Raheem Morris Is Out Of Excuses
December 18th, 2011
In a bold, strong, damning opinion piece, veteran sports columnist Gary Shelton came “this close” to demanding Team Glazer jettison embattled Bucs coach Raheem Morris.
Instead, the St. Petersburg Times scribe tried to think of a defense for bringing Morris back for the 2012 season.
Shelton couldn’t, and stated the best thing for the Bucs is if the team parts ways with Morris.
As far as any lingering debate over Morris, this should just about do it. How can the Glazers not demand more than this?
Argue, if you will, that this team was just too young, or that the owners were just too cheap, or that the roster had more holes than spackle to patch them all. All that noted, there isn’t enough improvement to this roster for Morris to keep his job. This team is lost. It does not have enough maturity, or enough resilience, or worst of all, enough effort to stay on this wayward course.
This was too ugly for human eyes, and where have you heard that before except every week for two months? The Bucs made it close with a couple of scores in the third quarter, but that doesn’t change things. The players of the Bucs provided a rather weak argument that Morris should keep his job — or that they should keep theirs. They lost for the eighth straight time, a number that should climb to 10 over the next two weeks, at which time the unraveling should be complete.
Shelton is right, there is little defense for Morris at this point. Sure, people could nitpick at Dominik, though his decision not to bring back Barrett Ruud — a point that Tim Ryan of SiriusXM NFL Radio was absolutely accurate in every way when he defended Ruud this summer — seems to have blown up in Dominik’s face.
Sure, some could make a stretch and suggest the lack of an offseason hurt the Bucs. This just in: the other 31 teams in the NFL also didn’t have an offseason or a full training camp.
How many people were complaining about a lack of an offseason when the Bucs were 3-1 with a win over the Falcons… and later 4-2 with a win over the Saints? Limited offseason wasn’t much of a stumbling block then. Two months later all of a sudden it Pearl Harbored the Bucs 2011 campaign? Oh.
As it stands now, the horrid play of the linebackers can be directly linked to letting Ruud walk away, and that’s on Dominik. But it’s not just the linebackers that are playing bad, it’s the whole team, sans a pair of rookie defensive ends (which Dominik drafted).
The same things have reared their ugly heads each week for roughly two years now have killed the Bucs the past two months: Slow starts. This malady has never been corrected and that is on the coaching staff, plain and simple. The lone game the Bucs actually had a strong start, they still lost by 27 to a garbage team (Jags).
There is no way to sugarcoat it now. The Bucs defense is bad. And it just so happens the head coach is also the defensive coordinator. Didn’t Morris bring a halt to the heinous Jim Bates Experiment because it wasn’t working? The defense is just as bad now, allowing an average of 32 points a game in this eight-game tailspin which is simply unacceptable.
The Bucs gave up 28 first downs last night. Are you kidding?
Unless the Bucs upset the Falcons, Joe cannot see Morris returning. Not even a win on the road against the Panthers will likely save his job.
And yes, Joe is sad about this. Because if a coach has to be replaced, that means the Bucs are underachieving and not making progress.
December 18th, 2011 at 4:55 am
Fire Raheem today
December 18th, 2011 at 5:32 am
I dont think even winning his last 2 will save him. The fan base has never been this angry. And local writers are now openly calling for him to be ousted which will further feed the mob.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:33 am
This article is like one big sad eulogy. Seeing Raheem’s face tonight said it all. He knew what was coming and couldn’t stop it. You could see he felt sick about it. I feel bad for the guy. I feel sad and upset for him. I wanted him to be the coach that brought this team back to glory. I like Raheem as a person. I wanted this nice guy to finish first. But the honeymoon is over. It’s quite evident that Raheem isn’t the guy. Sorry coach, you’ve got to go.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:45 am
Tommy Boy I totally agree with you I like him to but the look on his face summed it up and then Deion and Marshall finished it off his team has quit and right now I dont believe he could beat any team in nfl including colts.
December 18th, 2011 at 7:25 am
The problem with keeping dom is that many of his decisions need to be undone.
Some guys he has given big contracts to may need to be cut or at least competition brought in.
Freeman may need competition at QB.
Free agency needs to be utilized and not considered only if there is a “draft mistake”.
Dom has been the face and advocate of the plan. His fingerprints are all over it. We have seen the results.
Draining the swamp is the only answer.
December 18th, 2011 at 8:06 am
The sad part is realizing the last three years have been a waste and we will basically just be erasing the Raheem / Dominick like the never happened.
December 18th, 2011 at 8:09 am
A win against atlanta can save his job? After what I have seen. The stands last night said it all – embarrassing – i wouldnt watch a cliche morris team for free.
December 18th, 2011 at 8:15 am
I still think that Freeman has the makings of a good quarterback. And I believe that there is talent on this team at certain positions. What I don’t believe is that any of the 1st or 2nd year rookies have been properly developed & trained at their respective positions. It’s obvious that there is ‘no’ discipline on this team in general, much less as a unit. This whole coaching staff has to be fired. But Morris should be gone today. Let the parking Lot attendant be the interim HC for the last 2 games. The results will be the same.
December 18th, 2011 at 8:15 am
Before we scored a meaningless defensive touchdown in the 3 quarter, we were outscored 69 to zero, since giving up the 1st score to the Jags. What does this say about our preparation, intensity and game planning. Another year of this is totally intolerable. ring professionalism back to Tampa, this group in rec level!
December 18th, 2011 at 8:16 am
This is really just a replay of the Richard Williamson era. A position coach elevated far beyond his abilities. The question is did the Glazers screw up out of a desire to snatch an up and coming coach and win. Or did they deliberately go with the cheapest option available?
If they are not really trying to win it doesn’t really matter what they do with the head coach. Sure it’s a business and all 32 teams are all about making money, but some of them balance it with a desire to win. I wonder if the Glazers really have that desire? I have never really been able to decide.
I can live with rooting for a Dallas or a Washington that makes stupid decisions out of a desire to win, it’s harder to root for a Cincinnati that just wants to cash the checks. Particularly after living through one of the cheapest owners in NFL history already.
December 18th, 2011 at 8:33 am
All you hear is about this team being too young and the need for veteran leadership…. we should have have veteran leadership for the coach and GM.
Unfortunately Raheem has to go at this point but Dominik must stay. Who has a better eye for talent? The Bucs need to help him learn the finer details of the GM position bring in some vertern leadership for the organization a mentor for Dominik.
December 18th, 2011 at 9:01 am
What i want to know is why in the hell raheem continues to call man coverage on 3rd down?!?! It dosent work and he continues to call it!!! Now i know why they call him “Radio raheem!”
December 18th, 2011 at 9:02 am
Actually, I think Dominick needs a larger set of binoculars to hide behind.
December 18th, 2011 at 9:05 am
I think Dominick was actually looking at the cheerleaders with his binoculars and not the game.
December 18th, 2011 at 9:10 am
I think dominic is pulling strings on both sides of the ball from upstairs .he might be a better coach than morris
December 18th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Has anyone stopped to think maybe Dom is up there “pulling the strings” on the Raheem marionette. I saw that as well and right before they went to Dom they showed Rah Rah on the sideline talking to someone on his headset. If they are having a career scout ( Dummynik ) help coach this team from the booth……HOLY SH*T this so called hc and this team is even worse off than I thought!!!!! This whole organization has been a joke!
December 18th, 2011 at 9:46 am
I think that they should just make Dom:
Head coach and defensive coordinator in addition to GM. Just think how much $ that would save the Glazers by merging 3 high-pay positions into 1 instead of just 2.
December 18th, 2011 at 9:49 am
@ Joe
Do you think its possible that Ruud comes back to Tampa. He signed a one year deal, has been inured for two games that I know of, and has been replaced by a rookie. I do not see them bringing him back. He also was on the market for a little while and only got a one year deal, which shows that not many teams were interested in him. Anyway you think he comes back. Ruud at MLB, Foster at one OLB spot, draft a gut like Sean Spence or Levonta David in the second round to play the other OLB spot with Dekoda Watson as well. Throw in Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon on Offense in the first round, not too bad to start an off season.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:00 am
It is finally time to turn the page on the Raheem Morris chapter in Bucs history.
I can’t wait to move on as a Bucs fan and follow a new set of football leadership.
Cant wait for the Bucs next chapter!
Gooooo Bucs in 2012.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I have to agree with a few folks here: we were watching the game and saw Dom with the headset on as if he was calling plays or listening and we were all like “WHAT???” I don’t think I have EVER seen a GM do that! I mean ole Jerry just goes down to the field and called them for Chan, etc… What was worse (really, it could get worse??) was I don’t recall ever seeing Rah call a play! Every shot NFLN made of him he looked a deer in headlights (which have been by design). What a pathetic joke we are.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:14 am
New week, same terrible taste.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:17 am
the next two weeks cant get done fast enough.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:23 am
We need a consultant to consult the Glazers on how to pick a Head Coach.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Is Shelton the only one banging the Fisher or Billick drums? I’d love to see Billick, but you can’t miss with either guy (unless Dom is still pulling purse strings for Glazer boys on draft/FA and handcuffing one of them).
December 18th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Does anyone remember the time where this city ran the greatest head coach in Buccaneers history out of town because he went 9-7? By the way, I am glad Joe rehashed the blog post about Barrett Ruud. I can’t believe how many knuckleheads out there actually believed the defense would be better and tougher without Ruud. Unbelievable! There’s no way the Bucs defense would have been this bad with Ruud at MLB.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:30 am
It is also very posible that keeping Dom eliminates some of the best candidates for head coach.
Are you willing to keep dom if it meant Cowher could not be hired?
I know thats a looooooooooooooong shot but having a GM in place, especially one used to calling the shots, may narrow the coaching field.
If the Glazers even let Rah go that is. who really knows what they are thinking. Probably shell shocked.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:41 am
There is no rationalizing a team’s effort when EVERYTHING that is ran or thrown at the Bucs defense turns into positive yardage for the other team’s offense.
There is no stop gap on defense. The ONLY thing slowing the other team’s offense down, is the other team’s offensive mistakes.
Every team salivates at going up against the Bucs defense… and it ALL, ALL is Raheems fault. Hands down. No more excuses.
But, the Glazers may as wel clean house while they are at it and bring in a whole new football coaching and scouting staff, chosen by the experienced coach hired.
This is why we need a big time experienced coach… the Bucs need leadership.
December 18th, 2011 at 10:51 am
RUUD RUUD RUUD RUUD RUUD want him back starting it now
December 18th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Yes Raheem must go, no Cowher is not coming here no matter what, you can sell him the team and he still wouldn’t be coming to Tampa, his mouthpiece (Dan Marino) has stated publicly that Cowher was only interested in the Giants job and then only if Coughlin choked was gone already.
Fisher is possible, and I feel this team is a perfect fit for him and his style of coaching, and he doesn’t and never has demanded full control of player personnel decisions (see drafting Vince Young).
@Tampa2 I think this may be the first time I have ever agreed with you, Freeman is a franchise QB, he just needs a real QB coach and a REAL OC and a REAL HC, how can he learn to lead from Morris, Olson or Van Pelt, they have never led anything or anyone anywhere.
I have said this before, I believe this was one of the possible turnouts that the Glazers planned for, they would have looked like geniuses if it worked, young coach, young team, etc. Well, it didn’t and now we have a boatload of 1st and 2nd round picks with another set of high draft picks coming our way next April, which should entice some good coaching candidates.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:07 am
Our problem is much bigger than a single position , two weeks cant erase the change that’s needed.i do wish the best for Rah and Dom but their not what this franchise needs going forward.bad news Mr President THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WILL GO UP !!
December 18th, 2011 at 11:10 am
What the hell does Ruud have to do with this? Ruud is absolute trash and Foster has been a huge upgrade. Hell, the Titans have another 3rd round pick (Colin McCarthy) who’s been a huge upgrade over Ruud. Don’t try to use the general failure of this team to justify your misguided affection for Ruud over the summer. I suppose Ruud would’ve been better than Black at SLB, but personally I wanted and still want Stephen Tulloch on our defense, not Black OR Ruud.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Quick points:
1. glad the homes games are done. We can always watch other things the next few weeks. But the players, Rah and Dom have to sit through this crap on the road. Nothing like making the kids sit in a closet and smoke the rest of the cigars.
2. Assuming the Glazers do have money and will adhere to the salary cap minimum and want to actually win: the best option is to keep Rah and lose the last two. Why? for one, who would we put in the HC and DC spots? and two, who cares. The games are away. Making a change isn’t going to sell more seats. And knowing the oter teams will whallop the bucs means they will likely sell out. Glazers get max revenue anyway.
3. If we suck this bad, we’re getting top draft picks. We don’t have to over pay those rookies anymore, thanks to the new CBA. Coaches like Cowher said they wanted to go to teams that hve a franchise QB to work around. They also want to take over a situation that has talent and potential for immediate improvement.
4. Speaking a member of the same tribe as the Glazers, making money is great. But losing sucks. It is not in the genes to suck for this long. My optimism has shifted from ‘Rah can do it’ to ‘Glazers will do it’.
5. Dom can stay, but Fisher, Cowher, Billick, etc will want veto rights over important player personnel decisions. Dom must be comfortable with that assuming the Talib rumors are true.
Finally, looking forward to checking the wires constantly waiting to hear about changes the Bucs make. We’ve spent the last few years complaining about beingtoo young and needed to be patient. The time is now. Change is coming.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:19 am
Maybe marino is right. Only one way to find out. Offer to make him the highest paid coach in the league with complete personell control.
That would be something the 2002 Glazer clan would have done.
Lets get back to that.
If he says no, move onto the next best candidate. That would be Fisher IMO.
But, before starting, step up to the podium and show some humility, apologize, and take some blame.
All of bucdom would unite.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Thomas 2.2 Says:
December 18th, 2011 at 9:46 am
I think that they should just make Dom:
Head coach and defensive coordinator in addition to GM. Just think how much $ that would save the Glazers by merging 3 high-pay positions into 1 instead of just 2.
Now, that’s funny. At this point, I could see that happening.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:31 am
If you keep Raheem without an extension next season and the team starts to tank we will wind up with the Del Rio issue that the Jags just had, where when they started off bad, Del Rio who was in his last season with no extension coming simply stopped coming to work before 11 am, he’d pop in do some work, hit the practice field and when that was over he’d jump back into the truck and head home.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:34 am
@Brian
Thank you, Ruud might have helped teach Foster how to read Offenses and to recognize blocking schemes quicker but he was useless otherwise.
December 18th, 2011 at 11:56 am
lets not throw out the baby with the bathwater….Dominik has assembled an amazing group of talent…it’s under performing so I guess that goes on the coaching. Dominik might have made a mistake of going too young but , do you think he will make the same mistake twice? now really, do you think Ruud is the answer…Ruud? C’MON MAN
Look at the coaches everyone is screaming for; zero GM experience.
Cower wasn’t the GM in Pitt. Fisher? Never the GM, coach only (also have a closer look at Fishers record). Billick, had a guy buying his groceries by the name of Ozzie Newsome. Each of those teams has a great GM that has kept those teams stocked with talent and competitive. We need a coaching change not a GM change.
We need a coach that come in and get the players to play up to their potential….the talent isn’t the problem…
December 18th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Hey Bucs fans,”we just to get back to our core beliefs”. Lol. What a joke.
December 18th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
The question is who do the Glazers want managing and leading their franchise as the new CBA goes into effect. They seem to be trying to emulate the Rays model and know much more about why this team is failing than we do. Whether they want to restart the rebuilding process with a new team or try to correct the erratic and often undisciplined coaching and play will soon be known.
December 18th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
The Glazer brain trust will not fire Rah until after the season for the following reason.
The want the remaining games to be losses to assure a higher draft selection.
December 18th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Rah and Dom both have to go. This experiment is over.
Any Ruud haters willing to admit that losing him killed this defense( as I predicted)
December 18th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
TO ANYONE WHO WANTS COWHER- HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE FOR COWHER TO WIN A SUPER BOWL????? THATS WHAT I THOUGHT.
December 18th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
And to anyone stupid enough to keep harping on the loss of Ruud…you do understand Titans fan hates Ruud also right??? Ruud sucked in tennesse and has been vastly outperformed by their rookie MLB Colin Mccarthy. Ruud is destined for backup status at this point or maybe he will just do himself a favor and retire .
December 18th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@BHR
Cowher’s not coming here. But how many times did you see Cowhers team quit not only on a game but a season????????? That’s what I thought.
December 18th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Capt. Tim- How bad was the loss of Ruud hurting us at 4-2? Raheem\Hayes\Black\Jones\old ass Ronde\Ej bigger etc. are the problem with this defense. How can you look at what Colin Mccarthy is doing in Tennessee and think Ruud has anything left in the tank? So if Ruud couldn’t hold the Tennesse defense together he would have held this one together? Ruud sucks. Way to try to hang on to your most ridiculous preseason prediction to try and save face in the midst of this horrible disastrous season though. It blows my mind that you can see how bad Hayes and Black are but still think Ruud is a good player. All three of them suck. Put some real OLB’s around Mason Foster and we will have a linebacking core. I think Ruud is destined for a broadcasting gig sometime soon. He’s got the clean cut look for it and its the right time for him to retire from the game after losing his job to two different rookies on two different teams in one year. And before you say Mccarthy became a starter because of injury… thats true but McCarthy has made Ruud look like complete dog doo since and I guarantee you Ruud will never get that starting job back(barring of course injury).
December 18th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
CC- dont care whether Cowher’s team ever “quit”. Dude isnt some cure all. He only won a championship because his owner gave him an indefinite amount of time to do it.
December 18th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Fire Greg Olson!!! As simple as that… he took over a STL team with a two header monster with Bulger(in his prime) and Jackson and did very little, coudnt get those guys to score TD and he is doing the same here… Fire him now give the next man up a chance and lets see if the alleged offense can score and if not Rah needs to go then.
December 18th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
I generally hate the idea of turning everything into a racial issue but this is one time I think it is justified to say:
If Barreet Ruud wasn’t white most of the people calling for his return would have been more than happy to see him go.
December 18th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
I’m really dissapointed in our players and them quitting in games. That falls on the coach, but also, the players have no real will to win. Its really embarassing.
I know this will piss alot of people off. But we should trade Josh Freeman to Cleveland for their 2 1st round picks. That would give us 2 top 10 picks and another one in the teens more than likely. We could then draft RG3 with the 1st pick. Grab Claiborne out of LSU 2nd. Then grab the best available player with the 3rd pick. That gives us 3 starters and we are only losing 1. I like Josh but RG3 is a beast who throws for over 70% completion and is an Olympic sprinter!!! Claiborne gives us a shut down corner to compliment Talib. And we need a OT IMO. Jonathon Martin or Riley Reiff would be nice. Matt Kalil would be awesome but he may not be there at even the 5th pick.
We need some drastic changes, and a QB, CB, and OT that will start for the next decade atleast is a good start. And Freeman isn’t showing me that Franchise QB we all thought he would be.
December 18th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
No he is not…..
December 18th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
thibs5599:
Nah, Ruud isn’t coming back. He’s pretty steamed at Dominik. He’s turned the page on the Bucs. Good idea though.
December 18th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Having a closed mind and looking away from facts is a wonderful way of going through life.
December 18th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Why do so many Buc’s fans think Bill Cowher is the savior for Tampa? Cowher won one Super Bowl in how many years. Lets face it the Steelers defense has kept them in the play offs for years.
Lebeau is the Monte Kiffin of the AFC. Unless the Buc’s pick up a great defensive coordinator they will continue to struggle. For all the talk about Mike Tomlin being great. Take away Lebeau and see how great Tomlin is.
I don’t want to see Cowher in Tampa it would end in disaster.
December 18th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
@BHR
Never said Cowher was a cure all. Just making the point that this Bucs team quit on its HC weeks ago. We need a change is all Im saying. The Miller High Life guy would be better than what we got.
December 18th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
The trend in the NFL is not to have a coach who has all the power. That’s why Cowher, Fisher, Chucky, Billick et al are still unemployed
The way the NFL is now, owners like checks and balances. Coach answers to GM who answers to owner.
Bill Parcells spooked owners for a long time.
The only one who bucks the trend is Danny Snyder. Wow, that’s worked out real well, hasn’t it?
Joe wouldn’t mind seeing Cowher here, but remember he’s a 34 defensive guy so you are looking at another rebuilding from scratch movement.
Fisher? Eh. Not sure why he’s become so popular other than people recognize his name. Would rather have George Siefert or Tom Flores if we’re looking for name recognition rather than Fisher.
December 18th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
@Joe What facts? There are no facts in football, only film. Any knowledgeable football mind will tell you “film doesn’t lie”. Ruud routinely vacated his gap, was tentative attacking holes, got run over, missed tackles and was slow to get to the outside. He’s a better coverage LB than Foster but that doesn’t mean as much to the defense as having a huge weak link against the run. Foster has been a force in the middle. We get killed on the off-tackle/outside running game because we have by far the worst pair of OLBs in the league.
Same goes for Tennessee. Ruud did the same things there and got injured, and then McCarthy came in and made impact plays regularly.
I appreciate the news you provide Joe, but you dilute your product when you make value judgments about players. You are not qualified to be evaluating players, and it only results in embarrassment on your part. You frankly don’t have a clue about the game of football, but feel free to keep looking at outdated statistics and cherrypicking “arguments”.
December 18th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Well I have to say that these players may do better in a 3-4, than a 4-3. Certainly not Hayes and Black, they need to go. But this team obviously isn’t playing a 4-3 very well. Yes thats an understatement, but the line could be revamped to play a 3-4. Okam or Price with another year should handle the nose, Bowers and Clayborn can play the ends, so find a couple big thumping LB’s with some speed and aggression. Watson and Hayward should get more time and Foster will get better. This team often rushes better with 3 than 4 now. Lord knows the DB’s couldn’t cover anyone last night and the Linebackers almost could have stayed home. The whole thing smelled pretty bad last night. I get my hopes up just to have them deflated. I am pretty much an idiot for believing in a team that doesn’t believe in themselves.
December 18th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
And the sad thing is that when one unit has a good game, the others all suck. They just rotate around with who’s turn it is to suck that game. There were so many deserving nominees for the “Suck Award”, but I’d have to give it to the offensive line, because they really didn’t make a single block the whole game. And even though the Defenseless Backs we placing “X’s” on the field for the WR’s to catch the ball, especially endzone, Ronde made a couple of plays, so he bailed them out. Raheem mentioned today that they could have thrown some slants to Williams, well no freakin $h!t Coach, yuh think. Now as much as despise Olie right now, why does take watching the film after the game to correct things? Can’t you correct it as you go, or not make the myriad of mistakes in the first place. The last thing I noticed is that Freeman, again is afraid to throw a deep ball. He is totally locked down in Checkdown Mode. He has a serious confidence issue, even though he will not admit. The Bucs WR’s don’t get separation, but they had enough at times, that if Aaron Rogers was spinning passes for the Bucs, he would have had a 300+ yd night, even with no protection.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Joe,
Starting over by switching to a 3-4, huh? This is one of the worst NFL defenses ever in Yards PP allowed. You could ask these players to play 3-4 concept next week and I can almost guarantee you that the result would not be worse especially on first down.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I would love to have a 34 defense. I do think Bowers could move to OLB and be a pass rushing beast, Clayborn could stay at end, but where does McCoy play, the other end? Obviously in nickle and dime situations he would play the under tackle position but we would need some big uglies on that D line also
December 18th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
nice dream FUNKEYMONKEY but this is not Madden that will never happen lol
December 18th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Anyone who thinks Josh Freeman is not the Franchise QB for the Bucs needs to take a longer look at the facts. Several College QBs will come in to the NFL this year in the draft, and will be OLDER than Josh Freeman.
OK? The guy is only 23 years old! He has 12-14 YEARS left.
This is only his second year as a starter. He has NO Wide Receivers worth a damn, and only a part time running game. Criticize him all you want for his mistakes, but don’t think for a minute any other Buc will QB this team for the next 2-3 years no matter how bad it gets.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Hey Brain, Joe is as qualified as you are to have an opinion. I hate people who think their opinion is worth anything more than what it is. ONE OPINION.
Thats the beauty of football. There is no right or wrong. There are just results, and the rest of us get to second guess them.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Definitely agree with a lot of posts here, but don’t agree with Joe that Rudd leaving was the straw that broke the camels back. He NEEDED to be replaced, but unfortunately Dominik chose to do it with a rookie instead of Tulloch, Barnett, Greenway, etc. Rudd was a 28 yo LB in his prime and got a one-yr deal with the Titans. That should tell you something right there. He’s played in 9 games and has 57 tackles with no sacks or forced fumbles. He’s DEFINITELY NOT the reason the defense has been as soft as butter this year. Results aren’t much different than when he was here.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
While you may be right Niko that Josh will QB for the next 2-3 yrs, I hope you’d agree the team should bring in a legitimate #2 QB either by the draft or FA. JJ (accuracy) and Carpenter (weak arm) should be #3 options at best. See the Colts this yr as an example of how putting all your eggs in one basket works out sometimes. Some legitimate competition would make Freeman an even better QB imo.
December 18th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@BigMacAttack (reminds me, I need to get dinner),
See Claiborne, Price, McCoy as front three with Bowers and Foster as LB in a Bucs 3-4. After all these years watching the 4-3, might be kind of exciting to see a Bucs 3-4 D. If the team’s starting a new era, maybe start with a new D as well, I’d be open to it. If you have a legitimate, established, successful DC running it, I think the team has the foundation of players to make it work.
December 18th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Well Joe mentioned Cowher, so I had to bring up the 3-4, and I honestly think it may improve our defense. No, not right now, with Raheem as DC, but a new DC or a 3-4 guy could probably make it work with many of these players. Honestly, I like McCoy, but he might make good trade bait if they switch it up. I’d like the Bucs to make a play for DeSean Jackson, who isn’t happy in Phili and that might be what Freeman needs. Chuck it 70 yds and let DeSean go get it.
December 18th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Agree BMA, Jackson might be a good addition. Would open underneath routes for Benn and Williams. Just need a coach who can reel-in the discipline of Jackson and some of the other Buc players and they may have something to work with.
December 18th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Dont you guys remember, that Rah’s first year here, we got him a DC and OC and both were fired? I dont agree with keeping him at One Buc any longer. Sorry Rah but your time is up!
December 19th, 2011 at 1:40 am
Thats it Tampa Bay, let’s do the same thing we did before and expect different results! As a “true Bucs fan” I watched & listened to Media and fans complain to the tune of firing Dungy. He can’t win the big one is what YOU said. So he went to Indy and won the big one! So you got Chucky, he gave us a Super Bowl and then dismantled the team. Some of YOU even suggest we bring back Dungy. It is a great thing that YOU don’t own the franchise, because your microwave society routine would cost YOU your millions. The Glazers didn’t become rich by being rash & stupid. The one time they listened to YOU, it gave them a quikie and not a long term relationship. If any of YOU thought that a “young team” wouldn’t have more of a chance to take a crap on themselves instead of going to the Playoffs then your not a “football” fan. And YOU want someone else to come in and set Josh about two or three years back. I agree that in building this franchise “all over again” there are some pieces that need to be changed, but the GM & the Head Coach are not one of them. We need to show Patience & Commitment to OUR team. The Rays, the Lightning (are you calling for that coach to be fired?) need the full support of the fan base. Some of YOU are as simple as dust. I’m gonna support MY team(s), win or loose, I will continue to buy tickets and go to the game and chear MY Bucs on. That’s what “real fans do”.. Hey, New England and Green Bay are going to the playoffs, and there is still room on that “Band Wagon”. Maybe then you can feel good about your life! SMH @ YOU, DUST!
December 19th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Ever wonder why the team was dismantled under Gruden?
Remeber the salary cap problems we had? As a matter of fact, one of the main reasons Allen was brought in was not because of his personnel accume (he never had much impact in that as big Al mad that decision) but because of his ability to get the salary cap situation under control. Part of that ment “dismantling” parts of the team…JJ, Keenan, etc..
The biggest problem during that era was that we had no money. Then we had bad drafts. And when we cleared up the cap issue, we wouldn’t spend money on good FA’s, and the bad drafts continued. How many of us wanted the team to make a run at Jared Allen, among others but not a peep out of one Buc.
I wonder if any coach can be successful here as we currently do business upstairs.
December 19th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Mark2001, well put. I don’t see the Glaziers getting rid of Morris because it is their plan to not spend big cash on free-agents. And unless your football illiterate you have to know that there is a great chance of sucking real bad, she. You adhere to that line of thinking. But let’s say they come out and tell us that they have a long term plan maybe two or three years away. The stadium would be emptier than Joes favorite beverage on a Saturday night.