Draft Will Foretell Huggins’ Future
April 15th, 2011
So many Bucs fans were wild with hope over the thought of Kareem Huggins becoming the shifty speedster running back the Bucs needed entering the 2010 season.
But Huggins went down with a massive knee injury, which followed up his 2009 knee injury that cost him a season.
Will the Bucs go for Round 3 with the undrafted kid from Hofstra that was out of football in 2008? Esteemed beat scribe Roy Cummings weighed in on Huggins’ future via a fresh Q&A on TBO.com.
Huggins had complete reconstructive knee surgery. He blew out everything. It was a very bad injury, but the Bucs are confident he’ll be back. The problem is, he never got a chance to really prove he could be an every-down or even third-down change-of-pace back so the Bucs have to prepare for the possibility that, after the injury, he’s not an NFL caliber runner. That means looking at running backs in the draft. We’ll get a good feel for how they really feel about Huggins during the draft …
Joe suggests you click the link above and read Cummings’ entire response and more.
Huggins seems like a fine young man, extremely nice during Joe’s many interactions with him. But one would think the Bucs could find a more promising prospect in the draft, or the second draft, as Mark Dominik sometimes calls it.
Huggins has accomplished nothing and is coming off a brutal knee injury. He almost feels like Cadillac Williams used to sans the huge achievements.
Joe suspects the Bucs will keep him around to see if he’s got a Cadillac-style comeback in him.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
hes pretty good on Madden 11…. haha
April 15th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
I hope he gets his chance.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Im going to go ahead and foretell Huggins future- Crystal ball says- He doesn’t have one. At 36 years old, I bet Tiki Barber is still more durable than Huggins. The dude crumpled up like a paper doll the first time he took a real NFL hit.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
practice squad! Maybe he’ll be the next “Mr August” like earnest used to be… but he would have to really prove something to everyone. That was a really bad injury!
April 15th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Some guys just don’t know how to take a hit and get to the ground without getting hurt. Warrick Dunn showed that even tiny running backs can get it done. Huggins clearly does not possess the knack.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I don’t see Huggins coming back either. Our RB and TE positions are a lot alike in the draft, it’s not a big need but quality depth should be found in the later rounds.
Also.. that Q & A session was posted last year! How do you guys keep track of this stuff?
April 15th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Some guys just don’t know how to take a hit and get to the ground without getting hurt. Warrick Dunn showed that even tiny running backs can get it done. Huggins clearly does not possess the knack. It really is a shame since the guy possesses 4.28 speed and would undoubtedly be a serious home run threat if he could stay on healthy for any length of time.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
sorry for double post.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
For those of you saying Huggins doesnt know how to take a hit … WATCH THE HIT !!!
The dude hit him square in the knee … Any player on the Bucs would have blown their knee .. I always wondered why more wasnt made of it but the dude came in LOOWWW right at his knee.
Also Im not so sure the draft will be telling on Huggins Future. He was replaced by Lumpkin.
I believe the draft will be telling for Cadillac Williams future .. there is not much room for a 3rd or 4th rd pick plus Blount, Lumpkin, Graham and Lorig. If the Bucs draft Kendall Hunter who is a good blocker .. Caddy might be gone.
April 15th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
I would like the Bucs to bring in the fast guy from UCONN… rookie can run, successful at every level.
April 16th, 2011 at 4:46 am
I agree 100% jvato.
April 16th, 2011 at 5:59 am
he needs a real shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bees8RMFQvY
April 16th, 2011 at 10:32 am
@captain shane-O
I do not believe he qualifies for the Practice Squad any longer.
@All
I hope he gets a fair chance…on another team. I like him, but to keep him around on a high-risk hope at this stage of rebuilding would hinder the team. Better to move on and get someone in that can compliment Blount.
Personally, I think the Bucs need to get a good lead blocking FB like Lorenzo was.
April 16th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Couldn’t you say that the draft does that for a lot of players?
April 16th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
I’ve always supported this kid. Its too bad about his knees. But I know RB is not our biggest concern, but the RB from Illinois would be very tempting to draft at 20 if the big name DE’s are off the board. Blount and Mikel Leshoure would give us great backs to open our passing game up. The closer the draft gets, the more I’m starting to like this guy. Dom. keeps saying he wants to help out Freeman. Blount, Leshoure, Williams, Winslow, Briscoe, Benn. Add maybe one more solid WR and we will have the most talented young offensive in the league.