Ruud article

[bullg8rdaddy]

LINK (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101117/ARTICLE/11171061/2050/SPORTS?Title=Ruud-doesn-t-get-glory-just-gets-it-done)

Do I smell excuses?

[Caddy]

As far as I'm concerned Ruud gets more hate than he deserves.

[vikes_28]

Ruud article...

http://www.uberpix.net/wp-content/main/2009_11/I-See-What-You-Did-There.jpg

[bullg8rdaddy]

As far as I'm concerned Ruud gets more hate than he deserves.

You are probably right.

I have no effing clue as to what his real responsibilities are in our defense. It doesn't seem like Corch Rah is unsatisfied with him. Also, doesn't look like we are going to let him go.

[Caddy]

He gets a lot of hate because he makes most of his tackles 5 yards behind the LOS. Raheem has said numerous times that he playcalls for Ruud to sit behind the line of scrimmage like that.

[etk]

Whether it's Ruud's fault or not, it's a stupid scheme. He's gotten smaller and weaker since he started out here. He's not physical enough. I hate him because he has no pop taking on fullbacks or hitting RBs. Morris can make excuses about Ruud being an "intermediate safety" but there are plenty of LBs who have both the short-area quickness and power that we need. Look around the division: Lofton, Vilma and Beason can all do that. In the draft there are guys that seem like they can do that (Irving, Bynes, hell even Colin McCarthy). A MLB that can bring some pop and hit guys at the LOS would go a long way towards moving our run D up from 2nd worst...

I'm sick of seeing our MLB getting pushed around and making tackles far down the field. As someone who played the position for 10 years it's frustrating to have the softest MLB in the league.

[brasho]

I've seen how the Mike in the T-2 is supposed to play, and Ruud doesn't hold a canlde to Quarles or Nickerson, he is more like Jamie Duncan... meaning we could use an upgrade.

When he walks at the end of the year, we'll see how good he really was. I figure Quincy is the early favorite to get the starting job with Watson or Heyward being the new Sam. I personally look forward to it, Ruud has been called the QB of the defense and that he always gets the Bucs into the right play... that's impossible, there is no right play when the defense is only playing with 10 players.

[StaticGator]

Even if it's not in the design of the defense to have the MLB make big plays, and I think that's all coach-speak, you don't pay real money for a MLB to not make big plays. Once an adequate player at a non-playmaking position gets too expensive, you let him go and then use another mid round pick on a cheaper player so you can spend your money on the playmaking positions.

[DJC]

Agreed that Ruud needs to be replaced. Maybe it's not too late to get some value out of him too if we tag him or something. That could be why Rah hasn't been talking down on him too, the team plans to try to trade him in the offseason as his rep is pretty high still from prior seasons.

[Caddy]

I'm in the minority, but I'd be happy for him to be brought back.

[Chucky]

He seems like the leader of the defence behind Barber and with Ronde possibly retiring it may not be smart to have the two leaders of the defence leave in one off-season.

[bullg8rdaddy]

Good point. Who would be our leader on defense if Barber and Ruud leave?

[etk]

Gerald McCoy will become a leader in time. I don't know about Black and Hayes in terms of their character and leadership ability but both could step in. Talib and TJax have disappointed in that department, although it wasn't unexpected.

We have great locker room chemistry and lots of high-character guys so that's not a problem. I do agree that defensive leadership individually is important though.

[Caddy]

I think McCoy will be a fantastic leader of this offense. Other than him I don't really see any guys who fit that kind of role to be honest, assuming Ruud and Barber depart. McCoy will do great in that role though.