Several Bucs Need “Substantial” Improvement
May 29th, 2011
The asinine lockout overseen by NFL chieftain Roger Goodell is really beginning to irritate Joe. There are a myriad of reasons to be hacked off about this, not the least of which is the effect it will have on the young Bucs.
Noted quarterback guru Brian Billick breaks down how the lockout may force some players to regress in their development in a FoxSports.com column.
While Billick didn’t mention any Bucs players that could stagnate, he believes if the Bucs are to be playing in mid- to late-January in 2012, there are specific second-year players that must improve.
If Tampa Bay is going to take that next big step and be as good as many think they will be, wide receivers Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn coupled with defensive lineman Gerald McCoy and Brian Price must have substantial increases in productivity in their second years.
Joe’s not so sure all four of those guys should be on that list. Williams just needs to play like he did his rookie year and he will be fine. McCoy was coming on strong when he was hurt. Benn was the same way.
Of the four Billick mentioned, Price is the guy a lot of eyeballs will be on.
May 29th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
“McCoy was coming on strong when he was hurt”
———–
Uh oh, Joe. Thomas is foaming at the mouth right about now. There is no way he can hold back and not comment. So go ahead Thomas, we are all waiting….
May 29th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Joe
You don’t think we should rule out possibly signing Ray Edwards do you? Especially with the limitations that will be put on Bowers knee. And even if Bowers knee turns out to be fine, we’ll have 3 nasty DE’s that offenses will be terrified of.
May 29th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
The Bucs are in good shape regardless. You look at teams like the Bengles, who are a complete disaster, other teams like Cleveland or Detroit with no QB. Staford has no protection. The entire NFC west is beyond bad and teams like the Saints or Jets could very easily be on a downward spiral. BTW, I think the Saints had a crappy draft. Ingram is good but not worth trading back into the first round.The Bucs will do just fine if Price can’t play right away. Miller and Okam did a nice job in the middle, and now with a couple more DE’s should improve.
May 29th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
I love Brian Billick’s article and football acumen. He is always thorough and accurate. What I love most is when he is wrong he admits it. I agree with him about the four players identified. I believe they will perform well too.
May 29th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
So, what Mr. Billick is trying to say is that if we improve, we will be better? Id vote him in as president if he keeps up this sort of logic.
Can’t stand the guy.
May 29th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Mike Williams needs substantial increases in productivity?
May 29th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Tuggz, if so, he’ll catch everything under the sun.
May 29th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Nobody can argue with what Billick said with the exception of Mike Williams
I dont care how you want to spin it, McCoy’s rookie year was a disaster- this coming on strong argument is based on multi-sack game giving him 3 for the entire year and missing 1/4 of the teams games. Benn was absent early and then had a couple of splash plays that made us feel better about an otherwise disappointing year. Just look at their stats for productivity, only mike will was productive. God forbid that any of these guys has a sophomore slump (impossible for GMC based on last year’s disappearing act), bc things will fall apart fast.
Billick knows this team having broadcasted so many games, he is mostly correct as usual.
May 29th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Thomas,
Your predictability brings nothing to this site. Congratulations.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
patrick, if you cant answer that question for yourself based on what dominik did in the first two rounds then i dont know what to tell you. this isnt fantasy football and dominik isnt playing with monopoly money.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Sheesh, I’m a Buc fan for life, but there is a lot ofkoolaid drinking here.
The entire team, INCLUDING Mike Williams had better improve over last year’s performances.
Williams may have had a “good” year, bt he did not have a great year. If he turns stagnant, I don’t want him here. Everyone should be working to improve their skills constantly.
May 29th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I agree with you Pete. Hawaiian is thrilled with stagnant bc he has been chugging koolaid hanging upside down with joe holding the koolaid bong at a world record pace. When he is done with his glazeraid keg stands, he walks around the party with a helmet with 2 glazeraide cans attached to each side of his construction helmet continuously draining into his mouth while he walks around the party telling his hawaiian party-mates “the bucs are great, rah is great, the glazers arent cheap they are building through the draft” repeatedly. I realize that some of you are cautiously optimistic (which is perfectly appropriate) but there are others of you so intoxicated by your gruden hate that you cant see the GLARING holes and flaws with this team (mostly on defense) that could easily lead to fewer wins in 2011.
May 29th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Thomas,
First of all, I have told your stupid, no comprehension arse already that I am not a Gruden hater. If you are too stupid to remember, then I can’t help you with that. Second, where did you see me EVER say I am thrilled with where we are? You are so stupid that you don’t understand the difference between someone being happy with the direction we are headed versus being happy with where we are. I have said on NUMEROUS occasions that last year wasn’t good enough. If you would pull your head out of your arse for a second you would know that. But no, because I don’t come on to a Bucs site spitting constant hate, that makes me a kool-aid drinker. You are so pathetic and worthless, they should indict you with Talib for being a detriment to society.
May 29th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
thomas, you havent got a whole hell of alot of room to talk buddy. you just happen to be sitting on the exact opposite side of the spectrum. i’d much rather see a homer thinking positive than a…a whatever the hell kind of fan you call yourself.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Thomas,
I’m not going to let you off that easy. Unless you are too much of a little girl to answer me, I want you to find even ONE post where I have ever stated that we are great and don’t need any improvement. I just choose not to bash people over and over like you do. I’ve actually played sports before, so I understand that a team with this much youth needs time to develop. I understand that a young team needs to have some failures before it can be successful. Apparently people like you don’t seem to understand these basic concepts that applies to all sports, probably because you have never played in any sports.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Damn! While attempting to describe Hawaiian, Thomas 2.2 inches discibed the last time my band played at LSU. Upside drinking, stumbling around with the Two can hat, except it wasn’t kookaid. Also I wasn’t singing praises to the Glazers. It was some large breasted Co-Ed named Mindy. I think she’s on my ” mail a check monthly list” still. Painful, painful memories. And that damn school most graduate Doctors of drunken debauchery!
I’d still do it again though!!
Damn Thomas 2.2″ inches!! That was some scary version of “total recall” . Don’t do that again!! Brrrrr!
May 29th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
With those kinda Memories floating around, no wonder Thomas 2.2 inches is angry all the time. You know he can’t remember where his car keys are at. Or his house keys. Or his House. Or where he works.
Realizing all that, I feel compelled to cut him a Lil slack. That life is tough!
What do say, HawaiianBuc? We didn’t know Poor Tommy had such a vivid party history. That’s gotta make it tough to keep track of the team for the poor Lil guy!
May 29th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
I dont have an archive of your past comments other than in my head. Everything you publish generally falls in 1 of 2 categories: a) the bucs are great; b) thomas is a stupid hater. It doesnt take extensive research to establish that. If u think that I am going to read through your prev comments (which were neither informative nor entertaining initially) you are sadly mistaken. Everyone at JBF knows that you are of the homer variety, which is fine and makes you a whole lot more popular than me. Stop making implications about your suggested illustrious playing career (which cant be confirmed or denied on a blog) men that could/can play dont pontificate about their pop warner achievements or when they were middle school team captain or designated rusher on their flag team or shortstop on their beer league softball team.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Thomas,
No, they don’t fall into one of those categories (okay maybe the second, but not the first). So go ahead and make excuses to not look them up, you are not fooling anyone. I have NEVER, EVER, EVER said the Bucs are great. I have never said anything more than they are on the right path. I have predicted future success, nothing more. I have stated that I think certain players have the potential to be very good, nothing more. You love to put words into people’s mouth, but you won’t do it to me. So go ahead and make up some BS lie, just don’t drag my name into it.
Where exactly did I say I had an illustrious playing career? I rode the bench for a very very small college basketball team. I wasn’t even a great high school player. However, I grew up around sports, with my dad being a high school and college coach for almost 40 years. To be honest, my dad is probably the only reason I was even on the team. My point is that anyone who has been around sports understands that development takes time (which I believe is EXACTLY what I said before you once again put words in my mouth). That applies in high school, college, and even more so in the professional ranks. It is a basic rule to all sports, and if you played any sports at all growing up, you would know that. You don’t have to have been a great, or even good, player to know that.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Lol tim, and LSU wasnt the school where I garnered that experience but I am sure the schools were “materially indistinguishable.” I felt like JBF needed a colorful description of my impression of the commenter the state most famous for producing “Ice, nice weather and the bounty hunter.” Dog the bounty hunter would not be proud of your subjectively shallow and lame comments Hawaiian.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Capt.
Yeah, I guess you are right, lol.
May 29th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Thomas,
Really, you feel the need to criticize Hawaii? That’s the best you got? Sounds like you have some issues with the 50th state. So not only are you a hater with the Bucs, you are a hater with the most beautiful state?
By the way, I tend to think we are more known for our gorgeous women, beautiful beaches, and high gas prices (at least lately), but that’s neither here nor there. Listen, i don’t know what you heard, but we don’t have a problem with trailer trash coming to our islands, so you are more than welcome to visit.
May 29th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
By constantly accusing me of not having played (which isnt true at all) but which I believe is such a meaningless fact on an anonymous blog that I havent acknowledged or dignified its value so as not to demean other very astute fans who may not have played at any significant level. To suggest that playing exp is a Relevant for opinions is to say that the highest value is always placed on the person who was the most experienced player – not always true. I have heard commentary from men who played at higher levels but couldnt analyze and articulate the nuances of the game worth a da-n.
May 29th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
i.e. Raheem Morris. JK – I couldnt help it, rah can analyze secondary play.see there is a compliment.
May 29th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
I have heard that Hawaii has nice beaches and high gas prices, you can add them to my list. . . As for the women, rae dawn chong moved to the mainland after filming the surf movie.
May 29th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Well Joe, the players could quickly end this asinine strike by accepting one of the TWO (increasingly fairer) deals the owners empowered Roger Goodell to make on their behalf!
See, if its so simple, and the players need he work, they have the power to do so! Instead they’d prefer to listen to their labor lawyer who is depends on schills in the press (you) to try to manipulate the masses (us) into putting pressure on the owners to give us our football regardless of which group of millionaires pockets more of OUR gold.
I for one am for the owners – because if. He players make more, I KNOW my ticket prices, drinks & food go up…if the owners make more, its better than even costs stay the same.
See, YOUR bread is buttered by the players, ours is buttered by the owners.
Now about Gerald McCoy…he’s been a disappointment so far, all flash, no dash…
May 29th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Seriously, do you not understand the concept that I am repeatedly telling you? And I believe that virtually everyone on this site has played enough sports in their life to understand and agree that being great takes time. Apparently, all but you. Again (for the one millionth time), it doesn’t matter what level you played at, it’s a basic concept. The reason I don’t believe you ever played sports is because you don’t seem to understand that concept. I’m sure there are many people on this site that are much better athletes than I, but regardless, I bet they will all agree with me.
Wow, if you don’t think Hawaii has beautiful women, I’m at a loss for words. That is the reason there are many more men from the mainland (versus women from the mainland) living in Hawaii. Then again, judging by your opinions expressed repeatedly on this site, you probably would prefer women from Idaho or North Dakota.
May 29th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Have I told you lately….THE BUCS ARE GREAT!
May 29th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
@Patrick.
I remember watching Rey Edwards a couple of years back, and he wasn’t that good. In fact the Vikings were ready to get rid of him. Maybe he has progressed as a pass rusher, but he didn’t become any form of a Pass Rusher until the Vikings made the “splash” trade for Jared Allen which caused all the pressure on his side allowing Edwards to have one on ones on his side. Take in consideration that at this point since the rookies are unknowns we don’t have any other end that would allow Edwards to have those one on ones and he is not effective at beating double teams. Again just my opinion
May 29th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Count me on in the Homer $h!t. I’ll own it. I’m a homer all the way and think this team is already great and on the road to championships. And when they do, our little buddy Gilligan can suck it. If you spend a lot of time on JBF and you’re not a homer, you might just be a shipwrecked dumba$$.
Around 2/3’rds of the league fear the Bucs and the rest definitely take them seriously. Most teams that face the Bucs now won’t chalk up a win ahead of time, not like before. I can’t wait to this new D line in action, with new coaching.
May 29th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
…..you probably would prefer women from Idaho or North Dakota.
With 300 batting averages, and work for the phone company.
May 30th, 2011 at 12:30 am
White Tiger the players get a percent of ticket prices not a set amount. The owners can charge a dollar or a hundred. The players would get a percentage of whatever the owners decided to charge. If the players would agree to accept a dollar a ticket. The owners would still raise prices until sales slacked off. You know kind of the supply and demand stuff. Just a thought
May 30th, 2011 at 2:01 am
Are there no good looking girls in Idaho or North Dakota? Hmm never heard that. You know what I like in a girl? ME!
May 30th, 2011 at 5:33 am
Having traveled all the Continential states( not Hawaii,nor Alaska) I will repeat a previous post. The state that is absolutely stocked with Beautiful women, is Missouri! We never figured out why. The County is Venesula . Again no idea why
May 30th, 2011 at 9:42 am
Capt Tim…I travel for work as well, and I can confirm the MO statement. Oddly enough, OK is stocked with chicks too. TX is another one, I am not sure what they are putting in the water in TX but it is working.
May 31st, 2011 at 12:03 am
As The day ends, I hope all of you had a great holiday. I am glad we can all come here, and agree or disagree, without any fear that our opinions could repressed or denied. I Pray that someday, Everyman will be able to speak his heart. And show his beliefs and loyalities without repercussions.
People have fought, and given their lives, to endure that we have this most importatant if freedoms. People still are fighting and dying, to insure that you- not a priest, prophet, or politician- decide what you believe and feel
God Bless the armed forces of America- both Past and Present! Thank you all for you sacrificies, for my freedoms-God Bless you all
And God Bless you, my fellow Buc fans. Who take advantage of the freedom of speech, with a passion rarely found anywhere.
Where the play of Barrett Ruud can evoke a more impassioned series of points and counter points, than virtually any topic on the floors of Congress!!
Hope you had a great day of Memorial. I judged wanted to say how proud I am to enter the arena of debate with you all, day after day!
May 31st, 2011 at 2:02 am
I like Hawaii.
May 31st, 2011 at 2:19 am
As far as McCoy goes, Joe told us that it’s rare for rookie DT’s to make an impact. It’s a little too early to say the McCoy picked panned out or it didn’t. Suh was the exception to the trend. McCoy had 3 sacks before getting hurt. Warren Sapp had 3 sacks his rookie year… Joe also told us that rookie WR’s have a tough time in the NFL. Mike Williams seems to have been the exception to that trend and also gives Benn the benefit of the doubt. Don’t write any of them into the Hall of Fame yet but, to insinuate that any of these guys are busts or even had disappointing rookie years, isn’t fair either.