Agreed!! We did handle the RB position in the draft. Martin is a Stud and Smith is a hidden Gem, well at least I hope. Giving them to Earnest Byner to coach them up will get the most out of those kids. Blount, ,Martin, Smith , Lorig, and Hughes just got better this year.

Blount AND Martin?!!?!

Plus a 4.3 speedback?

Dude. We handled our lack of RB depth in the draft.

“Ahem. How do you know that? How many block buster hits came out of last years draft. A few? Even if you name 10…sorry to break it to you, but that’s not a deeply great draft class.”

Well last I remember all the media and even MD called it the deepest draft class in a while, so now they’re all wrong but not you?

Considering Wright a “good” player is completely arbitrary, the other two were great in the systems they used to play that doesn’t mean that they will be as good, Jackson can’t help Freeman be more accurate neither can Nicks help our RBs not fumble the ball or stop the run… With that said I will not be surprised if we go 14-2 as well as 2-14 and if I have to put money on it I would say we have a better chance of being mediocre than good, that’s all. We often forget that one team its going to suck on any given year. And like last year I think we will have such faith even when my hard says no, just because we had a lot of changes.
That said I hope I’m wrong and we move forward I’m tired of coaching changes and ok teams it’s time we build a winner here, will believe it when I see it…

Coaches and players will tell you the whole “mentor” thing is highly overrated, that’s what coaches are for.

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I’m sorry, Brandon, but you are mistaken. The reality is that veteran players don’t just lead on the field by example, they lead off the field as well. They spend personal time with the young players, imparting wisdom.

And veteran players on the field can teach in different ways than coaches. In fact, in many cases, coaches teach game plans, not technique.

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Fin Says:
May 6th, 2012 at 9:51 am

Macabee – Graham was the No. 2 running back and third-down back and not the fullback. Your chart is off.

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You are mistaken.

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Oh, goody…a fun one:

k_bassuka Says:
May 6th, 2012 at 11:53 am

1) …why will they want to come here for? Yeah we are all hype about our chances next year but we felt the same way the year before and look what happened…

2) …After all last year we heard about how winners are built through the draft and from within, now all of the sudden a couple of what seem to be good FA acquisitions and a draft class that is not seen as the great draft class of last year, and to tap it off a rookie HC that in case you forgotten wasn’t the first or the second or the third option for this team…

Yeah, I thought so. I still will cheer for the team and hope we win it all, but just like last year I’m not drinking the cool aid at least not quite yet…

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1) There is a huge difference between this year and last…experience. After completing the defensive line by getting our defensive ends last year, with a healthy Price and a healthy GMC, many fans falsely assumed it would be a bed of roses. First..the lack of an off season program had to affect things.

Most fans did not consider that the line needed time to mesh. Expecting a defense with two 2nd year DTs, 2 Rookie DEs and 1 Rookie MLB to excel was misguided. And I even said so before last season started.

This year, we have our 2 DEs with experience behind them, and we actually have depth at DT now. We know we have something great in Clayborn and there is a good chance we will in Bowers as well.

2) Wow. Where do I start? Okay, first off, the team WAS built thru the draft. Even THIS YEAR. Mark Dominick clearly stated all along…you build through the draft, you plug holes thru free agency.

They have not departed from that and it is working.

“…now all of the sudden a couple of what seem to be good FA acquisitions…”

You’ve got to be kidding me. Eric Wright would be considered a “good” free agent. Nicks and Jackson are GREAT free agents. The offensive line got upgraded at guard and center (I hope at center).

Josh Freeman made mistake last year because he didn’t have a system he could trust. He’s in the best shape of his life this year, and he has top-of-the-line coaching. HE could well have 4,500 years this year. Certainly, given the way his new coaches teach, he will not make the same mistakes.

“…and a draft class that is not seen as the great draft class of last year…”

Ahem. How do you know that? How many block buster hits came out of last years draft. A few? Even if you name 10…sorry to break it to you, but that’s not a deeply great draft class.

If you are referring to our own drafted players from last year…take a good look at Clayborn. Remember Bowers only played part of the season, and he improved from game to game.

And FINALLY, the main reason things are different…NO LOCKOUT. The rookies this year, and the Rookies from last year, will finally have the benefit of coaching this year before the season starts. Blount, who has not had an off season training program since he started playing two years ago will finally have one…and he will be coached right.

See, k_bassuka, here’s the problem I have with your words. They are short-sighted and thoughtless. By this I mean you consider the disaster of last year without considering the cause of the disaster.

Like it or not, no matter what you, Thomas or anyone else tries to claim…there was more to last season than bad coaching. The Packers did well because they had experience. We didn’t. It’s the nature of the beast when you rebuild thru the draft.

So what if we had a bad season last year. What does it matter now? What does matter is that we recognize not only the problems from last year, but the solutions that have taken place.

’nuff said!

Yeah, I thought so. I still will cheer for the team and hope we win it all, but just like last year I’m not drinking the cool aid at least not quite yet…

And yes, after his last injury and given his age and wear and tear? Earnest Graham is probably going to retire and be remembered as a very popular team player and Buccaneer. Who doesn’t like Earnest Graham? Or Carnell Williams for that matter?

What’s the point? Go to the Skyway now and save yourself the pain you know is coming. AND SPARE US!!!!

Ahmard Hall
Mike Sellers
Moran Norris
Owen Schmitt