Asomugha Is A Lousy Fit
July 19th, 2011
Joe’s not on the Nnamdi Asomugha bandwagon like many other Bucs fans. Heck, a poll on this here site two weeks ago saw about 27 percent of readers claim Asomugha should be the Bucs’ No. 1 priority in free agency.
Keeping it simple, Joe believes the Bucs don’t need a cornerback, and they surely don’t need one at Asomugha’s projected $19 million price tag.
Former Bucs QB Shaun King offered a take yesterday on The King David Show on 1010 AM explaining, in part, why he has no interest in Asomugha for the Bucs.
“Worst thing you can do is pay a cornerback big money and he comes in and plays a Tampa 2,” King said.
His comments came on the heels of explaining the Bucs play “60-70 percent” Cover 2 defense at this point and Asomugha is a man-to-man specialist who hasn’t been in the Bucs’ kind of system. King added: you don’t build a defense around a cornerback.
Fans can keep dreaming. But Joe would much rather see the Bucs spend the money in other areas. Cornerback has to be a low priority.
July 19th, 2011 at 8:44 am
I have always said Nnamdi is just too expensive. You can’t be cheap with everyone in the lockerroom and then pay a guy on another team this much money to come in.
But we should go after the second tier of CBs very hard. Joseph or Cromartie (and all his kids) would be good.
July 19th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Joe, I have no problem with your analysis. The problem however is the Glazers promised that when we had a team capable of making a Super Bowl run they would step up to the table and sign some valuable free agents to take us over the top. Well its time Glazers… We have the team and yet I can almost bet at the end of free agency Mark Dominick is going to be preaching that we won’t be going that route and want to build with youth. I love the youth but we HAVE to have a free agent signing or to just to give the fans the knowledge the Glazers want to win!!! We have the lowest payroll in the league Glazers its time to step up to the table.
July 19th, 2011 at 8:52 am
I agree Gary. Get good talent and good fit and not bust the bank on the CB position. I think we need to spend more on Oline and Lbs/DTs FAs.
Could you imagine if our Oline was B+ and not C-?
July 19th, 2011 at 9:06 am
i think raheem and dominik have made it fairly obvious that they prefer to draft thier corners and raise them in the system. don’t expect any of the big name corners to be coming to the bucs.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:15 am
Well, shoot. I agree with everyone! I too am not on the Asomugha bandwagon.
@Nick2 I hope you are inferring that we spend big money in other areas as a “push to get over the top” and not inferring that we spend big money on Aso. Like Chris said, I’d rather see us add a veteran manbeast to our d-line or LB corps, or even another RB or (gasp) FB. Our secondary is the teams strongest unit. Lets get some dominating help elsewhere (I would LOVE to see Babin come here on a 1-2 yr contract. Talk about dominant D-line on every snap)
July 19th, 2011 at 9:18 am
What Shaun King is describing is similar to what happened to Phillip Buchanon. Tampa 2 just wasn’t the scheme for him.
With that being said, signing Asomugha will do nothing but help this team. He is not a necessity, but he is a playmaker. I’d make a push for him only if we need to spend big bucks to meet the minimum of the cap.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Why are we so set on changing or adding defensive backs and that was arguably the strength of the defense last year? How about keeping the focus on the two biggest weaknesses of the team, D-line and Linebacker. Both need play makers badly. We do not need Asomugha.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:28 am
u want a CB??? u can get jonathan joseph, a good CB and way cheap than namdi
July 19th, 2011 at 9:32 am
The reason the Trailblazers didn’t draft Michael Jordan is because they said he didn’t fit their system. I think we can adjust. Not to mention, we are going to have to spend major coin just to reach the salary floor.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:32 am
2 Olinemen, 1 RB, 1-2nd tier CB. That’s all the (market) FA I need to see…
July 19th, 2011 at 9:39 am
I love it, Joe. Thanks for a cold hard slap in the face to all the Asomugha crazies first thing in the morning. Dang, it feels good to be a gangster!
@aldo stole the words right out of my mouth.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:40 am
@ Joe –
I’ll admit – I would love to see Nnamdi in Red and Pewter, but fully realize that it is a luxury. I firmly believe that Davin Joseph is our #1 priority, followed by Ruud. I’m curious – what (who) does Joe think the Bucs top 5 (or 10) free agent priorities are? Thanks
July 19th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Follow on point – any chance that Grimes doesn’t re-sign with Atlanta? He seems to have Freeman’s number and is a good, solid corner.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:46 am
@Espo Asomugha is the antithesis of a playmaker. He never makes any plays. Which is a huge knock on him.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:55 am
The system works best with a pass rush which the team has invested in through the draft. I would be happier with us going after a quality DE (Vet) to help our young guys grow AND create pressure rather than a 20 million a year CB when the team does not seem to be parting ways with Talib and they have Myron Lewis who looks to be very solid in need of snaps and experience.
I have never understood the “Glazers need to spend to show the fans….” stance. You spend when and where it makes sense to make the team better for a run at the trophy. This is the year to sign the guys that have proven worth in the lockerroom and to get the few other impact players to make a run. This years camp cuts will be painful for fan favorites IMO as the team should be looking to upgrade a few spots where folks have gotten very comfortable.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Well said Derek.
July 19th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Let me be clear, I don’t think we need to sign a Free Agent JUST to show the fans. Most playoff teams don’t have the lowest payroll in the league and most playoff teams have meager free agent aquisitions. I know the fans think we can continue to turn our nose up at free agents but please there are many examples where free agents took a team over the top. If the fans don’t think the Glazers owe them anything then let them remember they pocketed alot of TV money last year with the lowest payroll. The taxpayers will pay for the stadium big screen upgrade and to me the Glazers are coming out pretty well in all of this. If you tell me there is not a high value free agent that the bucs could use I think your nuts.
July 19th, 2011 at 10:06 am
I wouldn’t mind a new C/RT/LG. Tyson Clabo(ATL), Doug Free(DAL),or Jared Gaither(BAL) for RT. Justin Blaylock(ATL) and Darren Colledge(GB) for LG. I would be all for plugging Zuttah into Center and parting ways with Faine.
July 19th, 2011 at 10:08 am
@Nick2 All the Glazer’s owe the fans is a winning team. They did that last year and there is no reason to believe it will be different this year or in the near future.
July 19th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Why are people so hell bent on CB?
They have Talib and Barber starting with Biggers and Lewis backing up. Then they have the rookie Gaitor to develop.
Talib, Barber, and Biggers are 3 starting CBs and many feel Lewis will be the starter over Biggers within a year.
This is a deep group.
I see them signing there own guys back first and foremost.
If they lose Caddy and Ruud and/or Black….
Then signing a RB and another LB is priority 1 & 1a.
If Price and/or Bowers appear to be delayed (which Price does appear to be going on the PUP), then priority 2 is probably getting another D-Lineman…. or 2.
I left O-Line out because I think signing Joseph & Trueblood back are no brainers for the depth & continuity of the O-Line BUT, if for some remote reason they do not get those guys back, then signing O-Lineman for depth is on the list too.
I also expect to see another WR coming to camp, probably a tier 2-3 type guy. Mainly because I do not like what I am hearing about Briscoe not working out with ANYONE all off season, not going to the mini-camp and falling in the draft because some teams questioned his work ethic.
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!1 We can end speculation this weekend and elt FA begin!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:14 am
I don’t care what defense you run… having a true shut down corner is always a good idea. I seriously doubt The Bucs would sign Aso and tell him to play cover 2, that would be idiotic. You sign him and tell him take away the opponents biggest weapon… every week, period. If you can’t find room in your defense for a guy to do that, then you are an ideologue. This would give Morris a lot of flexibility when calling defenses.
I guess I am in the minority, but when the 2nd best cornerback in the league becomes available in free agency and my team needs to spend like 60 million to get to the salary floor, I’d like to see them take a shot.
July 19th, 2011 at 10:28 am
For all the naysayers who say the Glazers have done all they need to do??? Lowest payroll in the league???? Come on man!!!! The Glazers ddi not put that team on the field, Mark Dominick pulled it off. Yes they hired him but they also hired two coordinators offense and defense that were disasterers. And here are two names for people who think free agents don’t work out. DREW BREES and MICHAEL TURNER. Enough said………
July 19th, 2011 at 10:35 am
@thedeej3000 It would give any flexibility nor would it put Nnamdi on the opponents best receiver. Nnamdi explicitly plays the #2 CB position. All teams would have to do is not line their best receiver in the #2 spot and it takes away him as a threat to the #1WR. He would never play Roddy White, Colston, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, i.e. none of the top relievers we will be facing this year.
He rarely makes plays in the running game too. We would effectively being paying one guy $20 million or so a year to only shut down #2 WRs. That is a ridiculous waste of money.
July 19th, 2011 at 10:40 am
Spot on Mauha!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:44 am
I think he’d be a great fit. Raheem isn’t a strict adherent to the Cover 2 style, and having TWO shutdown corners would allow the team to try some new things on defense – maybe blitz with the safeties and linebackers a bit more often?
July 19th, 2011 at 10:46 am
@Nick 2 For Every Drew Brees or Michael Turner there are two Angelo Crowell’s or Ryan Sims.
July 19th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Barber is 38. Talib is a thug, who is constantly in trouble. I think Lewis will be a great starter. I think Biggers may be a good starter.
We play Atlanta twice a year. You know- Matt Ryan , Julio jones, Roddy White, etc. They play 3 WR offense, frequently 4 WR in the game at one time.
We Play New Orleans twice a year- Drew Breeze and Marquis Colston.
Let’s say Ronde loses a step this year. It’s gonna happen- sooner than later. No other 38 year old CBs in the league for a reason.
Now They prove Talib fired a gun. Or he does his next stupid act and gets suspended.
We have Lewis, Biggers, Mack, and Gaitor. To face Ryan and Breeze. You gotta be kidding me. Until we can beat those two – no playoffs.
If you think Barber will remain ageless, and Talib will remain CEO sleds, then I’m ok with our secondary. But Barber is old, and Talib is getting worse, not better. Anyone who thinks our secondary is a strength is blind
July 19th, 2011 at 11:01 am
@Nick
I just don’t see your point. What does us having the lowest payroll have to do with anything? I’m very proud of our frugal owners. Think about what you are saying, man! What if we were already near the salary cap and we could ONLY sign Davin Joseph back and then had to pick up 2-3rd string guys to fill the gaps?
We have an opportunity, nay, an obligation AND the ability to add loads of talent because we are so far under cap ON TOP OF the talent we already have groomed in house!
What do the Glazers owe us? To keep doing what they’re doing, because obviously it is working.
July 19th, 2011 at 11:03 am
No need to comment here. Everybody nailed it!!
July 19th, 2011 at 11:33 am
Sorry I cannot be proud of frugal owners. I am sure they are proud every time they look at their bank balance but if you tell me you have the most frugal owners in the league that generally does not work out well. God help us if the Glazers remain the most frugal owners in the NFL in the next decade. You might love that Jrock but I have no tolerance for owners that will not reinvest in their team. When Legarrette Blount’s time comes to resign him I hope frugal is not the operating word. Frugal ownership is not the way to go.
July 19th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Remember the Culverhouses???? Frugal as they get!!!
July 19th, 2011 at 11:42 am
@ JRock-
Clearly you have no idea how the salary cap/floor works.
1- This team will HAVE to spend roughly $60M in two weeks. You can make an argument against bringing Asomugha in if you want, but money should not play a part in the discussion.
2- As mentioned by a few other posters, Shuan King has no idea what he’s talking about. This defense plays way less than 50% zone coverage, and I would also add that Raheem will customize his game calling to his talent on the field. Asomugha + Talib = more man coverage; more aggressive play calling.
3- For those who say “we don’t need him,” then you are saying that Asomugha is the same talent level as EJ Biggers & Myron Lewis. Come on. If you believe Asomugha is an upgrade (and you’re an idiot if you don’t think that) then you should be pushing for the Bucs to go out and sign him.
4- I’m sick of people saying that Dom & the Glazers have some sort of strict adherence to not signing free agents or bringing in high priced vets. Ask Keyshawn, Simeon, or even Albert Haynesworth if that’s the case. Hell, just last yr Rah said he would have pushed harder to sign Peppers had he known how good we’d be. That statement right there shows that Rah believes the Glazers will spend if asked to, and that Dom will go after big names if asked to. This front office wanted to build through the draft and then add pieces through FA. This team is built…..it’s time to start adding veteran talent.
July 19th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Joe’s right. Spend the money on our own players to keep them here.
We need consistency more than splash.
Josh Freeman and Mike Williams, among others, are going to cost a lot of dough. Use it for those guys and keep drafting good players. Stay young and be competitive for many years. FA is over rated when it comes to signing mid aged players from other teams.
July 19th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
I have ZERO problem not signing NA. Too much money on a guy that won’t be the emphasis is not a good idea, especially when we’ll have bigger contracts to fry in 2-4 years (Freeman, M. Williams, Blount, young DLinemen, young CBs) and cap room disappears before you know it.
The T-2 is based on two things, gap control/discipline and pressure/speed. Typically CBs don’t have to be great for the T-2 to be extremely effective. The focus of the T-2 is mostly up the middle in the UT, RDE, WLB, MLB, and SS. The CBs just need to have good ball skills and be solid in run support. Signing NA and running mostly T-2 would be an extreme waste of his talent.
That being said, if we were to sign NA, again, I have no problem. He is an older CB but I see him being a Charles Woodson-type player for the Packers and playing some CB, playing some FS (he played 50% of his snaps at Cal at FS), and playing NB. The Bucs do run man a lot more than they used to, and like the Cowboys in the early 90’s with Deion, defenses can be designed where only one player is in man-to-man to take out the opponent’s best WR and NA can do that. Great coaches find ways to utilize their players’ talents, not try to cram round pegs into square holes (Jim Bates).
July 19th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Garv:
Two things:
1) If the Bucs only needed one cornerback to put them over the top into a Super Bowl, sure. Get this guy. The Bucs have far more bigger needs (outside linebacker springs to mind).
2) Rhetorical question: If Nmandi is signed, who sits, Ronde Barber or Aqib Talib?
July 19th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
I’m with Capt. Tim. While everything looks peachy now, we’re walking on thin ice with our 2 top starters.
I love Lewis and Biggers just as much as the next guy – probably more – but they’re inexperienced and there is NO ONE behind them. Mack is terrible unless he’s in zone. Gaitor is an undersized rookie, even though he has some potential.
I also think Shaun King is still living in 2004 because there’s no way we play that much cover 2 anymore and it looks like Raheem is trying to gradually work away from using it even more.
I’m not saying we should sign Asomugha, but anybody who thinks we’re all set at corner is kidding themselves or just unrealistic. Besides, wasn’t it our own GM, Mark Dominik, who said “you can never have enough cornerbacks?”
July 19th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Joe:
1) Absolutely right, however, a good player is a good player and there aren’t many good outside linebackers that fit our system in this FA class. Plus, we have good depth there. I don’t see too much going on there unless we lose both Black and Ruud and we still won’t do much.
2) Barber would play the slot and would be out there more often than not, especially since he’s almost like a little linebacker/corner hybrid. Corners have to be rotated often because of how exhausting the position is, so the more the merrier.
July 19th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I also just noticed CreamsicleBananaHammock’s post. Well said, man.
July 19th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Joe I agree we have other more pressing issues than cornerback. If there are any middle linebackers besides Ruud up for grabs go get them. Secondily IF we did sign Nmandi then Barber sits hands down. Hate to say it but his days of one and one coverage are probably behind him and like other posts here said we have played more man coverage in the last two years than the Bucs have played in the last 10. We are not a strict Cover 2 team anymore and Raheem will tell you that.
July 19th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thanks, Fish
It’s not about Ronde or Aqib “sitting.” Ronde played mostly in the slot last yr…..was NOT on the field 100% of the time last year.
Second, I’ll throw some praise back at Fish. Everybody’s saying “we have other needs.” Point me to a player out there at linebacker that’s worthy of the chunk of money that the Bucs HAVE TO SPEND.
You sign Namdi for $19M +/-…..you still have $40M THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND. Yea, Freeman will get a nice extension…..Davin will get his, maybe they’ll franchise Ruud……still gets you nowhere near the salary floor.
July 19th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Mauha Deeb. you’re right. he doesn’t make plays. He doesn’t need to if noone throws the ball his way. Do you know what a luxury it is to have someone who cuts the field in half?
July 19th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
“He rarely makes plays in the running game too. We would effectively being paying one guy $20 million or so a year to only shut down #2 WRs. That is a ridiculous waste of money.”
You just described an expensive Brian Kelly. He worked out just fine for us if I remember. Are you saying teams don’t have more than one receiving threat? I’m very high on Biggers and Gaitor and fully expect Talib to play every game this year. I’m just saying that a team can’t have enough quality DBs. If we have to spend a bunch of cash to meet the floor, then AFTER we reward our own players long run, why not make a run at this guy?
July 19th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Te bottom line is that the Glazers have been screwing us for years, they need to increase spending by $59 million this year. No wonder they can’t sell out
Tampa Stadium. When you sell tickets, you have to split the gate with the visiting team. When you steal from the salary pool, you get to keep 100%.
Funny how certain cheapskate and conniving religions are drawn to professional sports, politics and mass media.
July 19th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Good post by Fish and Creamsicle! Money is not a factor for this team right now. It’s not ” Nnamdi and that’s it”. I fully expect( as I’ve said for months!) several major signings. I agree , Joe. I think OLB(both) are a bigger concern! But- we could, at any moment, lose Ronde( age, but god I hope not!!) and Talib( just being Talib!). Then we are in crisis mode! Now, we adress it before it happens! At 38, Ronde won’t mind a reduced work load! If, IF Talib can mature- then we have a great secondary, and will be able to do the unthinkable- shutdown Matty Ice( ugh) and Drew Breeze! That’s how we win the south! Not with LBers, or fullbacks!! You shut down two over the leagues best passing attacks with the leagues best secondary. It’s that simple. You don’t have to be Darwin to evolve your thinking into that senario. Add some youthful pressure upfront, sone rarely seen man coverage by 3 -6’2″ cornerbacks( Nnamdi, Talib,Lewis), and then match our offense against their defense- WINNER!
Again- now picture us with Lewis, Biggers,and Mack! Lewis is gonna be great. But I’m not happy about that match up against our two division rivals.
July 19th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I can’t even argue that we need a LB more than we need a CB. But name me one LB that will be available that will make this defense better than bringing in the best CB in the game?
Last, name one LB out there that we wouldn’t be able to sign even if we did grab NA.
July 19th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
CreamsicleBananaHammock,
I can’t. Good point.
July 19th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
There are better ways to spend the money (ATL OLineman, LB, J.Joseph) – I get it, Im with it.
But please stop with the “he doesn’t fit the system” talk.
Namdi is a beast, super-elite. ..Rah would figure out a way to use him.
July 19th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Nnamdi is a once in a generation talent- or close to it! He shuts down entire sides of the field. He is the very best. You change your defense to allow his skills to win games for you. The minute he puts on Red and Pewter, rival coaches start changing game plans. He is the best CB in football, and dominates top receivers. In a pass oriented league- he is the single best defense. According to “Pro Football Report” this morning, they believe it is down to us or Green Bay. I hope it’s us. He will change the way Atlanta and New Orleans play against us. If Talib can learn to grow up with him, we can have the leagues best CornerBacks. That’s the sort if edge that wins Playoff games. This guy coming here will be a turning point for this team, and we will be contenders for years to come. He changes our defense from ” developing” to dangerous. The guy is a badass!
July 19th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@Espo, he doesn’t cut the field in half. He takes away one receiver and that is it. It is always the #2 or #3 receiver as well.
July 19th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
lets get Ray Edwards and Paul Poslusny (not sure about the spelling of his name) then sign a speedy RB. but befor we do any of that lets get Davin under contract. i would love Nnamdi but if you feel like getting into a biding war with other teams on a player you “dont” really need then your gonna miss out on other players who will slip through the cracks. if CB is a must then Joseph is a great player thats more cost effective. remember its still a business. if you sign a player just to reach a cap floor chances are your overpaying, lets get some depth because injuries seem to haunt us. LETS GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 19th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I just dont see them signing Namda or whoever,did anyone hear what the coach told the reporter during the draft ?He said that he is a def.backs coach he can turn the reporter into a nfl cornerback thats my forte,I do not need to spend a high pick on that pos.
July 19th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
@Deeb
1 out of 2, whichever one that is, = 1/2
1 out of 3 = 1/3
July 19th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
How is cornerback a low priority? You guys overrate E.J. Biggers so much it’s unbelievable. If Talib is suspended we’ll have Biggers and Myron getting embarrassed by Calvin Johnson, Roddy White and Reggie Wayne.
Please don’t speculate on what our young corners COULD do. Sign Asomugha, protect your ass from the almost certainty that Talib misses time and/or screws up in the future. We have 59 million dollars to spend, so spend it.
July 19th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
And the idea that this guy is too old is also ridiculous. Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey and Ronde Barber are all older vets still playing at a high level. We could certainly get 5-6 years out of this guy.
July 19th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
i posted b4 i read creamsicles post about cap floor, i gota say wen u put it like that it looks beter. if i HAD to spend $59 mil i dont think i would buy a ford Focus, id proly go with a Lambo. when u get into what player does what u lose sight of the fack that we HAVE to spend $59 mil. kinda like the movie Brewsters Milliions. this a good problem that most teams if not ALL teams in the league wish they had. so i retract my (Richard) prior (Brewsters millions) statement and say lets get Nnamdi & Ray Edwards. pass rush takes the pressure off ur DBs. BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!!
July 19th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Blah, blah, blah. Take away the fans’ wet dream and they get all up in arms about it. Give me a break. Asomugha will NOT be a Buc and anyone who has even the least bit of ability to analyze football styles and players knows this to be true. It’s a done deal before it even began. So let’s stop the crying, shall we? Time to focus on reality and the players that are likely to be seriously considered as free agents.
Joe is right: NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
July 19th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@barton
LOVE the Brewster’s Millions comparison!!!
July 19th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@creamsicle,
thanx! love that movie. BUC IT IM OUT!!!!
July 19th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
I mean really! We dont run “Tampa 2” that often anymore! Raheem wants to mix it up, like all the great D cordinators! The reason we did play some “Tampa 2” was to try and cover up our assine pass rush! So what is a D-lines’ best friend? A CORNER that can JAM and Knock off the timing, or acutally defend a reciver who can take the top off a defense!? We have spent alot of money and draft picks on our D-line lets help them out!? As for LB’s are concerned lets just see what our new D-Line can do! We cant always blame the LB becasue the line gets blown off the ball! OK we dont have to get nnamdi, but corner is a need! If you want to put Ronde, maybe Aqib, E.J (who I like alot but is shaky at times) and Myron who really looked like a deer caught in the headlights, against Roddy,Julio,Marcus,Lance,Steve, and all the other good recievers might not be a good turnout! I also don’t know why people are talking about our O-Line!? For once we have depth at the position, they did a great job last year! Did you see where we ranked in rushing? Josh stayed upright a good bit of the time!!! We need depth at the RB as well! So for me our needs are as follows CB/RB/LB/
July 19th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
I think we should go after Jonathon Joseph of the Bengals!!!
July 19th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Also, I’ve been reading all these posts and I have a few more things to say. If we have such a need for LB’s, then how is having three good corners going to hurt? IF YOU HAVE LEMONS YOU MAKE LEMONAIDE! Meaning you run more nickle, did any of you actually watch any games last year? Ronde basically played WLB, and did a good job! So if you do that with nnamdi here, then that solves that! How much longer do you think Ronde will play? This is it for him I’m affraid, so if he leaves and Aqib pulls a Tanard then where are we next year?
July 19th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
Count me in the Disagreement Crowd. Dom has said on numerous occasions that you can’t have too many CB’s. Nnamdi has unique talent and can adapt to any situation. So I don’t see Cover 2 as an issue for him and when it’s time to shut em down, he’ll do it. I don’t see Nnamdi as a long term solution but as 1 or 2 year FA, he may put this team over the top while the kids still develop their skills. Like Aqib, he can also be a wealth of information for the rest as well. I do hate having to pay so much for him and unpsetting the
July 19th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
What the hell, I didn’t hit submit yet. This windows 7 thing is little too smart for my dumba$$. AS I was…. the Bucs have a good stable of young CB’s that should be able to get the job done without Nnamdi, but I wouldn’t rule him out and would be elated if Dom signs him. There are a couple of other FA’s mentioned that also might help out, but I’m anxious to see what we got with the new rookies from the draft.
…… for the Bucs to sign Nnamdi the Glazers will definitely have to raise the Debt Ceiling.
July 19th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
I think the Bucs aim a bit lower when picking a CB. J. Joseph or A. Cromartie would both be great signings. Joseph won’t be quite as expensive as Cromartie but both would look great lined up with Talib. I think Joseph will command 6-8 mil per year, while Cromartie will aim at 8-10. No CB is worth 19 mil per year!!!! Especially a guy over 30!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Please WILL SOMEONE tell me how I missed how great the Raiders defense is. With this Great of an elite CB I WOULD THINK THEY never lost. Last superbowl the Raiders where we won. If we sign him yeah! If we don’t yeah!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Typing on my phone sorry.
July 20th, 2011 at 12:01 am
1) A poster earlier was spot on when he said just how quickly we could lose Ronde and Aqib. Ronde to age thus higher likelihood of injury, and Aqib to Aqib.
2) WE HAVE 59 MILLION TO GO AROUND FOLKS. Excuse the caps, I hate to look like a douche, but that point needs to be emphasized. You’ve got the money, so spend it. That’s more than enough to resign Davin, Quincy, Caddy and also give an extension to Freeman if they want. I would wait till mid season or after this year to give him, Mike Will and Blount extensions though.
3) This talk about him only shutting down #2s is just retarded and needs to stop. It’s annoying to see people on here try to talk bad about this guy just because they feel like it. He shuts down an entire side of the field, if you don’t value that as something very useful you’re a fool. If what he did was so easy then why aren’t more corners able to do it?
ALSO, Joe, what do you mean “who sits Aqib or Ronde”? That’s a very simple way to look at a defense.
July 20th, 2011 at 12:48 am
I haven’t read all the comments here but here’s my 2 cents… I completely agree with Joe.
Cornerback is probably the team’s deepest position. It’s not a high priority need. If you pay that guy $19 mil and Ronde and other guys are playing for virtual pennies on the dollar, how is that going to impact the locker room? Not in a good way I imagine.
July 20th, 2011 at 12:50 am
I dont think it is imperative that we sign Awesome-wa (as I will call him if we sign him) but I certainly wouldn’t complain either. One thing I worry about is with the frenzy that is going to be Free agency, what happens if we get in a bidding war with someone like the Texans and lose out, in the mean time other Free agents on our radar are already off the market. I know Pro-personal departments are big and can be in contact with various agents at one time but this Lock out is making me a little paranoid.
July 20th, 2011 at 12:50 am
As I posted the other day K2, one of the (possibly overlooked) things posted in this last week that the owners snuck into the negotiations is that draft picks with less than 3 years in the league cannot renegotiate contracts; that eliminates a renegotiate for Freeman, Mike Will, Benn, and maybe Blount; the terminology said “draft picks”. Here is the link to the article:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d820caaf6/article/owners-players-reach-agreement-on-economics-of-labor-deal?module=HP11_headline_stack
July 20th, 2011 at 1:24 am
Only in Tampa, the home of the Tampa-2, would you have fans screaming for a team to spend a boat load of money on a cornerback. Hillarious. Do any of you people understand the role a CB plays in the Tampa-2 (which is still overwhelmingly the base defense for this team)?
July 20th, 2011 at 1:30 am
Matt B:
And to take that a step further:
Nnamdi’s agent isn’t going to have his player walk into a situation like that. One of his agent’s first questions to Dominik will be, “Who sits, my client, Ronde Barber or Aqib Talib? Or do you plan to cut/trade one of the two?”
July 20th, 2011 at 4:08 am
Again, Joe, it would obviously be Ronde Barber seeing the field less often. He’s not being “benched” however. He doesn’t play the same corner position that Nnamdi would, you know that.
Matt B, I didn’t know that, thank you.
AND also again, corner is not one of our deeper positions when you consider the chance that Talib could miss time.
July 20th, 2011 at 4:09 am
Actually I mean to say Wienaman, not Matt B.
July 20th, 2011 at 6:21 am
@Espo 1 receiver does not equal one half of the field. 1 receiver equals 1 receiver. I’m not sure if you have ever seen a football game, but there has never been one receiver or one corner back that has ever been so big that they cover one half of the field. Use some common sense. Then again, common is subjective, and apparently so is sense.
July 20th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Lol- oh yeah, I’ve seen football like that on film. It was back in the 50’s and 60’s. Offenses had a QB, 5 linemen, 2 WRs, a TE, a RB, and something called a “fullback”. Was pretty easy
The past 20 years( the “modern Era”), teams rarely use a fullback. They often don’t use a TE. Especially our division rivals! The play 3 we’d almost every down. They often sit the TE, and play 4 WRs.
This is due to liberalized passing rules, that have changed the game into a QB driven passing league.
Our base defense last year was a 3 corner set. The 3-3-5 defense. If we sign Nnamdi, the Mack sits. Talib( if he’s here), Baber, and Nnamdi all play. Its the new Era in the NFL.
If the League is a passing league, with 3 and 4 WR sets every play, wouldn’t a dominant Secondary be the smartest defense?
July 20th, 2011 at 7:37 am
Don’t tell anybody, but I’ve even seen something from Atlanta and New Orleans called an ” Empty backfield”- signal the screaming! This involves 4 WRs, AND a TE!! Or (God forbid) 5 WRs!!!
Still feeling good about out secondary, with an Aging legend and an unreliable problem child? ITS A PASSING LEAGUE, PEOPLE- Winning starts with stoping these great passing attacks. We proved last year- almost no teams can beat you with their running game. Stop the Pass- Rule the Day! The game has changed, and continues to do so! A big monster MLB, who can knock a guy into tomorrow, isn’t any good if he can’t play coverage- they will just pass over him. You stop the pass, THEN let the LBers( well good LBers- not ours!),stop the run
July 20th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
@captain tim you act as if we didn’t have a dominant pass defense last year.