Ruud Is Too Expensive For Bucs?
December 18th, 2010
Joe learns something when he reads NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas of BSPN.com.
(Joe’s not speaking to the value of the information, just that he learns something.)
One of Yasinskas’ lessons during Friday’s live-chat on BSPN.com was about defense.
Previously, Yasinskas has written about how he believes Shelton Quarles and Hardy Nickerson were not studs and the middle linebacker position in the Bucs defense is just an afterthought. Friday’s lesson expanded on that concept when he claimed Barrett Ruud was a goner after the season because the Bucs won’t pay big money for anyone patrolling the middle of the field.
RedzoneJones – Why would the Bucs let Ruud go when their defense isn’t where they want it to be as of yet it would create another hole
Pat Yasinskas – Because he’s going to have an opportunity to get big money elsewhere. They’re not going to pay big money for an MLB because it’s not a critically important position in their defense.
Joe attended a different football school.
Joe’s always been of the belief that middle linebacker is extraordinary critical in any defense, in addition to the fact that every position on an NFL defense is important because NFL offenses as well as coaches are talented enought to exploit a weakness.
Regardless, Joe’s not sure why Yasinskas doesn’t see that the Bucs are getting gashed right up the gut, an area where Ruud hangs out. Two years ago, Yasinskas wrote a feature about how Ruud was a Pro Bowler, a guy who deserved national love, an up-and-comer. Yet Ruud has regressed but Yasinskas thinks he’s going to command dollars too big for the Bucs.
Yasinskas is a fascinating writer. For Yasinskas’ next football lesson, Joe can’t wait to learn what other positions on the football field aren’t critical.
December 18th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Ruud’s gonna get big money next year…
I’m looking at you Washington (Bruce Allen)…
December 18th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Yanci should stick to writing about the Saints and Panthers.
December 18th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
@Hire Greg Olson:
lol Amen to that. Bruce Allen always signs overated players to big contracts (Ex.Albert Haynesworth).
December 18th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
anyone watching the buc’s tapes would not be paying big money for Ruud unless it is Chicago. They do not count as they are inherently stupid.
December 18th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
One, if you’re gonna be snarky, etc, cover the grammar—“…command dollars to big for the Bucs”. Two, he’s saying, for the amount of money he’d be due as a decently productive veteran free agent, he’s not worth it. So, *obviously*, the Bucs shouldn’t pay Ruud for what they’re getting out of him, & they never have really devoted big money to that position(other than bringing Hardy in to begin with). Now, Raheem IS on record as saying that Ruud super, duper important(yikes), so who knows…
December 18th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
@passthebuc—ironically enough, you know the Bears are run by Rich McKay’s erstwhile right hand man, Jerry Angelo, yes? FWIW…
December 18th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Solid MLB play was what enabled Brooks to be the Pro bowl player that he was. Nickerson was not only a stud, but single handedly turned the Bucs into a feared Defense. Shelton Quarles was a smart & tough player who very seldom (if ever) missed a tackle. I’m not sure if I ever saw a game where Quarles was manhandled the way Ruud is on a daily basis. The reason Nickerson & Quarles don’t have the number of tackles Ruud has is because 3 & outs were much more common back then. When a team gets 150 yards in the first half there are dozens of opportunities for tackles.
December 18th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
The fact the Bucs didn’t sign Ruud to a contract extension speaks volumes. Raheem will say what he must during a playoff run. I think he respects Ruud as a man and a player, but isn’t thee right player for this defense. Ruud would be much better at OLB.
I’m curious as to who they pursue in the off season for a MLB. I’m thinking the may want to go with a run stuffer and sacrifice the pass D a bit (maybe make the SS pick up the middle of the field deep).
December 18th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
@GatorBuc15, Allen wasn’t the GM yet when they signed Haynesworth, but I will agree that Allen is a sh!ty GM.
December 18th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
@bucnjim
Great point on opportunities for tackles.
December 18th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Dont be shocked when Ruud does get decent money in free agency. With names like, Chad Greenway, Kirk Morrison, David Hawthorne, and Paul Posluzny as the other big name 4-3 free agent linebackers, Barrett Ruud compares favorably to those guys. Of that group only Posluzny and Morrison are middle linebackers. Morrison gets a ton of tackles but is accused of making the exact same “garbage” tackles as Barrett Ruud. Posluzny is probably the most talented 4-3 linebacker in free agency but is also injury prone. Next to Posluzny I think Ruud will be the most sought after 4-3 middle linebacker. If teams are scared away by his injury history though, Ruud could even jump over Posluzny. Make no mistake, that around the league people view Barrett Ruud more highly than Tampa fans do. There are some other linebackers that will be highly sought after free agents (Lamarr Woodley, David Harris) but they don’t currently play in a 4-3 and im not sure how much interest 4-3 teams will have in them. Also I don’t know how many of these guys are restricted free agents.
December 18th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Quite frankly when you look at the other 4-3 linebacker talent available in free agency resigning Barrett Ruud looks like the right thing to do unless
A. the Bucs are going to finally spend a first round pick on a linebacker for the first time since Derrick Brooks(drafting a guy second round or lower makes no sense as there would be too much probability that they would end up with another solid but not pro-bowl caliber guy like they already have in Ruud)
or
B. They are going to switch to a 3-4 defense and sign a beast like Woodley to lead the charge(very unlikey)
or
C. They think that Adam Hayward or Dekoda Watson is the answer at MLB.(both guys seem to have some talent but do they have the football I.Q. to lead this defense?)
or
D. Some people seem to think the Bucs could move Quincy Black to the middle(this is insane and definitely a downgrade from Barrett Ruud)
December 18th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Just a hunch but don’t think Bears will go after Ruud, at least not as a starting MLB.
Some guy named Urlacher has a gig there.
December 18th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I see the second rd pick going towards LB, whethr mlb or not.
There could be some real good MLB’s available in round 2 (Sheppherd from LSU comes to mind)
The other thing is I think Watson claims the OLB spot these next 3 games and Black works on the MLB spot in the offseason.
December 18th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
@ gitarlvr… I would rather have Morrison or Greenway over Ruud (especially Greenway!). Ruud is just not the leader that I had hoped he would turn into. Ruud is a decent starter but has hit his ceiling in my opinion. We can do better!
December 18th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Did Pat read his post before he made it? Next one will be concerning the unimportance of the qb in the offense.As for Ruud himself, I am still undecided. I do know Hardy and Shelton played well, but that may have had a lot to do with the guys playing in front of them.
December 18th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
sheen:
Joe thinks Toby David hit the nail on the head about Barrett Ruud:
“Barrett Ruud is, at best, an average middle linebacker. When the defensive line breaks down in front of him, he gets exposed.”
To be honest, the way Raheem uses Ruud, he’s not a middle linebacker. He’s a strong safety. Ruud offers little to no run support in the box.
Paul Posluszny was a better middle linebacker stuffing the run when he was sophomore at Penn State than Ruud ever was in the NFL.
December 19th, 2010 at 12:43 am
I think the Bucs will make an offer to Ruud, but it probably won’t match what he’ll get elsewhere. They should make an offer. He may not be the best possible MLB we could have, but he’s good enough that we really don’t need another hole to fill on the defense. If he goes, we’ll need DE, MLB, Safety, as well as O-line. We have enough to worry about without MLB being one of them. But we’ll probably end up having to fill MLB too. Ruud will be gone with a big contract somewhere else.
December 19th, 2010 at 8:51 am
I think that Dominick has a plan. What it is, I have no clue. One thing I like about Dominick is that he sees many of the same things that we the fans see. Bruce Allen always seemed to live in a dream world, and now in Washington, he still does. The Bucs would do stupid things that never got corrected, like the Galloway debacle. At least now they try to correct flaws and problems, and appear to see things more for what they ARE and not what they hope or think they should BE. I don’t believe that Dominick thinks Ruud is the long term answer, but Raheem has to say Ruud is wonderful to keep him playing his best. A disgruntled player will not be productive, like Randy Moss.
I still think next year (per the plan) is the year that Dominick will make the moves needed for a Superbowl run via free agency, trades, and the Draft. The number one concern after last year of the fans was shore up the middle and stop the run. They drafted 2 DT’s right out of the gate. That priority really hasn’t changed or righted itself yet, be it injuries, Todd Wash(idiot), or play on the field. You have to believe that the D line will improve as GMC, Miller & Price mature and get healthy. We need a premier DE to make it all work, or better coaching, probably both. That leaves the LB’s and safeties as the next focal point. Geno can play well at times but needs to grow up. Quincy Black is either very good or very bad, and Ruud is fundamentally sound as they say, most of the time, but too slow and too weak.
I think the Bucs see what we see for the most part and will make the changes we collectively think they should. We are not a big fan base, but we’re pretty smart and dialed in. Keep the faith because what needs to happen, probably will and who thought Cody Grimm would be as good as he is, along with a host of younguns. So as I say Ruud is most likely out, he will probably get a 5 year extension on Monday.
December 19th, 2010 at 8:53 am
The problem is that Obama only extended the Bush tax cuts for two years and Ruud wants a contract longer then two years. How are the Glazers supposed to offer jobs when “job-killing” tax hikes are coming in 2012?
December 19th, 2010 at 8:54 am
I don’t think Hayward is a Starter either and I’m very interested to see Dakota today. He may be another Diamond in the Rough. Lets get the Win today! Go Bucs!!!
December 19th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Oh Jeez, let’s not go ther again!!!
December 19th, 2010 at 9:52 am
We need safeties first, then outside linebackers before we go seeking a new MLB.
December 19th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Whatever they do the run defense has to improve.
This hovering near the bottom of the league in that important component won’t work long term or against better opposition.
They aren’t gonna pay Ruud cause he doesn’t deserve it. Simple.
He stinks.
December 19th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Everytime Pat Ya-stinks-ass makes a staemnet he shows how little football knowledge he really has.
Middle linebacker not important? By Pats screwed up logic it would have made sense for the bucs to give Ruud a reasonable longer term deal like they did Penn in the offseason.
You know why they didn’t? Because they think they can get better. Not because they think they’ll be ok with someone who is not as good.
What an idiot.