Kregg Lumpkin’s lack of effort or ability becoming a problem

Since the Houston Texans game, the Bucs fans have been treated to the news that some on this team are guily of loafing. For some however, it may just be a lack of talent to accomplish what others can. 

You can find several reason why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost the game yesterday to the Tennessee Titans, and most of them will be Legit, but this one play to me defines a major problem the Bucs have. A lack of talent at the running back position. There is LeGarrette Blount, and there is no one else. And Blount cannot play on 3rd down.

Check out the video in FULL 1080 HD, but only by clicking this link.

Lets take a look at the video, slown down using Apple’s Final Cut software. When Lumpkin catches the ball, he has a mere three yards to go to achieve a first down, and only one tackler is in reach. Yes there are other tackers ready, but NONE of them, I repeat, NONE of the other tacklers even make a move because Lumpkin goes down by his first tackle attempt, almost always. I realize I don’t know what it’s like to play the game, but I’ve seen smaller guys do whats needed in this situation. Players like Warrick Dunn, or currently Maurice Jones Drew.

The Bucs front office made some tough decisions going into 2011, and it had to make a lot of them on the fly as there wasn’t a lot of time with the lockout and all. But I have no idea what this team’s front office saw in Kregg Lumpkin to think they could get rid of Cadillac Williams. Lumpkin wasn’t supposed to be the guy, Earnest Graham was. But an injury can do that to your team, you have to be prepared. Think about this: The Bucs were in control of the game with a nice drive that featured Blount, but a holding on Kellen Winslow Jr and a penalty on Zuttah put the Bucs at 1st and 25. That pulls Blount out of the game, for Lumpkin. The next plays, a Lumpkin catch for 2 yards, and a draw for 3. He is killing the offense, and the management needs to see that.

Kregg Lumpkin can play for ten years on this team, his lifetime Y.A.C. will be less than 50 yards! At this point, the Bucs must realize that Lumpkin does not fit into their plans for the future. Ironically, it’s Lumpkin’s failures that are setting the Bucs up in prime position to draft a top flight running back high in the first round.