THe 2007 Tampa Bay Bucaneers Thread

[Transplanted Caper]

Pre-Season Schedule
Week 1: New England W 13-10
Week 2: @Jacksonville L 31-19
Week 3: @Miami
Week 4: Houston

Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: @Seattle
Week 2: New Orleans
Week 3: St. Louis
Week 4: @Carolina
Week 5: @Indianapolis
Week 6: Tennessee
Week 7: @Detroit
Week 8: Jacksonville
Week 9: Arizona
Week 10:BYE
Week 11:@Atlanta
Week 12:Washington
Week 13:@New Orleans
Week 14:@Houston
Week 15:Atlanta
Week 16:@San Fransisco
Week 17:Carolina

[ColossalCanadian]

and thats all i hafta say to my division rivals!

[Blaze_1UP]

Ex-Husker Barrett Ruud earns Defensive Player of the Month

Oct 03, 2007 - It’s the same old story at middle linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

And that’s a good thing.

On Wednesday, Barrett Ruud, the Buccaneers’ brand new starter in the middle, was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September. That’s a rather emphatic answer to anyone who wondered how well Ruud would fill the very large “Mike” shoes left behind by Shelton Quarles and, before that, Hardy Nickerson.

Ruud is doing just fine, thank you. In fact, according to the NFL, he is doing as well as any defensive player in the conference so far. With the way the third-year linebacker has already filled up his stat line, it’s easy to see why the league would think so.

In just four games, Ruud has already amassed 51 tackles, one interception, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed. He has been a huge factor in the Bucs’ 3-1 start, leading a defense that ranks first in the league in average points allowed per game (11.0).

“We’re proud of Barrett,” said Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden. “He’s had a really good start to the season. He’s one of the reasons why we’ve picked it up here defensively. He’s playing real well, and so are a lot of other guys on the football team.”

A second-round draft pick out of Nebraska in 2005, Ruud has since been groomed as the replacement for Quarles, who went to the Pro Bowl in his first year as a middle linebacker in 2002. Ruud started five games in relief of Quarles at various points during the 2006 season, then officially moved up to the first team this offseason when Quarles retired. Since the middle linebacker position is so critical in the Bucs’ defensive system and responsible for so many things, it was fair to wonder how the young player would immediately adjust.

Ruud erased any doubts quickly. He had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery in the season opener at Seattle. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his Week Two performance against New Orleans, which included 16 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He followed with 15 more stops and an interception in the Bucs’ win over St. Louis. Ruud’s eight stops at Carolina last Sunday marked his first single-digit finish but that still tied for the team lead. He also forced yet another fumble in the Panthers contest.

Ruud is the first Buccaneer to win a Defensive Player of the Month award in five years. Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice took the honors in October and November, respectively, of the 2002 season. P Josh Bidwell won the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award in November of 2005.

Overall, Ruud is the fourth Tampa Bay player to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Month, as Brooks, Rice and Warren Sapp all took the honors twice. The Bucs have five Special Teams awards, three of them belonging to Martin Gramatica.

Loved this guy at Nebraska always had a nose for the ball followed by big hits. Didn't expect him to do this well, thought team mate Adam Carriker would have a better rookie season. I can see this guy having a great NFL career and his brother Bo Ruud is the man at Nebraska right now who will also be going pro.

[Gzus]

I picked Ruud off waivers after week 1 and he is a consistant producer.

[Football Boards]

With the loss of our first and second string RB's things should get interesting.

[varybarry]

I think Graham will be handle a majority of the load. If the Bucs could just pick up a reasonable spell back, then they would be set.

[Gzus]

They are in trouble with both their top two running backs being out.

[TWcast]

Originally Posted by varybarry

I think Graham will be handle a majority of the load. If the Bucs could just pick up a reasonable spell back, then they would be set.

True. Since Graham took over for the Caddy, he has shown great potential. He is fast becoming one of my favorite players.

[TWcast]

Originally Posted by ColossalCanadian

and thats all i hafta say to my division rivals!

LOL!
Back at 'Cha!

[TWcast]

Spurlock runs a kickoff for a Touchdown, 1st time ever in Buccaneer history.
Everytime I watch the video, I get goose bumps. lol
The Curse has been Broken!
What an exciting year for the Buccaneers!

Watch the Video!