“Eventually, We’re Going To Get It”
October 24th, 2010
Yes, the Bucs evoked the ghost of Jim Bates — again — in the first half, but followed that with their third second-half shutout of the season.
Joe had a chance to chat with Barrett Ruud after the thrilling 18-17 win today. Ruud is under no illusion that the Bucs are a defensive juggernaut.
“Eventually we’re going to hit our mark and string some good games together. It was more blown assignments in the first half,” Ruud said. “You have to tackle [Stephen Jackson] at the line of scrimmage, or at least attempt to tackle him at the line of scrimmage. Because then you get a chance for the next guy to come in and help out. When he’s getting the ball and he”s not getting touched for five or six yards, he’s going to be a problem. We did a lot better job of being on our keys, being on our assignments [in the second half].”
Ruud went on to say the 4-2 Bucs will be a better team but he’s not sure when.
“What I’m encouraged about is we’re not playing our best right now. And eventually, we’re going to get it. I don’t know what it’s going to take quite yet,” Ruud said. ” But we are 4-2 and we haven’t hit our peak. And eventually we’ll hit our peak and hopefully get better throughout the year. Because it wasn’t our best football game.”
Listening to elated, thrilled Bucs players, Joe heard a lot of realism and humble speak after the game.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Once they become a good run defense, things will get better all around.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Having watched intently this year my assessment to date is that a lack of discipline is the major cause of the problems. If it is discipline, it is coaching.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
@ passthebuc
Nah I disagree. It’s more youthful inexperience than discipline… and even then we aren’t nearly as bad as Dallass. Remember, we were one of the least penalized teams in the League coming into the game.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Ruud is exactly right. They’re not playing well, but they’re winning games. If they “get it” and start playing better…. what are the possibilities then? At some point this season, you would figure that the defense, as a unit, will figure it out and start playing better. You’d figure the offense, as a unit, will figure it out and play even better.
If Blount is the answer (and he appears to be), and the O-line starts to pull it together through the injuries and quits making penalties…. there are good things ahead for the offense. I think even Benn will finally “get it” at some point this season and be a better compliment on a regular basis for Williams.
If this week was an “epiphany” for McCoy, and he’s figured it out… and Crowder keeps playing strong. And EJ Biggers keeps covering the way he has. And Cody Grimm keeps improving and Price recovers from injury….. who knows what could come of that…
All I know is we’re 6 games in, and have won 2/3 of our games. We still have many winnable games on the schedule. It’s going to be an up and down year til they “figure it out”, but ya gotta love what they’ve done to this point.
OK… now bring on the negativity. Bring on the “fire the coach”. We know it wasn’t pretty, and we’ll still hear it.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Yeah Ruud basically said exactly what I was saying during the chat. Its not his fault if he doesn’t blow a guy up who is getting to the second level untouched. Let the d-line hold their ground a little better like the second half today and if Ruud is still looking soft then we can run him out of town, but I don’t think that will be the case.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Blount will make our whole team better. His running allows the defense to rest, as we control the ball, and it opens up passes for us too. I will take a win any way we get it. They made us beat them, and we did. We did not quit. I am seeing a young Tampa team with heart! I can’t wait to see Old School and Steve White’s breakdown. I am sure they can point out areas we can improve in. Ok, so maybe we can’t play with the elite teams yet, but we are winning games we are supposed to, and some we weren’t. Raheem kind of scared me on the radio interview on WDAE with TJ Rives. He indicated that Caddy is the heart and soul of Tampa. I HOPE that don’t mean he is not going to start Blount.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
@BamBamBuc
I totally agree. And, except for the offensive line who are mostly vets, the offense will “get it” sooner or later as well.
As to Ruud, I’ve been firmly in his corner for years. I’m starting to wonder if we might be better off to switch Quincy Black to MLB. He’s strong, hits and tackles well and fast.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Ruud has underwhelmed prior to having an inexperience D Line this year…
Ruud apologists are ignorant…
October 24th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Yes, apple roof, expect Caddy to continue to be named the starter, possibly all year. But it will be a situation where Caddy will start the game, probably get a carry or two to start the game and then give way to Blount for much of the game while Caddy does the 3rd down thing. Partly it is a team politics thing with Raheem wanting to honor the vet with the title of starter. But I trust that at this point there is no way Raheem will backtrack to giving Caddy the majority of the carries even if he keeps his starter title.
October 25th, 2010 at 2:41 am
I THINK CADDY SERVES AS THE VETERAN ON OFFENSE THE WAY RUUD AND BARBER DO ON DEFENSE.HE MAY NOT BE THE OLD CADDY BUT HE CAN TEACH THEM SOMTHING ON HIS WAY TO COLPHERS.