“Pressure Is On Us”
August 24th, 2015
DT Clinton McDonald talks about the pressure on the Bucs’ defense.
You have heard the saying, “It all starts up front.” Well, for Bucs coach Lovie Smith and his defense, it really does start up front.
Pressure will make this defense hum.
No pressure? And you get a woodshedding just like the Dixie Chicks and the Crows handed the Bucs last year.
So former Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland, co-hosting the Bucs edition of “Training Camp Tour” with Zig Fracassi, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, asked current Bucs defensive tackle Clinton McDonald how much pressure is on the defense to pressure quarterbacks.
Booger McFarland: It seems like there is so much more enthusiasm on this team right now. A lot of that has to do with Jameis [Winston] but how much of it has to do with this defense now that you are in your second year [playing it]?
Clinton McDonald: I think a lot of it has to do with this defense. We are glad we have Jameis with us. He had done a lot of great things and adds a lot of great things to our offense. But our defense knows if we don’t play right on Sunday, and if we don’t play great out on the field, it will be on us at the end of the day. Defense is the resolve of the team. So, if you can’t find the resolve of what is going on, if you cannot stop your opponent from scoring; I mean, the game is over.
Coach [Leslie] Frazier explains to us every day how much it is on the D-line’s shoulders. He says, ‘That’s why you guys have big shoulders.’ This defense is a rush-and-cover. Rush first and then cover. So we understand what kind of pressure is on us. We understand the responsibility of being in this Cover-2 defense and getting the most out of it. When it comes down to it, [pressure] has to be on us. We are the hogs of the team, we are the line of the team. We are all rewarded if [an opponent] doesn’t move.
This is getting old. If your defense is predicated on getting pressure on the quarterback, or die, and you don’t have the horses to get pressure on the quarterback, then maybe it might behoove the head coach to try a defense less suicidal?
Maybe Lovie is starting to see the light, since he mentioned how he is expecting Lavonte David to re-join the 55 Club, which means five sacks and five picks? For David to meet that standard, he’s going to have to blitz a bit more.
August 24th, 2015 at 7:38 am
Some fans get to scream at coaches for not making adjustments by half-time! Buc fans have to wait a year for adjustments???? That is adjusting at glacier speed!!!! By the time that Lovie has all the pieces he needs, GMC will be retiring!!!! This defense has to have so much talent to be great. I really think that other defensive scheme can do so much more with a lot less!!!!!
ITS A FOOTBALL MONDAY!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2015 at 8:14 am
This post just makes too much sense, it’s possible I might freak if we stay in some off cover zone and get hosed non-stop
August 24th, 2015 at 8:36 am
Very excited to see the Bucs play tonight. Mariota lovers were out in full force last night on the JBF blog. Mariota looked good. But I just don’t see why people need to be so negative. I think Winston will be awesome. Wouldn’t it be cool if they turned into a Manning-Brady type of rivalry for the next 10 to 15 years?! I am not saying either of them are a lock to be that great, but they have the potential. How cool would that be?!!!
August 24th, 2015 at 8:37 am
There was caos and no foundation set last year. That is well know about the Tampa 2 on its first year of implemetation.
Caos in the offense and defense.
I’m just looking for improvement this year.
This is Buccaneer Monday Baby!
Go Bucs!!!
In Lovie and Licht I TRUST!!!
August 24th, 2015 at 9:04 am
In today’s NFL, you simply can’t leave huge gaps in coverage like the Bucs did much of last season (and did in the first preseason game too). Even marginal QBs pick you apart as we’ve seen. Everyone’s saying that the Bucs need more pressure from the DEs, but to me it’s looked like the whole DLine too often puts too little pressure on the QB. Got so bad last year that it looked like the opposing QB had time to read ‘War and Peace’ before he threw the ball. Defensive backs simply can’t cover that long.
I would think that if the DLine can’t get quick pressure on the QB, best alternatives would be to adjust your coverage scheme and/or blitz more. But continuing on with the same approach, expecting different results, is a good definition of crazy.
August 24th, 2015 at 9:43 am
In the first preseason game we got no pressure from the starting d-line. Hope we see more out of them tonight but I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t. One its just preseason and two, for this year, we might have to get our pressure from the blitz (which we will probably save for the real games) and end up having to draft stud defensive ends in next years draft.
August 24th, 2015 at 10:34 am
same ol issues..no pass rush…dbs played well but without a pass rush the qb will be able to sit in the pocket and wait until the receiver hits the second or third window…hope we blitz a lot this year..cant wait til 8pm..GO BUCS!!!
August 24th, 2015 at 11:16 am
The DLine HAS to get pressure on passing downs – or this Defense doesn’t work.
“Simple as that”
August 24th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Lovie needs to blitz more then. Or alternate schemes. Just sitting back in zone coverage with no pressure sounds like suicide.
August 24th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
We don’t need more blitz package, we should be getting pressure from our edge rushers. We need another Simeon Rice, we should have signed Everson Griffen last season instead of Michael Johnson.If you’re a DE you get paid to rush the QB, that’s what our DEs need to be doing. We shouldn’t have to take a player out of coverage and have him help the D-Line. The Tampa 2 consists of 4 rushers and 7 in coverage, this system was a top-10 defense for 8 years straight. But you have to get the right players for the system, I believe we will get pressure from our edge rushers this season. We don’t need sacks, we need QB pressure. The pressure is what creates errand throws from the QB.
August 24th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
@Harry
Mariota looked good. But I just don’t see why people need to be so negative. I think Winston will be awesome.
YES. AGAIN it’s possible, and now it looks probable that BOTH players will be excellent franchise QB’s.
Did Buffalo screw up big time by taking Jim Kelly over Dan Marino? Marino obviously had the gun but I believe Kelly was the better QB. Both of course were great so who really cares which team took which one.
If both Fameis and MM get to the Super Bowl will this debate finally end. I simply think the original debate over that #1 pick has left some hurt feelings.
Not me. I was all over the map between Mariota and Fameis. They BOTH have their strengths and weaknesses. But Fameis is now a Buc and so I’m rooting for him big time!
Wouldn’t actually be cool for the game to see the Bucs play the Titans in a Super Bowl in the future. The story line would be awesome. We don’t have to hate on Mariota to believe Fameis is the better choice.