Defensive Front Too Young
May 27th, 2011
Joe is as geeked as the next Bucs fan about the potential for the Bucs front line.
Just in the past two years the Bucs have drafted Gerald McCoy, Brian Price, Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers all in the first two rounds. That has the potential for being as dominant a front line as the Bucs have ever had.
But hold up! Former NFL coach and front office executive Pat Kirwan isn’t as quick to jump on the bandwagon. In a recent chat on NFL.com, Kirwan was asked if the Bucs could contend for an NFC South title this fall. Kirwan is of the mind that the Bucs front four is too young for the Bucs to make much of a postseason run.
Justin, Lexington, Ky
The Buccaneers are a young and up coming team, but do they have what it takes to win a tough NFC South in 2011?Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
They probably do on offense. but their problems, to me, remain up front on defense. I like the two draft pcisk at DE, Clayborn and Bowers. But there are meidcal issues surrounding both guys. they must become great pass rushers right away to deal with Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. and I’m not sure they are ready for that job.There will be some Sundays when not one starter on the defensive line has a full season of NFL experience.
Kirwan touches upon a fair point. Both GMC and Price were hurt last year; Price’s injury could present an extremely dicey recovery. And as always, rarely do rookie defensive linemen shine.
This means to Joe that there will still be pressure on the Bucs’ linebackers to stop the run. Uh, oh.
May 27th, 2011 at 8:10 am
We drafted Adrian Peterson to our dline?! were going to win the superbowl now! lol
May 27th, 2011 at 8:22 am
joe we drafted those guys in the last two years, and i wish we would of drafted adrian peterson but unfortunately we did not. I believe it is the second line of the article.
May 27th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Joe here,
Thanks, guys. It’s fixed. Joe was very tired when he wrote this. …Let’s hope the D-line can stop Adrian Peterson in Week 2, if there is a Week 2.
May 27th, 2011 at 8:26 am
“Defensive Front Too Young” – um obvious. Now you guys want to add in Mason Foster. This would be BY FAR the worst front 7 in the NFL for 2011.
You have injury questions at all 4 positions, inexperience at all positions, poor play so far at one (GMC), how can ANYONE be excited about this front 7 for 2011. Now you subtract Talib (and don’t add in a similar talent like Nnamdi), add a year to Ronde and you are talking about a MUVH worse defense than even 2010. Ouch.
Maybe Josh can put up 40+ points per game. It would be exciting at least.
May 27th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Kirwan is probably right, but it’s not because of medical issues, it will be the lockout and its impact on OTAs, training camp, and access to our new D-Line coaches. Keep in mind, we beat NO and had ATL on the ropes in both games with last years crop of D-line players. We’re not that far off!
May 27th, 2011 at 9:22 am
thomass 2.2
Do you watch football? Do you pay attention?
“This would be BY FAR the worst front 7 in the NFL for 2011.”
How do you know this?
“You have injury questions at all 4 positions, inexperience at all positions, poor play so far at one (GMC)”
Ummm injury and inexperience are both a part of football. They are constants. DT is a hard position to come in the league and make a splash. Sapp even had an average rookie.
“how can ANYONE be excited about this front 7 for 2011.(?)”
Because we are FANS. And 2010 wasn’t exactly a stellar year for the Dline.
We do and will improve the CB position before start of 2011 season.
“Maybe Josh can put up 40+ points per game. It would be exciting at least.”
I want what you are smoking.
May 27th, 2011 at 9:24 am
If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Thomas might impress me. But, I’m not and didn’t, so he doesn’t.
May 27th, 2011 at 9:31 am
LOL @ Oar
May 27th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Thomas,
I think it’s a little extreme to say we’ll be the Worst front 7 in the league. Really; how much worse can it be than 31st in sacks & 28th against the run? Giving up 131 rushing yards per game is not going to cut it. When defending against the run it’s not so much about play calling or technique; it’s about beating your man! I welcome these young guys in and hope they can bring attitude, leadership, and physicality to this team that desperately needs it.
May 27th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Bucnjim
“I welcome these young guys in and hope they can bring attitude, leadership, and physicality to this team that desperately needs it.”
EXACTLY! Can’t wait…..well, I hope not that long! Get this CBA crap settled, PLEASE!
May 27th, 2011 at 9:40 am
I still expect a vet De brought in, due to that very reason. Someone with talent, and a Lil long in the tooth. A guy who can heat it up, but won’t cry about a breather on 1st and 2nd down.
A young D line is a work in progress. Imagine next year! And even better- the next year! – you see pattern. Until recently, nothing got better from year to year- just older! This is a better progression! We could end up with a dominant D-line, that trained and grew up together, for the next yen years.
That would excite any Buc fan. Well worth a year or two of growing pains!!
May 27th, 2011 at 9:43 am
I’m curious about which team Thomas is a fan of…anyone know?
As far as what Kirwan said, I’m completely fine with EVERYONE not expecting much from the Bucs. It get’s their gander up and they do their best to prove everyone wrong.
Oh, and Thomas…if the team is so bad off, Raheem must be a better coach than you give him credit for.
May 27th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Pete: i give rah credit for being a 13-19 head coach, who has never led his team to the playoffs and never finshed better than 3rd out of 4 teams in his division. You guys think Pat Kirwan is excellent when he has a favorable opinion but when his objective opinion is what you view to be negative (even though it is clearly accurate) you freak out.
The simple fact is: if this team over-achieves and squeaks into the playoffs, it will be due to an amazing year from Freeman. If free plays average, the team wins 4 or 5 games.
May 27th, 2011 at 10:25 am
And Pete: Being a fan doesn’t mean: lying to yourself about things being great (like this defensive front 7) when clearly it isn’t. Like Tim said – if this front 7 arrives, it will likely be in 2012 or later. You can’t argue that GMC gets a pass bc it takes 2-3 years for a D Lineman to develop, then not say that your D Line won’t be undeveloped in 2011 when all three have less than 1 years experience.
That is what KIrwan and I have been saying. I think Bowers is a talent with injury questions, I think that Price is talented (with injury questions, I think that Clayborn is a hard-working determined kid (with productivity issues and physical limitations), I think that GMC will be an average to below-average NFL lineman (who should have been a 3rd to 5th round pick).
If you add all that uo, in addition to the weaknesses at both OLB positions, it spells a very bad front 7 for 2011. So, if this team wins better than I antiicipate, it will in all likelihood be due to the team’s one marquee player and star, FReeman with help from Mike Will etc putting up A LOT of points.
May 27th, 2011 at 10:35 am
thomas 2.2:
You were going strong until the phrase in parentheses. LOL
May 27th, 2011 at 10:45 am
He did have a Lil head of steam going. ended up being just hot air again though. Lol
May 27th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Better to get experience now then let the losers keep taking snaps. They won 10 games playing 11 rookies last year and now all of those guys have experience. They will be better and the new rookies can only help. Cut the dead weight Ruud and Stylez.
May 27th, 2011 at 10:52 am
I think Thomas 2.2 is a creepy, delusional momma’s boy that still wears diapers if u don’t like the way the buc’s defense play’s, close your mouth get off the couch grab the remote and watch american idol or golf or something. In my life if u ain’t satisfied with the way something is run or owned you don’t return there or give them busines. I’m suprised ur allowed to touch the remote anyway…
I’m happy how the team is being put together and with the head coach.everything changes in life and I mean everything if you don’t believe me turn on the channel pbs and watch sesame street. I’m sorry you haven’t joined the fan club if u ain’t with us your against us
May 27th, 2011 at 11:49 am
I see Thomas the local JoeBucsFan fool is back at it. Saying that this will be the worst front seven in football before half of the projected starters have even played a snap of pro football, again just shows how your true Buc hating ways.
May 27th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Thomas, your lack of football knowledge really is staggering. You should leave the win-loss predictions to Miss Cleo because you were dead wrong last year.
May 27th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
There’s no telling how these young guys will perform on Sundays, but the potential is definately there. Let’s not rule out FA as a way to bring in some veteran talent to the front seven. This young team is almost there just 2 seasons after a complete rebuild. Coaching and drafting are the only reasons for this.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Football history shows that defensive ends and tackles take a few years to figure the game out. There are exceptions of course, like Suh or Peppers. I hope these guys are exceptions. Bringing in some veterans will help us a lotttt. I’m not looking for too many splash plays out of these 4 (7 really, with Okam, Woods, and Miller) young guys but if they can stay in their own gap and not be pushed backwards, it’ll be a huge improvement from last year and might mean the difference between being 10-6 and missing the playoffs and being 11-5 or better.