Random Musings: Alge Crumpler, Michael Bennett, Spring Training

by JScott on Feb 16, 2008 8:22 AM EST in News

Click here to send Alge a ~~love note~~, I mean, your reasons for why he should come to Tampa. I did: ALGE, I've followed you my whole career. Short and Sweet = Give GM Bruce Allen and the Bucs a shot. We have a ton of cap space and a desperate need for a dominating Tight End such as yourself. 3.4 mil is nothing, I'll start an uproar at BucEm.com if you're not offered at least 4.5 mil to come to Tampa. Jeff Garcia, Potential Perennial Playoff Team, did I mention a consistent and accurate Quarterback? We need YOU in Tampa Alge. Best thing is, we don't have a #83 representing the team, come claim your jersey man!!! If you don't come to Tampa good luck with your job search. Just make sure you join a contender with a decent QB. I dont want to hear of you signing with the Raiders, Cardinals, Dolphins, etc. TAMPA TAMPA TAMPA!!!

The Bucs have extended a three year contract to RB Michael Bennett. You may remember him from last season for this play alone, "..." yep that pretty much sums up his career so far with the Bucs. I'm not sure 3 years was the right idea, but With Earnest Graham as the only RB on the roster with any experience, the Bucs had to bring in somebody else. This should mark the end of the road for Michael Pittman. With Graham, Bennett, and Darby, plus a Cadillac in the wings, there's no need to extend Pittman a contract.

MLB's Spring Training is upon us!! If you're in to that sort of thing and I know I am, be sure to checkout and frequent the following blogs: Metsblog.com (NY Mets), Amazin Avenue (NY Mets), and DRaysBay.com (TB Rays). Do any other teams exist? I don't think they do!

There's been a couple coaching changes this off-season for the Bucs that I've neglected to cover, due to a lack of interest on my part. Here's the changes though:
Quarterbacks Coach: Former Paul Hackett - Newly Signed Greg Olson
Running Backs Coach: Former Art Valero - Newly Re-Assigned Richard Bisaccia
Asst. Head Coach: Former Art Valero - Newly Re-Assigned Larry Coyer
Asst. Offensive Line Coach: Former Aaron Kromer - Newly Signed George Yarno

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Explain to me...

..why the Bucs should sign Crumpler to a salary that is $1.5 M more than what the best tightend in the league (Antonio Gates) will make next season, and a salary that is ten times more than what Alex Smith will make next season?

Alge might be the most overrated tightend in the league (along with Jeremy Shockey). He provides about average value per reception, and has had his value artificially inflated during the Vick years when he was Vick's 1st and only option. It's kinda like Allen Iverson taking all the shots, sure AI is scoring a bunch of points but is he really making his team better?

by bestbucsblog on Feb 16, 2008 1:40 PM EST 0 recs

let me break it down for you

Alge was set to make 3.4mil this season. Clearly on the open market where a bounty of teams are going to be vying for his services, 3.4mil would be the starting point for his base salary in '08. That's not going to get it done. I feel foolish replying to the Alex Smith question, because Alex Smith couldnt carry Alge's shoulder pads.

The guy has gone to 5 Pro Bowls while playing with one of the most inconsistent QB's on the planet. It's odd that a guy who was Vick's 1st and only option would have inflated value.. If anything his numbers should have been worse as he is the only Receiver the Falcons had that warranted coverage.

I'm obviously advocating for the Bucs to overpay with Alge in the hopes that he would choose Tampa. Jerramy Stevens and Alex Smith don't cut it. Garcia is here for two more years Tops, he's got to have playmakers around him. The Bucs have an opportunity to sign one of the Top 5 Tight Ends in the league (he's been buried in ATL), money shouldnt get in the way, nor should bogus notions about the guy being overrated. The numbers don't lie and neither did the Offense he was stuck with. Alge Crumpler would be an excellent addition to this offense period.

by JScott on Feb 16, 2008 3:13 PM EST up 0 recs

Sweet...

...the Dan Snyder strategy, overpay for average players who are over hyped. I understand this is a novel concept but when you compare Crumpler's value per play it comes out about even (and just slightly behind) that of Alex Smith. Or if you don't trust the Football Outsiders stats Smith averages 12 yards a reception while Crumpler averages 10.6. Both players also have a 60% catch rate. But go ahead and tout the Pro Bowls because a popularity contest is the most unbiased way to decide a player's value to their team.

Additionally, as anyone who has ever watched a Falcons game can attest, Vick was able to draw in the defenses when he rolled out of the pocket. The linebackers and safeties that should have been covering Crumpler were forced to respect Vick's ability to run, which left open space for Crumpler to operate. My grandmother could have made the Pro Bowl playing tightend in that offense, although she really hits more like a linebacker.

by bestbucsblog on Feb 17, 2008 10:41 AM EST 0 recs

value per play?

what are you talking about? Watch the games man. 10.6 yards per catch, thats because he has more catches. How can a player be overhyped when he got released? Go ahead and think Alge is overrated, but the league wide consensus is that he's not and you'll see when he gets paid. Stats are fantastic, but they don't always tell the story. Case in point: Randy Moss suffered mightily with the Raiders, was that because he didnt play as hard? I'd say its because he didnt have a serviceable QB. It's the same thing with Alge Crumpler.

If I endorsed Snyder's logic when constructing a team, I obviously wouldnt be a Bucs fan, nor would I run a Bucs Blog. I'm sick of this organization bringing in bandaids, its time to bring in a more than serviceable offensive threat and Alge Crumpler is just that. Couple him with a serviceable WR (by serviceable I don't mean David Boston or Maurice Stovall) and this offense would be immensely upgraded.

At any rate, We might as well end this argument, as you see it one way and I see it the other. For whatever reasons you don't think much of Alge and thats cool.

by JScott on Feb 17, 2008 5:12 PM EST up 0 recs

And..

Football Outsiders notes right there on the website that plays where the tight end is left blocking are not accounted for. Crumpler is an above average to great blocker for a tight end, which makes him a more complete player.

I give props to the advanced football stats usage, bestbucsblog, but it should be noted that Crumpler spent much of last year literally hamstrung by injuries. If you go back to 2006, when he was reasonably healthy and the wheels hadn't come off the entire Falcons franchise yet, he was the 5th best tight end by DPAR. Alex Smith, by comparison, was 41st.

by Dave the Falconer on Feb 19, 2008 12:12 AM EST up 0 recs

My Kind Of Guy

JScott rocks. Not only does he like the hometown boys (the Rays and the Bucs) but he also is a Mets Fan! Now that's a guy who knows his sports!

Moving along...If TE Crumpler can overcome his past injuries, I believe it would be a coup for the Bucs to sign him. Jeramy Stevens should get released if convicted of being a rapist and Anthony Becht is a UFA. That leaves Alex Smith and Keith Heinrich as the lone TE's on the roster. If we get outbid in this crazy age of free agency for Crumpler, who else do we sign? Or maybe we trade for a Jeremy Shockey who has seemed to fall out of favor in New York. I believe we will definitely address the issue in the draft, but we'll still need a veteran presence in that locker room.

by TheUltimateBucFan on Feb 18, 2008 11:53 PM EST 0 recs