We’re now on our way to our final pre-season game, a game that Head Coach Raheem Morris says will be utilized to fill out the bottom of his roster and practice squad. This could mean that Rudy Carpenter may get the start, along with other young players fighting for one of the few positions left on the Buccaneers’ 2011’ roster. It is a very tall order for most, and even though the Bucs have a good deal of time and effort invested in Rudy Carpenter, there is no guarantee that the team will carry three quarterbacks on the team. As many are aware, “Run Michael Run” Spurlock also plays a little quarterback in a pinch. Is there anything Michael Spurlock cannot do? Is there anything this young group of players cannot do? Today’s NFL is being made up of a new breed of multi-dimensional players. The 2011’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers are leading the way in cross training players to fill multiple roles.
Multi-talented, multi-dimensional players are the wave of the future. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding on the crest of this wave, and as rosters are shrunk, injuries become the norm, and the next man up theory is the key to longevity and winning an all-out war of attrition. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but this is just another reason why I am so high on this young team. It all starts with two very versatile quarterbacks, one that could easily live on Mt. Olympus and go by the name Hercules, from his big muscular stature to the curls in his hair. The second quarterback has a rocket arm as well, runs like the wind and is ready to take over the number one spot in a heartbeat. He is better than a backup, and is just too good to keep off the field, which is why Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson has special plays with his name on them.
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The one player on the Offensive line that I would like to mention who is very versatile is Jeremy Zuttah. He has played lights out at
Center and he is one of the most intelligent and strongest players on the line. He can play either guard position and if the need arises, he can play either tackle spot. I am not calling out or talking about any of our other offensive linemen right now, but this unit has to come together soon or some tweaking and subbing may begin to take place. Another player on the offense that is shaking off the cobwebs and breaking into a new role, again, and that is Earnest “Insurance” Graham. He has been our feature back when needed and may have been a 1000 yard rusher had he been played in the final game of the 2007’ season. It is worth noting that Earnest Graham has a career average of 4.2 yards per carry, and has also been the Bucs’ starting fullback. It is not uncommon to see him scamper for 50 or 60 yards on a run play. He runs a counter like no other and can hit the hole at the right second, often with skip or hop and he’s off to the races.
The Defense is where the versatility is most apparent. This new defensive line started the pre-season well and has improved each week. Most of the Defensive tackles are capable of playing either nose or three technique. Gerald McCoy is another year wiser, stronger, quicker off the ball and doesn’t look confused any more. This is no doubt a product of hard work and good coaching. Frank Okam has been the most pleasant surprise and may become Mark Ingram’s nightmare. If Bryan Price and Roy Miller get rolling, this could get scary and all the more reason these players have to become multi-positional. That leaves the defensive ends, which have been another pleasantry, and not so surprising. Adrian Clayborn is a beast and a ball hawk. Da’Quan Bowers really showed up against the Miami Dolphins and is another tackling machine with high pursuit. Michael Bennett and Tim Crowder are sacking quarterbacks, making tackles behind the line and also being very disruptive. There are no real back-ups anywhere on this line. They have all been productive, interchangeable and I look forward to all of them getting a lot of playing time. They are all capable starters. George Johnson is playing well and Kyle Moore appears to have finally awaken, but may be the odd men out.
One of my favorite Linebackers on the team is Adam Hayward, and he doesn’t even start, unless you count special teams’ captain as such. He can fill in at the inside or outside linebacker slot. He is a thumper, workout warrior, with 4.5 speed. Sorry, but I love this guy. Dakota Watson is a rising star and if you have watched the preseason, you know that he will see more and more playing time. He may be the total package. Mason Foster is the ‘Anti-Ruud”, no offense, but he plays with reckless abandon and doesn’t hesitate to lay the wood on somebody. Quincy Black is taking on the role of Captain of the Defense and is playing at a high level, thus far. Geno Hayes had a good game against the Dolphins as well, and the entire Buccaneer defense was “Swarming”, “Gang Tackling”, and pretty much “Relentless”. If this is any sign of things to come, all I can say is “WOW !!!”
Our Defensive backs all appear to be pretty solid, and we haven’t seen Aqib Talib take the field yet. Okay, sure, Brandon Marshall made an excellent play for a touchdown Saturday night, but I’ll take that, one great receiver making one nice play, we can live with that. That is what great players do and EJ Biggers had good coverage but just got beat. He got beat again but redeemed himself with a forced fumble turnover. Sean Jones and Cody Grimm have both been making plays on the ball and if Tanard Jackson finds his way back into the coaches’ good graces, that will provide more depth. Larry Asante hasn’t looked bad either and Ronde Barber is the backbone and the instinct that makes this unit work. We have to remember that this is still a young team with several inexperienced players in key positions on defense. There will be times when they give up big plays, but Josh Freeman is the X factor that can keep them in games, and pull out wins in the clutch and they will continue to learn and grow with every experience.
I’m excited for the Detroit Game and it will be a good measuring stick. This is a game that will be won in the trenches and on defense. The Bucs have to get to Matt Stafford and disrupt his timing. If they can do this it will take their number one weapon, Calvin Johnson out of the equation. Aqib Talib will have to play his best game as this is a team on a seven game winning streak. The Bucs’ offensive line will also have to play their best game if they are to win, but I really like our chances. The Bucs have proved thus far that they do have the ability to stop the run and if all these things happen they will be off to a very fast start to 2011’.
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