First piece of news of the day that I was aware of, was the subtle announcement by the Buccaneers that SS Jermaine “Flip” Phillips might see some time at the Will Linebacker position this season.  This is actually something I mentioned as a strong possibility awhile back.  With Sabby Piscatelli, Tanard Jackson and Jermaine Phillips at the safety positions, the Bucs are very deep.  Situationaly, it would only make sense, especially in Jim Bates style traditional 4-3 man defense, to play some hybrid style players at the weakside linebacker position, and most of the hybrid players would generally come from the SS spot on the field.  

“I’d never played linebacker before, and I told them, ‘I’ll never know how effective I’m going to be at the position or how fun it will be for me unless I try it.’ So I told them I was willing to give it a try and we’ll see how it goes. I know there’s a lot more hitting up there and I like to hit, so let’s work out and see what happens.”

“It was something that coach brought to my attention, kind of like a proposal,” recounted Phillips. “He said, ‘You can do this, and I’d like to see you try it, or you can just stay where you are.’ The way I see it, you’ll never know if you’re going to like something unless you try it. I’m willing to give it a try and go out there and work. If I can better serve the team at linebacker rather than safety, then that’s where I want to be. But if I can better serve the team at safety than linebacker, then that’s where I want to be. I just want to be where I can help the organization win. That’s the main objective, and being the team player I am, I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

I’ve always loved Flip, and comments like the last one are one of the reasons why.  

The second piece of Buccaneer linebacker news of the day came with the signing of Sam Linebacker Angelo Crowell, formerly of the Buffalo Bills.   The Bills were attempting to resign the unrestricted free agent but he chose to come to Tampa instead.  This is a guy that, before he suffered a bad knee injury last season, looked like one of the up and coming linebackers in the league.  He had 140 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and six passes defended in 2007.  I know the Bills were a little irked last year that he decided to have knee surgery so close to the regular season, landing him on the IR, and maybe that had something to do with their initial lack of attempts to resign Crowell, but if he is healthy, Angelo could be a big piece of our linebacking equation.  

For 4 weeks I have been listening to people saying that the linebacking corps is decimated and will be a weakness of this team.  I couldn’t have disagreed more, but I also had a little foresight to foresee one of those SS playing some LB this season.  That announcement, plus the addition of Angelo Crowell today via free agency, should assure the fans that the Bucs will have a formidable linebacking corps in 2009.  Quincy Black and Angelo Crowell will battle for the strongside linebacker spot.  Geno Hayes will most likely play the weakside spot with some certain PT from both Sabby Piscatelli and Jermaine Phillips, and Barrett Ruud will man the middle with Adam Heyward backing him up.  Add in the fact that Black, Crowell, Hayes, Piscatelli and Heyward are all studs on special teams, and the position once held in the highest regard in Tampa is back.

First Downs – Bucs 17, Broncos 17

Total Yards – Bucs 307, Broncos 333

Time of possession – Bucs 30:47, Broncos 29:13

“Brian played pretty well and Jeff played pretty well,” Gruden said. “Denver used some strange tactics yesterday. They’ve been a man-to-man team throughout the first month of the season. Yesterday they rushed three 23 times. I thought under the circumstances both quarterbacks did some good things…Obviously health is going to be an issue. Jeff did some good things. His health has been an issue and his return to health is something we’re excited about. We’ll evaluate and let you know on Wednesday.”

“It was a freak play,” Ruud said. “I fell and looked like a non-athlete.”

“I’m still playing,” Dunn said. “I have a long season. I just hope I can play well and have a great year and that I can move up in the teens and you never know what happens. I think it’s good just to be, in a sense, recognized. I’ve played a long time and I’ve done a lot of positive things, but right now I really just want to help this team win games. The milestone is good, but there’s still a lot of football to be played.”

Currently on the Roster – Barrett Ruud, Adam Heyward, Teddy Lehman, Matt McCoy

Gauranteed Spots – Barrett Ruud

Ruud is entrenched at the starting spot, and the rest of the members of this crew will be battling it out for the backup MLB spot in camp. 

No Chance – All have a chance to make the roster

Battling for Spots – Adam Heyward, Teddy Lehman, Matt McCoy

Adam Heyward has the upper hand on recent FA additions Teddy Lehman and Matt McCoy.  He proved to be an invaluable member of our special teams, and saw some spot duty as the backup Mike position.  He was also a draft choice of the Bucs in ’06 so we have a little more vested in him than we do in Lehman and McCoy.  McCoy has been a solid special teams player throughout his career and if either of these guys are going to make the roster, it is going to be primarily in that role.  Lehman is kind of a poor mans Ruud, but the ability of Ryan Nece to play the backup MLB spot, as well as my opinion that in our defense, Derrick Brooks would make a solid Mike Linebacker, Lehman has the longest odds of anyone of making the team.