DEFENSIVE END TIM CROWDER
Crowder, who turns 26 later this month, is entering free agency after playing his fourth NFL season. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Crowder was a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 2007 NFL Draft.
2010 SEASON:
Crowder played in 16 games and started nine games at left defensive end after Kyle Moore left the lineup. For the season, Crowder registered 42 tackles with three tackles for a loss, three sacks, four quarterback pressures, four passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Crowder was a quality run defender for Tampa Bay.
CAREER UP TO THIS POINT
Crowder was a disappointment in Denver, but he was drafted for a 4-3 defense and the Broncos switched to a 3-4 defense, which Crowder was misfit for. After two seasons with the Broncos, Crowder was released and signed by Tampa Bay early in the 2009 season. Crowder stuck on the Bucs roster and recorded 47 tackles with one tackle for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback pressures in his first season with the Buccaneers in 2009.
In his career, Crowder has dealt with a lot of changing schemes. He was initially drafted for Jim Bates’ defense in Denver, was released with a switch to the 3-4, came back to play for Bates in Tampa Bay, and then switched to a version of the Tampa 2 defense under Bucs head coach Raheem Morris.
At 26, Crowder still has the potential to justify being a second-round pick.
WHY HE COULD RE-SIGN
Crowder is extremely well liked by the Bucs coaching staff and front office. Team sources have told Pewter Report that Crowder and defensive tackle Roy Miller are the two hardest working players on the team.
Crowder could be signed to compete with holdover Alex Magee to be the fourth defensive end on the Bucs roster with Adrian Clayborn, Da’Quan Bowers, and Michael Bennett. Re-signing Crowder to be an experienced backup provides some depth in case Bowers needs more time to come back from his offseason knee surgery. Having the young hard-working veteran Crowder around Clayborn and Bowers could be an bonus for the rookies development.
It shouldn’t take much to re-sign him as he wants to return to Tampa Bay, and the lockout will hurt players' value on the open market due to the lost time to adapt to a new team and system. Crowder probably has the most value to the Buccaneers, and there should not be an overly significant market for him in free agency.
WHY HE COULD DEPART
Crowder offers other teams a young player that is still getting better and one that has a lot of playing experience over the past two seasons. Over the past couple of seasons, Crowder has put together some decent tape as a run defender. He has been strong at the point of attack and plays with an excellent motor.
Crowder also didn’t get as many pass-rushing opportunities as most starting defensive ends because he was removed on many third downs when the Bucs would go to their 3-4 or 3-3-5 defense. That definitely had an impact on his sack total.
PREDICTION
Pewter Report’s prediction is that Crowder will be re-signed by Tampa Bay.
PREVIOUS PR PREDICTS
WR Maurice Stovall
LB Barrett Ruud
TE John Gilmore
COMMENTS
June 20, 2011
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June 18, 2011
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