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Bucs' Signing Of Ward A No-Brainer; Now Consider Cutler's BFF

Tribune, Associated Press file photos

Is there still chance Jay Cutler, left, will join Derrick Ward in the Bucs' backfield?

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

TAMPA - There is a lot to like about what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did late Monday.

Signing running back Derrick Ward to a four-year deal did more than make the first big free-agent splash for new general manager Mark Dominik. Ward changes the entire look of the offense.

We'll get to that in a minute, though, because if you believe the rumor mill — and don't we always because it's so much fun — the Bucs are still in play for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.

The Bucs tried to get Cutler over the weekend in a three-way deal with Denver and New England, but just because that fell apart doesn't mean Cutler-to-Tampa won't happen.

ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas, who used to cover the Bucs for The Tampa Tribune, pointed out that the Bucs' under-the-radar pickup of linebacker Niko Koutouvides got conspiracy theorists chattering. The guy just happens to be one of Cutler's best friends, and the relationship between Cutler and the Broncos is badly fractured after word that he was being shopped went public.

Why would it matter that the Bucs signed Cutler's BFF? Technically, it doesn't; Cutler is under contract to Denver.

But Cutler is not speaking to new head coach Josh McDaniels right now, and his public pout has long-term implications for the franchise. The Broncos have to start thinking about options if this rift can't be healed, and the time to do that is now. That could open up an opportunity if the Bucs really want to push it.

Big Rift In Denver

Although the Broncos have tried to show Cutler some love, the quarterback doesn't seem to be buying it. The Denver Post reported today that "the two sides appear far apart as ever," and no one is quite sure how this is going to end. Cutler would certainly cost the Bucs at least a first-round pick, but the chance to get a young, proven starter would no doubt be tempting.

That brings us back to Ward.

The Bucs now have some key offensive elements in place. Ward and Earnest Graham should give the Bucs an excellent running attack, especially since we know offensive line is one of the strengths of this team. New offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski favors a power running game, which raises an interesting point about the Michael Clayton signing.

While we focus on Clayton's decline as a receiver since his rookie season, no one can deny that the man is a ferocious blocker. And while the nearly $11 million they have guaranteed Clayton in his new contract is a lot of cash, the Bucs believe that part of his game is vital to their new approach.

For what it's worth, in a two-back set Ward will benefit from Graham's blocking, too.

Add to that the acquisition last week of tight end Kellen Winslow — durability issues aside — and this is becoming an interesting offense. It should be a very physical one.

I still think they need another speed guy at receiver, but they're working on it.

Should Help The Defense

We do wonder, of course, about the defense. That area is a little thin right now, especially since tackle Jovan Haye left Monday for Tennessee.

I'll say this, though. A ball-control offense built around a strong running game does more than grind out yards. It keeps the defense off the field and fresh, and we saw first-hand what a running game can do in four consecutive games at the end of the season.

The Bucs got trampled in those games because they couldn't stop the run. Turnabout would be fair play next season, I suppose.

Acquiring Ward makes sense on a lot of levels. I don't think you win in the NFL without a good running game, and combining him with Graham could give the Bucs as good of a one-two punch as they've ever had. It brings the future of Cadillac Williams into question; the Bucs have contended he is making grand progress from a second serious knee injury. If he can make it back, well Ward got used to playing in a three-back backfield last season with the Giants.

So we wait to see how this thing plays out, especially with Cutler. You'd like to see an impact linebacker or two sign, and they haven't found that run-stuffing beef in the middle of the defensive line. But free agency has a while to go, and we've seen the new guys aren't shy about making trades. If that doesn't work, there's still the draft.

Normally, we'd be writing about baseball right now and the defending American League champion Rays, but the Bucs keep making news. The way things are going, they aren't done, either.

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