William Bonney wrote:
I think as a team, Tampa lacks leadership. I think players like Ruud, Brooks and Hovan leaving the past few years hasn't helped. Ronde Barber is still there but you used to have alot of veterans on that team who'd be leaders and vocal in the locker room. Josh Freeman definitely shows signs of that, but not there yet. Very bright young team, just in a tough division.
I agree to an extent but 2 of the players mentioned, Hovan and Ruud, wern't the best players around. Foster has looked better this season than Ruud did in the last 3. McCoy, Miller and Price are also better DT's than Hovan too. We just need to keep them fit. We only have 2 players aged over 30 though. Barber and Graham and the former is older than most of the coaching staff, including Rah. With Graham moving to RB this week in the absence of Blount this create 2 problems. 1st we have a far inferior RB. 2nd we are weak at FB now. Im sure him will share the work with Lumpkin though who looks promising.
I have drifted off your point here, I know, but this team wasn't ever meant to compete this year. If we do then its a bonus, but we are gaining the experience together and growing a team 1 year at a time. FWIW I still think we will run the Falcons close for 2nd in the division.
) We have McCoy and Blount out and Mason Foster is doubtful. 3 key players missing after a hammering doesnt look good. The next few weeks could be torture to watch.
