Is Mason Foster Ready?
September 3rd, 2011
Joe’ spent most of the morning feeling somber about what happened to Lee Roy Selmon. It really punched Joe in the gut and made him take pause.
For now, anyway, the Bucs don’t seem so important.
But as Joe starts thinking Bucs football again, Joe can’t get out of his head how little work Mason Foster has had and how much he’ll have to perform come Sept. 11. Think about it for a minute. No OTAs. No minicamp. Less hitting in training camp because of new NFL rules. Also, Foster only played 10 snaps in Kansas City and he got the night off against the Redskins on Thursday. In between, he played roughly one game combined against New England and Miami.
Dave Moore talked this week about teams coming after Bucs linebackers. How could they not? Quincy Black, himself, who Joe has never been sold on, also is new in his third-down mike linebacker role.
Plenty of teams have had success with a rookie in the middle of the defense. Jonathan Vilma, with two subpar linebackers around him, walked into the Jets as a rookie in 2004, under Herm Edwards’ Tampa 2 defense, and was a force. Of course, Vilma was a first-round pick and is having a borderline Hall of Fame caliber career.
Yeah, everyone knew Foster was a rookie taking over for Barrett Ruud. That’s old news. But now the reality of it all is staring Joe — and Matt Stafford — in the face. And it doesn’t feel good. Joe will be patient with the growing pains. Joe just hopes they don’t cost the Bucs a win or two.
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:18 am
Matt Stafford is basically a rookie, too.
Not worried about Mason Foster in this defense. I’m more worried about our overpaid offensive line.
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:34 am
Snook- both have me worried! Think it’s gonna waste one year of the Freeman Dynasty. Dominick should have addressed both LBers and O-Line. I think it’s gonna prove to be a huge, game costing oversight.
Hope not.
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:48 am
Don’t forget the ‘Dream Team Eagles’ are starting 4th rounder C. Mathews. I think it may take a few game for the OL to start playing well together but I do agree someone still needs to lock down and play well at LG. Larson or Dile.
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:55 am
Short answer…NO
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:55 am
Raheem hates Line Backers.
The guy is going to run a 4-2-5 if he can.
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Is Quincy Black the new Micheal Clayton? Big paycheck for very little shown and will not produce at his paid value. The check is cashed though.
Foster should have played vs the skins. But hey maybe he will surprise us all and kick some ass out there.
I think this year will be a set back in terms of wins but the the team will play better and get that much needed experience for 2013.
September 3rd, 2011 at 12:39 pm
“Raheem hates Line Backers.
The guy is going to run a 4-2-5 if he can. ”
Is 4-0-7 possible ??
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Stafford is a scrub and the lions are gonna get rolled just like every year. Bucs get them back for last year.
September 3rd, 2011 at 2:10 pm
It doesn’t matter what round a player is picked at in determining his NFL readiness. Just because Barbie Carpenter was a 1st round pick didn’t mean he was able to come in and start as a rookie (or thereafter).
On the other hand, plenty of rookie non-first rounders have been able to make impacts as rookies at MLB.
As a rookie, former 2nd rounder Mike Singletary was able to excel and pickup the very complex 46 defense of Buddy Ryan for the 81 Bears.
John Offerdahl made the Pro Bowl as a rookie 2nd rounder for the Dolphins.
Zach Thomas was a 5 time All Pro despite starting every game of his rookie season being a 5th round pick.
Lofa Tatupu was a rookie starter as a 2nd round pick and was thought to be on his way to stardom (3 pro bowls in first 3 seasons) before knee injuries robbed him of his athleticism.
Channing Crowder was solid as a 3rd round starter for the Dolphins.
D’Qwell Robinson was solid and has been solid on the inside for the Browns despite being drafted in round 2.
Neal Olkewicz was an undrafted free agent starter at MLB for the Redskins only a few seasons before they won multiple Super Bowls with him still at MLB.
Jessie Tuggle was an undrafted starter for the Falcons and still managed to go to multiple Pro Bowls.
Dino Hackett was a revelation for the Chiefs (and made a Pro Bowl) as a rookie second rounder.
Gary Reasons was a rookie starter, despite being a 4th round pick, for Bill Parcells in 1984, and played well.
London Fletcher was undrafted out of Div III John Carroll and only started one game his rookie season… but then went on to start all but one of the nearly 200 games.
Anyways, as the few names I was able to think of off the top of my head, you can see that there is little correlation between rookie success and draft position. The fact is, is that if a guy can play, then he can play and needs to be in the lineup. If Foster is good enough to play, and according to Morris he is, then he needs to be out there. And judging from the preseason, he already made the right decision to get rid of McKenzie who showed he obviously isn’t worthy of playing.
September 3rd, 2011 at 5:56 pm
NO!!!!