MORE
Most Recent Entries
- Bucs Q & A: Tribune sports columnist Martin Fennelly
- Camp Q&A Recap: Roy Cummings
- Q&A With Roy Cummings: Aug. 8
- Camp Q&A With Roy Cummings
- Q&A With Roy Cummings
- What About Petitgout?
- Caddy Back On The Road?
- A Frustrating, Anxious Time
- Bucs Will Lean On Clayton, Stovall
- Bucs Love Flacco
- Fitzgerald Staying In Arizona
- Focus On The Draft
- Kelly's Likely Destination: Detroit
- June Will Eventually Replace Brooks
- Speed Is Bucs' Top Draft Priority
Monthly Archives
|
Q: Hi guys! I love your column and read it almost every day. But I’m not sure I agree with Roy’s grade of the coaching staff for Saturday’s game. It wasn’t a bad job overall, by far, but I noticed that on practically every 1st and 10, Gruden asked to run up the middle, even after it became obvious that it did not work. I mean, it seemed evident the Redskins were expecting it. Don’t you think we should have runned on the outside or at least try to find a way to be more creative on our first-downs play calling? — Jean-Francois Cliché, Quebec City, Quebec
A: I appreciate your take on things. The grade might have been a little high. Maybe a B was a better call. But I really thought they did a good job adjusting to the ‘Skins. It’s all subjective and for fun. Comments like yours are why we grade the Bucs in the first place. Thanks for reading.
Q: Roy are the Bucs really interested in Terrell Owens? If he could be counted on to shut up and play ball, that would be something, but he is a cancer to a team no matter what he brings in talent. I say leave him alone; they don’t need another disgruntled wide receiver. — Joseph C. White, Port Charlotte
A: We won’t know the Bucs true level of interest in T.O. until he’s made available by the Eagles. My guess, though, is that they don’t really want him. Too many problems.
Q: I just want to know why Michael Clayton isn’t getting the ball. I know he was out for the playoff game with turf toe and Chris Simms feels comfortable throwing to his “good friend” Joey Galloway, but Clayton is a very fast playmaker who should have made the Pro Bowl last year. Is it poor coaching or just terrible quarterback bias?—Jay Banks, Tampa
A: Even when he was healthy, which wasn’t often this year, Clayton didn’t play at the same level he did a year ago. He struggled at times to get separation from defenders and dropped a lot of passes. He needs to have a comeback season next year and many will wonder if he was a flash in the pan.
Q: Roy, with all the head coaching jobs that are opening up, will the Bucs lose any of their coaches for these openings, or will any leave to become coordinators for the teams with new head coaches?—Donna Spindola, Wellington
A: There’s a good chance they’ll lose D-line coach Rod Marinelli and DBs coach Mike Tomlin.
Q: Do you think maybe with the playoffs here that the Bucs will attack more downfield in the passing game like they did the first time these teams played? — Joseph C. White, Port Charlotte
A: Very hard to say. The absence of Michael Clayton robs them of a key ingredient in their passing game. In particular, it robs them of an intermediate threat that made it easier to go deep. The bottom line is, they’ll do whatever the defense allows.
Q: Hey guys! The playoffs are here again and the Bucs are the NFC South champs. I just read that Antonio Cromartie will skip out on his senior year at FSU and enter the NFL draft after missing the entire season due to injury. Now we know that the Bucs will be drafting low in the first round. Do you think that they would consider taking Cromartie with their top pick to build the secondary for the future, though we still have both Barber and Kelly?—Mike Cena, Houston
A: It’s waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too early to be guessing who the Bucs might take in the first round of the draft.
Q: Great column guys. I read it every day so I can still stay in touch with the Buc world from the arctic North of N.D. Now that we have made it to the playoffs, can you guys get some advertising about being one of the loudest stadiums during the playoffs? I was there for the Atlanta game and that was an electric crowd. But watching the other games, it just seemed as if the crowd was to busy with other things and wasn’t really going crazy like it should have been. With the No. 11 offense coming in to RayJay, we need to let them know that if going to be tougher than the last time they were there. Every time I have been to the games, ‘’Big Nasty’’ is the only one who really gets the crowd going. We need to be loud every play for our defense. — Anthony Everhart, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
A: I guess the roar of the crowd doesn’t come over too well on TV. Believe me, that crowd is looouuuuud. They do their part. I’m sure Saturday won’t be any different. Stay warm.
Q: When will the Bucs coaching staff realize that Booger McFarland is a bust? The Bucs have cut Brad Culpepper and Warren Sapp claiming that McFarland will be a star. I’ve noticed a lot this season that most teams don’t even double-team McFarland. I know the Bucs will not cut him in the offseason but do you think they will at least ask him to restructure his contract? — Trevor Long, Lakeland
A: I can’t see how the Bucs could possibly keep McFarland at the salary he’s slated to make. He’s a solid player, but we just don’t see enough of the flash plays from him. Maybe a lot of us (me included) are expecting to see a player more along the lines of Sapp - someone you notice all the time, Maybe that’s unfair. Sapp was special - for a while at least. The Bucs do seem happy with him and it’s hard to knock the No. 1 defense in the league, but I think McFarland has to take a pay cut or face being replaced by a tandem of Dewayne White and Ellis Wyms.
Q: Do you think that Monte Kiffin will blitz more against the Redskins? It seems that far too often the defensive line does not put enough pressure on the QB, which allows for too many third-down conversions. — Brian Ray, Orlando
A: I’m not sure they’ll do a lot of blitzing. The No. 1 priority is going to be stopping Clinton Portis. Beyond that, they may feel like they can cover the ‘Skins receivers and shut down the passing game with a base scheme. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Q: Is it me or does Jermaine Phillips seem to always get hurt? Also, he is supposed to be this big-time hitter, but the way he leads with his head doesn’t seem to work. Do you think he needs to change his tackling technique?—Casey Omura, Orlando
A: Jermaine has had some injury issues, but I wouldn’t say they’re chronic. He is a hard hitter and that’s how he wound up breaking his arm a couple years ago. He’s currently one of about three or four players suffering from knee sprains so I wouldn’t say he’s in a minority there. If I were him, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Q: There is another site that claims Chris Simms should not be given a long-term contract. However, I have to join their gang and pay their yearly ransom to get the answer why. I was born at night, but not last night so can you think of any reason why he doesn’t deserve a long-term contract offer? — Ken Davis, Lecanto
A: Can’t think of any reason. It can be structured in such a way that he doesn’t count too much against the cap and only gets really big money if he continues to play at a high level. He’s the quarterback of the future here.
Q: Seasons Greetings, guys. Living in New York, it is well known that John Abraham of the Jets is looking for a long-term contract from a team. Is it possible to sign Abraham this offseason and part ways with Simeon Rice? Thank you. — John Amodeo, Levittown, N.Y.
A: Anything is possible. I think the Bucs would rather have Rice. He’s more durable.
Q: Do you think the Bucs offense will be more explosive with Edell Shepherd getting more playing time? If you go back to the Redskins game, Chris Simms had a career day by having the option of going to Galloway and Shepherd, both speedy receivers who can stretch the field.—Paul Allen, Orlando
A: It could be; Edell has to get open and make himself an option. Until he does that consistently the Bucs may miss Michael Clayton.
Q: If Clayton is out, the Bucs should activate Paris Warren and play him. At least he can hold on to the ball! He also offers a bigger and stronger target.—Greg Donoghue, Bradenton
A: Paris could get a shot. My guess, though, is that they’ll just lean more on Ike Hilliard and Edell Shepherd. They’re more battle-tested.
Q: I’m an Alstott fan - have been, always will be. Nevertheless, I can’t see why Gruden does not use him more in the running game. He has been used sparingly so he should be strong at this important time of the year. He is the best back they have for short yardage, and has the ability to get the Tampa fans on their feet a definite plus for the last two home games. Homefield advantage comes from your fans giving you a lift and when Alstott has the ball the fans run with him. Should he get the ball more in their last two home games? — Mike Zuydam, Sydney, Australia
A: Right now Gruden is thinking about how to beat the Saints. Alstott has been used effectively in the past month and Gruden will continue to call his number in a limited role. Cadillac is the man now, and everyone, including Alstott, knows it.
Advertisement
