It’s Trueblood Versus Lee
July 29th, 2011
And the winner is Da'Quan Bowers
The bell has rung on one of the great training camp battles of 2011, and Joe’s excited that on the surface it seems like a fair fight, not a political fix job by coaches like so many of these can be. Just ask whiney Sabby The Goat how that works.
It’s at right tackle with emerging manbeast James Lee, with his new lucrative restricted free agent tender, against Jeremy Trueblood, and the ink drying on his new two-year contract signed yesterday.
Lee started nine games after relieving injured Trueblood in 2010, and then kept the job when Trueblood returned healthy.
With a new offensive line coach and seemingly comparable love for both guys in the organization, this battle should be damn fun to watch in training camp.
For Joe, the best part about it is Da’Quan Bowers gets to line up opposite these hungry-from-Day-1 veterans every day. That’ll only make him better … unless he eats them alive.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Man I hope Bowers is a beast…. so excited for training camp… GO BUCS!!!!!
July 29th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Bowers is going to work those fools like nobodys business… we need a new RT, and Jared Gaither is one of the best in the business…. GO GET HIM DOM, STOP BAYING STUPID PUNTERS RIDICULOUS MONEY!!!
July 29th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Just wondering have you heard anything about Tanard Jackson? Will he be reinstated and if so will he stay with the team and compete with Cody Grimm in Training Camp?
July 29th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Hey guys I need some advice.
I’m taking a trip to FL over opening day. Need to get tickets.
Where is the cheapest place to buy tickets? Should I get them now or wait, do prices ever go down?
July 29th, 2011 at 9:16 am
Gary,
Prices right now on season tickets are excellent, but I know you’re only looking for game day which haven’t gone on sale yet. They tell me though that there will be $50 game day seats which is about $39 less than they were last year.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Grant: Tjack will not be able to practice until he is reinstated by the league. He is eligible for reinstatement starting the 3rd week of the 2011 season.
**There may be a loophole though that will allow him to practice (similar to how Pacman did when he was suspended) I have not heard anything other than he will not be able to practice until the 3rd week of the 2011 season though, so if that is true he wont get to join the bucs for training camp**
July 29th, 2011 at 9:42 am
lol .. I dont see Bowers eating anybody alive when he is barely a rookie
July 29th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Thanks travis. should be interesting to see how it pans out
July 29th, 2011 at 9:57 am
We will be loving this punter and not for his punts. It will be for his kickoffs, with new rule of the ball being at the 35 yard line this year (5 yards closer). Koenen last year was third in the league last year with 23 touchbacks, Conor Barth had 1 so everyone can make fun of the huge contract. Koenen just became our best kick-off coverage man. Just remembering that Falcons kickoff return for TD, makes this signing worth every penny.
July 29th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Trueblood has probably already been flagged for a false start in this position battle.
July 29th, 2011 at 10:07 am
HolyBuc:
I agree, the punter signing just made the special teams ALOT better. It is those little things and holes in FA that matter. NOt singing a big “splash” name.
Leighroy:
You do realize his penlaties have gone the past few years right? it seems most of you think trueblood is some sort of below average penalty machine.
The reality is he is a good RT and the penalties have been getting better by the year. He also has a new line coach who believes in power running with an attitude, which fits him perfectly.
July 29th, 2011 at 10:55 am
The line coach makes all the difference.
Might as well just start opponents at the twenty for each kickoff…good pick up by the rockstar
Thanks for the news/ updates joes,
GO BUCS!
July 29th, 2011 at 11:03 am
What about Demarr Dotson? He’s in that hunt too, isn’t he? Wil Barker is listed as the backup LT now.
July 29th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Dave
It’s like they’ve brain washed everybody . Keyshawn was a big signing. MacCardell was a big signing. Cato June was s big Signing! Ken Dilger was a Big signing. That was the formula to win a SuperBowl. Draft a solid core, add the needed pieces. Not this “lil signing” Crap
We’ve signed a sissy soft LBers. An underachieving injury prone guard. A 2nd string RT, and a punter!
Be still my beating heart!! We’re one long snapper away from me having a major cardiac episode, just from the joy of it all.
Well, and least these guys are making enough money. They won’t cry when they are all sitting together on the bench.
Still not seeing the “getting better” part of “the Plan”. Looks like we just keep getting “younger”
There is still time . . But not much good so far. “our guys” getting rewarded for being mediocre. Yippee! You guys cheer all ya want.
July 29th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Don’t leave out Demar Dotson. Jeremy Zuttah should be given a fair chance at RT, too. Will Barker, Derek Hardman, and Brandon Carter could be darkhorse candidates. We have a lot of young quality on depth on OLine right now.
July 29th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Why are you so surprised Capt. Tim? Dom’s plan all along was to build through the draft and re-sign our own guys. Should have expected this approach. Correct me of I’m wrong, but we went 10-6 with the youngest team in the league. What’s wrong with the roster we have? Oh by the way, Cato June was a disappointment. I’ll take Black over June any day of the week. These “splash” signings tend to excite the media but rarely make a huge difference in the long run. Ask the Cowboys and Redskins. Continuity is more important then I think you realize. I think we’ll sign a couple 2nd tier guys and possibly a decent RB, but if you were expecting Nnamdi, you haven’t paid much attention to how Dom operates.
July 29th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Anyone’s penalties go down when their riding the pine. What’s your point Dave?
July 29th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
And decreasing from 5 per game to 3 isnt exactly a quality improvement.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
MOBucs- because this isn’t how we won the SuperBowl. We build a solid Core thru the Draft- Check! Then signed a ton of talent to win the SuperBowl. 12 free agent starters or major contributors- Keyshawn, Brad, Keenan, Roman, Kerry, Michael Pittman, Simeon Rice, etc.
You don’t win by replacing young guys with rookies. At SE point, the rebuild is over- get Josh Help, not trainees!
The Patriots, Green Bay, Pittsburg have all been busy signing Free agents.
We signed a punter. Resigned a soft LB, a gimpy Guard,and a 2nd string RT.
Everyone has been celebrating last years 3rd place place finish like we won something.
It’s Freeman dynasty, year 3. Time to accomplish something. I don’t see how a punter is putting us in the SuperBowl hunt.
July 29th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Meltdown alert.
July 29th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
I’m not sure this is an issue. I think Trueblood was done last year, but only got a contract because Joseph will only play on the team that Trueblood plays on.
Did we ever see the numbers on Trueblood’s contract?
July 29th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@Capt. Tim… I would argue that this team, even with Nnamdi, is not a Superbowl caliber team yet. Rah’s first year was a disaster. Last year we got on the right track. This year a division title or playoff birth is feasible. In my opinion, this is such a young team with questions at many different positions, that Superbowl talk is at least a year away. And remember this is the first official day of FA so there is plenty of time to bring in outside FAs.