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Gradkowski getting the start in Week 5 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Capella
- Start date
Urinal Mint
Footballguy
He's going to get murdered behind those turnstyles playing OL. RIP Bruce.
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Don't follow the Bucs much, but it seems to me that Rattay would be a better choice. The Bucs had so much promise, to go with a rook at this point seems to indicate a willingness to see what you have in Gradkowski, rather than trying to win this year.
Rattay is no world beater, but he should be able to manage the game better.
Rattay is no world beater, but he should be able to manage the game better.
Urinal Mint
Footballguy
Gradkowski did complete his only pass yesterday... so he's got that going for him.
comfortably numb
Footballguy
He is gonna throw for 400yds.Mark it down(against the practice squad as they have a bye week 4)
Futility
Footballguy
If you're stuck with an OAK QB, Gradkowski might be worth a starting spot this week.
harryhood
Footballguy
he then gets the saints after the bye week. Guys, he isn't that bad
packersfan
Footballguy
The guy he's replacing averaged less than 200 passing yards a game, completed less than 55% of his passes and had a 1/7 TD/INT ratio.How much worse can this guy be?
Punchie
Footballguy
The pass protection held up very well the past couple of weeks. Simms actually had time to throw when he dropped back and didn't have trouble this week with batted balls. He got hit very hard on a few rollouts and of course the touchdown plunge. He then also got hit hard near the goalline on a designed screen. The o-line really isn't a problem right now.
Ozymandias
Footballguy
Gruden's going to start him in practice next Sunday.
But seriously, TB season is a shambles already. They might as well see what they have, and they'll have two weeks to get him ready for the Saints.TommyGilmore
Footballguy
He ain't that good either.Rattay starts by Week 11. I'd bet money on it.
Mobile, fast, smart, accurate QB - think Garcia/Gannon. Very scrappy, good arm on the short/intermediate, not the best arm on the deep stuff. Great leader, really gets the confidence of his teammates.As crazy as it sounds, if Gradkowski is not overwhelmed, the offense could be more efficient with him in there. You would rather have a mobile QB with great escapability and speed behind a porous line.Futility said:
packersfan
Footballguy
And this was different than how it was looking with Simms at QB how? I'm not trying to be a d**k here but the Bucs have been horrible on offense. Can they really be any worse with Gradkowski? It's pretty hard to imagine.
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Urinal Mint
Footballguy
It helps that their defensive "road to hoe" will improve after bear-traps like Baltimore, Atlanta, and Carolina.
Punchie said:
Urinal Mint
Footballguy
He could be this year's Roethlisberger. Consider yourselves warned 
Futility
Footballguy
Thanks for the info, Bloom. I respect your opinion on rookies and little-known players more than anybody else on the board.
I suppose the BIG question here is "What does Gradkowski have to do to keep the starting job from here on out?" Gruden has quite a bit of history with QBs, but I'm a bit ignorant about the specifics. Has he dealt with a situation like this before? Simms isn't incredibly entrenched in the starting spot, so this isn't exactly a situation like Brady/Bledsoe in NE. It compares better with Roethlisberger/Maddox in Pitt (except Gradkowski isn't a top pick). However, what are the chances that this turns out the same way?
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Mungo Burrows
Footballguy
What are the chances Faneca and Co. plays for the Bucs?Thanks for the info, Bloom. I respect your opinion on rookies and little-known players more than anybody else on the board.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
I don't think it sounds crazy at all. I think with a two week period this team will turn it around. Mobility at QB, a simplified playbook, and more commitment to the running game could recharge this club.
Capella
Footballguy
Why do you think this will be a good thing? How many rookie QBs come in and play well right away? Marino? Elway? Roethlishwhatever? Pretty sure nobody thinks Gradkowski is on par with these guys.imo, this is an unmitigated disaster for the offense. I have Galloway in a league and there's no way in hell I'm starting him any time soon. Same with Caddy. This kid is going to be facing blitzes he's never seen, speed he can't imagine and defenses basically begging him to throw the ball.I hope I'm wrong, but this is going to be ugly. The team has already shown they can't run the ball to set up the pass, it's going to be worse now.
packersfan
Footballguy
So you're saying he's going to struggle to throw for many yards, complete a low percentage of his passes and throw far more INTs than TDs?Sounds a lot like what Simms was doing.I defer to your knowledge of the Bucs but I honestly don't see how this can be any worse than what's been going on previously. Gradkowski may be the worst starting QB in the NFL but it's not like Simms was playing at a much higher level. The offense absolutely has stunk with Simms at QB; it seems to me it can't get any worse but maybe it could get somewhat better - especially if this change forces Gruden to put more of the offense in the hands of their (in my opinion) best offensive player, Cadillac Williams.
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Capella
Footballguy
Hey I'm not saying Simms was tearing it up. But the offense certainly found a groove for a while yesterday and seemed to be getting better. Saying Gruden is going to hand the offense over to Caddy doesn't really make sense. He's tried, the running game has been shut down and then the team went into a big hole in all three games. Maybe he can't be worse than Simms, but I sure don't see how he can be any better either. Simms was able to at least connect on the occasional deep ball -- judging from what I saw in preseason, I don't see that in Gradkowski's future, this limiting Galloway even more.
packersfan
Footballguy
I don't know if I've seen Gruden really commit to the run yet consistently. Maybe at times but not consistently. And I know that having to play from behind hasn't helped either (but that's another product of Simms' poor play in my opinion). I thought yesterday's first series spoke volumes. Caddy had a 5-yard gain on first down. Seems to me that with a struggling offense and a QB playing poorly that would be a good time to keep going with Caddy. Instead, Gruden tried to pass and Simms threw an INT. Just more of the same.
Maybe with Gradkowski now at QB that will force Gruden to lean on Cadillac more - especially early in games when the score is tight. Again, I'm not expecting much either from him but I also don't believe the bar has been set very high by any means.
I should add that I've never been impressed with Simms so I'm not a big fan of his by any means. I think he is nothing more than an average (at best) NFL quarterback.
Maybe with Gradkowski now at QB that will force Gruden to lean on Cadillac more - especially early in games when the score is tight. Again, I'm not expecting much either from him but I also don't believe the bar has been set very high by any means.
I should add that I've never been impressed with Simms so I'm not a big fan of his by any means. I think he is nothing more than an average (at best) NFL quarterback.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Bloom, this kid was really good last year playing for Toledo, yes? IIRC, he had a couple of really big games...not just stats but didn't Toledo knock off someone really tough. I always think of QBs like Favre marching into Tallahassee and winning..college QBs that pull off wins in places they are not supposed to...go way up on my evaluations.
Gradkowski's deep balls are floaters, which definitely hurts galloway, but his ability to throw sharp and accurate on the short stuff (especially slants and other routes that give Galloway a chance to get YAC) may help make up for it. Either way, I definitely downgrade Galloway and slightly upgrade Clayton and Alex Smith - sometimes Simms played like Galloway was the only eligible receiver on the field.Maybe he can't be worse than Simms, but I sure don't see how he can be any better either. Simms was able to at least connect on the occasional deep ball -- judging from what I saw in preseason, I don't see that in Gradkowski's future, this limiting Galloway even more.
His biggest win last year was a blowout over UTEP and Jordan Palmer (yes, brother of Carson) in the GMAC bowl. He has always been incredibly accurate and resourceful, and that alone made me think he was at least backup material in the NFL.
Punchie
Footballguy
Best Case: Shaun King from year 1 - manage the game, don't make mistakes
Worst Case: Shaun King every year thereafter - try to be the hero and turn the ball over.
As a Bucs fan, I'm not yet throwing the towel in for the season. Let's see how some of these other division games go.
Worst Case: Shaun King every year thereafter - try to be the hero and turn the ball over.
As a Bucs fan, I'm not yet throwing the towel in for the season. Let's see how some of these other division games go.
Warpig
Footballguy
He had one of those daily diary things on one of the sports websites where it had a bunch of info on him as well as his daily thoughts about the combine and the draft and such. Seems to be a good kid with leadership abilities. He's been compared to Rich Gannon which is one of the reasons Gruden likes him.Futility said:
Cecil Lammey
Footballguy
From me and Blooms rookie reports click here6. Bruce Gradkowski - Toledo Rockets - 6’2” 222 lbs.Futility said:
Positives
Bruce Gradkowski is a mobile quarterback that can beat you with his arm or his feet. He is a fierce leader on the field and has total command of his huddle. Gradkowski is best throwing the underneath routes, and is deadly accurate on crossing routes and fade stops. When the pressure is on Gradkowski is at his best, often breaking into the 2nd level of the defense with a quick initial burst that takes many by surprise. He is a dangerous roll out passer that can set up and zip the ball past the defense with touch and accuracy. He is very good at spreading the ball around and has tremendous field vision, often checking down to his 3rd or 4th receiver. Has a great over the top release that makes his passes more difficult to bat down.
Negatives
His hands are small and thus this leads to some fumbling issues and ball security problems. He makes good decisions with the football, but doesn't make snap decisions so the pass rush can get to him if they’re persistent. He has adequate arm strength, but cannot put the proper zip on the long out patterns. Good throwing motion, but he does have a slight hitch when trying to put something extra on the pass.
Numbers Games
68.2% - Gradkowski set a NCAA record for career completion percentage. Also the first QB in NCAA history to have 2 consecutive seasons with a completion percentage over 70%.
NFL Comparison
David Garrard
Summary
Bruce Gradkowski had a monster finish to his college career, throwing for almost 600 yards in his final 2 games. He is a tough competitor that has stayed relatively injury free during his college career. He has the mobility and work ethic that coaches love and it should help him secure a spot as someone’s 3rd stringer. With determination and opportunity Gradkowski could see playing time within a couple of years.
Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
Here's Gradkowski's Draft Journal from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Seems like a really good kid but about as bright as night.
NoFBinLA
Moderator
He wasn't expecting Cinci to draft him, was he?Yeesh.
Anyway, I think he's got a good chance of getting murdolised this weekend. Hopefully the O-line gets a 'hey don't lose us two QBs in a week' speech from Chucky.
ericttspikes
Footballguy
Very cool. Thanks. What does it say that Gradkowski gets the nod over Rattay? That Rattay is that bad or this guy might have a shot to produce? I don't know about either, but remember Rattay not being awful with the 9ers a few years ago.
packersfan
Footballguy
It's just one game but I'll once again pose this question. 225 yards and 2 TDs is a pretty good fantasy day in most leagues. That's more yards than Simms threw in eight of his last 10 starts dating back to last season and more TDs than Simms threw in all but three of his last 13 starts dating back to last season. Not surprisingly, the improved QB production helped Cadillac have his best game of the season.
Futility
Footballguy
I didn't get to see the game (and I have no idea if you did), but from the play by play it seemed like it was the other way around. The first few TB drives were all Caddy and consistently picking up yards and moving the chains. The run was well established early and may have helped Gradkowski get settled in before opening up the passing game.
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Punchie
Footballguy
Gradkowski stretching the field to Galloway a couple of times is what freed Caddy up.
On the other hand, Gradkowski looked very good with the play-action pass so I suppose part kind of led to an improvement in the other. It was a good gameplan, I just wish special teams had held up their end of the bargain.
On the other hand, Gradkowski looked very good with the play-action pass so I suppose part kind of led to an improvement in the other. It was a good gameplan, I just wish special teams had held up their end of the bargain.
guderian
Footballguy
The kid showed great mobility and hit Galloway on some deep balls. However, the Saints' pass rush has tapered off in the past few weeks and they didn't blitz much. As a result, the pressure on Gradkowski was limited--in fact I think he was hit only 3 times (outside of his rushing attempts). Two of those resulted in incompletions and one in a fumble.
I was surprised that the Saints' gameplan wasn't predicated on putting him under more pressure, but it was also apparent that the Bucs had gameplanned over the bye to protect the kid. He played a great game, but I would think his true test will come when he faces a stiffer pass rush.
I was surprised that the Saints' gameplan wasn't predicated on putting him under more pressure, but it was also apparent that the Bucs had gameplanned over the bye to protect the kid. He played a great game, but I would think his true test will come when he faces a stiffer pass rush.
The Royal Jack
Footballguy
I'm in the same boat and going with Gradkowski. Of course behind Leftwich and Culpepper that leaves me - no other option.thecardiackid said:Haven't seen the bandwagon started yet, so w/ Lefty off and CPepp on the back of milk cartons, I'm jumping on.I can't stomach picking up Harrington @ NYJ or Walters @ this point.
raysfor250and2:
thecardiackid
Footballguy
W/ all the bye week issues coming up, anyone else taking a shot w/ this guy? 225/2 is a great day (especailly on the road in his first start as a rookie) considering what "legit" starters like Big Ben, Brunell, JP, and "the Miami QB" are putting up. Caddy finally had a solid day w/ improved O line play.
This week Cinci comes to TB (home game = less pressure?), w/ a decent pass defense (avg 200 yds/game, but only 3 tds passing). Considering all the byes this week Open date: Cleveland, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England, anyone sacking up and plugging Gradkowski in for week 6?
Haven't seen the bandwagon started yet, so w/ Lefty off and CPepp on the back of milk cartons, I'm jumping on.
I can't stomach picking up Harrington @ NYJ or Walters @ this point.raysfor250and2:Similar threads
