Breakout?
May 30th, 2017
Look out!
Beware, NFC South quarterbacks. He’s coming.
That’s the word from NFL insider Dan Graziano of BSPN. Matty Ice, Drew Brees and Cam Newton are about to become chum in the water because pass rushing specialist Noah Spence is circling the prey.
Of all the NFL players Graziano expects to have a breakout season this fall, he has Spence atop his list.
Tampa Bay pass-rusher Noah Spence had 5.5 sacks in a limited role as a rookie, but I expect his playing time — and his impact — to increase in 2017. Remember, this was a first-round talent who fell to the second round because of off-field concerns from early in his college career. He adapted well to what coordinator Mike Smith was teaching last year in Tampa Bay and could be part of a real defensive renaissance there.
Joe fully expects Spence to play more and produce more, but will he get that elusive 10-sack plateau this team hasn’t had in 12 years? This ugly statistic is a complete and total disgrace that should be equally shared by the three general managers who contributed to this franchise stain.
If Spence can get 10 (or more) sacks, Joe has a very good feeling the defense will be just fine.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:10 am
Faviort pick of last years draft.. was a little bummed when we passed on him in the first round.. waiting for us to get back on the clock in the 2nd was a thriller lol
May 30th, 2017 at 9:23 am
People seem to forget that Noah Spence’s sacks mostly came at the end of the season. Two in one game if I remember right.
If not for those last couple games played at a time when teams were playing lightly to prepare for the playoffs, he would have had only 2 sacks.
Noah Spence has a LOT to prove still. I’m not sold on him (yet) and all this hype over him seems premature to me.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:24 am
And I’m not hating on him. He was one of my wish list guys last year. So I wanted him. But he still has to prove himself.
Until he does, all the hype is undeserved.
And I think Koetter would agree.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:31 am
my favorite pick last year as well
May 30th, 2017 at 9:38 am
This is not exactly a novel observation. Aside from Bonzai’s criticism what is not to see positive in Noah?
Seriously. Just look at the guy.
When he was in school with Bosa at OSU many Buckeye faithful though Noah was the better player.
When he got booted from school he could have grown sullen or felt sorry for himself. He went to purgatory…Richmond Ky….paid his dues…paid for his own drug tests to prove to NFL GM’s he was serious about football.
He gets a painful shoulder injury but sucks it up and wears a harness through his rookie year and still produces five sacks.
If he is healthy….Noah blows up big time this year. But it’s far from surprising…it’s been expected of him since his early days at OSU.
The major thing we got to discover last year was his heart! His physical skills have been obvious for a long time…but playing through that injury…not whining or making excuses…he showed me a lot last year.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:42 am
Bonzai, you make a good point about end-of-season sacks. But the reality is that EVERY DLineman on the Bucs has a LOT to prove this year, not just Noah. GMC has to find a way to get into double-digits. McDonald has to prove that he’s fully healed up & still starter-quality (last yr of his contract & he’s probably hoping for a couple more). Baker has to prove that he’s a good fit in Mike Smith’s defense and Tui has to prove his run-stuffing ability at the NFL level.
Jack Smith, Noah Spence & George Johnson are all coming off injury (a lot to prove there obviously). I’d say Will Gholston & Robert Ayers probably have the least to prove at this point, but I fully expect that those two will play the hardest … they always do. Personally, I think this year’s DLine is far better than any we’ve fielded in the past 10-15 yrs. Exciting times ahead.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:44 am
@Buccaneer Bonzai, Spence’s sacks came mostly in mid-season, not the end of the season. He had 1.5 sacks against Seattle, but no sacks in the last 5 games of the season. So, no it wasn’t against teams playing lightly. Also remember, he played a majority of his games hurt.
May 30th, 2017 at 9:50 am
Another used up story line…. Yawn!!
May 30th, 2017 at 9:55 am
As much as people are hyping up our offense, I see BIG things coming for our defense. Our DL is vastly improved with the Swaggy addition and a big dude like Tui to stuff the run. I think Baker and GMC’s own self evaluation is going to make GMC play up to his potential. We have solid LBs with a hybrid LB/DE in Spence ala Von Miller and Khalil Mack. Justin Evans looks like he’s a heat seeking missile. I don’t mind watching that kid miss a few tackles or hits cuz his style of play might lead to a lot of turnovers. I’m expecting VG3 to come out more confident and show his ability more this year.
Overall, I’m looking for these guys to come out with a chip on their shoulder with all the hype the offense has been getting. Mike Smith staying was HUGE. Can’t wait to watch this team this year.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:18 am
I agree with Defense. There are a lot of players that have something to prove. Moreover, I don’t necessarily think the missing elixir is a 10 sack guy. Sure, that would be great but, I would gladly accept 4-5 guys with 8 sacks each provided that we’re winning football games.
On paper, we’ve improved. Let’s see what it looks like when the season starts.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:20 am
Bonzai gtfo of here with that nonsense.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:25 am
I just found this and read it for the first time:
http://www.nfl.com/theascent
May 30th, 2017 at 10:46 am
@Bonzai
I believe Spence got fewer sacks towards the end of the year because more teams were scheming against him.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Thanks for checking him 78 I wonder about that guy sometimes. The last thread he sees mcdougald becoming a pro bowler next season an on this thread Spawn he’s like meh. Pssss, some people. Am I the only one noticing that Spawn is waaaayy more jacked in the pic from the thread last week than he is on this pic. Shoulder my @$$ this dude been cranking some weights man.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:48 am
I have to see it before I believe it, we heard the exact same thing about Da’Quan Bowers every off season for years. I hope he have a breakout season like Vic Beasley. I’m not buying into this offseason hype, I’m a show-me guy.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:49 am
Ha Ha Ha but Bonzai will defend bums like Agauyo all day long, perhaps because of in state loyalty. Spence will be a far better NFL talent than your guy Agauyo.
May 30th, 2017 at 10:51 am
10 wins for the Bucs is better than 10 sacks for Spence.
Expect more wrinkles with Smith’s defense in it’s second year and Spence is going to move around to keep the coverage protection guessing.
I’m hoping this translates to the magic sack number for him but in reality this might help the DT’s more because you have to account for Spence. Nice problem for GMC, Baker and Ayres IMO.
May 30th, 2017 at 11:49 am
^^^What biff said!
May 30th, 2017 at 11:49 am
LOL – more on cue analysis from the great Bonzai – talent evaluator extraordinaire.
One day someone will re-post Bonzai’s pre-draft in-depth evaluation of Jameis Winston’s game that was so lengthy and so WRONG. And we’ll all get another good laugh out of it.
Love that pic btw Joe. Noah’s got that “look” in his eye…
May 30th, 2017 at 11:52 am
Obviously there are no guarantees. But Noah Spence sure seems like a “good bet” to break out this year IMO.
May 30th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
@Bonzai just fell on his sword in a selfless act of committing Hari Kari.
May 30th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
Spence will be a beast! We still need that one young new DE though, with Gholston’s size and Spence’s speed. Next year, we hit DE and RT high.
May 30th, 2017 at 12:16 pm
alamba78, great link. Thanks.
May 30th, 2017 at 12:29 pm
I’m thinking 15+ sacks for Spawn and 10+ for McCoy 10+ for Jack Smith and 8-10 For Swaggy
May 30th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Compare this pic to the one above https://twitter.com/JoeBucsFan/status/867894495739691008/photo/1
ROFL…..dude will get some attention!!! he’s going to put the pressure on! I love it
May 30th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
I’m all in with Spawn. He showed me enough last year to simply be excited.
May 30th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
This Bowers-like preseason hype is scaring me a bit..
Anyways, he’s got new biceps from last year, can we please crop this photo?
May 30th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
I wonder if broncos fans talked about being concerned about 300 pounders burying Von Miller when they drafted him??? I wonder he an Justin Houston hardly come off the football field.
May 30th, 2017 at 3:58 pm
I’ll concern myself that nonesense when one of you can point out the many run heavy football teams in our division and on our schedule. Until then I’ll continue imagining Spawn doing what he was drafted to do. Eat QBs.
May 30th, 2017 at 5:07 pm
So – Spence, a first round talent, fell to the second round.
And Aguayo, a free agent talent, rose to the second round.
Don’t you just love it!