Season Over For Myron Lewis
December 10th, 2012
Joe finds it a bit amusing that Bucs fans always, always have to have a player to hate. Each year, this player (or coach) changes.
Two years ago it was, understandably, Sabby the Goat. Last year it was Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (when people grew hoarse from screaming for Raheem Morris’ head on a platter). This year, despite maybe playing a half-dozen (if that) plays on defense, without question the most loathed Bucs player by fans was Myron Lewis.
Joe uses the past tense “was” because the beleagured Bucs cornerback has been placed on the injured reserve list and his season is over, per the Bucs official Twitter feed.
@TBBuccaneers: Bucs CB Myron Lewis has been placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in Sunday’s game against Philly.
Rarely a day goes by where Bucs fans — in a thread about a completely different subject — cry out loud, “Why is Myron Lewis on the roster?”
It’s a good question, but Joe wasn’t concerned because Lewis rarely (thankfully) played defense. The third-round pick in 2010 never adjusted to the NFL. When he’s healthy — a rare feat for the Vanderbilt product — Lewis always looked completely lost on defense, often spinning around like the Tasmanian Devil in some weird effort to get into position, looking like a youngster in a frantic Easter egg hunt.
It never worked.
Joe has nothing against Lewis, who seems like a good guy. But to date, Lewis has been completely overwhelmed trying to perform at the NFL level.
Lewis has one more year left on his four-year contract.
December 10th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
i wonder how that guy really feels…..after he deposits a big paycheck ( for the last 3 years ) bye!!!
December 10th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
bye Lewis and most of the scrubs that play cb for us.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
From IR to the streets. He wasn’t a No 3 pick either, he was a 3rd round pick. About 4 rounds too high….
December 10th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire CB group was erased next year. We need a strong Free Agent CB, (not another adderral popping player) and hit the draft multiple times.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
I see that Joe totally ignores who the fans are really calling for. The no hit-popstar GM himself. The deepest draft in history ( according to the GM ) has really been a bust. Hopefully the Bucs biggest problem will be corrected this offseason.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
The guy i love to hate is EJ Biggers. Even though he played half way decent yesterday It seems like i always see the back on his Jersey chasing someone after he got burnt.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
If Myron Lewis was on the field for that last drive, we would have won the game.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
He would have given up a TD earlier, and we would have had time to come back and score a game winning FG.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
“Rarely a day goes by where Bucs fans — in a thread about a completely different subject — cry out loud, “Why is Myron Lewis on the roster?”
That was me, haha, yesterday in the semi-related Talib and Wright post.
Look, Lewis has been incredibly fragile his whole career and has never even showed potential to have talent when he did play. Undrafted and regular free agents (as well as seventh round picks) were passing him on the depth chart with ease.
Think about it.
Everybody that has been signed/drafted since he was drafted has been given the nod over him.
Its time to move on.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
fans usually dislike bad players…
December 10th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
See ya later. Oh ya and take that jack ass Eric Wright with you! We will never be a contender until this joke of a secondary is addressed. And by addressed i don’t mean over pay a bum like Wright or keep signing guys off the streets! I seen this crash and burn coming when we made no attempt to trade for a corner by the deadline and gave up Talib!
December 10th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Injured? What did he do? Fall off the bench?
December 10th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
I think the best thing about this offseason is that we know exactly what we need to do to get better. Last season, we needed everything – LB’s, CB’s, Safeties, WR’s, TE’s, RB’s, and OL. This year, we need CB’s, Cb’s, and more CB’s. We need one proven vet in free agency, and a couple more high draft picks. I feel pretty confident we will do just that, and we will get this fixed quickly. If we had the ability to actually stop other teams (you know, the actual objective of playing defense), we would be right up there with the best teams in the NFL. I don’t see how that can even be argued. We typically (aside from yesterday) get a lead early, and then give it up when the other teams stop trying to run the ball and realize that it’s like playing pitch and catch against our secondary. I’ve yet to figure out why any team even bothers trying to run against us. I felt the exact opposite last year, wondering why any team would ever throw against us when they could run it for 6 yards a pop. It’s a helluva lot easier to fix one problem instead of having to fix all problems.
I think Dominik had a tremendous offseason for us this year, and I think he has given us the talent to be very good. However, I can’t really argue with Eric’s point that if we don’t make the playoffs next year, it’s awful hard to argue he should stay.
December 10th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Oh Noooooo! What am I gonna do with my Myron Lewis Jersey?
December 10th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
After the game Sunday, I’ve already moved on to next year. Following is my prescription for the secondary next year: (draft position assumed to be between pick #15 & #20)
LCB – Free Agency (replaces E.J. Biggers)
Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie, Sean Smith, Mike Jenkins
RCB – Eric Wright (Restructure Contract)
CB – Draft 1st round (replaces Myron Lewis)
Dee Milliner, Jonathan Banks, Xavier Rhodes
FS – Draft 2nd round (replaces Ronde Barber)
Eric Reid, Phillip Thomas, Kenny Vaccaro, T.J. McDonald
SS – Mark Barron
FS – Ahmad Black
CB – Anthony Gaitor
CB – Leonard Johnson (nickel or FS, cannot play outside)
SS – Draft 5th round (replaces Cody Grimm)
Ray-Ray Armstrong, Blidi Wreh-Wilson
Notes:
(1) Must get an experienced CB in free agency
(2) Restructure Eric Wright’s contract
(3) May have to move up in 2nd round to get #1 free safety
(4) Ray-Ray Armstrong may be a project, but he can play
(5) Danny Gorrer, LeQuan Lewis, and Keith Tandy to compete in camp for final secondary spot or practice squad
December 10th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I like that Macabee. To be honest, I like Sean Smith the best of all those CB’s. It think he is underrated, and is a true shut down corner. I would prefer him over Cromartie, but I would be thrilled with either. As long as they don’t take Aderall, I’ll be happy.
December 10th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
All the hate for lewis, but barron has sucked all year long too. No one can argue the fact that he is beat everytime. He is terrible in pass coverage.
December 10th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Nice Macabee. Adios Myron.
December 10th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
@Macabee
I like that set up too, but I’m more for Sean Smith too. 6-3 CB with good coverage skills can greatly help this defense especially against Atlanta. Cromartie has a problem with big receivers, he is good in coverage but if they catch the ball he will not or just can’t tackle him. Eric Wright shouldn’t make no more than 2-3 million a year if he does he is a goner.
December 10th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
kennard19, Barron is a rookie. Myron is a 3rd (or 4th?) year vet. What Barron lacks (for now) in pass coverage he makes up for in run stopping ability.
Give him time.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Myron Lewis is dumpster juice, good riddance.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
@kennard19
Mark Barron has been bad, but since he is a rookie he has been getting a pass so far. His issue has been mainly due to his technique and the lack of a consistent pass rush. He has been beat a quite a bit on the double moves. With the pass rush sometimes getting pressure on the QB that gives TE and WR time to run the full route which shouldn’t be the case.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
I am willing to bet that if Lotulelei or hankins is there , we grab one of the DT’s in the 1st rd…..just sayin…..we need miliner or Rhodes tho
December 10th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Barron has not been bad, although he has been bad as of late. My goodness, he was considered a Pro Bowler until a couple games ago. Stop being so dramatic.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
I agree Raphael, that we could use D-line help. My theory is if could get big physical corners that can play man, jamming the WR at the LOS for a second or two, we already have interior guys that can get to the QB. If anything, I would think a true edge rushing DE might compete for the first pick – like Dion Jordan.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
I would have agreed with you before Sunday Macabee. However, we lived in the Eagles backfield yesterday, but guys were still wide open. There comes a point where you have to cover somebody, and we have yet to do it. What bothers me is not the catches where we are all over them, but the huge number of catches where we are so far away it looks like busted coverage. I would think it was busted coverage would it not occur on virtually every pass play. Watch Leonard Johnson’s coverage on that last play. It was absolutely pathetic. It wasn’t from a lack of effort or preparation, but from a lack of skill. He had no business even trying to cover him. That’s as easy of a pass as you could hope for (from an Eagle’s perspective) in that situation.
Sheridan has literally tried everything to stop the other team, and nothing works. We’ve dropped 8 into coverage – no success. We’ve brought the house, no success. We’ve played man, cover 2, cover 4, press coverage – none are successful. We just don’t have the players on the back end at this point. It sucks, but should be fairly easy to be fixed.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Agreed macabee. But how great would it be if we could land two of those 3 corners and just do away with Wright! Then we would only have to use one high pick on a DB, and could focus on some other weak spots!
December 10th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
@Hawaiian Buc
Barron’s problem has been athletic TEs. He was just put in a division with 2 Pro Bowl and a HOF TE. They will make anyone look bad sometimes. Once he catches up to the speed of the game he will be ok. Plus he is better in the box as a strong safety than out in coverage. I love Barber and he is good safety, but he is not playing the free safety roll with him in the box all the time.
December 10th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
@Sneedy16,
I agree with you 110%. Not to mention the fact that he’s got to be getting incredibly frustrated with everyone else getting beat so badly. That didn’t happen at Alabama.
December 10th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
@Sneedy16
No it didn’t happen at Alabama. He has to cover extra area with the CB we have now. Look how well he played when we had decent CB’s Aquib Talib and Eric Wight. I am hoping that they get Sean Smith I feel that he will be the best free agent CB available.
December 10th, 2012 at 10:02 pm
@Hawaiian Buc
December 10th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Sean Smith and DRC.
From there, cut Wright.
Draft and maneuver in attempts to get 3 coveted players.
I want another Barron, Martin And David trio.
December 11th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Dominick has had long enough. Where is the talent? I get the coaching sucked the last few years, but this team simply lacks talent, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:23 am
I know we are playing with 3rd string corners and barron is a rookie. But is it possible that it is our defensive scheme that is making us so bad?