IMO, Ruud will be phased in over the course of the season gradually and take the role completely around Week 10 unless Quarles has another Pro-Bowl caliber year.
This is what I initially thought would happen for Ruud his rookie campaign. I did not see the Bucs as a playoff caliber team nor did I thik Quarles would hold onto the starting job past the first 8 games. I figured the lack of wins and prodution from Quarles would see the team work Ruud into the line-up at the season's midpoint. Now, onto 2006.Ruud, opinion, will begin to see the field beyond special teams in some capacity. It might be based on down,distance and situation but it will happen. He has an extremely high football acumen to be coupled with great instincts and skills. Basically, he is a prototypical MLB.
Assuming Quarles stays with the Bucs, he is going to have a hard time keeping Ruud off the field this season. The kid is too good and it makes too much sense to begin to make the transition, while each player is on the roster, versus holding Ruud off another season and, then, handing him the position. The rotation and or swap of defensive starters is much different than the offensive side of the football...much different. That is augmented by the fact we are talking about the MLB position in a complex Cover 2 scheme.
Having Quarles mentor Ruud during the season would prove to be a priceless learning mechanism and beneficial for everyone involved. Ruud is a player you are going to have to hold but the eventual ROI will be well worthwhile. If you can get him on the cheap from another owner, do so. I drafted him along with Thurman, T. Davis and D. Ware last season. My thoughts about Ruud were that any prodcution in season 1 would be gravy but that he would be a start no later than midpoint of season 2.
Pollack is a great athlete but limited by the fact he is going to primarily play SLB and get a few chances to play DE, which would be predicated on game situation. Solid NFL prospect but not necessarily the best IDP prospect. He'll get sacks and a couple of INT each season but might be short on tackles.