Old McDonald Has A Job
December 11th, 2012
One of the most bizarre roster moves made by the Bucs this season was the release of Brandon McDonald six weeks ago. McDonald was a veteran cornerback, the opening day nickel cornerback, and he at least had good flashes and an interception during his eight games with the Bucs.
Two weeks weeks before McDonald was cut, even the leader of the New Schiano Order raved about him.
“I’m impressed,” Greg Schiano said of McDonald. “His work ethic, his attention to detail. This guy’s a pro.”
Well, for some reason Schiano and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik thought Myron Lewis was a better player and sent McDonald packing. But now McDonald has replaced Lewis, who is on injured reserve. The Bucs announced the re-signing of McDonald tonight.
As atrocious as the Bucs secondary has been, Joe’s almost excited by this move.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Myron lewis is on IR? How sad… You would think a guy who never plays could at least stay healthy.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
@SilenceTheCritics
I was wondering the same thing. He probably hurt his hamstring trying to sit on the bench.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
The Glazers and Dumbinick kept Lewis because they didn’t want to pay his salary while admitting we wasted a 3rd round draft pick on him. Great draft class there in 2010, Rockstar. 1) McCoy- still a question mark. 2) Price- injured, head case, traded to Bears. 2B) Benn- injured or ineffective. 3) Lewis- not even good on special teams. 6th round pick wasted on a punter. Took a chance on Mike Williams in the 4th, great rookie year, horrible soph year, recovering junior year thanks to VJax.
Why is Dumbinick still our GM again??
December 11th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
@Joe
For your sake I hope it gets more exciting than this.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
I really see no reason why this guy would be on the roster next year. Seems like a waste of spot that someone who actually plays once in awhile could use or at least a healthy body.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Leonard and Gorrer have been worse, so this is a good move.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Pathetic ! is the word ….
December 11th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Leonard has been better and worse. Gorrer has been flat out worse. McDonald made some mistakes, but he caught the ball when it was thrown right at him.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Williams had a horrible sophomore season? Really? There’s a ton of receivers that would be thrilled with his numbers from last year. People can be so dramatic.
Reading Steve White, I’m really starting to believe that the bigger problem we are facing is the schemes Sheridan is running. If you read what he is saying, he points out how many basic mistakes our defense makes, and how many questionable play calls he makes. From my own (uneducated) eyes, we have far too many busts in coverage. Most teams may have one busted coverage per game. We seem to have almost one per series. In all likelihood it’s a combination of both. However, if we are playing with poor talent in the secondary, combined with poor coaching and scheming, then all hell will break loose. Oh wait, too late, that’s already happened. I will pay the most attention this offseason to whether or not Sheridan returns.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
JOE here,
@BucForce – Joe seconds what Hawaiian said about Mike Williams. Really? 65 catches in his second season on a crap team with an inaccurate quarterback is nothing to sneeze at.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
@ Hawaiian
I agree that the scheme seems to be the main problem especially with these crappy corners that we have. Although, we have changed it up the past three or four weeks by playing a lot more zone coverages rather than using our usual man coverage with different types of blitzes mixed in. the problem is that has not worked either. lol. for the life of me I’m at a lose for how to improve this defense right now. nothing seems to be working. like many others have said drafting better corners should help remedy the problem as well as maybe getting a new D coordinator.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Someone yelled out “we’ve got screen doors on this submarine”. The answer came back “what we need is better screen”! Welcome aboard McDonald!
December 11th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
@ Macabee
ahahahaha. thats a good one. I like that.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
@Andrew,
That’s what I’ve been saying for weeks. However, there may be more to it than that. I’m not sure if you are on twitter, but I highly recommend following White and reading what he says. It’s deeper than just how many guys we rush, or playing man or zone. It’s more so things like not having contain on a blitz, or blitzing on 3rd and long when we have been getting pressure all day. It’s way too technical for me to explain, but I no longer believe that it’s just the players.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
@ Hawaiian
o, ok. your talking about defensive responsibilities and situational football. In that case the D coordinator or whoever is teaching this D on a daily basis should be held personally responsible and should be dealt with accordingly.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:45 pm
and no I dont use twitter. its just something im not interested in.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Keeping Myron Lewis was simply an ego trip….we drafted him so we have to keep him…..bull…and why don’t we give Tandy and Goode some playing time?…..and while we are at it what about Michael Smith?…..we have given everybody but him a shot at returning kicks?….has he got the plague?
We picked Keith Tandy in the 5th round and continually are playing undrafted free agents in front of him. If he isn’t worth playing, get rid of him.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Sorry….Sixth round onTandy….not much difference…should play him or cut him…..
December 12th, 2012 at 12:23 am
Way to little way to late. But, wish the man well. Hopefully this kind of move won’t almost get joe excited next year.
Remember the Jackson success. Do more!
December 12th, 2012 at 12:24 am
@Andrew,
I got you. I used to think Twitter was stupid, but I’ve come to really like it. There is no better way to find out what’s going on with the Bucs (that’s all I use my twitter account for). You also find things out so much sooner than almost any other media form.
December 12th, 2012 at 12:38 am
Ok. Let’s hear it. We are going to hire Monte back. Give him new players to work with and all will be number 1 in the NFL next year.
Better yet. If Monte had this group now he could have made it number 1 in the NFL this year. 1 friggin year. How many times has this team been BLOWN OUT??? The Saints last week had 52 points hung on their AZZ. There were injuries, morons suspended. 1 traded. This guy released. Biggers got better. But we don’t get to the playoffs or win the Super Bowl . Why not think about firing the Head Coach too? Teams are built piece by piece. Player by Player. OH wait give FREEMAN and the Offense time in the new system. Coach included. SCREW and Fire everyone else on Defense. Don’t let any of them learn.
December 12th, 2012 at 12:50 am
@ Hawaiian.
wow, thanks for the heads up. I might look into getting an account.
December 12th, 2012 at 12:50 am
Hell i would of been excited if we got Jamarcus Russell as long as Myron is done! It’s not like it makes a differance at this point! To little to late…
December 12th, 2012 at 12:55 am
By the way. We may have lost the game and we can disagree why but. This defense held Atlanta to 24 points. Carolina only let them score 20. not bad. But. Carolina Hung 30 on the Birds. And our Offense hung what? Better luck next time. Only we will most likely be playing their 3rd string and singing Freemans’ praises (as long as they don’t pressure him) if he runs up the score.
December 12th, 2012 at 1:53 am
Andrew:
If you follow the right people on Twitter, it is an incredible, invaluable resource. Doesn’t cost a dime, man.
December 12th, 2012 at 7:07 am
You guys ever thought that the Bucs really liked Myron on special teams and his long-term potential? Sure, he rarely saw the field as a CB, but there has to be some logical explanation why he was still on the team.
McDonald is horrible, btw, It’s rare that a guy lines up in press coverage, gives the guy an inside release without laying a hand on him, and gets beat by 5 yards on a slant.
I saw in another post about Steve White slamming Sheridan and his “schemes”. I have been saying this since day one. The guy flat-out can’t be a DC. He either rushes 3 or 4 or 7 or 8, there is no middle ground with this bum. His man-to-man is always susceptible to 9 routes and his zones often lack any persons in the middle of the field. His job is to put the players in the best place he can to make plays, regardless of talent. And if his guys can’t play man-to-man, then don’t play it. The talent level is NOT THAT bad.
Ron Meeks. the San Diego secondary coach, is available. He was Dungy’s DC in Indy and had a top 10 defense 5 of his 8 seasons there despite the Colts spending most of their money and draft picks on the offensive side of the ball and the Colts always having a lead. When Jim Caldwell took over. he ousted Meeks and the D fell apart. Meeks went to Carolina for a season as DC and the Panthers turned their D around and then he was replaced and they fell apart again under Rivera. Meeks is the man for the job. He should have been the hire a long while back instead of Jim Bates.
If not Meeks, then Kiffin. I would take a 90+ year old, senile Kiffin over Sheridan, who was dumped by the Giants after similar results in his one year as DC, anyday.
December 12th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Freeman has the weapons, time to pony up and throw the ball better.
Freeman needs to right the ship.
December 12th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Brandon,
Myron Lewis was a top 100 draft pick. He, and his paycheck can get the phuck outta here!
Myron Lewis- look like Tarzan, play like Jane.
December 12th, 2012 at 10:33 am
I would love to see the type of team we would be now if we still had Talib. Why did we trade him and give up on the season. I would of rather had a playoff birth than a 4th round pick
December 12th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Sorry to disappoint you but Talib would not of got us to the playoffs. This team was no better when Talib played. He may of come up with an interception or two but this team is not an interception or two away from being playoff contenders.