“That Production’s Not Good Enough”
August 1st, 2014
Peter King wagged a finger at a new Buccaneer
Esteemed fight-instigating, barista-training, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball box score-reading Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, was at Buccaneers practice yesterday and shared a little negativity with Buccaneers.com.
King chatted on video with Scott Smith and pointed a finger at big-money, free agent defensive end Michael Johnson. King is leery of Johnson’s 3 1/2-sack season for the Bengals last year.
Yes, the Bucs and Lovie Smith say the stats don’t tell the whole story, and Lovie says he focuses on a player’s ceiling and ability. But King is focused on the numbers.
“I don’t care what anybody says; that production’s not good enough. He’s got to get to the quarterback more,” King said. “And I think Michael Johnson knows, too, no matter how many pressures he gets on a quarterback, 3 1/2 sacks is not going to be enough.”
Look, Joe gets how a player can do a lot of great things at defensive end, in an excellent defense, and come up with only 3 1/2 sacks. It’s a rare occurrence, but it can happen.
It’s also rare that said player would score a new $8 million-per-season contract after such flimsy production. But that also tells you just how talented Johnson is, and just how much the Bucs didn’t like the film on Adrian Clayborn.
You can catch all of King via the link above. He also goes on a rant about Josh McCown’s long odds in a division full of great quarterbacks.
August 1st, 2014 at 9:42 am
I am a little worried about johnson too. Marvin and zimmer are defensive Gurus too and 3 1/2 is way too low. Geno atkins was out and he’s their Mccoy so hopefully being next to gerald will get him to double digits. Johnson isn’t the same as simeon rice but hopefully the right scheme will get him to 10-12 sacks
August 1st, 2014 at 9:42 am
I agree with King (not the former lazy QB) the credible journalist. Johnson may bust, just never thought he was tough and again why did all his previous coaches pass on him.
August 1st, 2014 at 9:53 am
dood is getting paid like a double digit bagger, he needs to start playing like it. He deserves the scrutiny. That being said, he will get 10+ this year and pan out nicely.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:00 am
I am not worried about Johnson. No way Lovie gave him that kind of contract without looking at a lot of Johnson’s game tape. And after reviewing that since he gave him so much money I look for very good things out of Johnson.
But I am concerned that Clayborn is not doing better.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:06 am
Joes, I love Peter King stories because I get to see how long his tag line is going to be. It keeps getting longer and funnier. Olive oil lapping, fried chicken eating, beer chugging, oatmeal loving…. love it!
August 1st, 2014 at 10:09 am
I wouldn’t care about sacks if pressures lead us to one of the top defenses in the league, Bengals had a really good defense and a bad quarterback
August 1st, 2014 at 10:12 am
@buc4lyfe Says:
“…if pressures lead us to one of the top defenses in the league, Bengals had a really good defense and a bad quarterback..”
And, they made the PLAYOFFS!!
August 1st, 2014 at 10:14 am
At least he had 1 year when he actually did something, Not like clayborn who in 3 years has done nothing.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:23 am
Realist, I am starting to wonder if you are right about Clayborn. Lovie has anointed him starting LDE (at this point anyway). But from what I have read in most of Joe’s reports, he doesn’t seem to have much explosion. I would love to see him do well as it would complete the Dline, but I don’t know.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:26 am
I saw his interview and what was funny is how negative he was and Scott stopped that interview in a heartbeat. He had NOTHING good to say about the team. So here’s to making an a$$ out of Peter Piper this up and coming season!
August 1st, 2014 at 10:27 am
Feeling pretty good about things if Peter King is down on us. Always a good contrary indicator.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:28 am
If I’m reading this correctly micheal Bennett, Jared Allen, Julius peppers are all making 8mil a yr on their new contracts. MJ has the highest paid contract 5/43mil of all four players. But then again those other guys aren’t elite pass rushers. Errr!?!
August 1st, 2014 at 10:29 am
We play in a tough division but 3 “great” QB’s??? I only see 1 and he plays in the nola. Cam is talented but not there yet and Matt Ryan… As my granny would say ” bless his heart”. This division is ripe for the picking. Tough but ripe…
August 1st, 2014 at 10:42 am
Joe
You said that Sapp needed Rice and they both excelled. Putting Johnson with GMC and the rest of the DL, they excel, no triple teams this year.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:43 am
Joe’s love the negative.. Shaun King, Ian Beckes, the O-Line, and Peter King.
August 1st, 2014 at 10:44 am
The Bucs are currently a 4-12 team that’s not been relevant in over a decade.
So what’s the issue with King?
August 1st, 2014 at 10:51 am
Harry, I’ve thought all along that Gholston would beat out Clayborn at LDE. Let’s face the fact Clayborn is slow off the snap. High effort and strong motor aren’t enough.
L&L must think so too, he lost his natural position and is playing out his contact.
August 1st, 2014 at 11:10 am
I’ve seen clayborn in practice & his arms look kinda weak. Idk if it’s bcuz of the bell’s palsy, but I don’t know off he can be effective from the left side. And I’m also pissed that he tried to give Martin a concussion yesterday. I did like clayborn, but I’m souring on him quickly. Oh, and Johnson was one of the overall most disruptive & productive DE’s last year, despite his sack numbers. In some cases, I would rather have a hurry & possible errant throw than a sack.
August 1st, 2014 at 11:11 am
Joe,
I haven’t heard much (if anything at all) from you about Johnson this training camp…? And all I’ve heard about Clayborn and Gholston has been negative about how slow they look off the line and how Dotson consistently gets the better of them both.
How about a DE post on your observations so far…
If Joe hasn’t written about it, then Joe hasn’t seen anything worth writing about. –Joe
August 1st, 2014 at 11:54 am
It would be more than a little interesting to know what the results (stats) were on the pressures he gave. Completions vs. incompletions vs. interceptions. Pressures stats are don’t mean much unless you know the outcome of the play.
August 1st, 2014 at 11:59 am
In the Bengals scheme, the defensive lineman’s #1 priority is to contain…not to get to the quarterback…Lovie’s defensive line will have a much more direct approach…it did hurt him that Atkins was still there, and he still played great football…I believe he was Top 5 in pressuring the quarterback according to PFF and he was great against the run. The reason Cincy couldn’t bring him back was because they already have too much money invested in their defensive line.
August 1st, 2014 at 12:30 pm
So in a rookie year AC gets 6.5, misses a year, then plays on a busted wheel trying to cover Sproles and gets another 6.5 (Brees sack was legal) and everyone is down on the guy???
He is no quick twitch rusher, and next to McCoy 99% of the leagues DLinemen would look slow.
I’m not concerned.
August 1st, 2014 at 12:47 pm
@biff,
Yeah, Clayborn’s slow get off is becoming a concern.
August 1st, 2014 at 2:03 pm
Since when has Michael Johnson’s signing become an indictment against Adrian Clayborn? Numerically Clayborn has Johnson beat by 8 in total tackles and 2 in total sacks, each forced 2 fumbles, while Johnson snagged 1 INT in 2013. Only one of these two players were recovering from a nasty knee injury and being totally mismanaged in the scheme he was in. Johnson is here to fill the void created by Schiano & Dominik and finally patch-up the Bennett-void they couldn’t with Teo’nisheim and Bowers. Adrian Clayborn is still arguably one of our top-3 DL right now.
August 1st, 2014 at 2:06 pm
I would much rather pay Johnson $500,000 a game after one subpar year full of extenuating circumstances than pay a hobbled cornerback $1,000,000 a game while using the season to rehab. Seems King had no problem with that. Go back to N.Y., and be negative with the Jets.
August 1st, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Yup. King’s going to retire because, oooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, he was negative to the Bucs! (Gasp!)
Guess Lovie Smith ought to resign too, huh? How many times has he said the Bucs were 4-12? Go back to Chicago and be negative with the Bears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess you want people to lie to make you feel good so you can roll in bed hugging your blanky?
August 1st, 2014 at 2:47 pm
Lol, notice how DallasBuc is conspicuously absent on this subject?
August 1st, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Lovie wasn’t putting down one of our players either. And hell frickin yes I want to feel good about our Bucs! You have a problem with that?
August 1st, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Dooley Says:
August 1st, 2014 at 2:03 pm
“Since when has Michael Johnson’s signing become an indictment against Adrian Clayborn?”
Since they named him starter, lol. You don’t pay a guy that much money to fill a spot that’s already occupied by someone better.
August 1st, 2014 at 3:52 pm
I actually don’t have a problem with Peter King’s prediction regarding the Buccaneer offensive production. I think it will be inconsistent – just because of the (seemingly) incoherent amalgamation we’re calling an offensive line…
…but what some folks are missing is – scoring defense.
Now I didn’t mention playoff’s, because I think the divisions a bit too strong, and the offense sjust too new…but winning more than we lose looks realistic.
August 1st, 2014 at 5:49 pm
a very good backup; he´ll be very hungry this season which is good; so lets see what happens.
I thinks he can provide very good depth and should be resigned to an adequate contract. Not sure if he is LovieSmiths prototype at DE (mainly because slow get-off)
August 1st, 2014 at 5:58 pm
If it means Joe has to lie, yes.
August 2nd, 2014 at 1:31 am
This one is for you DallasBuc: (I know you’re out there.)
From PR: “The sacred cows are few and far between with a new coaching staff and a new front office in Tampa Bay. Bucs right tackle Demar Dotson said that the entire team – starters included – has been put on notice that there is open competition across the board.”
August 2nd, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Maybe DallasBuc has a life outside of JBF???