Is Ruud ready?

With the release of Shelton Quarles, the time is now for the former second-round pick from Nebraska. How will Barrett Ruud respond?

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Published May 11, 2007

 At the time of Shelton Quarles' release, much of the focus was on the middle linebacker's many great moments. Almost unnoticed was the fact that the guy replacing him will have a pretty considerable impact on the future.

His name is Barrett Ruud. Remember him?

He has never made a Pro Bowl like Quarles. He has never posted 100-plus tackles like Quarles five times. But those are the shoes Ruud must fill now that the Bucs have anointed him the starter.

A second-round pick from Nebraska in 2005, Ruud has had the luxury of watching and learning from ironman Quarles while the other early-round picks from that draft have played pivotal roles. That year's first-round pick, running back Cadillac Williams, has become central to the offense. Tight end Alex Smith, the third-round choice that year, has played a critical role in the team's two-tight end sets. And guard Dan Buenning, a fourth-round pick in 2005, has started 23 games in two seasons.

Then there's Ruud, whose time in the spotlight has been limited mostly to preseason games in which he often endears himself to fans with his hustle. But what happens in August is quite different than the 17 weeks that follow, when opposing coaches start to dig deeper into their playbooks.

Soon, we'll know whether Ruud, 23, is up to the task. Maybe he has what it takes. He did start five games last season in place of an injured Quarles. But do we really know for sure? Playing week after week at a position that is central to the Tampa 2 defense is a far more daunting challenge.

In the Bucs' scheme, the middle linebacker is responsible for relaying the calls from the sideline to the huddle. The middle linebacker also must help make adjustments before the snap based on the what the offense shows, not to mention his pass coverage responsibilities in the middle of the field.

That's not anything a smart football player can't handle. But don't discount what it will mean to have a new player handling those duties. Quarles spoke recently about how he and Derrick Brooks often could communicate without saying a word. They just gave each other "the look."

So, at the very least, there is likely to be a transition period as the Bucs move from Quarles to Ruud. But with any luck, perhaps Tampa Bay soon will be speaking about Ruud in the same glowing terms used to describe his predecessor.

KELLY NOT EXPECTED: The Bucs return to the field this week with another slate of full-squad voluntary workouts. The attendance is expected to be pretty good, but no one seems to expect cornerback Brian Kelly to show.

Kelly, who has expressed his displeasure with his contract, skipped the first week of workouts last month and isn't expected until the mandatory mini-camp next month. If he shows up then, a holdout would seem unlikely.

SIMS TRIMS DEAL: Defensive tackle Ryan Sims, who was traded from the Chiefs to the Bucs on May 1, apparently has agreed to a significant restructuring of his contract.

He was under contract through 2009 with $5.7-million in base salary remaining on his deal when the trade was done. But the players' union salary database now shows him under contract through this fall with a base salary of $595, 000. The database does not show incentives, signing bonuses or other potential income that may be included in the contract, but at the very least, the final two years of the deal appear to have been voided.

It's likely Sims didn't have much of a choice. It was probably made clear before the trade that he would have to agree to rework the deal. This makes the trade for the underachieving former first-round pick a very low-risk proposition.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at 813-226-3377 or sholder@sptimes.com.

[Last modified May 11, 2007, 18:27:44]