Could This Non-move Haunt Bucs?
May 8th, 2018
Gliding onto a rival’s roster.
Joe is a big believer in the George Steinbrenner theory of roster-building.
What would that be? The former Yankees owner, whenever he saw a halfway decent player available, whether in free agency or in a trade, or seeing a guy surprisingly on waivers, would snatch the guy up for two reasons:
Obviously, Steinbrenner wanted to bolster his own roster. Second, Steinbrenner did not want to let the Red Sox get a hold of the same player.
So with this in mind, yesterday afternoon Joe cringed when he learned free agent running back C.J. Anderson, a guy who ran for over 1,000 yards last year behind a trash of an offensive line in Denver, a running back who can also catch and run block, was picked up by the Stinking Panthers.
So yes, he will face the Bucs twice a year for the foreseeable future.
Yeah, Joe knows the Bucs, trying to snap the NFC’s longest playoff drought, just drafted running back Ronald Jones in the second round. OK, fine. So how established is he in the NFL?
Also, the Stinking Panthers drafted a running back in the first round last year; Christian McCaffrey was selected eighth overall in the 2017 draft. That didn’t stop the Stinking Panthers from signing Anderson.
And the last two years, Anderson had a better yards-per-catch average than noted Bucs receiving back Charles Sims. Are the Bucs really this deep at running back they couldn’t have used Anderson?
Joe just thinks it is interesting that a playoff team in the same division with the Bucs, which already has a first round pick of a running back in its stable thought Anderson could help them. The no-playoffs-since-2007 Bucs? If there was interest, it sure was a state secret.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:25 am
“For the foreseeable future”? It’s a one-year contract.
May 8th, 2018 at 12:58 am
Joe
Cj anderson has had only one 1000 yard season ie last year. He couldnt get 1000 yards playing with manning when teams could not stack the run and he was the #1 back. Edgrin james and joseph adai could. He is an average back. Nothing more. Barber could be just as effective along side jones and he is younger with less wear and tear. Joe, you cry for every free agent that becomes available. A lot of them need not apply!! The bucs will not miss the superbowl or playoffs because they did not sign cj anderson. Dont forget the panthers lost stewart. He is just a replacement on a ONE year deal. Obvisously no other team felt it was imperative to sign cj anderson. This is a fat nothing
May 8th, 2018 at 1:04 am
Joe, did you take the article down about Koetter taking criticism from players? I just commented on it and now the article is gone.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:05 am
Did the Bucs have the cap space to sign C.J. without cutting someone? I didn’t think they had the cap room.
I got a feeling that either the tryout Rb Jorden huff or the Duke UFA Shawn Wilson will make at least the practice squad. I was disappointed the Bucs have the part ways with their 7th round pick in the trade down with the Bills because that would have been a great spot to add depth at Rb.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:10 am
I heard a few weeks back that he had 8 teams contact him as soon as he was released by Denver so it sounds like he had options on where he wanted to go. Bucs probably weren’t high on his list of places to go IF they were one of the 8 teams in the running to sign him and I’m sure if he asked his former teammate TJ Ward for his opinion of the team he didn’t give the Bucs a glowing review.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:15 am
Steinbrenner would’ve signed Lavean Bell, not CJ Anderson
May 8th, 2018 at 1:27 am
True!
May 8th, 2018 at 1:31 am
Steinbrenner didn’t have to fade the salary cap. Pickgrin has said repeatedly that we’re cap-broke, something the Joe’s haven’t disputed. Unless (until) we cut Sweezy, we’re pretty much out of the market for anything.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:44 am
Waterboy
Eight teams called him? None of them wanted to give him more than a one year contract? Stop trying to put down the bucs. He was not in demand.
May 8th, 2018 at 1:47 am
Lets not forget the broncos tried to trade him before releasing him. Not in demand.
May 8th, 2018 at 2:10 am
Actually, he ran for over 1000 yards behind an o-line that was much better at run blocking than the Bucs were in 2017. They were trash at pass protection, NOT at run blocking.
Let’s put that misnomer to bed now for good. Ok?
May 8th, 2018 at 2:28 am
With Jones II, Barber, Simms and Quizz, we’re good to go … no worries.
May 8th, 2018 at 3:10 am
Webster has a good point, it seems doubtful that Anderson was in demand as the Broncos would have traded him for a least a late day 3 draft pick if he was instead of letting him go for nothing. Still it would not hurt Koetter if he brought in some bodies which have put up numbers in this league to compete for a spot on the roster instead of just handing out positions which obviously did not work out last year.
May 8th, 2018 at 4:34 am
They signed Andersen because they didn’t draft a running back. We did. Plus the Bucs got the Duke RB that they like. Peyton Barber is a younger version of CJ. You want the Bucs to sign every veteran scrub out there. Look how all 32 teams were in so much of a rush to sign him before he draft. Barring injury PB and Ro Jo are 90% of the carries.
May 8th, 2018 at 4:57 am
B-But Joe, if we signed Anderson it would mean we didn’t have enough cap space to keep IR Sweezy!
I honestly think this is the reason we didn’t make this move, and I’m sick of it. Another season of IR being gifted a job because Licht can’t admit signing him to 7 million a season was a huge mistake and just move on.
May 8th, 2018 at 5:08 am
Not sure I’ve got this right Joe. Since you’re a “big believer in the George Steinbrenner theory of roster-building” we should’ve signed C.J. Anderson just to keep any of our division opponents from signing him? Right now Spotrac shows 20 unsigned RBs, to include guys like Alfred Morris, Jamaal Charles & Adrian Peterson. How many of those 20 would you have us sign to prevent them going to the Panthers, Falcons & Saints?
C.J. is just an average back IMO. We’ve got a younger, taller version of him in Peyton Barber (same weight but 3″ taller). And Peyton is better catching out of the backfield (84% for Peyton vs 71% for C.J.). With RoJo, Barber & Sims we have a broad spectrum of weapons. Jacquizz adds some good backup to that group & I think Koetter is very comfortable having him ‘in reserve’. We’re good.
May 8th, 2018 at 5:46 am
He’s a second tier free agent as evidenced by his contract
May 8th, 2018 at 6:06 am
The Bucs picking up CJ Anderson should have been a no brainer. He’s better than any running back we have other than Jones.
May 8th, 2018 at 6:17 am
Steinbrenner was never restrained by s salary cap.he got around it by paying the
luxury tax. Having the highest team payroll,didn’t always work out for him either.
May 8th, 2018 at 6:37 am
Not worried about it. Barber earned his playing time and he knows the system. So why bring in Anderson who doesn’t.
Especially after bucs sign ROJO Not enough touches left. I understand an injury could put them in a position but the bucs have 2 other serviceable backs. Time will tell as we get to see Anderson in action twice this year
May 8th, 2018 at 6:41 am
Who would have guessed it a negative article to start the day.
May 8th, 2018 at 7:00 am
Mort… in case you haven’t considered the consequences this year of his potential impact, with a likely HC and GM change if this team flames out this year, Yes…one year is the foreseeable future.
May 8th, 2018 at 7:09 am
I agree no need for CJ unless your cuttings Simms or Rodgers, which we know is not happening with Koetter in house.
May 8th, 2018 at 7:27 am
@Webster
Here is the article:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2772519-cj-anderson-rumors-free-agent-rb-drawing-interest-from-8-teams
May 8th, 2018 at 7:34 am
Is he going to be better than the Bucs facing Jonathan Stewart, ehhh, this why we beefed up the defensive line, it wasn’t just Brees, Cam and Ryan. It was because Ingram, Kamara, McCaffrey, Cam, now C.J., Freeman and Coleman. Better in the trenches.
May 8th, 2018 at 7:49 am
Yeah and you wanted Matt Forte too, how’s he doing? Oh yeah, retired. Anderson is one subpar year, probably this one, from being where Matt Forte is. Dumster diving for rbs…..smh.
May 8th, 2018 at 7:53 am
Joe has been sporting an open woody for CJ Anderson for weeks now. Why??
Denver cut him because he was due to make $4.5M in 2018 and was obviously deemed not worth it.
Yea – he got 1000 yards last year – for the 1st time in his career – 1007 to be exact – starting 16 games…
Bucs were looking to get younger and cheaper at RB – not older and more expensive.
Bucs are also at (beyond actually) their spending limit so there won’t be any more FA signings unless its for a min contract.
May 8th, 2018 at 8:18 am
bucs are the loser and other teams in the division are not… wonder why?
May 8th, 2018 at 8:31 am
No one in Denver was impressed by Anderson when he was here. No one cried when he was cut. It was no more than a blip on the radar here in Denver. Anderson on the Panthers scares me not at all. Cam is still back there and needs contained, which we haven’t done recently. Let’s make sure we are worrying about stuff we know is fact and not fiction.
May 8th, 2018 at 8:42 am
Every snap he’s on the field Christian McCaffrey is off so I’m PK with this
May 8th, 2018 at 9:02 am
I’m really not worried. Only Mike Alstott could run against the line we now have.
May 8th, 2018 at 9:13 am
You guys are scary that’s just not how NFL people think. You don’t go out and sign a guy so no one else can have him. Again he had to want to play for this team and for the right price. Fear based mindset and a weak mentality over there at joebuc. He was a 1000 yard rusher in another conference, he has to do it in this division and with our line I’m not even worried about cam running
May 8th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Value is the name of the game. What kind of value does Anderson represent against the cost of acquiring his services? Looking at the rostered RBs, I’m hard-pressed to think he’d have a difficult time stepping into Rogers’ role, at the very least, and bettering his output. At the very least, Anderson is the kind of insurance policy good teams take out…Remember the Vikes last year? They had viable options (plural) already on the roster when Cook went down. Do we? I don’t think so. That’s what makes a signing worth it. RoJo + Anderson+ Barber is better than what we’re likely heading into the season with.
May 8th, 2018 at 10:02 am
Solid point Joe!
May 8th, 2018 at 10:02 am
Not too worried. If I’m correct, the Panthers chunked Stewart, who was pretty effective. McCaffrey has proven to be good, but he’s not a younger AP.
May 8th, 2018 at 10:18 am
i hear ya joe…..
I don’t care if folks thing he’s average or not…he’s not a player I want to see twice a year……hopefully our front7 can slow down teams rushing attack…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 8th, 2018 at 10:42 am
Who cares Average running back. Shouldn’t scare anyone
May 8th, 2018 at 10:45 am
Um not worried at all to be honest.
Cj Anderson meet Vita Vea.
May 8th, 2018 at 10:54 am
What is your deal with CJ Anderson? Yawn.
May 8th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Alfred Morris is still available would be a good pickup
May 8th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Honestly I’d prefer Payton Barber over CJ…When given a fair chance Barber has always performed pretty well in my opinion…I’m looking forward to seeing what Payton can do with more touches and an revamped Oline…
Doug Martin was the classic case of “buyer beware”…always be wary of a guy who’s body of work is spotty and his best year is his contract year…Hopefully Licht learned from the experience; it looks like he made the same mistake with Will Gholston, we’ll see how that story ends…
May 8th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
I am not sold on Quizz, Koetter didn’t play him for a reason last year (with a crappy run game and crappy RB receiving game) We could have done way better in the draft, draft FA and regular FA. I can’t stand Simms in our backfield EVER!! Sorry to say but he has had plenty of chances to prove himself and while he flashes on occasion he is way too inconsistent. Maybe he will become what we hoped when we drafted him this year and I will gladly eat crow. I also hope this kid from Duke can become a factor inner backfield. I would have loved to see the kid Ryan Green from FSU (but I’m a homer), he was a 5 star coming out of HS and got buried because of D Cook. Oh well., maybe we can steal him off a practice squad when either quizz or Simms goes down. Either way, we are gonna be better in the run game.
May 8th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
He will be a back-up so I doubt we’ll see much of him. The Panthers starter should worry the Bucs before this guy.
May 8th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Sad the Bucs passed on Otis Anderson. Wait this is CJ Anderson we are talking about? Then good move, dont waste money on avg players with no upside. The more the Panthers get the ball to him the better it is for the Bucs.
May 8th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
@ waterboy
You provide a “rumors” article that talks about 8 teams being interested but yet the article does not state what teams? Lol. Thats an agent putting smoke out there to drive up his client’s value. It did not work. He signed a one year deal. He was not in demand and 8 teams were not interested. You cant be that gullable can you?
May 9th, 2018 at 1:16 am
yep was very disappointed in this one… usual buc luck he’ll have the 2 best games of his career against us 🤦♂️