“Yeah Todd, I answered your call for sacks. Put me in, Coach!”
Joe finds it interesting how the Bucs determine “ready.” And how the Bucs reward “ready.”
Take this Vi Jones. The Bucs signed the linebacker late last season and placed him on the notorious practice squad. And there he sat for about 11 months.
Meanwhile, while the Bucs were bereft of talent due to injuries this season — SirVocea Dennis was hurt. K.J. Britt was hurt. J.J. Russell was dinged up. — where was Jones?
He wasn’t ready, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. Wait a minute. You had the guy 11 months and he still wasn’t ready? What was this guy doing in all that time, including training camp, playing Madden and shopping Amazon between crossword puzzles?
After the Bucs promoted Jones to the parent squad and he got a few games under his belt, Jones started making some plays. He even forced a couple of fumbles in Los Angeles.
Hey, maybe the Bucs have something here? Maybe all that investment time paid off? Nope. Jones got cut last week and claimed by the Cardinals to their active roster.
Last Friday brought the return of Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett out of mothballs. Yeah, that’s how negligent the edge rush is for the Bucs. Hell, a backup outside linebacker (Anthony Nelson) leads Bucs edge rushers with four sacks. Can you imagine?
So Joe understands if bringing Shaq back is seen by some as a panic move. But why not sign him What’s the harm?
Shaq hasn’t played in a game since last year’s Bucs playoffs. Is he in shape for game action? Or will Bowles deem him not ready?
Yesterday, Bowles said the eyeball test suggests Shaq is ready, though the Bucs only had a walk-through Wednesday (read: less intense than underwear football).
“In the walkthrough today, he was outstanding,” Bowles crowed sarcastically. “He ran pretty [well]. Over the weekend, he ran pretty [well]. You don’t know until you put the helmet and pads on.”
Shaq was inactive for the Stinking Panthers game on Sunday and Joe will wait and see if Shaq is on the field Sunday against the slimy Saints..
Why not play him if he’s physically capable? Let Shaq shake off the rust. Get his sea legs back. He can’t be much worse rushing the passer from the edge than what the Bucs currently throw out there.
