The Readers Ask …

Joel Buchsbaum answers a reader’s questions

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000

Q: On several occasions, you have suggested that Marcus Jones is the fourth-best lineman on the Bucs. By contrast, you guys consistently praise the play of Chidi Ahanotu, going so far as to include him on your All-Underrated Team. And yet, as you know, Chidi doesn’t put up spectacular numbers. Relative to other defensive ends, he doesn’t post a lot of sacks, registers very few stuffs and doesn’t make a lot of tackles. So, what specifically is it that Ahanotu does, within the Tampa Bay defensive scheme, that makes him so valuable? How can I watch a Bucs game and get a feel for it myself?

Buchsbaum: The scheme is designed for the left end to be more of a run stopper and the right end to be more of a pass rusher. And Ahanotu does play the run much better.

Q: For many years, until the mid-’90s, certain receivers posted what are, by today’s standards, eye-popping yards-per-catch averages. Roger Carr, Stanley Morgan, Wesley Walker, James Lofton … even some guys who clearly were not superstars, such as Jessie Hester, Willie Gault and Drew Hill (early in his career). These guys would have seasons where they’d average up around 25 yards per catch. The Rams aside, this doesn’t seem to happen anymore, and I’m curious to know why. Have the responsibilities of the receivers changed that much over the years? If so, how and why?

Buchsbaum: I think it’s because all the receivers are catching more passes. (Receivers back then) were not catching 70 passes for 1,200 yards; they were catching 40 for 900.

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2000 - 2001 Season