Derrick Ward Runs Wild For Houston
October 4th, 2010
Surely there were plenty of surprised Bucs fans watching NFL highlights yesterday.
Front and center on all the networks was Kardashian-chasing Derrick Ward busting a first-quarter, 33-yard touchdown run for the Houston Texans in his first significant action of the season.
Ward finished the day with 80 yards on 12 carries. Very impressive, especially off the bench.
Now Joe went on and on during the preseason and offseason that the Bucs’ running backs were average at best. However, Joe made it clear that Ward, along with the other veterans, were excellent No. 2 running backs. The point was the Bucs only had a stable of quality reserve backs in Ward, Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham.
That’s why Joe was a bit concerned when Ward was cut and thought he likely would have a solid season with his new team. The concern was not because Ward is a great player, it was because of who was behind him (Kareem Huggins) and who was in front of him (Cadillac Williams), plus Graham’s move to fullback and that Ward had shown real flashes in the third preseason game against Jacksonville.
It was Joe’s opinion, at the time of final cuts, that the Bucs could have used the depth Ward offered. And it perplexed Joe a bit that Bucs staff members and St. Pete Times beat writer Rick Stroud,were saying the Ward release was, in part, about money. Because Joel Glazer did say “money will never be an issue.”
Regardless, Joe gets that the plan is to build with young players, and Ward was never going to be around here to raise the Lombardi Trophy. So there wasn’t much point to keeping him, even if the Bucs could have used him.
October 4th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
good for Derrick Ward…We moved on so dont really care but im happy for him…We have some very good young RB here so it was a win win
October 4th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Figures he would be productive once he left the Bucs.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Yea sure. Let’s see what he does next week.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
He has one decent game against a lousy team. So what. I am not sad he’s gone. The guy was a horrible locker room presence, so good riddance.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I’m glad he’s gone as well.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Better coaching!!!
October 4th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Good riddance to that chubby Lil slacker
October 4th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
He needed oxygen after that run.
October 4th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I think it even has to do with our coaching, not just the O-line. Shanahan and Kubiak’s offensive schemes always favor running game, I know for a fact we do not have such a creative schemer and coach in Olson.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
When all is said and done this year we’ll match Blounts numbers to wards and see who comes up lame and who comes up game. Blount is going to be the sword that cuts a hell of a lot more than the bag of wind ward produced.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
WTB, While I agree that Blount will be a load one day, it takes more than being a load to gaining big yardage. It take a line & an OC with the right plays called. My money is on Ward for that reason alone!
October 4th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
This makes me tend to believe that perhaps the problems running the ball for the Bucs was a mixture of play calling and the offensive line not getting good explosion off the ball and driving defenders back. We seem to pass block ok but the run blocking sucks. If Blount can not get it going for us then I know it is the lines fault. No one is going to convince me that out of all of the running backs that have been and are on our roster, that they all are sub par. D Ward did good with NY and looked good for Houston. What does that tell me????? Different offensive lines that’s what!!!!
October 4th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Even Caddi has broke a few big runs that have been called back due to flags being thrown for holding or other stupid call. The Buccaneers will establish the run this year and Blount object will be the man who makes it happen we have a young angry line who needs a little dicipline and bang things are going to happen execution is the problem not the play calling the are made to work if executed correctly hitting the hole following the blocks running with a purpose not jumping the snap or holding these guys will get it together in due time
October 4th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Blount has the character of a starving dog folowing a meat wagon he’s mean and hungry and has something to prove there’s no 8 figure salary negotiations for him yet so he playing for one
October 4th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Do they have zone blocking on offense?
October 4th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Caddy wont make the dynasty either. Cut someone cause they won’t be here when you win a championship. Man these Glazer boys have this town and media wrapped around their fingers.
Convoluted logic. Give the Glazers and Dom a pass cause it doesnt matter if they have good players? When they were the ones that brought Ward in to begin with?
Pretty sad Joe.
When will anybody in this town ever stand up and call BS on these guys?
October 4th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Big freakin deal..he had a good day against Oakland…/golfclap; I’m waiting for Blount to start running fools over, and so is my fantasy team!
October 4th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Joe here,
Eric – Who’s logic are you referring to?
At some point, every fan has to digest what they’re feeding us and deal with it. That doesn’t mean they get a pass.
Already called BS here 100 times when the Bucs and the Glazers went the free agency route in Year 1 of the new regime and then decried it’s evil ways. Of course, there was a salary cap floor to reach last year, which likely played a role.
The game all changes again with a new CBA.
Agree or disagree, the Glazers gutted the team and have put out a new plan. You and Joe may not like it, but they’re following it and they’re 2-1. There’s really not much to call BS without looking backwards. And what’s the point of that right now?
October 4th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Joe,
“It is what it is” is the very essence of a pass. The Bucs have played three games this year. The new regimes record is 5-14. Were all supposed to throw up our hands and accept the “plan” as valid at this point? After two wins against the lowly panthers and Browns?
Signing a free agent one year and cutting him the next cause he wont be here when you hoist the trophy is totally illogical. If that were true then Caddy, Winslow, Barber and probably a few others need to be released too.
I view the “oh it doesnt matter cause he wouldnt be here when they win anyway” to be a total pass. Eliminates any accountability.
October 4th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Joe here,
Eric – I think the question here is when is it time to stop sounding the alarms and banging the drum that we’re on the second plan in two years and they screwed up to historic proportions in 2009? The games are on, and it will play out in a few short months.
And who says the plan is valid?
The accountability to their new plan plays out on the field, and in the attendance and corporate interest in the team.
The accountability doesn’t go away just because it isn’t talked about as often. Crap, we’re still all talking about drafts, plays and happenings 10+ years ago. The record is as plain as day and it really can’t be misinterpreted, although it is twisted and manipulated every day by posters here.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
“From beneath his slouched hat Ahab dropped a tear into the sea; nor did all the Pacific contain such wealth as that one wee drop.”
October 4th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Ward is 30 and is average at best. The whole Texans team avg 7yds a pop on almost 40 rushes that game. Foster tore them up.
With Ward gone, we get a chance to look at the Beast, Legarrette Blount!
October 5th, 2010 at 12:14 am
Ward had a single good game because the Texans are hurting for healthy running backs. Foster was supposed to be a practice squad guy, but was forced into action when every running back got hurt (kinda like Earnest Graham a few years ago for us). Ward had one good game against the Raiders who also let Foster run all over them. Ward is also playing for a contract again, kinda like his last year with the Giants. Guess he plays harder when he wants a bigger paycheck.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Ok Joe,
Perhaps I overreacted. I am prone to do so from time to time.
🙂
October 5th, 2010 at 11:05 am
If you guys have ever played fantasy football than you know everyone in the NFL has a great game now and then. None of these guys suck, they are all great in different degrees. Sometimes teams just match up good as well. His performance means nothing to or for the Bucs, so who really cares what he is doing.
October 5th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Houston has the personnel, experience and are successfully executing a ZBS system.
Not really a shocker that Ward (a ZBS style runner) has some success.
October 5th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Wow!!! 80 yards!!! I guess 80 yards is the new 100 yards!!! Derrick Ward is a no heart bum and will only do marginally better with the Texans. He had one big year behind an O-line that turned in one of if not the best run blocking performances of all time that season. There is no question the Bucs made the right decision.