Buckhalter

[rjs246]

Stop me if this has been discussed, but...
Through the first two games Bucky hasn't done anything too impressive, IMO, and in fact he hasn't been given much of a chance to even touch the ball. Does this strike anyone else as a bad idea?
He hasn't proven in a game situation that he can be our featured back (since the injury) and it seems illogical to deny him touches in these games.
Does Reid really have faith in his ability to carry the running game? Is he intentionally not showcasing Correll for some reason?

[PhillyGirl]

Its preseason. Its vanilla.

At TC, Buck ran the ball a TON. They know what he can do.

[Sgt PSN]

I wouldn't be too concerned with it.  They're getting a good look at how he cuts and moves laterally in practice.  That's the biggest concern coming back from an ACL tear.  With the Duce situation, they need to see what else they have in other runningbacks incase they need to keep one of them.  I wouldn't sweat it too much.  

[rjs246]

Its preseason. Its vanilla.

I agree that everything is very vanilla, and that's valid, but game situations are a whole lot different than practice and I won't feel comfortable until he can at least break off some good runs with our starting O-Line in. Through two games Buck has 6 rushes for 12 yards. I'm not convinced that sprinkles and hot fudge could liven up that much 'vanilla.'


PS- I know that Reid and Co. couldn't care less how comfortable I feel, but it doesn't change the fact that with our starting O-Line and plenty of weapons around him to draw attention, Buck is only averaging 2 yards a carry. Blech.

[Sgt PSN]

Look for Buck to get more carries in the last 2 preseason games.  They've gotten a good look at some of the other backs they brought in and should have a good idea of what they bring to the table.  My guess is that Buck could see about 8-10 touches in each of the final 2 games.  

[Susquehanna Birder]

Call it vanilla or whatever you want...you're not going to see a lot of O-line stunting and smashmouth running during the preseason.

This line is more than up to the task, and I'm sure that Buck can do well. They don't have to risk breaking his leg to prove the point right now.

[PhillyGirl]

This line is more than up to the task, and I'm sure that Buck can do well. They don't have to risk breaking his leg to prove the point right now.

Exactly.

Some of you are forgetting what you saw in 2001.

[Syracuse]

They'll open the play book on Monday night, Sept. 8th.

[rjs246]

This line is more than up to the task, and I'm sure that Buck can do well. They don't have to risk breaking his leg to prove the point right now.

Exactly.

Some of you are forgetting what you saw in 2001.

And everyone else is forgetting that he blew his farging knee out last year, only caught 13 passes as a rookie and hasn't been a full-time starter since high school...

[PhillyGirl]

He tore his ACL...and it was the most minor of ACL tears. NO damage anywhere else. No meniscus tear, no MCL tear. Simple tear. Healed.

He could have played last year, but they didn't need him enough to risk it.

[smeags]

This line is more than up to the task, and I'm sure that Buck can do well. They don't have to risk breaking his leg to prove the point right now.

Exactly.

Some of you are forgetting what you saw in 2001.

And everyone else is forgetting that he blew his farging knee out last year, only caught 13 passes as a rookie and hasn't been a full-time starter since high school...

why risk it in pre-season. no need to go overboard and have buckhalter on the sidelines again.

[mikey418]

Besides...if you give Buck the ball now and show what he can do on film, the other teams in the NFL will have that film on him.  Isn't it better to go into Sept 8th with some firepower the other team doesn't know much about?

Remember, one of the TB defensive weaknesses is running the ball up the gut - if you have the o-line to do it - which the birds do.

[rjs246]

Besides...if you give Buck the ball now and show what he can do on film, the other teams in the NFL will have that film on him.  Isn't it better to go into Sept 8th with some firepower the other team doesn't know much about?

Remember, one of the TB defensive weaknesses is running the ball up the gut - if you have the o-line to do it - which the birds do.

This is the kind of thinking that seems most reasonable to me. I know that a major part of the pre-season is just staying healthy and no one wants to see Buck get hurt again (especially with our ridiculous RB situation). If this were Duce or some other healthy RB who wasn't coming off of an injury I would understand keeping them on the sidelines and limiting their work, but Buck needs reps. And not practice reps. Real live, 'oh my god that 300 pound, steroid-sweating man is trying to tear my legs from my body' game reps. 6 rushed in two games isn't going to be enough after a year away from football.

I hope PSN is right and they start feeding him the ball over the next two games...

[phattymatty]

i just wanted to point out that buckhalter is still on our team.  i don't know why everyone is freaking out so much.  we're fine.

[rjs246]

I love that I started this thread almost 3 years ago.

Just to clarify. farg BUCKHALTER.

That is all.