While discussing the signing of Rob Burnett on another board, a Raider fan was accussed the Phins of "copying Al Davis' Blueprint" of signing older players to the roster and that "Finally you are seeing the brillance of Al Davis. You can copy the blueprint but can you get the same results.". *we go at it with this guy about the Raiders all the time*
After retaliating (pointing out that we don't sign guys closing in on 40 to be starters for big $$$ like they do), I felt the need to examine our team's age. I examined only players with a decent shot at making the team and how old they'd be when the season starts. Here's what I found.
Starting Lineup
OFFENSE
QB Jay Fiedler (30).....................................Top Backups: Ray Lucas (30), Tim Levcik (22)
RB Ricky Williams (25)...............................Top Backups: Travis Minor (23), Robert Edwards (27), Leonard Henry (24)
FB Rob Konrad (25)....................................Top Backups: Deon Dyer (24)
TE Jed Weaver (26)....................................Top Backups: Randy McMichael (23), Alonzo Mayes (27), Ed Perry (28)
WR Chris Chambers (24)............................Top Backups: James McKnight (30), Dedric Ward (28), Albert Johnson (24)
WR Oronde Gadsden (31)...........................Top Backups: Jeff Odgen (27)Sam Simmons (22), Robert Baker (26)
LT Brent Smith (29)....................................Top Backups: Marcus Spriggs (28)
LG Mark Dixon (31)....................................Top Backups: Todd Perry (31), Troy Andrew (24)
C Tim Ruddy (30).......................................Top Backups: Seth McKinney (23)
RG Leon Searcy (32)..................................Top Backups: Jamie Nails (27)
RT Todd Wade (24)....................................Top Backups: Anthony Cesario (26)
DEFENSE
LE Daryl Gardener (29)...............................Top Backups: Rob Burnett (35), Adewale, Ogunleye (25)
DT Tim Bowens (29)...................................Top Backups: Jermaine Haley (29), Henry Taylor (26)
DT Larry Chester (26).................................Top Backups: Ernest Grant (26) James Atkins (24)
RE Jason Taylor (28)..................................Top Backups: David Bowens (25), Al Wallace (27)
SLB Morlon Greenwood (24).......................Top Backups: Twan Russell (28)
MLB Zach Thomas (29)..............................Top Backups: Tommy Hendricks (23)
WLB Derrick Rodgers (30)..........................Top Backups: Scott Galyon (28)
LCB Patrick Surtain (26).............................Top Backups: Jamar Fletcher (23)
RCB Sam Madison (28)..............................Top Backups: Ray Green (25), Omare Lowe (24)
FS Brock Marion (32).................................Top Backups: Trent Gamble (25), Scott McGarrahan (28)
SS Arturo Freeman (25).............................Top Backups: Shawn Wooden (28)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Olindo Mare (29)
P Mark Royals (37)....................................Top Backups: Casey Roussel (22)
Players Over 30 - P Mark Royals (37), DE Rob Burnett (35), RG Leon Searcy (32), FS Brock Marion (32), LG Mark Dixon (31), Todd Perry (31), WR Oronde Gasden (31).
As a whole, our team is IN IT'S PRIME. We're not old like the Raiders. We're a young group of veterans. And unlike the Raiders, our best players are either IN THEIR PRIME or YOUNG. Even Fiedler has low mileadge and is still getting better. Same goes for Derrick Rodgers. The oldest part of the team is the OL. And they average 27 years (starters avg 29). Also, I consider 30 to be middle-of-the-road. Not young, but not old either. That's why I put "Players Over 30".
Anyway, we're not copying any stupid blueprint. If anything, Al Davis is lucky that the Buccaneers are rebuilding his team in the next few years. Gotta give the old guy credit for sticking to his guns and playing those Glazer boys like fiddle, though.
After retaliating (pointing out that we don't sign guys closing in on 40 to be starters for big $$$ like they do), I felt the need to examine our team's age. I examined only players with a decent shot at making the team and how old they'd be when the season starts. Here's what I found.
Starting Lineup
OFFENSE
QB Jay Fiedler (30).....................................Top Backups: Ray Lucas (30), Tim Levcik (22)
RB Ricky Williams (25)...............................Top Backups: Travis Minor (23), Robert Edwards (27), Leonard Henry (24)
FB Rob Konrad (25)....................................Top Backups: Deon Dyer (24)
TE Jed Weaver (26)....................................Top Backups: Randy McMichael (23), Alonzo Mayes (27), Ed Perry (28)
WR Chris Chambers (24)............................Top Backups: James McKnight (30), Dedric Ward (28), Albert Johnson (24)
WR Oronde Gadsden (31)...........................Top Backups: Jeff Odgen (27)Sam Simmons (22), Robert Baker (26)
LT Brent Smith (29)....................................Top Backups: Marcus Spriggs (28)
LG Mark Dixon (31)....................................Top Backups: Todd Perry (31), Troy Andrew (24)
C Tim Ruddy (30).......................................Top Backups: Seth McKinney (23)
RG Leon Searcy (32)..................................Top Backups: Jamie Nails (27)
RT Todd Wade (24)....................................Top Backups: Anthony Cesario (26)
DEFENSE
LE Daryl Gardener (29)...............................Top Backups: Rob Burnett (35), Adewale, Ogunleye (25)
DT Tim Bowens (29)...................................Top Backups: Jermaine Haley (29), Henry Taylor (26)
DT Larry Chester (26).................................Top Backups: Ernest Grant (26) James Atkins (24)
RE Jason Taylor (28)..................................Top Backups: David Bowens (25), Al Wallace (27)
SLB Morlon Greenwood (24).......................Top Backups: Twan Russell (28)
MLB Zach Thomas (29)..............................Top Backups: Tommy Hendricks (23)
WLB Derrick Rodgers (30)..........................Top Backups: Scott Galyon (28)
LCB Patrick Surtain (26).............................Top Backups: Jamar Fletcher (23)
RCB Sam Madison (28)..............................Top Backups: Ray Green (25), Omare Lowe (24)
FS Brock Marion (32).................................Top Backups: Trent Gamble (25), Scott McGarrahan (28)
SS Arturo Freeman (25).............................Top Backups: Shawn Wooden (28)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Olindo Mare (29)
P Mark Royals (37)....................................Top Backups: Casey Roussel (22)
Players Over 30 - P Mark Royals (37), DE Rob Burnett (35), RG Leon Searcy (32), FS Brock Marion (32), LG Mark Dixon (31), Todd Perry (31), WR Oronde Gasden (31).
As a whole, our team is IN IT'S PRIME. We're not old like the Raiders. We're a young group of veterans. And unlike the Raiders, our best players are either IN THEIR PRIME or YOUNG. Even Fiedler has low mileadge and is still getting better. Same goes for Derrick Rodgers. The oldest part of the team is the OL. And they average 27 years (starters avg 29). Also, I consider 30 to be middle-of-the-road. Not young, but not old either. That's why I put "Players Over 30".
Anyway, we're not copying any stupid blueprint. If anything, Al Davis is lucky that the Buccaneers are rebuilding his team in the next few years. Gotta give the old guy credit for sticking to his guns and playing those Glazer boys like fiddle, though.