Talib Is “98.5 Percent” Healthy
September 7th, 2011
Sunday’s hyped showdown between Aqib Talib and some guy named Megatron sure will be fun to watch. Joe expects the Lions will show Talib no respect and come right after him.
Esteemed NFL writer eye-RAH! Kaufman, of The Tampa Tribune, says the edge goes to Megatron, so he told Dan Sileo on WDAE-AM 620 today. Kaufman had a chat with Talib yesterday.
{“Talib] wanted to play against the Skins last week. I think he realized he needed to be in football shape. …Raheem shut him down, Kaufman said. “Talib said he’s 98.5 percent healthy — ‘98.5, baby.’ I don’t think that’s good enough for Sunday.”
If Joe had to lay money, he’d bet against Talib as well. Joe’s focus is on stopping the run. The Bucs can’t let Lions running back Maurice Morris (or any other RB) run wild on them like he did in December.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Joe, are you doing the pick’em pool this year???
September 7th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Maybe a bit of an edge to Megatron, but he definitely won’t do to Talib what he did to Biggers. You can take that to the bank.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
My focus would be on our pass rush and if our offense is going to continue the slow start trend. Those are the things I am extremely worried about.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Talib is gonna get beat. He’s gotten beat bad by worse receivers but he can make up for it with a pick or two. But idk would you rather him lockdown megatron or be aggressive and try go for the picks like he has his whole career.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
The only time Talib gets beat is when he gambles. He never gets beat on pure talent. Never. If he can stay disciplined he’ll have a great game. If he falls for pump fakes or stutter steps and gets INT’s in his eyes it’s gonna be a long day.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Even though rusty, Talib will do decent against Calvin. Calvin is going to get some regardless, it just can’t be 8+ catches for over 100 yards and I think Talib can limit that.
The main thing is the young D-Line and how they do against the run and how they pass rush. From the pre-season, I believe they are going to get after Stafford and I can not wait to see it.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Talib is the man. Edge goes to my boy aqib. Idc about megatron. if our D line can put on some pressure on mathew hurtford. that is only going to help aqib. if aqib is in playing shape I got my money on aqib.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
As long as Tron isn’t going off for 120 yards and multiple scores it’s a success. This dude is a freak of nature, he’s going to beat Talib sometimes, just like he’s going to beat anybody outside of maybe Revis. It’s a matter of stopping him in key situations; ie 3rd and 17s with the game on the line.
It’s also on Rah to scheme correctly and make sure that Talib can count on safety help from Cody/Sean.
But hey, i’ll take a 98% healthy Aqib over a full healthy Biggers any day of the week.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Joe would you please knock off the “some guy named Megatron” stuff. Whether you do or don’t must you go against the grain when referring to Calvin Johnson. You stated that didn’t watch tv but how is it you know who the sheriff is and other Nick names but you refuse recognize his football community calls him worldwide. Please stop Joe…
September 7th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
i hope the bucs are reading all this negative press about how we are supposed to get bitch slapped at home week one by some team that didn’t even sniff the playoffs last year. we were miising half the team, including talib, and it was a pathetic bad offensive pass interference call that snatched that game from us. if Biggers can hold Megatron out of the endzone then Talib should be able to also. give him safety help so he doesn’t have to pop a hammy chasing fly routes. play a little off (not 12 yards off like biggers did, just a little) and try to make nice breaks on the ball. maybe we can actually apply a little pressure and get an errant throw to pick off? talib should be able to hold Megatron under 100 yards. run blount/graham early and often and watch the lions wilt in the heat and they will be too tired to stop Blount in the 4th qtr. Running will keep them off of Freeman early and not let them get all fired up with a sack or two. Geez it’s the damn lions. One good hit on stafford and they are playing without him the rest of the game. Let’s have a little confidence. I think we will beat these guys. It’s our house, our heat. Talib at 98.5% isn’t good enough? give me a break! we were a terrible blown call from beating these chumps last year with Biggers! nothing against Biggers but i’ll tke Talib at 98% anyday. bring on this Megatron character..let’s not go slinking down in our chairs and hoping for an 8 win season. let’s waltz out there, whip the darling Lions at home week 1 and get off to a fast start.
September 7th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Architek:
The football community refers to Calvin Johnson as “Calvin Johnson.” No where on Detroit’s roster will you see anything remotely like something called “Megatron,” nor will you see such a word on Johnson’s jersey.
If some moron on BSPN — which Joe doesn’t watch — wants to refer to Johnson as some character in Dungeons and Dragons, so be it.
September 7th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
You’re all saying it, PASS RUSH. Get to the QB quick and often, take Megatron out of the picture. Pass Rush can create errant throws and interceptions too. Give Aqib help over the top and don’t put him on an island. The Lions offensive tackles are suspect and Clayborn, Bennett & Bowers will be ready and attacking.
September 7th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
If calvin johnson is megatron. This is the week talib turns into Optimus Prime!! Shuts that ass down.
September 7th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
I think the Lions are in for an old style Buc Butt whoopen!
Joe, I laugh everytime you right “some guy named Magatron”. I miss the old days of nick names too though. It adds character to the site, and it is just plain funny.
One question though, if Suh does not get a sack for the second time playing the Bucs, will Thomas still pine for him?
September 7th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Joe…everything you’ve quoted from Ira has been negative. Does the guy even WANT to work in the Tampa area?
As I’ve said before…I would not consider it a step backward if the Bucs went 8-8 or better this year. Stiffer competition means they will have beaten teams they could not beat last year. I would not be disappointed with it.
But I’m sticking with my prediction of 10-6 and a playoff berth.
Here’s a question though…if the Bucs are second in the division is it still considered a step forward?
September 7th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Joe Says:
If some moron on BSPN — which Joe doesn’t watch —
Hold on now…if you don’t watch it, how do you quote them? You’ve posted videos before…does that mean you have not watched the BSPN ones?
😉
September 7th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
And, just to set Ira straight:
Way to report, Ira. (rolls eyes)
September 7th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
@ Pete, Ira is a stupid name anyways 😉
September 7th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Joe,
You didn’t see the name Caddy or Cadillac on the Bucs roster or on his jersey, either, now did you? Yet you freely used that term because it was his widely used nickname. Everyone in the NFL calls him Megatron at some point or other and it’s a widely accepted nickname. You’re not making any sense here. Stop defending the indefensible and get with the program.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Honestly, I’ve never heard Calvin Johnson referred to as Megatron in print or television media — only the internet.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
“Ira” is also a nickname, short for “Irritating”.
I can’t wait to see our D line in action. Clayborn is a beast and they are going to blow the Detroit line up.
I’m stoked and Go Bucs!!!
September 7th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Megatron is from the Transformers franchise…not Dungeons and Dragons…
Joe…C’MON MAN!
September 7th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Joe, no offense, but the fact that you think Megatron is a Dungeon and Dragons character and not of the transformers, which has come out with 2 movies and is one of every child’s favorite cartoons, makes you a bigger dork than anyone thought. Perhaps MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE! Does D and D even have characters?
September 7th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Oh and I’m sticking by my 13-3 prediction as well.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
If you guys are going to start calling Joe names, you should at least buy him a beer before you do it.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Mike Williams is ‘Bumble Bee”, Donald Penn is “Mudflap”, and Jeff Faine is “Breakdown”.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Talib Is “98.5 Percent” Healthy
Sounds like Talib and Rah are getting the excuses ready.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Nick…3 movies…Did you guys ever consider that Joe knows but is making a joke? Geez, I am with BigMac, buy Joe a beer before bashing his great information. I for on like it that this site has character.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Joe, I sympathize with you. I had to do research here too. Thanks to my grand kids, heres the scoop! Apparently when Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson were teammates, Roy gave Calvin the nickname “Megatron” because his exceptionally large hands resembled those of a movie character named Megatron. Here’s where the kids come in. They say that there is a current series of movies called Transformers about visitors from another planet who are robots that can “transform” into various machines, most notably, cars. The leader of the good robots is named Optimus Prime and the leader of the bad robots or Decepticons is named megatron. He has exceptionally large hands and can hurt you. Hence the nickname for Calvin Johnson. Geez, I learn something every day. lol.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Hey, let’s not call Talib Optimus Prime, I am pretty sure Megatron killed Optimus Prime.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Talib could star in the remake of the Stallone movie Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot.
September 7th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Or baiting the Lions into making the mistake of attacking Talib…..
September 7th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
can we call him Talibus Crime!
September 7th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Joe’s gonna hit us all with the lightning bolt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ekugPKqFw
September 7th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
IMHO, it will take great line play on both sides of the ball for Tampa to beat Detroit. Number one, we must stop their pass rush, and second we must pressure Stafford or their receivers will hurt us. Johnson is near impossible to shut down, especially when Stafford has time.
September 7th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Um, Dominik calls him Megatron in that video. Sheesh.
September 7th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@ Joe
Here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatron
September 7th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Nick….. Raheem was answering a reporters question on how healthy is Talib,no excuses just facts.
You must be thinking Gruden is still the coach when your thinking excuses.
September 7th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Here you go, Joe, since you seem to have missed Dominick referring to CJ as Megatron: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/07/dominik-talib-practicing-fully-again/
September 7th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
I think we will beat the Lions, I hope we kick there arse but as long as we win i’ll get over ANY lions stats.
September 7th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Nobody is in Football shape.Very few starters have played much in the Pre-Season and none of them are in Football shape either.Yeah CJ might be in better shape but there’s only one way to get in Football shape and no player gets there by playing a few snaps in Pre-Season especially with out OTA’s .
How many games did Ira think the Bucs would win last year….3…4.
Most reporters really don’t know sh%t about what’s gonna happen,they all play it safe,pick one “Worst to First” team every year,take the teams record from the year before and add there “Big Name” free agents in and than start blat-ting out all these predictions where at least half are wrong and they never get held accountable for it.And than just start over the next year.
The Bucs will prove most of them wrong again this year,than they will start giving the Kudos to us after we prove ourselves.
September 7th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Well they call Calvin Johnson “megatron” on madden 2012 go buy it and play it so it can set in your head Joe…
September 7th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
nick:
Joe has no clue about movies nor this transformers nonsense. The number of movies Joe has been to in the last 10 years he can count on one hand with digits left over.
Joe’s a football guy. And a Rachel Watson guy. 🙂
September 7th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
C’mon guys, Joe doesn’t have to call anyone anything he doesn’t want to. Sure, my nickname in real life is “The JPness” but there are plenty of folks who don’t like calling me that.
Keep up the good work Joe, you’re my number one source for Bucs news.
September 7th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Johnson is an absolute beast. Talib will have one hell of a test on his hands. I think the heat could really effect the Lions O-line in the second half. Constant, disruptive pressure by the D-line could really help Talib out.
September 7th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
If the offense replicates the pre season performance then we’re doomed but I have faith in freeman
September 7th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Heh…Looks like Joe trolled you nerds to a forty plus post count in this thread.
I laughed my ASS off at the Dungeons and Dragons joke, because I am a giant nerd.
September 7th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Nerds unite! Half-Ogre Rogue/Duelist here. Giant rapier FTW.