“Mason Is A Guy That Could Move”
February 26th, 2012
The Bucs are clicking stopwatches and grilling players at the NFL Scouting Combine along with the rest of the NFL teams, but the Bucs have a little more on their plate than most.
Woody Cummings’ story out of the combine today painted a picture of Mark Dominik’s staff trying to mesh on the fly with Greg Schiano and his coaching staff.
Sure. that’s no surprise. But it was a sobering slap in the face to Joe. Some teams are trying to get over the hump to win a championship while the Bucs are trying to get on the same page. Click through above for the whole story.
One nugget Cummings’ dropped was rockstar general manager Dominik possibly leaning toward Mason Foster becoming a former middle linebacker.
“Mason is a guy that could move,” Dominik said of a scenario that appears to be gaining steam in the Bucs camp. “But no has made that decision yet, and I think Mason will have a chance to show what he can do (at middle linebacker).
If the Bucs are going to add veteran defensive talent and leadership, middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense is a prime place to start, especially given that Foster is hardly proven. The Falcons’ Curtis Lofton isn’t the sexiest name among the available free agent MLBs, but he’s a solid starter, young (25) and durable (hasn’t missed a game in four seasons).
February 26th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Foster fits best at MLB. He’s physical inside but struggles in coverage. Signing a guy like Lofton would be interesting cause he also fits best at MLB, so either one could move. Personally I want us to keep Foster in the middle, draft Kuechly for WLB and sign a vet to play SLB. Obvious Quincy Black needs to be cut, and Hayes doesn’t need to be resigned. That leaves Hayward and Watson for depth along with a free agent or 2.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
And the guys a leader on the field which is exactly what we need. If we can nab curtis lofton from a division rival, that would be HUGE.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
I say it all depends on the results of FA & Draft.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Sheridan said ALL lb’s should be able to play any of the spots. Moving him around is no big deal. Versatility.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Seemed like this thought was already being discussed between Schiano and Sheridan when Sheridan said he wasn’t one to “pigeonhole” guys when asked if Foster would stay in the middle or not. The team would have a solid start to rebuilding the LB corp if they were able to add a couple LB’s in FA out of the group of Lofton, Hawthorne, Connor, Tulloch, Spencer, Gaither, Ayanbadejo, Morrison, Wheeler, Dunbar, Johnson, McIntosh, either Henderson, or even Rudd if he’d be willing to play outside. Maybe draft another LB as well for depth and let the competition begin. Curran was an interesting pickup that I’m curious to see in the preseason.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
If we can get a better MLB…Vilma, Lofton, or in the draft. Then I say, like I have already, move him outside. I think he is quick enough, and he can hit. So it makes sense to move him outside to get the max potential out of him.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Foster is not and never will be a Mike (yes i know he played middle at wash his sr year out of necessity). Mason is not big, he is not able to turn and run in the passing game.
Just another in a long line of idiotic moves by rahdom – like making jermain phillips a linebacker – lmao.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Donta Hightower in the second round would be amazing, and allow foster to switch to Olb which he mostly played in college.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@ FlBoy84
They haven’t had time to make any real avaluations. Sheridan was basically say he can’t rule anything out at this point.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
I agree, I really really like Donta Hghtower. Would love to see him and Mason on the same LB corp.
Don’t forget about Tulloch. He is a FA again also. I know Detroit will want to re-sign. But there is still a chance.
And Foster plays much better outside. It was his strongest point in College. He is strong enough to play MLB. But he fits better outside.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Not sure anyone has any idea how much evaluation time they’ve had Pete, (hence the word “seems” in my comment), but thanks for channeling your inner-Sheridan for us. While Sheridan’s hire was just recently announced, can pretty much guarantee you they spent plenty of time discussing the defense and watching film. Saw Brian Cox at One Buc hanging with the other coaches a WEEK before his hiring was announced, so hard to say how long the behind-the-door discussions have been going on. Do agree though that it’s impossible for the staff to have a firm grasp on the personnel. Saw Dominik saying they even have NFL tape available to watch in Indy during the down time. Would think it’s there so they can look at available FA’s as well as their own players.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I’ve always thought Foster would be a better fit at OLB, but then again I’ve always thought that about Ruud as well…
February 26th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
hell ..yeah !…he is a perfect scraper….anything that moves through the DL he will/can can hit with extreme force laterally
Perfect !
February 26th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Please keep pop star out of all important roster decisions.
Let pop star negotiate contracts and handle glazer dry cleaning.
All personnel decisions should be made at 4:30 meetings – thereby negating pop stars participation.
February 26th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
MichiganBucsFan – Sheridan is From Detroit, Michigan (me too).
He coached in Royal Oak.
I think he was a great addition to an impressive staff.
February 26th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
Pop star should be a coffee fetcher/ shoe shiner. We can’t afford anymore of his draft misses and he obviously couldn’t lure any free agents last year, what will be different this year? Hopefully we replace him after this year as he is arguably the worst and least successful GM in the game.
February 26th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
but “no one” has made
February 26th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
no one in this draft reminds me more of Derrick Brooks than lavonte David.Even the pundits are saying the same things ,undersized,very quick, always around ball,hard hitting,non stop motor,etc,etc..I would love to see David or spence as our drafted LBs
February 26th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Hightower will be gone before our 2nd round pick. He won’t make it past Baltimore. And could go higher than that. He would be an awesome pick up but highly doubt it. I meant to say Tulloch earlier with Vilma. Not Lofton. But Foster should be a good OLB. Better than Mike!
February 26th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Hightower will definitely be gone. Sign Lofton, move Foster outside, and draft Claiborne. That alone will be a HUGE upgrade from last season.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Vontaze Burfict 2nd round!!!! MONSTER!!!! Schiano said he wants a tough defense, hes the man, weve never had a guy like him and Burfict and Claybourn would be a whole lot of pissed off mean in the front 7
February 26th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Vontaze Burfict 2nd round!!!! MONSTER!!!! Schiano said he wants a tough defense, hes the man, weve never had a guy like him and Burfict and Claybourn would be a whole lot of pissed off mean in the front 7
February 26th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
“…isn’t the sexiest name among the available free agent MLBs, but he’s a solid starter, young (25) and durable (hasn’t missed a game in four seasons). ”
Is that how Barrett Ruud would have been described last year?
February 26th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
Rock is trying to learn what type of players Schiano wants.
The answer is:
Good ones!
Now that we got that cleared up lets do something preposterous like fill a few needs through FA so we do not have to count on roookies to step in and perform miracles.
Like having Foster start and call the defense!
C’mon rockstar, shake the fog out man.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:41 am
IMO- Getting a solid LB (or 2) is the most important player move the Bucs will make in the off season. I hope we can pilfer Lofton from ATL, but i doubt he will be available.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:06 am
Eric and Thomas- lol, and agree
February 27th, 2012 at 9:28 am
____________________________
FlBoy84 Says:
February 26th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Not sure anyone has any idea how much evaluation time they’ve had Pete, (hence the word “seems” in my comment), but thanks for channeling your inner-Sheridan for us.
____________________________
Nothing “inner” about it…view their statements before AND during the combine. They have as much as said so.
They only had time to review some of the bad plays so far, and according to them, most of it can be fixed.
And, according to Schiano himself, they “still need to do a player-by-player” evaluation.
I could add some rude words at this point given the way you addressed me, but I’ll take the high road.
February 27th, 2012 at 9:39 am
_____________________
Thomas 2.2 Says:
February 26th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Please keep pop star out of all important roster decisions.
Let pop star negotiate contracts and handle glazer dry cleaning.
All personnel decisions should be made at 4:30 meetings – thereby negating pop stars participation.
______________________
AND:
______________________
FreemanBomb5 (I wanna be just like Thomas to fit in!) Says:
February 26th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
Pop star should be a coffee fetcher/ shoe shiner. We can’t afford anymore of his draft misses and he obviously couldn’t lure any free agents last year, what will be different this year? Hopefully we replace him after this year as he is arguably the worst and least successful GM in the game.
______________________
So, Thomas, you mean like Clayborn? Price? Blount? Freeman?
Williams had a down year, which is common with 2nd year WRs, but then EVERYONE on the team had a down year. You’ve blamed it on Raheem Morris, and I’ll admit that’s where the blame should go. BUT…
…if Raheem Morris was to blame as you claim, then how can it suddenly be Dominicks fault? According to you just a few months ago, Morris was ruining the players and had to go.
He went, so shouldn’t that mean the players can be turned around by a good coach? If so…then Dominick did not make as many bad draft or bad roster picks as you say.
Sure you can name a few names…Black for one. But Clayton wasn’t even a bad choice at the time. Sure, he outright sucked as a wide receiver, I’ll agree with you there, but the man blocked very well.
Same with Caddy.
So yes, Dominick had a couple gambles that didn’t pay off. So did Bruce Allen. So did Rich McKay. So does EVERY General Manager in the NFL.
But Mark has had successes as well, and you and your little pions always seem to glance over them.
February 27th, 2012 at 9:57 am
I have to wonder…if Raheem was the reason for the fall of this team, then shouldn’t Schiano, if he is a good coach, be able to help the team play better?
Here are the things I want to see answered by the Bucs in 2012:
1) Can Josh Freeman be rebuilt from the ground up?
The kids has plenty of potential…and he’s shown it at times. The question is whether Olson did too much damage. I don’t think he has.
2) Can Mike Williams come back from his slump?
I’m hoping he is not the second coming of Michael Clayton. I want to see him start playing well again. I think he will. He’s a fighter.
3) Can Blount prove he’s an every down back?
I firmly believe he will. The guy hasn’t even had an off season of coaching yet, but everyone seems to be an authority on his upper limits. I hope he crams such predictions down peoples throats.
4) Can Clayborn hit double digit sacks within the next 2 seasons?
He seemed well on his way.
5) Can Bowers spend a full season at Defensive End now and do very well…maybe manage 6-9 sacks himself?
6) Can GMC stay healthy and start getting sacks?
The injuries are a hurdle he has to overcome. If he can, I think the chances are good he’ll start getting sacks. Especially if Clayborn and Bowers do well. The more people along the D-line that play well, the more holes will open to the quarterback.
7) Can our Offensive Line start playing well?
Next to the LBs and CBs, this is the unit that worries me most. I have not forgotten the days before Faine (unlike others) so I will not call for his head unless we have a better replacement (and Zuttah is not it). Trueblood should at least stay for depth. Penn? Hard to say. He comes into a season looking good, but runs out of gas fast after a few games. It wasn’t lost on me in a recent PC that only one Olineman was mentioned as being great.
8) Talib. Cut him? Let the courts and NFL decide. I think it’s the last year of his contract? If he is suspended or does jail time, the decision is already made for us. He should at least be demoted though.
9) Cornerbacks. I want 2 of them…and I want the kind that INTERCEPT THE BALL as well as having good coverage skills.
10 ) Linebackers. You all know what we need there. Keep Foster in the middle UNLESS we get someone at MLB who is better. I suspect he’ll be going back and forth in this defense.
11) Overall Defense. I want a defense that can score 1-2 times a game and one that can turn the ball over often. I want our offense to be able to play knowing if they make a mistake, the defense will back them up.
12) Overall Offense. I want an offense that can score 30 points per game at least. Combine that with the defense scores, and that’s around 44 points on a good day. That’s good for me.
13) Route running. I want them run right and on time.
February 27th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Pete,
That’s a nice list you have & hopefully some of it becomes reality. I only have one request though: We need NASTY players on D! The kind that will knock your A$$ in the dirt and kick you when you’re down. The kind that will except a personal foul to establish the fact that no one should enter his part of the field. Raheem; in three short years turned these guys into prima donna’s & finesse’ players. If this were hockey we’d call them inforces, but in football they’re just considered Nasty!
February 27th, 2012 at 10:48 am
Cortland Finnegan is a “nasty” type player!!! He fills in at our CB need and is a determined winner. Great guy for the community and a “nasty” mean streak on the field!!! He would be perfect for us!
February 27th, 2012 at 11:08 am
Bucs need to pick up a veteran MLB in FA. The MLB is calling the defense on the fly at times and needs to understand the pro level game. Move Foster to SAM back where he can come up and hit. Move Q. Black to WILL back where he can not come up and hit. (Lets face it…black aint going anywhere after that contract so we have to put him somewhere)