Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 Linebackers Who Could Make a Big Impact in 2011

There are a handful of ways to describe the Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebackers and their performance as a unit in 2010. You could call them above average. You could label them adequate. You could say they underachieved and you could say they have room to grow.

But one particular mode puts it all together.

Quantity over quality.

Barrett Ruud had what you could call a solid season, leading the team with 118 total tackles, good for 15th in the league among linebackers. While that’s his lowest 16-game total of his six-year career, you could likely chalk that up to depth and rotation at the position.

He's set to be a free agent, though head coach Raheem Morris has expressed a desire to re-sign the veteran.

The next leading tackler among linebackers was Geno Hayes with 82, barely cracking the top 50 at the position.

Youth and depth—they’re equally valuable. And the Buccaneers have plenty of each.

The Buccaneers are focused on improving two aspects of their defense in 2011: the pass rush and the run defense (28th in the league at 137.1 yards per game and 4.7 per carry).

And with the linebackers often dubbed “quarterbacks of the defense,” they’ll be instrumental in getting the Buccaneer defense back to their glory days, both against the run and the pass.

Here are four linebackers that could emerge as impact linebackers in 2011 for the Buccaneers.

No. 4: Quincy Black

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 18: Linebacker Quincy Black #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sets on defense against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on August 18, 2007 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Quincy Black was working on a solid season in 2010 before breaking his arm in Week 14 against the Washington Redskins. He recorded 61 total tackles, forced one fumble and added a pair of sacks before being sent to injured reserve.

Black, a third-round pick in the 2007 draft, was the Buccaneers’ third-leading tackler in 2009, in which he started 13 games.

Going into 2010, Raheem Morris was high enough on Black to describe him as an intimidating bully and an emerging team leader.

And while 61 tackles in 11 games isn't exactly going get Black to the Pro Bowl, it's not a bad block for him to build on in 2011.

Black is set to be a free agent, but general manager Mark Dominik has had regular conversations with the linebacker about the possibility of re-signing and Black has reciprocated his interest in staying in Tampa Bay.

If he does and he stays on the field and off IR, he could emerge as a veteran leader for a young Buccaneer linebacking corps in 2011.

No. 3: Tyrone McKenzie

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 24: Tyrone McKenzie #54 of North Team runs against the South Team during the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 24, 2009 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for Under Armour)

Originally selected in the third round of the 2009 draft by the New England Patriots, Tyrone McKenzie tore his ACL in training camp and missed his rookie season.

With the Patriots stacked at linebacker and McKenzie looking for an opportunity to start, he asked to be released and was signed to the Buccaneers practice squad in 2010. He was promoted to the active roster near the end of the 2010 season.

McKenzie made an immediate impact on Raheem Morris, and in three games of limited action at linebacker (he played mostly on special teams), he recorded five tackles.

While it may be a long shot for McKenzie to contend for a substantial amount of snaps, he's doing everything in his power to show that he has put his knee injury behind him and that he's ready to start in the NFL.

He's been working with quarterback Josh Freeman and has played an instrumental role in organizing team workouts during the NFL lockout.

It could be a now-or-never season in the young career of the University of South Florida prospect.

No. 2: Dekoda Watson

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PROVO, UT. - SEPTEMBER 19: Dekoda Watson #36 of the Florida State Seminoles holds a piece of sod from the field to add to the sod cemetery after a win over the Brigham Young Cougars at La Vell Edwards Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Provo, Utah. (Photo

Dekoda Watson slipped all the way to the seventh round in the 2010 draft, where he was selected by the Buccaneers.

He played in 15 games as a rookie, mostly on special teams, and started one game. He recorded 31 tackles.

The Buccaneers were impressed with Watson in his limited snaps in 2010 and liked his 4.4 speed and athleticism coming out of Florida State.

With some NFL minutes under his belt, Watson comes into the 2011 season with a good chance at getting more snaps at linebacker and could contend for a starting spot at outside linebacker in his second season.

No. 1: Mason Foster

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 11: Linebacker Mason Foster #40 of the Washington Huskies looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Syracuse Orange on September 11, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

When the Buccaneers drafted University of Washington linebacker Mason Foster in the third round of the 2011 draft, many thought it spelled the end for Barrett Ruud.

In a post-draft interview, Pro Football Weekly asked Mark Dominik if drafting Foster would have any impact on Ruud's role with the team.

"It may," he said. "(We're waiting to) figure out what the rules are in free agency and what that all means. Certainly, I think Mason is a quality player and I think he can step into the lineup and play any one of the three linebacker positions for us."

Foster was second in the nation in 2010 with 163 tackles and he also had 6.5 sacks as an outside linebacker, although the Buccaneers may use him at middle linebacker if Ruud is, in fact, not re-signed.

In his career at Washington, he recorded 378 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 11 pass defenses, eight forced fumbles, four interceptions, one blocked kick and one defensive touchdown.

Washington coach Steve Sarkisian predicts that Mason will be a great pro, telling the Seattle Times, "He's just got great instincts, and in the NFL he equates to a three-down linebacker, meaning he can play first- and second-down football, but even in nickel situations, he can rush the passer or cover people—he can do that really well, too."

And Foster is excited about his arrival in Tampa Bay as well.

"I think it's a great fit for me," said Foster. "I feel like they are a great team with a young head coach (Raheem Morris) that is up and rising. I feel good about this pick right here."

When the lockout ends and the Buccaneers get into camp, Foster will have his chance to make the Buccaneers brass feel good about the pick as well, likely contending for a starting spot immediately.