Let us hearken back to the halcyon days of the end of the 2009 season. The Tampa Bay Buccanneers, then coached by Jon Gruden, managed to finish 9-7, just missing out on the playoffs. At the time, Rahim Morris, then the defensive co-ordinator for the Bucs, was the hot young assistant coach. In fact, he seemed poised to take over as the Denver Broncos next head coach. So, in a panic move, the Bucs’ ownership fired both Gruden and the general manager, giving Morris the job. Why? Because they were afraid to lose such a talented coaching prospect.
Fast forward to the end of the 2011 season. Morris has been fired, following a disastrous season where the Bucs went 4-12, losing their last eight games in a row. Josh Freeman, who appeared to be on the verge of stardom, regressed. The defense was shredded by the opposition, both on the ground and through the air. If you can’t stop anyone, and cannot score, then it’s a long season.
So, in the quest to find a head coach that can consistently win, they looked through several rejects and retreds. Really, Mike Sherman, Brad Childress, or Rob Chudzinski are actually getting interviews for head coaching positions? So, finally the Bucs decided to hire a college coach, Chip Kelly. He refused. So, on to Plan B – Greg Schiano, the man who coached Rutgers. Yes, Rutgers.
Schiano spent his initial press conference talking about how he wants to bring accountability and disipline to the Bucs. Funny, since players he was recruiting to bring to Rutgers learned that he took the Bucs job by watching SportsCenter. That is still better than how his assistants found out – when Schiano did not appear during recruiting treks. Interesting how someone who is stressing accountability seems not to have any.
The Schiano hiring will, in all likelihood, be another two or three year footnote in the history of terrible head coaches that the Bucs have had. So what does this all mean? That the Bucs should have never fired Gruden in the first place. Yes, he had his issues and flaws, but the man won a Super Bowl with Brad Johnson as his quarterback. He made Brian Griese and Chris Simms appear competent. He resurrected Jeff Garcia’s career. Imagine what he would do with Josh Freeman.
The Bucs should have swallowed their pride and done everything they could to bring back Gruden. Instead, they will suffer for their panic move back in 2009.
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Show all posts
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, September 8, 2011
2011 NFC South Preview
Continuing with our annual football preview, we take a look at the NFC South today. As always, the teams are listed in order of expected finish.
New Orleans Saints: The fact that the Saints were able to make the playoffs with all of the injuries they dealt with last year is nothing less than miraculous. Sean Payton actually prefers to pound the football, regardless of how prolific the Saints passing game is with Drew Brees, Marques Colston, and Robert Meachem. The plethora of injuries suffered at the the running back position led the Saints to have to give significant carries to such luminaries as Julius Jones and Ladell Betts. And yet, they still won eleven games last year. The offensive line received an upgrade with the addition of Olin Kreutz, and Darren Sproles will take over the Reggie Bush job. Despite not being as much of a name, Sproles is probably better at what the Saints want him to do than Bush was. Jeremy Shockley left as a free agent, but the Saints actually upgraded with second year player Jimmy Graham.
The defense had it’s issues last year, particularly stopping the run. This was on full display for the world to see when Marshawn Lynch essentially ran over the entire Saints defense en route to one of the best touchdown runs in NFL history. To rectify this, the Saints drafted Cameron Jordan, who will start from Day 1. New Defensive tackles Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers were signed as free agents, and will make it difficult to move the ball through the middle of the line. The Saints need to put pressure on the quarterback in order to protect their secondary, where the only playmaker they really have is safety Malcolm Jenkins. The linebackers are getting younger, as new faces will be starting around Johnathan Vilma, who has entirely resurrected his career in New Orleans. Expect a dramatic improvement on this side of the ball.
The Saints improved dramatically, and should be considered a legit contender.
2. Atlanta Falcons: There is a lot of hype surrounding the Falcons this year to be a major player in the Super Bowl hunt this year, but that is completely asinine. In theory, the addition of Julio Jones should help Roddy White and Matt Ryan, but he is a major question mark. All throughout college he displayed an ability to make great catches, but would drop passes that hit him in the chest. The only way he can help the offense is by being a deep decoy. Expect Harry Douglas to be a better fit, and to contribute more this year. Tony Gonzalez is still considered by people to be an elite tight end, but his production is closer to Todd Heap than anything else. He is elite in name only. Michael Turner is getting older, and, let’s face it, is due to slow down as he approaches his 30th birthday.
The defense is, again, not as good as advertised. They play a base 4-3 without anything exotic. The coverage packages are conservative and vanilla. For them to be any good, they need to generate a pass rush. John Abraham continued his revival in 2010, but the rest of the line was unable to generate much pressure on the quarterback. Enter Ray Edwards, who signed a lucrative contract as a free agent to attempt to be the answer. This is a risky proposition, as Edwards never posted double digit sacks, despite playing with the Williams Wall and Jared Allen in Minnesota. How will he fare when he becomes the target of double teams? The linebackers, headed by a healthy Curtis Lofton, are solid. Sean Weatherspoon may be a future star at linebacker, but he needs to stay healthy. The secondary is average, and plays assignment based football. Brent Grimes is solid, but Dunta Robinson needs to recapture his form from back in Houston.
The Falcons should be good, but not great. They will be on the cusp for a wild card slot.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are an extremely young team that had a lot of things go well for them last year. While they managed to win 10 games, only one came against a squad with a winning record, and that was when the Saints sat their players on week 17. The Bucs will need to continue their progression, particularly on offense. Josh Freeman enters his second full season as the starter, and looks like he could be a legitimate starting quarterback. In fact, he seems destined to become another Roethlisberger type, only wihtout the off-field incidents. Rookie free agent LeGarrette Blount came out of nowhere to gain over 1000 yards, depsite only starting eight games. Four round draft pick Mike Williams exploded, leading the Bucs in receiving yards and touchdowns. Kellen Winslow is still a top tight end, but they need to find a second receiver. Arrelious Benn was hurt last year and is expected to get that job, but Dezmon Briscoe may be the eventual starter there.
The defense, much like the offense, needs to progress. The defensive line could start players that are all either rookies or second year players. Mason Foster will take over for Barrett Ruud, who was the Bucs leading tackler last year. However, Ruud did not make a lot of plays, so they drafted what they feel is an upgrade. The secondary still have the venerable Ronde Barber, and talented plays like Aqib Talib and Tanard Jackson. However, Jackson is coming off a year long suspension, and Talib has had a number of legal issues since entering the NFL. The biggest issue will be finding leadership. While Barber is still around, someone needs to step up and be ready to take that mantle when he retires. Chances are, it will be Gerard McCoy.
The Bucs will make strides this year, but it will not show in the record. They are, however, a team on the rise.
4. Carolina Panthers: Let’s talk about the positives here first – the running game has three solid backs, and they still have the good Steve Smith. Greg Olsen will provide a nice red zone target, and help the young quarterbacks when they are running for their lives. Now for the rest of the team. Cam Newton managed to parlay one good season in college into being the first pick overall in the 2011 draft, just one year after the Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round. That essentially was the equivalent of lighting a draft choice on fire. Clausen may not have been great, but Newton will be worse. Remember Akili Smith? Meet this generations version – Akili 2.0. They have not had a number two receiver since Mushin Muhammad left the first time, and they even brought him back in an attempt to give Steve Smith some help. At this point in time, Smith may as well just sit down on the field during plays to force his way out of town.
The defense has it’s bright spots. Charles Johnson stepped into the void left by Julius Peppers, and performed at a level that was completely unexpected. Terrell McClain could be a beast in the 4-3, and will help the Panthers stuff the run. Also helping the defense is the return of several veterans that had to deal with injuries last year. Thomas Davis may finally be healthy, and Jon Beason is an extremely talented player. The secondary has solid starters, but less than nothing for depth. The Panthers will try to blitz often in passing situations in order to allievate pressure on that group.
The Panthers are not as bad as they were last year, but they are not that much better either. It’s going to be another long year in Carolina.
New Orleans Saints: The fact that the Saints were able to make the playoffs with all of the injuries they dealt with last year is nothing less than miraculous. Sean Payton actually prefers to pound the football, regardless of how prolific the Saints passing game is with Drew Brees, Marques Colston, and Robert Meachem. The plethora of injuries suffered at the the running back position led the Saints to have to give significant carries to such luminaries as Julius Jones and Ladell Betts. And yet, they still won eleven games last year. The offensive line received an upgrade with the addition of Olin Kreutz, and Darren Sproles will take over the Reggie Bush job. Despite not being as much of a name, Sproles is probably better at what the Saints want him to do than Bush was. Jeremy Shockley left as a free agent, but the Saints actually upgraded with second year player Jimmy Graham.
The defense had it’s issues last year, particularly stopping the run. This was on full display for the world to see when Marshawn Lynch essentially ran over the entire Saints defense en route to one of the best touchdown runs in NFL history. To rectify this, the Saints drafted Cameron Jordan, who will start from Day 1. New Defensive tackles Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers were signed as free agents, and will make it difficult to move the ball through the middle of the line. The Saints need to put pressure on the quarterback in order to protect their secondary, where the only playmaker they really have is safety Malcolm Jenkins. The linebackers are getting younger, as new faces will be starting around Johnathan Vilma, who has entirely resurrected his career in New Orleans. Expect a dramatic improvement on this side of the ball.
The Saints improved dramatically, and should be considered a legit contender.
2. Atlanta Falcons: There is a lot of hype surrounding the Falcons this year to be a major player in the Super Bowl hunt this year, but that is completely asinine. In theory, the addition of Julio Jones should help Roddy White and Matt Ryan, but he is a major question mark. All throughout college he displayed an ability to make great catches, but would drop passes that hit him in the chest. The only way he can help the offense is by being a deep decoy. Expect Harry Douglas to be a better fit, and to contribute more this year. Tony Gonzalez is still considered by people to be an elite tight end, but his production is closer to Todd Heap than anything else. He is elite in name only. Michael Turner is getting older, and, let’s face it, is due to slow down as he approaches his 30th birthday.
The defense is, again, not as good as advertised. They play a base 4-3 without anything exotic. The coverage packages are conservative and vanilla. For them to be any good, they need to generate a pass rush. John Abraham continued his revival in 2010, but the rest of the line was unable to generate much pressure on the quarterback. Enter Ray Edwards, who signed a lucrative contract as a free agent to attempt to be the answer. This is a risky proposition, as Edwards never posted double digit sacks, despite playing with the Williams Wall and Jared Allen in Minnesota. How will he fare when he becomes the target of double teams? The linebackers, headed by a healthy Curtis Lofton, are solid. Sean Weatherspoon may be a future star at linebacker, but he needs to stay healthy. The secondary is average, and plays assignment based football. Brent Grimes is solid, but Dunta Robinson needs to recapture his form from back in Houston.
The Falcons should be good, but not great. They will be on the cusp for a wild card slot.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are an extremely young team that had a lot of things go well for them last year. While they managed to win 10 games, only one came against a squad with a winning record, and that was when the Saints sat their players on week 17. The Bucs will need to continue their progression, particularly on offense. Josh Freeman enters his second full season as the starter, and looks like he could be a legitimate starting quarterback. In fact, he seems destined to become another Roethlisberger type, only wihtout the off-field incidents. Rookie free agent LeGarrette Blount came out of nowhere to gain over 1000 yards, depsite only starting eight games. Four round draft pick Mike Williams exploded, leading the Bucs in receiving yards and touchdowns. Kellen Winslow is still a top tight end, but they need to find a second receiver. Arrelious Benn was hurt last year and is expected to get that job, but Dezmon Briscoe may be the eventual starter there.
The defense, much like the offense, needs to progress. The defensive line could start players that are all either rookies or second year players. Mason Foster will take over for Barrett Ruud, who was the Bucs leading tackler last year. However, Ruud did not make a lot of plays, so they drafted what they feel is an upgrade. The secondary still have the venerable Ronde Barber, and talented plays like Aqib Talib and Tanard Jackson. However, Jackson is coming off a year long suspension, and Talib has had a number of legal issues since entering the NFL. The biggest issue will be finding leadership. While Barber is still around, someone needs to step up and be ready to take that mantle when he retires. Chances are, it will be Gerard McCoy.
The Bucs will make strides this year, but it will not show in the record. They are, however, a team on the rise.
4. Carolina Panthers: Let’s talk about the positives here first – the running game has three solid backs, and they still have the good Steve Smith. Greg Olsen will provide a nice red zone target, and help the young quarterbacks when they are running for their lives. Now for the rest of the team. Cam Newton managed to parlay one good season in college into being the first pick overall in the 2011 draft, just one year after the Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round. That essentially was the equivalent of lighting a draft choice on fire. Clausen may not have been great, but Newton will be worse. Remember Akili Smith? Meet this generations version – Akili 2.0. They have not had a number two receiver since Mushin Muhammad left the first time, and they even brought him back in an attempt to give Steve Smith some help. At this point in time, Smith may as well just sit down on the field during plays to force his way out of town.
The defense has it’s bright spots. Charles Johnson stepped into the void left by Julius Peppers, and performed at a level that was completely unexpected. Terrell McClain could be a beast in the 4-3, and will help the Panthers stuff the run. Also helping the defense is the return of several veterans that had to deal with injuries last year. Thomas Davis may finally be healthy, and Jon Beason is an extremely talented player. The secondary has solid starters, but less than nothing for depth. The Panthers will try to blitz often in passing situations in order to allievate pressure on that group.
The Panthers are not as bad as they were last year, but they are not that much better either. It’s going to be another long year in Carolina.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thoughts From Day Two
Rounds two and three of the NFL draft occurred last night, amid the announcement that the lockout is back on. While looking into how much Roger Goodell does not care about the fans or the players is a topic for another day, today we shall look at the best and worst moves of Day Two, broken down by rounds.
Good moves of the second round:
-Andy Dalton going to the Bengals. This gives them leverage in the Carson Palmer fiasco. They can either tell him to take a walk, or move him and have something other than Jordan Palmer to lead the team.
-Ryan Williams going to Arizona. Maybe this is the year the Cardinals can run the ball. They've certainly invested a lot of picks in that position over the last few years. Williams is a complete back, and should take the job with ease.
-Titus Young going to the Lions. This gives them a legitimate possession receiver opposite of Calvin Johnson, and will force the defense to pay attention to someone else downfield. Now if only Stafford can stay healthy...
-Ben Ijalana to the Colts. Pure power, lane opening, run blocking lineman. They may keep him at tackle, but he would be better suited as a guard. Either way, this selection will help a running game that had nowhere to go last year.
-Da'Quan Bowers to the Bucs. Let's see, the Bucs stayed put, and took the number 6 ranked player in the draft at pick 51. Insane value. Coupled with Clayborn, they have improved the pass rush significantly. Biggest concern is the knee, but at this point of the draft, it's worth the gamble.
Bad moves of the second round:
-Ras-I Dowling to the Patriots. Why? They already have three cornerbacks that can play. Also, there were better cornerbacks available at 33 if they truly felt they needed to make another selection there. The top pick of the second round is WAY too high to be spending on a player that will only be on the field in the dime.
-Continuing with the Patriots, their selection of Shane Vereen. He's a third down back. While Kevin Faulk is getting old, they already had his replacement with Danny Woodhead. While Woodhead is undersized, he also fits that role perfectly. What is Vereen's role going to be?
-Colin Kaepernick going to San Fran. He's a development quarterback, who is going to be tutored by Harbaugh. The hjope is that he'll be ready in a couple of years, but this also means that the 49ers are almost definately bringing back Alex Smith. Kaepernick is too raw to see the field this year, but probably will if Smith returns.
-Greg Little to the Cleveland Browns. Stop us if you've heard this before - the browns drafted a raw receiver in the second round. Don't they already have three of these players on the roster? How has that worked for them? This is particularly perplexing when they had the opportunity to draft Julio Jones, who could be the game changer they desperately need. Colt McCoy should be pissed.
On to the third round. Here are the best moves:
-Ryan Mallett to the Patriots. They got the best quarterback in the draft at pick 74. He is the heir to Tom Brady, and Patriots fans will love this pick in a few years. The biggest concern is keeping his head straight, but with that locker room and coaching staff, that will not be a problem.
-Austin Pettis to the Rams. This gives Bradford the possession receiver he needs in that offense. He was overshadowed by Titus Young, but is a legitimate receiving prospect in his own right. he will help open the field for the smaller, quicker receivers that the Rams have.
-Jerrel Jernigan to the Giants. Yes, the Giants are deep at receiver already, but Jernigan can play anywhere. He has lined up as a Wildcat quarterback, and also is a good red zone target. He can make an immediate impact in New York.
-Mason Foster to the Bucs. Let's see here, a playmaking linebacker that fits what the Bucs do on defense perfectly being available at pick 81? The biggest knock against him is that he was considered a bit slow, but the speed a player performs at is more important than any drills. Foster makes plays. Meet the next stud linebacker for Tampa Bay.
And now, moves that did not make as much sense:
-Rob Housler to Arizona. Yes, the Cardinals needed help at tight end. But the tight end is not a big part of their offense, and Housler is not much of a blocker. If they plan on using the tight end more, better pass catchers (D.J. Williams) were available. Quite a stretch taking him with that pick.
-DeMarco Murray to the Cowboys. I really like Murray as a player. He's a good back that will perform when given the opportunity. But he goes to Dallas, where they already have three good backs. Is he going to see the field? While Marion Barber III is probably gone from the Cowboys, he still has Felix Jones and Tashard Choice ahead of him on the depth chart. It's a waste to only be giving Murray five carries a game, which is the likely outcome.
-Steven Ridley to the Patriots. Umm....didn't you draft a running back the round before? So why take another running back here? Oh, and that pick 28 that you traded to the Saints? Yeah, that was Mark Ingram. If you really needed a running back that badly, why make the trade Bill? Maybe you just can't help yourself anymore. Thanks for becoming a parody of yourself.
-Alex Green to Green Bay. Yes, the Packers went through practically anyone that ever played running back last year on their Super Bowl run, so they needed a running back. However, there were better backs available. Green is a third down back, who is essentially Brandon Jackson. So, if they don't like Jackson, why draft the exact same player?
More thoughts about Day Three will be posted tomorrow.
Good moves of the second round:
-Andy Dalton going to the Bengals. This gives them leverage in the Carson Palmer fiasco. They can either tell him to take a walk, or move him and have something other than Jordan Palmer to lead the team.
-Ryan Williams going to Arizona. Maybe this is the year the Cardinals can run the ball. They've certainly invested a lot of picks in that position over the last few years. Williams is a complete back, and should take the job with ease.
-Titus Young going to the Lions. This gives them a legitimate possession receiver opposite of Calvin Johnson, and will force the defense to pay attention to someone else downfield. Now if only Stafford can stay healthy...
-Ben Ijalana to the Colts. Pure power, lane opening, run blocking lineman. They may keep him at tackle, but he would be better suited as a guard. Either way, this selection will help a running game that had nowhere to go last year.
-Da'Quan Bowers to the Bucs. Let's see, the Bucs stayed put, and took the number 6 ranked player in the draft at pick 51. Insane value. Coupled with Clayborn, they have improved the pass rush significantly. Biggest concern is the knee, but at this point of the draft, it's worth the gamble.
Bad moves of the second round:
-Ras-I Dowling to the Patriots. Why? They already have three cornerbacks that can play. Also, there were better cornerbacks available at 33 if they truly felt they needed to make another selection there. The top pick of the second round is WAY too high to be spending on a player that will only be on the field in the dime.
-Continuing with the Patriots, their selection of Shane Vereen. He's a third down back. While Kevin Faulk is getting old, they already had his replacement with Danny Woodhead. While Woodhead is undersized, he also fits that role perfectly. What is Vereen's role going to be?
-Colin Kaepernick going to San Fran. He's a development quarterback, who is going to be tutored by Harbaugh. The hjope is that he'll be ready in a couple of years, but this also means that the 49ers are almost definately bringing back Alex Smith. Kaepernick is too raw to see the field this year, but probably will if Smith returns.
-Greg Little to the Cleveland Browns. Stop us if you've heard this before - the browns drafted a raw receiver in the second round. Don't they already have three of these players on the roster? How has that worked for them? This is particularly perplexing when they had the opportunity to draft Julio Jones, who could be the game changer they desperately need. Colt McCoy should be pissed.
On to the third round. Here are the best moves:
-Ryan Mallett to the Patriots. They got the best quarterback in the draft at pick 74. He is the heir to Tom Brady, and Patriots fans will love this pick in a few years. The biggest concern is keeping his head straight, but with that locker room and coaching staff, that will not be a problem.
-Austin Pettis to the Rams. This gives Bradford the possession receiver he needs in that offense. He was overshadowed by Titus Young, but is a legitimate receiving prospect in his own right. he will help open the field for the smaller, quicker receivers that the Rams have.
-Jerrel Jernigan to the Giants. Yes, the Giants are deep at receiver already, but Jernigan can play anywhere. He has lined up as a Wildcat quarterback, and also is a good red zone target. He can make an immediate impact in New York.
-Mason Foster to the Bucs. Let's see here, a playmaking linebacker that fits what the Bucs do on defense perfectly being available at pick 81? The biggest knock against him is that he was considered a bit slow, but the speed a player performs at is more important than any drills. Foster makes plays. Meet the next stud linebacker for Tampa Bay.
And now, moves that did not make as much sense:
-Rob Housler to Arizona. Yes, the Cardinals needed help at tight end. But the tight end is not a big part of their offense, and Housler is not much of a blocker. If they plan on using the tight end more, better pass catchers (D.J. Williams) were available. Quite a stretch taking him with that pick.
-DeMarco Murray to the Cowboys. I really like Murray as a player. He's a good back that will perform when given the opportunity. But he goes to Dallas, where they already have three good backs. Is he going to see the field? While Marion Barber III is probably gone from the Cowboys, he still has Felix Jones and Tashard Choice ahead of him on the depth chart. It's a waste to only be giving Murray five carries a game, which is the likely outcome.
-Steven Ridley to the Patriots. Umm....didn't you draft a running back the round before? So why take another running back here? Oh, and that pick 28 that you traded to the Saints? Yeah, that was Mark Ingram. If you really needed a running back that badly, why make the trade Bill? Maybe you just can't help yourself anymore. Thanks for becoming a parody of yourself.
-Alex Green to Green Bay. Yes, the Packers went through practically anyone that ever played running back last year on their Super Bowl run, so they needed a running back. However, there were better backs available. Green is a third down back, who is essentially Brandon Jackson. So, if they don't like Jackson, why draft the exact same player?
More thoughts about Day Three will be posted tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tiki's Return
After abruptly retiring in 2006, Tiki Barber announced yesterday that he is coming out of retirement to play in the NFL once again. Barber, who is going to turn 36 in another month, had two years remaining on his deal with the New York Giants when he retired. The Giants have already mentioned that they have no interest in retaining him, and Barber will be a free agent as soon as the applicable paperwork is filed.
Barber, back when he was playing, was a legitimately solid running back. A three time Pro Bowler, he rushed for 10,449 yards over his ten year career. However, the legacy he left behind was one of division. He retired because he didn't like Tom Coughin's coaching style. As an analyst, he continually criticized Coughlin and Eli Manning for the slightest problem on the Giants. To that point, former teammate Antonio Pierce said not to expect anything from Barber in the locker room: "But what he did in that locker room my two years with him, he didn't do anything but deteriorate that team. And he didn't help us out. I don't see this guy as a leader or somebody that can help you out. And that's my problem with him."
Barber has indicated that he is interested in playing for one team - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so he can play with his brother Ronde. However, what role would he fill there? They have a young running back in LeGarrette Blount, who appears to be on the verge of becoming a star. They have Cadillac Williams, who is a solid change of pace back. They still have Earnest Graham who, when he was the every down back for the Bucs, proved to be a solid back. Where would Barber fit?
Tiki, if he has anything left after his five year break, will be nothing more than a third down back. To expect him to walk in after his hiatus would be to deny reality. The top rushing total for a 36 year old, or older, running back is 830 for Marcus Allen. After that, John Riggins had 677 yards, followed by Marcus Allen at age 37 with 505 yards. Tiki Barber, while a lot of things, is no Marcus Allen.
Barber will be able to help a team, but as a third down, chance of pace type. If he is getting more than ten carries a game, there is something seriously wrong with the running back situation wherever he lands.
Barber, back when he was playing, was a legitimately solid running back. A three time Pro Bowler, he rushed for 10,449 yards over his ten year career. However, the legacy he left behind was one of division. He retired because he didn't like Tom Coughin's coaching style. As an analyst, he continually criticized Coughlin and Eli Manning for the slightest problem on the Giants. To that point, former teammate Antonio Pierce said not to expect anything from Barber in the locker room: "But what he did in that locker room my two years with him, he didn't do anything but deteriorate that team. And he didn't help us out. I don't see this guy as a leader or somebody that can help you out. And that's my problem with him."
Barber has indicated that he is interested in playing for one team - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so he can play with his brother Ronde. However, what role would he fill there? They have a young running back in LeGarrette Blount, who appears to be on the verge of becoming a star. They have Cadillac Williams, who is a solid change of pace back. They still have Earnest Graham who, when he was the every down back for the Bucs, proved to be a solid back. Where would Barber fit?
Tiki, if he has anything left after his five year break, will be nothing more than a third down back. To expect him to walk in after his hiatus would be to deny reality. The top rushing total for a 36 year old, or older, running back is 830 for Marcus Allen. After that, John Riggins had 677 yards, followed by Marcus Allen at age 37 with 505 yards. Tiki Barber, while a lot of things, is no Marcus Allen.
Barber will be able to help a team, but as a third down, chance of pace type. If he is getting more than ten carries a game, there is something seriously wrong with the running back situation wherever he lands.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Not-so-lovable losers
With their 103-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers matched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mark with 26 consecutive losses. As horrible as that mark is, there are certain things to remember here. First, the Bucs were an expansion franchise when they lost their 26 in a row. The first ever draft choice of their franchise became a Hall of Fame player in Lee Roy Selmon. The Cavs have been around since the 1970-71 season, so they definitely do not have 'expansion franchise' as an excuse.
Second, the Cavs have a legitimately good head coach in Byron Scott. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back finals appearances, and led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs twice. After the 2007-08 season, he was voted as the Coach of the Year. This is not some clueless excuse wearing a suit who is manning the sidelines in Cleveland. The situation, and losing streak, cannot be placed solely on him. He did not just wake up one day and forget how to be an effective head coach.
Third, the continued struggles of the Cavs actually make LeBron James look better. One of LeBron's chief complaints was that the Cavs front office was not putting enough talent around him to permit a legitimate shot at a championship. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and Pau Gasol. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Every star needs that second option. Cleveland gave LeBron a washed up Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. No one on that list is going to be the second option for a title contending team. The fact that LeBron even got them to the finals once is looking more and more amazing as this season unfolds.
Going forward, the Cavs are not going to have an easy time of it. To quote Tracy McGrady: "You don't want to be the team that loses to them." Every team that goes out there and has the Cavs on their schedule is going to give them their best shot. Nothing will come easy for this squad.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, Friday night the Cavs face the Clippers. LA has played well as of late, and with the right moves, could end up being a playoff team in the next couple of years. This will probably be a loss, and set the record at 27 games straight. However, on Sunday, they face the Washington Wizards, who have not won on the road. If they are going to end this run of futility, this is where it will happen. One way or another, one of these streaks will come to an end.
As bad as this losing streak has been, the Cavs are not at an all-time worst record level. Presently, they sit on eight victories. One more lets them be no worse than the 9-73 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. At least they are not in jeopardy of reaching that mark. Yet.
In the end, it's going to be a long painful journey for any fans of the Cavs. This mess is going to take a long time to dig out from.
Second, the Cavs have a legitimately good head coach in Byron Scott. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back finals appearances, and led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs twice. After the 2007-08 season, he was voted as the Coach of the Year. This is not some clueless excuse wearing a suit who is manning the sidelines in Cleveland. The situation, and losing streak, cannot be placed solely on him. He did not just wake up one day and forget how to be an effective head coach.
Third, the continued struggles of the Cavs actually make LeBron James look better. One of LeBron's chief complaints was that the Cavs front office was not putting enough talent around him to permit a legitimate shot at a championship. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and Pau Gasol. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Every star needs that second option. Cleveland gave LeBron a washed up Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. No one on that list is going to be the second option for a title contending team. The fact that LeBron even got them to the finals once is looking more and more amazing as this season unfolds.
Going forward, the Cavs are not going to have an easy time of it. To quote Tracy McGrady: "You don't want to be the team that loses to them." Every team that goes out there and has the Cavs on their schedule is going to give them their best shot. Nothing will come easy for this squad.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, Friday night the Cavs face the Clippers. LA has played well as of late, and with the right moves, could end up being a playoff team in the next couple of years. This will probably be a loss, and set the record at 27 games straight. However, on Sunday, they face the Washington Wizards, who have not won on the road. If they are going to end this run of futility, this is where it will happen. One way or another, one of these streaks will come to an end.
As bad as this losing streak has been, the Cavs are not at an all-time worst record level. Presently, they sit on eight victories. One more lets them be no worse than the 9-73 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. At least they are not in jeopardy of reaching that mark. Yet.
In the end, it's going to be a long painful journey for any fans of the Cavs. This mess is going to take a long time to dig out from.
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