Bucs LBs the best?

I think we all had a feeling this linebacking corps could be special, but there were some legitimate concerns before the season.

Mine were mainly 1) would Barrett Ruud step up his play in his first season as a starter and 2) could Derrick Brooks still perform like he used to?

Both of those questions have been answered with a resounding "yes" and now, with Cato June flying around like a missle, it's worth asking whether the Bucs' linebackers are the best in the biz given their dominant play thus far.

There are some impressive groups of linebackers out there. The Bears, for instance have a couple guys you've probably heard of: Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Hard to find something bad to say about them. The Patriots have Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas, but their's is a 3-4 scheme and difficult to compare to the Bucs' 4-3, Cover 2 base defense.

This is one of those topics that has no absolute answer, just wondering what some of you say. Am I crazy or am I on to something?

Comments

[Daniel]

Stephen, a case could be made for the Bucs having the top linebacking corps based on current stats. Brooks and Rudd have the most tackles for a linebacking duo in the entire NFL with 60. The closest duo is Washingtons London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh with 53. It is a little early in the season to go by stats alone as a NE or Chicago LB doesn't crack the top 35 in tackles, Briggs is 38th on the list with 22 tackles. It's a long season, a playoff berth and long playoff run would make most Buc fans happy, having the top linbackers or a top 5 defense would be icing on the cake.

[AL]

I may be biased but I feel we have the best combination of age and talent. I hope we resign Cato June and are able to keep Ruud until he retires. Tanard Jackson has the best opportunity of anyone else in the league. If he learns how to to what the Buc's defense is doing now, we are going to have the best defense for years to come. That is wishful thinking but I believe it can come true.

[Whatever]

Maybe the Times should throw some props to Gruden/Allen...which it rarely does. They brought in both Ruud and June. But we all know the local media has toomuch of an agenda to cast them in a positive light.

[DR]

You can have the best LBs or whatever other positions on the field, but if you don't play as a unit and don't make the playoffs,who really cares? You think Manning cared whether he was the best QB when he was not winning Super Bowls? I'm certain he didn't, and I don't think Brooks cares either. He's been one of the best every year.

[AL]

Whatever is right, it doesnt matter what happens people will always find something negative to say about Gruden. My question is - If Gruden leaves and the bucs make it to the playoffs, is everybody going to say the new coach got there with Grudens team? probably not. Gruden is just now on level ground with cap space and draft picks. Lets give him credit for the team we have now and hope we can pull a playoff game or two this season.

gruden made one mistake his whole career. believing chris simms could play quarterback. every year he has a decent, not good or great, but just decent qb he goes to the playoffs.

[Mike]

The Bucs do have an impressive linebacker corps but the best probably has to go to the Baltimore Ravens. Bart Scott, Ray Lewis, & Terrell Suggs all were probowlers last year and Jarret Johnson is doing a great job to fill the shoes of Adalius Thomas.

[PantherFan]

Your LBs won't be able to catch Steve Smith. He will have 200 yards.

Foster and Williams will combine for over 100.

You will even let Drew Carter catch a long ball.

Good luck with second place in the division.

[aaron]

in response the the bafoon who said "every year gruden has a decent qb he goes to the playoffs" , the last qb to take him to the playoffs WAS simms!

[ba ba booie]

It must have been that idiot, DR...

[Hate them Panthers]

Panthers better have someone that can throw the ball...by the way our DB's will probably be covering the recievers
not the LB's you DA

[Doofus Dan]

Dan, quit trying to disguise yourself as panzie… uh hum, excuse me, PantherFan, but your right about one thing, Smith will have 200 yards, pacing the bench because that weak, overrated bunch of girls you call a defense won’t be able to get off the field. The first time it’s thrown in shitty… I mean Smitty’s direction Flip will put a lick on him like he did in “05” and knock’em out of the game. Tell us how the second place feels when the Bucs pull the Panthers panties down and spank there @$$es on the 50 yard line for three hours.

[Tron]

Aaron...Actually it was Brian Griese starting the season so well that got the Bucs in the playoffs. Simms was a .500 QB that season.

[DR]

Baba booie, you ran idiot. I would never say something that stupid. Gruden has only made the playoffs twice in 5 years and yes, Tron, it was because of Griese hot start, not that other horrible QB.

[David Carr]

These LBs won't be stopping me from throwing TDs all day against that defense. hoo haha You guys are a done deal.

[PantherFan]

Carr with a real O-line will stomp your D all Sunday long.

Your LBs will have to help your DBs because they won't be able to stop Superman.

Your O will be on the field for only 15 minutes the whole game, so you better score as many points as you can in that time.

Wasn't '05 the year we went to the NFC champ game (and where was your lousy team?)?

GO PANTHERS!!!!

[David Carr]

I can't wait to R.Kelly your defense!

[PantherFan]

And David Carr won't even mess up his hair while he's doing it!

[JORDAN]

SUPERBOWL SCOREBOARD

BUCS-1

PANTHERS- 0
THE SUPERBOWL IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE JUST STEPPING STONES AND IF YOU BRAG ABOUT THEM YOUR A LOSER.

[PantherFan]

...and how many years did it take to get a Superbowl?

Let's see, Bums became a team in 1976 and were given a Superbowl in the 2002 season. That means that you were given your Superbowl after 27 seasons.

We've only been around for 13 seasons (including this one). Why don't we discuss this after another 14 seasons?

BTW, what has your team done since your SB year (besides roll over and beg for grease last year)?

[PantherFan]

...and aren't you the ONLY team to lose every game during the regular season?

Heck, in our worst season we won one!

[Mr.T]

Yeah, you guys set the record for consecutive losses in a season. 15 in a row.

Don't forget, the Red Sox didn't really get their due 'til they WON the series. The same applies here. The Bills were there 4 times in the 90s and lost...you see what that got them - nada,0.

Kitty Fan, I didn't see it, but, I'm sure you know every line, didn't RickyBobby say,

"If you ain't first, you're last."

[PantherFan]

When did the Bums start to get respect? Just because they won one game? LOL

BTW, I believe that it was Dale Earnhardt Sr. that said, "Second is just the first loser". And second is where you will be after Sunday's game. The first loser.

Not sure who RickBobby is. Would that be your boy-friend (or do you prefer significant other?)?

[Mr.T]

Exactly. You made my point. Bucs made it to and through the big dance for the big prize.

Kitties made it and tripped on their dresses.

Bucs 1
Kitties 0 (or LOSERs). You pick.

[PantherFan]

Your boy-friend RickyBobby must have put a hurt'n on you last night. You don't have a point (that's RickyBobby's job, yours is to hold the grease).

One game did not give respect to your franchise (or to your boy-friend).

Go back and snuggle up with your boy RickyBobby, cause you will need his help after the Buc-@$$s get their @$$es handed to them by real men on Sunday.

This is a what have you done for me lately league. When was the last time that you went to a champ game? When was the last time you made it to the big game?

Get a grip (but not on your boy RickyBobby, you've sucked enough today).

[Mr.T]

Panthers and their fans are LOSERS 'til they win a SB.

Deal with it.

The Bucs D will Swarm all over the field intercepting passes and taking them to the house no matter who the QB is. Garcia and the boys will score at least 14.

Bucs 28
Kitties 9

Come back and eat your crow on Sunday night. We'll fry it up just like you like it. Loser.

[Duffiedawg]

I think Al has it just exactly right about Gruden. This is the first year under the cap, and second of his draft.

If you look at the last two games, you will see that Gruden was finally firing live rounds, instead of the blanks he inherited.

Garcia, as a QB fits him like a glove. Believe it or not, with experience, Grad is going to mesh right in when Garcia hangs them up.

Experience is all Grad needs, and he has the perfect mentor for his style in Garcia.

Prediction: Division Champs, at least two games in the playoffs.

[M. Reynolds]

Doofus Dan 4tw. And BTW Panthers Interloper... from NC and you don't know who Ricky Bobby is? I'm surprised you haven't been lynched yet. Since you're so good at coming up with excuses for why your boys are losing in the Super Bowl category, I can't wait for the ones you produce following this weekend.

[Maurice]

I can't wait to see how Trotter can get into the mix. He would make a great backup. I never knew Ruud was going to be THIS good. I thought we had another Marquise Cooper on our hands

[DR]

Winston, you are the biggest moron on any blog I have ever read! Go back to playing with your barbie dolls.

[Doofus Dan]

Miss Reynolds, who cares who Ricky Bobby is, and apparently you too stupid to pice together what Mr.T is saying, Bucs 1 kittens 0. so pay attention while I break it down for you, stop me if I go to quickly.... ready.

First it doesn't matter how long it took the Bucs to win the Super Bowl, because the fact is they DID win the Super bowl . Now, how many Super bowls have the kittens won? Go ahead you can say it, they already know.

Second of-course Mr.T wouldn't have memorized a quote from Dale Earnhardt Sr. because NASCAR's the epitome of white trash. Again let me break it down for you. That means don't buy the six pack of Old Milwaukee's best this Sunday because the rents due on you single wide and another missed payment and your on the street.

Third if second is the first loser and the Bucs won it all and the Panthers were embarrass by the Patriots, doesn't that make the Panthers the first loser? Finally the day you want to try and do some lynching, I'll pull your panties down and turn your little bottom red, and when I'm done i'll bend you over and f#@k you like the little biatch you are.

[Big Cat]

If anybody has been taking a pounding in the butt, the Sucs have. The Sucs have no chance this week. The only thing they will do good is blow and we are going to spew all over you. We may give you the common courtesy of a reach around when the game is over in the beginning of the 4th quarter. So Doofus Dan, you have 2 more days of practicing sucking your thumb before the real sucking begins.

[Mr.T]

Great football posts here.

Stephen to your point I think by the end of the year MANY folks will know who the Bucs LBs (and whole Defense) are. June and Brooks have already been to the PB. With them getting looks, Ruud will get a lot of cred, too, especially if he's player of the week again.

They are FLYING to the ball this year. It's great to see that again.

[PantherFan]

I know who RickyBobby is... it's Mr. T's boy friend (or would that be Doofus Dan).

The Sucs might have been given a Superbowl, but what have they done lately? Were they even as good as the 8-8 Panthers?

NO.

How many games in the past 4 years have the Sucs won against the Panthers. I'll give you a hint because I don't believe that you can count that high.

1 game won out of 8.

Was that a big enough hint for you Doofus Dan/Mr. T? BTW, you can get married in Hawaii while you are Suc-ing each other over the 2 loses this year to the mighty Panthers. Will RickyBobby be mad that you are with Doofus?

With a name like Doofus, you really shouldn't be calling anyone stupid. Learn how to spell and use punctuation.

And do you live at home? I read on another blog that you lived with your parents. Isn't it hard to bring your boy-friends home to Suc them living with your parents in a home with wheels?

[PantherFan]

...remember, history is great, but it is in the past.

Sunday is the future and your future is a loss to the Panthers.

You Suc.

GO PANTHERS!!!!

[Big Cat]

The Pats didn't embarrass the Panthers. That was one of the best Superbowls ever. It went down to the last second of the game and nobody knew until the final buzzer who the winner was.

Eat me biatch.

[Mr.T]

I don't need to resort to insults and nastiness. And, you may want to be careful. This IS a family board. I'm sure the St. Pete Times can trace your IP if they are so inclined.

You're not representing Panthers Fans so well. I AM from NC originally and my parents still live there. NC stands for North Carolina, not "no class" - let's keep it that way.

Last I checked teams have to play 16 games vs. various opponents, make the playoffs, and beat every team you play in those playoffs to win a SB. Until the Panthers can do that, you have no arguement. The score remains:

Bucs 1
Panthers 0

[PantherFan]

Still living in the past. Can't get over you team not doing anything since 2002.

The future is Sunday, and Sunday you will be 2-2.

So sad, too bad.

Hey, your boy-friend is your business. I will respect that you would like to keep that private.

[Mr.T]

Wow. A Panthers fan CAN learn a little. I'm impressed, good job.

Again, our D scores as much as our O this weekend. We'll have your crow fried up real good for ya!

Bucs 28
Kitties 14

[Nick]

The Panties are runner up to the Buc's this season no matter what you Panty fans think. BTW there are teams in the league longer than the Buc's that still haven't won a SB. We at least are SB bound again this year, it's a lot more than you Panty fans can say!!

[shane]

At least the bucs didn't lose to the texans like the panthers did