Raheem Covets Quincy Black
January 17th, 2011
In one of his many postseason radio interviews on WDAE-AM 620, Raheem Morris said Quincy Black is a player “I covet.”
Joe’s ears perked up when Raheem briefly singled out Black. That was strong love for a player who has never proven himself for a season and will soon be an unrestricted free agent.
Raheem likes to rush Black off the edge on third down, but Joe expects that would change signifcantly if the Bucs pursue new defensive ends, which appears to be a priority of Mark Dominik.
Black obviously is a physical specimen who has done great work on special teams over the years. But Joe isn’t buying his overall value as a linebacker. Surely, Black isn’t much against the run.
If Raheem truly covets Black, Joe expects other teams would, too. Heck, Bucs castoff linebacker Matt McCoy was on the field making plays for Seattle the past couple of weeks.
But Joe can only see the Bucs getting into a modest bidding war for Black if they were to lose Adam Hayward in free agency first. Special teams and depth at linebacker would take a big hit without both of those guys.
Also, the combo of Dakoda Watson and Hayward surely didn’t have Joe pining for Black after he was lost for the season with a broken arm in Washington.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
@JOE: You are exactly right, Hayward and Watson were both tremendously better than Quincy Black…
January 17th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Please let him go as much as he blitzed in the last 2 years he has 3 total carrer sacks
January 17th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
I agree that the bucs need Black. They cant afford to loose him with a linebacker core that is so short handed. Black deserves to have another chance here. This defense was just starting to get an identity when he went down. so it will be silly to just release him.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
I have a difficult time understanding why the owners want to wait for the new CBA to be signed before signing any free agents. If there’s a lock out, there’s no game thus no checks. I have a bad feeling that we’re going to lose several players due to this. Wouldn’t most players want a contract in hand rather than wait 8 – 9 months to see what happens? If Ra covets Black, sign him.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
When did you change your mind from this Joe?
“Stovall and Hayward are replaceable in Joe’s eyes.”
As far as Quincy Black goes- When the Bucs told Quincy Black he would be replacing Cato June at SAM linebacker, I don’t think they meant for him to emulate June’s complete mediocrity. At least Barrett Ruud makes some splash plays here and there, when he’s not busy being steamrolled by power running backs. Adam Hayward earned the starting SAM backer spot for next season or at least the right to be the training camp front runner. He’s shown it on Sunday that he belongs out there. He’s one of those guys thats all over the field. He’s gotten about as much pressure off the blitz as Quincy Black has in a small fraction of the opportunities.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
If Ruud leaves it seems to me they would move Black over to MLB. He was basically a cover-2 middle linebacker (lobo at New Mexico I think). So he has the physical tools…range and all that for the job. They always rave about how gifted he is and I’ve read articles saying he has the smarts to understand the defense. Moving him to the Mike might be the right fit for him as it keeps him on the field more.
Doesn’t that seem like a likely move to you guys?
January 17th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Joe here,
@gitarlvr — Didn’t change any mind at all. But that doesn’t mean Hayward has no value. If they sign Hayward, then Black becomes much more expendable. That’s the main point. …So which one does Dominik pursue harder? We’ll find out.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Joe here,
@Larry – Dominik has hinted in interviews that the Bucs will look at signing potential free agents before the likely lockout would start in March. It’ll be interesting to see what teams start to do.
January 17th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@ joe, how many sacks, int and tackles did hayward and dekoda have combined, let me answer that. quincy black had every column of splash plays, And to be honest playing in 3 man fronts with black on the d line, probably was the reason fans feel this way but remember with him rushing the quaterback, we where one the top teams and interceptions, and if u watch the games you would realize thats was based on pressure. And with a incosistant d line that says a lot… We do not run a 3-4 defense we are a 4-3 so we need linebackers that are not just pass rushers who also can play well in space. And plus raheem coached up people who should have never touched the field this year, and if he see so much potential in black how dont we. Remember we got the coach of the year, let him coach…
January 17th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Speaking of McCoy I have never seen a special teams player jaw so much after seemingly every kick off. Shhhhh and just do your job bro 🙂
January 17th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Raheem does seem to love Black. I can’t figure out why. The guys done nothing on the field. ?
January 17th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
I’m rapidly beginning to fear that all this talk of “coveting” guys who will come cheap like Quincy Black means the Bucs can’t possibly be coveting any kind of big money, star free agent like a Lamarr Woodley. And yes I’m starting to fear its all about money too and not just about resigning their own guys as I have yet to hear about Raheem “coveting” Davin Joseph, who is likely to get a good sized payday.
January 17th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
gitarlvr:
Joe believes you should give up your dream of LaMarr Woodley. If the Bucs — or any team for that matter — are going to throw mega cash at a player — and they won’t — they’re not going to drop a Brinks truck on a guy who doesn’t even play in the same kind of a defensive scheme as the Bucs.
Playing in Dick LeBeau’s defense and playing in a Tampa-2 are about as similar as speaking French and English.
That’s also assuming the Steelers are going to let the guy walk.
That written, the chances Woodley plays for the Bucs are probably better than Nnamdi Asomugha.
January 17th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
@gitarlvr: He hasn’t said he covets Davin Joseph because he usually only says stuff like that about the defensive players….
January 17th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Joe- Its too bad the Bucs don’t play “Tampa 2” defense anymore or your statement might make sense. The Bucs probably play as much or more 3-3-5 in passing situations as they do 4-3 Cover 2 defense. Woodley would be just what the doctor ordered for that 3-3-5. Imagine Lamarr Woodley blitzing out of that formation instead of Quincy Black. Woodley is a tweener at 265 lbs. He was a 4-3 DE in college at Michigan and a VERY good one. It would be very possible to play Woodley at defensive end in the base 4-3 and linebacker in the 3 man fronts. The fact is the Bucs current linebackers don’t fit the scheme. Thats why Barrett Ruud looks so awful now to so many people. This isnt Monte Kiffins defense anymore and Ruud is a pure Cover 2 linebacker who is now playing out of scheme. Lamarr Woodley fits this scheme about as well as Barrett Ruud does which is to say that the scheme is such a hybrid it will be tough to find linebackers who fit it perfectly.
Besides all I was saying was that at this point I hope the Bucs are even going to bother resigning their own relatively big money free agent, Davin Joseph. I already have given up hope that anyone making as much money as Woodley will is going to walk through the doors of One Buc Place.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
2011 Linebacker Corps
WLB MLB SLB
—————————————————
Nate Irving Justin Durant Marcus Benard
Geno Hayes Tyrone McKenzie Dekoda Watson
No need for Black or Heyward.
January 17th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Hardy Nickerson gave from the Pittsburgh Defense. Pretty sure they were a 3-4 defense. Hardy adapted. Just played the 4-3 with a Lil French accent!
January 17th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Black was consistently the best backer on this team last season. He makes our Under front work.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:26 am
Wow lowlife, that must be your Lil secret. And if our “underfront” has anything to do with stopping the run, then Black was a monster alright- the “invisible man” comes to mind
January 18th, 2011 at 3:25 am
Black could slide to MLB I think he’s more fitted for that Rudd might be gone?
January 18th, 2011 at 10:40 am
Bottom line-
Would it be fair to say Quincy Black has Marginal Instincts at best in a position where that may be the greatest assett ??
January 18th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Quincy Black is our best tackler and plays disciplined football unlike Geno Hayes. Of course, it is the splash plays that make Geno excusable to the ignorant.
@gitarlvr: Get a clue, in our 3-3-5 alignment, Quincy is not a guy among the 3, he is the 4th guy rushing the passer. Lamarr Woodley would replace a guy like Crowder. Quincy Black would still be the 4th pass rusher.
Also, the idea that Quincy Black blitzes the passer is idiotic. Quincy is often, if not always is asked to rush the passer, like a DE, which he is not. That is something already mentioned by Steve White, of course the ignorant would still not understand.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
If you need to shore up your underfront, get Extenze.
Side effects include:
poor tackling;
inability to wrap up;
poor gap integrity;
blown assignments;
head rush;
aiming for blockers;
and for an erection lasting more than 4 hours, call everyone you know.
January 18th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
If you’re looking past the splash plays, it’s not much of a secret if you know football Timmy.
He’s strong at the point against the TE in the Under and is solid in space. The run defense is a product of having a shadow of a man at Mike, Roy Miller being put on skates constantly, and ends losing the edge.
BUT OH NOEZ HE DIDN’T GETS DA INT/SACK, watch something besides the quarterback on a play or two and you might learn something.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I think Ruud could be gone but I don’t think Black will leave unless some team offers up more money.
He is good on sp teams and a decent backup. I think Watson is going to take his job. There will also be another LB drafted within rounds 1-4 most likely.
January 18th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
They need Brooks to get in there and start coaching these guys
January 18th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Whats funny is one of the best WLBs Lance Briggs and Chad Greenway rarely make splash plays, yet our fanbase is concerned with just those stats when we talk about OLBs.