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Interview w/ Jim Flynn - www.PewterReport.com (1 Viewer)

Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant

Guide
Staff member
We're pleased to have our friend Jim Flynn available tonight, 7/19 at 8 PM ET.

Jim is the Managing Editor for the outstanding website www.PewterReport.com Going into their 17th year, they're your one stop shop for all the inside information you need on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

You can subscribe to Pewter Report by calling 1-800-881-BUCS(2827) or by visiting http://www.pewterreport.com/sell.asp

See you at 8 PM ET.

J

 
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When it comes to inside Tampa Bay info, Jim is the MAN. We're thankful to have him here for about an hour tonight to answer some questions you've given us.

Ready Jim?

J

 
Let's get started.

Will Michael Clayton be fully healthy at the start of the season? Can he return to his rookie year type production?

 
Clayton is back. That’s my opinion after watching him at Tampa Bay’s mandatory mini-camp session in late June, and it’s also the opinion of many Bucs players and coaches that I’ve spoken with. Clayton underwent surgery in January to repair his injured shoulder and knee, but the difference this year is he had the surgery early. Last year he didn’t, and it really hindered his efforts to properly rehab his knee. Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has challenged Clayton to return to his rookie form, and he even had the receiver sign a private contract with him. Gruden is a good motivator, but Clayton seems very serious about rebounding this year. I think he’ll do well.

 
What can reasonably be expected from defensive lineman Dwayne White moving forward? I had high hopes for him coming out of Louisville, but he hasn't exactly banished Greg Spires to a permanent seat on the bench.

 
If White were ever going to crack the starting lineup, this would be the year for him to do it. Tampa Bay isn’t too anxious to start replacing starters on the defensive side of the ball since this unit finished the season ranked No. 1 overall in 2005. However, the Bucs are itching to get White, who is versatile enough to play all four positions along the D-line, on the field because of his knack for making plays. See the Week 16 game vs. Atlanta when he blocked a field goal in overtime, and his sack/fumble recovery for a touchdown the following week vs. New Orleans. Spires is a solid player, but he’s 32, hasn’t shown great playmaking ability and has a salary cap value of over $3 million. If White can prove he can defend the run on a consistent basis, he could unseat Spires as the starter, which in turn would earn him a long-term deal seeing as he’s is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2007.

 
We have had discussions on the message board about the possibility of Cadillac Williams’ involvement in the passing game being increased. Do you think that this is a likely scenario?

 
We have had discussions on the message board about the possibility of Cadillac Williams’ involvement in the passing game being increased. Do you think that this is a likely scenario?
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Cadillac has spent the offseason focusing on becoming a more well-rounded player. He’s already established himself a capable runner, but the Bucs wanted to see him improve his pass-catching and blitz pickup skills. According to the coaches I’ve talked to, Williams has made some significant strides in both areas and should see more action on third downs this year.
 
How many goal line carries will Williams receive?
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Not as many as fantasy football players would like, but you can expect Cadillac to score somewhere around 7-10 touchdowns in 2006. However, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden still plans to feature fullback Mike Alstott as a goal-line runner, and he also has passing plays implemented for tight ends Alex Smith and Anthony Becht near the goal line.
 
Many claimed that Coach Gruden worked Caddy too hard last year -- will he have significantly less carries/game this year? Also, some have given Caddy an injury-prone label. Is this a fair label?

 
How many goal line carries will Williams receive?
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Not as many as fantasy football players would like, but you can expect Cadillac to score somewhere around 7-10 touchdowns in 2006. However, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden still plans to feature fullback Mike Alstott as a goal-line runner, and he also has passing plays implemented for tight ends Alex Smith and Anthony Becht near the goal line.
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7-10 TDs? We're with you Jim! http://subscribers.footballguys.com/players/WillCa02-1.php
 
Many claimed that Coach Gruden worked Caddy too hard last year -- will he have significantly less carries/game this year? Also, some have given Caddy an injury-prone label. Is this a fair label?
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Some in the local Tampa media made those claims, and they were -- and still are – ridiculous! Williams got better with every carry he received in games, and he proved to be the primary weapon on Tampa Bay’s offense. Why wouldn’t the Bucs give him the ball more? The foot injury he sustained early in the season wasn’t a result of him receiving too many touches – it was just an injury. I don’t think injury labels are fair for Cadillac at this point. He was injured early, but he fought through it and proved he could play well while hurt toward the latter part of the season.
 
How has the offensive line improved/worsened from last year?
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Joe, Tampa Bay’s starting five offensive linemen remain intact heading into training camp. However, there are some positions up for grabs. Anthony Davis should be able to hold off Torrin Tucker at left tackle (Tucker has not been impressive at all thus far). Dan Buenning should be able to beat out Toniu Fonoti at left guard. The Bucs have real concerns about Fonoti’s weight issues and injury-plagued past and don’t even know if he can survive hot and humid Orlando for training camp. The real interesting battles are at center, right guard and right tackle. John Wade could be in danger of losing his starting job since the Bucs are moving Sean Mahan from right guard to center. With Mahan moving, Terry is the leading candidate for the right guard job, but rookie Davin Joseph is expected to push him hard in camp. Second-round pick Jeremy Trueblood had an impressive offseason and is expected to push Kenyatta Walker for starting job. Although he likely won’t beat him out in camp or preseason, Trueblood could be the starting right tackle at some point in the regular season or possibly next year. The good news for the Bucs is they added some much-needed depth to the offensive line, so this unit, which has built good chemistry, should be improved this year.
 
I was wondering if you thought that Earnest Graham could hold off Andre Hall for the fourth running back spot, and whether you think that the loser of that battle would need to be cut. I imagine you saw a lot of Hall as a USF grad yourself, so do you think he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL?

 
I was wondering if you thought that Earnest Graham could hold off Andre Hall for the fourth running back spot, and whether you think that the loser of that battle would need to be cut. I imagine you saw a lot of Hall as a USF grad yourself, so do you think he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL?
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Graham has a better chance of making the 53-man roster than Hall because of his experience in Jon Gruden’s complex version of the West Coast offense and his versatility (can play running back and fullback). I did get to watch Hall quite a bit, and he is very talented and has some playmaking ability. However, he has struggled to learn Gruden’s playbook, and unless he earns a job as a return specialist, I see Hall being a practice squad candidate this year at best. Graham and Derek Watson will be the two players fighting for a roster spots behind Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman.
 
Alex Smith started strong last year with two touchdowns in the season opener, then had none for the rest of the season. Best guess as to Coach Gruden's plans on making Smith more of a red zone target this year, and is Smith capable of being a top five tight end in the NFL?

 
Alex Smith started strong last year with two touchdowns in the season opener, then had none for the rest of the season. Best guess as to Coach Gruden's plans on making Smith more of a red zone target this year, and is Smith capable of being a top five tight end in the NFL?
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I’m glad you asked about Smith, Joe. Boy, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has big plans for the athletic tight end this year. In fact, Gruden has actually designed plays and grouped personnel packages exclusively for Smith in an effort to utilize his athleticism and talent, particularly in the passing game. It might sound crazy, but Smith could be the leading pass-catcher on the Bucs offense this year, and he should definitely score more than two touchdowns in 2006. If I were participating in fantasy football, I’d definitely grab Smith – he could be a steal!
 
With age, and the number of quality wide receivers slated to be in camp, what are the chances Joey Galloway comes anywhere close to his production of last year?

 
With age, and the number of quality wide receivers slated to be in camp, what are the chances Joey Galloway comes anywhere close to his production of last year?
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Galloway will be productive if he can stay healthy, but with teams likely to double team the speedy receiver, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden plans to utilize other members of the offense this year, including Cadiillac Williams, tight ends Anthony Becht and Alex Smith and Michael Clayton. It will be tough for any of the Bucs offensive player to make the Pro Bowl since the ball likely will be spread around, but Galloway should have another 70-catch, 1,000-yard season.
 
What are the expectations of wide receiver Edell Sheperd? Can he crack the starting lineup this year?
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No way Shepherd cracks the starting lineup, Joe. Actually, Shepherd could be in danger of losing his roster spot this year. He made a great touchdown grab against Washington in the regular season, but he didn’t capitalize on opportunities that came later in the season (fumbled opening kickoff in overtime vs. Atlanta and dropped TD pass vs. Washington in playoffs). Shepherd failed to solidify the kick return job last year, and that job likely will go to Michael Pittman this season. He has to make an impact on special teams in order to beat out Mark Jones and David Boston for a roster spot. Word out of One Buc Place is Chas Gessner has really looked good, too, so with Joey Galloway, Michael Clayton, Maurice Stovall, Ike Hilliard and Boston likely making the team, Shepherd could find himself out of a job unless he makes a big splash in camp.
 
The Bucs have a stellar but aging nucleus on defense. Do you think Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice, Shelton Quarles and Derrick Brooks will remain with Tampa Bay beyond 2006? When they move on, who do you see being replacements (if you think they are on the team currently), especially for Rice, Brooks and Barber?

 
The Bucs have a stellar but aging nucleus on defense. Do you think Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice, Shelton Quarles and Derrick Brooks will remain with Tampa Bay beyond 2006? When they move on, who do you see being replacements (if you think they are on the team currently), especially for Rice, Brooks and Barber?
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Brooks took a massive pay cut to remain a Buc and be afforded the opportunity to retire a Buc in a few years. His cap value is affordable now and will be in the next few years, so unless he completely loses a few steps, I don’t see Brooks going anywhere in the next few years. Simeon Rice is less than 10 sacks away from breaking Tampa Bay’s franchise-record for sacks recorded in a Buccaneer career. Although he’s 32 and is the highest-paid player on the team, Rice still has plenty of game left. If he loses a step or becomes too expensive, Dewayne White could be viewed as a possible successor since he’s proven to be a capable pass rusher. The Bucs spent a second-round pick on Ruud last year, and he will eventually replace Quarles, but keep in mind that Quarles is coming off a great season. He’s 34, but Quarles also led the Bucs in tackles (yes, he beat out Derrick Brooks for that feat) last year and he should have made the Pro Bowl. This could be Quarles’ final year in Tampa Bay due to the cap, but expect Ruud to get worked into the rotation at some point this season. As for Barber, the Bucs used a fourth-round draft pick on Alan Zemaitis from Penn State, and he is viewed as the eventual successor to Barber.
 
Longer term, do team insiders view third-rounder Maurice Stovall as insurance in case Michael Clayton doesn't get untracked, eventual replacement for Joey Galloway or merely as a situational weapon with limited wide receiver upside? Would the skill sets of he and Clayton mesh well enough to be in the starting lineup together in the future?

 
Longer term, do team insiders view third-rounder Maurice Stovall as insurance in case Michael Clayton doesn't get untracked, eventual replacement for Joey Galloway or merely as a situational weapon with limited wide receiver upside? Would the skill sets of he and Clayton mesh well enough to be in the starting lineup together in the future?
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The Bucs viewed Stovall as a player they couldn’t pass up when he fell to them at the bottom of the third round. He’s extremely talented and possesses a lot of Clayton’s attributes. Sure, the Bucs might have been thinking about securing an insurance plan for Clayton, but remember – they also need to find a successors for 30-something Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard. Stovall should become Tampa Bay’s No. 3 receiver by 2007, and both he and Clayton should be lining up alongside each other as starters by 2008.
 
This is the big question I (Joe) have - How do you think the loss of assistant head coach/defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will affect the team? And how much impact on the offensive side of the ball will he be able to have in Detroit?

 
This is the big question I (Joe) have - How do you think the loss of assistant head coach/defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will affect the team? And how much impact on the offensive side of the ball will he be able to have in Detroit?
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The Bucs will miss Marinelli. He is a great coach and motivator. He should have been a head coach several years ago, but the Lions lucked out by hiring him to become their new head coach once his contract expired in Tampa Bay. If what they say is true and some of the Lions players need a kick in the butt, Marinelli definitely is the guy to give it to them. The key thing for the Bucs is defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin still is with the team. That’s why the locked him up to a contract extension this time last year. With Kiffin in Tampa to work with new defensive line coach Jethro Franklin, and Franklin able to work with a veteran-laden group, the Bucs defense should be in the Top 5 again this season.
 
What is the likelihood of Ronde Barber getting re-signed to a multi-year deal?
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Joe, I’m actually finishing up writing about Barber’s situation in my Flynn’s Focus column on PewterReport.com. Look for it later this week. The Bucs like Barber, but what people have to understand is the Bucs are in no hurry to throw a long-term, lucrative deal his way. He’s 31 and still has one more year under contract. The Bucs are ready to let him play out his contract year and then focus their attention on re-signing him during the offseason. Does Barber deserve a new deal? Sure, but the Bucs don’t have to give it to him right now. He is, after all, still one of the highest-paid players on the team.
 
How is wide receiver Larry Brackins doing now with a year under his belt. What are his chances of seeing some playing time this year?

 
How is wide receiver Larry Brackins doing now with a year under his belt. What are his chances of seeing some playing time this year?
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Brackins possesses great size and tremendous playmaking ability. He has improved from last year, but he’s still a project and long shot to make the active roster this year. The biggest thing with Brackins is he needs to show consistency. The good news for Brackins is he still is eligible for the practice squad, and that’s where I think he will wind up this year.
 
Another one I'm really interested in - What are the team's expectations for David Boston? Is he looking more like the Boston of old, or will he struggle to even make the roster?

 
Another one I'm really interested in - What are the team's expectations for David Boston? Is he looking more like the Boston of old, or will he struggle to even make the roster?
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I think Boston makes the Bucs’ active roster. He’s coming off the knee injury, and the Bucs plan to ease him back into action. That type of approach really paid off for Joey Galloway and the Bucs last year. Boston is a quick study, and he’s still young and has a lot of talent. It’s not a guarantee, but I’d be surprised if Boston didn’t make the team.
 
Seems like the Bucs have too many wide receivers. How many will they keep and who likely gets cut?
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You can never have too many receivers, but I know what you’re saying. It’s pretty crowded at this position. Joey Galloway, Michael Clayton, Ike Hilliard and Maurice Stovall are locks to make the team. After that, David Boston, Mark Jones, Edell Shepherd and Larry Brackins will be fighting it out for what could be as little as two available roster spots. Jones has an edge seeing as he returns punts, and as of right now, I’d say Boston and Jones would make the team before Shepherd and Brackins. One receiver to keep an eye on in training camp and preseason is Chas Gessner – he’s caught the eye of several coaches and players this offseason. Last year’s rookies – Brackins, Paris Warren and J.R. Russell – will be hard pressed to make the active roster.
 
What do you think of Todd France last summer missing just one field goal in practice and games? Will they have him in camp again this summer?

 
What do you think of Todd France last summer missing just one field goal in practice and games? Will they have him in camp again this summer?
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No, the Bucs won’t bring France back unless there’s an injury. He has a fairly accurate leg but lacks ideal leg strength. The team was pleased with Matt Bryant, even though they attempted to sign Ryan Longwell first this offseason. Once Longwell got too expensive and signed with the Vikings, they settled for re-signing Bryant. Xavier Beitia will be competing with Bryant. He’s got a very strong leg and actually out-kicked Mike Nugent in New York last year.
 
I'd really like to know his thoughts on some of the former Tampa coaches' teams out there like Herm Edwards, Lovie Smith’s or Tony Dungy's.

 
I'd really like to know his thoughts on some of the former Tampa coaches' teams out there like Herm Edwards, Lovie Smith’s or Tony Dungy's.
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They are great people and good coaches. Herm Edwards should do well in Kansas City – it’s a great fit for him. Lovie Smith’s success with St. Louis and now Chicago speaks for itself, and Tony Dungy is a class act and doesn’t appear to be far from getting the Colts to the Super Bowl. However, Dungy better hurry as the Colts’ window of opportunity appears to be closing just as Tampa Bay’s was toward the latter part of his tenure with the Bucs.
 
I am a Chris Simms and Barrett Ruud owner in a dynasty league. I have faith in Simms long term, but want to focus my question on the Tampa Bay linebacking corps. With the contract restructuring of Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, how does the linebacker youth look as far as playing time, like for Ruud? His projected place as middle linebacker to replace the aging Quarles was delayed with Quarles’ spectacular performance in 2005. Will it be a platoon linebacker group or does Quarles have the job to lose with a performance based on last season's benchmarks?

 
I am a Chris Simms and Barrett Ruud owner in a dynasty league. I have faith in Simms long term, but want to focus my question on the Tampa Bay linebacking corps. With the contract restructuring of Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, how does the linebacker youth look as far as playing time, like for Ruud? His projected place as middle linebacker to replace the aging Quarles was delayed with Quarles’ spectacular performance in 2005. Will it be a platoon linebacker group or does Quarles have the job to lose with a performance based on last season's benchmarks?
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If Simms can stay healthy, he should do well. However, don’t expect Tampa Bay’s offense to be pass oriented in nature. The Bucs will rely heavily on Cadillac Williams to run the ball this year. Simms does have several capable receivers in the passing game, though. Ruud will eventually replace Quarles, but remember that Quarles turned in his best season last year. He’s 34 but has showed no signs of slowing down. This could be Quarles’ last year in Tampa, but there’s no doubt that Ruud will be his successor. It’s just a matter of time.
 
What do you think of Mike Tomlin as a coach, and will he do well as a defensive coordinator in Minnesota?
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Coach Tomlin should do well in Minnesota. He was excellent in Tampa Bay and did a great job of filling the shoes left by Herm Edwards. He’s a good motivator, and he holds his players accountable, and gets them to hold each other accountable. Monte Kiffin’s track record with assistant coaches speaks for itself. I expect Tomlin to follow in the shoes of Lovie Smith, Herm Edwards and Rod Marinelli as long as Minnesota gives him some talent to work with.
 
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