Midseason Buccaneers report card

Call it more of a report on the CURRENT state of the  Buccaneers in as much as it is a summary of how the   Bucs are doing over all since week 1. Thats because the team is clearly growing into something. So lets get started… OFFENSE Quarterback -Josh Freeman didn’t look too bad last year, save perhaps the Carolina game where he threw all those picks. The Josh Freeman in year 2 is amazingly better. He had a full offseason as the starter, got all the reps, and spent the offseason looking over film. He is pretty careful with the ball, pretty accurate with it most times, and have incredible intangibles. The way he leads teams back in the 4th quarter, he looks like another John Elway. Grade: B+ Wide Receiver -Going into the year, we thought Kellen Winslow Jr would be the Bucs leading receiver. Sammy Stroughter would be the top dog. Oh how we were wrong, as Stroughter is having a tough time holding off Michael Spurlock who was cut two years ago because he could not latch onto the club as a receiver. Now he’s making clutch catches like this years 4th round pick Mike Williams. Arrelious Benn was drafted higher, but he is coming on slowly and steady. He is getting more opportunities, and is making the best of them to the point he is the no.2 guy now. But Williams was named a starter back in July, thats how good he has been. He is in the running for the rookie of the year, and if he continues to improve which he seems to do each week, could be talked about for the pro bowl. Grade: A Running Back – Cadillac Williams was supposed to be the main guy this year, and after the Cleveland game that didn’t sound like such a bad idea. Then game after game his average got lower and lower. With help needed after front office management decided to admit Derrick Ward was a mistake, LeGarrett Blount was given a shot against Pittsburgh and his running, and legend, has grown steadily ever since. He is now the leading rusher on the team, but the Bucs still seem like they don’t know what to do with their running game. That may change though as Blount learns more about the offense and pass protection. Grade: C+ Offensive Line – Davin Joseph was supposed to be a Pro Bowl Guard by now, and Keydrick Vincent was brought in to help out the running game. No holes were created early in the year, and then the Bucs suffered injuries at Center, Guard, and right tackle. The problem is its tough to read how the rookie, inexperienced linemen replacing Jeremy Trueblood and left guard while Jeremy Zuttah plays admirably at Center, isn’t causing much of a set back. One might say the line is playing better than it did before the starters were hurt. One sure way to find it is coming up in a week or two as the starters are starting to come back from their injuries. Grade: Run Blocking D-/ Pass Blocking C+ DEFENSE Defensive Line – The Bucs spent two premium draft picks to shore up the problem area of the defense, the interior of the line. If anyone expected the results to show up immediately, your expectations were too high. Granted the health issues of Brian Price set things back further than they should have been, but Gerald McCoy is improving each week. More and more you see the 93 uniform getting closer to the QB. Warren Sapp was not Warren Sapp until 1997, so things take time. Keep in mind McCoy may not be another Sapp. There is only one Sapp, that is why we will be watching one August when his bust is put in Canton. But that doesn’t mean McCoy and Price won’t turn into a fearsome duo. Problem is they are getting pushed around, and the ends are pedestrian at best. Stylez White is a back up on most other teams, but we will have to wait until next year before DE can be addressed. Grade: F+ Linebacker – An online article said it best: “you have no idea how mediocre Barrett Ruud is”. Apparently the Bucs know, that is why as soon as an answer can be found, Ruud will be wearing other colors. Ruud plays the mike linebacker well in pass coverage, but against the run he gets, well, run over. Geno Hayes is a playmaker, but he too may not have what it takes to play the run. Quincy Black is a bit on the bulkier side, and seems more fit to be in the Bucs defense for 2011 and beyond. Keep an eye on Dekota Watson, who could be the next great linebacker for the Bucs. Grade: C- Secondary – The loss of Tanard Jackson has so far not been felt as hard as we thought. That is because the Bucs have found the next John Lynch, and that would be Cody Grimm. He is actually farther ahead of the curve than Lynch was, and already has one more TD that old No.47. Lynch is another one that could be in Canton one day, so we wont anoint a rookie that status just yet, but playing along side newcomer Sean Jones, the safety position has not really been a weak one on the team. If safety is not week, then Corner is probably the best area on the defense. Aqib Talib gives up some big plays here and there, but he is a ball hawk, and is a leader in the NFL in interceptions. Ronde Barber is probably playing his last year, and will end up being the only Bucs who goes out on his own terms. E.J. Biggers has impressed as of late, and rookie Myron Lewis could form a dynamic trio of corners for years to come. Grade: B+ Special Teams – Punter has been a rough spot this season, but it would seem newcomer Malone has the masses calm for now. Place Kicker Connor Barth is fantastic, his only miss on a block, and two that hit the upright. Punt Returning hasnt really exceled on the team, but its steady save one fumble. Kick Off returning is just mind boggling. How can this be the same team that went 31 years without a KO return for a touchdown, and now have 4 in the last 3 years? Best stat of the week: St. Pete Times Rick Strouds Gimme Five; Michael Spurlock averages a TD every 22 returns. The rest of the returners NOT names Spurlock? 1 every 590! Punt and Kick Off Coverage units are at the tops once again under position coach Rich Bisccia. Grade A- Well thats it Bucs fans; you may agree or disagree somewhat, but how the Bucs grade in these areas from here on out will have more to do if they win 10 games and a playoff spot than how they performed since the start of the year.