Tuesday Afternoon Linebacker

Another football season is upon us fine folks. Things around TALB headquarters have been hectic to say the least. What with the start of the college season already underway, trying to get that interview with new NFL honcho Roger Goodell, and working on sorting out the QB and OL situation with the Pirates in Pewter Pants. The staff has been working long hours, but the payoff should be nearly mediocre. On with it then.

Eh. Whaddya Gonna Do?
After watch bits and pieces of all four Bucs preseason games I think that our QB situation is in fair shape. Not great. But fair. Simms the Younger is coming along now that he’s the undisputed starter. Gradkowski will be an able backup; though I think he’ll end up being the third man. But with the recent departure of Fiedler (he may be back though), things could change. Gradkowski has been stellar while Rattay has been less than mediocre. Gruden has said that he’ll decide on the quarterback depth chart week-by-week.

The first team defense has been on fire. Showing that they’ve kept up the pace from last year should strike some bit of fear into our opponents. On the other side, the O-Line has been terrible and should buoy the hopes of our foes.

So many of the columnists, bloggers, and talking heads out there seem to think that staying put on the starting line-up will be a mistake for the Bucs. It is a starting line-up that won one of the toughest divisions in football last year. This line-up also finished 11-5. However, they did lose the wild card playoff game. The changes further down the depth chart should be improvements though. It’s the backups that can make a difference a lot of times. Aside from the QB and Center, most of the other players get a play off here and there.

The Baltimore game should be a win for us. They have a fearsome defense, but their offense is terrible. If we can play the match-ups when we have the ball we should come away with a close win.

Running Backs? Anyone Seen A Running Back Around Here?
The Gators opened the season by crushing (in relative terms) the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss. Though like the Buccaneers, the Gators are faced with problems along the offensive line. The boys allowed too many sacks and too much pressure. And they failed to adequately block for the running backs. Though the backs didn’t help themselves once they were able to pop out beyond the line. I’m thinking I might to and try-out for the team myself. Hell, it can’t get any worse back there.

Percy Harvin, the real deal. That’s really all there is to it. And the defense was pretty much in control for the whole game. They gave up a touchdown on a short field, which won’t be acceptable if it happens again two games from now.

Bulls, Noles, Canes, etc.
After barely holding off Division I-AA McNeese State for three quarters, the Bulls rumbled through the final stanza and amassed 27 additional points. This of course occur ed after much maligned QB Pat Julmissedthereceivereventhoughhewasopen went down with a thigh injury in the second quarter. His replacement, and new starter, Matt Grothe put the lotion in the basket three times (two passing and one rushing).

And down South there was a mostly ignored game between FSU and Miami (FL). The hated Seminoles squeaked out a victory against the hated Hurricanes by actually connecting on a late game field goal attempt. Imagine that.

So Very Rank
That time of year is upon us again. The very first pre-season college football poll has been released. Among the notables, Ohio State in the top spot. Defending “champ” Texas at numero dos. Notre Freakin’ Dame at 3 in a tie with Southern Cal. Florida comes in at 8, FSU 10, and Miami (FL) 11.

SEC: 6 ranked teams, 3 in the top 10.
ACC: 4, 1
Big 10: 4, 1
Big 12: 4, 2
Big East: 2, 1
Pac 10: 3, 1
MWC: 1, 0
Ind: 1, 1

This all, of course, means absolutely positively nothing. Well, except how easy or tough of a road your favorite team has to the Mythical National Championship. By the time you read this, the second polls of the season will have hit the wires.

Is Wayne Brady Gonna Have To Choke A Gumbel?
What in the hell is wrong with Bryant Gumbel? Dude goes on semi-national TV and rips into Gene Upshaw (head of the NFLPA) about being on a leash. I’m sorry, maybe I missed something here, but didn’t the players get MORE money under this new agreement? And didn’t they get more money last time too? What do you want Bryant? The kind of labor relations that the NHL and MLB have? If Upshaw had taken a more hard line stance where would the NFL be now? A boat load of veterans would have been released and probably had to sign lesser contracts. Next year would have been crazy, baseball crazy. And then 2008 would be a disaster. There probably would be a work stoppage of some kind and the season would be lost. Sounds like a great plan there Bryant.

Before you get too high and mighty remember that football players (and hockey players, baseball players, basketball players, etc) are PLAYING a SPORT professionally. They’re not saving lives. They’re not doing anything (for the most part) that contributes to the greater good (on the field at least). So any money they receive beyond what it takes to put a roof over their heads and food on their tables is a bonus. As former Vikings running back, and player rep, pointed out the other day, in a world of guaranteed NFL contracts the deals would not be as rich. Do you think the Colts would have given Peyton Manning a $100M+ deal if they knew they had to pay him every cent of that money? I agree with Smith, Gumbel is in fear that he is becoming irrelevant. And I think that while this little tirade will bring Gumbel back into the spotlight for a few days or weeks, his plan has backfired.

And With My First Pick…
… in the Buc Junkies 2006 Selection Meeting I picked up Reggie Bush. Yes, it was a reach and a gamble. Even with Peyton Manning still on the board I made this selection. Though, unless you’re willing to put in hours upon hours of research, a fantasy football draft is pretty hard to get right. Consider that in any given year there are maybe 10 sure thing guys (Peyton, LaDanian Tomlinson, etc), followed by maybe twice as many “performers”, guys who will produce most of the time, but you can’t count on them for 15 points every week. From there it drops off considerably. Which is why most fantasy football champions are made on the waiver wire, not on draft night.

My draft went as follows (as if you care):
1. Reggie Bush
2. Tom Brady
3. Antonio Gates
4. Santana Moss
5. Dominic Rhodes
6. Tampa Bay
7. Marty Booker
8. Chris Simms
9. Jason Elam
10. Keyshawn Johnson
11. Ciatrick Fason
12. Philadelphia
13. Jerry Porter
14. Ben Troupe

Yeah, I picked Meshawn. I don’t expect him to be on the roster much past week two. I’m pretty happy with the top three picks. But then again, I am one of those people who prefers QBs and RBs to just about anything else. The one or two solid WRs out there would be great. But with Gates, it is almost like having another receiver.

Predicted Opening Day Lineup:
QB - Brady
RB - Bush
RB - Rhodes/Waiver Selection
WR - Moss
WR - Booker
WR - Porter
TE - Gates
K - Elam
DEF - Tampa Bay

Running Items
WTF?
Jeff George. Raiders. 2006.

They Call Me The Space Cowboy
Oh my. Our mis-guided friend is in trouble yet again. Seriously, he needs help. Thankfully the judge has ordered a psych evaluation.

Plus One Bowl
Florida vs. Ohio State
Until something changes, I’m sticking with my team and the current “Number One” team.

Super Bowl XLI
Panthers vs. Dolphins
TALB will join in the chorus that is making the above selection. Though TALB doesn’t really be live this will come to pass.

Team TALB
TALB is always looking for fresh insight and additional input. If you want to submit something to be included in TALB, please feel free to contact me and I’ll get it put in the next edition.

King Of Football
As always, feel free to submit your entry for TALB’s King Of Football 2007. It will appear during the off week between the NFL conference championships and the Super Bowl (January 30, I think).

Next Week: Quoth the Ravens… something something….