Panthers vs. Bucs: Blogger Q&A

Here’s my last installment of Blogger Q&A for the 2007 season. My apologies for the lateness of the post but I think it’s still relevant. I haven’t done a good job of managing my blogging time and family time over the holidays (and I got hammered Saturday night). Answers have been provided by Jerry over at Buc em, SB Nation Tampa Bay blogger we talked with earlier in the season.

Question 1: When I compare the Panthers and the Bucs and their respective off-season moves I can't help but focus on the signing of QB Jeff Garcia versus the Panthers signing David Carr. Was the Garcia signing the best move you made in the off-season or was it somebody else?

Buc em: Signing QB Jeff Garcia was absolutely the best off-season move GM Bruce Allen has pulled off in a long, long time. Garcia brings a veteran leadership to the Quarterback position that this team hasn't had since Brad Johnson was behind center. I think his greatest asset of all is keeping plays alive. The Griese's and Simms' of the past would get sacked, intercepted, or would have a pass batted down should any pressure come their way. Jeff Garcia encourages pressure by keeping plays alive he should have no business keeping alive. In turn, I think that makes his surrounding teammates want to play harder because they know their QB is doing all he can to keep the play alive, which as you can imagine, has been fun to watch all season long.

Why didn’t the Panthers pursue this guy?

Question 2: If the Bucs are smart they will sit their key starters against the Panthers Sunday. In that scenario, what Buc players will be fired up in hopes of getting more playing time in the playoffs and beyond?

Buc em: I think the Quincy Blacks, Jovan Hayes, and Greg Whites of the team will be ecstatic to get that extra playing time to show what they can do. This resting player's scenario is interesting, because Tom Coughlin has decided to play his starters this weekend against the Patriots, while Gruden plans to rest some if not all of his key starters Sunday. I'm not quite sure which scenario is better in terms of preparing your team for the playoffs, but I hope the Patriots take
the Giants into overtime.

I guess we will be testing the theory of resting players vs. playing to win.

Question 3: With RB Cadillac Williams now becoming "injury prone" and with Michael Pittman still an enigma, is Earnest Graham the RB of the future for the Bucs or will he drop back on the depth chart next preseason?

Buc em: Believe it or not, I do think Earnest Graham is the running back of the future. In terms of the future, I mean to start next season. Caddy should miss the first month of the season and then he'll be able to get back to doing what he does. In the meantime, its in Graham's best interest to make it hard for Gruden to ease Caddy back into the line-up. It doesn't hurt to have two good backs in this league. Hopefully Caddy can bounce back and shake that "injury prone" monicker.

We’ll have to wait till next week to evaluate Graham as he will sit for the Panthers game. We can expect a lot of Michael Bennett and Michael Pittman.

Question 4: The Buc defense has played great this season (I used them regularly in fantasy). Who is your season defensive MVP and why?

Buc em: This one is easy; LB Barrett Ruud is the Season MVP for the Bucs. He's wreaked havoc on the opposition all season. He even led the league in tackles at one point in the season. He single handedly helped us get a win against the Saints by making Baby Matrix & Duece fumble the ball. He was such a relative unknown coming into the season. He had some tough shoes to fill in LB Shelton Quarles and he made the transition effortlessly. He's been a quiet leader on defense all season. My runner ups are Jovan Haye and Greg White on the defensive line, they made it easier for players like Ronde Barber and Jermaine Phillips to do what they do (pick the ball off and lay the hammer).

The Bucs always seem to have good LB’s.

Question 5: I've accused you of having a man-crush on DE Julius Peppers in the past. He's on IR now and ended the season with a paltry 3 sacks. He'll command at least $15M a year in 2009, you still interested?

Buc em: The man crush is no secret, as three jerseys in my closet and a countdown to his free agency on my site would leave you to believe. I would gladly take Julius Peppers and put him on our defensive line.

Add him to the mix with Gaines Adams, Jovan Haye, and Greg White and that is a wicked and young line to have.

It seems to me that Julius is just frustrated in Carolina, which is why his production has dipped. He also gets double teamed regularly. Its tough for a team that went to the Superbowl to get back on that horse and repeat the feat. Its almost unheard of. Its inevitable for a team that was so close to become frustrated and start to slide. In my heart, I know Carolina is THE PERFECT place for Julius... seeing how he grew up there, went to UNC and is now a Panther, but every bit of my being wants to see him line-up in that Pewter and Red. I don't think the Glazers or GM Bruce Allen have the nads to bring him to Tampa.... Peppers is a pipe dream for me basically.

I think there is no way Panthers owner Jerry Richardson lets his prize DE hit the market. He will wrap him up this off-season. Sorry Jerry, but that rookie DE Gaines Adams looks like a keeper so your in good shape anyway.

Thanks Jerry and good luck with the Giants.