Zuttah To The Rescue
September 13th, 2010
Now Joe took relentless frequent beatings from so many commenters on this website for often defending left guard Jeremy Zuttah’s ability and work ethic over his tenure with the Bucs.
And Joe stated it was a mistake to not have him starting in 2010.
In his defense and praise of Zuttah, Joe was quite a lone ranger among Bucs beat writers and pundits. Joe was unhappy that the colorful Pewter fellows all but threw Zuttah under the bus, and Joe constantly pointed out that there was nothing tangible out there from any named Buccaneers source saying why new left guard Keydrick Vincent, 32, was better than the Zuttah.
Joe made the points that if the two of them are of similar talent, then 24-year-old Zuttah should start based on the Bucs’ stated rebuilding plan, and that continuity was critical on the line and Zuttah had an advantage in that area.
So it is with a twinkle in his eye that Joe brings news today that the Bucs seem to be close to giving up on Keydrick Vincent as their starting left guard — after one game, and a third preseason game in which the Bucs couldn’t run the ball at all with their first team.
Rick Stroud, of the St. Pete Times, delivers the news, explaining there’s been strong interior debate about Zuttah and Vincent in the bowels of One Buc Palace for a while.
Offensive coordinator Greg Olson confirmed today something we heard whispers about more than a week ago:
That the Bucs are still up in the air when it comes to keeping left guard Keydrick Vincent in the lineup on a full-time basis.
Olson said the left guard spot was among the topics in the coaches’ morning meeting today, and that the staff is considering using a rotation with Vincent and Jeremy Zuttah, the 2009 starter at the position.
Joe suggests you read Stroud’s whole story.
Of course, Joe was hoping Vincent, after he was named starter, would be the physical run blocker the Bucs coveted. But Joe hasn’t seen it, and the pocket was not consistently sound yesterday for Josh Freeman.
Vincent was a great pickup by Mark Dominik, but he should be a backup.
September 13th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
its the first week …Vincent is better than Zuttah
September 13th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Easy there Joe, please don’t hurt yourself patting your own back. You consistently seem very eager to do so, but fail to show the same vigor when your predictions don’t go as planned. Soon you’ll be sounding as bad as those guys with the “now defunct” print magazine. As long as you don’t feel the need to see your own face and deluge us with videos, all is well. Enjoy the man-crush with JZ.
September 13th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Vincent is a better run blocker than Zuttah. He is not a better pass blocker. Just like what was seen in TC.
September 13th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
I still don’t understand why for every story of Jeremy Zuttah you put up that same picture of Aaron Sears. Is that an inside joke or something I must have missed?
September 13th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
alone either one can’t get it done. Vincent starts, Zuttah relieves. With the ? pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select G ? from…
September 13th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
“great”?
September 13th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
flboy84- bingo! it was so extensive, he couldnt even keep it in one paragraph.
congrats joe. oh wait….. there isnt even any news to warrant congrats so………………….
September 13th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
It doesnt matter who plays this year because they will be a lame duck. Depending on how high we draft, expect us to take a new LG with either our 1st or 2nd round pick.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Just seen a great solution to this problem LOGAN MANKINS !!! He is only 28 and the best in the game could be had for a 2nd or 3rd,we wont get anyone better in the draft.This would be Bigger than the Winslow trade all we have to do is give him a healthy contract just like Winslow.
I know the Glazer’s are to cheap,but they are close with Mr. Kraft!
September 13th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I just came on here to say that but jester beat me to it. Plus his normal position is LG so we wont have the same problem we had with Zuttah.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
:::Is still looking for the post where Joe calls himself an idiot after Ward was cut, Clayton was cut and Zuttah was benched:::
September 13th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Just wanted to balance some of the Joe hating with some Joe love. I think Joe is very quick to say he’s wrong when he’s convinced he is. …As a fan of other teams too, we’re all spoiled by this great site.
FLBoy84 – great line about the videos and faces. Have to agree. It’s being done right over here
September 13th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Zuttah was the weakest link on our O-line last year. Some will challenge me that Trueblood was fighting him for that same honor. We were a poor offensive line last year.
This year we upgrade the LG position with a mauler that was let go from one of the best O-lines in the NFL. I would dare say that Trueblood IS now the weakest link on the O-line.
Give the “Zuttah should be starting” a rest. Let him get bigger, stronger, more nasty and learn. Vincent is not a long term fix so maybe Zuttah can progress and earn that position next year. Or we can draft another guard AND starting quality right tackle next year.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Looks like Joe is trying to rile Jimbuc.Where you at Jimbuc?I thought you would be giving the haters some verbal abuse after Bucs win.That’s ok,we can always count on the Capt.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@ Jester and The D
Unfortunately Mankins will not come cheap…nor easily. The Pats hold his rights as an RFA, and until he signs his tender, they can’t trade him. In the event he signs we’d have to a) pay him Nick Mangold-type money and b) satisfy the tender requirements (a 1st and a 3rd) to be able to get him.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
The Pats can lower the tender or make any trade they want! They can give the Bucs permission to negotiate with his agent before a deal is made just like Seattle did with V.Jackson.He is not under contract with anyone the Pats just own his rights.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Joe with a little revisionist history . . .
September 13th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Dave C – Same thing’s happening with the friggin’ newspapers as well. I say stick with what got you where you are today and what you’re good at, though it seems a lot of these guys feel the need for airtime just to see themselves/hear themselves talk. Glad to see Joe’s not goin’ that route. Much rather read what they have to say in print.
September 13th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
After all the hard work Joe does for us, and all the time and energy he has spent in making this the BEST DAMN BUC SITE in the WORLD, if Zuttah starting makes Joe happy, then start him!!
September 13th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I will second that!!!!
September 13th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
What’s wrong with you guys?
You don’t change a horse in mid-stream
September 13th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I still say we were better before we lost Aaron Sears the first time, if anyone remembers?
September 13th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Best thing for the Bucs would be for Zuttah to start, but only if he earns it. It looks like the Bucs have an imperfect solution right now. Vincent is a mauling run blocker but struggled in pass protection. Zuttah is not bad at pass protection but is not a dominate run blocker. Oh to have Aaron Sears back
September 13th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
What does that help yeah Sears was a mauler,but now the poor guy is depressed and out of football.Mankins wouldn’t help this week or next but after the Bye and the rest of the season he would be great and we would have depth on the line.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Joe whats up with the Aaron Sears picture on everything that has to do with Zuttah?
September 13th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
@ Jester
You’re assuming the Pats WANT to lower their tender. They want just compensation for their guy. I’m pretty sure they’re still going to want at least two premium picks for him which is too rich for my blood.
My prediction is that they’ll patch things up in a few weeks.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
What about the fact we need Zuttah to fill in all over the line.
September 13th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
We aren’t mauling anyone…………………
September 14th, 2010 at 12:01 am
I agree Eric, I didn’t see anyone on that line who was dominating . Joseph had two pancakes, but whiffed on two others. Our line really needs to step up!! Four of them have been together for a whole now! It’s the one place where inexperience is NOT an issue
September 14th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Yeah, we haven’t gotten over the loss of Sears. But even with him we weren’t dominating, and we are below average since. If we could get Mankins, I’m for it! I think it’s becoming obvious that our OL also is in need of a rebuild, cause it isn’t running right! I expect us two see a new guard and a new tackle next year. I was hoping Dotson was gonna take over RT this year. But looks like we are drafting Tackle/guard right after DE next year. That’s fine, at least it’s not Qb/Wr/Cb!! Looks like we are gonna be all right there !!:)
September 14th, 2010 at 12:41 am
thats right capt. tim. people cant forget that we are rebuilding here. its gonna take time. until then, hold on tight !!!!
September 14th, 2010 at 8:50 am
The pats took a second rd for cassel,what makes you think they won’t take less for a player calls the owner and org a liar and a joke! They might keep him I wouldn’t unless I really was a liar and there line looked good last week without him so get some value! I know I’m dreamin but it sure is fun!!!