Leaner, Faster Mason Foster
April 24th, 2014
Mason Foster planned to feast at the Buccaneers team barbecue right after practice today, but that’s out of the norm for him.
Foster is leaner and says he’s faster as a result. Right after the Super Bowl, Foster vowed to change his eating habits and looked for an OK from Bucs coaches.
He got a thumbs-up and is loving the results he felt during the Bucs’ three-day minicamp that wrapped up this afternoon.
“I used to play at like 245, but I’m down to 235. I feel better, man. It’s something that I thought would help me, and it has. I felt great this minicamp,” Foster said. “I did the diet and everything on my own, but coaches told me you don’t have to be 250 pounds to play middle linebacker here. So I started working hard on it, eating and doing the right things to get healthier.”
Foster said he’s not sure if he’s finished losing weight.
Lovie Smith has made it clear he wants everyone on his defense flying to the ball, so Joe suspects Foster won’t get a talking to if he comes to training camp at 230 pounds.
April 24th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Gonna be a Great D to watch. Take me back to the glory days Guys!!
April 24th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
He’s not milking it like some will try! Hang in there Foster, help is coming!
April 24th, 2014 at 5:25 pm
He better lean up. Dane is much faster and every bit as good as MLB.
April 24th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
I like what I’m hearing. And he’s calling the D again. Get it Mason! Go Bucs
April 24th, 2014 at 6:26 pm
Quarles and Hardy played around 225-230 and in much less pass-happy era.
April 24th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Common sense would tell you Foster would have to lean out and speed up. Cobraboy is right, Fletcher is much faster and more explosive, not to mention much bigger and stronger, it’s do or die for Foster. All the great T-2 Buc LBs of the past were in the 230-235 range (Nickerson, Quarles).
April 24th, 2014 at 7:16 pm
I do not like it one bit. The problem with the Tampa Two when Dungy was here is with two safeties playing deep, it encourages teams to run on the defense and keep the DEs from crashing the QB. Foster was OK against the run the last two years at 245 but at 230 WATCH OUT. We play the Panthers in the opener and they have a big back running game and are short on WRs. They will eat us up with the run going right over an underweight Foster. Also, when Frazier was DC with Indianapolis under Dungy, they gave up way too much running yards too! The answer is to run the Tampa Two like Lovie did with a big MLB in the middle who could crunch the run and also had the speed to cover the deep middle crease. Fletcher at 245 will definitely have to come in and Foster will be sitting on the sidelines and his talent will be wasted. Foster was the top OLB in the country when we got him and he played SLB at Washington in college. Lovie needs to take Mad Max at 6 foot 3 inches and 260 pounds and is a true Urlacher clone, with the same great speed too. Mad Max pounded Ohio State’s RB when Michigan State beat them and ended their undefeated streak going over two years. That same RB is the top RB in this NFL draft too, so that was no little feat. We can get Mad Max in the second round after we get our Franchise QB for the future (for the first time in Buc’s history). Mad Max is good at also knocking down passes too. Move Foster to SLB and he will be an All Pro there in no time, but he has to get his weight up now. Hopefully the minute Lovie gets Mad Max he will move Foster to compete for SLB and tell him to put on the feed bag. Despite the loss in weight Foster was beat bad on a deep seam pass down the middle on the first day of this minicamp!
April 24th, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Shaun King has gotten hold of the BBQ leftovers.
April 24th, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Fletcher is a back up an will stay a back up.
April 24th, 2014 at 10:31 pm
Come on now I like fletcher but he’s special teams and a good back up Mason is the man and faster just means he will be flying around that ball, but if something goes wrong that boy Dane will keep the tempo
April 24th, 2014 at 11:49 pm
“Fletcher is a back up an will stay a back up.”
Might end up eating your words Ms.Cleo
April 25th, 2014 at 12:16 am
@owlykat, nice mention of Max Bullough! Could be a steal if we acquire a 4th from someone.
April 25th, 2014 at 8:37 am
@ MadMax–Thanks so much. I wish we could get Max Bullough with a 4th round pick. You must be looking at the same early draft magazine that had him listed as the 18th MLB that I have. However, his draft stock has risen markedly as expert scouts have taken a real close look at him. The NFL Network showed him lately as the fourth best MLB in the draft. That is why I believe it will now take our second round pick to get him. However, with his accomplishments and measureables I view him as the perfect fit for the Tampa 2. It is hard to find a MLB with the same capabilities as multiple All Pro Urlacher who was able to crush the run as well as cover passes deep down the middle. All lesser MLBs used in the past in the cover two have left them vulnerable to teams like the present Charlotte Panthers with a multiple big back running attack. Our defense will also be vulnerable to the run if we don’t get Bullough. It is the only piece we have to add to our defense to be awesome this year. We have the WR talent that we need right now on our roster as the recent Minicamp has showcased. We best be taking care of getting a QB at 7 and then our biggest defense need in the second round–Bullough!
April 25th, 2014 at 9:30 am
OWLYKAT has a great point! If guys remember, even in the SB year, big backs killed the bucs. Once they get past the Diline, its 9-12 yards a pop, easily and that was with two potential HOF run stopping DB’s.
I also think the plan is to move foster to OLB and get a true MLB.
April 25th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Dane Fletcher is no Brian Urlacher, dude never started a game in this league. there are reasons that he played for small college, undrafted, let go by the Pats, and us giving him one year deal. CALM DOWN FLETCHER MOB!
April 26th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
FWIW,PFF says Foster has been horrible:
Mason Foster, LB (84th overall pick in 2011): Foster has certainly played a lot but despite the extensive playing time he’s struggled as an every-down player, turning an impressive 2,431 snaps into an unimpressive -44.5 career grade with the team.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/04/08/draft-grader-tampa-bay-buccaneers-3/