“He Sees It In His Overall Movement”
August 5th, 2015
Leslie Frazier fingers an X-factor.
Bucs defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier may be the quietest Buccaneer at training camp. Perhaps it’s because he hasn’t gotten over what happened at quarterback during that famous Vikings’ Monday Night Football game of 2013.
Frazier hasn’t been saying much, but he did talk to Joe’s new friend Josina Anderson of ESPN.
During a report for the Four Letter, Anderson explained that Frazier has picked an X-factor for the Bucs’ defense this year. He is defensive tackle Henry Melton. Frazier believes the Bucs are getting the former Bears franchise player, a 2012 Pro Bowler under Lovie Smith.
Anderson pressed Frazier to explain why, and she reported that Frazier “sees it in his overall movement” and the “fast twitch” and the “burst” are back to Pro Bowl form.
Melton, 28, has been solid through training camp. Joe has noted that previously. However, Clinton McDonald, last year’s solid starter next to Gerald McCoy, has been dynamite through the first two days of pads.
This is exciting stuff, Bucs fans. Tampa Bay has some good problems at defensive tackle. If only Akeem Spence hadn’t blown out his back.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
now they need 2 edge rushers to step up and the project at MLB to adjust to the MLB position quickly. carter also needs to stay healthy and the front 7 might be ok.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Akrem Spence has the size and strength to play at the one.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Henry Melton is an amazing athlete, probably the best athlete on the team. He played RB his first 2 seasons at the University of Texas, he even scored 16 TDS.He switched to the D-Line his junior year, had 8.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks as a senior. He ran a 40 time of 4.54 at his pro day, he can play any position on the D-Line. I see great things from this defense this season, I truly believe that we have a top 10 defense.
August 5th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
Sounds like makings of a solid defense. We need a difference making safety and de to be top notch but barring a lot of injuries we’ll be solid top 15ish I think.
August 5th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
ESPN Tampa is now doing a Jameis watch, (you hit the big time Joe)
August 5th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
IR Spence
Let him rehab without rushing back
Our Superbowl years start NEXT year
Spence COULD BE part of that
but not with a chronically injured back caused by rushing back to action too soon
August 5th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
This better defense talk gets me pumped up, throw in the chance of making Mariota look befuddled, I can only say make the Titans walk the plank throw em in Tampa Bay.
August 5th, 2015 at 4:41 pm
@ Brent, you know we got better safety play after we traded Mark Barron and moved Bradley McDougald into the starting lineup. And this season we picked up DJ Swearinger, and Major Wright is healthy. But I still believe that Keith Tandy is our best Free Safety,we may see a lot of dime packages this year with 3 safeties and 3 corners. The sleeper is Chris Hackett with a strong preseason, he might move into the mix.
August 5th, 2015 at 6:43 pm
If George Johnson can provide an edge rush the defense might be solid this year.
August 5th, 2015 at 6:55 pm
We seldom talk about him, but Leslie Frazier is a great Defensive coach.
I bitched for yesrs, that we would never be able to play any version of the Tampa 2 Defense- with Mason Foster and Mark Barton starting.
Neither could get the depth they needed to “lock down” our Zone.
Frazier is playing guys who can play the position. Not guys that are playing- because we screwed up and drafted them to highly.
I expect a big defensive improvement. Without draft picks, or a bunch of Free agents.
Because Frazier is a great coach, and he’ll find the guys that can play.
August 5th, 2015 at 7:23 pm
I remember the Vikings game Joe refers to clearly. Freeman had one of his best games ever and seemed to be at the crest of becoming a franchise QB.
But during the after game interview on NFL Network, Freeman looked tense and so timid it was like he expected Jared Allen to bull rush him on the set while he talked to Marshall Faulk.
Of course after that game the Free went into a death spiral and lost his next 8 of 9 games and his starting job while throwing countless interceptions.
There are plenty of downs in a game. Everyone will get their fair share of snaps and hopefully be fresher in the 4th quarter.
August 5th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
@Buc Neckid
You are just full of wisdom today.
I agree about Spence. I think he has some great potential, but we need him healthy first. IR is a good idea, while we have players to replace him this year.
Isn’t there a rule now that IR can return before the end of the season if they get healthy?
August 5th, 2015 at 9:57 pm
drdneast your #s are off. that vikes game was 1st win of 2011, team went 4-2 before losing ten in row. not too far off tho
August 5th, 2015 at 11:55 pm
Ya buccaneer bozai, I believe thats what we did with C. Sims, whe the RB had surgery on his ankle last preseason. He came back week 8 or 9.
August 6th, 2015 at 8:48 am
@ drdneast-
The 2013 Vikings game Joe was referring to was when the Viking picked up Josh Freeman. he started a Monday Night game against the Giants with less than a week to learn the playbook. and they had him throw the ball 50+ times. you can guess how that turned out.
IMO that shook his confidence even more after the battle with Schiano that same year, and he has never been able to get it back. it’s a shame, cuz in 2010 he looked like he could be something special.