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Reports of Brook’s Demise Premature

Interesting comments have reportedly come out of Jon Gruden’s mouth in Arizona concerning Cato June and where he’ll play in the Tampa Defense. 

His comments and similar opinions led to a recent Tampa Tribune article hinting at the demise of Derrick Brooks and his future impact on the defense. 

From the Tampa Tribune: http://www.tbo.com/sports/bucs/MGBGBTYLUZ

Recently acquired free-agent linebacker Cato June is expected to earn an immediate starting job. June played on the weak side in Indianapolis, the same spot manned by perennial Pro Bowl player Derrick Brooks.

Would June grow disenchanted if he was forced to change positions?

“I don’t know,” Gruden said. “I don’t know that we’re going to change his position.”

Also from the Tampa Tribune: http://www.tbo.com/sports/bucs/MGBHY8OXYZ

Bucs executive vice president Joel Glazer said Tampa Bay’s mediocre defensive performance during last year’s 4-12 disaster served as a wake-up call for a unit that had reeled off nine consecutive top-10 finishes.

The Walsh doctrine of replacing an aging player sooner rather than later is about to bloom in Tampa, where the Bucs face the numbing prospect of starting three defensive linemen who will be at least 33 years old by Week 1 - Simeon Rice, Greg Spires and new free agent Kevin Carter.

The problem is equally acute at linebacker, where Derrick Brooks turns 34 next month and Shelton Quarles will be 36 in September. Free agent Cato June is already assured a starting job, and Coach Jon Gruden has suggested the former Colt may line up on the weak side. That’s Brooks’ spot, so things could get very hot very quickly at Lake Buena Vista in four months.

These so-called NFL experts that have access to in-season Wednesday practices when game plans are implemented and press box access on gameday, sadly missed the opportunity to report what normal fans and TV viewers rarely saw back in 2004 when Ian Gold played for the Bucs. Gold, like June, was signed to what was effectively a one-year contract.  Gold, also like June, was a weak side linebacker (WLB or Will LB if you like).  The WLB lines up opposite the weak side of the offense, opposite the tight end.  The contrast is the strong side linebacker (SLB or Sam LB). Despite continuing to list Brooks as the WLB and adding Gold to the depth chart as the SLB, Brooks played opposite the offensive TE more often than Gold.  The fact that Gold was weak in pass coverage and sidelined in nickel packages supported the typical notion that Gold played the Sam LB.The 2007 signing of June brings aspects both similar and totally different than the Gold signing in 2004.  Like Gold, June can only function well in the Tampa 2 when playing the Will LB.  At 225 pounds, only when soaking wet and after a huge meal, June cannot take the regular pounding required to fight off a tight end, offensive tackle or lead fullback to turn the ball carrier into the middle of the field and into the waiting arms of the backside defenders.  As evident in the Colts porous rush defense, June gets run over by blockers leading to an effective rushing offense for opponents.  June is at his best being the backside pursuit, not the defender at the point of attack.

Unlike Gold, June is most effective at pass coverage.  His pass coverage ability will allow Kiffin pull the MLB (Ruud or Quarles) off the field in nickel situations and have both Brooks and June on the field where the play of the linebackers, blitz or drop back into coverage, can easily be disguised.

The notion that Ryan Nece, Jamie Winborn or any other LB the Bucs sign on their roster, including former Bronco reserve LB Patrick Chukwurah (sounds like a Star Wars character) can play the Sam LB better than Brooks is ludicrous.  The boys with the free access to Other Team Activities (OTA), mandatory mini-camp, training camp, in-season practices, press box and sideline access during regular season games need to wise up.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2007 at 2:08 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.