Jacquies Smith In Rookie Of The Year Hunt?
November 17th, 2014
Defensive end Jacqueis Smith looks like the Bucs’ first dangerous threat off the edge since Michael Bennett. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
To hell with Anthony Barr and Aaron Donald. Step aside, CJ Mosley.
Joe’s lobbying for Bucs defensive end Jacquies Smith for defensive rookie of the year.
Who?
Smith has been that lone guy coming off the edge — and out of nowhere — for the Bucs over the past four games.
Yeah, Smith went undrafted out of Missouri in 2012, but the guy never found his way on an NFL roster until this season. That’s a rookie in Joe’s mind.
Smith made the Bills’ 53-man roster this season but was cut after Week 1. The Bucs signed him immediately and he’s slowly worked his way into a major role.
No. 56 had two sacks and a pure hustle forced fumble against the Redskins, plus at least one more major QB pressure that led to a sack. He now has three sacks on the season, in addition to a key fumble recovery in the Bucs’ win at Pittsburgh.
Tampa Bay hasn’t seen anything like this from a no-name rusher since Greg White came out of the Arena League to notch eight sacks and seven forced fumbles for Tampa Bay in 2007.
Massive to kudos to general manager Jason Licht’s scouting team for finding a 24-year-old edge rusher with some juice walking the streets.
And the kid is versatile. He initially stood out against the Vikings on the right side taking reps from Michael Johnson. In recent games, we’ve seen much more of Smith on the left side, bumping Will Gholston off the field or to an inside-rusher role.
Joe now understands how Patriots fans feel about defensive tackle Chris Jones. He was a rookie tossed away by the Buccaneers in September of last year, and Bill Belicheat turned him into a starter who notched six sacks in 2013, second best among rookies.
It feels good to be on the right side for a change.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:04 am
That could make sending Keyser Soze packing a little easier if they know that they can balance out the dead money from his contract with the very economical contract of his replacement
November 17th, 2014 at 9:08 am
I don’t care what the player is making, if he plays bad consistently, he needs to be cut so he doesn’t become a cancer on the team. A bad player that stays and collects big bucks is even worse.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:11 am
Mane bump gerald mccoy this guy single handedly made the bucs entire defensive line better. They say sacks come in bunches so who knows?? However the same thing happened in Pittsburgh so we going to wait and see
November 17th, 2014 at 9:32 am
Yes, it does feel good to be on the winning end with a player.
Good job Licht!
November 17th, 2014 at 9:48 am
I remember being excited about Chris Jones….then they let him go and I was smdh…and that was Schiano/Dominik.
Great job Smith….Keep at it!
November 17th, 2014 at 9:49 am
He’s making Michael Johnson look disposable…if only he didn’t have such a heinous contract.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:55 am
I see Mark Barron came back down to earth yesterday. 1 tackle. I guess his 15 minutes of fame last weekend are now over.
November 17th, 2014 at 9:57 am
We need to place an embargo on New England. Tired of hearing names like Chris Jones, Blount, Talib, Wright, Revis and probably Casillas going to the Cheatriots and lighting it up.
Props to Smith, but how sad is it that Lovie’s big name FA Ghost Johnson has gotten straight up outplayed by a no-name off the street?
November 17th, 2014 at 10:05 am
This kid plays “hungry”
Some people just need the right chance with the right situation and really get good. Maybe this is his chance and so far looks real promising.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:28 am
This site should be called JoeBucCritics it is far more appropriate. I wonder how some of you find the floor in the morning when you wake up! #NEVERSATISFIED
November 17th, 2014 at 10:34 am
Mark Barron got to experience a win better than any we’ve had in at least 5 years, maybe 10. He got out of jail no matter how you look at it.
November 17th, 2014 at 12:08 pm
Agree with two comments, Ja Smith created all the sacks yesterday, well he and McDonald. Gmc benefitted from Smiths pressure and Smith actually held contain wtf you gotta be kidding me. What a talent I hope he can continue to create havoc bc our dline really needs the help.
Gmc played better he still served up some ice cream and cotton candy to Morris but much better play than the last few weeks.
Finally, barron is happier than a pig in ish. He playing on what could be the best D in the league and they wanted him to be part of it. He’s playing primarily as a blitzing safety and trust Peyton felt his presence even though he only had 1 tackle.
November 17th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
DB55….you have to be the stupidest poster I read on here. OF COURSE GMC benefited from Smith’s pressures braniac!! Why do you think Sapp got more sacks when Simeon Rice came into the picture?? My God man….get a friggin’ clue how the game of football works before you post. I don’t mind critiques from fans who understand the game but people who just spew brainless comments get a little hard to endure when they are consistently ignorant like your comments about GMC.
You praise Barron for 1 tackle and criticize GMC for multiple sacks. WOW! Maybe ignorance IS bliss….
November 17th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Wtf. Scotty fat u probably didn’t watch game the just the box score Barron one tackle yes and a bone crushing tackle. Barron presence felt yes and Peyton confused cuz the blitz packages that used by the Rams were amazing
November 17th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Walkdaplank, why are you always so hysterical.
Talib and Blount played one season for the Bengals and now play elsewhere. Tim Wright catches maybe one pass a game although it is usually a TD pass because the opposing team forgets who and what he does.
Casillas bit on a play fake last night and his man waltzed into the end zone.
It’s great that Baron is blitzing the QB all the time because he sure can’t cover anyone.
November 17th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Sorry, meant to say Patriots, not Bengals. LOL.
November 17th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
It is aggravating to listen to boneheads like DB55 isn’t it Bobby. McCoy himself credited all of his sacks to his fellow lineman because he said all four of them have to be doing their jobs to make it happen.
I just had to laugh when he said Baron is doing a great job as a blitzed. That’s just super because like I said, he sure can’t cover anyone. If that is all he does teams will catch on quick and the Rams will start getting burned because of it.
November 23rd, 2014 at 2:59 pm
@Bobby
I just wanted to say thank you for pointing out the dumb azz posters!!!
Like you I don’t mind critics, just speak common sense, stop throwing out dumb azz comments that make zero sense.
But if you’re a hater find a new team.