
Steven: This lockout makes things tough for me on the Ruud side. I like most Buc fans see what he doesn’t bring but I believe this lockout has kind of forced the Bucs hand here. We could be playing meaningful games in less than 3 weeks. I know Rah trusts him to no end so I believe he will get resigned or maybe even get the franchise tag. Are we going to bring in a FA and teach them our defense in less than 3 weeks? Is Tyrone Mckenzie ready to step in and be a starter? My thoughts on both are no so I believe we see Ruud again
2) Should the Buccaneers make a big splash in free agency?
Brian: The Buccaneers can afford to sign any free agent they desire, and Mark Dominik would be wise to do so. If Dominik can sign a stud cornerback, linebacker, and backup running back, the Buccaneers are instant contenders not only this year, but also for the next 3-5 years. With more salary cap space than any other NFL team, Dominik has no excuse not to sign make this jump. If Dominik instead front-loads contracts just to hit the cap floor, it will be easy to see the Buccaneers are still playing for 3 years down the road where more uncertainty or injury and free-agency lurks. The Buccaneers are built to start to win now, and the franchise would be wise to take advantage of this situation. Continually relying on undrafted free agents can easily come back to bite us in the butt in the long run.
Steven: Very simple answer from me is NO. Mark Dominick and the Glazers created a plan to turn this franchise around and I believe they should stick to that plan. I know everyone hears about the 60 Mill or so they have to spend but I think it will be easier to get there than people think. They resign Davin to a long term, give Ruud a 2 yr deal or the tag, decide on Heyward or Black (don’t believe both will be back), bring in another corner and LB that most likely aren’t big names, a third down back, and then during the season Freeman gets a big raise and a long term deal and were there. I don’t think the Glazers are going to completely change face just because of this new deal, they’ve been waiting for this and preparing.
3) This time next month, will Aqib Talib be a Buccaneer?
READ MORE for the argument!
Brian: You bet your Talib he will be. While some were very quick to jump to a conclusion or demand punishment, Talib is yet to be proven guilty. If he is released, then other players such as Geno Hayes must be evaluated, and we all know the Buccaneers are not going to make that type of overhaul. I believe Talib will remain a Buccaneer for this season. In the offseason after he goes to trial, the outcome may be different. For 2011, number 25 will be lined up at cornerback.
Steven: Absolutely yes. Too much talent and no real proof that he did anything wrong YET. Things could change down the line but not this year.
4) How much should starters play in preseason?
Brian: I still have nightmares of Josh Freeman’s hand hitting a helmet in the last preseason game last season. I also have nightmares of sloppy play from the first few weeks of almost every Gruden-era season. With the Buccaneers having had organized team practices, I think a normal preseason workload would be appropriate. That is, starters play 2 series in the first game, half of the second and third games, and 2 series in the final game. Anything more is too risky for injury. Anything less won’t be enough to be ready for Detroit. It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.
Steven: Starters should play much more then they usually have. Injuries can happen in a preseason game or on the practice field hitting in pads. Heck injuries can happen when you’re getting out of bed. These guys need the time together and also need to get their bodies acclimated to the hitting aspect of the game. Derrick Brooks has said time and again that it always took him a while to get his body into game hitting shape and that was with full summers and full training camps without all of the new rules implemented for less 2 a days and such
There you have it. The two lines behemoths battled it out deep in the trenches, and both writers seemed to make it out the other side. Let us know who you think was able to control the line! Look forward to more of these as the writers here at the Bucstop love diving down In the Trenches.
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