Zuttah Not Feeling Much Love
July 2nd, 2010
It’s been a rough week for Jeremy Zuttah. A certain publication, behind the cloak of paid content, all but called him a cocky, overmatched loafer, and then Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, passed on an opportunity to say something good about him and/or challenge that critique.
In a live chat with readers Wednesday, Holder wrote that Zuttah must step up because there’s not going to be much behind him.
Bob – I’ve read elsewhere the Jeremy Zuttah has been a real disappointment. Is there anybody who currently replace him or are the Bucs going to have to look elsewhere?
Stephen Holder: The answer right now is NO. Xavier Fulton, a 2009 draft pick, is a possibility, but I have no clue what to expect from him because he’s been hurt since he’s been here. He’ll probably get a long look though. Basically, Zuttah is going to have to step up. This will be a very telling season for him I think.
Like most players entering their third NFL season, Zuttah is at a turning point.
After a good rookie season filling in for Davin Joseph at right guard and getting known for learning multiple positions along the O-line, Zuttah was thrust into the starting left guard role last year when Arron Sears went missing.
Joe recalls Zuttah talking during an interivew last year on WDAE-AM about how he was a right tackle in college and the transition to the left side represented a big challenge for him to change his football instincts.
Zuttah’s an extremely smart dude, and Joe has faith that he knows what’s at stake this year in his football career. Frankly, the Bucs have much more pressing concerns.
As for their depth at the position, just add O-line to the list of areas where the Bucs are painfully void of experienced reserves.
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 am
Just what I’ve been posting for weeks, trouble at LG , and NO depth anywhere on the line with any experience! It’s true, Zuttah is a really intelligent guy. He’s also lazy. I know lots of intelligent, but lazy people( meybe even the good Captain!). Again, anyone who puts together a depth chart, based on our current Roster, will immediately see the lack if Depth. It’s all rookies! I’d write out the depth chart myself, but I’m to lazy! Meybe We can ask Zuttah ta do it, he’s at least TRYING ta change:)
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 am
I’m more concerned about our line this year than I have been in the past 3 years. This could hinder Freeman’s development…
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am
What happened to The Dream’s statement that there would be competition at every position?
…Oh, that was last year. Diffenent plan for this year.
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:40 am
Sign Penn.
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Can’t resist… I guess.
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:24 pm
How come our fan base and local reporters, which usually plays heavy influence on the sheep, has to trash our players.
I mean, every year they try to make a story about so and so player, call them out in the media and give them the ultimatum that they are in danger of losing their job?
When the fans and the media treat their own players this way, the last place those players want to remain is in this horrible city.
Why chase away players?
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:19 pm
RahDom, I thought you were one if the biggest haters, when did you start being a CareBear
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I like our players, but the management not so much.
I am just tired of all the negative stories about the players (past and present):
-Gaines Adams
-AB
-Donald Penn
-Barret Ruud
-Sabby
-Zutah
-Galloway
-Jeff Garcia
-Luke McKnown
-Chris Simms
-Shaun King
.. and so on
Now the Claytons (money in the bank), Talib (Punchy the clown), J Stevans (that one thing he did)… I understand that, they deserve it based on their poor behaviors.
But if they have no trouble and are trying to make a living and doing their best… I mean we don’t have to trash them as a community.
We should embrace and protect our players… if they end up released and out of the NFL then fine… but don’t make them out to be bad guys.
Management, coaches, owners… they are big boys, they get judged by their decisions… but players, sure they get judged by their play…. BUT, they are putting their butts on the line, their health. They are playing to win. Why hate on them? Why chase them away with the impression that Tampa fans are disgusting low lifes who have nothing better to do than hate on their own players?
July 2nd, 2010 at 2:02 pm
RahDom, agreed with everything you said, including questioning the owners and Coaches decissions, and there has been plenty to question lately. I’ve only objected to the insults and name calling., because you’re right. It makes the fans and the town look classless and hateful. This is a great area, and it’s filled with great people who love football. The organization has made mistakes, we all do. No problem bitching about them. But we’re better people than to resort to the insults. Good post
July 2nd, 2010 at 4:01 pm
The Glazers handle their staff and players so poorly, that pretty much no one wants to come back for a reunion.
Dungy, Gruden, Allen were fired.
Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, Dunn, Brad Johnson, Keyshawn, Keneen McCardel, Joey Galloway, Antonio Bryant, Brian Kelly, Michael Pittman, and Rich McKay didn’t exactly leave on good terms either.
Mike Alstott was the only guy to retire.
Who’s going to the ring of honor reunion?
July 2nd, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Oh yeah… Steve White didn’t get to retire either!
😉
July 2nd, 2010 at 4:46 pm
I think Philly is a good example, they constantly replace aging players with young players to stay competitive. It’s hard for players to know when it’s time to retire. And giving up millions of dollars isn’t easy either. Very few players actually retire on their own. Jerry Rice couldn’t do it, nor Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Nor hundreds of others. Our own Warren Sapp couldn’t admit he was slowing down. It can’t be easy for a once great athelete to admit his time is up. But teams have to know when to move on, or your team loses it’s edge
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
There’s so much love today!! I get the feeling either someone got laid or smoked a fatty. Which one is it?
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I’ll wait to see how Zuttah does in full contact practice in pads before I jump on the hate bandwangon. Gerald McCoy making him look bad in not contact mini camp in shirts and shorts doesn’t mean anything to me. Everyone was so high on this kid in 2008 and even last year. He stuggled at times last year, but so did our entire O-line. I think he’ll do just fine this year.
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Ding ding ding.
Okay, let’s move Faine over to the left 1 slot and have 2 Right Guards. If we move Faine over 2 slots, we don’t need Penn. No more Blind Side because Freeman is right there for the Sharks.Now everybody is happy except Freeman. Maybe Earnest Graham can play left tackle. Well at least we have a new Punter.
A fattty and a bj, you’d think it was the 4’th of July.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:55 pm
(RahDom) You are one of the hayseeds who seems top think all players retire from thier teams with pats on the back, weepy press conferences and statues of them in the stadium concourse. This is pro ball. Most players, regardless of the tea they are on, are treated the same way by almost every team in the NFL. The same will happen to you when you get to old and doddering to greet customers as they stagger into Wal Mart. As for whether or not Zuttah is “lazy” what was this opinion based on and were any facts presented. Or, as usual, since a player was having trouble learning another new position, he was just said to be lazy. If your going to call someone out, present some facts to prove your arguement.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Makes for a good backup swing interior lineman, but should never start.
Sears was a huge loss.
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Sergio Render
July 3rd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Sergio Render