A New Blocking Icon?
October 18th, 2010
Asked today whether his loyalty to Cadillac Williams is shaping his judgment of Caddy’s on-field performance, Raheem Morris gave a roundabout answer.
In short, Morris explained that his loyalty is to what Cadillac does outside of running the ball very well — namely keeping pressure off Josh Freeman.
“It’s more about protecting No. 5 than anything else,” Morris said, when explaining why Williams is getting the large majority of playing time.
None of this surprises Joe, who wrote several times previously that Cadillac is the man because the Bucs have little faith in LeGarrette Blount and Kareem Huggins’ ability to pick up blitzes.
That’s not going to change for a while, Joe believes. Freeman is the franchise, and teams will keep bringing the heat on him.
The Bucs once had a blocking icon who couldn’t catch too well at wide receiver, and now it seems they might have a new blocking icon in place at running back, if only until the end of the season.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Still miss the nicknames.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Raheem can protect the QB by putting in a RB that can make the defense pay. Opposing teams know we can’t run the ball and all they are doing is sending everyone at Freeman. The QBs best friend is a strong run game and a good TE. We have one of them in place. I find it hard to believe that we can’t get Blount coached up enough to get him in the game. And for God’s sake Rah, quit acting like Freeman is some small fragile QB. He can avoid pressure…we’ve seen it already. It’s time to quit playing scared, which is exactly what Raheem admitted during the press conference. We gotta protect #5 blah blah blah. A RBs primary job is to run the damn ball, not pick up blitzers. Freeman is a big boy coach he can handle it.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Im a big Raheem supporter, I still am…..but this is kind of a joke.
If caddy is such a good blocker, then allow him to the be the third down back on the obvious passing situations and give some fresh legs a try on the earlier downs……its been said over and over, but if we can get some yards from our running game, teams will not blitz us constantly.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Adrian Peterson doesn’t pick up the blitz well either. You don’t see him sitting on the sidelines…
October 18th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I read where someone posted we should offer a trade for Jonathan Stewart. Not really a bad idea, Deangelo Williams either. Panthers might be ready to make a move, hard to say, but I like the thought. I also like the thought of trying to find a big bruiser MLB. Rolando McClain was a guy I really liked in the Draft. I wonder how he is doing in Oakland, probably redefining BUST as in BUSTING people in the chops, left and right.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Steve from Oregon…exactly. If we had a decent run game then we wouldn’t have so many passing downs and the need for Caddy as a blocker. It’s simple fundamental football and Raheem is blatantly ignoring it.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Bring back clayton, replace Caddy with someone who can run , problem solved, next?
October 18th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
This is why I visit JBF over other Bucs blogs. You caught me off-guard Joe, that was absolutely hilarious.
October 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Wow Raheem just is not getting it. If you have a run game you do not need to have a pass protecting back on first and second down. Why does he not understand this???? OMG we might be in bigger trouble than we thought this year. Lets get someone who can run the ball on 1st down and then you can throw Caddy in on passing downs. Come on Raheem certainly you understand this simple concept!!!!
October 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Adrian Peterson? Did we pass over him for Gaines Adams?
October 18th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Yes. Yes we did Eric. Lol
October 18th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Huggins was picking up the blitzes well in his limited roll. Bring back Pressely and put EG back there again.
Someone please tell me why we SHOULDN’T draft a RB and DE in the first 2 rounds next year.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
straughter, and spurlock cant block, time to bring in stovall he is are best bloking reciever
October 18th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
After looking at that game again, I actually don’t think Cadillac is the problem right now. The offensive line just looks like they are pass protecting every play, instead of trying to open up holes for the running game.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Raheem sounded like a bad politician in this mornings press conference. Raheem needs stop leading the pep rally.
Until Raheem starts to put a boot in players asses when it is deserved. He is going to have the same problem as Liitle” Bum” and Norv Turner.
He is going to have players who play when they feel like it. Its one thing to lose. But to get blown out at home again(Steelers).
The Bucs in the past ( Brooks, Sapp, Nickerson and Lynch) era would not get kicked around.
When the opposing coach is talking junk to Buc players. Its go time. The Bucs needs some nasty players on defense (on the field). They are to many mellow cats on the D right now.
And the D is Raheem squad ….
October 18th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Go get charles scott from the giants practice squad…he can play
also, go get micah johnson from the dolphins practice squad,he is a big linebacker that can hit, unlike that Rudd boy we got.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
I think Olson actually spent the week designing that play where Caddy runs into Donald Penn’s back and falls down.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Did ‘Team Ari’ get a change in mission objective? Are the Glazers tired of Raheem too? Did the Glazer’s send the command to ‘Team Ari’ to now make the case AGAINST Raheem so that they will have full support to let him go at season’s end?
This is pretty astonishing that the Raheem bashers are coming out of the woodwork. And I am considered not to be high on Raheem, but this backlash is much quicker than even I would have bet on.
Something is not right in the bay area.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Buc You Says, I think we just all thought the Steelers game was an aberration. Apparently it might me the norm and not the exception. I like Raheem as a person but its time to kick some players in the arse and I can’t see he is the guy to get it done. Maybe he needs a stern assistant coach underneath him to say “Ahem uh guys we totally stunk yesterday. You might want to block and tackle someone.” For him to take the blame for Aqib Talibs first touchdown is a joke. Please Raheem lay the blame where it is deserved and quit defending sub par performance as learning experiences and we will start to respect you.
October 18th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
The Bucs great pass defense has given up 7 passing plays of 40 yards or more. That is tied for second worst in the NFL.
Although we have 10 ints, we have also given up 10 passing TDs… just as bad as the worst teams.
And here is where it gets really bad, the rush defense is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. We are NOW dead last is run defense. And we have only played the Browns, Bengals, Panthers in addition to the Steelers and Saints. It shouldn’t be that bad considering those teams.
Next story will be about Raheem Morris complaining that the opposition is running up the score. The NERVE of them raining on his improvement parade.
October 18th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
when we grab gaines we dont think carnell williams will strugle like this so im not blamint allen/grudne for that, gaines was all about a need and that doesnt work for us….
im still saying OL and DL coaches are the problem…
October 18th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
You’re in the backfield standing next to the QB and you pop the first defender to get past the O-line….I’m just not getting what is so difficult about pass protection. Was Caddie a professional pass protector as a rookie? Is Jahvid Best or any other rookie RB? It just doesn’t seem that hard. Especially when you bigger than most LBs like Blount.
It’s not like you need good skills to use your hands like an O-lineman. All caddie ever does is curl up in a ball and throw himslef at the legs of pass rushers. I just don’t get how it is so hard to pick up.
October 18th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Also, having a RB that can get 4 or 5 yards per carry instead of 1.8 like Caddie, is going to be more beneficial to the QB than pas blocking. Maybe then we’d stop getting 7 or 8 guys rushing us every snap?
October 18th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
We could not throw a block on offense or get off a block on defense. If I was Raheem I would do nothing in practice this week but work the offense on blocking drills and schemes. The defense on ripping off blocks. That was so sad watching Rudd and the other guys get absolutely man handeled. I agree coaching is the problem there is no way we should be getting dominated, this bad, this often. We are as predictable as I’ve EVER seen. We need better boot legs and screens you can see it coming right after the snap- the offensive is moving into position to quickly and tipping the D off. I can see it I’m sure they can to. And for god sakes get Freeman out of the damn shotgun unless you are gonna run a draw play or somethin every once in a while. I believe in caddy and I’ll bet ya Derek ward does to.
October 18th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Either Gruden or Cowher will be going to Dallas. It would be nice if we could get Cowher before he gets nabbed by Dallas. And the one that doesn’t go to Dallas will most likely go to Carolina. And if one of those guys are going to Carolina, then it is a must to get one of them. And since we obviously aren’t getting Gruden, then that leaves The great William Cowher.
Or Dungy.
October 18th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
I wasnt really blaming Gru/Allen. I guess there is a long list of teams that would like to have chosen Peterson.
October 18th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
We are the second youngest team in the league and most of the few vets we do have suck. Of course we are going to have bad games like this. Having the entire team of kids start all over with a new HC and OC every time we lose is not the answer. Glad you guys aren’t in charge.
October 18th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Having Cowher come in would only do a world of good for these young players. The first step would be calling them out when they put together a half assed effort like on Sunday.
Having an apologist like Rah is only impeding their progress.
October 18th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Fans like you impede our progress.
You’re like clock work dude. Only post after losses. Get lost.