Flip-Flopping Defensive Ends
July 30th, 2013
Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud says Bucs fans should be on the lookout for Adrian Clayborn and DaQuan Bowers to flip-flop sides of the defensive line throughout games, all part of a new “handprint,” Stroud called it, from Greg Schiano on his beloved defense.
Will the Bucs really do this? Joe will wait and see. Does Joe like the idea? Well, Joe’s learned enough from former Bucs DE Steve White to know that moving around on the D-line severely limits the opportunity for ends to set-up offensive tackles with a series of moves. As in, ‘I’ll give him two of these and come back with one of these.’
Also interesting to Joe is that John Abraham, who the Bucs passed on in free agency, was one who often moved around along the D-line. (You can catch Stroud’s breakdown via the WDAE-AM 620 audio below.)
July 30th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
certain techniques you’re born with…..just get the ball!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rplwk3p85jg
July 30th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
I thought with clayborn’s palsy he couldnt play the left side?
July 30th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
They can try most anything….doesn’t mean it will work. I don’t see much of a downside….there are so many snaps in a game that moving a couple of times won’t hurt.
July 30th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
What is it with Joe’s obsession for John Abraham? Let it go Joe. Hopefully all the experimenting will help exploit defenses. If it plain to see that it has no effect during preseason then I’m sure we want use it during the regular season.
July 30th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Clayborn has a gimpy arm. He is pretty much limited the the right side.
July 30th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
This is when the coaches just try to hard!! Leave AJACLAY at RDE and Bowers at LDE !!!!!!
July 30th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
I’m with Joe though I would have liked to get Abraham, as well. It would have had to have been at a cheap price though. What with Revis making 1 million per game and all. Joe we can’t get him anymore though so Junkie’s right let it go man.
July 30th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Maybe they are just trying it out in practice, just to see how it works out. I still think AC belongs on the right though.
July 30th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Question: By constant switching around and flip flopping the Offensive Linemen need to prepare for more players then just focus on one. That should give the Bucs in preperation wouldn’t it?
Not a big fan of Abraham. There is a reason none of the other teams have picked him up.
In Dominick I trust.
July 30th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
yes it may limit the opportunity for a DE to set up the tackle, but it does prevent an offensive tackle from getting to comfortable with any one player. so just when they think they have figured out what Clayborn is all about, they will be thrown off guard once they see Bowers is lined up against them. it should give us an added edge.
personally I like the idea of flopping the DEs and was wondering why we havent seen more of it. and if it doesnt work then we can always go back to assigned positions.
July 30th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
To whoever said Clayborn has a “gimpy arm” you’re an idiot. Clayborn is a man child and sure his one arm is slightly shorter than the other.
I’d love to see on certain third down packages Clayborn line up at rdt next to McCoy inside with a speed rusher at rede. (Morgan/means). Clayborn is a beast and dealing with both him and McCoy on the inside in sub packages would be difficult.
July 30th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Sounds like a match up thing.
July 30th, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Off Topic : The Seahawks Percy Harvin out for 3-4 months having hip surgery tommorow. They also pretty much lost Sidney Rice for much of the season as well. Guess we’re about to find out how good Russell Wilson actually is.
Like I said before, just because a team was in the playoffs last season does not mean they will be there this season.
Stay healthy Bucs, stay healthy!
July 30th, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Clayborn has Erb’s palsy not a short arm.
July 30th, 2013 at 10:12 pm
Chris, his Erbs Palsy effects the mobility of his right arm. He can’t work out on a normal bench press because he can only raise his right arm so far. It’s nerve damage and it’s real. On the right side he always leads off with his left arm and does a great job at overcoming it. Put him on the left side and he has to lead with his bad arm that is not just a little shorter, but weaker and has limited movement. Call me an idiot all you want, but I speak the truth.
July 30th, 2013 at 10:53 pm
@Buc1987, I’m with you there. That’s all I’m really concerned about, staying healthy. It’s fun to talk about individual players, but it takes a team and the Bucs certainly have the players to make a very good team, but health is the key here.
July 31st, 2013 at 1:16 am
Just keep Clayborn at RDE for now please. He can be a great player there. Putting him at left, unless you’re blitzing (where he can break through the middle), isnt too good of an idea, to me, JMHO. And I agree with a poster above about using him at nose sometimes, but he’s going to need to get a little heavier. I know he’s bulked up with muscle but he still lost some. He’s going to need that mass against the center and guards if we go that route.
Am I missing something….has he lost some speed? Thats what we need most at RDE. So just leave him there.
July 31st, 2013 at 1:18 am
should say “but he still lost some “”weight””…sorry
Thats just what Ive heard…correct me if Im wrong.
July 31st, 2013 at 2:52 am
Yeah, I’m with you guys on the healthy thing. I check my phone first thing in the morning, crossing my finger that no one got seriously injured. A critical injury can be the difference between contending in the playoffs and thinking about the draft in December.
July 31st, 2013 at 2:54 am
Can we flip flop quarterbacks too?
July 31st, 2013 at 9:40 am
^^^^ nope sorry Charlie