Bucs “Will Improve A Lot”
July 1st, 2010
The key to the Bucs improving greatly in 2010 won’t be playing defensive line or catching passes. The key will be under center, so says former Bucs offensive lineman Jerry Wunsch.
Speaking on 620 WDAE-AM yesterday, Wunsch talked about a variety of subjects, including attending offseason practices at One Buc Palace. “I think they’ll improve a lot. The key is [Josh] Freeman’s maturity,” said Wunsch, who claims to have spent some time with Freeman. “He’s a top notch quality man.”
Sure, Freeman improving is key, but Joe sees improvement along the defensive line and in the running game — and finding someone that can truly replace Antonio Bryant — as just as important.
Wunsch, along with WDAE-AM host Ian Beckles, said the Bucs’ offensive line should be the least of the team’s worries in 2010. And neither was concerned about a Donald Penn holdout.
July 1st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Understand that when he is healthy and motivated, AB is a good receiver, but in 2009 he only had 39 receptions, about 600 yards, and 4 tds. That’s pretty easy to “truly replace.”
July 1st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Outside the box: Chris Simms busted driving while under the influence of marijuana in NY. Too FUNNY!
July 1st, 2010 at 2:37 pm
JimBuc, True, but even easier to replace is a player with 16 catches, 230 yds, 1 td in 2009 and/or 38 catches, 484 yds, 1 td in 2008. I don’t think I even have to say who that is, at least I hope not. Still waiting on that replacement!
July 1st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
oar: “he that shall remain nameless” is even easier to replace. I am not sure it is that tough to replace our WR corp from last year. The scarier issue is injuries. Our team is not very deep (except maybe at WR)
July 1st, 2010 at 3:20 pm
JimBuc, Hopefully Stroughter will continue to improve and excell. And maybe, the new draft picks will be said “replacements” years(although they probablly need a couple of years to develop). I really wish we had better or more proven WRs on the roster.
July 1st, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Stroughter is very important to the development of Freeman. The slot receiver is the one who takes those 5 yard dump off passes and turns them into 15 yard gains. Just ask Tom Brady how important Wes Welker is. Not comparing the two exactly just the importance of a very good player in the slot.
July 1st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Bucnjim is right. More passes to Graham will help as well.
July 1st, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Not a lot to go on in early-July following a 3-13 season, but what we have seen so far is positive and should lead a reasonable person to conclude that the team has improved.
July 1st, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Bryant contributed to K-2’s year by running clearing routes. As one of our two legit offensive threats he was important to the offense, although clearly his injury caused him some limitations.
But, as early as 08 he was a beast. So, not sure why that year would not be included in an anlysis of losing him. He had what was one of the best receiving years in buccaneer history.
Huge loss, all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, IMO.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:09 pm
9 Million reasons why we didn’t sign Bryant! Just another player who thinks he is a superstar, but the facts don’t back it up. You don’t pay a WR who has only posted more than 4 TD’s twice in his 7 year career. Only twice did he break the 1000 yard mark! IN 7 YEARS? So at his very best he averaged about 63 yards per game and about a touchdown every 3 games. Not what I’d call someone to build your team around.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:34 pm
“…but what we have seen so far is positive and should lead a reasonable person to conclude that the team has improved.”
Flash back to July 2009 and I was saying the same thing. Things looked promising until training camp broke. Then all hell broke loose.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Bryant not being re-signed does not have to do with just $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IMO.
You don’t carry a whiner on a rebuilding team. Bryant whined about not getting attention from Olson. Raheem-Dom-Olson who were pretty much on hot seats last year did not really need a new reason to worry about (AB) apart from existing problems. Now Bryant did not just whine in the locker room or in coaches’ office, he whined in front of media. More negative news about an already bad team, I would not want him on my team.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:50 pm
No Leftwich; that’s an improvement by itself. No McCown; what’s he doing now anyway? Not starting I’m sure! I guess we could still be stuck with Chris Simms. Smoke em if you got em cheech. Same starting QB for 2 years in a row at least has the potential to be an improvement. (Notice I said Potential)
Special teams should be sound; Offense slightly better; the Defense should show the most improvement if they can stay healthy. Not saying top 10, but top 15 would be a drastic improvent. I look for the secondary that gave up big plays last year to be the most improved. Just my opinion though!
July 1st, 2010 at 6:26 pm
@Jonny
“Now Bryant did not just whine in the locker room or in coaches’ office, he whined in front of media”.
Can you name the media that Antonio Bryant complained to? I remember Dominik saying that too. But I never heard Antonio Bryant complain to any media, Broadcast or Print. I believe it comes under the heading of rumors started by Dominik. ie Jagz, when they hired him he was an offensive genius. When they fired him he was a fraud! Then they trashed Bates after he was gone! Then they trashed AB when he left. Dominik even lied to the media about Penn during negociations. I know that Dominik said that. But can you some up with that media that you claim AB complained ?
July 1st, 2010 at 6:37 pm
@tampa2: Apparently you were not reading a lot of sports news last season. Bryant whining about not getting enough opportunities/looks from QBs and him blamig Olson for reducing his role all happened last off season. I can’t remember the source, but Joe, Pat Yasinskas and other Bucs beat writers highlighted those comments of Bryant on their blogs.
July 1st, 2010 at 8:31 pm
The thing about Antonio Bryant having attitude problems and complaining too much was the biggest BS roaming around One Buc Place and still is! AB really didn’t complain. He made maybe one or two little comments during the year that were nothing! In fact, in the interview with AB that most refer back to, he was being asked about his role in the offense and how K2 had become the go to guy. He said he understood how K2 was the new go to guy and that he was fine with it. Maybe he didn’t “sound” all that happy about, but I never recalled him blasting Radio and Dominick out in public or anyone on his team for that matter.
Like this was SUCH a big deal. AB’s little comments were SO detrimental to the team! Give me a break. The guy is not a damn TO or Ocho Cinco. Antonio Bryant was one of the biggest free agents on the market this offseason. When teams were trying to aquire him, did you ever hear anything in the media on ESPN, NFL Network, etc, about his “complaining” and “attitude” crap?? No, because it was nothing and only the Buccaneers and the fans make such a big deal out of something that’s not even an issue.
Antonio Bryant was huge loss for us, and he’ll be a huge gain for the Bengals. They’ll get immediate receiver help, and we’ll be stuck with the rookies!!!
If you go to Youtube and watch Josh Freeman’s highlights from 2009, you’ll notice that Antonio Bryant was his target on NUMEROUS plays. Other than Kellen Winslow, he probably took up 70% of the highlights!!
Letting Antonio Bryant go will forever piss me off. Especially when they kept that bum Clayton on the team and not him!!
July 1st, 2010 at 8:34 pm
When did Wunch’s Circle of Friends come out of the woodwork?
July 1st, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Good point RM.
Blah blah blah. It’s all speculation. This team is so young with so many unknown variables, no one truly has a clue how they’ll perform until they take the field. I think they will be better at the start and get better from there. Hell, I don’t know but they sure as hell couldn’t get any worse. I just want some football already and I’m sick of all the down time.
Obviously the Freeman/Bryant connection wasn’t working, for whatever reason. John Elway said it all the other day when talking about Tebow and young QB’s. He said it’s all about repetition for a young QB. A thousand passes a day, every day. The window for an NFL QB is 18″. 36″ is an interception or a missed pass. I like John and it makes sense that the more Freeman and his receivers play pass and catch, run routes and work it out over and over, the better they will be as a unit. Bryant missed too much work and with all the QB carousel crap, Bryant & Freeman just couldn’t get it going.
If Antonio Bryant plays in half of the games this year I’ll be surprised. I think his legs are a big problem, but again, it’s more speculation. I don’t know $hit.
July 1st, 2010 at 9:55 pm
The pessimist will be out there and I, by no means think they are a playoff team this year, but there SHOULD be a lot of improvement for alot of reason.
1. O Coordinator is here all year
2. D Coordinator is here all year
3. Freeman is in year two and has put in ALOT of work
4. The O Line should be better and more comfortable this year with the scheme 9SIGN PENN)
5. The D-Line should improve with the youngsters
6. The LBs should be more settled and improved with better D-Line play
7. More depth at CB and Safety… and better D-Line play should help the secondary
8. Raheem is in year 2 and should improve
The biggest concerns for me are the O-Line staying healthy (and signed) and the RBs.
All that is opimistic, but as young as they are, there should be improvement everywhere. Like I said though, they are not a playoff team and if they sniff .500 I will be pleasantly surprised. I expect ALOT of improvement on the field though.
July 1st, 2010 at 9:57 pm
I didn’t mention WRs. They should be better because other than K2 and Stroughter, they were non existent. BUT we are trying to replace them with rookies sooooo…. who knows. I have a feeling Reggie Brown has a bust out year along side Mike Williams and Benn and Stroughter get thrown in along the way
July 1st, 2010 at 11:10 pm
@BigMacAttack
“Bryant missed too much work and with all the QB carousel crap, Bryant & Freeman just couldn’t get it going.”
Could get Freeman get it going with Stroughter??? Could he get it going with Stovall?? No.
The carousel crap wasn’t AB’s fault, and honestly is a terrible way of saying that he wasn’t the answer at receiver. Any receiver would be affected by such a thing. And Freeman and Bryant actually connected with each other a lot during the season despite AB’s limitations.
To all you people that have been brainwashed by Raheem and think that letting AB go was the right thing, here are some Josh Freeman highlights from last year. You’ll see AB plenty of times in this video, making insane catches and getting wide open. Sadly, we have to subtract that from our passing game!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc2Cf2HMaL0
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:10 am
The most important positions to me are the OL and DL. The OL needs to open up more holes for the running game. If that happens, then it will help out Freeman in the passing game. On the DL, they must get better against the run and generate more pass rush. The DL sets the tone for the rest of the D. More pass rush means less time against the secondary. Stopping the running game means the D won’t be on the field as long. Everything is connected. I believe an injury to Faine or Joseph on the OL would be devastating. I actually think White is the one person on the DL they can least afford to lose. He is their only consistent pass rusher they have.
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 am
Now Antonio Bryant is the Hero? The guy’s problem is the same one he’s always had. The same reason who was released from every team he’s played for, same reason he sat out a whole year of football, and NO One would sign him- he’s a problem in the Locker room. Bad attitude, bad work ethic. Won’t play with the slightest injury, even after the Doctors clear him. That was what did him in here. Team Doctors say he’s good ta go, he sits out two more games, and bitches about the team’s play, while refusing ta play! Of Course, all the other teams that released him were wrong, and all the NFL was wrong for letting him sit home a year.the team doctors were wrong for releasing him to play. I’m sure he’s a great guy! Must be the Glazers being cheap, right? Let’s see how long he’s loved in Cincy, shall we? I think the Bucs will make progress this year, but still to young, and to little depth to do much as far as winning goes. Any injury at OL, DL, or LB will be devastating.but, we can hope.
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:26 am
@capt.Tim
“Team Doctors say he’s good ta go, he sits out two more games, and bitches about the team’s play, while refusing ta play!”
Like Jonny above, you make claims about AB that just didn’t happen! Do you have a source that you can point to to show that AB whined, complained, made trouble in the locker room, or complained in the Media?
The only source you have is when AB left and Dominik & Morris made those claims. I guess that you didn’t notice, but those 2 always trashed the cordinators and Players that left. And now Dominik is a proven liar. So, I ask you the same thing I asked Jonny above, can you substantiate your claim about Antonio Bryant? Jonny couldn’t! And neither can you! You are simply repeating the lies to the media that Dominik spews!
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:26 am
Eric said:
“But, as early as 08 he was a beast. So, not sure why that year would not be included in an anlysis of losing him.”
Answer: Because this is 2010 and the question is of the Bucs improving over last year, not over their history. 🙂
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 am
Louie said:
“Flash back to July 2009 and I was saying the same thing.”
Don’t blame the Bucs for that. LOL. If you could not tell that 2009 was going to be a tough year, you were not thinking clearly.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:03 am
Tampa 2, yeah , I actually do have an “inside source”. But , if you don’t believe the head coach and Gm, or The Cowboys, or the forty Niners, or the rest of of the NFL, that all have canned/ refused ta sign this guy, because he’s trouble, WHO do you believe- damn, can’t see more proof than that! What, are you his mother?!? Sorry , Mrs Bryant, but yer son is Baaad Lil boy!
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 am
And who us your inside source telling you what a good Lil boy he is, and that all these teams keep cutting a talented WR just cause they’re “meanies”
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 am
Patrick, I hear what you are saying, but I just don’t remember seeing Bryant catching all the spectacular balls he did a year earlier. He missed several games and often looked frustrated on the field after plays. Just my own observations, and I was at the games, not limited by the crappy cameramen who like to zoom in on player’s butts and coaches scratching their balls. Stovall had a better year receiving than he has had in any prior year, but not great, and Sammy had an excellent year going until his injury, so I just don’t see what you are talking about really. I like AB and can’t say right now that it was a good decision to release him. We will see soon enough how well the rookies play and if they can do play well the AB discussion could become moot very quickly. If the rookies suck then the AB talk will linger. I think the Bucdors at One Buc had a pretty good read on AB’s knees and health and that may be a primary reason for his release. Just like the aforementioned we see if AB makes it through the Season and if he stays healthy. This discussion is like all the others of late, it’s just speculation until the Games begin. No one knows how every team will perform. The Saints could lose Brees in Week 1 and go 1-16. The Colts could lose Manning, Pats Brady, and then what? The unknowns are what make this game so exciting and fun to watch. Anything can happen a given day. Last year the worst (arguably) team, the Bucs, beat the best team, the Saints. That game wasn’t a gimme either like some will say. I’m drinking the Rah koolaid for now, until it starts to taste like $hit. But I won’t know that until at least week 5. It may take a few games for the noobs to get settled in by I am hoping for good things and wouldn’t be surprised if they start the season 3-0.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:15 am
Bigmac,wow! 3-0! You’re a brave guy for putting that in writing! But I believe it’s possible, IF they can get outta camp without any real injuries at OL and DL., and the rookies at WR and DT can hold up early. Then it’s all about Josh “Neo” Freeman, and I Believe(Amen!) that he’s gonna keep the team going, held together with duct tape and bailing wire as it is! But major injury on either line is gonna derail the train. But I think you could be right, and hope you are!
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 am
I do not remember Morris talking much aout AB. The comments I remember AB saying did not seem to be that big of a deal, and I do remember Raheem saying that he wants recievers that want the ball after AB’s comments. He seemed to stay out of trouble in Tampa, but he is gone now so we all need to move on.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:37 am
Did Wunch or Ion say why they are not worried about the O-line and Penn?
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:59 am
December 2009 St. Pete Times:
“It’s not (about) me,” Bryant said. “I know there’s things I’m capable of doing on the field that can get other people open. We just have to find ways for other people to get me open. There’s a lot of double coverage. It’s to the point where teams don’t respond to other things happening on the field. They just keep rolling that safety over.
“We’ve been able to use that where I just go out and run a deep route and take that safety and then you have (Kellen) Winslow come underneath or (Maurice Stovall) come. So, it works to our benefit to some degree.
“But on a personal level, did I like that? No, because I couldn’t get the ball.”
If AB made these comments (i.e complaining about not getting the ball) to the St. Pete Times, how do you think he acted behind closed doors?
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:07 am
@JimBuc, “Don’t blame the Bucs for that. LOL. If you could not tell that 2009 was going to be a tough year, you were not thinking clearly.”
Rough year, yes. 3-13 abortion of a season, no. Sorry, I wasn’t prepared for or expecting all the incompetance and neither was anybody else.
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:31 am
Why is AB complaining about Rah unacceptable, but Clayton loudly dogging on Gruden is not?
As a matter of fact, he was given a new fat contract for it.
And, why is AB’s 2008 season ignored, but Clayton given a fat contract with no recent success whatsoever? And, why is he in training camp and AB is precticing with the Bengals?
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:46 am
@Jimbuc
““We’ve been able to use that where I just go out and run a deep route and take that safety and then you have (Kellen) Winslow come underneath or (Maurice Stovall) come. So, it works to our benefit to some degree.
“But on a personal level, did I like that? No, because I couldn’t get the ball”
“If AB made these comments (i.e complaining about not getting the ball) to the St. Pete Times, how do you think he acted behind closed doors?””
Whoa! Now that is some real bi*#&ing and moaning! Can’t you do better than that Jumbuc? What good receiver doesn’t want the ball? But it sounds to me like he was talking about them double-teaming him and Winslow & stovall making them pay for that! Not bi&#%ing and Moaning! But you know what goes on behind closed doors! Right! That’s a real stretch to call that complaining & disrupting the team in the way that was in the paper. And I’m sure that if he was disruptive in the locker room word would have leaked long before AB left Tampa Bay. If that’s the best that “any” of you can do then it just proves that it was just more of the rumors started by team Glazer (aka JimBuc) after AB left, just as they did to Jagz & Bates, etc.
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 am
I do not remember any team mates saying AB was bad in the locker room. Bates and Jags did not seem like rumers…they sucked. I wish we still had AB, but we do not…deal with it!
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:18 am
@McBuc
The point is that Dominik & Morris waited until one of them left, than they trashed them in the Paper. I’m not saying that Jagz & Bates were great Coordinators, obviously Bates wasn’t. But they sure were spoken well of when “Dominik & Morris hired them”. Then trashed them one by one when they were gone. Antonio Bryant was the best receiver we had last year by far. (K2 is a tightend) And I never heard one word of his complaints or disruption until he left the team. Then, true to form, Here came these rumors in the paper. Dominik does this and people actually believe him! He was just caught telling lies about Penn to the Media. So that alone shows that he unfairly trashes players and/or coaches and that is wrong. Tell me that you wouldn’t rather have AB than Clayton!
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
I’d rather have Clifford Franklin than Clayton!
Seriously, AB over Clayton any day of the week, especially on Sundays!
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:28 pm
@Tampa2…I never disagreed on AB. I am a big fan, and he did make the comments in the paper while he was here. That being said, I have no problem with what AB said to the media, and at the time Morris said he did not either. This is the big leagues with big money…of course they all lie to each other, and it is naive to think otherwise. I also believe Dom misspoke about the fine thing, which you and I have discussed on other sites as well. I would say AB was the best receiver we had last year by far, and the year before that as well. My point is HE IS GONE, so let’s move on and discuss relevant players.
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Tampa2 — you are wrong so much more than you are right. You first stated:
“Can you name the media that Antonio Bryant complained to? I remember Dominik saying that too. But I never heard Antonio Bryant complain to any media, Broadcast or Print. I believe it comes under the heading of rumors started by Dominik”
I named the “media.” He complained to the St. Pete Times, for one. I put the actual quote up for you to see. So, you see the quote (and that you are wrong) and what do you do? You shift your position. Now you state that its not that “he did not complain to the media,” but rather that it was not “much” of a complaint. LOL. Too funny.
Again, if he made these comment to the “media” he was likley much more vocal behind closed doors.
Tampa2 — you should go back to trying to find that link between the Glazers and Madoff. 🙂
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:35 pm
JimBuc- and like the way “Tampa 2” ignores the point, that the rest of the league already had dumped this guy for being a trouble maker. Musts keeps throwing him up on the pedestal, even though his history proves exactly what they said here. He’s been released from every team he’s been with, cause he’s a jerk!, must be nice there in fantasy land, Tampa 2, just believe what ya want, history be damned
July 2nd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Now that we all agree that AB has moved on to KC, and may be released from there too (just jabbing at ya T2), can anyone tell me why Wunch and Ion think the O-line is the least of our worries? It seems like one of the most pressing to me, but they played the game at a pro level and have a greater amount of knowledge than I do.
@Tampa2…
As far as receivers, maybe we should focus on who is here.
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:14 pm
McBuc, “As far as receivers, maybe we should focus on who is here.”
We have those on the roster this year?
Seriously, I agree. There’s one inparticular that could keep and has kept these boards alive and well, although unfortunately none of it positive!
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
LOL, you are correct OAR. I also meant the bangels, not KC. Maybe I should say let’s talk about most of the receivers…
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Amen!! AB moved on and he is no longer with the team, good luck AB… next!
Clayton just needs to go!
And for all of the naysayers out there i think Reggie Brown will be our #1 WR to start the season. He is a good WR who has had success before, just like another WR we signed to our team a few years back… who was that person again? But without the baggage…
I like Stovall and i believe he will be improved this year. Stroughter is another WR who i can’t wait to see play with our other WR this year.
Overall i think our WR are younger to a degree, but much improved none the less.
Just let that other WR we brought in a few seasons back go, he is no longer a Buc. He is a Bengal.. So if you want to Praise him to the ends of the Universe do it on a Bengals fan site…
I will be at the game on Oct 31st WAHOO!!!!!!!
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:03 pm
JimBuc,
You are obviously a politician because you only stay focused upon yourself. If you think that St.Pete article shows, much less “proves” that Bryant was a troublemaker in the media then you must be Dominik himself! Perception, like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And using that little blurb shows only that you have a one track mind when it comes to the Bucs. I guess that Cincy thought he was a troublemaker too. 4 years for 28 Million. But, hey, Dominik signed Clayton for 25 million, so I guess we got a good deal, right Jimbuc? While I may be wrong on occasion, you are nothing more than a pietistic, portentous ass that shows absolutely nothing and then tells me “I posted the article” You posted squat! If that is all you have to show AB was a troublemaker then you have nothing! Now, go talk down to someone else! For the other fellows, I apologize and I agree. he is gone and that is that!
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:00 pm
First 3 games, Cleveland, Carolgina, Pissburgh. Cleveland just plain sucks and always will. Carolgina, we’ll find out real quick if we can stop the run, & didn’t they already lose a O tackle to IR. Pissburgh, no rapist, Leftwich, hahahaha, he is going to get creamed. If we lose any of these games, with a fresh healthy team, we’re Buc’d for another season.
I hope they beat the Cardinals in AZ for Rusty. That would be cool. The Ravens game is the one I worry most about.
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Tampa2 — simple really. You said that there was no evidence of Bryant complaining to the media. You were wrong. Get over it. Stop trying to change the subject and just move on. As for all your name calling, remember you are the Madoff fan, right?
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Cleveland has notorious buckiller at QB, Carolina has run us over three games in a row, Pittsburgh can beat us with Jimbuc at QB.
Lucky if they win one of the first five.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Eric — you are a ray of sunshine
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:36 am
Tampa 2, I don’t suffer from JimBucs “kindness”! You’re a complete dumbass. Go to Cincy and fulfill your fantasy mancrush with AB ! The rest of us are WAY past listening to you snivel about it. And take that other Sniveller,Buc hater Eric with you, on yer Lil man chaser expedition. DAMN , friggin guys in LOVE with AB!!!
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:03 am
Capt Tim-You are one funny dude.Ya calls them like ya sees them.
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:54 am
The reality, not fantasy, of the impact of Mr. Bryant’s departure will be demonstrated soon enough. As usual well reasoned opinions are met with childish personal attacks.
For now, check out some highlights on Utube as to how good he really was and is.
“Tape don’t lie”.
I wonder how a receiving corp of Bryant, Marshall, Holmes, Boldin Sammy and K-2 would have performed? Minus Clayton. Brown, and the legendary Mo Stovall of course.
July 3rd, 2010 at 11:14 am
Eric said:
“I wonder how a receiving corp of Bryant, Marshall, Holmes, Boldin Sammy and K-2 would have performed?”
Eric — the answer is “not well,” because they never would have gotten the ball. We would have no defense. More importantly we would have crippled our team. To get thoses guys we would have had almost not draft class, this year or next. Marshall was 2 2nd round picks, Bolding was three picks, Holmes was a 5th etc. . . .
This is not fantasy football. While you can say “I wish we had player, A, B and C,” in the real world those guys all came at a COST IN PICKS. Now go back to your little receiver fantasy . . (Never seen someone whine so much about receivers???)
July 3rd, 2010 at 11:39 am
Jimbuc,
Both McCoy and Price could have still been on our team with my scenario.
AB would have cost no picks. Holmes only a fifth rounder. Arizona traded a Fifth plus Boldin to Baltimore for their 2010 3rd and fifth rounders.
We would have had exaclty the same draft opportunities this year, minus Benn in the second round. We would be minus only two draft choices next year. The defense would be the same as it is right now.
Why wasn’t the Winslow trade “crippling the team”?
The real fantasy, Mr. Jimbuc, is trying to play with rookies at the wideout position, plus Clayton and Brown and Stovall. Its rediculous and stupid. Thats why I am upset about it.
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Eric — your argument is tough to understand particularly because we have actual experience to look at. We have actual examples to draw from.
The Bucs rescued themselves from decades of awful play THROUGH THE DRAFT. Ten years of competitiveness by drafting an incredible defense (they call is the Tampa-2). Your approach, which I will call the Gruden approach (placing a higher value on FA then picks) got us over the hump to a Super Bowl BUT the team has been on decline ever since. One year in the playoffs (first round exit) next year 5 wins, back to playoff (first round exit) next year 4 wins. All the while NEVER replacing key players because we gave up so many picks to win the SB, wasted what premium picks we had (Gaines Adams, Dexter Jackson) and tried — as you are still suggesting we do — every year to cobble a team together with the Kevin Carters and Ike Hiliards of the NFL.
Surprised that you cannot see something that is right in front of your face, unless, perhaps, you just don’t want to see it.
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:22 pm
AGAIN!! Eric, AB was released by the Bucs for the same reason that EVERYONE else has released him! No quit yer whining, and go hook up with Tampa 2. Put on yer” I Love AB” shirts, and head ta Cincy! Mancrush road trip 2010! That way the rest of us can discuss the Bucs without being interrupted by yer adolescent puppy love ! Where do these guys come from!! Male football groupies make me quesy!
Lakeland Bob- thank you, true is true.
JimBuc, yer wasting yer breathe, trying to explain things to Tampa 2 and Eric. They don’t get it, because they are idiots