“Significant” Ankle Sprain For Crabtree
August 30th, 2013
Today’s news on starting tight end Tom Crabtree was, as expected, bad. Greg Schiano said Crabtree suffered a “significant” ankle sprain.
Joe wrote about the injury last night. Given that Crabtree was carted off the field, Joe can’t see him returning in September. Schiano didn’t offer a timetable.
Joe sees this as an opening for TE Danny Noble to stick around and try and prove himself again at tight end. Noble surprised and made the opening 53-man roster last season before getting injured midway through the season.
He’s done some good things this preseason and Joe remembers Josh Freeman raving about him. Joe also has a little intelligence that says Noble’s stock is rising.
Now this is nothing to get excited about. Luke Stocker played last night and should be able to handle the starting tight end job. The Bucs were looking at Crabtree as a potential weapon in the passing game, but he’s hardly essential.
August 30th, 2013 at 11:33 am
This is a big blow. All our tight ends have looked terrible in the preseason except Crabtree. Stocker is getting close to bust territory, and I don’t think he showed anything in preseason. Noble really didn’t look like more than a 3rd or 4th TE to my eyes this preseason.
We’re in big trouble at this position.
August 30th, 2013 at 11:36 am
Well… I’m not raving about anyone right about now.
This team is turning into a colossal disaster, as a whole.
And you know what… when the owners open up the bank and pay through the nose for free agents like they have been doing, and the results don’t translate on the field, and the players play similar to Raheem’s teams… then one can seriously make the arguement that even Schiano’s job ain’t safe this year.
And I’m a Schiano fan too.
August 30th, 2013 at 11:40 am
TE isn’t a huge need for us, any fan knows that. But Crabtree was going to give our offense a new wrinkle, a new and reliable 3rd down option for Freeman – hope we get him back soon.
Stocker is a bust. He can’t stay healthy and is one dimensional blocker. Don’t see him getting a new contract from us unless it is league minimum
August 30th, 2013 at 11:45 am
It could always be worse. Get well and rejoin us later in the season, on our way to the playoffs… hopefully.
August 30th, 2013 at 11:48 am
I really don’t understand why TE isn’t more important in our offense…it seems to me, its just a way to save some money & draft picks on a position. Every player should be extremely important. One would think that Freeman could certainly use a great TE.
All those who crawl all over Freeman should take into consideration that he doesn’t have Gonzalez or Graham…..
August 30th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Schiano said he is not looking to add a TE now. Maybe being coy til cuts are made. My guess is Stocker, Byham, Noble – Crabtree to reserve IR, Tim Wright to PS.
August 30th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Maybe he can convert Bowers in to playing TE?
August 30th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
The regular season hasn’t started and we’ve yet to see a game where the bullets are flying for real and there’s already talk of Doom and Gloom.
Welcome to Gotham Batman.
August 30th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
How ironic would it be if Matt Simms starts for the Jets next week and LIGHTS US UP?
August 30th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Is it me or does it seem that TE’s just aren’t as durable as in the past. Every little nick and bruise keeps them off the field now. Graham’s been hurt a lot, Gates, Stocker, Gronk etc.. The days of the tough guys like Mike Ditkas, Shannon and Sterling Sharp, Mark Chmura, Mark Bavaro are pretty much gone.
August 30th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Bring in Tebow to play TE when he gets cut from NE
August 30th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Dominick spent two 4th round picks on Luke Stocker, saying “Luke has a 2nd round grade”.
Time to PROVE IT DOMINICK!
August 30th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Last night Dom smarted off to Barber (with a bad joke, horrible timing too).
At the very end of the conversation, they were supposed to be saying their farewells, Dom mentions, “Yeah Ronde, I thought you were going to be cut too.”
What a dumb and disrespectful comment. He is telling this to the Bucs eventual hall of famer.
August 30th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Time to call- Philly about TE Brent Celek.
We have some phenomenal athletes on the outside with Mike Williams & Vincent Jackson. So we’re going to continuously see double high safeties; just like last year.
We have to have some type of inside option for Josh. Something to keep the defenses honest. So that he can manipulate the match up.
*I like the New Englandish double TE/HB/FB look we been displaying (“Y” tight end — blocking like a third offensive tackle with the ability to catch passes over the middle of the field — and the “Move” tight end — facilitating as a wide receiver, slot receiver, in-line tight end, fullback and halfback –….
Nice element to the spread offense.
August 30th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
That’s the problem with a run and shoot type offense. The Run and Shoot is a run orientated type offense where the WR’s usually line up on the edges, while they usually keep the TE in for pass protection and run blocking. The only intermediate to short routes most of the time are the occasional slot WR or screens and dump offs to the RB’s. It’s a tough offense to learn because of the freedom given to the WR’s to alter their route on the fly according to the defensive scheme. And it is even tougher for the QB to read and to react to what the WR sees and does. Once mastered though it’s an offense that’s difficult to defend. Especially, when you have the perfect players to fit their roles.
August 30th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Ballard just got released by the Patriots. Might be a good idea to take a flyer on him.
August 30th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@RBellBuc
I remember when Kevin Gilbride/ Warren Moon were together in Houston. Had some great receivers to run the System.
Drew Hill (Don’t get enough respect, was one heck of a receiver)
Haywood Jeffires (Another great Receiver)
Ernest Givins (Yep still mad we didn’t draft him-So what)
Curtis Duncan
*And once Josh can add the Hurry Up element to offense-It becomes extremely difficult for a defense rotate coverages, substitute-BREATHE..lol
Very affective offense
*Chris Chandler did a heck of job running the system as well(Chris Miller–not so much)
August 30th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Not to mention Doug Martin fits the role similar to say Barry Sanders in Detroit.
August 30th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
Ahhhh a Josh Freeman / Scott Mitchell euphemism maybe?…Lol just joking)
Very true about Barry-And I too feel that Doug would be better served in more single back sets + open up more cut back lanes for him (would keep the defense guessing as well)
And Yes Vincent Jackson is looking more Herman Moorish
Mike Williams= Brett Perriman
Morton=Underwood (We all know Underwood’s got a light voice-And hasn’t… displayed enough heart to consistently catch across the middle) but I’m not going to Mortonize that man like that..hahahahaha
I seem like ever receivers on that team— was catching like–100 balls per year at one point.
August 30th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
*Its seems-
August 30th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
You picked up on that very well, thank you! .. lol
August 30th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
Oh you’re exactly right about Warren Moon. Maybe that’s why he gave Freeman a favorable evaluation recently while keeping in mind how difficult the Run and Shoot offense was to learn? Brilliant!
August 30th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@RBellBuc
Well played Sir, Well played
Interesting to note: Gilbride would use undersized, yet strong as an oxe WR Ernest Givins as in extra blocker( Or “Y” tight end)..Very affective-Forced the defense to keep an extra DB on the field.
Also Makes having a one cut-down field runner ideal….
August 30th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
excuse me; Ernest Givins was more a “Move” TE
August 30th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Intelligence failure.
August 30th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
@LUV and @Rbell….you know more than I thought 😉 helzz yeahz
August 30th, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Joe….PewterReport published that Danny Noble got cut today. Perhaps they have their eye on a TE released by another team?
August 30th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Wahhhh. Wahhhh. Another insider tip JOE fumbled. Noble just got cut!
August 31st, 2013 at 10:54 am
Has anyone looked into Todd Heap. Rumor is he is healthy and looking for the right situation.