What Will Jim Bates Do?

July 19th, 2009

Pat Kirwan of Sirius NFL Radio believes that Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates will run a hybrid type of defense.

This weekend Joe was driving down the road listening to Sirius NFL Radio, as he is wont to do, and heard an interesting take about Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates.

A Bucs fan called into “Movin’ the Chains” with Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan. The Bucs fan asked the duo about their impressions of the Bucs. Ryan suggested the Bucs will win “four or five games” and Kirwan wasn’t all that optimistic either.

Kirwan’s main problem with the Bucs is the defense. In short, Kirwan thinks Bates is in a predicament, essentially trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. He has mostly players that play the Tampa-2, one-gap defense where Bates is a two-gap, bump-and-run kinda guy.

“You think Chris Hovan is a two-gap player? He’s not, he’s a one-gap guy,” Kirwan said.

Kirwan believes that Bates must, if the Bucs defense is to be anything close to successful, is  run a hybrid defense of sorts that won’t be totally a two-gap, bump-and-run scheme, nor a straight Tampa-2 style either.

8 Responses to “What Will Jim Bates Do?”

  1. Sgt Mike Says:

    I concur, there are more questions about the Defense than our QB conundrum. All we need is at least one of these QB to be a caretaker of sorts and not screw up and our possibly potent offense could win games if the D doesn’t get us killed. If one of these QB’s gets remarkably better and our D can hold we may just have something this season. Too many IFs this season.

  2. RastaMon Says:

    watch 20 minutes more game day film than each week than
    Jeff Jagodzinski

  3. Barak O. Says:

    Personally I would suggest that Jim Bates call his brother Bill Bates from 4th and Long and see if Ahmad Smith is available.

    BTW Hawkins would be a great 3rd WR with his speed.

  4. RastaMon Says:

    Courtney Hawkins
    wow…..
    desparate times indeed

  5. Mr. Lucky Says:

    RastaMon

    You obviously havent watched the show, 4th and Long, on Spike TV on Monday nights at 10 pm

    They started with 16 players and now they’re down to 4. Two of those 4, Ahmeed Smith (DB) and Andrew Hawkins (WR) are the most talented. One of those will win a contract to play with the Cowboys this year.

    Go back and watch the last episode where 5’9″ WR Hawkins kicked ass in the blocking and running drills. He’s got the hunger that the Bucs need this year.

  6. Jorge Says:

    Hawkins is explosive, love that kid.

    Thank goodness the ‘track star’ is gone between him and Gonzalez I don’t know who I hated more.

  7. Mr. Lucky Says:

    Jorge,

    Don’t you love the “hunger” in Hawkins? If the “new” Bucs demonstrated that type of play it could be good season

  8. Jorge Says:

    Mr Lucky

    I love his drive and he’s not just a WR he’s a football player. His humbleness and toughness is fantastic. I hope all our guys play the way he does.