Welcome To Big Boy Football, Rookies.
September 26th, 2010
Charlie Batch and the Steelers did a good job softening the Bucs' interior defense with punishing runs.
Prior to the season, Joe noted, with help from Pat Kirwan of NFL.com, Sirius NFL Network, CBSSports.com and whoever else cuts Kirwan a check, that Gerald McCoy and Brian Price were rookies. And there would be times when they played like rookies.
First-year defensive tackles often struggle. Even the best of them (ask Warren Sapp).
Those rookie moments came into play today. As Ross Tucker said earlier this week on Sirius NFL Radio, the Bucs, and rookies GMC and Price, were going to play big boy football this week, the Steelers.
Aside from the two bombs from Charlie Batch (Charlie Batch?), the Steelers from the second quarter on did a nice job of hammering the Bucs interior defense with Rashard Mendenhall for large chunks of real estate.
When the Steelers weren’t hurting the Bucs with the run, they were giving Batch way too much time to throw, which reinforces the premise that if you give any quarterback time he will hurt you.
Yes, GMC and Price did make some nice plays. But overall, against a rugged offensive line, the duo played like, well, rookies.
It was to be expected. Joe’s not knocking them at all. It’s part of the growing process in the NFL.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Lol, what do think, Joe? You reckon they learned a few things? Bet they are sore tonight! Lol. That’s the difference in being the best, and a SuperBowl favorite, or a talented young team on the rise! Pay attention fellas, your day appears to coming quicker than we thought!
September 26th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Im a little confused, is this the dynasty or the “lasting contenders”?
September 26th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Random side note: The defense has only given up 3 points in the 2nd half through 3 games.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Biggest loser on the field today was no rookie. It was Ruud. I’m over that guy.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Are we sure McCoy even played today. 🙂 Right on Joe.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
@ eric
Absolutely. We’re going to continue to fill our holes and add young explosive pieces. Today, as Joe said before, was a product of youthful mistakes and turnovers. The expectation for 6-8 wins is still right there for the taking.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
The Dolphins slipped Micah johnson to the practice squad earlier this week. Can we please grab him and see how he developes on the practice squad? It’s time to plan for next year because Ruud will not be here.
September 26th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Can’t do that JDouble. If we sign a player off of another team’s practice squad, they have to be signed to the 53-man roster. We can’t add him to our practice squad.
September 26th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Hopefully they learn from the many mistakes today so they young players don’t make them down the road. I’m still encouraged, especially by Blount’s play. Hopefully he can be the power back we need to set up the pass.
September 26th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
BamBamBucs, I’m pretty sure we just did that with Desmond Briscoe. We just offered him more money than the typical practice squad salary. Besides, I think Micah is still on waivers.
September 26th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
woo hoooooooooooo 6-8 wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9-7 was a disgrace…………..
September 26th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I was at the game today. There must have been 40% Steelers fans in the stands at the beginning of the game. By then end, when everyone was going home it seemed more like 90%. Very depressing.
September 26th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
On TV all I saw was empty red seats and yellow towels. It was depressing.
September 26th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Briscoe was waived, and several teams (including Cincy) made offers to sign him to their practice squad. The Bucs outbid the other teams. A player must be picked up off waivers to be placed on the practice squad. If they are already on a practice squad, they must be signed to the 53-man roster.
September 26th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@ eric
C’mon man we’ve discussed this all offseason. Winning 9 games with scotch tape and bubble gum and not having an iota of a chance to win the Super Bowl versus winning 6-8 games with a team whose core is young, talented and can only get better is simply the better of the two scenarios.
September 26th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Yeah six wins will feel soooooooooooooooo good.
September 27th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Eric- so that’s what you have to offer us? You stay quiet when the team wins. You just hover around like a vulture, waiting for us to lose a game. Then you start trying to convince us that the sky is falling, and the team sucks- really? That’s all you have to offer as a poster? A fan ? A human being? I mean, that’s your whole thing, just waiting around, hoping for something bad ta happen? Dude- that’s just gay! And pathetic ! Go get a life, and be a storm crow somewhere else. We are 2-1, tied for first. Your opinions you’ve been spewing all summer have proven to be full of S*^%! While I keep hoping you are a true fan, you keep proving you are not, and are nothing more than a sad person, who wallows in self loathing and misery! I don’t pretend to know why with you- although the rest were easy to figure:). But it’s sad. What would turn someone that intelligent into such a hateful person, with only glimpses of being contented. It couldn’t have been pleasant!
September 27th, 2010 at 12:26 am
I do have to say this, Eric. Your post over the last Six months have often been contradictory to the point of manifesting a duoism, or split personality. It usually is escapist mechanism that displays itself during abusive childhood episodes. In conjunction with a higher than usual intelligence, it is the first and foremost characteristic of prominence when profiling traits of re- occurring violent behavior. It especially is the most sigular common characteristic of serial killers. Eric, you do have people you talk to, other than us, I hope. A network of friends seems very important for you, considering some of your depressive and conflicting patterns.