Rookies Outplaying Veterans
November 11th, 2015
Play of rookies like RG Ali Marpet is not the problem for the Bucs.
On this Veteran’s Day, those who served in the Armed Forces should be proud, and so should all Americans for their service.
But for the football veterans on the Bucs, this season is not (yet) something to be proud of.
Writing for WalterFootball.com, Pat Yasinskas notes that often, when a team starts four rookies (or more as in the case of the Bucs last Sunday), you can’t bank on the team succeeding.
But the Bucs’ downfall thus far has nothing to do with rookies, but everything to do with the under-performing veterans, big name veterans even.
It’s ironic because, if the Bucs were 3-5 and Winston was struggling, it would be understandable. Rookies, particularly rookie quarterbacks, are supposed to make mistakes. Winston made his share of mistakes early on, but he has come on strong in recent weeks.
Winston hasn’t thrown an interception in the last four games. He’s grown up right before our eyes and has become a team leader. He’s not putting up huge numbers because he isn’t being asked to. But he’s putting up respectable numbers.
At the halfway point of his rookie season, Winston is way ahead of schedule in his progress. He’s playing well enough to win. The rest of the team is not. And it starts at the very top. Linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, two guys who have been All-Pro selections in the past, aren’t playing well. Coach Lovie Smith, who rarely criticizes players publicly, acknowledged that David and McCoy aren’t at the top of their games.
Joe has to believe that GMC is much more hurt than he or the team is letting on. How else to explain his dramatic drop off from having the most sacks for any defensive tackle in the league to being invisible the past four games?
This, in a sense, is a good sign. If David and GMC can get their act together, then with the evolution of the rookies the Bucs are building a decent foundation.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
GMC is clearly hurt. Lots of guys are hurt though. I would think his injury is pretty significant though, considering the drop off in production. What this means is that GMC at 50% is I guess better than any of our backups. Missing McDonald is also hurting us alot.
As for LVD, I don’t know what to say. He just doesn’t look good this year. Missing tackles, out of position, just seems like he isn’t right in the head. Hope he gets his act together, we just made him a very rich man.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Lavonte almost seems like he’s regressed with every game of Lovie’s tenure…sadly, I can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
well heres the good thing…at least the future is bright and we have a known leader as a rookie in jameis…GO BUCS!!!
November 11th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
interesting point. if our rookie QB looked overwhelmed, we might look at 3-5 and see promise. but when our rookie QB is outplaying most of last year’s class (possible exception of carr & bortles) and all of the 2013 QB class while our “stars” are invisible, 3-5 feels like a major disappointment.
whether through injury or ineffectiveness, it’s kind of amazing to think that every one of our “name” veterans has performed below their career and\or 2014 levels. scary to think where we’d be without the likes of jameis, kwon, and marpet. the only veteran that has stood out is the guy we all wrote off – doug martin
November 11th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Joe has to believe that GMC is much more hurt than he or the team is letting on. How else to explain his dramatic drop off from having the most sacks for any defensive tackle in the league to being invisible the past four games?
He sucks Joe! Big Bubba SUCKS!
November 11th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
These 2 are being paid superstar dollars, and they are not getting it done. Superstars find ways to motivate themselves. My biggest concern is the attitude of McCoy and LVD, its like their going through the motions. Telling teammates not to be upset about losing to the Skins. Also, To see McCoy on the jumbo-tron conversing with Giants player during a critical TO late in the game, it p!sssed me off.
Now I do believe McCoy is hurt, because he not getting any push. With David, he’s always out of position, miss direction, play-action. He’s always trying to make downhill plays, but he has to cover his assignment first.
November 11th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
If you want to know whats wrong with McCoy just listen…..suuuuuuuucccccK!
November 11th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Has big Donovan put n weight since the start of season, looking almost “Penn-ish”
November 11th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
“Rookies Outplaying Veterans”
Great for the future…sucks for this year.
LVD has me most worried. Posters have talked about him being out of position…I don’t know how much I’ve seen of that…certainly the posters will then give LVD a pass and blame Lovie everybody’s favorite scapegoat…
What upsets me about LVD is the MANY times I have seem him in perfect position…btw who gets the credit when LVD is in perfect position? LVD? Hardy?
Certainly not Lovie’s scheme eh!!! But to see LVD in perfect position only to whiff on the tackle is something I’ve NEVER seen until this year!!! I’ve seen it a BUNCH this season.
Perhaps the $$$ are making him feel too much pressure and he’s trying too hard to make splash plays or not just tackle but blow someone up?
I simply do not believe LVD is happy cashing his new check. I don’t know why he’s missing these basic tackles but something is up.
November 11th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
I have a hunch about LVD and that he is playing somewhat scared!!!!!
Hey Joe…. Put Two and Two together for me…. When was the last injury LVD had and what was it??? I think LVD is playing to not get hurt somewhat…. As if he is scared of getting hurt and not being able to play…. Didn’t he get knocked out a couple times last year??? Maybe even missed a game the second time it happened??? He will never admit it but its worth delving into and writing about I think???
In addition to playing with a losers mentality because you have been beaten down so much…. Playing scared is just as bad if not worste… Combine the two and all the sudden you have two all pros going down the drain!!!!
Challenge these two on this Joe…. BET it gets them fired up!!!! Do it Joe, fire these guys up for us…. Bring the words of The 12th man to them….. Tell them we miss seeing that fire!!!!
If not maybe they will read this….
HEY GMC and LVD….. STOP PLAYIMG SCARED FELLAS!!!!! I know its hard to rebound after injury… But its the mental part that’s the hardest!!! Get over it and get the show back on the road gentalmen!!! Do it…. DO IT…
November 12th, 2015 at 1:04 am
I wonder if gmc is pissed jW is taking the leadership role
November 12th, 2015 at 6:44 am
The rookies have shown up but the leaders of our team (GMC & LVD) haven’t. We should trade them for whatever we can get.