How is Cadillac Williams much different than Kevin Jones of the Lions?

[LtFox]

Can't judge Caddy just yet. He does need to stay heakthy this year. Put LT,LJ or any top back behind our line with crappy QB play and you will see similiar results.

I know what you are saying, but even insinuating that LT and Caddy are in similar talent leagues is criminal. LT, with the same line as Caddy, would DOMINATE him. You are talking about a guy that caught over 100 passes two seasons ago and THREW for more TDs then Caddy ran in. One is a lock for the HOF and the other is a guy just trying to be productive.

[keeponbucn]

Guess I'm the eternal optimist here. Caddy had a rough go last year but a 6th round rookie QB starting does help your chances from jump. Couple that with a rookie starting right side of the line, starting LG hurt and honestly what chance do you have at being successful? I'm not sure how some can ignore the jaw-dropping runs dude had in '05, he's got massive skill in small spaces. Sure, his hands need some work but I like our chances with Caddy.

[MBF]

The haters of Carnell keep coming but they bring no substance in debating as to why Carnell is an average back other than their "gut" feeling.

Surely you aren't serious?

He's an often injured, one dimensional back that lacks break-away speed. He's a liability as a pass receiver and pass protector. Other than that, he's awesome.

LOL....that is pretty funny.

Anyone else see the irony of a Panthers fan laughing about another team's "often injured running back"?

[alldaway]

. I mean does anybody watch the games or just pretend by looking at highlights on espn? .

Let me emphasize this.  There are people still saying that Buchanon sucks, the Bucs never used a quasi 3-4 defensive formation last season, and that the defense did not improve its overall ranking from the start of the season, etc.  

I can tell you who watched the games last year and who hasn't based on their responses on these topics.  Especially about Carnell.

I will not hold it against people if they did not watch what he was able to do when giving  average blocking (as dbucfan would say) and a chance to not be hit before crossing the line of scrimmage on Thanksgiving Day. People wanted to be with their families and the game went downhill after that solid drive.  With Buenning leading the way it showed that given a chance Carnell can do something.  Once Buenning was out and Carnell was being hit in the backfield becuase of Master matador specialist *cue spanish guitar* Mahan it was over.  That put all the pressure on Gradkowski to pull through as the running game was non existent with Buenning's exit and he could not do so. It did not help that the defense put the offense in a hole as well (banged up secondary, very little pressure with their front four).  

[Huey Freeman]

Kevin Jones is faster, but Cadillac is more of a quick, cutback type runner.  Cadillac runs harder between the tackles and is more of a hardnosed runner than Kevin Jones is.  Cadillac has much better feet, while Kevin Jones has looked better coming out of the backfield in the passing game.  

[SunnyD]

STEVEN Jackson

[mjs020294]

There were a few knocks on Caddy coming out of college:  he couldn’t catch; he was injury prone; and his blocking wasn’t the best.  He pretty much got away with those deficiencies in college because he had Ronnie Brown in the backfield with him. 

Caddy wasn’t the perfect fit for Gruden’s offense coming out of college, and he needs to improve his receiving and blocking a hell of a lot before he will be considered a franchise RB.  Behind a solid O-line he does have the tools to be a very productive RB but he has a long way to go before he is a good WCO RB.

[Bucs Capacitor]

Counting Carnell out after one bad season is just as ludicrous as saying Vince Young will be an elite QB.  But then again, a lot of you are saying that too...

[mjs020294]

Counting Carnell out after one bad season is just as ludicrous as saying Vince Young will be an elite QB. But then again, a lot of you are saying that too...

Until he learns to bock, receive and stay healthy for 14+ games he will remain under scrutiny. 

I would prefer it if Gruden ditched his over complicated offense and reverted to a more traditional offense with smash mouth running, which fully utilizes Simms’s strengths.  Gruden needs to quit trying to make players something they are clearly not and adapt his offense to the players he has on the roster.

Counting Carnell out after one bad season is just as ludicrous as saying Vince Young will be an elite QB. But then again, a lot of you are saying that too...

I'm not counting him out, i'm saying he isn't the elite back that those wearing pewter colored glasses seem to think he is. He's average at best. Perhaps if he played for another team, some would view him differently. Just my opinion, of course.

[T]

Can't judge Caddy just yet. He does need to stay heakthy this year. Put LT,LJ or any top back behind our line with crappy QB play and you will see similiar results.

I know what you are saying, but even insinuating that LT and Caddy are in similar talent leagues is criminal. LT, with the same line as Caddy, would DOMINATE him. You are talking about a guy that caught over 100 passes two seasons ago and THREW for more TDs then Caddy ran in. One is a lock for the HOF and the other is a guy just trying to be productive.

I don't remember comparing Caddy to LT. I was just pointing out the fact that ANY RB would've had a tough time getting any success with our horrible offensive line play and inconsistent QB play. LT,LJ or any other top back in the NFL would be completely ineffective if they had horrible offensive lines and a unproven rookie QB who defensives didn't respect at all. Give Caddy a chance, I think he can be a highly productive RB in this league.

[Feel Real Good]

I don't remember comparing Caddy to LT. I was just pointing out the fact that ANY RB would've had a tough time getting any success with our horrible offensive line play and inconsistent QB play. LT,LJ or any other top back in the NFL would be completely ineffective if they had horrible offensive lines and a unproven rookie QB who defensives didn't respect at all. Give Caddy a chance, I think he can be a highly productive RB in this league.

Let's not discount Tomlinson's 2003 season in which the Chargers went 4-12 and Drew Brees got benched for Doug Flutie, yet LT rushed for 1645 yards and caught 100 passes. If you're truly an elite player, you can stand out amongst a bunch of nothing. Cadillac is never going to be that. We just need him to be very good.

[Bucs Capacitor]

Yeah, saying Caddy is elite is also just as bad as counting him out.  I personally think we all need to save our breath and wait a year or two before we call him anything...just like w/Vince.

[T]

I don't remember comparing Caddy to LT. I was just pointing out the fact that ANY RB would've had a tough time getting any success with our horrible offensive line play and inconsistent QB play. LT,LJ or any other top back in the NFL would be completely ineffective if they had horrible offensive lines and a unproven rookie QB who defensives didn't respect at all. Give Caddy a chance, I think he can be a highly productive RB in this league.

Let's not discount Tomlinson's 2003 season in which the Chargers went 4-12 and Drew Brees got benched for Doug Flutie, yet LT rushed for 1645 yards and caught 100 passes. If you're truly an elite player, you can stand out amongst a bunch of nothing. Cadillac is never going to be that. We just need him to be very good.

LT also had a very good offensive line that year, they just didn't have very good QB play and a very mediocre Defense. A year later when the QB play was better and the defense improved look how well the entire team played. I don't think Caddy will ever be an elite back but if he can consistently get 1100-1300 yards he will be very productive for the Buccaneers.

[dalbuc]

I don't remember comparing Caddy to LT. I was just pointing out the fact that ANY RB would've had a tough time getting any success with our horrible offensive line play and inconsistent QB play. LT,LJ or any other top back in the NFL would be completely ineffective if they had horrible offensive lines and a unproven rookie QB who defensives didn't respect at all. Give Caddy a chance, I think he can be a highly productive RB in this league.

All backs are more effective with a good line but to say that any back would have been "ineffective" is a bit much.

Let's be honest,  LT's line is a"great" only now that LT has made it look great over the last 4 years. That's not been the same line and they've had a lot of churn. You put Pittman behind that line- or any of the permutations of that line- and it looks a lot worse. Caddy has to answer for some of his bad show last year. You can't just entirely write it off to bad line play.

2005: Caddy's line: Davis, Buenning, Wade, Mahan, Walker
2006: Caddy's line: Davis, Mahan, Wade, Joseph, Trueblood

OK, now while Mahan < Buenning he's also < Davin (we hope) so that OG play should at least even out (and god help us you'd have thought R1 rookie OG could outplay R4 rookie OG so it should have been better). Walker sucks, especially in the run game,  so no matter how poor True is that's a wash.  Basically Caddy's overall line talent in 2006 is at least even with 2005 and while Grads didn't scare anyone, Caddy didn't go anywhere with Simms either.