Bucs Nation

Jonathan Vilma sues Roger Goodell for defamation

2012-05-17T20:14:29Z

In another hilarious twist in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, Jonathan Vilma has decided to sue Roger Goodell for defamation. Vilma claims that Goodell "in relation to the Bounty scandal in relation to purported efforts designed to injure opposing players, made public statements concerning Vilma which were false, defamatory and injurious to Vilma's professional and personal reputation." If you want all the details, head on over to SBNation.com.

This doesn't mean much for the Buccaneers, for now. It's possible that Vilma sees his suspension repealed if he wins the lawsuit, but that doesn't make the Saints that much stronger. Vilma has declined quite a lot in recent years and isn't the player he used to be. And the Saints have done well to bolster their linebacking corps this offseason, by signing Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne.

This lawsuit is interesting in one way, though: Vilma is using the court system to challenge Roger Goodell. Could Aqib Talib or the NFLPA attempt to do the same in case he is suspended at some point in the future? Will we see more occasions of players trying to go over Goodell's head - and will it work?

Connor Barth signs four-year deal with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2012-05-17T18:28:11Z

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed Connor Barth to a four-year, $13.2 million deal with $4 million in guaranteed money, according to Adam Schefter. Barth has been supremely accurate throughout his career with the Buccaneers, making 26 of 28 field goals last season and hitting 84% overall. He hasn't wilted under pressure, either, as he has hit game-winning field goals whenever given the chance to make one - and he has yet to miss a field goal to win a game.

Given the way the Bucs have structured their previous contracts, I would expect the team to have guaranteed his first-year salary, which should be $4 million. That would leave around $3 million per year for the last three years of his contract. As I explained previously, I am not a fan of this kind of contract for Barth. While he's been very valuable as a field goal kicker, he does not add any value on kickoffs, and field goal accuracy isn't that consistent from year to year. Is Barth worth $3.3 million per year more than a kicker off the street?

Still, at least the Bucs won't have to worry about their punting or kicking positions for the next few years.

In addition, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed veteran receiver Wallace Wright, who was with the New York Jets from 2006 through 2009 mostly as a core special teamer. Note: he played at North Carolina in college, another Butch Davis connection. The Bucs also signed rookie free agent Armahd Lewis, who was a track star at Utah State. To make room for these two, they released former North Carolina G Mike Ingersoll and rookie TE Tyler Urban, previously with West Virginia.

Bucs Brian Price was in town but held out of OTAs Tuesday due to flu-like symptoms.

2012-05-17T15:00:50Z

Bucs Brian Price was in town but held out of OTAs Tuesday due to flu-like symptoms.

Pewter Report

Bucs Nation Exclusive Interview with Keith Tandy

2012-05-17T13:50:00Z

During the offseason this year, Bucs Nation will be attempting to bring you some exclusive content that can't be found anywhere else on the web. Here is our second interview with one of the Buccaneers' 2012 draft class. Lee Caswell (Leecaz) spoke with the team's sixth round selection out of West Virginia University, Keith Tandy. Below is a transcript of that interview:

Note: This interview took place on Thursday, May 10th, 2012.

LC: Do you think that playing against Rutgers frequently while you were at West Virginia gave you an advantage in being drafted? Do you think it will give you a leg up on making the roster since Coach Schiano already knows what you're capable of as a player?

KT: I think it gave him a good idea of what we (Tandy and Najee Goode) were capable of doing. He knew what he was getting when he picked us. He probably already has an idea of where we would fit in at. He also has a familiarity with our coaches, so he could talk to our coaches and see what type of guys we were.

LC: Absolutely. Your style of play is usually described as very physical for a corner. Some people project you as some kind of a perfect nickel back in a zone scheme. Others think you'll be better suited to switch over a free safety in the NFL. Where do you think your skill set fits in best?

KT: I'm not sure. I believe I can play a number of different positions. Like in our defense, a cornerback has to be able to tackle too. It pretty much gave us free play in the secondary, so you've got to be able to tackle.

LC: Right. And in the rookie mini-camp did they say anything to you about trying you out at the free safety position or anything?

Check out Keith's answer to this question, as well as the rest of the interview, after the jump.

KT: They were just like wanting us to learn the defense. The main thing they were trying to get us to learn is for the corners to get caught back up to where the veterans are at, because they really haven't started picking the veterans at the different positions yet.

LC: You were roommates with Najee Goode while at West Virginia. How close would you describe your friendship and what it means to have him with you here in Tampa?

KT: Oh, we're real close. We're actually still here together in Morgantown right now, working out. I mean, we're still roommates. It definitely makes the transition easier. Like, it makes it easier just to have that familiarity around you. Somebody pushing you, and you be pushing them.

LC: Now, a lot of people don't know that you were a very successful high school quarterback in Christian County, KY. You threw for over 90 touchdowns. Is that correct?

KT: Yes sir.

LC: Do you think being a former passer gives you any type of advantage as a defensive back?

KT: It definitely helps me out by kind of knowing what the offense is trying to do inside the defense. But I know when I played quarterback it wasn't like I was in a school with a league defense. It was just a double safety and a double cornerback.

LC: What kind of goals have you set for yourself for this 2013 season coming up?

KT: The main thing I've been worrying about so far is just getting the playbook down. That will allow me to go out there and play fast whenever I'm on the field.

LC: Yes sir. And do you think you'll compete for a starting spot this year or are you going to focus on just trying to make it onto special teams? What type of impact do you think you'll have the Bucs this year?

KT: I don't really have an idea yet. I'm definitely going in there to fight for one. Whatever happens just happens.

LC: That's a great attitude to have. What do you think your greatest strengths are as a player?

KT: I think basically my knowledge of the game. Like, knowing what the offense is trying to do. And separating the receiver from his timing with the quarterback.

LC: What do you think will be the most difficult part of the transition from the college game to the pro game?

KT: I know everybody always talks about the speed, but I feel like one of the problems with that is guys coming in and they don't know the play book as well as they should. That's one of the things I'm focusing on now so it will allow me to go out there and play faster.

LC: Coach Schiano has talked a lot in the media about the new Buccaneer way, and the new type of standard they're trying to set here in Tampa. Did they talk to the rookies about that at the mini-camp last week?

KT: Yes.

LC: What all did you take away from that conversation? What do you think he wants out of you? I know you were a captain while at West Virginia and he seemed to draft a lot of leaders. Did he talk about any of that kind of stuff and what he wants out of the players?

KT: That's one thing they kept telling us about, the Buccaneer way. They just want a lot of tough guys. A lot of tough, smart football players out there that they don't have to worry about off the field getting into trouble.

LC: Yes sir. Okay Keith, that's all the questions I've got for you. Just wanted to say congratulations on being drafted. I'm from a couple of counties over in Kentucky, so it's good to see somebody from back home making it big.

KT: Oh, okay.

LC: Alright man, well you have a good day and good luck this season.

KT: Alright. Thank you.

LC: Thank you.

Daily Bucs Links 5/17/12 - Can the Bucs win the NFC South?

2012-05-17T12:11:54Z

2011's Best Performances: Defensive Tackles | ProFootballFocus.com
Gerald McCoy shows up.

[Video] NFL Videos: Can the Bucs win the NFC South?
Well they CAN. Will they?

Military Veterans: What's Your Favorite Sports Memory From Deployment? - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
If you're a veteran, let SB Nation know your sports memories.

Bad box-office news for Florida teams - NFC South Blog - ESPN
The economy is still pretty bad.

Bucs' Blount inspired by competition from rookies | TBO.com
Inspired!

You can follow us on Twitter as @Bucs_Nation or on Facebook at Facebook.com/BucsNation

If you have a topic you want to talk about, remember that you can write a fanpost.

Ranking the NFL Owners, Part II | The Big Lead
The Glazers at 20.

Call it: Best NFC South backup QB? - NFC South Blog - ESPN
Why are we discussing this? Every team is screwed if they have to put in their backup QB.

Bucs hopeful a deal is there for Connor Barth - Yahoo! Sports
They'll get something done.

Bucs RB Blount still believes he's the starter - NFL.com
He won't be once the season starts, though.

Bucs Reward Bay Point Middle School for Play 60 Challenge | Buccaneers.com
Yay, charity.

The Bucs should have the best pass rush in the NFC South

2012-05-17T00:00:04Z

The most important part of any defense is the pass rush. Just ask the New York Giants, who have won two Super Bowls over the past five years on the back of their dominant pass rush. In a pass-happy NFL where disrupting the pass is the first thing most defenses worry about, this should be obvious. And yet, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be the only team to view the NFL this way in the NFC South.

The Bucs have invested heavily in their defensive line over the past seasons. Since 2009, they've invested two first-round draft picks and two second-round draft picks on their defensive line. This season, they've added former first-rounder Amobi Okoye. And let's not forget about undrafted free agent Michael Bennett, who has turned out to be a real diamond in the rough. Given that investment, the Bucs may have the most talented defensive line in the NFL. That kind of investment hasn't turned into production yet, but every one of those players has flashed his talent in recent years. Health is now the most important component for this group.

But somehow, the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers don't seem to view the NFL this way. All three of those teams seem to collect run-stopping defensive linemen, and each of them has only one competent pass-rusher: Will Smith for the Saints, Charles Johnson for the Panthers and John Abraham for the Atlanta Falcons.

Those three players don't exactly represent a future force in the division, either. John Abraham and Will Smith are both over 30 years old and appear to be rapidly nearing the end of their productive NFL careers. Smith hasn't topped 7 sacks since 2009, while Abraham is coming off a 9.5 sack season - but that was a season that saw his snaps severely limited in an effort to keep him healthy and fresh. When teams start doing that, you know the end is near - as if his age wasn't enough of an indicator.

And despite that, all three of those teams produced more sacks the past seasons than Tampa Bay did. How? Blitzes and leads. All three of those teams had fairly high-powered offenses that forced their opponents to pass often. And lots of passes lead to lots of opportunities for sacks - which is not a luxury the Bucs had last season. More importantly, the Falcons and Saints saw their star pass rushers stay healthy, while the Bucs' defensive line was hit with several injuries. Experience doesn't hurt, which the Bucs surely lack. Finally, the New Orleans Saints only goal on defense seemed to be to pressure the quarterback, at times. In addition to handing out bounties, Gregg Williams loved to blitz. A lot. Expect that tendency to decline under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Falcons seem to be getting ready to blitz a lot more, though.

The NFL is all about pressure on defense, and the Bucs are in prime position to dominate the division at least in that one area. For that, they need the remaining defensive linemen to stay healthy and productive. Gerald McCoy can't tear his biceps again, Brian Price needs to regain his explosion and strength, Amobi Okoye must be the productive backup he can be, Adrian Clayborn needs to continue to build on his strong rookie year, and Michael Bennett must become more consistent as a pass rusher. The talent to dominate is there, now the production needs to follow.

Rutgers and North Carolina dominate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster

2012-05-16T20:00:23Z

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Greg Schiano in January, they knew he'd probably bring a few of his former players to the team. I don't know if the Bucs held similar thoughts when they hired former North Carolina head coach Butch Davis as a "special assistant to the head coach", but it sure seems to work that way. Rutgers and North Carolina are well-represented on the team, as seven players from Greg Schiano's former employer and five from Butch Davis' former employer appear on the roster.

Those 13 players didn't all join the Bucs this offseason. Center Jeremy Zuttah, defensive end George Johnson, defensive tackle E.J. Wilson, tight end Zack Pianalto and tackle Mike Ingersoll were already with the team when Schiano and Davis were hired. However, no other college team is represented by more than 4 players on the roster and the Bucs did add 8 players from those colleges to their roster this offseason. Of course, one of those players is Eric Legrand, and it's hard to find fault with that signing.

The overabundance of players the Bucs brass is familiar with isn't necessarily a bad thing. Schiano and Davis will know some things about these players that makes them comfortable giving them a shot. And let's not forget we're still in the early stages of the offseason, and most of these players won't make it to the regular season.

Still, it's an interesting trend, and one worth following.

NFL Writers think Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make the playoffs

2012-05-16T16:00:43Z

The optimism surrounding the new regime in Tampa Bay isn't just limited to Buccaneers fans. The writers at NFL.com seem to feel the same way. In an article discussing teams with new head coaches, three of the seven polled writers mention the Bucs as strong candidates to make it to the playoffs this year. That's quite a task, considering the ten-game losing streak in 2011 and the killer division the Buccaneers play in, but it's far from impossible.

The Bucs do have the talent to have a successful season, and had that talent last year as well when they started out 4-2 on the back of a strong running game and nasty run defense. Injuries quickly sapped that talent, though, and exposed the limited depth on the team at multiple key positions. The Bucs have quickly worked to upgrade starters and add depth to the team this offseason, which gives them the quality to make it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 season. Yes, it's been five seasons since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last played in a playoff game. It's been ten seasons since they last won one.

The quick turnaround of the 2011 San Francisco 49ers may give fans and pundits alike some hope as to the prospects of the 2012 Buccaneers, but much will hinge on a few key players. The Bucs have already lost Da'Quan Bowers for most if not all of the season, and more injuries will undoubtedly follow. Has the team built the necessary depth to compete desite injuries? And, perhaps more importantly, can Greg Schiano prevent a couple of losses from spiraling into ten straight?