Fixing The Secondary
January 2nd, 2013
The Eagles found out the hard way with Nnamdi Asomugha that a name doesn’t mean a player will fit in a specific defensive scheme.
Joe is reminded of some wild Friday (and/or Saturday) nights in his younger days (and not so younger days) when thinking of the Bucs’ pass defense because of the rancid taste in his mouth that quickly develops.
The Bucs’ rank pass defense ranked last in the league and came a Matty Ryan first down completion away from setting a wretched 93-year NFL record for worst pass defense in the annals of the sport. This is no less than unacceptable and all but demands a head to be rolled.
To say the Bucs secondary needs an upgrade is to suggest that a rusted out 50-year old sedan in a junkyard merely needs an oil change.
So eye-RAH Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune took a gander at the Bucs secondary, and what may be expected in the offseason.
The Bucs allowed the most passing yards in the NFL, despite a top-ranked rushing defense that often turned opposing attacks one-dimensional. Veteran S Ronde Barber may not return for a 17th season and CB Eric Wright’s future is uncertain, leaving an inexperienced group of defensive backs struggling to get off the field in a division crammed with skilled quarterbacks.
Since the Bucs have cleared salary cap space recently by reworking Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks’ pacts, they now have money to play with in free agency.
Joe knows many Bucs fans have had a Nnam-gasm for years (!), lusting for cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, given his hefty salary and low rung play, may very well be cut. Two years ago he left the Raiders and Bucs fans nearly crashed Joe’s servers they panted for him so hard. Asomugha went to the Eagles and become no less than a bust, a highly expensive bust at that. Besides, Asomugha doesn’t seem to be a Buccaneer Man in that he’s not much of a physical corner, which Joe knows Greg Schiano wants.
Then there is free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, another member of the less-than solid Eagles secondary. Would he be an upgrade for the Bucs? Well, there likely is a corpse or two that could be an upgrade. But again, can DRC be a Buccaneer Man? Joe wonders.
Just because people recognize a name doesn’t mean said person is a good fit. Think round peg, square hole.
Joe would be shocked if Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik didn’t go shopping in the coming months for secondary help, especially if Ronde Barber retires.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:08 pm
You can’t really take most Bucs fans seriously when it comes to free agents or the draft. They are notoriously uninformed and base their opinions mostly on name recognition and/or accomplishments that are several years in the past. Most will make posts like, “Please Dominik sign this guy or draft that guy…he will really help our team.” In reality their “wishes” are nothing but empty-headed fantasy that has nothing to do with the real world.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Nhamdi in the wrong scheme is still leaps and bounds better than Myron “what were we thinking drafting you” Lewis and Danny “What’s my name?” Gorrer…
Our CB talent is deficient, and far worse than the square pegs in circular holes.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:12 pm
I wanted Johnathon Joseph back when Nnamdi was a free agent, he’s worked out pretty good for the Texans.
But Dominik has no choice but to purchase a secondary because we have no one that is starting caliber or isn’t a 2 year project.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Just saw that Brian Price was signed to a futures contract with the Cowboys. That is a nice low risk, high reward pickup for Dallas, especially with Ratliff being hurt frequently and Joshua Brent(Price) possibly going to jail.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Draft best corner available in the first round and try to trade back into the first round and try to trade back into the first round and draft tyvon Austin from WVU. Sign Brent Grimes, sign free safety Jarius Byrd, and let barber play nickel corner because I feel he still can.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Flboy – nor can you take the majority of the media here seriously. Quentin Jammer would make sense here, IMO.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
There are a few quality corners that may be available in FA, depending on who resigns with there current club. Would like to see tyhe teamgrab a highly rated corner (or two) in the draft and grab one in FA to restock the competition. Not as much concerned with name recognition the coverage/tackling ability.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:32 pm
I made a fairly comprehensive list of the free agents that the Bucs would/should be targeting when Free Agency opens. Nnamdi isn’t on that list, he also isn’t a free agent… he still wouldn’t be on that list if he were. DRC is on that list however. So is Mike Jenkins (near the bottom), Talib (at the very bottom), and EJ Biggers (near the top)
Here are the CBs I see as having the youth, aggressiveness, and versatility to be Buccaneer men:
Sean Smith (if not francshised)
Leodis McKelvin
Cary Williams
DRC
Tracy Porter
EJ Biggers
Chris Houston
Brent Grimes (if healthy)
Antoine Cason
Darius Butler
Greg Toler
Dominique Franks
Mike Jenkins
Aqib Talib (if Aqib and Schiano decide they really miss each other)
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore,com has 5.56 Ammo available if anyone is looking. Good price in bulk. Just wanted to throw that out there.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I doubt a Talib return but I like Cason and Grimes (if we can steal him away from the Falcons).
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Unless he was cut today, Nnamdi is not a free agent. He is due to make $15 mil this upcoming year w/ $4 mil guaranteed.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Good free agent list. McKelvin and Porter would hugely upgrade our secondary.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Sign Brent Grimes and draft Jonathan Banks, anyone dislike or like that idea ?
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:06 pm
Not much of a college football fan so I am not sure about Banks but Grimes definitely seems like a “Buccaneer Man”.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:15 pm
I would love for the Bucs to sign Brent Grimes… however it’s doubtful that the Falcons let him hit FA.
Nothing like signing an FA from a division rival – this guy has always had Freeman’s number.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:21 pm
The Falcons gave Brent Grimes their franchise tag last year, then he got hurt.( I doubt he is loyal to them now)
He would be a GREAT signing. He is a disciple of Ronde Barber. He modeled his game around him. (so he said)
He is a little short, but plays super hard. He would be a SOLID #2 cornerback.
Then, we draft another one in the first round.
Anyone who says they want DRC or Nnamdi is CRAZY!! and CLEARLY never watched ESPN rip them up EACH WEEK for NOT TACKLING.
DRC and Nnamdi are NOT WELCOME in TAMPA BAY.
Go BUCS!!!
PS- Thank God Wright took drugs. Now we cant get out of his HORRIBLE contract!!
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:26 pm
How come none of the teams with HC vacancies are interviewing Rah?
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:31 pm
THANK YOU TEACHER MAN.
There has been many bucs fans on Joe’s site saying they want DRC to become a buc, I just dont understand because that guy is literally scared to make a tackle, If he is getting blocked by a WR and a running back is coming into his area, he will not fight of the block because he is just not interested in making the tackle. I will not be a happy camper if we bring that guy in.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Ive always said that we should go after Grimes, he is very very good at man coverage. Very physical. Im sure ATL will do whatever they can to keep him though.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:44 pm
DRC not a Buccaneer Man.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:52 pm
that is a pretty good free agency list for corners. Im sure we will be able to get some help from one of those players. I just dont want us to do what we did last off season when we got so desperate for a corner that we way overpaid for an average CB who turned out to be a headcase. lets learn from our mistakes, Dom, and not visit that road again.
There are 3 different ways to improve our pass defense imo.
1. Improve our pass rush- this can be done be finding a good pass rusher in either free agency, or the draft, or by finding a linebaker that can actually get to the QB on Blitzes.
2. Trusting linebackers in pass coverage more often- one reason why we struggled was because we felt the need to bring our linebackers down near the line of scrimmage for fear of being torn up in the running game. if we can just trust our LBs to hold up against the run while still keeping them back in pass coverage, that would make us a lot better in defending the intermediate passing routes. one scenario would be cutting Black, moving Foster to SAM, and drafting Teo to play the middle. there is no LB I would trust more to get this accomplished than Teo.
3. Get better CBs- the most obvious one that can be remedied through the draft of free agency. even if that happens this group will take a while to improve.
I doubt we will be able to accomplish this all in one off season, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
January 2nd, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Grimes would be a nice pick-up, provided he is available; won’t come cheap, though.
There is some early thought that this will be a good safety class, with Texas’ Kenny Vaccaro topping the list.
January 2nd, 2013 at 6:56 pm
BTW–I was very encouraged by Barron’s improved coverage play in the last couple games of the season.
January 2nd, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Don’t get your hopes to high . Just about anyone that is worth anything will resign with the team they are with. The field for good players will be slim pickings.
January 2nd, 2013 at 7:34 pm
cary williams or toler would be good pickups, then mingo in first and amerson in second
January 2nd, 2013 at 7:56 pm
I personally would like to see us get one or two of the following CB’s…
Sean Smith, Derek Cox, Chris Houston, or Tracy Porter.
I think Miami will franchise Smith. But, if somehow they did not, he would be a great pickup. I also like Derek Cox from Jacksonville. If healthy, he has talent, and would fit the kind of players Coach Schiano wants here in Tampa. Tracy Porter is really good if he can stay healthy. And Chris Houston would make a above average #2 CB on our team.
It is more than obvious that we need help in the secondary. Adding another Safety is much needed as well. Someone like Jairus Byrd would be my pick. He would compliment Barron and give us a great pair of Safetys.
Lastly, I think if he is still available…our 2nd round pick should be used for David Amerson. He is freakishly athletic and would fit our system perfectly. These are just some of my thoughts on some ways to improve our dreadful Secondary.
January 2nd, 2013 at 8:07 pm
FunkYxMunkeY , I agree w/ you about Cox; when he is healthy, he can play, and his injury history may keep his asking price down.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:05 pm
“How come none of the teams with HC vacancies are interviewing Rah?”
——
More importantly, why do you even care?
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:11 pm
It will be Sean Smith.6.3. 215 runs a 4.5.hard hitting man coverage corner(did great against elite talent like fitzy).he will be a buc.no doubt.and the minute we can trade foror scoop up one of the mcourty twins,they will join smith,xavier rhodes and gaitor/biggers in secondary.imo
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Porter as a stop gap not bad either