Brooks: Linebacker Play “Average At Best”
November 20th, 2014
Mason Foster fans should be troubled
Who knows Tampa-2 linebacker play better than Bucs icon Derrick Brooks?
Nobody.
So Joe perked up when Brooks offered firm evaluation of the Bucs linebackers yesterday.
Speaking on the Tampa-2 show with Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620, Brooks offered up a grade for the Bucs linebackers, weighted by the stellar performances of Lavonte David.
“I think right now I kind of give them going into the fourth quarter of the season, I would say average at best,” Brooks said. “A lot of that has to do with Lavonte David. I’d trend towards a “B,” but obviously he is playing lights-out, standout football. But he’s still learning. Our defense is still learning. Yes, we played well for a game. You saw a lot of improvements and some things come together. I agree with that caller. We still got a lot of holes to fill.”
Most interesting is what came next. Duemig sort of stood up for Mason Foster, and Brooks was lukewarm.
Steve Duemig: I thought Mason Foster, when he came back from injury, started to play a lot better?
Derrick Brooks: He’s still learning. It’s so obvious when you make mistakes in this defense from that position, especially down the middle when you see him in the chase position And it’s a big play, you know, those things tend to stick out more than the tackles he’s making for a loss or third-down stops. He’s learning. Is he the final answer? I don’t know. Way to soon to start thinking about the draft.
That sure was telling. Foster is a four-year starter. Brooks has seen him perform in 50+ games under three coaches and isn’t sure if he’s the Bucs’ middle linebacker of the future. Hmmm.
Foster’s rookie contract ends in a matter of weeks. So add him to the list of guys playing for a Tampa Bay job over the final six games. Unfortunately, Foster’s hand-picked backup, Dane Fletcher, didn’t look good when he stepped into the starting role when Foster was injured earlier this season.
It’ll be interesting to see where Lovie Smith and Jason Licht turn when the free agency dinner bells start ringing.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:37 am
Good depth
November 20th, 2014 at 9:48 am
Foster’s coverage isn’t very good. He gets a splash INT every now and then, but play to play, he’s just awful covering the middle.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:53 am
Hard to judge linebacker play so far as this defense all starts with pass rush of which most of the games have had virtually none.
Once the pass rush fails-everything else turns into a free for all and becomes quite easy for linebackers and everyone else to look bad.
I think foster needs a little more look see before thinking about releasing him.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:57 am
Until this past Sunday, Foster continually bit on playaction fakes. Over and over and over. He did much better with his zone drops on Sunday.
Schiano had these LBS play run first. Read their keys and play downhill. This defense is almost the opposite so I understand their is an adjustment period.
Hopefully they can build on Sunday’s performance and close out the season playing strong defense.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:00 am
T2 needs a mlb that gets it for that d to be efficient.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:02 am
Reading between the lines, I think what Brooks was trying to say is “Foster sucks”
November 20th, 2014 at 10:03 am
I don’t need to see any more of Foster. His rookie contract is up after this year. He hasn’t improved in coverage at all, and the new scheme requires a MLB that’s better in coverage than our prior schemes. He’s mediocre and he’s not a fit here. Time to move on.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:04 am
Move him to outside linebacker where he’s comfortable
November 20th, 2014 at 10:09 am
The scoop: “I love Denzel Perryman. He is an explosive striker and his intangibles are off the charts. He will be an outstanding pro.” — AFC executive on the Miami (Fla.) inside linebacker
The skinny: Perryman could very well be this year’s Chris Borland, a player whose tape is outstanding but will come up — literally and figuratively — a little short in the pre-draft evaluation process. There might not be a bigger hitter in college football, but Perryman is a verified 5-foot-11, the same size as Borland, the former Wisconsin linebacker who was taken by the Dolphins in the third round of last year’s draft. It’s good to see he’s highly regarded by at least one team’s scouting department, but we’ll see how much he gets picked apart at the all-star games and NFL Scouting Combine
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000430989/article/sources-tell-us-what-were-hearing-about-top-nfl-prospects
November 20th, 2014 at 10:10 am
Well – L. David despite not having “mastered” this defense yet is playing really well and Lansanah has played pretty well also – so who does that leave as the weak link?
The answer is No Surprise at all. Brooks is just confirming (as nicely as he can) what we all see. Mason Foster’s play and in particular, his coverage abilities as a Middle Linebacker are not good enough – especially in this defense. We need an upgrade at MLB!!! Once that is accomplished, If Foster can be re-signed to a fair deal – then he and Lansanah can compete for the strong side spot and whoever doesn’t win the job serves as quality back-up. Simple as that….
It still pisses me off that Dominick completely wasted our #7 overall pick 2 years ago on Barron with Luke Kuechly available and waiting to be drafted. We could have had the best MLB in the game – but instead we have only a 4th and 6th round pick to show for that premium pick (which is better than trotting a sucky safety onto the field game in and game out because you have to since he was such a high pick). We are obviously playing better without Barron so at least getting something for him was the right move by L&L.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:14 am
If Mr. Brooks says they are “average” giving the fact that he’s such a nice guy who never says anything bad about anyone, the real truth is that you have 1 1/2 linebackers instead of three.
So they aren’t playing a “4-3” they are playing a 2 1/2-1 1/2
November 20th, 2014 at 10:34 am
To describe our LB play as average when you have LVD included really speaks volumes about the other 2…..and many times 1 other LB…..
Foster has a place on the team if he is affordable…but it’s as depth or on the outside…..
It is becoming obvious that we have many needs…..MLB is one of them.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:43 am
Foster is gone in a few weeks. Let’s just move on.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:48 am
Foster would be better suited at SLB but it’s hard not to notice the plays Lansanah is making.
But change is needed at MLB. If we can’t find an established T2 FA Mike, we may need to draft one and offer Foster a one year “prove it” contract.
Our troubles won’t be solved in one season here.
November 20th, 2014 at 11:03 am
Calling a player average on a 2-8 team can be considered a complement. Its kind of like being Hoover or Pinto in Animal House: you have a near 2.0 GPA but get praise from Dean Wormer for actually not failing all your classes like the rest of your degenerate buddies…… Being mediocre is a notch above failing just as being 2-8 is a bit better than being 0-10 like Oakland but still sux nonetheless…..
November 20th, 2014 at 11:50 am
Joe weren’t you saying people need to lay off Foster?
November 20th, 2014 at 11:52 am
@ Fort Myers Dave: Love the Animal House referral, takes me back to my own college days!
Mr. Blutarsky: “Zero point zero, zero” that would be anyone grading Da’Quan Bowers if he was actually able to play…..
November 20th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
I can see Foster leaving for money. I think a team will pay well for his strength as a run stopper. I think he will have a lot of success in a 3-4 MLB role. Unfortunately he is just not a cover LB, which is what we need. Like the guy but defense just doesn’t suit him.
November 20th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I wonder what percentage of free agents actually make the impact that their new team believes they will. 10%? 20%? (For any team not just the bucs)
November 20th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
“Christ. Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the F#%$ing Peace Corps.”….or the Bucs!
November 20th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
For the love of God, how many times does it have to be repeated. Schiano’s defense supposedly required a safety for it to be effective. If you’re defensive scheme is more dependent on a safety than it is on a MLB, why would you spend that pick on that person?
If you’re going to blame someone, please place blame at the correct feet.
agreed.
November 20th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
So glad brooks fixed the Storm. Oh wait they stink too and he’s fired multiple coaches there. He tires me…
November 20th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
I agree with several of the comments – to think it’s MLB or bust for Foster is foolish. I’ve met Foster after his rookie year; he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. He’s got incredible talent that we would be foolish to let just walk away. But he’s not the guy we for the most important position on this defense!…
Sign or draft a legitimate MLB and move Foster over where he’s best fit
November 20th, 2014 at 6:33 pm
Celly Says:
November 20th, 2014 at 2:55 pm
“If you’re defensive scheme is more dependent on a safety than it is on a MLB, why would you spend that pick on that person?”
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Because Kuechly was easily BPA for Defense on the board at the time. I sure would be curious to know how many teams had Mark Barron on their board as a Top 10 player. I’m guessing only one team did. Can anyone honestly say when Mark Barron’s name was announced as the #7 overall pick that they were happy and impressed with who the Bucs chose? Anyone? Bueller?