Bucs Need Vets? Sure, But What Kind?
April 29th, 2010
The Bucs could have used Chris Hovan's experience and leadership. But his salary may have prevented his return.
With Mark Dominik now an NFL rock star, with some of the top names in sports broadcasting now begging him for airtime, Bucs fans seem to be equally giddy over Dominik and his selections in last week’s NFL draft.
The way people are raving over Dominik, he may be the most popular Bucs employee since Chucky hoisted the Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory.
It seems, however, that eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune isn’t totally drinking the Dominik Kool-Aid. Kaufman seems to be of the mind that because the Bucs are so full of youth with a limited number of veterans, that it spells doom for the coming season, so Kaufman posted on the TBO Bucs Twitter feed.
Going all young doesn’t work in the NFL. Never has. You need some veterans to show the kids the way. The 3-13 Buccaneers need leaders.
Veterans are one thing. Stiffs are another. Sure, Chris Hovan may have been able to help out rookies Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, but if Hovan was going to be a part-time player (at best), it was hard to justify his hefty salary.
Blocking icon Michael Clayton is a veteran. Does anyone want him tutoring the young receivers?
While Kaufman is on the mark as usual, a veteran has to be both cost effective and productive on the field. Otherwise, what’s the point?
April 29th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Stovall, Ronde, Stroughter, etc all have strong work ethic. There are others I’m sure. We’ll be fine.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Ira: “Going all young doesn’t work in the NFL. Never has.”
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.
Leaders will emerge over time and through adversity. Youngsters will become veterans and they will all grow together. Clayton can be their blocking dummy.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Anquan Boldin would have been a nice addition to the receiving corp, and provided leadership plus production.
DE Brown could have helped a bit on the D-line or Kaufman.
But the plan is the plan I suppose.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I’m not sure age has a whole lot to do with winning. For example, the two Superbowl teams were at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Aints had the 2nd oldest roster and the Dolts had the 2nd youngest. To me, this say coaching is huge for a young team.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
We still have leadership in Barber , Williams, Faine and Maybe Winslow. What about trading a pick for Usouminogah from the Gaints. He is not a hppy camper and he wants out of there since they drafted another DE
April 29th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Adelius Thomas (sp) and Big John Henderson would be GREAT additions and help this young defense grow. So worth it.
The risk with an all young team is not the playing time… it’s the quality of the PT and focus required to actually get competitive NFL experience out of the PT… as opposed to going through the motions. So bad experience could ruin a young players career, or stunt his growth.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
You can’t force leadership on a team.
It has to be developed from within. there are players who have been on this team for long enough that they can step up and take over where D.B. and others left off.
Caddy, Graham, Faine, Talib(lol), Tanard, Ruud, Stylez White and others have been around long enough that they could command respect of the rookies if they choose to take on the role.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Just out of curiosity….Can someone name a team that signed a veteran player or players that had a record as poor as the Buccaneers last year, pushed the team to a winning season or better.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
TJ Says:
April 29th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
We still have leadership in Barber , Williams, Faine and Maybe Winslow. What about trading a pick for “Usouminogah” from the Gaints.
TJ, that was a pisspoor attempt. SWING AND A MISS. You are awarded no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. im not 100% sure, but i would imagine u meant Umenyiora. the internet is your friend…if ur going to try to make a point, take an extra 15 seconds to fact check before making an ass out of yourself.
April 29th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
@Kirk
How about the 2006-2007 bucs?
April 29th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Eric…You are most likely correct. My point though, is that no matter what the team does, people are gonna slam them. Gruden got run out of town with a win now attitude. Dungy got run off with a build with quality attitude. No matter what this team does, the so called experts will always say that they should have………..
April 29th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Kirk,
the 1908 Columbus Panhandles.
April 29th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Whatever his name is I am working multitasking God forgive me for mispelling God almighty Marlon B but you got my point I feel pretty good about myself
April 29th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
With or without veterans, this team will probably lose a few games that it should have won and may even win a game or two that it should have lost. That is part of the process with a young team.
April 29th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Ronde can be the vet leader on defense , Jeff Faine can be the vet leader on offense.
Lack of leadership will not be the reason we suck next year , lack of talent will be.
April 29th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
One of the Glazer boys emailed me the bucs secret rebuilding plan by mistake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHdZFppSZss
April 29th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
No, if we lose this year, it will be because of coaching.
April 29th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
oh yeah , that too Louie. LOL
April 30th, 2010 at 9:21 am
@louie You hit the nail on the head! No more blaming Gruden/Allen. No more blaming Bates, no more just calling out the yound guys in the Media instead of training them, No more excuses! Either ya do or ya don’t! My money is on can’t, not don’t.
April 30th, 2010 at 10:32 am
@Louie & T2… your quote stands on its own.
“@louie You hit the nail on the head! No more blaming Gruden/Allen. No more blaming Bates, no more just calling out the yound guys in the Media instead of training them, No more excuses!”
April 30th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Oh, we definately have not heard the last of the excuses.