Did Foster Earn Another Year At MLB?
April 18th, 2012
Who led NFL rookies in tackles last year?
Budding superstar Von Miller? Nahh. It was Mason Foster (84 tackles).
Now a not-so-wise man once said “stats are for losers.” But Joe always disagreed with that sentiment, as numbers can be very telling sometimes.
Do the numbers mean much in the case of Foster? That could be argued in various directions. But hearing that stat made Joe take pause and remember how Foster did some good things in what was almost a no-win situation for him.
The man jumped from a late third-round draft pick into the lockout-shortened mess of an offseason and was flanked by Quincy Black, who turned in a historic disappointment of a season, and Geno Hayes, who might just be out of football at 24 years old. And top that off with a lousy defensive coordinator, an unproven linebackers coach and a defensive line that struggled mightily. Foster also fought through injuries in both ankles.
Maybe Foster put enough on tape to give Team Schiano solid confidence they can develop him into a good middle linebacker, perhaps one even better than Curtis Lofton or the other free agent linebacker flavors of 2012.
Foster still might be better as an outside linebacker, as Joe’s written many times, but it’s at least reasonable to believe he showed enough to keep his job and develop in it. The Bucs need help at linebacker, but Foster’s probably the least of their concerns at the position.
April 18th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
He had a few good games at the beginning of the season. His production fell in line with the rest of the team so it isn’t like he did anything to lose the job. The whole defense sucked. The blame lies solely on Raheem.
April 18th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
He can tackle, be physical and is willing to do so. That’s enough for me and probably many Bucs fans. He is indeed the least of their worries at linebacker.
Did Joe notice that Black was calling the defense during the first workout under Sheriff Schiano… firmly under the microscope. The reality is that the knock on Black is the mental side of the game. Schiano wants inside his head quickly to do inventory.
April 18th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Seems they are trying Black at MLB this off-season. Interesting….
April 18th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
imo Foster is one heck of a LB…not sure about the middle though…it is early and he had no training camps last year.
April 18th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Well he probably led in tackles because the defensive line wasn’t making many 🙂
April 18th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
NJBucsFan Says:
April 18th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Seems they are trying Black at MLB this off-season. Interesting….
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Not really serious about it. Schiano said that they were basically cross-training a couple players because of various scenarios.
For example, Foster may be called upon to do something different on a play, in which case Black would call the defense.
I believe Foster is the main guy in the middle, but nothing is certain until after the draft and training camp.
April 18th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I did find it funny that Rhonde said he couldn’t play safety because he was too small…so Schiano played him at safety yesterday 😉
April 18th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
foster will be ok at mlb
April 18th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
I think it’s unfair to foster to blame him for the run defense. To me when your talking about stopping the run, the defensive line is just as important to linebackers (esp. MLB) as an offensive line is to a running back.
Everyone was high on him before McCoy went down.
April 18th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
ALL of our defensive players got better the minute Raheem Morris walked out of OBP.
April 18th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
“I did find it funny that Rhonde said he couldn’t play safety because he was too small…so Schiano played him at safety yesterday”
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He’s been here since 1997 and it still amazes me people can’t spell “RONDE” correctly. He leads our franchise in TOTAL games played. The least you could do is spell his name right.
/rant over
April 18th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
“when your talking about stopping the run”
I just realized I pulled a Rah… scary…
April 18th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
“He’s been here since 1997 and it still amazes me people can’t spell “RONDE” correctly. He leads our franchise in TOTAL games played. The least you could do is spell his name right.
/rant over”
Point well taken Snoak.
April 18th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
This kid has potential. Surround him with at least one compentent OLB and get those starters on the front four healthy and I see this kid being able to be a pretty damn good player. Some veteran expience in that group would help a lot, but I don’t think it has to be at MLB.
April 18th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
“Point well taken Snoak.”
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Thanks, Derek Brookes would appreciate it, too.
April 18th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
I can’t stand to see it either. The worst part about the Bucs drafting Clayborn last season was that his name will be misspelled for the next X years… Clayborne, Claybounre, Claybourn, Claibourn… Klaebarnn… I don’t know, but there are some I have yet to see.
Chris Sims may not have deserved better, but Mark Alstot, Derek Brookes, and Rhonde Barber do.
April 18th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
It’s funny that many of the same people that think they saw something in Softer last season or that with better coaching and players around him he’ll improve, those are the same people that are convinced LeGarrette Blount can’t do the job.
April 18th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Might be on to something Joe, that “unproven linebackers coach” was so highly thought of around the NFL he’s now an ASST. DB COACH for the Cowboys. It’s never a good sign that when a coach can’t get it done at one position (DB coach), instead of replacing him the HC moves him to another one (LB coach). Really glad Schiano and Co. are running the show now.
April 18th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Fosters fate depends on what’s available as a replacement if kuechly falls or hightower then he will be moved outside if not the job is his to lose
April 18th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xoy2ZDIZO0
Needs to be more agressive…
April 18th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Comparing Foster and Von Miller’s tackle numbers is egregious as Von is an OLB and a heavy blitzing OLB.
April 18th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Or to put it another way, he’s about 3/4 of a Ruud. Nice trade-up
April 18th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Snook…
…Rhonde, Rhonde, Rhonde! ;P
I know how it’s spelled. I’m just distracted today by three malfunctioning laptops I’m fixing for a charity.
I think that excuses a typo 😛 hehe
But just to make you feel better: Ronda
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Just kidding…Ronde lol
April 18th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Brandon Says:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
It’s funny that many of the same people that think they saw something in Softer…
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Just curious, but if “softer” plays this entire season and has a breakout year, are you going to fess up and admit repeatedly that you did not believe in him? Or will you pull a Thomas and ignore the topic?
April 18th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
My Concern is. Mason smart enough to be our play caller?