Jermaine Phillips (1 Viewer)

[Tecmo]

According to the Tampa Tribune, Angelo Crowell recently sufferd a setback on the same knee that he had trouble with in 2008. Just a setback, but Geno Hayes and Quincy Black are being looked at SLB. Ruud is a lock at MLB. So who's at weakside LB?

TAMPA - The situation at linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is nowhere near as settled as it once seemed.

Though Barrett Ruud continues to have a lock on the middle linebacker spot and Jermaine Phillips is making a smooth transition to weakside backer, the starting strongside linebacker's job is suddenly back up for grabs.

The Bucs were hoping free agent signee Angelo Crowell would fill that spot, and he still may. Crowell, however, recently suffered a setback in his return from left knee surgery and that has created an opening at his spot.

"That one will be decided at training camp,'' Bucs linebackers coach Joe Barry said of the starter's job at strongside backer. "Angelo is still there, but we're looking at Quincy Black, and Geno Hayes is working there, too.''

The Bucs are very high on Black and Hayes, but they've been holding out hope that Crowell would regain not only his health but the form he showed when he led the Bills in tackles with 126 in 2007.

Crowell made a lot of those tackles while nursing a sore left knee, and he finally put himself on the shelf in the summer of 2008 when he opted to have season-ending knee surgery just prior to the start of the regular season.

The severity of the setback Crowell suffered is not known, but he has been on the field for most, if not all, of the team's voluntary workouts the last two weeks, Barry said.

With Crowell's knee problem a lingering concern, though, the competition for playing time at the strongside linebacker spot is wide open, and there's a good chance it will stay that way through camp and into the regular season.

 

[bcr8f]

Black and Hayes are pretty light to play SLB. I hope Hayes is the WLB but don't have evidence he will be there.

It could be Phillips too. I think they need someone not listed to play SLB.

 

[ffwebster]

So starting Phillips this year as a S would be advantageous then? You would think that he would get more tackle oppurtunities at LB, then at S... He is still listed at S in our league...

 

[QUEZILLA]

 

[bcr8f]

OK. Who's it going to be at WLB?

 

[Erin Go Bragh]

OK. Who's it going to be at WLB?

I have read stories for the past couple months that have said Phillips was being converted to play the WLB position to replace Derrick Brooks. Here's one from March: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor...amp;source=bucs

Do a google search and you'll find plenty of similar ones. I have operated for at least three months with the understanding that Phillips will be the guy. Everyone who has been hoping it would be Hayes or anyone else has been wishful thinking, IMO.

 

[flooredyas]

While not a Phillips owner, I have a vested interest as a Sabby owner.

 

[Beaumont]

Phillips to LB strikes me as the kind of idea that sounds good until you put the pads on ...

 

[Zoomanji]

Phillips to LB strikes me as the kind of idea that sounds good until you put the pads on ...

Same hereI'll believe it when I see itThey could be in a mess of trouble if Crowell is still hurt and Phillips proves to be a failed experiment. Guess D. Brooks could always end up as on option.Either way it probably great for Ruud

 

[gregjcross]

Phillips to LB strikes me as the kind of idea that sounds good until you put the pads on ...

Same hereI'll believe it when I see itThey could be in a mess of trouble if Crowell is still hurt and Phillips proves to be a failed experiment. Guess D. Brooks could always end up as on option.Either way it probably great for Ruud

Ive monitored this situation since February and observed the following from reports ....1) Jermaine PHillips at WLB is not a pre-camp experiment, on contrary, it's very real and is the clear favorite for week 1 at WOLB spot2) They are NOT bringing back Derrick Brooks , this is about a new direction under new coaching regime. They dont even play the Tampa 2 anymore.3) They didnt want to be forced to start young players like Quincy Black (they dont totally trust him to be physical enough) or Geno Hayes (who is a tad raw), but will if it becomes necessary--both were mid round draft projects 4) Angelo Crowell would have been a nice free agent addition but his Knee is still bad (existing injury cropped up a week ago), which opens the door for Quincy Black in his third year unless Hayes beats him out.5) Adam Heyward is probably the back up at Middle and the special teams ace along with the loser from the Q.Black/G.Hayes battle.If anyone knows something different, im all ears.....

 

[Fanatic13]

As a Phillips owner, I am not sure where i want this guy to play...if he goes to WSL would he be worth more than at S....I am not so sure....

 

[Erin Go Bragh]

As a Phillips owner, I am not sure where i want this guy to play...if he goes to WSL would he be worth more than at S....I am not so sure....

I agree that I'm not quite sure where he would score more points. However, as a general rule, I think it is easier to find productive DBs on the waiver wire (even if your league splits them between S and CB) than any other position, regardless of league size. Therefore, as a Phillips owner in two IDP leagues, I am hoping he gets reclassified as a LB. I would rather have him as a LB 3-4 in a 16 team league than a DB2.

 

[Fanatic13]

That makes sense.....I agree

 

[ffwebster]

BUT, if he remains classified on MFL as a DB, and is actually playing as WLB, wouldnt it be an advantage to essentially start him as a DB, getting LB points? LBs score more than DBs on average dont they?

 

[duece2626]

BUT, if he remains classified on MFL as a DB, and is actually playing as WLB, wouldnt it be an advantage to essentially start him as a DB, getting LB points? LBs score more than DBs on average dont they?

Exactlly

 

[treat88]

BUT, if he remains classified on MFL as a DB, and is actually playing as WLB, wouldnt it be an advantage to essentially start him as a DB, getting LB points? LBs score more than DBs on average dont they?

Exactlly

Right.However, I would say the chances of him retaining his DB designation is nil.Rotoworld, which MFL uses to make their position assignments, has already relisted him as a WLB on the Bucs depth chart.Sabby seems locked in at SS, so the chances of him seeing significant reps there in the PS seems very low as well. There is no argument not to designate him as a LB.Gonna have to draft him as a LB the way it looks right now.

 

[ffwebster]

Ah, in our league, you get the player at the position drafted for the duration of that year... And I did draft him still listed as a DB in our league.

 

[bcr8f]

Ah, in our league, you get the player at the position drafted for the duration of that year... And I did draft him still listed as a DB in our league.

On the surface that seems dumb, but grab Louis Delmas. He's listed now as a CB but will play safety.

 

[ffwebster]

no difference in our league between CB and S... plus he is already taken.. Essentially it seems that MFL reclassifies most of the players in late August, long after our draft... It seemed quite unfair to change the makeup of some teams long after most avenues to correct for bye weeks etc.. have already occured. In our league, the only real position switches that make a difference is from DL to LB, or DB to LB, and of course the very rare TE to WR..