Players Speak Of Experience, Leadership Void
October 22nd, 2009
"Yo, Rah and Dominik, I'll help you keep the ship afloat. And I know how to tackle."
C’mon, Mark Dominik. Suck up your mistake. Call Derrick Brooks and give your team the leadership it’s craving.
The bye week is coming. It’s the perfect time.
Speaking Tuesday on 1010 AM, Earnest Graham talked about the Bucs’challenges after purging veteran leaders and about waiting for equivalent leadership to emerge. He even talked longingly about how Tim Crowder, who was with Denver to start the season, spoke of Brian Dawkins walking into the Broncos’ locker room this year and completely changing the culture.
On Wednesday evening, it was Jeff Faine’s turn to voice his frustration about the experience void the Bucs are suffering from. Faine spoke on 620 WDAE-AM during Total Access.
“It’s frustrating. As a veteran, it’s frustrating,” Faine said. “From going from what we had last year with a veteran, really heavily veteran-laden team, to going to what we have this year, where it’s a bunch of young guys, a bunch of atheltic capable skilled guys. But we just haven’t been playing together for a long time. There’s not the experience there that you kind of depend on in the NFL. You’re dealing with a whole new coaching staff. It’s a whole new regime. …As a vet it’s frustrating at times because you’d like be able to get out there and win, and you’d like to be able to do the things you’ve done before in a season. But it’s kind of a growing pains. And you have to go through them when you’re kind of starting over a whole new franchise in a way.”
So here are two veteran Buccaneers, including a team captain in Faine, talking about how the team is lacking in experience and leadership.
And since it’s obvious that leaders can’t be anointed, how are the Bucs going to address that in the offseason?
Joe thinks Derrick Brooks could be a beneficial presence on the Bucs right now, even if he’s playing limited snaps and even this late in the season.
For Dominik and Raheem The Dream, having Brooks in the locker room could greatly increase the odds of keeping the Bucs from becoming a fractured group as the team marches toward a one- or two-win season. Brooks could help save their jobs.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
If 55 could help us salvage something then I am all for his return, but the organization won’t do it because it would mean their eye would swell and turn blue. No one likes to been seen with a black eye.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Both eyes are already black. It can’t get any worse. Plus, I bet Brooks could be signed pretty cheaply at this point.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
There’s no way Derrick will be back here. Derrick wasn’t one of Rah’s boyz and had more pull on this team than Rah did when he was the lowly d-backs coach.
It’s a matter of ego’s and pride.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
It’s not like this regime has not already admitted to makeing many mistakes. Just admit another one and bring back some leadership.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Brooks would have the highest respect for Morris and try to give help to him as the new HC, but Morris would feel like Brooks was taking control away from him as the new HC. I get the impression that Morris is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He does not understand group dynamics.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Brooks is not coming back here, as much as would love to see it. We did the same thing that KC did last year. Put everyone over 30 on the street and rebuild the roster. Like KC we are finding out easier said than done. The only way there’s any hope to this lost season is if we learn from our mistakes and go get some veteran free agents. Guys in there late 20’s that have been in the league and know how to win. That why the team we are facing this weekend has been so good, they don’t care if your 22 or 32. If you can play ball you’re going to be playing and if you can’t, than well you’re not. You also have to look for guys in the draft or free agents that want to be leaders. Just because you’re good does not mean that you can be a leader. Like that DT Suh coming up in this years draft. I was reading that he a leader like Ray Lewis. If he’s half the leader Ray is he’ll fit right in on this team.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I said it back when they released him(shame of a way to be released too) and will say it again, His leadership is what WILL BE and now IS missed!
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Come to think of it the Bucs kicked the “old guys” with experience to the curb and look what’s happening.
This kinda reminds me of something else going on in the country right now with new leadership, hope and change… I wonder how THAT will turn out?
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Amen
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:27 pm
step up! …
every dressed out 53
lead my example
it’s contagious
and fun
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I vote for D Brooks for D C no mater How much They have to pay avery one has a price.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I vote for D brooks for D C IF he can be enticed.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Love how Mr. Lucky add his political two cents. This is a football blog, so guess what? KEEP IT TO FOOTBALL!
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I’m with Lucky. They can keep their CHANGE.
…And I don’t know what the Bucs are doing right now, but it isn’t what I would call Football.
…And Brooks is my Hero.