Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/10  at  12:32 AM

Cody,I’ll take Rodgers too,there is no shame in my game.This will help us take a DT in later rounds or even next off season to find another good DT-good point,save the money.I think that Greg Peterson who we draft last year should be moved to DE.But,i still think we need a real strong outside linebacker on that left side to bring power.We was good last season but i love to be better,thats what the nfl is about-getting better.Keeping June at that strong side is not wise,but keeping Kiffin at coordinator Brooks will start at weak side and June at strong there is no strenght at outside linebackers-thats not good.I want to know can Black or Hayward play,we drafted them last year,and we need to find out.

Posted by  Cody Ubben, Cedar Falls, IA on 02/09  at  08:09 PM

The one thing that concerns me about Haynesworth Dex is that this is the first year out of the six that he’s been in the league that he finally decided to show up and play. It’s pretty convenient that it happened to be in a contract year.
Both basically the same type of player. I think Rogers will come at a cheaper price plus I don’t think there’s any way the Titans can let Hayesworth walk away.
Either one would work, guess it’s just the bargain shopper coming out in me. Why pay the higher price for the same product?
And I agree with you Dex that the O needs to do a lot better job of converting 3rd down too.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/09  at  06:03 PM

Drafting Sedric Ellis is wishful thinking,it sounds good,it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.If we move down to pic anybody it would have to be a good CB or Rivers-a 6’3 225 outside linebacker from USC.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/09  at  05:18 PM

Cody maybe you’re right but the offense need to stay on the field longer and give the Defense a blow.
Shaun Rodgers would be a great pick up because of his size and stength.Like Joseph said,this guy would have to be double teamed making blitzing easier and he can stuff the run.It would be nice to see some size on that D-line.I would prefer Haynesworth,he is only 26yr old,6’6- 320.Signing one of these guys make it easier to draft a good CB in the first round.

Posted by  Cody Ubben, Cedar Falls, IA on 02/09  at  05:11 PM

I would like to see if Shaun Rogers would try a little harder if he was playing for a team that is worth a damn. If he’d get his weight back down somewhere between 320 to 330 he’d be doing himself a huge favor. I heard he got up to like 360 this year. At that weight he’s only a 2 or 3 down player.

Posted by  Joseph Brown, Buffalo, New York on 02/09  at  11:11 AM

There is some very wishful thinking of some of you too think that we can actually get sedrick ellis.Yes we need DLine help but why not go after shaun rodgers or haynesworth.The tampa 2 is only as good as your front 4.Rodgers would be a big body to stuff the run up the middle which is our weak spot and he draws a double team to free up the ends white&adams.In order for this to work a shutdown corner is needed to replace kelly,buchanon is fast but small.Help at WR with size and speed would be good

Posted by  Cody Ubben, Cedar Falls, IA on 02/09  at  11:04 AM

Dex, it also wasn’t our offenses fault that our defense couldn’t get off the field on 3rd down. Gruden has nothing to do with that. That has to do with us not being able to rush the Qb when we really need to. Whether anybody likes it or not we need to continue to rebuild this defense this year through the draft and it needs to start with a killer D-tackle and a young Corner. Take care of the offensive holes in free agency again for this year, unless we can get QB Joe Flacco in the 2nd round.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/08  at  09:58 PM

Pat,you’re right as rain,but the problem on offense is gruden.I said before that our offense has not been ranked in the top 15 since he has been here.Our defense is to small to stay on the field constantly.How long can we play this kind of football?Offense-3 and out-defense back on the field.
If the buc went into the next season with the same defense and same offense-our defense will not be ranked the same because we cannot put up points,they will wear down against better teams without enough rest.

Posted by  charlesfiske, kc on 02/08  at  11:30 AM

Dex is right.  The tampa 2 wont work without pressure from our Dline.  The whole theme behind the tampa 2 is pressure, making the qb make quick and wrong decisions.  if you allow him to much time he will find the open reciever.  you have to force him to make a mistake.  Tampa needs a good DT, a fast young WR, and a Fast corner either through draft or free agency.  I also think we should let Kelly go.  Hes not worth 3 mil a year. To injury prone

Posted by  Patrick Dotson, Tampa,FL on 02/08  at  01:50 AM

2007 bucs defense...#3 overall defense in the league...third against the pass and 9th against the run...give up 16 points a game..had 33 sacks.2002 defense...#1 against the pass...5th against the run...#1 overall...12 points a game...43 sacks..i would say thats not to bad of a difeerence..on top of the fact we did have two rookies pretty much on the line this year...and our 02 defense everybody was in there prime..in my opinion..focus on getting a speedy reciever and another back before anything...we have plenty of depth on defense...our offense needs more help in my opinion....

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/07  at  05:19 PM

Hey Cody,how about Karlos Dansby -6’4 250lbs strongside linebacker,he’s a free agent,only 26yr old-line him up behind Gaines Adams and lets see what happen-HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENNADES BABY!If you want to blitz somebody-blitz that guy!Put Justin Smith on that right end,give up our 2nd or 3rd round pick for Jovon Walker,use your 1st pick on a CB-we need a speed CB.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/07  at  04:47 PM

Cody,i agree 100% and i’m a fan of big CB’s.Will the bucs spend the money!Thats the million dollar question.
We also need a strong and big strong side linebacker.Cato June is not that.Brooks do not blitz anymore because he is not what he use to be.
If we release Kelly we would save $3 million,why not release him?I’m not buying what Jovan Hayes is selling-he shows up against the weak teams,alot of garbage tackles and to much celebrating.
Face it,we are the type of team that needs a big trade.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/07  at  04:16 PM

Well Steve,the tampa-2 do affect the d-line because from the pressure of line the QB will have to throw the ball quicker-with no pressure the QB can sit back and torch you safety’s and middle linebacker who have deep coverage.Brooks answered your question-the line was not getting pressure-so they played a cover-3.Alot of teams use the cover2 as a change of coverage and it works when there is pressure,but when its your base defense and you have no pressure you give up 3rd downs and big plays.

Posted by  drdneast, Sarasota, Fl on 02/07  at  03:43 PM

We had two rookie DE’s last years and together they combined for 14 or 15 sacks. Not bad. Still, pressure is needed in the middle and Jovan Haye isn’t the problem, it’s Chris Hovan. Haye was also pretty much an NFL rookie and I believe he got six. Look at Sapp’s sacks and see how his numbers compare to Haye’s. We need more pressure but it shoud be coming from Hovan who is getting a little long in the tooth. The Tampa 2 is a great “D”, but Monte needs to learn how to be more imaginative with his blitzes.

Posted by  Ben Davis, Tampa on 02/07  at  01:43 PM

Our most needed position is at wr.  Yes having a great dt like ellis or dorsey would help but you have to remember jovan haye had a real solid season last year. greg peterson also proved he can be in the rotation and be affective.  we all saw what happened when galloway went down.  we had no one.  yes clayton was somewhat affective and stovall has shown some promise but we need a reciever that can dart down the field as like galloway.

Posted by  Steve Dobbins, Tampa, FL on 02/07  at  01:18 PM

You’re right Dex you are going to catch a lot of heat on your comment.

Do you listen to any of the players’ radio shows? Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber both said several times this year that Tampa-2 is the scheme they used the least this season and last season. In fact, it was Cover 3 that they used almost exclusively in the Giants game and look how well that worked out for us.

Tampa-2 is a coverage scheme that applies to LBs and DBs so how would changing that have any effect on the D-line? Also, if the Tampa-2 is such a bad scheme why do all 32 teams in the NFL use it now? And finally, how were the Colts able to build a defense off of Tampa-2 in just a few years if it’s so hard.

Posted by  Cody Ubben, Cedar Falls, IA on 02/07  at  01:15 PM

Dex, Here’s a couple guys I think we should go after in free agency that fit the positions that you wanna target. Corey Williams, DT from Green Bay and Nnamdi Asomugha, CB from Oakland. Asomugha gives us some size at corner (6’2” 210). I think both are good fits.

Posted by  Oliver, Chester, United Kingdom on 02/07  at  12:42 PM

Jovan haye is taking a bit of criticism here when I’d say he was much more disruptive in his first full year as Chris Hovan has been in his 3 seasons. A great pass-rushing DT is very important - but Haye is a good player with a bright future.

On another note: The Tampa-2 has always been based on extenisve pressure from the front 4. A lack of linebacker blitzes means that there are more players defending against the pass. The system looks awkward without a dominating defensive line, but last season, when the pressure got to the quarterback, its exactly what we need from our Bucs.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/07  at  10:41 AM

I’m going to catch alot of slack but if the bucs would stop running the tampa-2 it would be easier to build a defense.We miss out on a alot of players.Sapp made this defense work and since he left we have waste money and time tring to replace him.
A base 4-3 will work-it’s not based on finding a Sapp type DT.Look at the Gaints and the Jag’s.These D-line are so strong and cause problem up front.
The tampa-2 has brought in small under sized LB’s and CB’s that can’t run down field man to man.What’s sad is that there is no DT in free agency that will fit the tampa-2.

Posted by  Jon Blackham, New Tampa on 02/07  at  10:17 AM

Picking another offensive player they prob. will not utilize correctly high in the draft would be catastrophic mistake.  They are very close to rounding out a rebuilt defense. (One they haven’t paid much attention to until last year). They DEFINITELY need to go after another great under tackle if they want to get back to greatness.

Posted by  Dex fields, neptune,n.j. on 02/07  at  09:42 AM

You’re preaching to the choir Cody,we do not have enough pass rush at all.It’s going to be tough getting in the top 10 to try to get Ellis-thats why i contantly write that free agency is very important for us.If we could sign at least one good cover CB and draft a young good one maybe we could start getting coverege sacks.
This is one of the reason i’m so much against the tampa-2 defense.This defense is based on pressure-something we do not have right now.Also the bucs will have to sign or draft another DE.

Posted by  Cody Ubben, Cedar Falls, IA on 02/06  at  03:44 PM

It should be obvious by now that in order to make it far in the NFL you must have a great pass rush. It’s probably equally as important as having good quarterback play. I don’t know that I would even call our pass rush good this last year but in order for us to get back to that greatness of old we are going to have to seriously upgrade at under tackle. Jovan Haye made a couple plays here and there but not enough to be a starter for very long.
There’s no other 3-tech tackle in this draft nor any other recent draft that has the burst that Ellis has off the ball. If he’s not the 2nd coming of Sapp, he’s the closest one. If he should happen by some miracle to fall to the 9th or 10th pick I think this guy is worth pulling the trigger on.

Posted by  Kenny Spindola, Wellington, Fl. on 02/06  at  12:54 PM

What the Bucs need besides WR. is a pass rush, just look what the Giants did pass rush did to Brady. 4 sacks, hit him about 10 times. Offense win games(Pats)defense wins chmpionships(02 Bucs and this years Giants)

Posted by  James Thomas, Seminole on 02/06  at  11:15 AM

Trading up into the Top-5 for a DT that may or may not be Warren Sapp is foolish.

I’d rather trade those picks to get a guaranteed star in Chad Johnson.

Posted by  michael caudill, Naples,Italy on 02/06  at  07:39 AM

I think the most important concern is a WR. We saw in the Bucs playoff game that we missed JG. He is older and possibly more injury prone. He will need to be replaced soon. Trade for Chad Johnson, then look for DL, and DB help.