Linemen Will Bear Brunt Of Lockout
March 3rd, 2011
Despite the outrageous insinuation by Bucs union representative (he sure isn’t representing his teammates) Jeff Faine that his fellow comrades in the NFLPA may be left panhandling for crumbs like a common street tramp if there is a lockout, there may be two elements to the Bucs that will be profoundly affected by the labor unrest.
That would be both sides of the Bucs’ line of scrimmage.
An intelligent point made by good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times, he explains that units with new coaches will be the ones more adversely harmed by the lockout, which is moments away from happening.
In the past six weeks, the Bucs have hired offensive line coach Pat Morris and co-defensive line coaches Kevin Millard and Grady Stretz. They have yet to get an audience with their players because the offseason program isn’t yet underway. But those players might not get the chance for a while if owners lock out the players, effectively shutting down the NFL.
That could prevent those linemen from having ample time to adjust to their coaches’ new styles and philosophies. Different coaches often teach different techniques that players will also have to grow accustomed to, but none of that can happen unless and until there is a labor agreement — something that is uncertain, at best, right now.
This is an excellent observation by Holder. In the NFL, an offense/defense is usually installed in OTAs. The Bucs are not scheduled to hold their first OTA until after the draft, that is, if there isn’t a lockout.
So, as Joe fears may happen, and Peter King’s dire forecast of a 13-game season comes true, Bucs linemen will have to learn their new coaches’ ways on the fly.
This is not good.
March 3rd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Good point by Holder. I ket thinking how teams in transition, without QBs, and with new head coaches would be affected the most, and they will. I was not thinking about the asistant coaches, specifically the line coaches in Tampa.
That sucks
ruined my afternoon… thanks for pointing it out…
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:05 pm
All true- just another reason to be angry at both owners and players. Didn’t do anything for two years, now want to punish the fans because they can’t run their business professionally. It really sucks! I really hope “we the fans” boycott at least three games, so these jerks quit this childish business of involving their paying customers in their dirty laundry!
March 3rd, 2011 at 5:05 pm
All true- just another reason to be angry at both owners and players. Didn’t do anything for two years, now want to punish the fans because they can’t run their business professionally. It really sucks! I really hope “we the fans” boycott at least three games, so these jerks quit this childish business of involving their paying customers in their dirty laundry!
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Someone needs to tell Stephen Holder the new defensive line coach is KEITH Millard.
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Imagine teams with new coordinators and HCs .. The Bucs will be OK .. its not they are the only team affected.
March 3rd, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Not so fast guys. Deadline is being extended! Owners made a proposal that the NFLPA wants to hear more about. All is not lost!
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Does tim actually have it in him to “be angry” with and not constantly smooch up to the glazers? I am glad to hear it.
Personally, I dont blame either side, said another way, I blame both sides.
If im a player, i want more money, fewer games and better benefits. If i am an owner, i want less invested in unproven rookies, like gmc, an elimination/shortening of the fan fraudulent pre-season in exchange for a longer reg season and a bigger slice of the revenue pie.
The Glazers are business men, not football men. Sure they hope to win, but they have figured out how to be profitable kn Tampa by being marginal. What they didnt expect wad Rah to lead them down to 3-13 which ran off the fan base. An improved but still third place division finish wont sell enough. Thus, they and other owners will try to insure financial security through a more favorable cba. This will likely contribute to the glazers and others looking to lower the salary floor or keep it illusory.
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Btw – during the lockout free will keep the offense on pace. The defense is close to rock bottom, especially 6 of the front 7. It would help to get gmc and price with millard – but honestly they dont neef to see rah any time soon. He contributes zero to the offense, he doesnt coach d line and we are fairly ecperienced in the secondary – so i think the bucs do okay during the lockout.
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Thomas- I’m like a hired gun fighter in here- I drive rahdom til he blantantly exposed himself as a racist- Banned!! Drove Buc you to the tirade that got him- Banned!! I personally drove Guest 27 into the comments that got him – Banned!! Don’t push yer luck, I’m a pro at killing ugly trolls- Don’t be another notch on my Keyboard!! You could be the next ugly troll head on the mantle! Lol!
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Thomas 2.2
I actually agree with alot of what you just said… amazing, HOWEVER….
“What they didnt expect was Rah to lead them down to 3-13 which ran off the fan base”
uh… no.
Maybe they didn’t expect 3-13, but they were in on cutting away all the vets and rebuilding with youh and no QB to start the season. They knew what they were getting into.
As far as running off the fan base…. that had a little to do with it, but not much. It was a myriad of factors.
1. Economy
2. Tampa’s economy being worst than most other cities
3. Seat licensing fees expiring and coming due
4. Ticket prices raised for years.
5. Probably forgetting something else
6. Economy
7. The team going 3-13
They lost most the season ticket holders BEFORE Raheem took over and they ALL cut the vets loose.
March 4th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Very logical positions dave.
The economy is certainly a factor. The expiration of seat licenses was another. But my group bailed after 3-13 bc of the rah 09 debacle.
I am not sure if tampa’s economy is worse than other nfl cities, but dont discount the fan disgust with the glazers. The league ridicules this org now: did you see jim barachs joke
about the lockout: he said something like 75% of nfl players make millions, the rest are the tampa bay bucs. That is the national impression of this org. Cheap.