Tim Crowder lined up at defensive end on the left spot, and we may not hear from him again in a few months. Frank Okam played Defensive Tackle, with Roy Miller lined up at 3 technique DT in the absence of Gerald McCoy. Michael Bennett took the job away from Stylez G White, and now neither may be around to see the change take place.
The change of course, is the utter and total replacement of the Defensive line from the one that took the floor of the Superdome to beat the Saints there. In their place, at best will be a 3rd year pro as the most senior player, should all things go right that is. There is of course the matter of injuries that must heal on several spots, but with all things being equal, here is what the Bucs hope the line up will look like in 2011…
LDE De’Quan Bowers
LDT Brian Price / Roy Miller
RDT Gerald McCoy
RDE Adrian Clayborn
The latter, Clayborn, has already been given the jersey number for Kyle Moore. The rookie from Iowa will shell out a few bucks to Buc Moore for giving up his number, but that won’t make it feel any better for Moore or the others as their jobs yield to the youngsters drafted no later than no.2 in the last two drafts.
Its a line change thats been needed around here since 2007, the last time the Bucs ranked in the top 5 (No.2) in defense, and even that group didn’t have a dominant pass rusher like Tampa Bay fans hope to come from the new kids on the block!
But even if the league begins plans to play tomorrow, two of the new lineman have a tougher road back than just a wish list depth chart like this one. Brian Price was hurt all last year, and problems arose from his hip injury which never healed properly last year. Then there is the increasingly negative outlook on the Bucs 2nd round pick Bowers, who was once looked at as a top 5 overall pick.
His problem is a knee injury that many team doctors advices their respective front office staffs to stay away from completely, but Bucs front man Mark Dominik and Head Coach Raheem Morris heard none of that. They rolled dice twice last season and came up winners with Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount when no one else in the NFL would touch either for at least 4 rounds if not at all.
But the Bucs play defense here in Tampa, and even with a surging offense, Bucs fans identify with the Big D, and its coordinator is head coach Raheem Morris. Coach has been a back four defensive back guru for years now, and unlike Monte Kiffin who battles with the secondary, former DC Monte Kiffin was all about the front four. Well the D may be headed back that way soon, and these four young linemen will be the cornerstone of the turn around.
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