Can the Buccaneers do it again?
Will General Manager Mark Dominik and Head Coach Raheem Morris pull yet another young star onto their already twinkling roster?
The release of Ryan Sims creates another roster void. Dominik can either fill it from his own practice squad (i.e. Ted Larsen), can swipe a player from another team's practice squad (i.e. Al Woods), or can pull in a practice squad player or waived player from another team (i.e. LeGarrette Blount). What will it be?
Considering the aggressive nature Dominik has shown by plundering the late round picks of other teams this season it could be the Buccaneers have identified a new target on another practice squad. In the past, a dropped player has been replaced with another player at the same position. This week, Dominik shuffled the practice squad, dropping G John Malecki (signed on October 26th) and adding even more size to the defensive line prospects with DT Frank Okam, a 6'5" 350 lb 5th round pick by the Houston Texans in 2008. If Okam is the by-position replacement for the release of Sims, plus the offensive line getting healthy again, is the field wide open for a player at any position to join the roster?
It would appear the scenario is wide open. Now that DE Alex Magee has reached the field and DT Al Woods has proven to be more than capable in the interior, the Buccaneers shave their numbers on the defensive line back to "practical" limits, making room for some new talent to get a chance.
Who could it be? One possiblity is Brandon Carter, a 6'7" 344lbs offensive guard, who has been on the practice squad since camp closed in early September. Defensive back Vince Anderson and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe are also candidates for the same reasons.
There is no obvious choice. With the offensive line getting healthier again the Buccaneers are currently not short numbers-wise at any position in particular.
Looks like Dominik can choose as he pleases.
Showing posts with label Ryan Sims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Sims. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Defensive Lineman Nobody Is Talking About
Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, the first two picks of the Buccaneers in the 2010 draft, have rightfully received a lot of attention. Roy Miller, drafted in the third round in 2009, had a fantastic rookie year. These three men have practically been handed the starting positions/rotation with less than a fourth of training camp completed. It's a case of ultra-hype in full swing.
Why doesn't anyone remember the 16-game-starter defensive tackle which is still on the roster? Do they think he's just going to watch from the sidelines this year?
Youth will be served on the defensive front. It is clearly the direction General Manager Mark Dominik and Head Coach Raheem Morris are driving the team. Add in Dre Moore and you have two first year and two second year players with a grand total of one start among them all.
So you can't throw away experience just yet. And the Buccaneers obviously know it.
The rookies, along with Miller and Moore, still have much to learn about playing interior line in the NFL. A lot of it comes through playing time -- you have to experience it to understand it, then practice through it until you can defeat it. And each offensive line you come up against is a bit different. That's why interior linemen generally start slow and improve significantly during the first three years of their careers. Roy Miller was an exception last year. Perhaps one of the rookies will also be able to adapt quickly.
But until those young players get their time in, Ryan Sims, now the old man of the defense with 9 years of experience (one of the five eldest Buccaneers going into the 2010 season), has to be the one to provide a steady force next to the raw young talent in the middle of the four man Buccaneer front. The first half of the season is when he will need to be at his best. By the second half of the season, if all goes well, Sims should be even more effective as the rotation with the young players expands.
For the first half of the season, however, the guy that nobody talks about will be the guy with the biggest impact on the defensive line. And if his experience serves him well he will be a very significant part of a much improved defense in 2010.
Why doesn't anyone remember the 16-game-starter defensive tackle which is still on the roster? Do they think he's just going to watch from the sidelines this year?
Youth will be served on the defensive front. It is clearly the direction General Manager Mark Dominik and Head Coach Raheem Morris are driving the team. Add in Dre Moore and you have two first year and two second year players with a grand total of one start among them all.
So you can't throw away experience just yet. And the Buccaneers obviously know it.
The rookies, along with Miller and Moore, still have much to learn about playing interior line in the NFL. A lot of it comes through playing time -- you have to experience it to understand it, then practice through it until you can defeat it. And each offensive line you come up against is a bit different. That's why interior linemen generally start slow and improve significantly during the first three years of their careers. Roy Miller was an exception last year. Perhaps one of the rookies will also be able to adapt quickly.
But until those young players get their time in, Ryan Sims, now the old man of the defense with 9 years of experience (one of the five eldest Buccaneers going into the 2010 season), has to be the one to provide a steady force next to the raw young talent in the middle of the four man Buccaneer front. The first half of the season is when he will need to be at his best. By the second half of the season, if all goes well, Sims should be even more effective as the rotation with the young players expands.
For the first half of the season, however, the guy that nobody talks about will be the guy with the biggest impact on the defensive line. And if his experience serves him well he will be a very significant part of a much improved defense in 2010.
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