Defensive line a huge question mark

After last night's whipping at Carolina, the area you should be most concerned about as a Bucs fan is the defensive line.

Aside from a nice rundown of Jake Delhomme by DE Kevin Carter, there was not much to brag about from the Bucs' front four. And, compounding the problem, the Bucs aren't guaranteed to have DT Jovan Haye or NT Chris Hovan at Atlanta on Sunday.

Haye missed Monday's game and, boy, was he missed. Haye (knee) has been very solid against the run and has even provided some sporadic pass rush. He was replaced by Ryan Sims who, as I've noted recently, had been making plays of late. The problem is he was called upon to play a lot more snaps than usual on Monday, and that's when he becomes ineffective. Stamina is perhaps an issue for him, too. Sims has been at his best when used in small doses. Elsewhere, DE Gaines Adams was nowhere to be seen against the Panthers. Ditto for DE Greg White.

Hovan sustained a knee injury Monday but told me in the locker room he would be fine. Still, coach Jon Gruden today referred to him as "questionable" for Atlanta, leaving a lot of doubts about whether the Bucs will hold up against the Falcons, a second straight opponent with a potent rushing attack. Not sure where the Bucs would turn if Hovan was to miss the game, but it likely would require a lot of playing time of second-year DT Greg Peterson, a 2007 fifth-round pick who has played very sparingly this season.

Comments

[Erick]

Is there anyone coming out in the draft this year the bucs could get as a big runstuffer/up the gut pass rusher? At least as insurance for Haye.

[skp]

top of my offseason shopping list? one Albert Haynesworth

[Rodney]

We might need to bring Sapp back for the end year. Big 99 we need you to pressure the quarterback, and fill that whole.

[shane]

Terrence Cody* DT Alabama 6-4½ 375

[TriplePlay]

Injuries was the only issue this team needed to stay away from and boom here it is.

This may sink this team for this season.

The contenders havr players that can off the bench and at minimum show no drop in skill level.

Carolina exposed this "d" line Monday. The Bucs are going to see running schemes that other teams only use on the Colts. Gruden better start learning how Payton Manning has become the bestb defensive player the Colts have. 8-9 minute drives with 35-40 minute ball possession per game.

[AL]

I heard BK was released from the lions.

[wizdomheard]

I think they need to activate DT Chris Bradwell and maybe Dre Moore from the practice squad, to the active roster. This will help with the question marks on the defensive line. I'm sure Bradwell has been hungry to prove himself and play in the NFL since his release early on in the season. We'll just have to wait and see what the Tampa Bay Bucs choose to do on defense. Go Bucs!

[CW]

I have to admit that I underestimated how much Haye would be missed. Now Hovan? This is not good. As far as the rest of the D, they better work on their tackling skills all freaking week! Wrap-up guys!!!!! Damn!

[Steven A.]

We need to wrap up ...and oh ya 2 things in the off season
1)Sign Garcia to 2 years.(quit dickin him around)
2)sign albert haynesworth!

[Oldcrank]

BS! Do not sign Garcia to another contract. If we can't score from the two, we need to shift gears and get in sync. This crap with the coach and QB pointing at each other as the blame for our inability to score. Quit wasting the roster spots with 4 or 5 mediocre QBs. Look at all the poorly thrown and dropped balls. Bryant made Garcia look a lot better than he played.

[Slamdunk]

This is where the Bucs' draft experts should take heat for missing on 2 of their first 4 draft picks in 2008. By cutting 4th rounder DT Moore in training camp and then signing him to the practice squad, the coaches obviously believe that he has little potential to contribute.

It would have been nice to have a 4th round pick who had been absorbing the Bucs defensive schemes and waiting in the shadows for the opportunity to play when these DL injuries started. Unfortunately, this is not the case...

[Dylan]

Defensive line a huge question mark???? our d-line looked so good on monday..