Coasting Kyle Moore Example Of Lax Practices
August 5th, 2010
Recently, former Bucs defensive end Steve White wrote on JoeBucsFan.com about his observations of a Bucs training camps practice.
White wasn’t overly impressed as he believed there wasn’t enough intensity overall, that he didn’t believe the practices were uptempo enough.
Yesterday, Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune wrote a feature story on second-year defensive end Kyle Moore. In the article, Richardson notes how Moore “coasts sometimes” and that Bucs coaches believe if Moore can practice and play at a consistent pace, he should be fine.
This brought out the ire of White on his blog.
Now talk is talk and I have no idea if Moore actually “coasts” in practice or not. But I have to say that just the thought that a guy COULD coast in practice is mind boggling to me. Back when I was playing from Warren Sapp all the way down to the lowest guy on the totem pole, when you hit the practice field you were busting your butt. It wasn’t even a question of whether you could coast or not because if you tried to you could forget about somebody “pushing your buttons”. Instead Rod Marinelli would be down your throat with his foot in your ass. And if it happened enough times you just wouldn’t be around anymore. If there was one thing our coaches didn’t put up with it was a lack of effort.
I know it takes awhile for guys to transition from college to the pros and I know that not everyone has the same work ethic at first. But its just weird to me that it seems to be an open secret that Moore’s effort is inconsistent and yet he has been handing a starting position. Think about this, when was the last time you heard about a starting NFL player who had to have their button’s pushed?
I’m not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill but the hallmark of our defense has always been playing hard and fast with an emphasis on both. You can’t practice soft and play hard, it just doesn’t work that way. I realize that comparing what we did 10 years ago to what the Bucs are doing today might be a little unfair, but by the same token I don’t think the need practice hard is a principle of football that has changed over the last decade. And maybe it’s impolite to point this out but the guy didn’t exactly tear it up last year once he finally got some playing time. I realize he had gained too much weight to fit into Jim Bates’ scheme but the fact remains that nobody has seen him be dominant in a game thus far which for me would make his inconsistency of effort even more inexcusable.
Joe remembers hearing Warren Sapp talk on the Bucs America’s Game segment on NFL Network that the hallmark of the team was its worth ethic. And that was what drove a wedge between Sapp and Meshawn Johnson, because Johnson seemed allergic to working out with the Bucs in the offseason.
Joe hopes guys like Roy Miller, Brian Price, Gerald McCoy and Arrelious Benn, all with reputations for being workhorses, can return that work ethic trait to the Bucs and that it will rub off on the rest of the team.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:15 am
I agree with Steve White… I wasn’t at all impressed with the level of Bucs training camp. I just dumbed it down to Raheem and his coaching staff wanting to have a less intense training camp. We shall see how this works out come pre-season when they face another team.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Yet, on august 4, there us a post here ” Moore can help Young Dts”, that states “Moore just keeps making play in the heat”. It talks about his hard work? But, if in doubt, I always believe Steve White ! Moore better tighten up!!
August 5th, 2010 at 9:49 am
We heard issues about his effort last year, he better come through this year!
August 5th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I think it is simpley Raa heem no wanting any one to get hurt because we have no depth. he is probably being told to stay healthy. We need to step it up here real soon i understand we dont have the best depth but we need steller performances from guys like kyle moore, kellen winslow, cadilac, and so on so we cant be holding them back too too much.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Along these lines, The NFL Network has a great Jerry Rice piece.
Every rookie ought to watch it. The man worked all offseason and then showed up early for training camp. Even sat in on special teams meetings. Ran up this 2.3 mile hill in Ca.
Dude looks like he could run the post at 48.
August 5th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Eric…Clayton worked out last off season with him, and did the same type stuff. You are right though, he has not let himself go at all, Rice is a beast. Hey, we agree on something!
August 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Wow, I didn’t realize Clayton worked out with Rice.
And the man still had 16 catches?
ouch!
August 5th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
@Eric, exactly. WTF!
August 5th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
We are lacking in the leadership dept. How many seasons do the Glazers give Morris to turn things around? I guess it all depends on TV money, ticket sales, and consessions during home games. I just hope our draft picks work out so our next coach will have something to work with.
August 5th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I think it is a combination of things:
1. I have heard other people on the radio and on the NFL network talking about lax practices. basically, practices are different than they used to be. Players used to have to come to training camp to get in shape. Now they are in shape and they have several OTAs to learn alot of little things. This all adds up to less intense training camps.
2. He is from USC. He is not even close to the first player this past decade from USC that this has been said about.
We would all like to hear how every player is out there giving their all every single play of practice. In reality, it doesn’t happen, mainly because what I said in point 1. Also because any one who ever played ball knows it doesn’t happen going back to high school. Some guys are wired different.
The good news is the emerging young leaders all sound like they give their all: Freeman, Williams, Price and McCoy. As well as Ruud and Hayes.
August 5th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
JK: This issue of leadership has been brought up. We all know they should have kept Brooks around another year. They didn’t so we must move on.
At this point they have a LOT of guys who were team captains in college and considered leaders on their respective teams (Benn, McCoy, Price, Lewis from this draft alone). Ruud and Freeman as well.
The leaders are developing.
All we can hope for this year is alot of improvement and flashes of greatness. Next year CAN possibly be a breakout year like the Rays in ’08.
August 5th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
The mystery of Clayton! Does all the right things, looks like an all pro in camp, then regresses, and regresses. . I just don’t get it!
August 6th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Your right Dave I should move on. It’s just so frustrating not seeing what the plan was. To me it looks like the Glazers are only driven by saving money. Don’t get me wrong. I think they want to put a team on the field that will compete, not to win championships. Just make money. I think their true love is in England.