“He’s Running Away From Contact”
December 13th, 2010
Yes, the ghost of Jim Bates returned to haunt the Bucs in the first half yesterday. Redskins running back Ryan Torain notched his third 100-yard game of the season in the first quarter, running with ease up the gut of the Bucs’ defense.
It was a gashing of epic proportions.
So who’s to blame? A sizable chunk falls on Barrett Ruud, so says former Bucs guard Ian Beckles, co-host of The Ron and Ian Show on WDAE-AM 620.
Beckles pounded Ruud on the air Monday for his soft play.
“He’s running away from contact. He didn’t use his helmet yesterday,” Beckles said of Ruud. “He wasn’t playing football. Football is a violent contact sports. Not in his world. Nobody can dispute that.”
Beckles said he suspects Ruud may be a bit of an untouchable in the Bucs locker room when it comes to taking heat for poor play because of his leadership role on the defense.
“Somebody has to get reamed [in the film room] when a running back gains 100 yards in 10 minutes,” Beckles said.
Fans can expect the Bucs’ true evaluation of Ruud come March when the free agent signing period begins.
December 13th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Just say goodbye to Ruud and his soft…uhm…butt
December 13th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
We should have traded him last year for a 2nd/3rd whatever Indy was willing to give…..
December 13th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
every one of our lb’s shuffle down the line 5 yards deep. i’m really hoping watson shows something these last couple games.
December 13th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I haven’t watched any replays and I wish I could disagree with Ian. I really am not a big fan of Ian’s either, but it is what it is. I’m sure Steve White will give us all the ugly and gory details, calling out those who were out of place the most. I agree with Moose in that our defense could not get off any blocks in the first half. They just went wherever the Skin’s linemen wnated them to go. Mike Shanahan IMO is no longer head coach material, but he is a great O line coach and has zone blocking down pat.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Leave Barrett alone, you basterd’s. Your lucky Barrett ever played for the Buc’s !!
December 13th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
I called this last year.
Ruud is still pissed he never got the contract he thinks he deserves.
They pissed him off in the off season, and he can’t get over it. He has a lot more talent than he chooses to use. Look how fired up he was coming out for the 2nd half, and look how the defense responded to that. He’s the captain, and very lucky to make an amazing incomeplating a kid’s game.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Buc Off I want some of what you are smoking. When you have a running back run for over 150 yards by halftime the first position you look at is Middle Linebacker. Ruud is the softest middle linebacker I have EVER seen play the game and Raheem wants tough violent players. If Ruud does not get replaced we will never be a good run stuffing team. Ruud is terrible and was out of place on most of the long runs yesterday. He does dive a shoelaces well I will hand you that. If we are luck he ever came here maybe we can be just as lucky when he heads out of town.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
This guy sucks worse than Lynne Austin in the backroom of Mons! Tired of the BS excuses for this guy. “Oh, the Tampa 2 doesn’t want the MLB to stop the run.” BS! Chicago plays a Tampa 2. You see Urlacher play centerfield like he’s BJ Upton??? Hell no!
Ruud is a puss. No other way to say it. He hasn’t made a signifcant play since he got that interception against Chicago three years ago (playing centerfield). When Ruud got that tackle 30 yards downfield yesterday I just wanted to punch his arse!
If Sapp was still here he would have leveled Ruud by now. You know it!
My freaking niece has more balls than this guy.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I’ll say it again. Its just plain ignorant to go right to blaming Barrett Ruud when the d-line played 10 times more poorly than however poor he played on Sunday. If anyone thinks that the likes of Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis, or Johnathan Vilma could have stopped Torain from huge gains when he was blowing right past the line of scrimmage untouched with a head of steam time and again, is crazy. Im not saying that the Bucs shouldn’t consider upgrading from Ruud but to act like he is somehow the main reason for the Bucs run defense struggles is insane. When your entire defensive line gets blocked clear off the field on any given running play your not going to stop the run with a linebacking core full of Ray Lewises.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
And this is in his “Contract Year”?
Imagine how soft he’ll get the older he gets.
He is not fast, he is not aggressive, why would anybody think that he could fill the middle? The Mike traditionally is thought of as that tough badass (ie. Mike Singletary) that nobody wanted to run on.
Don’t get it.
I still think that the best line heard on talk radio last week (thanks Gunner) was that his last name should be changed to “polite”
December 13th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Lets not overdo it people, ruud does have some key plays from time to time. he’s not perfect, but it could be worse.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
There are plenty of worse MLB’s in football. Maybe we are lucky that Barrett Ruud is limiting these plays to 10-15 yard gains instead of allowing running backs to take it to the house. There is some kind if huge misnomer going on that Barrett Ruud is a poor tackler because he doesnt lay guys out with james harrison like hits. This a just a lie. Ruud’s tackle numbers speak for themselves. Again, I don’t think he is necessarily pro bowl caliber but he is middle of the pack when it comes to NFL linebackers and im just tired of people thinking the guy is one of the worst LB’s in the NFL. It will be funny to watch Ruud go to a team with a superior d-line in free agency and then all of a sudden become a pro-bowler.
December 13th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@gitarlvr…I agree 100% with both of your posts. Steve White has said the same thing as well.
December 13th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
The OL was constantly at the second level yesterday. There aren’t many LB’s that are going to beat a 1 on 1 with an OL.
December 13th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
It’s funny how Barber is able to get off OL blocks, but Ruud isn’t?
December 13th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Whatever the actual problem was, it clearly improved in the second half, and all but one Skin drive was pretty much stuffed. The footing was very for our defense, and yes both teams had to play in it but it was a factor and they struggled in force to get off blocks and keep up with cut backs. Still a win is a win.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I’m not sure the exact issue with Ruud but he won’t be around next year. Seems like when he doesn’t trust his safety ala Sabby and now Lynch he plays the position much softer. When he could trust Grimm to make plays behind him he was much more aggressive at the point of attack.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
In reality, it probably is Ruud’s fault, but definitely not all his fault. I’m sure it is partially due to the D-Line getting manhandled in the first half, as well as Ruud not being a bruising MLB. My guess is that if we did have a Ray Lewis-type MLB, our run defense would be better, but still not great. I don’t think it’s fair to place all the blame on one guy. I would, however, be very surprised if Ruud is our starter next year.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Ruud is awesome. The rest of the defensive needs to step up! He is the best linebacker the Bucs have ever had. You will miss him next year. Ray Lewis is getting on in years and the Ravens need an experienced linebacker.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
The Ravens picking up Ruud??? Oh man now you are high. To compare Barrett Ruud to Ray Lewis is like comparing Dan Marino to Trent Dilfer!
COME ON MAN!!!!!!!
December 13th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Nick2 – It could happen. Maybe Ruud puts on 35lbs., learns how to shed blocks, wrap up the ball carrier and he’s right there.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Yes Ruud does get a lot of tackles, but he plays center field, where in the Tampa2 he is supposed to play.
I watch him on the Boob-Tube and as the ball is hiked he is turning and running the wrong way… away from the ball, then about 12 yards from the line he turns back to the play. it is very hard to tackle a RB when every snap you run the wrong direction first. I would like to see him line up and go forward toward the line and ball carrier and see how he does…
December 13th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Ruud isn’t even in the top 5 best LB’s the Bucs have ever had. Get a clue dude! Gains 35 lbs., sheds blocks and wraps up the ball carrier. That’s like trying to fix up a 20 year old Pinto instead of buying a new car. The draft is coming up soon and the Bucs will be drafting some LB’s you can count on that!
December 13th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Buc Off claims that Ruud is “the best linebacker the Bucs have ever had”. I don’t think he is as bad as most of you think….but either I’m missing the sarcasm, or you sir are a gaping rectum. Apparently Derrick Brooks and Hardy Nickerson don’t mean anything to you. I assume you were joking tho, because your next post said “if he puts on 35 lbs and learns how to shed blocks”, as if either is possible to do overnight.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Thank you Jim….well stated my friend.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Our MLB is as soft as a plush toy ans our ROLB is the same size as our safety. (and apparently likes to be tazed)
Nate Irving and Chris Carter are the future.
December 13th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
I agree Rudd has not played well at all. But if the Bucs let him go who will replace him
December 13th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
We realize we lost our two top tackles, right? & our top 3 FSs? Corey Lynch is one of the worst run-playing safeties I’ve ever seen, no offense…
December 13th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
So you apologists make excuses for Genome ‘soon to be suspended’ Hayes, yet spew hate for a guy like Barrett Ruud? I’m sure Ruud can’t wait to get the F out of Tampa with fans like this… and I don’t blame him him one iota.
December 13th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
haha! Just read up on Tyronne Mckennie from USF on the Bucs practice schad. My thought is that he will be Quincy’s replacement. Well anyways, his NFL comparsion none other than… Barrett Ruud.
December 13th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
The Bucs play a one gap d-line. Its not the linemans job to stand there and be fat loads who refuse to be moved while the MLB flows to the ballcarrier and makes all the tackles. Its their job to penetrate gaps and either tackle or force changes of direction by running backs and then your MLB is your second line of defense against the run. Barrett Ruud has a gap to play too. If you Ruud haters understood the difference in schemes you would understand why you are not going to see Ruud playing like a Ray Lewis or James Harrison. Place the blame where it belongs. When your d-line completely loses their gap integrity in a one gap scheme its not going to even matter if your MLB crashes his gap properly , its already too late. Give Ruud credit for making all these mop up tackles downfield after d-lineman fail at their jobs. And as for Ian Beckles I am convinced he has a sub par football IQ for a former player which is not at all surprising considering he was a sub par player. Again im not saying Ruud is a great player but you can’t even evaluate his play properly AT ALL when the four guys in front of him stink it up as badly as they did in the first half Sunday. By the way Ruud was the one guy to make a solo tackle in the backfield of the running back during that whole jailbreak in the first half. When do you see Bucs d-lineman penetrate gaps and tackle backs in the backfield like they should in this defense?????????? If that starts happening and the Run D still sucks then you can aim your cannons at Barrett Ruud.
December 13th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Comparing the situation with Hayes and Ruud is ignorant. Then again, considering who made the comparison, it comes as no surprise. If the exact same thing happened to Ruud, I wouldn’t be calling for his head either. Don’t know why you think anyone would. The hate for Ruud, although not completely justified, is performance based. The Hayes situation is not. I don’t think Hayes is a great linebacker either, and according to Pewter Report, he is on thin ice as well (from his on the field performance).
Just wondering, have you ever made a post that was completely positive? Even when you say something good about someone, you always bring negativity into the same post. That’s a pretty pathetic life. You must really need a hug.
December 13th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
This Ruud hate is ridiculous.
He is the QB of the defense.
OK, he is not an all pro linebacker.
But, he plays his position in this defense consistently and at a top level. I’d say he is a top 10 MLB.
The thing about letting go of consistent players is that you can really miss them when they’re gone. And he is not soft.
December 13th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
I can not wait for Ruud to be emancipated.
December 13th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
safety,
Either you are a player on the roster that is sticking up for your mate or you are severely impaired because all season all I see is him trying to take angles when he is about to make head on contact, him dancing around contact, and him never knocking defenders backwards. Raheem is being a good leader and protecting him from the fans but we who understand football because its not rocket science see what is occuring with Ruud. I’m not calling him trash or a bottom feeder, nor am I saying he doesn’t have a place in the NFL but as a leader of a young roster riddled with youth looking for more, you have to say that he needs replacing. I do.
December 13th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Architek,
I’m not a player, just a fan like you.
I read an article by Steve White discussing the role he is supposed to play in the Bucs defense. It seems to me like he’s playing that role pretty well.
Besides, if he gained 35 pounds, he wouldn’t be as effective in coverage. And coverage is what he is supposed to be able to do if the defense is going to work.
December 13th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
People have short memories but there were plenty of times when the venerated Bucs defense of Brooks and Sapp was punched in the mouth, straight up the middle, by a power running game. This was the book on how to overcome the Bucs defense for years. In games like that guys like Derrick Brooks and John Lynch missed tackles and looked bad tackling guys downfield after big gains. This didn’t happen to that defense nearly as much because Sapp and Culpepper, and Mcfarland played the run well much more often than our current guys do. Give McCoy and Price some time to get healthy and play as dominant as we think and hope they should and you guys wont be talking about Ruud like you are now if he is still here. People started bellowing out “Ruud” at the stadium for a reason. The difference between then and now is the incredibly poor performance of the defensive line vs. the run and not some inexplicable loss of talent by Ruud. He hasnt had an injury or become old or anything else to explain why he would have had a serious decline in ability between then and now. The variable in the equation that has changed has been the caliber of line play in front of him.
December 13th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
And to people saying Ruud should gain 35 lbs. That would make him a 275 lb. 4-3 middle linebacker. Look up the facts just a little before posting ridiculous things like that. Barrett Ruud is 6’1″ 241 lbs. This is average size for an NFL linebacker. By comparison Johnathan Vilma(arguably the best 4-3 MLB in football) is only 6’0″ and 230 lbs. I think the Bucs should look into acquiring an outside linebacker with more prototypical 3-4 size for pass rushing because of their extensive use of 3 man fronts. But the guy getting replaced in that scenario is Quincy Black who has made about zero impact tackles vs. the run in his time as a starter. It would be hard for said 3-4 linebacker to fulfill the pass coverage responsiblities when in base 4-3 but thats why im so high on Lamarr Woodley who is not considered a liability in pass defense on a steelers 3-4 that is considered to give more coverage responsiblity to its outside linebackers than any other 3-4 defense in the league.
December 14th, 2010 at 12:03 am
Also in the above scenario Woodley(265 lbs.) might probably have to play the middle while in base 4-3 while moving outside to pass rush in the 3 man fronts which would mean Ruud moving to outside and then back to middle in the 3 man front. All this sounds very confusing and more trouble than its worth but the Bucs are going to have these kinds of issues with their personnel doing things they are not quite cut out for if they are going to insist on having such a hybrid defense. Maybe Steve White is right and they should cut the crap and go back to a more Monte Kiffin style defense in which case I can only imagine Ruud’s play improving. Regardless Ruud is not the worst linebacker in the NFL or on this team as people seem to think.
December 14th, 2010 at 12:17 am
is Buc You just a troll? or demented?
hey, at least Ruud doesn’t get arrested. gotta give him that
December 14th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Well the Bucs don’t have to worry about Ruud getting hurt. Its hard to get hurt running away from plays. Unless he sprains his ankle back pedaling.
December 14th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Gtrlvr is spot on…Safety, I think you and I are the only people that read Steve’s peice about Ruud. The funny thing is people on this site take Steve’s word as gospal, unless he is talikng about Ruud.