Lumpkin’s Blocking Comes Under Fire
October 31st, 2011
Former Bucs guard Ian Beckles (1990-1996) described Kregg Lumpkin’s blocking in the backfield as “horrible” many times last week on his WDAE-AM 620 radio show.
So it was no surprise today when Beckles, guest hosting the Ron and Ian Show with Buccaneers radio analyst and former tight end Dave Moore, asked Moore whether he thought Lumpkin’s blitz pickups were “horrible.”
Moore didn’t answer the question directly but said of Lumpkin, “that’s going to be a big problem” against New Orleans if the Bucs can’t have manageable third down situations because of the Saints’ love of blitzing.
Moore went on to say Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams were excellent picking up blitzes but Lumpkin’s “going to have to take on some big issues in a short period of time.”
Now Joe’s piled on Lumpkin since before the season started and, sadly, those fears have been realized.
However, there’s no reason why Lumpkin can’t improve quickly and significantly as a blocker on third down. He’s been in the Bucs system over a year and he saw what the Saints had to offer two weeks ago.
October 31st, 2011 at 12:43 pm
How you beat the Greg Williams blitz?
Quick 2 & 3 step drop passes to the flat or screens over the top of the blitzer right into the area he just vacated. I have seen LGB catch I know he can, keep him in on 3rd down and you change the pass rush dynamic.
October 31st, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Keep Blount Force Trauma in on 3rd downs. It’s a novel concept that you actually do the work to gain experience.
Graham’s career is over, Blount needs to learn. Madu can spell him when he’s tired. Lumpkin is here for depth only. He’s gone next year.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:09 pm
I thought the Cowoys released Tashard Choice. Why not pick him up? He’s other peoples trash but so was Lumpkin.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:17 pm
I hope we don’t take blount out for lumpkin every play when we pass the ball its stupid. Defenses are gonna know when lumpy comes in that its a automatic pass, even moreso then when graham was there. Blount and lumpy should be splitting 50-50 at this point the third down snaps, because there’s no way Blount’s blitz pickup should be that bad compared to lumpy’s. Im kinda intrigued by what madu can do but chances are we won’t see him at all unless there is an injury. (knock on wood) His college highlights weren’t all that impressive.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:41 pm
If Kregg Lumpkin is on this team in 2012, I will be convinced that he has come by 8×10 glossy photos of some Buc officials of a compromised and embarassing nature!
October 31st, 2011 at 1:48 pm
He shouldn’t be on the roster right now Damn next year…why would a back learn in two weeks what it take more talented backs learn in years. Joe that’s way off.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:06 pm
JOE
“However, there’s no reason why Lumpkin can’t improve quickly and significantly as a blocker on third down.”
What’s the reason Blount can’t pick up those duties? There’s no reason for Blount not being an every-down back. I understand managment wants to prevent wear and tear but when the depth is not there its not there; and in this case, well, ITS NOT THERE. Its time our scantly clad coordinaters grew some balls.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:06 pm
And while im on the subject, LET FREE THROW THE DAMN BALL DOWNFIELD!!!!!
October 31st, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Lumpkin is the last string running back. NEWSFLASH: He plays like it.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:13 pm
His name should be “Blumpkin,”….Look it up.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:58 pm
This all goes back to the “Plan”, that Rah and Dom stated- 1) Get Franchise QB. 2) Protect franchise QB. 3) Get after opposing QB. Obviously they skipped #2. They did not improve the O-Line to protect Free, and they let Caddy(our best blitz blocker) walk. Looks like it’s back to the old drawing board! Blount should be given a chance to prove he can be our 3rd down back. What realistic possibilities remain?
October 31st, 2011 at 3:09 pm
I’d take Clinton Portis all day every day over Kerblumpkin. Nothing wrong with admitting you hit a speed bump in “The Plan” and correcting said mistake on the fly. Time for a move.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Joe here,
@Architek, @MVPFreeman — Fellas, Joe’s written many times about how he hopes Blount emerges as a guy who can play and is allowed to play every down. However, it’s unrealistic to think the team is going to use him on that many plays coming off an injury. Whether anyone likes it or not, Lumpkin is the third-down back on Sunday. … Joe wrote Lumpkin should be able to improve “quickly and significantly” as a blocker for Sunday, not that he’d magically be as good as Graham or Caddy.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Why have we not signed Tashard Choice yet??
October 31st, 2011 at 3:33 pm
PFT reporting the Bucs put waiver claim on leigh bodden,that would be nice.It would put us at the bottom of the waiver order
October 31st, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@jEsTer- your info is incorrect….
October 31st, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Can we still use the Run N Shoot?
October 31st, 2011 at 4:29 pm
To improve “quickly and significantly” for Lumpkin would be for him to actually TOUCH the defender before he runs by him.
October 31st, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Joe,
I got you completely. If you really go back to the Chicago game I Bears LB’s plowing through what is suppose to be a 225 lbs back. I am not dumping on your point I am going after the front office who I KNOW reads this site and polls all Bucs media outlets. They know they blew it and it’s too late to fix it. Case and point, all of your site fans come on and some homers blindly support the Bucs (which I applaud) but some of us realist distinctively have been SCREAMING about this issue because it was a known fact in the off-season. How do you ask people to buy tickets and you selling a damaged good. Doesn’t make sense and all the homers slam posters like me (some idiots like Beckles) for seeing past my passion. I bought the NFL package to watch the Bucs because I live in Texas but I can’t blame people for crying foul ball on Dominik about risking our franchise QB health with a no name – no talent – below average player. That says a lot to me from a business stance. Portis would have kept Freeman upright and could have learn the concept of the offense quickly because its definitly not complicated. Portis has also seen every defense out there.
October 31st, 2011 at 5:27 pm
This franchise needs to take a page out of Belichick’s playbook and start cutting players as soon as they’re certain they won’t get any better. BB doesn’t play around, and you won’t find any Michael Claytons, Sabby Piscitellis, Quincy Blacks, Kregg Lumpkins, etc, on his squad for very long. Even if it hurts in the near term he will cut his losses and move on. The Bucs’ brass doesn’t have many major flaws, but holding on to their players too long is one of them. Time to change.
October 31st, 2011 at 5:52 pm
We haven’t signed Tashard Choice yet because the Redskins already have!
October 31st, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Lumpkin is to running backs, what Tebow is to Quarterbacks. Time for another upgrade and should have kept Cadi.
October 31st, 2011 at 7:06 pm
I am a homer, and was more than willing to give Lumpkin a chance after they screwed up and let Cadi walk. But Kregg, Greg, Krag, whatever his name is; his 15 minutes are up. Kick him to the curb, before its too late.
October 31st, 2011 at 7:12 pm
And while I am ranting, I am again not happy about the whole London gig since we only have 3 lousy home games left. What a rip-off.
Also, I could not in good conscience vote for any of our Bucs to the Pro Bowl. Not that any of them would make it anyway, but the only two I think are close to it are Penn & Clayborn. Bennett is also living up to his potential, but the rest of the team really needs to WAKE UP!!! Especially Coach Olson and Josh Freeman. If the Bucs played up to their ability and potential each week, they wouldn’t lose another game, not even Green Bay.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:37 pm
clinton portis anyone???
October 31st, 2011 at 9:40 pm
BigMac, so vote for Penn and AC. If you cannot see Penn as a Probowler, I have lost faith in you as a Bucs fan…
November 1st, 2011 at 7:40 am
we should have signed sproles not caddy, now lets go talk to brian westbrook, or tiki, seriously lets see what they got
November 1st, 2011 at 9:32 am
Man, Sproles would have been a great sign….
As soon as i heard he was going to the Saints i picked him up on my fantasy team…
SCORE!