“Establishing A New Line Of Scrimmage”
August 12th, 2014
Bucs D-line coach Joe Cullen
Yes, the Tampa Bay defensive line dominated Jacksonville and has owned its competition in practice.
Even the Bucs on their official website seem to be taking a defense-is-winning stance.
Bucs multimedia guru and “insider” reporter Scott Smith says the D-line shining in Jacksonville reflected what has been going on all summer.
“That’s nothing different from what we’ve been seeing on the practice field here in training camp every day,” Smith said in this video out of yesterday’s practice.
Joe can’t disagree.
One nugget from Smith was a nugget from a conversation he had with DE Will Gholston, Per Smith, Gholston clamed the D-line “met it’s goal on almost every play: establishing a new line of scrimmage.”
Joe’s heard that line before from players. That’s how high expectations are on the D-line.
Joe’s very confident, but Joe is a little concerned by the words of Michael Johnson on SiriusXM NFL Radio earlier this week. Johnson explained how he’s being asked to line up extremely wide, much like Simeon Rice did, and Johnson says he definitely has a learning curve there because he had a nearly opposite alignment with the Bengals.
That’s something Joe was watching in practice yesterday, and will keep his eye on through the next two preseason games.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:12 am
Maybe that’s why we don’t hear much from Johnson. He is having to line up from Clearwater in every play! He is lucky to get 3 sacks this year…
August 12th, 2014 at 11:24 am
How is this any different from years past? Our team has always been predicated on the defense first philosophy. Just because we drafted mostly offensive players, didn’t mean, we would all of a sudden, be an offensive juggernaut. How is this some giant revelation? This is just common sense when it comes to the history of our franchise.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:24 am
Yes, defense, defense and more defense but somebody please remember to tell the offense that touchdowns put six points on the scoreboard.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:30 am
I love our defense and it needs to score…..the last time I checked……scoring zero points won’t get you a win.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:38 am
The problem is opposing defensive lines are creating a “new line of scrimmage” with our o-line too.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:58 am
I watched the game on Rewind about 3 times now. Our defensive line was definitely making plays. And to mention Johnson in a positive light, he had three distinct plays in the game where he had sack potential (beat his man), but the QB was able to evade by rolling to – DUN! DUN! DUN! – AC’s side. Henne and Bortles both consistently were able to avoid the rush by flowing to the right.
ALL NIGHT LONG.
To end on a positive: McDonald, McCoy, Bowers, Gholston, Johnson and Masifilio were my d-line highlights. Consistent push on the line and also making plays away from themselves. Going until the whistle.
August 12th, 2014 at 11:59 am
I wish there was as much emphasis on holding the offensive line to such lofty standards too.
August 12th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Samcro- nobody is calling this a giant revelation. God people wake up and actually read Joes post before u spew out stupidity like diarrhea after Indian food. And technically it could be a revelation from past years because instead of talking about good defense they’re actually playing it
August 12th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
@BucDan
Standing ovation for you my friend! its so nice to hear someone that can watch football and dissect what is really going on. ( there is too few of that these days.)
August 12th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
@bucdan
I’m up to 5, yup I’ve seen this game 5xs while rewinding and slo-motioning each play. It’s pathetic, my wife stopped talking to me on Saturday. Apparently I have way too much time on my hands. With that said, the child beast (gholston) wrech havoc on the line, blowing up a few plays in the backfield. Johnson on the other hand although he got up the field well, he also got manhandled on run plays and got pancaked on one toss sweep play. That’s not a good look!
August 12th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
@DB55 and bucdan:
now, even fans can see and understand what is going (wr)on(g).
Thats why I, cant understand that coaches GM´s and scouting department of the Bucs past (even current) are doing so extremely stupid things sometimes.
How about Cousins. He is still here “battling” for a roster spot. Like he will suddenly become HULK of NFL-Line play.
Could you believe those guys in those offices are maybe earning way much more than an average Joe.
And an average Joe, despite his limited time, can make better evaluations than them?!
God riddance!
How about, everyone should know by now, you start building a team up-front, still, the Bucs, while there were VERY GOOD O-Liner LEFT IN DRAFT OPT TO GET AN RB WHO HAS GOOD HANDS… I AM FREAKING OUT.
EVERYONE KNOWS RB´s can be have in later rounds. Plus even good veterans could be had for cheap.
Pretty much every RB in the league is able to catch the damn football…
AND FOR ALL THAT BS WE SHOULD PAY AROUND 300 HARD EARNED DOLLARS TO SEE SUCH BSing MANAGED/SCOUTED TEAM???
August 12th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
@FLBoyInDallas – couldn’t agree more. Sounds like a good mantra for our O-(No)-line too!
August 12th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Louden:
Offensive play makers are much harder to find than lineman. Simms if you watch him at all has similar qualities to a Marshal Faulk when receiving the ball out of the backfield. Still young and a little raw, but there is no doubting his smooth, fluid receiving skills. The draft & free agency had very little to offer in the way of Guards. We did go out and sign the best available Center as well as a pretty good left tackle. The puzzle can only be put together one piece at a time.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Louden
Well if they had a 4th round pick it would have help with the draft. I’m pretty sure they would have drafted Simms in the 4th instead of the 3rd had they have all their draft picks. Oh and the first round from last year we could have used that to pick up a guard last year too.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:52 pm
too much is being expected of michael johnson. he has one standout season lining up next to one of the best DTs in the business, he has the lovie seal of approval, and beyond that not much to hang your hat on besides hope. i think we will be in the market for DE upgrades next offseason once again.
August 12th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
Hey all you coach’s. Put me in!!
August 12th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
@ louden
Points for this
“AND FOR ALL THAT BS WE SHOULD PAY AROUND 300 HARD EARNED DOLLARS TO SEE SUCH BSing MANAGED/SCOUTED TEAM???”
August 12th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Michael Johnson will post double digit sacks. I don’t care about the learning curve, he’ll be fine. He was a wide 9 rusher for the most part at Georgia Tech.