Time For The Dunkaneers To Appear
September 23rd, 2014
A Steelers beat writer believes 5-9 cornerback Antwon Blake is ripe for targeting
Coined the second night of the draft, Bucs general manager Jason Licht boasted how the new Bucs receiving corps, Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, all tall receivers, were going to turn the Bucs into an NBA team.
“The Dunkaneers!,” Licht chuckled.
Fans have been waiting ever since for those balls to be tossed as helpless small corners just watched in frustration, much like Jay Cutler did last night for the Bears.
Among other things with the Bucs this season — many other things — that has not transpired. Bucs fans are wondering what happened. Well, Sunday might be the time for a change.
The Steelers are beat up defensively (yet they still win). One area is the secondary, where longtime starting corner Ike Taylor suffered a gruesome broken wrist Sunday night playing the Stinking Panthers.
In a Steelers chat on his newspaper’s website, Ray Fittipaldo explained how that injury affected the Steelers then, and into the future.
Ray Fittipaldo: You saw how the Panthers targeted [corner Antwon Blake] as soon as he came into the game last night. Other teams will do the same. He is a smallish corner who might have trouble defending bigger receivers. William Gay is fine as Ike’s replacement, but the issue is the nickel package, which they use a lot.
But will the Bucs take advantage?
One thing that frustrated Joe so much about the loss to the Lambs was that the Lambs have smallish corners. Janoris Jenkins, though good, is also 5-9. Mike Evans has a good six inches on the guy and we are talking about a former basketball star. Why in the world did the Bucs not try to exploit this?
Bucs coach Lovie Smith talks about changes and learning from mistakes. All well and good. Changing and learning could be shown by targeting Blake early and often because of his size disadvantage.
If Mike Shula can figure this out, then so should Bucs offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo.
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Joe, you havn’t been answering anyones quesitons in quite some time now. Can you please help everyone out and answer this one. What is the status of the Terrel Pryor workout from yesterday? Is there any new news, or news of any other changes or players. Thank you
Joe very rarely answers questions. Joe would be here all day answering questions and not doing other stuff. The Bucs work out players every week. There is no “status” for Pryor. Working him out could be nothing more than doing Pryor’s agent a favor. No clue. Not really important. He won’t be quarterbacking this team.–Joe
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:37 pm
I would love to see Glennon go out there and just get to the line and call a hundred audibles away from Lovie’s conservative play calling. I mean, why not? The kid isn’t getting a fair shot at starting, even though the starter is terrible, and he won’t get any good film to shop to other teams playing in the Lovie offense, which followed the dump off Sullivan offense last year. Go out there and sling it around the yard. What are they going to do? Bench you?
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:51 pm
I’ve already predicted the Bucs will beat the Reelers, I’m sticking with it. So so bad defense up in three rivers, Glennon should pick it apart, if he plays. The rest of the Bucs team will give it all they got to wipe that zero off their and our win column. If the Pits burgers win, at least my record picking won’t be worse than the Bucs winning. Go Bucs, this is the game to win.
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:53 pm
We’ll see the genius of Lovie soon enough.
Either he opens things up or utterly confirms he is the fool.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 pm
The “Dunkaneers” is almost as laughable the “Speed in Space” bulls***…
We’ll make the Pittsburgh secondary look like world beaters, and revive Harrison’s career. GUARANTEED!
F**KING GUARANTEED!!!!
Go Yucs!
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Buccfan37 Says:
September 23rd, 2014 at 12:51 pm
I’ve already predicted the Bucs will beat the Reelers, I’m sticking with it. So so bad defense up in three rivers, Glennon should pick it apart, if he plays. The rest of the Bucs team will give it all they got to wipe that zero off their and our win column. If the Pits burgers win, at least my record picking won’t be worse than the Bucs winning. Go Bucs, this is the game to win.
ill bet 20$ on pitt over tampa.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:08 pm
It’s more likely we see the drunkaneers, and who could blame them. every player on this team should have their agent on speed dial with this joke of a coaching staff.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Buccfan37: Drinking already?
The Steelers are on fire and the Bucs will get slaughtered.
Blount will hurdle Barron and truck Goldson at the same time. Rothlesbergersteinfeld will have a field day side stepping our pu**y D-line rush and find open receivers all day long.
Hopefully Tomlin will have mercy on his buddy Lovie.
Go Yucs!!!
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Is it me or is this cycle of failure repeating itself, think about it! After firing Chucky we brought someone in who had ties to the organization (Raheem/Lovie) who are supposed to be defensive specialist. They in turn bring in former College coaches who were experts in Offense (Jagodzinski/Tedford) who never even made it the regular season! They hire NFL seasoned D Coordinators who are totally inept and whose defense isn’t feasible. They also hire someone with ZERO GM experience who over promises but whiffs on many selections (Still be proven, but….). Oh, did I mention that the Week 3 loss in 2009 was the game we only gained 53 yards total offense against the Giants?! I already know Team Glazers next move hire a mediocre defense coach from college when the Lovie experiments is crap canned and repeat. This is the issue they have not learned from their lessons or don’t care and are waiting to move the Team to LA or London. This is speculation on the last part but it looks pretty damn close to what being true!
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Time for someone, anyone, on this team to appear.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Sorry for the Grammar but I was pissed thinking about this.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Might as well use what you have. Why draft a receiver in the top ten if youre not going to use him? Im not suggesting pass on every down, but take some shots down the field. Play to win, not to loose. The defense isn’t helping out much, try some offense for a change.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Unfortunately, the Dunkaneers both run 4.7
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:33 pm
Can we stop repeating things that the suddenly silent lapdog Licht says like “dunkaneers” and “building offense from inside out”? This man has proven to be woefully unqualified and talks too way too much for a guy that has no actual power and has done nothing as a GM. Maybe Licht should be taking the leave of absence!
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:33 pm
@Reezy
Jagodzinski had 13 plays in the entire playbook. Tedford has a serious medical condition. I think the comparisons there are a bit unfair.
Also, Raheem was a DB coach turned head coach over night. Lovie is a seasoned vet with proven success as a head coach in this league.
I don’t think the Glazer’s have been making the same mistakes. They seem to honestly be trying to improve this team. Lovie was among the biggest names available this offseason. This season has been a complete disaster, but I don’t think its been because the same mistakes are being made by the Glazers.
The Bucs have found new and creative ways to fail every year…
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Is playing to catch up n or lose part of the Bucs culture. No matter the coach, it happens every year. We wait until behind by a touchdown or two with less than 5 minutes in the game then go to hustling with the no huddle to make too little too late plays. Whyyyyy don’t we come up with something different n creative like go to the no huddle offense or go for it on 4th n 2 or 3 on defenders 30 yd line earlier in the game. Let’s go toe to toe n eye for an eye with teams who has no respect for us. I thought this was in lovie’s plan. Let’s stop teams from trying us n not try them also. We should do this at the biggining of the game n desperately try to score each down. Why aren’t we taking advantage of the smallish db. We had the opportunity to get proven n consistent play makers such as Jared Allen, devin hester, Antonio Holmes, but noooooo,we go after all one hit wonders Michael Johnson n Louis Murphy n hope for the best.Garbage in garbage out.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:39 pm
@WestCoastBucsFan I guess you’re right, but the coincidence was just to much to handle. I know Lovie was a hot commodity but why not go with an Offensive mind instead of a Defensive guy again?
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
@Reezy – I have to think that the thought process was that they wanted to become more relevant more quickly and getting the fan base excited. Our history has been built on defense so they knew that would be the easiest sell. Plus, the best pieces we had were on defense so they had to figure that they would play to their strengths.
That said, I agree that the next Buc coaching move needs to be one that brings about more offense
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:48 pm
So you’re suggesting using a strength of our team to attack another team’s weakness?
That’s not happening. Have you watched the first 3 games?
Steelers win in a blowout. Over/Under on passes bouncing off VJax hands is currently at 4.
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:49 pm
@Reezy
If I had to guess, it would be that we at least thought we had a legitimate defense and a good defensive coach could come in and make them great very quickly while working on the offense.
If that was the plan it blew up in their faces. Also, Tampa has always been a defense loving town so why not go for a proven head coach with substantial success in this league that was also a former Buc that coached here for our Super Bowl run?
It was too good of a fit to pass up. It sucks that Lovie has tripped and fell on his face coming out of the gates. Hopefully he can get back up and fix this team in time to be a contender, next year….
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:55 pm
PFT reporting that Jeff Tedford is now on an “indefinite leave of absence” from the BUCS. I hope he is ok, but I gotta wonder if his health is really that bad, or is this Lovie/Licht trying to play CYA for what promises to be a long and disappointing season?
September 23rd, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Jason WHO?
I kinda remember somebody named Jason?
I thought maybe he got cut
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:00 pm
at this point they should seriously consider letting glennon call the plays at the LOS
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Best wishes to JT and a complete and speedy recovery….OK not back to the Bucs…my team and $$$$ since 1976…..I haveynot seen one shred of hope that anything will be different on Sunday…..ant way you look at what they have done on the field presason/regular season… gives any evidence otherwise….this is the NFL…not a Hollywood story….I see no passion…not one swinging dick standing before the rest and throwing down….
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Death by a thousand cuts. With the wasted draft picks, new coaching staffs and systems every couple of years, RFA’s brought in and overpaid on their declining productivity and acts of God, I’m beginning to think this quote is dead on;
” God does not hate the Bucs, God hates Buc fans”
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Skunkaneers you mean???
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:37 pm
LOL Dunkaneers,
More like lets throw high passes towards Bobby Rainey, and 5 yard out routes…and punt!
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:39 pm
The Dink And Dunkaneers
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:15 pm
Starting Mike Evans in Fantasy this week, have a feeling this will be his coming out party.
All thanks to… GLENNON!!!
#MGM
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:24 pm
glennon and eveans will have a good week IMO. but the defense, special teams and clock management are a different story. lol
my prediction 63-17
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:48 pm
You guys with these scores of Plattsbarge routing the Bucs are dreaming. This game will be close. Go Bucs!
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:27 pm
It’s been three games and not once has this team tried to use its height as an advantage, clearly Jason licht is the only one with common sense in this organization, so by whose stupid order is it that this team won’t challenge small corners?
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:31 pm
I am not a fan of Arroyo thus far. Why didn’t we kick that field goal against the Rams. Lovie hid Arroyo’s screw up. I bet the play didn’t get in on time.
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:38 pm
I haven’t been keeping up with the bucs as much since thursday if u can believe that. What’s the deal with ASJ? Is he doing better?
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:23 pm
“But will the Bucs take advantage?”
Joe that’s an easy answer. The answer is no, they would rather throw to little RB’s like Rainey instead.
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:23 pm
One thing that frustrated Joe so much about the loss to the Lambs was that the Lambs have smallish corners. Janoris Jenkins, though good, is also 5-9. Mike Evans has a good six inches on the guy and we are talking about a former basketball star. Why in the world did the Bucs not try to exploit this?
—————–
Six? Try eight inches. If Jenkins is 5’9 and Evans is 6’5, that’s a huge difference.
September 24th, 2014 at 12:54 am
I dont like you anymore joe. All you do is repeat yourself and have pointless stories that dont lead anywhere if i want wrong analysis ill toon into espn
September 24th, 2014 at 1:34 am
You can’t exploit it when your QB’s are inaccurate, plain and simple. A jump ball underthrown and it’s an interception.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:04 am
Of course the Bucs will not take advantage of mismatches in the Steeler secondary; that would involve Arroyo airing the ball out. I am curious if the head coach told Arroyo to keep the offense in the most conservative Vanilla package as that would explain the play calling vs the Rams or if it is simply the fact that Arroyo has a play book the size of Jagodzinski’s….. I really thought this was a game where the Bucs could take advantage of a long rest, the Steelers being banged up on D and working on what is a much shorter week and possibly getting some of the banged up Bucs and perhaps Tedford back to make this a close matchup but now everything points to another blowout. The one thing that gives me pause is the wise guys still have this betting line at 7 to 7.5 point; far less then what I would have guessed which would be in the teens like San Diego/Jacksonville; perhaps Vegas knows something all of us negative Buc fans dont and think the STeelers may actualy let Tampa stay in this game.. The point spread don’t lie, someone is keeping this line in single digits with $, I have no clue why……