By ruuuuudiii
Published: December 19, 2005 PrintEmail
Ruuuuudiii's
Buc Bites!
Canton Bound?
Welcome to the 2nd edition of the award winning Buc Bites, the monthly (or so) look at everybody's favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The first golden age of Buccaneer football started about 10 years ago, and many of the contributors are nearing the end of their careers. In this edition, we will look at which Bucs and former Bucs are candidates for the hall of fame. I will be projecting stats for until they are 37, the average retirement age for star players, by taking their average and adding them to their current stats. I will also compare them to a recent hall of famer from the position, and also another currently active player with at least 10 seasons behind him.
Mike Alstott - FB -
1297car/4910yds/3.8ypc/55TD
280rec/2143yds/7.7ypr/12TD
Hall of Famer - Larry Csonka - Class of '87
1891car/8081yds/4.3ypc/64TD
106rec/820yds/7.7ypr/4TD
Alstott is the best fullback of his era, statistically, just like Csonka was in the 70's. While Csonka has more carries and yards than Alstott, Mike makes up that that gap with vastly superior pass numbers, and the two are separated by one touchdown. While there are other fullbacks, who are more accomplished blockers, like Lorenzo Neal and Mack Strong, Alstott has the stats that should make him a contender. And by the way, I do consider Neal and Strong, as well as some others HOF candidates. If Larry Centers one day makes it in, then Alstott deserves to be next. By the way, I didn't project Alstotts stats beyond this year, since he has stated that this will be his last year.
Hall of Fame chance - 85% - Maybe not first ballot, maybe not first few ballots, but one day, the hall should let this man in. And maybe, open the door for a few other fullbacks.
Simeon Rice - DE - *projected stats
620tackles/162sacks/44FF/7INT
Michael Strahan - DE - Giants *projected
857tackles/149sacks/24FF/4INT
Hall of Famer - Reggie White - yeah, I know, it's not official yet
1000+tackles/198sacks
Simeon, not the favorite of the NFL brass, but his stats speak for themselves, or at least they will with another 4 seasons of similar production. Strahan, a more popular but less productive player, is also a strong candidate for the hall, and he would wind up with less sacks and about 20 less forced fumbles than Rice. It may be a bit unfair to compare these guys with Reggie White, but White was from another world.
Hall of Fame chances - 92% - Simeon has the stats to get to the hall, and he will make it. The NFL will punish him by waiting until the 3rd or 4th time on the ballot, but he is a talent that has to be in.
Ray Lewis - LB - Ravens *projected stats
1801tackles/32sacks/26INT/9FF/2TD
Hall of Famer - Mike Singletary - Class of '98
1488tackles/19sacks/7INT
Both Brooks and Lewis define the linebacker position during their era. While Brooks went about his career a bit quieter than Lewis, his credentials don't lie, and he was easily the leader and best player on the Bucs defense, even with teamates like Sapp and Lynch. By the way, before you try to argue that his caliber of teammates made him better, just remember that Lewis and Singletary had the same caliber teammates. I will make the argument that Brooks is the best linebacker in the league for the last decade or so, but I won't argue someone who makes the same case for Lewis.
Hall of Fame chances - 100% - Most likely to join Lee Roy Selmon as the next Buc in the Hall of Fame. This should be a first ballot slam dunk, and anything less will be a travesty.
Deion Sanders - CB - Ravens
380tackles/1sack/52INT/8FF/4RC/10TD
*not including his return stats
Hall of Famer - Mike Haynes - Class of '97
46INT/2TD
Ronde Barber is one of the best pure football players to ever play the cornerback position. Though, not nearly as flashy or as gifted as Deion, Barber's tackles and sacks as well as forced and recovered fumbles dwarf that of Prime Time's. Right now, Barber doesn't have enough interceptions (26) to get in, but if he gets to 40, it becomes a real possibility. His number of tackles are absolutely gaudy for a corner, and they're not from tackling receivers who catch the ball on him. He plays almost like an 'way' outside linebacker, and just doesn't miss many tackles.
Hall of Fame Chance - 65% - He is the first CB in NFL history to record 20 sacks and 20 INT's. The NFL usually likes to reward the first, and if he gets enough interceptions, he's in. Maybe Ronde and Tiki will get in together. If that happens, I will be there. Wouldn't miss that for the world.
Keyshawn Johnson - WR - *projected stats
1036rec/13370yds/84TD
Marvin Harrison - WR - Colts *projected stats
1284rec/17048yds/154TD
Hall of Famer - Steve Largent - Class of '95
819rec/13089yds/100TD
Jerry Rice - just adding his for the sheer ridiculousness of it
1549rec/22895yds/197TD
Keyshawn is another guy who, like Simeon, doesn't always endear himself to coaches, media and fans. In any other era, I would say he is a shoe-in for the Hall, but this is the wide receiver era, what with Cris Carter, Marvin, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and others all becoming hall eligible at around the same time. Not long ago, 1000 receptions or 100 TD's were benchmarks for getting to the hall, but not anymore. Now, at the least, you probably have to achieve both, and Key is too far from 100 TD's to make a serious run at it. He may be the best possesion receiver of this group, but that may keep him, and Michael Irvin before him, out of the Hall.
Hall of Fame chance - 40% - Only if he keeps producing, and his peers fall off from their pace rapidly, will he have a shot. Won't happen though. Maybe one day, a few decades from now, a senior commitee will get him in, but even then he'll be a longshot.
Sam Adams - DT - Bills *projected stats
434tackles/47sacks/7FF/6RF/3INT
Hall of Famer - Randy White - Class of '94
1104tackles/111sacks
Warren Sapp, often criticized for his lack of sacks, has a real good shot at the hall. In the middle, you're first job is to stop the run, and Sapp did that well. Sam Adams may be a bit better against the run, but when you add Sapp's 100 sacks, a very high total for a DT, it makes him a better candidate for the hall. But, as was the case with Rice and Johnson, Sapp's ego has alienated some, and I'm sure Hall voters are on that list.
Hall of Fame chance - 50% - Once heralded as possible the best prospect at the position in decades, Sapp probably didn't live up to that hype. But, he does have a defensive player of the year award and a ring, that may be enough to get the necessary votes.
John Lynch - S - *projected stats
982tackles/9sacks/12FF/7RF/28INT
Brian Dawkins - S - Eagles *projected stats
966tackles/24sacks/30FF/17RF/38INT
Hall of Famer - Ronnie Lott - Class of 2000
1000+tackles/63INT
John Lynch, the last of the Bucs Super Bowl team that we will spotlight, is a great tackler and another great football mind. He probably doesn't have enough interceptions, plus compared to Brian Dawkins, the other premiere safety of his time, Lynch's stats come up short. John Lynch is a linebacker playing in a safety's body, and his lack of speed and pass coverage skills will keep him out.
Hall of Fame chance - 25% - Dawkins is probably the only safety in the league for 10 years with Hall credentials, but when compared to Lott, even he gets dwarfed. As for Lynch, he had a wonderful career, and he may be the most popular Buccaneer listed here, if not ever, but he'll come up short in his Hall bid.
Well folks, there you have it, and let me just say this, that took way too long. Anyway, in this fans very humble opinion, Lee Roy Selmon is going to be getting some company in the Bucs wing. Derrick Brooks is in, Simeon Rice should get in, and Mike Alstott will get in if they let some fullbacks in. Sapp and Barber are possible, but certainly not definate members, and Keyshawn has the unfortunate circumstance of playing at the same time as many of the game's best receivers ever. Lastly, Lynch is the longest shot from making the hall, but at least he's already in Cooperstown.
Please let me know if you want me to keep posting this here in the member articles forum, or if you want me to go back to posting the Buc Bites in the Bucs forum. I think it'll get read more here, so that's how I'm leaning.
Hey Crunked, I want to be nominated for the Crunked's Most improved user of graphics award. I know, you haven't actually made that award yet, but you should, and then, name it after me.
