The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Browns

Running smooth

The Good - Carnell Williams looked good today. His opportunities were limited with some very suspect blocking by the O-line today. The O-line is supposed to be a strength of this team that is littered with high draft picks. When the holes were there for Caddy to run through, he showed great burst, good speed and was decisive with his running. He ran tough putting his head and shoulders into each approaching tackler and picked up nice chunks of yards. His stat line looks small through no fault of his own.

The Bad - This one isn't necessarily about this game, but it certainly had an effect. Raheem Morris' decision to limit the starters playing time in the pre season was definitely a reason for today's sloppy and somewhat indecisive looking play by the team. This team is following through with it's plan to rebuild through the draft and go young, therefore the experience level on this team is at an all time low. These young players need every snap of experience they can get, and I feel limiting their preparation time this pre season was very detrimental. They looked very rusty and started off the game extremely sluggish.
I really don't know what the strategy could have been to go for it on 4th and 1 from the 2 yard line at the end of the game? Sure a Cleveland Browns TD could still have won the game for them, but it would have forced them to have to go for the TD and drive the length of the field with very little time left on the clock. Phil Dawson is an excellent Kicker who has very good distance, and gave the Browns and easy opprotunity to take that game into OT.

The Ugly - First let me say I am ecstatic about today's win. I couldn't be much happier, but the game today left something to be desired. There was a lot of ugly out there today, hence  they won ugly. The blocking was not very good, passing or rushing. The defensive pass rush was non-existent. I am not expecting miracles from our two young DT's as I know even Sapp took three seasons to break out. However, I thought there would be much more pressure even if it didn't end up in the form of sacks. Some plays it seemed like Delhomme had all day to pass. He was able to step up at will and move around to bide extra time. The tackling by the secondary was ugly, and the angles taken by the Safeties cost them big plays a couple times. Lastly, it's obvious Josh's thumb is not close to 100% healthy. His passes were weak, off their mark and fluttered like ducks. He was effective on some passes and extremely ineffective on others. He missed a wide open Mike Williams for a sure TD late in the game to take the lead, and then came right back and threw a beautiful pass hitting Spurlock in stride for the go ahead score. We didn't know what type of pass was coming until it left Josh's hand. The biggest problem facing the coaching staff is whether to just let the thumb heal or let this drag out? I'd be willing to give Johnson a shot under Center against the Panthers if Freeman comes out in game 2 looking shaky. Lastly, I wasn't thrilled with the play calling. I'm not going to bash Olsen by any means, but I was left scratching my head a few times. Caddy's first couple runs between the tackles netted great results. After getting shut down on a few sweeps and runs outside I thought Greg would go back to calling run plays between the tackles. He kept with it for longer than I thought and we were getting run down for no gains. I think those quick strike passes to the WR behind the line of scrimmage were extremely risky with Freeman's current thumb situation.

Go Buccs!!!
ABuccsFan/JJC 

NavyBuc93! Knowledgeable Bucc Fan or Village Idiot?

NavyDunce93

I frequent the PewterReport.com message boards for new and exciting info, breaking news, insight from other Buccaneer fans and occasional humor. Sometimes reading forum blabber by some fans is as good entertainment as going to an Adam Sandler or Jim Carey movie, and best of all it's free. Sure I wouldn't mind having an ice cold Pepsi and some nachos smother with cheese and jalapenos to go along with my comedy show but I'll take what I can get.

One forum poster who goes by the name NavyBuc93 is a barrel of laughs. Everybody, including myself has made the occasional blunder, borked on a bad prediction, wasn't 100%  accurate about a league rule, or propped up a player who later failed. NavyBuc however takes the cake. Every player that is released he wants the Buccs to sign. Every player who's name he has heard uttered by Mel Kiper or Mike Mayock he wants the Buccs to draft. If you go to his PewterReport statistics page you will see his "Most Popular Boards By Activity" is the Fantasy Football Board. So I guess it make a little sense that he thinks the real NFL GM's wheel and deal like him and his pals do for 13 weeks a year.

Navy was beating his drum loud and clear, louder than most, that he thought Mark Dominik needed to trade Derrick Ward and Mike Clayton. Well, any Buccaneer fan with a half of a brain didn't want Ward or Clayton on the roster any longer than they needed to be. However fans with half of a brain knew that no one, not one team in the NFL was going to offer anything to the Buccs for the underachieving Ward or Clayton and their big contracts. Once more knowledgeable fans finally beat that notion into NavyBuc's head post after post after post, he switched his mantra to call for Dominik to "cut these bum's today." It didn't matter that the Buccs had dozens of training camp practices and multiple pre season games left, by GOD NavyBuc93 wanted those guys gone now. I guess the thought never crossed his mind that Williams, Stroughter and Stovall each could have potentially landed on IR or with a long term injury? Did it ever cross Navy's mind that Carnell Williams is one of the most injury prone Halfbacks in the NFL? What precluded Huggins from the ill fate of a pre season game injury? The dumbest thing any GM could do is cut a serviceable player before he absolutely needs to. I can see NacyBuc going out on his dingy without his compass because after all, he's just going for a small boat ride. Then the storm rolls in and takes him out to sea. Next thing you know thousands of Federal dollars are being wasted while Coast Guard Search and Rescue helicopters do a grid search of the ocean. Be prepared Navy, be prepared. Weren't you a Boyscout?

Today though I had to laugh the most. Today was a double feature, he gave us two shows back to back. First he rips off this gem;
"What is the hold up?"
"It kind of bothers me that Dominik and Morris have yet to attack the Waiver wire. I know they cannot be happy with holding 7 WRs and 5 Safetys. That is 2 spots that can be devoted towards the OL or another DE. I personally want to see us go after some OL depth and it just is highly bothering that this team is satisfied with total utter putrid crap that is Hardman and James Lee. I mean you got so much better talent out there and you are rolling with these guys? I was hoping we would hit the waiver wire hard this off-season. By this time I am sure all those guys cleared waivers and will be Practice Squad material. Will someone explain why we cant get 2 starting caliber guys (Seth Olsen and Donald Thomas) on our roster for depth?

I just hope it is soon because guys I would like to see be gone for talent are Reggie Brown, Sabby Pisctielli, John Gilmore, Derek Hardman, and James Lee, and Erik Lorig. 6 people that can open up spots for some real NFL talent."
There is an easy answer for this one NavyBuc93, it's called The Rules.

Later in the day he dazzles us with his dissatisfaction once again as to how a real GM does his job. I mean hell, if Packer Smackers wanted to offer a trade to L'il Benji's Boys, all he'd have to do is go to the trade page on his Fantasy site and offer Derek Anderson and Ronnie Brown for Peyton Manning. That's a fair trade right? Two for one always makes it even when someone wants your franchise players....LMAO. Today Mark Dominik had NavyBuc steaming though, smoke could be seem coming from his ears like an old Tom and Jerry cartoon. Cut Smith? A ProBowl returner, are you serious? This is an OUTRAGE!!
If he was released to make room for this Lumpkin guy I will really be pissed. Smith is a Pro Bowl returner. He should have been traded if it was possible
You do know Trent Dilfer was a ProBowler once right? Being named to a ProBowl doesn't give you an automatic bid for the Hall of Fame my friend. Was a trade possible you want to know? That is a matter of semantics. (Navy, click this link if you need know what semantics means) OK, so I do know that Navy knows that all 32 teams had a deadline yesterday to get their rosters down to 53 players. But today NavyBuc93 demands to know why Smith wasn't traded to make room for Larsen. There goes another one of those damn pesky rules Goodell has in place just to screw the Buccs. Why can't the Buccs just have 54 players for a little while until they can trade Smith? What's wrong with that huh Navy?

I know, Dominik should have sent out a League wide email;

Dear Other 31 GM's,

I want to claim Larsen off waivers from the Patriots. But I have this fan who goes by the moniker NavyBuc93, and he is really going to be mad at me if I don't try and trade Clifton Smith. Can you guys please, please, please not sign Larsen off waivers so I can find a team to trade Clif to? If you guys do me this favor, I'll get you all VIP passes to Mons Venus next time the SuperBowl is in town.

Sincerely,
 Mark Dominik

Go Buccs!!!
ABuccsFan/JJC

Gruden Left the Cupboard Bare.

Clayton drops one of many

With the release of Mike Clayton yesterday, another blown high draft pick, it got me thinking as to just how bad Gruden was at talent evaluation and decision making. Now we all know Al Davis is the decision man in Oakland. We all remember how pissed off Gruden was when Al picked a Kicker in the 1st round(17 overall) which led to a rift between Al and Jon. Everyone knew Gruden was leaving after his contract was up, as his Agent came right out and stated so even though Jon danced around the question during interviews. Gruden wanted to go some place where he had control over the decisions, and personnel.

Now if you want to believe that the Glazers would give up two 1st rounders, two 2nd rounders and $8 mil and not guarantee Jon that he'd have more control over the decision making and personnel, then you are naive. Jon had so much control that a power struggle behind the scenes, between he and Rich McKay ensued. Rich McKay had his faults, but he did help construct a SuperBowl winning roster that Gruden had the luxury of riding it's coattails to a victory in his first season. After Rich McKay was allowed to leave before his contract expired, Jon Gruden hand picked his own GM Bruce Allen. Hand picked GM by his coach? That is absurd, but just more evidence as to how much decision making power laid in Jon's hands.

So lets take a look back at Gruden's mighty drafting prowess dating back to his first season. Bolded players will represent players still on the Buccaneers roster that were drafted by the Gruden regime. The number in parenthesis represents the number of selections that year.

2002(8)
Marquise Walker
Travis Stephens
Jermaine Phillips
John Stamper
Tim Wansley

Tracey Wistrom
Aaron Lockett
Zack Quaccia
2003(6)
Dewayne White
Chris Simms
Lance Nimmo
Austin King
Sean Mahan
Torrie Cox
2004(8)
Michael Clayton
Marquise Cooper
Will Allen
Jeb Terry
Nate Lawrie
Mark Jones
Casey Cramer
Lenny Williams
2005(12)
Carnell Williams
Barrett Ruud
Alex Smith
Chris Colmer
Dan Buenning
Donte Nicholson
Larry Brackins
Anthony Bryant
Rick Razzano
Paris Warren
Hamza Abdullah
J.R. Russell
2006(10)
Davin Joseph
Jeremy Trueblood
Maurice Stovall
Alan Zemaitis
Julian Jenkins
Bruce Gradkowski
T.J. Williams
Justin Phinisee
Charles Bennett
Tim Massaquoi
2007(9)
Gaines Adams
Arron Sears
Sabby Piscitelli
Quincy Black
Tanard Jackson
Adam Hayward
Chris Henman
Marcus Hamilton
Kenneth Darby
2008(7)
Aqib Talib
Dexter Jackson
Jeremy Zuttah
Dre Moore
Josh Johnson
Geno Hayes
Cory Boyd





Of a total sixty(60) draft selections between 2002 and 2008, thirteen(13) remain and contribute to this team. That is a whopping 21% success rate. Of those thirteen players still remaining, only five were 1st or 2nd round selections. Gruden had eleven 1st or 2nd round selections between 2002 and 2008, so that is less than 50% success on the selections that are supposed to be the foundation of your franchise.

Some fans want to blame Raheem Morris or the Glazers for being cheap as a result for the team's current status as bottom feeder. When in reality, whether the Glazers are cheap or not, whether they are in financial trouble or not, who were they supposed to spend their money on? Had Gruden had any type of success at drafting and talent evaluation, this roster would be littered with players playing under their more lucrative second contracts, thus increasing the payroll. As it stands now, there really was no one to spend their money on. Gruden left the cupboard bare, and Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik were left to restock it.

Go Buccs!!!
ABuccsFan/JJC

Signing Ward In '09 Was the Right Move

Hindsight is 20/20

Flashback to the 2009 offseason, and the Halfback position was filled with uncertainty. Ernest Graham came off his amazing feel good story of the 2007 season, and followed that up with decent success in '08 but only played in 10 games. Carnell Williams was coming back from his second severe knee injury, and Michael Bennett proved to be a wasted FA signing. After 5 games, Bennett was now a San Deigo Charger.

The Halfback cupboard was bare, and the Free Agent pool was slim pickings. The lone bright spot was Derrick Ward. Ward was a proven runner in the NFL. A successful 1000 yard back in a very crowded backfield, Ward was the "Wind" in the Giants now famous Earth, Wind and Fire backfield. The Giants were only one season removed from the remarkable upset of the 16-0 New England Patriots in the SuperBowl, and Ward had a large hand in the Giants' success the previous 2 seasons.

Ward was signed by Tampa and at the time it was a brilliant move. Unfortunately Ward got his 1st big pay day, and forgot that you actually have to play football in the NFL. He started off '09 by not showing up for offseason voluntary workouts, and followed that up with slow adaption to the new OC and playbook. His 2009 regular season was very disappointing and unproductive. With the re-emergence of Cadillac Williams, and Ward's apparent lack of focus, Williams reclaimed the starting Halfback job and held on to it the entire season. Ward became an after thought by the latter part of the season. He barely touched the ball, and when he did he didn't give the coaching staff any reasons to feed him the ball more. 

Now we reach the present and Ward shows his team and fans just how dedicated he is to right the wrongs of '09 by showing up to camp overweight and out of shape. His performances in the preseason games are horrible, unproductive and show no signs of fire. So the Buccs front office does the right thing and cuts him. Of course the front office and coaching detractors will use this as ammunition to bash them and cry aloud from the roof tops, "THAT WAS A HORRIBLE FREE AGENT SIGNING!" When in reality, given the team's severe need at HB, the shallow pool of free agent HB's and the production and success Ward had with the Giants at the time it was a brilliant signing. Who knew Ward would fall prey to Fat Cat Syndrome and throw his career away? You can't fault the Buccs front office for trying to make the team better.

Go Buccs!!!
ABuccsFan/JJC