"Hate"

I hope we get to Algernon before the Panthers do.

11:23am, February 18, 2008

Horse

I wouldn't be in any hurry to acquire an older defensive lineman. It was okay to go that way the last wo years, but now we have in place the replacements for the older guys in place.
Drafting another defensive lineman in the 1st or 2nd round makes sense to me.

Acquiring a seasoned tight end is fine because we know that Gruden has little patience to train rookies especially wide receivers and tight ends.

I am not sure if we should go out in free agency and acquire another linebacker. I like the idea of drafting one in the 1st or 2nd round.

I sure hope that we are talking to Grossman. He is a young Garcia and could play in our system. He's better than Plummer.

Go Bucs.

1:06pm, February 18, 2008

LordJim

Horse, I agree with you on points 2 and 3, but not 1 and 4. Coleman, at the right price, would be strong in this lineman-by-committee system, as he's only 31. The guys we are struggling to keep productive are three to four years older. Does that mean we shouldn't pursue more linemen in the draft? Heck no. But we shouldn't pass on Coleman either. As for Grossman, I would stay far, far away. He has good arm strength but little to no deep accuracy (Gradkowski) and moreover ghastly mechanics and instincts (throws off his back foot, releases the ball too high in the throwing motion, keeps dropping back like he's playing Madden and takes huge sacks). I'd pass.

1:34pm, February 18, 2008

markvan

They should go after Crumpler in a heart beat. Not only that he would be a great fit in Gruden's "tight end friendly" offense but I also think he might mentor and push Alex Smith to a higher level which he needs.

2:24pm, February 18, 2008

japerez3

I am torn about Coleman. He has been an excellent pass rusher thoughout his career, and has certainly given us trouble. However he IS 31; altho that isn't really OLD, he has shown some signs of decline. Also, he is younger than Carter and Spires, and with the way we rotate our DL, he will probably regain his effectiveness and his career will probably be extended. However, there are only so many positions on the DL. If we sign him, we can't go after Corey WIlliams and draft Trevor Laws. I would rather have them and Justn Smith. That would essentially finish our DL for years. If we sign Coleman, in a couple of years we will be looking to replace him.

As far as Crumpler is concerned, I believe we should go after him at full speed as soon as the Falcons file the paperwork showing him cut. He would be an excellent fit in our offense. Gruden loves tight ends, and the only reason we haven't been throwing to them more is the need to keep them in to help pass block. It appears that need is disappearing as our youn OL develops. I agree with markvan that he will also "show" Alex Smith how to get to the next level that I believe Smith is capable of reaching.

As far as Grossman is concerned, Horse, I frequently agree with you, but not this time. What do you see in him that make you think he would be better in our system. I think if he played for us, as emotional as Gruden is, he might committ suicide right on the sidelines on day after Grossman made another "gross" play.

3:39pm, February 18, 2008

Horse

Lordjim & Japerez3,
Hi Guys, thanks for your comments. I am not perfect, for sure, but I think we all agree that the Bucs sure are better than before and we are very close to being back to the early Bucs of the late 90's and early 2000's.
Isn't this great that we can communicate and not insult each other. I read your responses too. Life is great.
Go Bucs

7:06pm, February 18, 2008

japerez3

None of us are perfect, and we will never agree all the time, but I do agree with you much of the time.

I do agree it's great to be able to exchange ideas and discuss the Bucs without always agreeing without insulting each other. A different slant on things is not necessarily inaccurate. It may, in fact, be more accurate. I stopped reading the posts on the Devil Ray website because posters ripped anyone they didn't agree with. I love to discuss the Bucs and it's good to do it with people who know football and also love the Bucs.

7:46pm, February 18, 2008

Bucluva101

Ya, that's exactly what we need, another TE. Because Alex Smith just has so much potential that we don't need to use him. We must sign old TE's like Becht and Stevens and now Crumpler in order for our young TE to not play.

9:58pm, February 18, 2008

vpagano

Ok here is my unprofessional opinion.

down two tightends crumpler is an upgrade over stevens and bect great move i think

coleman, well simms haye and hovan. coleman can help us increase our sack totals and in certain packages 3rd and long ect might really be an upgrade but at only the right price and i like the idea of drafting an interior lineman next year due to that position being slim this year in the draft. and tampa needing some other players early in the draft

5:06am, February 20, 2008

epcolson

Ok well I'm not sure about either of these guys. I'm from ATL and I feel like I know Crumpler pretty well. I think he was a product of Vick's inability to make outside throws. As soon as they had a pocket QB Crumpler dissapeared. I think he's amazing but he's started dropping balls and I think he lacks some of the fire he had playing with Vick. He knew the ball was coming every time and he played like it. He was bored with Harrington and Leftwitch. I think he'd be a great fit here but I'm afraid he's overrated a little because he was Vicks security blanket. If you don't agree look at what happened to the Falcons running game when Vick wasn't drawing a QB spy and forcing opposing DL's to play contain. Nothing translates from the Vick era to another team. He changed everything. See what happened to Dunn's averages? I'm also concerned about injuries. I don't know. I'll be excited if we sign him but in this case I think the Falcons know something we don't. I think he was a system guy and this move has a High bust factor. He was open because Vick ran around for 45 minutes a play and Crumpler could beat safeties who were leaning toward the sidelines in fear that Vick was going to make a run for it. I don't know what I'd do if I were Bruce.

12:08pm, February 20, 2008