The QB Blast: Receiving Corps Overhaul Needed
December 3rd, 2009JoeBucsFan.com analyst
- Ex-Bucs QB Jeff Carlson
Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson writes the weekly QB Blast column here at JoeBucsFan.com. Joe is ecstatic to have him firing away. Carlson has TV gigs in the Bay area and trains quarterbacks of all ages via his company, America’s Best Quarterback.
Sunday’s game was great drama!
The entertainment lasted until the final second and that is what I want from my sports. Yeah, I know the Bucs lost, but it was great theater and that hasn’t been happening around here for quite a while — even before the Raheem era.
Unfortunately, after watching the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots play Monday night, it was abundantly clear that we are nowhere near competing with the best in the league now or in the near future.
This Bucs team does not have “playmakers.”
Do they have good athletes? Sure, there is athleticism running around, but the Saints and Patriots have exciting, game-changing players and even the Patriots found out that their offense isn’t enough to overcome their poor pass defense with the Saints’ non-stop offensive pressure.
So, for the forseeable years ahead, the Bucs will not compete for a division title, because the Saints are way out in front and are young. I don’t know all their contract situations for each of their players, but the Bucs’ best player is a 34-year-old cornerback.
For the Bucs to make progress in playing “catch-up” with the Saints, they need to overhaul their receiving corps and give their franchise QB something to work with.
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Jeff, I usually enjoy your posts, but to say the Bucs won’t compete for a division title “for the forseeable years ahed” is pure crap. We’re talking about the worst-to-first NFC South for gods sake.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Louie, while I agree that anything is possible from year to year, unless Brees goes down with a major injury or they have a ton of expiring contracts, I think the Saints will hold the edge for at least the next couple of years. Though I do like Jeff vagueness with the “for the forseeable years ahead” comment. Just how far ahead is he referring to? I guess it just depends on the persons foresight. 😉
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
And in order to “catch up” with the Saints, we need much more help on defense before we’ll be able to do that. As the Saints (and the Bucs) teams of the past few years have shown, you need a strong defense as well to win a championship.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Brees points to playing with the same guys in the same system for a number of years to his success. maybe our young guys turn into play makers. Too bad we did not have any playmakers recieving for Jeff Carlson, but the Pats must not have either.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
The Saints have had an offense since Brees arrived. They didn’t have a defense until Gregg Williams arrived this year. I hear people talking about him as a head coaching candidate (again), so he may not be there long. If he goes, the Saints defense could very well suck again. The Saints have never been a perennial powerhouse and I’ll be surprised if they can maintain the level of play.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Very few teams play year in and year out like the Saints are playing now. Yes they will most likely be the division leaders for a few years but you never know,look at the Panthers who won the division last year,look at the Giants and how there year is gonig,look at Carson Palmer and how much he has been hurt the last 3 or 4 years.It’s the NFL,the Saints look great this year but that is just one year and who knows what the near future holds for the Saints ir Bucs.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Even the Pats who went 16-0 and only lost one game all year,the Superbowl is not the team they were in 2007……not even close IMO.
December 3rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Come on…this team is building for the future. Hey you got a good young coach, a GM that has growen up in the business and they have to be able to get their guys in place. In SW Ohio we have Mike and his family. No GM, a coach that is 500 and for a change they a winning.
Have some faith!!!
December 4th, 2009 at 10:53 am
If NFC history repeats itself, the Bucs will be at the top next year. Louie is right as well, if the Saints D falls all bets are off. If Tampa gets back to it’s historic D than all bets are off as well.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
When is Drew Brees’ contract up???