Bucs “Have To Sign Barrett Ruud.”
July 26th, 2011
Real football chatter and free agency rumors were the talk of the morning on “The Blitz,” co-hosted by Adam Schein and Rich Gannon, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio today.
Various free agents on the market were discussed and when it came to Bucs middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, the duo were quite clear: If the Bucs are to make the next step and get to the playoffs, signing Ruud is a simply must, even if Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has to overspend to ensure Ruud does not bolt the Tampa Bay area.
Adam Schein: Barrett Ruud is one of the best free agents out there. I believe this Rich. Tampa has to spend some money. Why not spend it on Barrett Ruud?
Rich Gannon: I like Barrett Ruud a lot. He’s not a sexy linebacker. He’s not an explosive tackler. But you get leadership with Barrett Ruud and you get intelligence to make the right calls. There’s a comfort level between him and Raheem Morris and that defense. The Bucs are too good to let him go. They are on the verge of a playoff run. They have to sign Barrett Ruud.
But here’s the glaring element both Schein and Gannon missed: Let’s say Ruud walks, upset the way he is crucified locally, largely unjustly. Imagine the Bucs defense being called by a rookie linebacker playing out of position, who has never had a rookie minicamp or even an OTA under his belt, with so many inexperienced defensive linemen playing in front of him? That has disaster written all over it.
Or, say, for the sake of argument, Ruud bolts the Tampa Bay area and the Bucs are able to lure Paul Posluszny from Buffalo. Free agents are not allowed to work out with their new team until Aug. 4. Poz hasn’t played in a 43 defense of any sort since he was a junior at Penn State when he was the national defensive player of the year. So Poz is going to be able to learn the Bucs defense in five weeks? Of course he won’t.
Like it or not, popular decision or an outrage to fans, the absolute best thing for the Bucs in this zany, unprecedented offseason is to re-sign Ruud, even if it requires overpaying the man.
Either way, Dominik pays through the nose financially, or Raheem Morris and the Bucs pay with a porous defensive front that may remind Bucs fans of the horrific sieve that was the Jim Bates Experience.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
We could always franchise him and see how it plays out. If he is still necessary after a year we could go from there. I doubt they will franchise him though.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
The Bucs could always bring the Joe’s good friend Ian Beckles back to play middle linebacker since he seems to know so much about the position.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I know one of the Joe’s would love to see Poz in a Bucs jersey. I’ve seen that Joe in a Penn State Poz jersey before. This lockout made the Ruud resigning that much more important like it or not.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Schein is a phony. He’s a LapDog for R. Goodell. I don’t take him at his word
July 26th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@Mauha Deeb, I believe it’s too late to franchise Rudd, that had to be done before the lockout.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Nick Barnett could also step in…
July 26th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Joe: Tired of hearing this nonsense about the Poz not playing in a 4-3 since Penn State….
In 2010 the Bills ran 1/2 of the season in a base 4-3 alignment with Poz manning the MLB.
The first 1/4 of the year the Bills ran a 3-4 as a base defense and got sh*t stomped, so they began mixing in a 4-3 defense and rotated that the rest of the way through.
BUT THE MAIN POINT IS THE BILLS RAN A 4-3 FROM 2009-2007 WHEN POZ WAS DRAFTED.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
you know what i want to see just once this year? a bucs mlb hit a running back in an inside gap and knock his ass backwards. i dont care who does it, just so it happens.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
what gotbbucs said^^
July 26th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
if you want leadership, hire an attorney.
Leadership on how to tackle could be taught by Cody Grimm. I think they should make a video of his highlights on how to seek and destroy.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@gotbbucs – No no no, you got it all wrong. In the Tampa 2, the MLB isn’t *required* to hit hard, therefore, we must go to great lengths to make sure we have a MLB that *can’t* hit hard.
That about sums up all the pro-Ruud arguments.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I really do not get it. How smart can the guy be? It was a defense that gave up 4.7 yards per carry. Did he really have everyone positioned properly?
How come all the other teams are able to get by without his astounding intellect?
How did the Bucs ever play defense before he arrived?
Sorry, don’t buy it. I hear McKenzie is very smart also.
I also know that the MLB does not necessarily HAVE to be the guy calling the plays every down. Barber is there to help and Geno has been in the system for a few years now.
Just because Ruud leaves does not mean a new guy or a rookie is going to be calling the defense.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
If Ruud leaves, I can’t wait til all the same people that wanted him gone start whining about how whoever the Bucs have starting at MLB can’t cover or continually makes mistakes because they don’t know the D. But I suppose as it is with most fans, you can’t win. Always something to whine and complain about.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
lol at bones. so true so true
July 26th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
OK Travis, you got Joe, who doesn’t watch every Bills game as intently as you do.
The part-time 43 defense the Bills ran, was it anything close to what Raheem runs?
Point being, there’s very likely a large learning curve for Poz. Having just five weeks to have a defense down pat as Ruud does — so the vast majority of NFL experts claim that he does — wouldn’t that be asking a helluva lot?
Why take a step back when you can perhaps get Ruud for another couple of years?
July 26th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Dave:
This should answer many of your questions:
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=43843
July 26th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I understand it will be an adjustment period when swapping teams to learn new defensive schemes and assignments, but abilty reigns supreme.
You cant tell me if we took Pat Willis from the 49ers and gave him 1 week to learn the defense he wouldnt be better than Ruud who is going into his 7th season as a pro.
Poz is a better player than Ruud at this point, and If we have 5 weeks for him to learn the defense Ill take that over what I know we will have with Ruud running the show at MLB.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I’ll say it. I want Ruud back. I don’t understand why everyone attributes our poor run defense numbers solely to Ruud. I would love to see what Ruud’s stats are witha stout D Line. As Joe keeps saying, whoever they bring in is going to have a hell of a learning curve. I doubt Ruud would go for it, but my best case scenario is an above average 2 year contract. If Ruud shines in those two years with an upgraded D line, pay him mad money. If not, next man up – Hayward, McKenzie, Foster.
July 26th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Joe’s proud to own a Poz jersey — Penn State, NOT Buffalo!
July 26th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Bring on the rookie!!! Who cares what Ruud thinks let him walk.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
@Travis, ‘Poz is a better player than Ruud at this point’
He is? If he’s better Buf should keep him.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
I would like to know exactly was does the mlb do in the tampa 2? (sarcastically) because Ruud can’t tackle to save his life, average in coverage at best, and to be a defense QB there have been plenty of times where we’ve looked flat-out out of postion. I don’t think we are exactly gonna win the superbowl this year so why do we care if he’s in the long term plans or not. I really don’t care for him enough to see him stay and even if he leaves and we get worse i won’t second guess it. Rah is creative enough with the defenses to me that the future looks brighter without FOAM PITT SOFT RUUD.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Chris FWC: By all reports Buffalo has been trying to resign him, but he wanted to test free agency, cant blame him can you?
July 26th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Why dont we just franchise him for 1 year? Everyone kept saying he’s not worth the money. How can that be worse than a long term deal? Take the year to see how he can perform with some kind of a D line in front of him. If nothing else you give yourself a year with a capable guy and let Mason Foster develop for a year just like Ruud did behind Shelton Quarles.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
I can’t blame him Travis. I don’t think he’s a better player in our system though. I think Poz is a great player and given the right system could be a Pro Bowler and dominant MLB.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Rob…Because the guys on this site, and many others, know more about Ruud’s job than 99% of the pros, coaches, and NFL analyst. The only one I hear agreeing with them is Beckles, and he is just full of hot air. Everyone wants the defense to improve, but they seem to be willing to take a step back just to get rid of Ruud (the fans scape goat). It is crazy! QB of the defense or not, we need continuity in our young and improving defense.
I do agree with BigMac on one thing though, he needs to hit the weight room…of course I know a guy that looks week as hell, but is freakishly strong, so looks can be deceiving.
July 26th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
we sure fell off when talib was out ,we sure fell off when jackson went down Ruud was not offered a temder he did not show up for the workouts but he sat down and told mackenzie what he needed to know ,he knows he is not coming back,but he is also a pro and a very good guy he is not going to trash the Bucs and the Bucs are not going to trash him,you guys keep saying how the coaches and other players say how great he is talk is cheap where are the pro bowls, where was he in the top 100,wheres the money ,why dont they pay him for what they are saying.talk is cheap and Gannon and Schein probaly never saw a bucs game just look at stats after the game
July 26th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Well, let me be the first to eat crow…After the presser, I think it is clear that Ruud is gone. All you guys are looking pretty right now. I should have known when Thomas was a Ruud fan.
July 26th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Just listened to the Press Conference…it sure looks like Ruud is a goner.
Foster was the first draft choice signed and Dom talked about getting him in quickly so he could prepare.
This is going to be a rough year for the defense. 3 Rookies and 2 2nd year guys up front…wow.
July 26th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
I guess all the pros heard Dominic had to say
July 26th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
heard what Dominic had to say
July 26th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Yep, it’s pretty clear that Dominik just said Ruud will not be coming back. At the very least he just said that Ruud is not a priority whatsoever to be re-signed. Scary but exciting too!
July 26th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Nope, it souinds like he is gone for sure. M.Wesley, good point about the lack of drop off with the other startes as well. Who knows, maybe this will be one crazy bad arse defense.
July 26th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
The only other conclusion is bargaining power with Ruuds agent. If dom makes it seem like the Bucs are ready to move on, the price might go down.
July 26th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
The Bucs can afford to spend a lot of money, due to the fact that they’ve been building the team on the cheap for the last 2 and a half years. Overpay for Ruud. He’s a veteran who knows our defense.
Ruud’s not the problem. Our problem is our crappy defensive line
July 26th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Every talking head knows what the Bucs need to do, blah, blah, blah. These idiots do not know anything about the Bucs. Dom Knows, Rah knows, shut up and watch and learn as this team marches to the top of the NFL.
So much for having a SLOW, WEAK, MLB that doesn’t show up for offseason work outs and can’t stop anybody’s forward progress, Seeya Ruud.
He’s outta here. Hahahahahahahahahha
July 26th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Ruud sucks, Raheem knows it, Dom knows it, and all of Tampa know it deep down. Joe probably just needs to get a cheap interview so he kisses up to the great .50 cal ruud
July 26th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Joe, is there a possibility of simply applying the franchise tag on Ruud this year to keep in as MLB for at least the start of the season? The way I see it, this gives him something to play for (longer contract next year) and covers the Bucs concerns about a guy stepping in week one with little prep time as MLB.
If Foster, Mackenzie or anyone steps up, then drop him first chance you get next year.
July 26th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Ruud is more like a .22 short Saturday Night Special and doesn’t show up on Sunday. I recently held a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum. I have never felt anything like it. It is the Josh Freeman of hand cannons. It is like a nuclear deterrent that never has to be used. If I saw it, I’d head for the Plains…………… of Nebraska.
July 27th, 2011 at 12:19 am
Ruud has already received an offer from another team. He doesn’t want to come back. As I’ve said all summer, we will lose Ruud, because he has more value in a traditional defense than here. The Bucs are still trying to change his mind. I don’t think they can . He wants to leave. I don’t blame him. To those of you who are jappy about our key defender walking out on us- you don’t have a clue. This lose will haunt us all year.
July 27th, 2011 at 5:23 am
with all the money they have they would have signed him if they wanted