Question For The Bucs
February 14th, 2012
Good grief, the Bucs have so many question marks with the draft a little over two months away, Joe doesn’t know where to start. From holes in the defense to upgrades needed on offense, there are all but two positions that aren’t secure in Joe’s eyes.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has whittled the questions down to one. In having a question for each NFL team, Prisco asks if new Bucs coach Greg Schiano can instill discipline in the squad?
Can Greg Schiano instill discipline in a team that needs it?
The Bucs looked like they would be a potential playoff team in 2011, but they looked to have a discipline problem. Coach Raheem Morris was too buddy-buddy with his players. Schiano has to change that culture. Quickly.
This is an easy one to answer for Joe: Too many Bucs players took advantage of Raheem Morris’ easy-going ways and it turned into a grotesque 10-game losing streak that culminated with the team coughing up 42 points in 22 minutes and a tight end blowing up a play himself because he was running a wrong route — in Week 17 no less!
If some of these players who took advantage of Morris turn their backs on Schiano too, then the answer is obvious: Cut them.
If certain players won’t play for Morris and won’t (potentially) play for Schiano, then why keep them around to poison the locker room further?
February 14th, 2012 at 9:27 am
I think we’ll soon see one way to do things. That there will be expectations in place and if you don’t meet those expectations you’ll play for someone else after they get cut. Expect that this season someone will be made an example of in order to shape the locker room and team mentality. So the real question is, AFTER the final roster is set, who becomes the guinea pig? It will happen.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:35 am
There isn’t a player on the Bucs that I wouldn’t cut in a heart beat.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:35 am
Right On! Joe, get aboard or S2 (Sit the f down, Shut the f up) I do not see this as a problem for coach Schiano. And those who don’t toe the line will be replaced now, rather than later. I say something along those lines will be top 2 on the Buccaneer men list.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:46 am
My guess is we’ll start with a blank slate for everyone except maybe Talib and guys with expiring contracts like Sean Jones and Geno Hayes (poor bastards are gone). If guys still slack, quit, etc., then the cuts will be quick. This year is for bringing in competition, changing the culture, identifying dead weight, and adding some fresh pieces. I think next offseason is when we make a big push forward after we clean up the mess this year.
February 14th, 2012 at 10:15 am
Amen, they don’t get with the program – cute ’em!
If they don’t show enough respect for the team that they disrupt and sew malice towards the new regime, after the season starts…and run accross the field to shake twhe hand of the opposing coach BEFORE THE GAME…bench ’em and try to trade ’em!
If the players that’s cut or benched happens to be a favorite of the media, don’t show any favoritism…cut ’em…even if the media isn’t tipped off to it before the cut…
…err…wait…I thought we didn’t like coaches who were THAT disciplined and Tight lipped?
I guess the players aren’t the only one that will be experiencing a “new” level of discipline?
Hey…can the new head coach also cut Ira, Woody, and Dr Stroud? I think it’s time for some new blood THERE too…we need media types that are on board with the new discipline.
February 14th, 2012 at 10:50 am
I just hope Schiano is wise enough to play hip hop music during practice.
February 14th, 2012 at 10:56 am
cut Talib , Jones , Biggers , Winslow, and # 54 right away…
February 14th, 2012 at 11:06 am
I’m all for cutting the bad attitudes, dead weight etc. But these people need to be replaced. History is not on our side when it comes to free agency. Lets hope we “Spend whatever it takes” to build a winning team.
February 14th, 2012 at 11:06 am
I was going to address Yar, but never mind. It would do no good anyway.
JOE
“If certain players won’t play for Morris and won’t (potentially) play for Schiano, then why keep them around to poison the locker room further?”
I’m curious who you are referring to with that statement?
I could understand Talib…but he’s the only one I can think of that is poisoning (potentially) the locker room. Most of these guys are pretty close-knit.
Now, if you are talking talent level, I’m with you all the way. I would love to see Biggers cut. I would love to see Parker hold on to the ball.
Black? Has to stay for contract reasons, but he can be forced into a backup role. The way injuries hit this team, he’ll probably be starting again by week 5.
Faine? I have zero problems with him…except maybe age. But I have not forgotten about the center issues we had before he was signed. Others seem to have done so.
Williams? Benn? Too soon and I suspect Benn will soon be our #1 WR, putting Williams at #2, where he belongs.
Stocker? He’s fine for now. We won’t develop a TE unless we spend time doing it. I wouldn’t mind another vet coming in though…make Stocker a backup for a year unless he earns the start.
Winslow? He was frustrated last year and it showed. But maybe it was because he saw the team falling apart. Maybe it was because he saw Freeman getting pressured too much.
Anyone other than Faine on our Oline is replaceable. Even Faine is if the right guy is brought in. That entire unit failed miserably after having one good year. If we want our offense to thrive, the oline needs a major upgrade over the next 2 years.
February 14th, 2012 at 11:23 am
“Anyone other than Faine on our Oline is replaceable.”
I’d argue that Penn, Zuttah, and Joseph all are far more necessary than Faine, who was graded 24th out of 28 Centers that played more than 900 snaps. I’d also argue that being sandwiched between Faine and Trueblood is partially responsible for Joseph’s lack luster year.
We need a new Center badly. I’d rather not move Zuttah as he did fairly well this past season at LG. He only allowed 2 sacks and 15 pressures. A move to Center might stunt his growth since he is always switching positions. We need a healthy Center to play even decent and the left side will prosper. A new Center and RT and our line should do very well.
February 14th, 2012 at 11:25 am
I think we will see some new starters in Tampa from day one.
February 14th, 2012 at 11:32 am
“Cleaning house” is much easier said than done.
Especially if the current GM was responsible for bringing in or re-signing some of the potential targets of the cleaning.
The dynamic between Schiano and Dominik will be most interesting IMO.
So far rocks best achievement has been protecting his own hide, and throwing others under the bus.
Watch your back.
February 14th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
This is going to be a 2 year process. Some surprises will be cut in training camp. Some will be given the benefit of the doubt and if they don’t prove themselves, they will be cut next year.
It will take 2 years though because 2 Free Agency and 2 draft periods will be needed to really transform the team.
That said, I still think the main building blocks are there:
Freeman, Williams, benn, Blount and the D-Line & Foster.
I think they would take a big step forward on defense bringing in a vet MLB and moving foster outside. They would still need to draft a LB in round 2.
I would love Blackmon at pick 5 and address the secondary in free agency, but odds are they take Claiborne in round 5.
Get a fast RB (James, Rainey) in round 3.
Everything else is fodder.
They NEED to address the secondary and line depth in free agency and that might be a 2 year thing as well.
February 14th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
There won’t be any surprise cuts this year. Unless its Freeman. I do believe some new unexpected talent will emerge.
February 14th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
I have read a few times that Winslow’s knees are so bad that he routinely is held out of portions of training camp, as well as weekly practice during the week.
And, if the information is right, he is one of the HIGHEST paid players on the team?? More than the Pro Bowl LT or the first round QB? (2011 salary) And the cap hit is likely ridiculous. Questionable attitude, can’t practice, not exactly producing like he once did. Good one, Dom.
On the chopping block: Hayes, Jones, Black, Lumpkin, Biggers, Lewis, Graham (great guy, but the 2 million better spent elsewhere)
Just give me a reason: Talib, Faine, Tanard
February 14th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Come on guys, let’s quite giving Freeman a free pass. He’s got to get his head screwed back on right. Big money, radio program, coach favorite and popularity could have played in his decline. It’s time for him to buckle down and get it together. Let’s look at this position in the FA if we are serious about winning. The fans are ready for some serious football.
February 14th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Yeah Dominik decided after he traded our second round pick which could’ve landed us Shady McCoy who got drafted after our pick that Winslow should be rewarded with the richest tight end contract in NFL history at the time. Dominik is probably the worst GM in the NFl.
February 14th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Gone as quickly as possible: Winslow (no discipline and counterproductive to the team), Jones (no tackling ability what so ever.. always late on the ball), Talib (Still has a gangsta attitude which might lead to serving jail time), Hayes (weak OLB can’t tackle, cant be reliable as a starting LB). T. Jackson (He loves smocking more than he loves football).
February 14th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
cut deeep. and offten we were real bad
February 14th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
@Pete Dutcher
Jeff Faine and not Davin Joeseph? Davin is one of the best guards in the game . Let alone one of the best players on our team.