Tampa Bay Buccaneers Take Bold Choices into Final Two Games

The rebuilding Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored well in the 2010 draft with Gerald McCoy, Mike Williams, Cody Grimm, Arrelious Benn and others, but their post-draft moves have been exemplary. 

Searching and robbing the practice squads of other teams has been very productive for head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik.  Any team can sign a player on a practice squad if they promote them to the active roster.  Plus, the team of origin then has to trade for that player if they want him back.

Given the depth of talent in the 2010 draft, teams had to place players on practice squads that they didn’t want to lose.  The Buccaneers took early notice of this scenario.

Taking a practicing player and giving him active status increases his pay by about four times and creates instant incentive.  Every NFL player wants the chance to perform on Sunday.

Game day is always about bringing your best guys to execute proper play calling, and the Buccaneers are getting better players by researching NFL practice squads.  Call it stealing if you must, but it’s smart work.          

Ten rookies have been signed since the end of the preseason, including running back LeGarrette Blount, punter Robert Malone, guard Ted Larsen, wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, guard Brandon Carter, tackle Will Barker, tight end Nathan Overby, defensive tackle Al Woods, safety Larry Asante and safety Dominque Harris. 

Blount, Malone and Larsen have had an immediate impact and surely others will excel with their chance.   

Right now the best players chosen face an intense four quarters versus the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

On paper it looks like the Buccaneers have the edge against the Seahawks with Tampa’s rushing offense being the strongest match. Fortunately for fans, games are played on a 100-yard field by 22 highly proficient football players where paper has little influence.  

The following matchup stats might show a trend to expect, but the real time data is that produced by two teams after the first kickoff and beyond. Next week’s stats will reflect this week’s efforts.  

Buccaneers Fans obviously hope that Tampa’s best players pull off a pair of wins during the last two games and make the playoffs. 

As always the goal is one game at a time. The next one is the most important.   

NFL Rankings from NFL.com

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Offense
No. 20 >> 329.0  Total
No. 19 >> 206.9  Passing
No. 9  >> 122.1  Rushing 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defense
No. 20 >> 346.0  Total
No. 11 >> 209.5  Passing 
No. 29 >> 136.5  Rushing 

Seattle Seahawks

Offense
No. 27 >> 304.1  Total
No. 16 >> 218.9  Passing
No. 31 >>  85.2  Rushing

Seattle Seahawks

Defense
No. 29 >> 376.7  Total
No. 29 >> 259.0  Passing
No. 21 >> 117.7  Rushing

Seahawks rank 31st in rushing offense, Bucs rank 29th in rushing defense.

Bucs rank 9th in rushing offense, Seahawks rank 21st   in rushing defense.     
 
Seahawks rank 16th in passing offense, Bucs rank 11th in passing defense.

Bucs rank 19th in passing offense, Seahawks rank 16th  in passing defense

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com