Trueblood May Start Again
December 9th, 2010
Raheem Morris joked about rookie right guard Derek Hardman yesterday, saying he had about two quarters of game film on Hardman along with some preseason tape.
Hey Coach, don’t forget his film from Eastern Kentucky University.
Hardman is the presumed new starter at right guard now that Davin Joseph is done for the year and his backup, Jeremy Zuttah, is starting at center in place of injured Jeff Faine.
But Raheem left open the possibility of Jeremy Trueblood rising from the bench and Hardman taking his place there.
“But I also have different options, as well. I have options of James Lee playing some guard and Trueblood playing right tackle,” Raheem said at his Wednesday news conference.
Asked about how comfortable he was about moving James Lee inside, Raheem replied vaguely saying he had “a nice comfort level” with all his players.
Raheem surely was served up the bait to heap a bunch of superlatives on Hardman and rave about him stepping up as the next man in line. That didn’t really happen.
Joe wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see Lee starting at right guard Sunday alongside a fresh and angry Trueblood.
December 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Id rather Trueblood start @ RG, hes a pretty good run blocker, and a crappy pass blocker. He could make a decent guard.
December 9th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Joe,
Don’t you mean “Trueblood May False-Start Again”? LOL!
December 9th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Good one oar!
December 9th, 2010 at 11:33 am
As long a Trueblood doesn’t commit any stupid penalties, that sounds fine. I agree with Travis, True at Guard would be interesting, but then again, we aren’t the coaches.
December 9th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Dunderhead returns with vengeance!!!
December 9th, 2010 at 11:57 am
If you’re two best players are Lee and Trueblood, AND they can play guard or tackle, then Hardman sits.
December 9th, 2010 at 11:57 am
*your
December 9th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Maybe we won’t be able to run very easily against one of the worst ranked NFL defenses.
December 9th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Joke all we want want about trueblood, but I would much rather have Trueblood at RT and someone else at RG if Raheem is not feeling comfortable with the RG he has.
Ra is usually prett upbeat and positive. The fact that he was more reserved when talking about Harman tells me all I need to know.
December 9th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Trueblood could make a good guard, look at what Oakland has done with Gallery, he came into the league as the next great left tackle and was a complete bust at the position, but they moved him inside and he has become a beast at left guard.
December 9th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Dave and flmike,
Jokes aside, I do agree!
December 9th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Think Trueblood has to start. You’ve already got Rookie Larsen at LG, Lee at RT, Zuttah at Center. You throw another Rookie in there, and you are really opening the door for alot of problems. Trueblood is a decent tackle, with years of experience. It’s the right way to go.
December 9th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I sure hope Trueblood doesn’t see any starting time. His nick name should be ” Drive Killa “. His stupid *** false starts are at the worst possible times. At the end of the game drives, when their down. I’m sure beer consumption goes up in the stadium. When he is on the field. God knows mine sure does.
December 9th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Moving Trueblood to guard would be interesting to try during the off season.
December 9th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
MTM:
If they are not comfortable with another unknown commodity on the O-Line, then trueblood is the way to go at RT.
Pete 422:
I don’t think Trueblood is long for the Bucs this offseason. He is a free agent. Lee has pretty much taken his job and I doubt he will take a big paycut because someone else will offer him decent money. Yes he gets penalties, but he is not that bad a OT, not great, but good enough that someone will sign him.
December 9th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
On the positive note: They have found out that –
Penn, Larson, Faine, Jospeh, Lee with Zuttah as a backup is the best starting rotation they got.
Now they have a chance to see even more from some backups… not exactly what you wnat in a playoff push, but, realistically, what do we really expect this year as far as playoffs?
playoffs?!?!? we talking playoffs?!?
I’m not. I think, at this point even with the injuries, they win 9 and that is not going to get in.
December 9th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Dave- Your probably right about Trueblood being gone after the season.
December 9th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Put Trueblood at RG, false starts should disappear – he’s next to the center. It’s worth a shot. If he just BLOWS UP people at Guard, the Bucs would pleasantly have to re-think their position with him.
December 9th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Put Jeremy back where he belongs at RT and move Lee to RG. That gives the coaching staff a better opportunity to evaluate Lee.
Trueblood isn’t BAD. Mistake prone but maybe sitting a few weeks may ‘cure’ that.
December 9th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
I vote for Trueblood to RG. Just think about it:
Trueblood: 6’8″ 330 lbs
Lee: 6’5 305 lbs.
Who do you want playing next to Jeremy Strongman Zuttah?
December 9th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Trueblood will be gone next year, if we don’t sign him. I say we experiment to see what we have in Trueblood at other positions before we let him walk.
December 10th, 2010 at 3:01 am
Im definitely not comfortable with yet another newbie on the o-line. its one thing to have one or two of those guys come in and perform well but at some point, no matter what their talent and potential, having too many of these guys with so little experience playing at the same time has to result in breakdowns. Its one thing to have larsen and Lee in there playing next to talented veterans. Its another thing entirely to have Lee playing next to Hardman and have that whole side of the line be completely green.