You know, in a way, it is good to know the 2011 schedule before personel decisions are made. With our tough schedule, if the Bucs want to win, they are going to have to add impact players to the team. Now the organization knows what lies ahead. Letting guys like Ruud go with no replacement is risky at best.

Perhaps not resigning Ruud will lead to the demise of the defense on an even larger scale and ultimately Raheem Morris, who couldn’t earn a Mark Dom type extension.

Casey Matthews fits that mold of good character/leader type. These types of players will run through a wall if you tell them. He isn’t Clay, as Justin states, but he could blossom just like him. High character. NFL pedigree. Leader. Plays ST’s. And what I like above all other stats and profile attributes in football is Natural Instinct. To play MLB you must run through the lion cage without spilling a drop of water, Daniel San. Smarts, quick’s and agility will get you in the correct position most of the time.

Ruud has the ability to do all that. I know Casey isn’t a sexy pick but the extreme need isn’t at MLB. After game 2 last year I told Joe that our OLB’s were the worst pair I’ve seen in a long time. QBlack has a very low understanding of the position that is why he is out of position most of the time. He couldn’t come up to stop a delayed handoff if his career depended on it.

I still think we go DE with the 1st pick.

Personally, I would rather put McKenzie in the lineup and let a rookie battle with him. No point in putting it off

I like Nate Irving and Greg Jones.
One of them will be fighting Tyrone McKenzie for the starting job next year…. maybe this year if (most likely when) Ruud signs for more than the Bucs want to pay with another team.