Jermaine Phillips to Give Linebacker a Try

Raheem Morris has asked safety Jermaine Phillips to give linebacker a shot. And Phillips has agreed.

Phillips will be taking a crack at weak-side linebacker, where the Bucs lack depth at the moment. So, I have to ask the following question: if Cato June didn't fit the new direction of the defense at weak-side linebacker, how will a safety?

Of course, this is just an experiment and 99 times out of 100 no real change ends up being made.

7 months ago The Bull Gator 16 comments 0 recs |

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I mean this is a good idea but not really something we havent seen already. A couple times last year we would put all three safeties out there and just bring up Flip to the line anyways.

by zakattackthe on Mar 18, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly

plus i think he provides more speed, better hands, and an obvious toughness that Geno Hayes lacks due to inexperience (well not the speed attribute)… But i question whether this will increase Flip’s ability to stay healthy as he’ll be required to get a bit more involved…

They say he’s already gained another 10 pounds so i could see this being a permanent switch.. I also question whether Sabby is ready, if they switched Sabby and Tanard i would feel a bit more comfortable, but as is it could certainly work…

this isnt an ideal situation for sure

Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!

by JScott on Mar 18, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spells out Desperation to me.

Do they not like Geno?

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 18, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

claiming this as a desperation move is stupid

so desperation is when you try out all possibilities? thats what good coaches do. Obviously raheem sees something in Phillips and so hes gonna give it a shot.

by Roc on Mar 18, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why would you play somebody out of position

if you were confident in other guy(s) at that position? It doesn’t make sense. Phillips is a phenomenal safety, and nobody would be tempted to move him if Geno had the faith of Bates and Morris.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 18, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how could they have enough faith in Geno, or any of the other young lb's, this early?

camp hasnt started yet. Im sure they think Geno, Black, or Hayward could be at least decent next year as an NFL LB, but why ignore a possibility such as this just because its not his normal position? And phenomenal might be an exageration, hes good, but if he was phenomenal he would have signed elsewhere for much more money.

by Roc on Mar 20, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

really?

i dont know how this is gonna work….

Go Bucs... Time to Re-Build

by ohswarrior0812 on Mar 18, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It probably won't.

But this still raises the question….why did we get rid of brooks and june?

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 18, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think team speed is the sole

reason, well that and staying healthy… obviously they both would have helped immensely in the depth department, but i doubt Cato would have accepted a backup role

Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!

by JScott on Mar 18, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or

Ask Roy Williams if he wants to play LB. Break out the kneepads for Crowell.

by cowatkins78 on Mar 18, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ya i agree

get roy williams and phillips playing linebacker, they’d be the best coverage LB duo in the league ! does anyone think phillips would be a great speed blitzer!

by the420bucsfan on Mar 18, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't help the run game much.

It fits Bates system in a sense, but thats part of the reason I hate Bates system.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Mar 18, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmmmm.....

so I guess we are running a 4-2 defense with a roamer……..sure why not…..what do we have to lose……?

by buccanator on Mar 18, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

are we giving up on crowell or whats goin on?

"yesterdays a cancelled check, today is money on the line, tommarow is a promisary note" - unknown

"the trouble with me is that my ego just cant accept a loss" -Vince Lombardi

"i dont know any way to lead but by example" -Don Shula

"the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary" -unknown

"the harder you work the harder it is for you to surrender" -vince lombardi

by dedman on Mar 18, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lets see......

I know we have 1 DE and 1 LB……we can run a 1-1-9 defense……Gaines playing NT Ruud MLB…..Barber RCB…Talib LCB…..Piscitelli Middle SS….Allen Middle FS….Jackson Outside FS….Fassitt Outside SS…Mack Inside RCB…Arrington Inside LCB….Phillips Centerfield……………….

by buccanator on Mar 18, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs