Ahmad Black Making A Case For Himself
August 5th, 2012
A lot has been made of the speed of Bucs rookie running back Michael Smith. It’s not crazy to think the Bucs might design a play or two to use that speed.
One such play happened Friday morning at Bucs practice. Smith raced to his left and appeared to get into the open field.
Problem was, Bucs second-year safety Ahmad Black came racing in like a missile, and leveled Smith for just a short gain.
Black said later that physical style is all about him.
“I have to be [physical], especially with my size,” Black said. “I don’t bring a lot of size to the table so I try to be physical.”
It’s a style that never really got on track last year as Black had a high ankle sprain in training camp, a nasty injury to bounce back from, and was hobbled all of last summer before getting cut and landing on the Bucs’ practice squad.
Black admits that injury set him back.
“I was hampered with an injury the beginning of last year,” Black said. “But I feel like I got better. This is my second year so I feel I’ve gotten better. I know what to expect now. I played the last four or five games [in 2011] and it helped me to play this year.”
It shows. Black has been laying the wood to the Bucs’ offensive, and even had an interception in 11-on-11 drills at the night practice last night.
Still, Black admits, he is nowhere near a finished product. “I am still learning, learning to get everything down pat and get ready for the season.”
August 5th, 2012 at 10:23 am
it will be black an barron roaming the secondary after barber retires at the end of this season……sec safeties yea buddy!!
August 5th, 2012 at 10:59 am
We will draft another blue chip safety to go with Barron this year. Ahmad is a nice backup, and situational guy (due to his lack of size/speed).
Ahmad is a nice piece, no more no less.
August 5th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Big fan of ahmad I really think as the season wears on this guy is gonna get more and more playing time.
August 5th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
I was disappointed when the Bucs drafted Black, even though I was always impressed by his instincts/reaction in college (& I am no Gator fan). I’m a tad surprised that the new regime thinks enough of him to have Ahmad practicing at second-string. Maybe he will make it after all.
August 5th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
knucknbuc, I think someone will get more & more playing time at FS as the year progresses; my confidence in Ronde is not real high.
August 5th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
StekeK you are wrong if you discredit Black because of his size and speed. It has been proven again and again that you cant judge the size of a mans heart… This kid is a baller period… and I think will be yet another pleasant surprise this year.
August 5th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Make no mistake gents,Black may be undersized but he is a grinder and can thump.He will stick and be right in the mix,And like most of us on here he is a lifelong buc fan.Couldnt be happier for the guy
August 5th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
I have a good feeling that Cody Grimm won’t make the final roster.
August 5th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Lion, it looks like you are correct, sir, but I hope not.
August 5th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Safety went from being a position of weakness to perhaps one of the stronger units on the team. Grimm may very well be a victim of this.
August 5th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
thomas says that the defense went downhill when cody grimm got hurt. how can someone that important and pivotal to the defense not be with the team, but gmc will be?
i’ll believe it when i see it…lol
August 6th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Safety will in no way be a position of strenth.the rookie will make play’s but he will also make mistakes as for FS they can’t cut Grimm he work’s the best in this defence.I don’t give a crap about practice.Once preseason game’s start Grimm will prove that all that really matter’s is how u play on Sunday’s.Grimm Baron will be the best duo at stopping the run.I’d rather put more pressure on Talib and Wright (vet’s)then suspect D-line and linebacker’s.