Mason Foster's Increasing Role

           

            With the recent announcement that Mason Foster would be calling the defensive plays for the Buccaneers’ defense, also came some concern—well, at least from me. For the past two years, Lavonte David has been the defensive player to wear the green dot and, therefore, diagnosing the plays and putting the defense in proper alignments. Some may look at this and say ‘Well, the defense hasn’t been very good the past two years, so what’s the big deal?’ To those people, I will make a case for David retaining this duty.

In David’s rookie season, he was given the duties of diagnosing plays and putting the defense in position. The previous year, rookie Mason Foster had been given the same responsibility; however, the two rookies led their teams to completely different on-field performances in those respective years.  In Raheem Morris’ final year as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2011 Buccaneer defense was among the worst in the league, allowing the most points (494), yards per play (6.3), and most rushing yards and TDs (2,497 and 26), before ultimately quitting in their then head coach.  While losing their final 10 games, the defense played pathetically as they gave up and average of 34.9 points per game, including 30+ points in 7 of the final 10 games, with highlights such as this and this, among others. (To all who have forced themselves to forget about this season, I apologize for the reminder.)

To be clear, there were many things that went wrong with that season. It was a season in which second-year WR Mike Williams was overwhelmed as the team’s No.1 WR and received very little help from anyone on the offense and Josh Freeman regressed as he tried to do too much with too little on the offensive side of the ball. On the defensive side, Gerald McCoy was lost with a season-ending injury in Week 9 and the team managed a miserable 22 sacks on the entire season, with Adrian Clayborn accounting for one-third of that total. The entire defense was beyond mediocre, from front to back and their embarrassing performances greatly contributed to Morris’ dismissal and the hiring of Greg Schiano.

Once Schiano & Co. came to Tampa, Lavonte David was drafted and Foster was relieved of his duty to set up the defense—a duty that was given to the rookie outside linebacker from Nebraska. In David’s first year, the Buccaneers saw their defense go from worst to first in run defense, which can greatly be attributed to the front seven’s work in that phase of the game. In his second year wearing the green dot, David had ridiculous production as he and Foster both enjoyed career years and the defense as a whole ranked 17^th in total yards allowed per game (15^th against the run). The difference in the defenses that were led by Foster compared to those that David led is clear, although it may be unfair to attribute the disparity solely to which linebacker was wearing the green dot.

As Foster wore the green dot, a far less talented roster surrounded him. Geno Hayes and Quincy Black were the starters at the outside linebacker positions, while oft-suspended Tanard Jackson and Cody Grimm and over-the-hill Sean Jones were starting safeties and Gerald McCoy spent a large part of the season on IR and Brian Price probably should have joined him. In David’s time calling the defensive adjustments, the roster was much improved from the previous year. At safety, Mark Barron and Ronde Barber were the starters, while Gerald McCoy enjoyed his first two 16-game seasons (resulting in two Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro selection).

With that said, I still would prefer to see David continue to make the defensive adjustments; however, I understand the change. The nature of the Tampa 2 calls for it, as the middle linebacker covers the deep middle and must diagnose the plays just as the QB does on offense. With the clearest viewpoint of any position on the field, Foster will have a large amount of responsibility. In his fourth year, Tampa Bay fans must hope that he can fulfill those duties if the defensive prowess that has eluded the Bucs since their Super Bowl championship is to return under Lovie Smith.

How Does He Fit?

OT Greg Robinson
Auburn

With the draft swiftly approaching, along with the start of minicamp, the Buccaneers will be exhausting all resources to figure out what they will be doing with the #7 overall pick. With a few “elite” left tackles projected to go early on, the Buccaneers have often been linked to Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews, who have battled for the top spot at the position and to be the first offensive lineman taken in the draft. Here, I will analyze Robinson’s potential fit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if taken at #7.

PROS

-       Can Fill Need

o   Many mock drafts have projected Robinson to Tampa Bay because of the perception that the Buccaneers are in need of an offensive tackle, but with the signing of Anthony Collins the team, in fact, does not need a starter at offensive tackle. Collins will be bookended by the oft-overlooked and undervalued Demar Dotson, who has, in short time, become one of the better right tackles in the league. Although the Buccaneers have no immediate need at tackle, Robinson could slide inside and man one of the guard spots that are up in the air due to Carl Nicks uncertain playing status.

-       Versatility

o   While many scouts have stated that Robinson is far from a finished product as a left tackle, he played the position pretty well at Auburn. In fact, he played it well enough to put his name in the same category as Jake Matthews, and even well enough to draw comparisons to Hall of Famer Larry Allen. Also, as implied above, a team that does not believe Robinson is ready to step in as a starting LT, he should still be able to play G at a high level until moving to the outside.

-       Possible Long-term Starter

o   Scouting reports have stated that Robinson needs to work on his pass protection, which may be the reason that some have not graded him above Jake Matthews. With the current starters at G, the Buccaneers could allow Robinson to fill the need at G for a couple of years while Anthony Collins and Demar Dotson man the tackle positions. Robinson could then transition to playing LT at the pro level and, if Dotson continues to improve, could give the Buccaneers a very good, young and athletic tandem of starting tackles for the future.

CONS:

-       Possible reach at #7

o   Now, before anyone blows a gasket, let me explain. It’s not that I believe Greg Robinson the LT is s reach; however, I do believe that selecting a guard at No. 7 may be a reach. This is a very talented draft in which guards can be had in later rounds. Although it is a need for Tampa Bay, I believe there is more value in selecting a G after the first round after addressing a bigger need in the first.

Overview:

Greg Robinson is a great prospect—one who is definitely worthy of the a top 10 selection; however, with their current roster, it’s debatable as to whether Greg Robinson would be the most valuable player to the Buccaneers with their first selection. (*As a side note, I believe value in this case means a mixture of BPA and need.) With two starting tackles already, Robinson would likely be forced to play G for several years before transitioning to being the QB’s blindside protector. In that sense, the Buccaneers would be selecting a G in the top 10, which isn’t necessarily a popular move.

Despite it not being a “sexy” pick, it wouldn’t be one that would absolutely upset me, especially when considering the long-term possibilities.

“With the No. 7 selection of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select…Greg Robinson.”

How would you feel?

Unit Breakdown: Linebackers

The linebacking unit, led by All-Pro weakside linebacker Lavonte David has been one of the stronger defensive units for the last couple of years. Under Greg Schiano, the unit  flourished, with both Lavonte David and Mason Foster improving from year one to year two under their former head coach. With the implementation of the "Tampa 2" under head coach Lovie Smith, the linebackers will have different responsibilities than they've had recently, likely with more coverage duties involved. Here's a look at the unit.

Lavonte David

Lavonte David took the league by storm, immediately becoming an impact player after being selected in the second round by Tampa Bay. In his first season, David notched 139 combines tackles, adding two sacks and an interception. Last season, David improved on every statistical category, becoming a playmaker and, at least to Buccaneer fans, one of the best linebackers and defenders in the entire league. David's 2013-2014 campaign was one for the history books, as he recorded 145 combined tackles and became just the seventh player in NFL history to record five interceptions and five sacks in the same season. Although Tampa Bay and fans of the team were able to witness the making of a star, David was regularly overlooked by many involved in the national media and left off of the Pro Bowl roster (even though he was ultimately given a higher honor of being voted as a first team All Pro).

The traditional "Tampa 2" is the same defense that brought the Buccaneers a Super Bowl title, with the best weakside linebacker and defensive tackle being integral parts of their dominance.  With the current roster, Smith inherits a very similar pairing, with Lavonte David and Gerald McCoy representing (arguably) the best at their respective positions; however, David also represents the only sure starter in the linebacker corps.

Mason Foster

Foster is another player who has really played well for the last couple years, with 2013-2014 being his best year yet. Foster is an effective blitzer and solid tackler, but must improve his coverage skills if he plans to be the Mike linebacker in Lovie’s Tampa 2. In this defense, the middle linebacker’s responsibility is to diagnose the play as either a run or pass and move into position to defend it. At the snap, the Mike typically moves toward the line of scrimmage, but then drops back into coverage if he diagnoses the play as a pass…and the drop is what makes the difference in the Tampa 2. In this coverage, the Mike is asked to drop to the deep middle, typically running with the deepest interior target. The question that Foster must answer with Lovie is whether he is athletic enough and fast enough to fulfill that responsibility. In the past few years, Foster has not seemed to be the most fleet of foot, and his athleticism may leave something to be desired at the position. Could there be a new linebacker pushing Foster for playing time in the near future? You can bet that Lovie Smith is going to do his best to eliminate weak links in the defense and, if Foster cannot accomplish the tasks that are asked of him as a Tampa 2 MLB, his spot as starter will not be secure.

Johnathan Casillas

Casillas has the potential to be a very good player to pair up with David as the outside linebackers. In a scheme that is reliant on speed from the position, Casillas fits right in. Although he hasn’t become a superstar, Casillas played well for the Buccaneers last season before being put on injured reserve. He is good in pass coverage and a sound tackler as well, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some wrinkles added to the defense to take advantage of his speed and athleticism.

Here are a couple of videos of Brian Billick explaining the Cover 2/Tampa 2 defense:

Billick explains Tampa 2- Part 2

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mock Draft #2

Round 1, Pick 7: Teddy Bridgewater, QB

Bridgewater has been hailed as a great college QB who could transition into the pros and be the face of a franchise with little trouble because of his tangible skills as much as the intangibles. More recently, he has been bashed for a “poor” pro day, in which he threw without the gloves that have become a trademark of his. Rumor is that Bridgewater’s stock has dropped and that Manziel and Bortles have surpassed him; however, I still view Bridgewater as the best QB prospect in the draft, and the most pro-ready.

Round 2, Pick 38: Buccaneers trade back with NY Giants for 2^nd (43^rd  overall) and 4^th (113^th  overall) picks

Round 2, Pick 43: Donte Moncrief, WR

Moncrief offers good size (6’2”, 220 lbs) at the WR position and although he may not possess dominant size like Mike Evans or Kelvin Banjamin, he is much smoother in his movements and offers good playmaking ability as an undervalued player in a deep WR class.

Round 3, Pick 69:  Stanley Jean-Baptiste, DB

SJB is a big defensive back who offers great ball skills and the versatility to play cornerback and safety. Standing at 6’3” Jean-Baptiste can come up to the line and press bigger receivers and is strong enough to disrupt their routes. He has also displayed a nose for the ball and has drawn comparisons to Richard Sherman. With a lack of top-end speed but good ball skills and size, Jean-Baptiste could be an ideal Cover 2 corner, and can also be an effective safety. Lovie Smith loves versatility, and SJB’s ability to effectively play at least two positions could make him a very appealing player to the defensive-minded coach.

Round 4, Pick 113: Cyril Richardson, OG

Lovie Smith and Jason Licht seem to really like like versatility in their players, with several offensive and defensive lineman having the ability to play multiple positions. Richardson offers versatility as well, as he has played T and G at Baylor; however, his best position is likely at G. At the G position, Richardson brings a big body with good feet, although his intensity has been questioned.

Round 5, Pick 143: Yawin Smallwood, LB

Smallwood has expressed confidence in himself when he stated that he believes he is the best linebacker in the 2014 class. Smallwood offers plus size (6’2”, 246 lbs) and  ability, and was a three year starter at the University of Connecticut where he posted 337 tackles, 8.5 sacks,, five forced fumbles and 17 pass deflections (stats obtained from sports-reference.com). He also has the athleticism to drop back in coverage, a big responsibility for Tampa-2 middle linebackers.

Round 6, Pick 185: Brandon Coleman, WR

Round 7, Pick 221:  Kadeem Edwards, OG

In this draft, the Buccaneers have not only gotten their franchise QB, but also addressed some pressing needs. Several players have the ability to step in and start in Week 1 of next season, but may not have to. 

Unit Breakdown: Defensive Line

With the new regime coming in and making major moves on the roster, anticipation for the upcoming season is high, and for good reason. Lovie Smith’s return to Tampa Bay has many fans excited for the future of the Buccaneers, offering a sense of nostalgia to those who wish to see the return of the dominant defense that brought a title to Tampa Bay under Coach Jon Gruden.  Lovie Smith, in his first offseason as head coach of the Buccaneers, has made some transactions to move the team in the direction that he feels it should be in, with expectations that the Bucs will, in the near future, be a championship team. With a good core group of defensive players in Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy, Mark Barron and the new acquisitions of Michael Johnson and Alterraun Verner, Smith will attempt to re-build the feared and dominant defense that was once a hallmark of Tampa, and it all starts up front.

The defensive line has the potential to be much better than it was in 2013 under Greg Schiano. Lovie Smith places an emphasis on getting to the QB, primarily with the front four, and with good coaching, Bucs fans could see a greatly improved unit in the 2014-2015 season.

Gerald McCoy emerged as one of the best defensive tackles in the league last year, racking up 9.5 sacks—he should’ve had 10, but for some reason Adrian Clayborn was credited for half of a sack in Week 17—and making it to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. For the majority of the season, McCoy was the lone pass rushing threat and was often asked to perform ridiculous line stunts, and yet he still had a career season. Lovie Smith has stated that he believes the McCoy can improve, and McCoy himself believes he’ll perform better than his 2013-2014 season. That may indeed be true, as McCoy has formed a bond with Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp and will be playing under a coach who wants his defensive linemen to pin their ears back and hunt, getting after the QB; however, there needs to be another presence on the defensive line who puts fear into opposing offensive linemen and QBs. Who will it be?

Michael Johnson signed a big contract with the Buccaneers this offseason and, despite mediocre stats, was a very disruptive player last year. Although he only collected, 3.5 sacks with the Bengals, Johnson recorded 61 QB pressures and 9 batted passes. Despite what the stats say, Johnson is a big upgrade over Adrian Clayborn at right end, and will more consistently pressure the QB.

On the other end of the defensive line, Adrian Clayborn will likely be the starter, but will face competition from several teammates, like Da’Quan Bowers and William Gholston, who began to break out at the end of his rookie campaign. All four players have the versatility to rush from the DE spot and slide inside to rush from the DT position (in obvious passing situations) as well. With the addition of another pass rushing DT in Clinton McDonald, there is definitely potential on the Buccaneers’ defensive line, and defensive line coach Joe Cullen is excited to work with them.