Tag Archives: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Arrelious Benn to the Buccaneers

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CFB: Iowa vs Illinois NOV 1

Wide receiver Arrelious Benn will be catching passes in the NFL from Josh Freeman after Tampa Bay traded up in the second round to draft him at 39th overall.

Benn has an impressive frame and great straight line speed with the ability to develop into a #1 wide receiver at the next level.  Benn declared for the draft as a junior despite a sub par career at Illinois.

It remains to be seen if Benn’s lack of production is a result of poor quarterback play or a lack of game breaking ability.

Arrelious Benn gives the Buccaneers a young wide receiver to build around for the future.  He will help replace the departed Antonio Bryant in 2010.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Team Report

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 3-13 | Offense: 28th | Defense: 27th

2009 Wrap-Up:

Green Bay Packers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The retro orange and white uniforms worn for several games in 2009 were a reminder of how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in the early years of their existence.

Several questionable front office and coaching change decisions resulted in a 3-13 record for the Buccaneers. Head coach Jon Gruden was shown the door in January and was replaced by the 33-year-old Raheem Morris. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was replaced by quarterbacks coach Greg Olson before the start of the season. The Buccaneers also allowed defensive coordinator Jim Bates to run a scheme that did not fit their personnel.

First round pick Josh Freeman was named the starting quarterback after a 0-7 start to the season. Freeman showed flashes of potential and won three starts down the stretch. Tampa Bay needs to surround Freeman with offensive weapons if there is any hope for him becoming a franchise quarterback.

Positions of Need:

1. Defensive Tackle – Roy Miller showed promise in his limited action as a rookie, but the Buccaneers had the worst run defense in the league allowing 158.2 yards per game. It is rare that you can fill your biggest area of need with one of the best prospects in the draft. However, if St. Louis selects a quarterback with the first overall selection the Buccaneers will have their choice of either Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy.

2. Wide Receiver – It has been reported that Antonio Bryant will not return to Tampa Bay. The current depth chart is lacking any big-play options. Seventh round steal Sammie Stroughter could develop into a top slot receiver, but the Buccaneers still need to draft at least two receivers. Several excellent options could be available at the top of the second round: Demaryius Thomas, Arrelious Benn, or Damian Williams.

3. Cornerback – Ronde Barber is not getting any younger and they need to find a replacement to pair with Aqib Talib in the secondary. If Tampa Bay goes with a receiver in the second round, they will have to take a risk on a player like Perrish Cox later in the draft.

4. Safety – Tanard Jackson missed the first four games with a suspension and Sabby Piscitelli has been a huge disappointment. Chad Jones from LSU or Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle could be late round steals and eventually step into the starting lineup.

5. Defensive End – The Buccaneers lack the players to consistently put pressure on the quarterback, but there are far greater needs on the roster. Greg Hardy and George Selvie have slid down draft boards and could be options.

6. Running Back – Cadillac Williams made a miraculous recovery from tearing the patellar tendon in both knees in the last two seasons. They lack a game-breaker in the backfield rotation; Derrick Ward was a huge disappointment and needs to bounce back.

7. Quarterback – Josh Freeman is entrenched as the starting quarterback. Josh Johnson will back up Freeman, but the Buccaneers may be wise to trade Johnson to a team in need of a quarterback, like the Rams. Freeman could use a veteran mentor to help him learn the NFL game, and he would not have to look over his shoulder and wonder if Johnson could take his job.

2010 Outlook:

General manager Mark Dominik will continue to rebuild the franchise through the draft. The Buccaneers are not expected to make any big splashes in free agency, but landing a blue chip player like Suh, McCoy or Eric Berry will be important for the future.

Tampa Bay should improve next season, but there are too many holes on the roster to become a playoff contender in 2010.

RookieDraft.com

2009 NFL Season Review: Rookie Quarterbacks

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The first round of the 2009 NFL Draft featured three young quarterbacks who have a bright future in the league.  We will review the rookie performances of Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman.

In any assessment, it is always best to evaluate your first impressions and thoughts.  In early July, we profiled each player with our analysis, projected stats, and player comparisons.

Quarterbacks – 2009 Season Preview – July 10, 2009

Each rookie quarterback threw for a higher number of interceptions than we expected, but even Peyton Manning threw a league high 28 interceptions in his 1998 rookie season.  Read on for our take on each quarterback.

Matthew Stafford – Lions
2009 Projected Stats – 2209 yards passing, 12 TD, 15 INT, 97 yards rushing, 1 TD
2009 Actual Stats – 2267 yards passing, 13 TD, 20 INT, 108 yards rushing, 2 TD

Green Bay Packers v Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions made Matthew Stafford their Week 1 starter at quarterback, and allowed him to take his lumps right out of the gate.  Stafford flashed enough potential to confirm the Lions made the right choice by taking him with the first overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Stafford led the Lions to an early season win over Washington that helped erase the memory of the winless 2008 team.  The Lions endured another tough season, but there is reason for hope in Detroit.

Stafford’s rookie season was cut short by injury and he was not given much help from his teammates.  His 20 interceptions are not alarming; Manning threw for 28 in his rookie season.  Stafford won over his teammates and the city of Detroit with his stirring last-second comeback win versus Cleveland in Week 11.  Stafford threw the game-winning touchdown with a dislocated shoulder he suffered on the second-to-last play of the game.  Once the Browns called a time out to align their goal line defense, Stafford dodged the trainers and coaching staff to take the final snap and throw for the game-winning touchdown.

Stafford represents a high-upside fantasy option as your backup quarterback in 2010.  Head Coach Jim Schwartz will continue to rebuild the Lions franchise from the ground up and Stafford should have an improved supporting cast to continue his development.

Mark Sanchez – Jets
2009 Projected Stats – 2408 yards passing, 11 TD, 12 INT, 67 yards rushing, 0 TD
2009 Actual Stats – 2444 yards passing, 12 TD, 20 INT, 106 yards rushing, 3 TD

Cincinnati Bengals v New York Jets

Mark Sanchez was named the Jets starter over veteran Kellen Clemens during the preseason by head coach Rex Ryan.  It proved to be a sound decision as the Jets were able to able to make the playoffs with their top overall defense and their power running game led by Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene.

In the preseason, we wrote that Sanchez’s rookie season would be similar to that of Joe Flacco’s rookie season in 2008.  Like Flacco, Sanchez managed the game for a playoff contender and converted the 3rd and long situations for the Jets offense.  Sanchez had an up-and-down season, and his rhythm seemed to be thrown off when wide receiver Braylon Edwards was acquired from the Cleveland Browns at midseason.  Sanchez was routinely let down by the untimely drops of Edwards after counting on Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller early in the season.  Ryan never lost confidence in his hand-picked quarterback, and the future looks bright in New York for Sanchez.

Mark Sanchez displayed all the necessary traits of a young franchise quarterback and his charisma and enthusiasm are a perfect fit to handle the fickle fans and media of New York.  Sanchez will eventually develop into a low-end fantasy starting quarterback, but he will have to contend with the swirling winds of the Meadowlands each winter.  The Jets will also remain a run-first offense under Rex Ryan, which could limit the value of Sanchez.  Sanchez will forever be linked to Matthew Stafford in his career and after one season, the early edge  has to go to Sanchez.

Josh Freeman – Buccaneers
2009 Projected Stats – 962 yards passing, 6 TD, 6 INT, 90 yards rushing, 0 TD
2008 Actual Stats – 1857 yards passing, 10 TD, 18 INT, 162 yards rushing, 0 TD

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Atlanta Falcons

Josh Freeman was handed the starting quarterback job by head coach Raheem Morris at midseason after the Buccaneers returned home from London, England.  Freeman received more playing time than we originally expected in the preseason, but the Buccaneers needed a spark after starting the season 0-7.  Freeman showed flashes of potential as he tried to live up to his first round selection and led the team to wins over the Packers, Seahawks, and Saints.

We were critical of the Buccaneers’ decision to reach for Freeman in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.  The Redskins also reached for their current quarterback, Jason Campbell in 2005, whose skill set and situation is almost identical to Freeman’s.  Both players share impressive physical tools, but would have been better suited in their development to sit and learn the NFL game first.

Freeman was not a starting fantasy option at quarterback in 2009 and the Buccaneers need to surround him with more offensive weapons to be an option in the future.  Freeman should develop into a capable starting NFL quarterback, but he will never develop into a top-tier franchise player.