No Veteran Cold Shoulder For Rookies
June 12th, 2014
Bucs C Evan Dietrich-Smith doesn’t believe in giving rookie offensive linemen the cold shoulder.
Apparently, Gerald McCoy has a like-minded teammate who brawls in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball.
Last year Joe remembers GMC telling him (Joe doesn’t have the notes in front of him; so this is paraphrasing) that there are more than a few NFL veterans who believe rookies should learn the hard way about the rigors of the league.
GMC told Joe, in so many words, “I don’t think like that. If a guy is on my team, he is here to help me win and I will do whatever I can to help him play better.”
Bucs center Evan Dietrich-Smith is of the same mindset. Joe had asked EDS yesterday what he thought of rookie guard Kadeem Edwards who, in Carl Nicks’ void, has been logging a lot of time with the first time at left guard.
EDS noted that veteran players who don’t help out the rookies are, well, wrong-headed.
“Kadeem is doing a real good job,” EDS said. “He does some nice things technique-wise. I am excited to see what happens when guys get the pads on. We have some guys they don’t know how to turn it off with the pads off. Lovie has been after us a couple of times about that stuff. Pads will make a big difference and I am kind of sure that we can see how it will shake out once that goes down and it is right around the corner.
“I am excited about that. The rookies are doing a real good job. “Hop” [Offensive line coach George Warhop] is pushing us real hard as far as us getting our technique down and doing the things he wants. I think we are headed in the right direction as far as the offensive line goes.
“I think a lot of [learning the NFL from a small school] has to do with the guys you are playing next to. I know I came from a small school [Idaho State], too, and it took me a little bit to figure it out. If you have veterans guys who are going to help you out and point you in the right direction, that will definitely work in your favor. But if you are a small school guy playing with a lot of young guys, it will take a little longer. I am not going to steer these guys the wrong way at any point in time. I know that the five guys with me, I will make sure we are pointed in the right way and not let our quarterback get hit in the back of the head.”
As an aside, Edwards is from Tennessee State.
Joe digs this mentality. Unless someone is so friggin’ paranoid and selfish, thinking a rookie will take his job, how could veterans not want to help the rookies get better? Veterans who stick their noses in the air when rookies drop by and have no interest in helping the rookies apparently have burned out on football, or at least winning football.
As Lovie Smith noted yesterday, you don’t have to be a screamer or a yeller to be a leader. Guys like GMC and EDS are proving that daily.
June 12th, 2014 at 7:31 am
“apparently have burned out on football, or at least winning football.”
Thems some powerful, and IMO accurate words.
June 12th, 2014 at 7:54 am
Each one teach one! Every Grasshopper needs a Master Po! lol
Speaking of small schools, there was a time when HBCs like Fla A&M, Grambling, Alcorn State, and yes Tennessee State produced some of the finest talent in the NFL. Leave no stone unturned!
June 12th, 2014 at 8:09 am
Years go, there was a very small college in Texas that seemed like a farm team for Bucs’ offensive linemen. Can’t remember the school, off the top of my head, but nothing for years since.
June 12th, 2014 at 8:19 am
How, as a BUCS fan, can you not be excited about the future of the BUCS? It “appears” that everyone from L&L to the coaching staff on down to the players seem to be on the same page. Hope we can jell early enough to keep us in the hunt, but still believe that the future is very, very, bright
June 12th, 2014 at 8:40 am
the bucs got EDS. hehe…
June 12th, 2014 at 8:46 am
Dean,
I think you’re thinking of Texas A&M Kingsville. I believe Karl Williams went to school there as well.
June 12th, 2014 at 8:53 am
I think that school was Texas A&M Kingsville.
June 12th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Two words: JERRY RICE! He went to a small school as well. Now hes one of the greatest!
June 12th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Here’s an interesting exercise on the Bucs leadership
Assign some grades for leadership from last year’s team and compare to this year’s team.
GMAC was a leader last year. Revis and Goldson certainly helped out along with VJAX but after that….whew
Now we have GMAC on the Dline and ED-S on the Oline. And GMAC has help from other teammates.
But let’s look at the most important position. Based on what they’ve done with the Bucs only…let’s assign leadership grades.
Q.B.’s
Josh Freeman’s leadership last year….F3…that was the lowest grade they gave in my school
MG8 B+ Thought he was excellent for a rookie
McCown A+
Now if you toss in the coaches..
Schiano….D
Lovie A
June 12th, 2014 at 11:15 am
Anthony Collins and McDonald a quiet leaders as well
And you forgot LVD
June 12th, 2014 at 11:19 am
Thanks for filling in my blanks PRBuc, This team has far better leadership than last year’s team.
Darrelle Revis shared his knowledge but he probably knew he was a rental and not slated to hang around for long.
June 12th, 2014 at 11:27 am
StPeteBucsFan, I agree Freeman provided zero leadership last year. I think he did more damage than good and I certainly understand releasing him and starting Glennon.
That said, I also believe something changed in Freeman to make him self-destruct. Maybe he had a falling out with Schiano during his last few games the year before or something, maybe it was medical, or maybe it was addiction-related. I have no clue.
But before that, Freeman was doing a pretty good job leading the team. But, again, that changed.
I do disagree with your grade of Glennon. Because he was a rookie, he offered almost no leadership. He had a new car feel, but he really did not know what he was doing. Notice he did not call any player only camps together before free agency? He could have, and it would have impressed the heck out of the coaches.
Even if they couldn’t practice playbooks, there are some plays that are always a part of the playbooks.
June 12th, 2014 at 11:34 am
@Buc Bonzai
Take all of your points and largely agree with them. Yes the Jfro mystery will take some more time to unfold. Perhaps it was physical/mental. We don’t know what he suffers from because of our nation’s privacy laws…HIPPA..when it comes to medical records.
I also take your point about Glennon not organizing the off field workouts like McCown and Jfro. But slightly disagree about his performance in the season.
I recall reading numerous accounts from vets who were impressed with his poise and leadership. BTW I’m not a member of the MGM but I’m not one of his haters either. For me the jury is still out. Not enough evidence.
June 12th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
GMC, EDS, LVD, ASJ, love it.