Frank Okam Returns
November 23rd, 2011
Joe, among many others, was taken back when Frank Okam was cut the other day in favor of Afa and Sika Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, the new signee from the Eagles practice squad.
There’s no question Okam was a fan favorite and a favorite of Joe’s. When you’re around 375 pounds and you can play, it’s hard to not be beloved. And in Joe’s mind Okam is better and more versatile than Roy Miller.
Okam was on the field last year balling at the 3-technique when the Bucs were playing well at the end of the season. And Okam had strong moments in his backup role this season.
Well, now Okam is back with the Bucs and on the practice squad, Joe has confirmed. And Okam is Twittering his excitement tonight. A man who hasn’t made a fortune yet playing football, Okam seems to appreciate that he’ll keep collecting a paycheck.
@98nightmare– Glad to be back. More fuel for the tank
Joe’s not sure whether Okam is referring to his gas tank or his food bill, but it doesn’t matter. Welcome back, Frank.
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:25 pm
As I said in the post on the new defensive end Te’o-Nesheim- Frank is back and glad to have him. Now if only dominik had the balls to cut Quincy and bring Frank back up to the big club. Make no mistake some team will have a DT go on IR soon and big Frank will be quickly snatched up. The Bucs need to make another move quick and get big Frank back up to the active roster.
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:26 pm
Like seriously do we need really need guys like Zach Pianalto or Zak Diles more than big Frank? I dont get it.
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Cool! I may still get to see Haynesworth and Okam lined up together!
That would be scary for most centers and RB
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Joe here,
@BecklesHeartsRuud – Okam is surely making top possible dollar on the practice squad. Given the Bucs big question marks for 2012 at DT, Okam probably would be nuts to sign somewhere else.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:23 am
Joe- Hopefully your right. But the thing I still dont get is them exposing him ti the waiver wire in the first place. I mean the guy has little get off as a pass rusher but he has been as effective an interior run stuffer as any guy the Bucs have had in recent memory. One thing that gives me pause is words that texans fans on sb nation had to say about Okam before the Texans\Bucs game- they were very surprised at how Frank had found success in Tampa as Houston had drafted him and he was a total bust for them with the reason given that Frank was not motivated to be a great ball player but was one of those guys who had other career interests besides pro-football that called his dedication into question. Maybe there is more than meets the eye as far as the Bucs releasing Okam. There is no denying the phyiscal ability of a guy his size with the relative athleticism he has but if he the coaching staff didn’t think he as giving his all it could explain them cutting him when he was apparently healthy for another teams hungry pracice squadder. Either way I hope they get him back up and he channels the man he was in week 16 vs the Saints for the rest of the season.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:23 am
Agree 100% with Beckles. There’s no way in hell Black DESERVES to be on this team over Okam. Black just isn’t a good football player, there’s no way around it. He won’t be on the PS long. Okam can be a long term situational tackle while Black should not have a role on this team tomorrow. Dominik, grow a pair and do what needs to be done. You’ve made a mistake, own it, but don’t make the entire team suffer because you’re too proud.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:24 am
Bump this man up. We demand it. And cut that useless Roy Miller. I’m so sick of looking at that guy.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:34 am
Either way a banged up or less than fully motivated Okam is still better than a completely incompetent Quincy Black. Can anyone explain why Black is not backing up D. Watson or straight up cut from the team? I start to wonder whether the Raheem really has the say in starting personnel or whether Q.Black is a starter in order to save face for Dom. As I said before Dom doesn’t need to save face. If the haters want somewhere to focus their hate take it off Raheem and put it on Quincy. Dude is the single biggest reason for the defenses failures and thats saying something considering P.I. Biggers performance this year. Some people want a new defensive coordinator\head coach- I just want a new strongside linebacker and new 2nd cornerback(Ronde isn’t the other starter anymore folks its Biggers as the 2nd corner on almost all passing downs). BTW- I love Ronde but when your at the end of the road then your at the end of the road.
November 24th, 2011 at 5:00 am
LOVE the Wild Samoans reference! Glad that Okam is back and I hope he comes back to the active roster soon. Haynesworth & Okam in the middle? Oh yeah!
November 24th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Tweets can surely be cryptic and you might be right Joe that Frank “The Tank” was referring to a cash money paycheck to keep gas in his sled. I read “more fuel in the tank” as watch your ass interior lineman because I’ve got fire in this 375lb belly after just having my career ripped away and mercifully given back. If Frank sees Sunday again we should have a highly motivated dancing bear who always seemed to bring it anyway.
November 24th, 2011 at 9:59 am
BecklesHeartsRuud
Who would replace Black at lb?
I like Okam and Black isn’t exactly great, but Black is more important than Okam right now.
AND, Biggers is the weak link in our defense…which is why all the teams we play pick on him. Hate on Black all you want…it might even be justified…but lets not be unrealistic. He is NOT the weakest link on the defense…but he is down near the bottom.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:06 am
I know this is off topic but had to share this crap. My FF Qb is Free and he gets no respect. His projected points this week is 12.72 pts, Josh Johnson’s are 19 pts. So I’m thinking this is a typo but when I read what they have to say about him who knows… well I pulled the quote below.
“Freeman and the team’s offense has taken a step back overall in 2011, so he really is not fantasy-worthy unless you are in a deep-league and desperate for QB help.”
(Rotowire.com)
November 24th, 2011 at 10:29 am
So aggravating roy miller is still on the team!! Every play you watch him he cant even maintain his gap and gets thrown back 5-10 yards!!
November 24th, 2011 at 10:43 am
I’d love to see Okam and Haynesworth obliterating an offensive line. Then on the goal line on offense I’d like to see Okam playing a running back and getting the ball …better than the “Fridge” or Baji…bodies flying everywhere and defensive front getting crushed.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:57 am
I’d say Black is the weakest on our defense by far. Who else is either a non factor or a huge factor in allowing big plays more often then black? I think it would be difficult to name another SLB that is worse than him. Heck, I think it would be difficult to name one starting LB at any LB position worse than him right now.
He is really having a horrible horrible year. Getting ripped on the run, beaten by every tight end in the game in the pass, almost clueless in the rush, a mere 31 tackles to a major 12 missed tackles(more than any LB in the league), no pass deflections, and no sacks all on 404 snaps. Dude is flat out playing bad football.
November 24th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
How do they figure Miller > Okam?
November 24th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
the main thing that makes this defense work is penatration up the middle and frank cant do that for us. 375 pounds sounds wonderful if we were running a two gap scheme but we’re not. i like okam, but he cant do what price, mccoy, and haynesworth can do.
May 19th, 2012 at 7:00 am
I WANT TO KNOW ,WHAT IS GIONG ON WITH MY FAVORITE NFL TEAM? YOU TAKE A GOOD DT LIKE OKAM ,AND YOU CUT HIM FROM THE ROSTER ,DON’T THE BUCCANEERS KNOW A GOOD DT WHEN THEY SEE ONE?WHAT IN HELL IS WRONG WITH GREG SCHINO? DO HE NEED A SWIFT KICK IN THE ASS ,TO KNOW WHAT A GOOD DT OKAM IS? WE NEED A BIG PLUGGER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEFENSIVE LINE, WHO CAN STOP RUNS UP THE MIDDLE OF THE LINE.PUTTING HIM ON THE PRACTICE SQUAD IS JUST ASKING FOR TROUBLE ,WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF ONE OF THE OTHER DT GETS HURT?AND OKAM IS NOT THERE TO PLUG THE MIDDLE? RUNNING BACKS WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY, COACH SCHIONO BETTER WAKE THE HELL UP,KEEP OKAN ON THE TEAM ,STOP TRYING TO GET RID OF HIM,THEY DON’T WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ,I SAY PUT HIM BACK ON THE ACTIVE ROSTER YOU IDEIOT.