Are Bucs better without Alstott?

Are the Bucs better at fullback without Mike Alstott? John Romano poses the question in a column in today's Times. While neither can replace Alstott's toughness and determination, Michael Pittman has a blend of speed, power and hands that could make him an unusual commodity at fullback, and B.J. Askew could be the answer in short-yardage situations if Pittman struggles as a human battering ram, Romano writes. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.

(Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[kim]

are you nuts? Graham would make a better Fullback than Pittman and Asknew

[M. Reynolds]

Yes, this is a better situation than having Alstott the 2007 model. This is the "Rocket Backfield" that Gruden was so keen on trying out in 2k5. Could be very interesting. Pitt is a big strong guy who should be able to block decently, as well as being hard for a LB to skirt due to his speed. Then theres the pass-catching and quick FB handoff aspects. Memories of Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson sharing a backfield...excpet hopefully with more W's.

[DR]

Memories of Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen? Are you kiding me

[Edward]

NO and this article proves Romano is no more a sports writer than I am

[Target Cowher!]

You heard it here 1st. Gruden doesn't last the season. He and Allen are fired around the halfway point of this season. The Bucs will be out of it at 1-7 and these fans will turn hard on him for dismantling a Super Bowl winning franchise. It is at this point Monte Kiffin takes over as interim coach to play out the season. Kiffin is given a courtesy interview but BILL COWHER is the real prize to restore some moxie to a once proud franchise that has fallen so far in 5 years under the direction of two bozos.

[Patrick]

Hey Target Cowher poster....Go root for your team and leave Tampas alone!

[DR]

Patrick, get your head out of the sand, Target Cowher has a point. I don't think they'll be fired mid season, but this is their last season here for sure. Have you been watching Tampa football the last 4 years?

[Target Cowher]

From a football standpoint, (something Patrick may be blind to seeing out of loyalty to the Bucs) Gruden and Allen have let Championship calibur players walk out of the lockeroom only to be replaced by lesser talent and what you have now is a shell of what was once a dominating franchise. The Bucs don't scare anyone. Do you need a list of players...
Lynch,Sapp,Jackson,McFarland,Johnson,Johnson,Quarles,White....Barber and Brooks are next Gruden and Allen have extraordinary egos. After this season's flop it is time to find new leadership and Cowher is instant credibility around the league.

[Skylar]

Stupid question. Next. Oh yeah, and let's get rid of the coach that in 8 years has basically shattered all other coaches records (and that's with a couple of losing seasons.) You guys are friggin geniuses. 78-58 record with 4 divsion titles, 3 conference championship appearances & 1 SB win. That's already better than 90% of all previous and current NFL coaches' careers dimwits. Go root for Atlanta!

He won with what Dungy and McKay built. It has taken him 5 years to tear it down. What was the Bucs Draft pick last April? 4th overall...That means they sucked! Wake up Bucs!

[TomTom]

Williams and Pittmann together don't make one Alstott. But the big boys from Oakland have trashed our team since they came east, so what should we expect? I think the Glaziers want a playoff team from Gruden this year or he's outta here.

[Kurt]

He won with Dungy's team, but he played his previous team, so I guess that makes you a real dumass. Sorry to fill you hate full of logic, but really, you make no sense. McKay actually put us into cap hell while Dungy was baking cookies for S. King when he should have been kicking field goals in the loss to the Rams - that was a coaching loss, not a player loss. Gruden brought it home and will again for us or somebody else if we're stupid enough to let him go!

[a76]

hiring cowher would be fantastic! gruden/allen/garcia can all take a hike. cowher would be great for developing simms, just like he did another big qb in big ben. another thought may be to pry charlie weis away from nd. he has a good track record w/ developing brady. or this one is even better; monte kiffin as HC and hire Lane (after al davis fires him, after this year)

[George L Hicks]

I got two comments on this area.
1. Mr Alstott is always in my book period. He played pain and no pain, if he could crawl to score that td. I hope he would try to come back in 2008.

2.Now C Simms is another player. I wouldnot let him get paid. Just released him period. and Tampa will take its chances.

Poor guy.risking his life for a football team..dawn,william,bill achnitz

In a perfect world Target Cowher... LOL.. I so agree.

RE:Alstott.. team player extrodinaire... if he chosses to be with his family, I wish him well. He's been a total asset to the Bucs and will always be rembered as such. You go Mike... with blessings from each and every fan you touched!

This WAS Tony Dungy's team... that's who won the Super Bowl. The Raider's (East) came to town and (we-Tampa) lost total credibility. Who the H--L lets John Lynch go when he is willing to take a cut in pay to stay!!??? Poor management Mr. Gruden, or should we defer to the owners?