Expect A Ward-Williams Battle
July 20th, 2010
Good guy Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, penned a look at the key battles for starting positions on the Bucs this preseason.
Holder names left guard, left defensive end, strong safety, receiver and defensive tackle as the hotspots.
Still, as we approach training camp, Tampa Bay still has a fair amount of competition for jobs. There are at least six starting spots that, near as we can tell, are either wide open or where the incumbent will likely have to fight off a challenge from others.
Joe is quite hysterical reading this paragraph from Holder. Just six weeks ago, his fellow beat writer, The Mad Twitterer, said all but one starting job on the Bucs was up for grabs. Stroud even went so far to say that hogwash fact is what will make training camp so exciting.
Of course, Holder is like any other intelligent Bucs fan. He knows there are several starting jobs in stone on the Bucs, including more than half the defense.
One position Holder passed on is running back.
Joe firmly believes Derrick Ward will be given a chance to redeem Mark Dominik win the starting running back job. He’s not being paid handsomely to hold his helmet.
It’s highly unlikely Cadillac Willams (28) or Ward (almost 30) will be Buccaneers when the team hopefully reaches its “lasting contender” phase. So why wouldn’t the team simply play the hot guy on 2010?
July 20th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
EARNEST GRAHAM!!!!!!
Enough said
July 20th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Joe let’s be honest about this one – NO ONE expected Caddy to return in 2009. What Caddy did was REMARKABLE.
Personally I think that the reason Caddy got so many carries last year was that the powers over at One Buc were waiting until his knee(s) went POP and sidelined him.
Ward was supposed to be the lead back but the Caddy, resembling the new GM, just didn’t breakdown.
July 20th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Ward sucks.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:44 am
EARNEST GRAHAM what??? Filled in exceptionally well for an undrafted 3rd string back for the two injured guys in front of him? Hey, I like the guy, he’s a heck of a person, but he’s not Adrian Peterson or anything. He’s better than average, but nothing special. I’d still take Caddy and his two bum knees and 1000 plus yards from scrimmage on those two bum knees until we find a better option.
July 21st, 2010 at 1:27 am
The guy with all heart against the guy with no heart. Go Cadillac! War Eagle!
July 21st, 2010 at 8:48 am
They should be competing, may the best man win. I hope its Caddy because then it would be a win-win (he is better than Ward and we all love him).
July 21st, 2010 at 9:54 am
I don’t care who wins the battle as long as either one or both can excel.
Odds are – one will be out for some significant time this season (statistically.)
We really need Huggins to step up – as well as Pressley. All for naught though if the Oline isn’t competitive.
FWIW – I see Ward as the least motivated guy on the team (and Stevens runs a close second IMO.)
Carnell is a football player, through and through… You cannot help but admire the effort… I see some good things happening this year with Williams. Stable health, motivated and an Oline that SHOULD be gelled in a blocking scheme they are built for…
Hope springs eternal.