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TAMPA - I don’t want to burst everyone’s bubble, but doesn’t it bother you just a bit that the Bucs best players, at least on offense, are 37-year-old Jeff Garcia, 34-year-old Joey Galloway and 31-year-old Ike Hilliard.
Don’t get me wrong; ‘’The Dinosaurs’’ are a great story, and you can bet the national media will be picking up on it if they continue to play the way they’ve been playing. But what does that say about the future?
If you’ll remember, this season started off with Coach Jon Gruden on the hot seat. That seat has cooled somewhat thanks to the 4-2 start the Bucs are off to, but how much cooler is it, really?
There’s little to indicate that the Bucs are on the verge of once again becoming a perennial playoff contender. They’re a contender this year, but it’s the likes of Garcia, Galloway and Hilliard that have made them such.
This is almost like 2004 gone right. Surely you remember 2004. That’s when the Bucs brought in Todd Steussie, Charlie Garner and a host of other aging veterans in an attempt to resurrect a dying Super Bowl champion.
The results were nothing short of disastrous. After going 7-9 in 2003, the Bucs went 5-11 in 2004. And truth be known, they still haven’t recovered from some of the mistakes they made that year.
They’re still looking for their quarterback of the future, their best young receiver is third on the depth chart and their star running back is recovering from season-ending, career-threatening knee surgery.
Some of those problems are not of the Bucs own doing, of course. Fate has played a role in a lot of this. But that doesn’t change the fact that the future of this franchise is no more certain now than it was last summer.
In fact, there are several teams that seem to be on a much faster track to long-term sustained success than the Bucs. I’d list Arizona as one of them, San Francisco as another and Tennessee as yet another.
Right now I see the Bucs in the same situation as the Green Bay Packers. They’re looking pretty good right now and giving their fans plenty to cheer about. But what lies ahead doesn’t seem so promising.
Two guys in the Bucs front office that don’t get as much credit for some of the good work they do are pro personnel director Mark Dominik and personnel executive Doug Williams. It’s their job to keep track of all the players that are out on the street and it was through their due diligence that the Bucs wound up getting left tackle Donald Penn last year.
Penn was on the Vikings practice squad when Dominik and Williams talked the Bucs into signing him to their active roster last year. That move went relatively unnoticed at the time, but Penn started drawing raves during training camp this year and his signing now looks like one of the better moves the Bucs have made the last few years.
There are some who believe Penn is already the best pass protector on the Bucs offensive line, and he’s not a finished product yet. He still has to build up some strength, particularly in his upper body, and he needs experience. He’s got good feet, though, and good mobility and he’s got a mean streak. And to think were it not for Dominik and Williams, he probably wouldn’t be here.
BENNETT FILLS NEED FOR SPEED: It’s hard not to like the trade for Michael Bennett. He may not be a starting caliber back, but he does give the Bucs a speed element that was lost when Williams went down. He’ll serve as a good complement to Earnest Graham and B.J. Askew and could prove to be extremely effective on screen passes (assuming the Bucs ever run one) and dump-offs. He’s got great speed and quickness through the hole, but like Williams he needs the line to open that hole for him. He’s not going to do it on his own, but that’s fine. If he gets through the line he’s a threat to break off a long one. That’s something the Bucs need. He’s young, too, just 29 years old, and he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him. That means he could easily be around for several more years. We won’t know what the Bucs had to give up for him until he’s done producing this season, but if the picks remain second-day picks it seems like a good deal for the Bucs.
A SACK, SO TO SPEAK: If I’m Gaines Adams I’m giving back that sack I was given against the Titans last Sunday. There’s no way in the world I want my first sack to come as a result of me touching down a player who fell down and didn’t try to get up after he ran into his own running back. That’s like having your first NHL goal come as a result of some defenseman knocking the puck into his own net after you coughed it up to him in the slot. If I’m Gaines Adams I’m thinking, ‘’I’ll have a lot of sacks in my career. I want the first one to be legitimate. I want it to be something I earned, not something I was given because I happened to be in the neighborhood at the time some quarterback fell down.’’
WHITE DELIVERS THE HITS: While we’re on the pass rushers, let’s give a shout out to Greg White. You’re not hearing his name over the public address system very much but it’s not like this guy has disappeared since recording his first sack during the Week 2 game against New Orleans. Though he has yet to record his second sack, White has recorded four quarterback hits in the last three games, and two of them have been doozies. He laid a really hard hit on Peyton Manning two weeks ago and really laid out Vince Young with a hit this past Sunday. It won’t be long now before teams start double-teaming White. It’s either that or run the risk of losing your quarterback.
RUUD’S NAGGING KNEE: I’ve got a feeling Barrett Ruud is going to be bothered by that sore left knee of his all year. Ruud first hurt his knee during training camp when he strained a muscle behind the joint. He’s still being bothered by it, especially after games that are played on turf. He’ll probably come away from the game in Detroit this week feeling pretty sore, but two weeks of home games against Jacksonville and Arizona should allow him to regain near full strength. The problem is one that probably won’t require surgery to correct, but Ruud will need extensive rest to truly get over this nagging problem.
QUICK MONEY (SPENT): Bucs Executive Vice President Ed Glazer said this week that it took his family all of about five minutes to decide to donate $5 million to help build the Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa. Glazer said it might have been the fastest his family has ever decided to spend $5 million. If it was, it only ties the amount of time it took them to spend $5 million on quarterback Jeff Garcia back in March.
Posted by eric Guenette, west palm beach on 10/18 at 05:32 PM
Bucs assessment: Roy, you’re off.
Bucs D is half young and half old…
Bucs O has a promising O-line and some young talent like Stovall/Paris Warren and yes, even Simms…
We’re not buried under the cap like we were, so… hopefully, we can start to hold on to some of our young talent. and actually have a decent future.
Posted by David, Tampa, Fl on 10/18 at 05:11 PM
I agree with your assessment of the Bucs right now, although don’t overlook Bruce Gradkowski. With a guy like Jeff Garcia (who has a similar skill strength as Bruce), he could develop even more. But here’s the thing I’ve got to disagree with, your comparison to the Green Bay Packers doesn’t make any sense, they are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and have their QB of the future in Aaron Rogers. The reason Favre was getting upset last year was because he thought that the team was getting younger and working him out of the plans. That is the opposite of the Bucs.
Posted by frank brauer, sarasota on 10/18 at 04:34 PM
Roy you have been faking it long enough, your time in Tampa Bay is over and we have OUTGROWN your silly and useless
opinions.
Posted by ROY B GONE, WESLEY CHAPEL on 10/18 at 02:56 PM
Ol’ Roy.......
Now why do ya go and do these things? Can’t you let folks enjoy the moment? The Bucs are winning! Have a good time with it....and let the fans have a good time with it.
You sound like the type that kicks your momma and your dog!
Posted by Trey Greco, Tampa on 10/18 at 02:39 PM
If anyone is on the hot seat it should be you.You have one of the only job in the world where there is no account. for being dead wrong. You were dead wrong in your biased subjective pred. of how we would be this year so now you have moved on focusing your pessimistic, vindictive attitude to the future. Im sure other people have noticed you stopped putting that ridiculous meter about Gruden’s job safety in Monday’s paper. It would kill you to have to point that arrow in the direction of high job security. It says enough that you would even go so far to put something like that in the paper on the first week of the season. Post a poll where we can vote on your job security and put the results in the form of a meter in tomorrows paper
Posted by wade less, clermont on 10/18 at 02:37 PM
Seriously...this article was about as insightful as directions to a Pez dispenser. I’m quite happy that our team can rebuild (Alex Smith, Tenard Jackson, the entire Oline, Ruud, Adams, Caddy?) and still vie for a division championship every other year. By 2008 our Oline will be the engine that runs this team. Then it won’t matter who the RB or WR’s will be. I admit we may need a QB by then, but doesn’t half the league? You’re just mad that Gruden and Allen will be back in 2008 no matter how many pathetic stories that you write.
Posted by kevin tomas, spring hill,fl on 10/18 at 01:52 PM
The only obvious comment anyone can say about the Bucs coverage from these so called local journalists are subscribe to the Pewter Report. Unbiased and fair commentary!!!!
Posted by Duane Davis, Sarasota, FL on 10/18 at 12:30 PM
Did Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen tease you about something at one time or the other or r u just plagerizing the tude of a local hack sports talk radio host. Yes, Galloway and Hillard are 34 and 31 respectively. But haven’t they both been here 3 to 4 years. We just didn’t pick them up yesterday. Remember, we got Galloway for MeShawn who cost us two No.1’s under the McKay reign after he spent 1’s and 2’s on Anthony and Queezie. That’s 3 1’s and a two for players who aren’t even in the NFL. Why not write an article about all the wasted picks McKay and Dungy wasted. Your whole article reminded me of the saying, “If things weren’t different, they would be the same.”
Posted by charles fiske, kansascity, mo on 10/18 at 12:26 PM
Whats up with all the negativity. Im sick of reading bout how bad the bucs are on the Bucs report. Roy needs to be fired. The bucs are 4-2 with a great chance of making the playoffs. yes our QB and WR might be a little old but they are playing great now. Our young players are starting to develope well. Our backup Qbs aren’t that bad they just need more experience. I think once they learn from Garcia, at least one of the three will emerge as a good QB. WR are really a dime a dozen. GO BUCS
Posted by Neville Dastoor, NYC, NY on 10/18 at 10:58 AM
Another day, another hack job. Roy fails to cite one of the better young units in the league, the Bucs O-line. Some consider the O-line a key cog on offense, but hey, we should defer to Roy, and focus on the QB/WRs. Disregard JT or DJ or AS or DP or AS, they’re irrelevant to an age analysis of our offense.
Also, only focus on the Off., because we know that wins championships. Defense is for losers! Forget about BR or TJ of PB or CJ or JP or GP or GW of GA as rising playmakers on Def. Inconsequential!
The Trib has gone beyond the level of a joke. I rarely come to the Trib for my Bucs news. I go to Pewtereport.com, where I don’t feel dirty for liking the Bucs or Gruden.
Posted by Sam Vimond, Sarasota FL on 10/18 at 10:34 AM
The only thing that bothers me is that Roy remains the Bucs beat reporter. These doomsday, negative articles are atrocious. Remember Roy telling us the Bucs will regret dumping Simeon Rice? What a laff.
The Trib should dump Roy...he used to be a knowledgeable football journalist, but his ongoing dislike for Bruce and Jon has turned him into a joke.
Posted by Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, CA on 10/18 at 10:23 AM
This article brings up a good point, but misses the real issue. Youth is not a problem on this team - we have plenty of young guys here. As far as the receivers being old, so what...WRs are a dime a dozen, they can be replaced. The only real problem is age at the QB position [Garcia]. But, when you think about it, there are plenty of teams in that position. What does Green bay do without Favre? Teams with veteran and aging QBs are traditionally BETTER teams, but suffer when their guy retires. We will be in the position, but we won’t be the first team to go through that, and we won’t be the last. Look for us to draft a guy in the 1st round this year or next.
Posted by Scott, New York on 10/18 at 09:43 AM
The problem with articles like this is that people seem not to understand that the NFL has become a year to year league in which very few dynasties exist. How many teams are good one year and then bad the next? Its difficult to build a team in the draft anymore...a great deal of luck has to be involved and I do not blame teams for playing for now instead of paying a ton to the Gaines Adams players of the world and hoping they are good. If they pick up another veteren QB in free agency in a few years the Bucs will be fine.
Posted by Lewis Riggle, Winter Park, FL on 10/18 at 09:38 AM
Another doom and gloom article from the Tampa Bay media. I’m relying more and more on other sources for my Bucs news. The Tribune and Times are losing it!
Posted by Sammie, on 10/18 at 09:17 AM
Not As Long As They Can Get The Job Done!!!!
Posted by Scott Cotgreave, Sarasota on 10/18 at 08:41 AM
Roy,
After what looks to be a very promising draft and some key free agent signings your outlook seems clouded, like Dallas Clark’s vision after our fourth round saftey knocked his head off. The Bucs drafted for the trenches in the past two years and can pick up guys like Hilliard, Galloway, and Garcia through trades and free agency. By the way, didn’t Bruce bring in those three guys? They might play for another three years. Your bias against Bruce Allen has become childish and boring.
Scott Cotgreave
Posted by Michael Harris, Oldsmar, FL on 10/18 at 07:29 AM
Good article Roy. I think there’s been a paradigm shift in the NFL, in that: young players develop faster and older players play longer, if they have no serious injuries. All of that has to do with the season being literally year round; and the nutrition, weight and conditioning training. While your point is well taken about the aging stars, who is to say that the Bucs won’t get some new young guns to take their place. Look at the play of: Ruud, Tanard Jackson, Earnest Graham and Darby, (who showed potential in training camp.) The Bucs will be ok. But now it’s JUST WIN BABY!
Posted by Sam S, Short Hills, Nj on 10/18 at 07:11 AM
Using a successful split of draft picks and free agent picks ups will allow Gruden to keep his job if he is successful. An article that just complains that this could be short lived, that there should be more youth (without saying where that is going to come from without more draft picks), and in general is a complaint does not really inform people of the franchise strategy. The strategy is to blend the incoming draft picks with a few old veterns in an effort for a quick turnaround.
There is more work to do, and more youth to be served, but with what Tampa has right now the coach and GM are admirably succeeded when everyone thought they would fail. That in itself is a story - one that few though would even occur.
Posted by Sam S, Short Hills, Nj on 10/18 at 07:11 AM
Unfortnately, in another negative bent, this article missing some obvious positives. The draft picks are performing now on the offensive line and throughout the defense. This includes some later picks in the fourth and fifth round of the last couple of years.
Roy, where are the younger players going to come from? The draft? They are also playing. Gruden filled as many holes as possible with draft picks of the last few years, and others he is filling with dinosaurs who he felt could contribute now. So far, it is working. It is going to take a few more successful drafts into the late rounds in order for the team to undergo a complete youth movement.
Posted by J Vand, Tampa transplant in Nashville on 10/18 at 07:04 AM
No problem with the dinosaurs. I’m wearing shades because I think the future is as bright as the present.
I think it should stay that way where we draft defense and o-line and buy offense. Gruden does well with vets at the skilled position. Kiffin excells in teaching young bucs to be great defenders. This is not a new concept, it won us a superbowl.
Posted by james (bob) stephens, plant city on 10/18 at 03:21 AM
Roy, the cardinals have never won a super bowl. i lived with that miserable team in st.louis for years. you should be writing for them. i bet you could even find negative things to write about the colts and patriots. you are suppose to write about sports in your town, not bash the teams. you are a veranythingy poor sports writer anywhere.
Posted by Greg, Tampa on 10/18 at 01:10 AM
Roy....... Here’s some good advice. Take two weeks off… then quit. Please.
Posted by Fred Augat, Georgia on 10/17 at 11:19 PM
please note that we have 30 mil to play with next year in free agency, so a few premium players would seem to be forthcoming from that venue....day one draft picks have been preserved so 3 more guys can come from that source......why is there this need to constantly bash the bucs, I am tiring of reading this apparent bias, especially when the present as well as the future appear bright.
Posted by Jerome Ellis, Columbus, Ohio on 10/17 at 11:04 PM
It must be tougher each week for you Roy to keep spewing your agenda against Gruden as the wins keep coming. What would you have us do Roy? Should we start Gradkowski or McCown for youth’s sake and go 4-12 again? I would understand your point if we had some talent beneath Garcia or if there was some young talent out there attainable for this team. Its laughable you say the Cardinals have a brighter future than us. Is your rationale that they have a young QB in leinart? Hows he played this year Roy? All their success has come behind Warner. Bottom line, it is good to know how bad you and this newspaper has to scramble to write negative pieces on a great turnaround by our Bucs. Your agenda is being exposed and people are taking notice.
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Posted by Tim Ryan, Syracuse, NY on 10/18 at 06:33 PM
I thought I was reading another paper, here is a writer from Tampa writing this garbage about the Bucs.
They are having a great year and you can see them working together as a team, and every great team has to have a great leader, that would be Jon Gruden.
Maybe this guy should go work in Charlotte.