$24 Million Salary; Zero QB Pressures
September 7th, 2014
Bucs DE Michael Johnson (90) gets in on a tackle today. He had three tackles and three assists but was nowhere to be found when Carolina QB Derek Anderson dropped back to pass. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Joe just wants to throw something, but is scared if he did he would be dragged away wearing bracelets owned by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department.
But the law should be called because it is downright criminal how seemingly no one can help poor Gerald McCoy get to the quarterback.
Oh, the Bucs did have a free agent defensive lineman drill Stinking Panthers scrub quarterback Derek Anderson, only not the guy who Team Glazer wrote a heavy check to for that reason alone.
No, it was Clinton McDonald who introduced himself to Anderson, not $24 Million Dollar Man Michael Johnson. The right defensive end, who was wooed by Lovie the way Rachel Watson is slobbered over in a sports bar, was brought in to do one thing and one thing only: rush the quarterback.
Johnson, who signed a $43.75 million pact, only $24 million of which is guaranteed, was nowhere near Anderson today and Joe watched virtually every play.
The stats provided by the Bucs after the game awarded Johnson with three tackles and three assists but zero pressures on Anderson.
Really? The team dropped nearly $50 million on the guy and he can’t come anywhere near Anderson? Against a patchwork offensive line of the Stinking Panthers?
For reasons Joe is unsure of, Johnson’s splits are often so wide, it looks as if he is standing in line to buy a sausage from a vendor on Himes Ave. This, of course, invites an opponent to run inside of him, and yes, the Stinking Panthers did do that a few times, with success Joe might add.
OK, all right, this was only the first game. The thing is, Johnson has been virtually invisible in training camp and, again, nowhere near opposing quarterbacks in preseason. And now his non-existant pass rush has carried over into the regular season.
Don’t get mad at Joe for singling Johnson out. It was the Bucs who knighted him the missing link to the defensive line. It was Lovie who set his sights on Johnson before the free agent dinner bell rang this past winter.
For all the cash in Johnson’s lap, any time now would be a good time for him to log off his Charles Schwab accounts and join the Bucs and put heat on the quarterback. It wasn’t like Johnson was playing against Walter Jones today.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:26 pm
We should have taken johnny football joe
September 7th, 2014 at 8:26 pm
Never believed in Johnson from the start, but it’s still to early to call him a bust. If we’re sitting here week 8 and he’s still sackless, then have at him.
Not only that, but if we cant start getting heat on the QB, then this Tampa 2 won’t work at all. We saw today that with no pressure, even a QB like Anderson can rip apart zone coverage. Here’s to hoping our pass rush improves
September 7th, 2014 at 8:27 pm
I’m disappointed too but nowhere near at how Doug Martin is playing. He needs to be replaced immediately
September 7th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
So I guess instead of saying “it’s only preseason” we should switch to “it’s only 1 game”. This team isn’t magically going to get better and everyone on that line other than McCoy is horrid.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Blaming RBs is retarded. You can’t run through a hole that isn’t there, period. Pretty sure they figured the 1st down run up the middle play out after the 8th time we called it.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Right on Joe, Last year it was ALL Schiano and the crazy stunts. Now McCoy and McDonald MOVE the inside but NO DE help at ALL! Johnson was a desperate move and it will NOT pay off. But let’s not let Goldson and Barron off the hook either.Olsen was running free, JUST like last year.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Right on Joe, Last year it was ALL Schiano and the crazy stunts. Now McCoy and McDonald MOVE the inside but NO DE help at ALL! Johnson was a desperate move and it will NOT pay off. But let’s not let Goldson and Barron off the hook either.Olsen was running free, JUST like last year.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
I agree Joe it’s not just the loss that hurts if the lack of effort for an lack of effectiveness that our team played with.
They got man handled yet again!
September 7th, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Hard to fault the defense today, but I watched whole game and didn’t hear MJ’s name called. I didn’t know he had 3 solo’s!on another note, I thought it was closer to zero. I saw Mason lost in coverage more than once which makes me nervous. Same as last two years. Olsen should have had a TD in 4th qtr but was overthrown. All that said, Bucs should have beat a Cam-less Panther team today. Offense needs to pick it up or it will be another long season.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Fire Lovie and cut McCown
September 7th, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Somewhere, Greg Schiano is laughing!
September 7th, 2014 at 8:36 pm
and we just let Michael Bennett go away…. oh the agony
September 7th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Looks like Lovey knows Defensive players like someone else knows quarterbacks.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
I purposely watched Michael Johnson every play. I saw little to no effort. He had zero motor with no pass rush skills. He stands straight up as soon as the ball is snap. Creating no leverage. The lack of power, swim and spin moves will make for a long season. The hunt for a DE pass rusher continue #gobucs #onlyonegame
September 7th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
This team only excels in irrelevance. No one cares when you,re this bad. Shame on the entire organization for being that sorry at home on the opening Sunday. Someone should buy this team and move them so us Tampa fans can be rid of this crap. The players don’t care, why should us fans? I’m not drinking the cool aid anymore. No excuses, Bucs just don’t measure up. PATHETIC!
September 7th, 2014 at 8:40 pm
Ok, someone help me out here. I understand that the cover 2 relies heavily on the front four to deliver the bulk of pressure on the QB, but even though we had no sacks, we did put up some pressure. So with that, when we sent only the front four, that still left seven in pass coverage to defend the field against 3 to 4 receivers. Our secondary was roasted way to many times, plus we dropped what looked like 2 ints. That’s 7 defending against 4. That was terrible.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Im so sick of loosing! Tired of the team dumping loads of cash on unproven talent! I’m tired of the wait and see, rome wasn’t built in a day bull crap. All night watching the D-Line get no freaking pressure and we suppose to win at least 8 games with just Defense? Everybody was freaking irrelevant today. Just freaking carry over from last season the only difference just new bunch of non productive players. Is a winning season too much to ask? When a f’n back up QB destroys you, on your home opener when you have spent the whole preseason talking about “we’re going to be relevant again” the team is just bad! I’m just a fan as the next one here and is just one game but I’m done drinking the Kool Aid and all the hope and wishes! I want to WIN! Is like a curse of loosers roams our team every freaking year. Nothing to look forward another season tickets wasted!
September 7th, 2014 at 8:48 pm
a disgrace and an embarrassment to tampa bay on every level. Derek Anderson beat the Bucs. I haven’t been this disappointed since they lost to “Cody Pickett”… look it up.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
I said before preseason that we should have brought in veterans with a proven consistent track record such as Julius Peppers or Jared Allen. Did Clayborn play today? Linebackers Mason Foster was lost in space n Casillas was taking up space. Josh Mc is a split image of former Bucs Josh F. They both suck. Just throw the ball up for grabs or audition for the top ten NFL follies. Truth b told McCown is a fluke. As usual, Cam Newton tends to taunt our defense as if we’re the jokesters of the NFL. Why call running plays in the red zone with three 6’5 receivers on board. Why did McCown wait until much later in the game while trailing before deciding to make plays with his legs. Was this not suppose to be in our game plan?
September 7th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
I never liked tha Johnson signing. 2 slow, no pass rush moves and poor conditioning. I pray it gets better
September 7th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
I’ve followed the Bengals pretty closely since moving to the area, and I can tell you that Michael Johnson is pretty underwhelming. Teams do not let premier pass rushers leave, and Johnson is good against the run, but not a premiere pass rusher.
September 7th, 2014 at 8:54 pm
I watched Johnson the whole game. He is terrible!!!! He is lazy player….if his initial move is unsuccessful, he gives up….no motor at all. Why did we let Michael Bennett go? Horrible mistake cuz Bennett has a motor and is a premier pass rusher!
September 7th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
he just a avg DE that will get 3-6 sacks …would of rather had peppers or allen for a couple years
September 7th, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Joe, you’re assessment of Michael Johnson is dead on. Was at the game and focused on him quite a bit. Pathetic! I really hoped that he’d ‘turn it on’ once the season started, but he was literally irrelevant out there on defense. Looked like a one-trick-pony.
Defense not being able to get off the field, particularly in that abysmal first half, was its own fault. No pressure on the QB allowed Anderson to complete a ridiculously high percentage of his passes in that half and keep drives alive.
The offense came alive (somewhat) in the fourth quarter, but it looked to me like the Panthers were playing ‘soft’ by that point, since they were safely (?) ahead 17-0 at that point. First three quarters the Bucs offense was not only non-existent, but also negative. Josh tried too hard to make things happen, and Martin was simply a non-factor (and not just because the OLine wasn’t opening holes).
Overall, a very poor showing. I was really hoping that they’d play a good solid game and come away with a win. Neither happened. Bummer.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:07 pm
I haven’t seen DE’s so bad since last years Bucs DE!!!
September 7th, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Thanks for the kind words, guys. See, Joe can get something right now and then about football. 🙂
September 7th, 2014 at 9:14 pm
This is ridiculous. Reading the stats n watchin the play by play section on the bucs app I can see the bucs are playing like sh’t. I suggest we ditch the power run type to run play action later offense n start spreadin out the wrs. Force our qbs to be what they are being paid for n sooner or later they will get comfortable reading a defense for a pass first offense. Plug in the run as the qb sees fit doug martin is sh’tting the bed we need sims n mike james in the game. Smh no way we should have lost this game pisses me off how badly this franchise has turned. I’m almost ashamed to be a buc fan after 15 years. I’m a hang on to the same hope I had all of last year these new jerseys should have came with a modernized offense u know, the passing kind this lg is turning into. Using our big bodied wrs only to block is beyond my understanding. If we drafted megatron then there would be no megatron. Will there be a godzilla?? Or a michael clayton 2.0?? Tedford PLEASE FIX THIS SH’T!!!
September 7th, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Where are all the people looking to throw money at McCoy????
September 7th, 2014 at 9:20 pm
The bigger question is can he pick up his game at some point?
September 7th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
If the Lovie experiment does end up failing (which I don’t think it will but if it does…) Glazers can try a revolutionary idea…Schiano is rehired to be HC for the first half. He then can take a piss break and give the head set to Raheem Morris who takes over at halftime to coach the 3rd quarter. Once the 4th quarter starts pass the head set off to Lovie and let him coach the final 15 minutes. Schiano can run the drafts, Morris can play the tunes, and Lovie can do the pressers with the media. Bucs could invent the Head coach by committee concept 🙂
September 7th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
IS HE HURT OR WHAT? I WAS AT THE GAME AND WHEN HE LEFT THE FIELD AT HALF TIME HE LOOKED LIKE HE NEEDED A WALKER TO GET HIM TO THE LOCKER ROOM.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:34 pm
No one got pressure today, that includes McCoy and I think the world knew McCoy would be double teamed so that lack of pressure from the edge was a bad sign. Not only that but no one could set the edges on toss plays, tackling and pass coverage were horrible and I think lovie stood in the exact same spot the entire game. lol he had one face never looks surprised or mad I hate that emotionless statue mentality on game day
September 7th, 2014 at 9:34 pm
This team is garbage except for gerald mccoy and when he doesnt resign and goes sumwhere else and win a superbowl I dont blame him!
September 7th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Johnson was horrible today. For a guy that Lovie targeted as his top FA, I think weave to seriously question his ability to judge talent.
If this guy doesn’t pan out, it’s a huge mistake
September 7th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
I’m officially terrified about Johnson. He got manhandled on the pass rush. And yes, he was lining up 5 yards away from the d-tackle! I’ve never seen that before. That wasn’t a 9 technique, that was like a 15 technique. Don’t get it at all. I actually think Teo’Neisheim would have pressured the QB more. It’s early, but this is starting to look like a bad signing. Please Johnson prove me wrong.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Even with Doug Martin high school principal as one of the referee, we still lost! That’s how bad we were! lol Have to laugh instead of jumping off the Skyway Bridge! (No Joe is just a joke, I will not be jumping off the bridge) Is just bad. How about Incognito now? Any words on how long Logan is going to be out? Belichick must be laughing somewhere tonight. da*m it!
September 7th, 2014 at 9:55 pm
This is what happens when you pick up another team’s leftovers. Maybe building through the draft would be better? Oh wait, that’s right, we had Mark Dominic as a GM.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:58 pm
Yep scared after today’s performance. But the dude who suggested we should have drafted Manziel should punch himself in the face. You’re an idiot if you think Manziel would help the Browns or the Bucs.
September 7th, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Herro kitty!!! Michael Johnson is worse than the worst day Gaines Adams RIP ever put out. Dude is horrible.
September 7th, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Johnson needs to go. He was consistently late off the snap. Hard to beat your man when he is constantly beating you to the punch.
To be honest, I feel Schiano’s D did better and played harder. Our secondary was absent and the linebackers couldn’t tackle. Even LVD looked pedestrian.
I don’t even want to mention the offense. We should have just handed the ball back to their dense on 1st down. It would have been less embarrassing.
September 7th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Johnson was crap! Slowborn was crap but that was expected McDonald did well is Gholston Injured?
September 7th, 2014 at 10:43 pm
“To be honest, I feel Schiano’s D did better and played harder. Our secondary was absent and the linebackers couldn’t tackle. Even LVD looked pedestrian.”
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Oh boy, the liquor is flowing tonight! How many points did the Panthers score NOT off of turnovers?
September 7th, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Schianos defense!? Holy crap, somebody has short term memory lose!
It ain’t THAT bad!!’
September 7th, 2014 at 11:05 pm
Getting no play from Johnson. Or Doug Martin
Getting Bad play from Mason Foster and Mark Barron
September 7th, 2014 at 11:06 pm
On a positive note, at least Lovie knows his team s@cks now.
September 7th, 2014 at 11:31 pm
Plenty of blame to go around. Claiborne looked lost most of the time. Foster was nowhere to be seen in coverage, which is a must in T2 defense, and no better in the run game. Goldson can’t catch a cold. Jenkins is a joke…and on and on without even mentioning the offensive side of the ball! I pray that this was just a fluke and they will learn and rebound because if not, I’ll be doing other things on Sunday afternoons by the bye week!
September 8th, 2014 at 12:04 am
They are not going to cut a guy on the hook for $24 million after one game, c’mon now.
September 8th, 2014 at 1:11 am
Ever since Thursday night..watching Michael Bennet go berserk out in Seattle (and laughing to myself at the thought of many of the dolts who tell me of Schiano’s personnel prowess…who was the idiot who had an opportunity to re-sign an OBVIOUS low-cost rotational player…and somehow didn’t pull the trigger on someone who was already here?).
Yeah, we payed WAAAAYYY too much for Michael Johnson’s lack of performance…I’m just wondering if it’s Johnson, or the first cracks of Leslie Frazier’s reputation as a good fit for a Lovie Smith 4-3?
September 8th, 2014 at 4:03 am
You are right Joe about us being stuck with Johnson and with all the other cast offs that Lovey threw money at. (I know that’s not good grammar but its what this crap deserves) We are in one hell of a mess.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:34 am
ATV (Alterraun Verner) was a great signing. But I was upset that we paid so Much for Johnson! He wasn’t that good in Cincinnati and he’s even worse here.
September 8th, 2014 at 8:29 am
It’s all a charade folks…They get their millions whether they win or lose. They don’t care…
September 8th, 2014 at 10:18 am
I told everybody on this site signed this guy for way too much money. Having said that, its only one game and we need to hope he gets better.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:34 am
you have to look at what a guy does most of the time, and for most of johnsons’s career it’s been his potential and not his production that coaches have drooled over. too much was being expected of this guy by lovie, licht, and fans based on his history. now, unless he is playing like a borderline pro bowler or better as the year plays out, the contract is indefensible. we can only hope for the emergence of guys like gholston and means to help offset this 8 million dollar mistake. this is doubly egregious when you realize it was one of the super important pieces that forced us to cut darelle revis. but i guess because we are running the tampa 2, there is nothing revis could do for us that gimpy mike jenkins can’t do for us already. ha.