Iron Fist Uppercut
September 21st, 2015
Saints wide receiver Willie Snead didn’t know what hit him
There were a lot of standout plays by the Bucs yesterday, but if Joe were forced to pick just one, it would go to the guy with the iron fist, the Larry Holmes uppercut.
You better believe cornerback Sterling Moore is getting a standing ovation today from Lovie Smith.
And Moore deserves it.
The Saints were driving near midfield late in the third quarter. Drew Brees hit Willie Snead on a crossing route. Trailing Snead by a step, Moore windmilled his right fist and pounded the ball out of Snead’s right-hand tuck as he turned up field.
The ball went six yards in the air on the fumble. Six! The Bucs recovered and Lovie got his treasured takeaway. Key momentum shift there.
Moore’s play is flying under a lot of fan radar today. Joe didn’t even see the video on Buccaneers.com.
But Joe’s got your look at it right here.
Hell of a play. Man, the Bucs are deep at cornerback this year for a change.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:25 am
Keep. Grinding
September 21st, 2015 at 11:25 am
Loved it, not only did it look like they were forcing turnovers, but they were able to turn around and return them for good yards. Joe, any idea if they’ve been practicing those? Banks doesn’t get that lateral without confidence.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:29 am
Thought Conte played well also.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:32 am
That 2pt conversion that Banks stopped was tremendous as well.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:40 am
@Denjoe
You beat me to the punch. Conte turned in the best game from the safety position in a long long time.
I’m not sure why he got all the hate, other than he’s a “Lovie Player” and has trouble staying on the field because concussion.
He played great yesterday and may have been the defensive player of the game!!
He got that pick and had the football instinct to give the ball to Verner when he was stopped. That added a lot of yards to the return.
He forced a key fumble late!
And when Robinson was running wild on his he made an open field tackle that no other Buc DB…perhaps other than Swearwinger when he takes the proper angle..could have made. I read somebody laughing last night because Robinson trucked Conte. Duh. He had a freaking 10 yard head of steam running clean in the open field for what was going to be a huge gain. Conte not only had the cojones to give up his body to the runaway freight train, he hung in there after getting crushed and wrapped up around the ankles to save a big gain and perhaps a TD the way the other Buc DB’s have tackled this year.
Where is the love for Conte’s performance yesterday?
September 21st, 2015 at 11:53 am
The ball was changing hands almost as fast as a pinball drains down the gutter. Even to the closing seconds I was frantic that the Bucs didn’t give up the hail mary TD to end it.
September 21st, 2015 at 11:59 am
If the Saints had connected on that hail mary they would have likely taken the 1 point PAT to send it into overtime. If the Bucs won the overtime coin flip, would they have deferred and kicked to the Saints? No! That would be the first time they won the ball and kept it.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Moore did exactly what Lovie has been teaching since the Bears D was Super Bowl ready. A play like that tends to make the opposition play tight and you get fewer super cuts and more mistakes.
After watching Conte’s locker room interview yesterday I just wanted to buy him an ice cream cone and drive him home. I recall him as a rookie with the Bears and I can honestly say that some of the light is missing from behind his eyes. I don’t know if it was fatigue or something else. I hope he cashes in and perhaps retires soon, for his sake.
I’m not sure where all the “Bears Players” negativity is coming from.
If we traded for Tom Brady would the feeling be the same?
* CB Jennings is a strong upgrade over Banks. I hope Banks doesn’t pout.
* DT/DE Melton is an upgrade in the DL rotation
* FS Conte is an upgrade
All these former Bears players know Lovie, and more importantly, can convey to the rest of the Bucs D the right way to play the Lovie-2.
So, what’s the problem?
September 21st, 2015 at 12:18 pm
@Mo_Downs
I don’t know how you haven’t figured this out already… Most of the people that POST on here WANT Lovie to FAIL!! Just look at the amount of comments!! After a loss, this place is like a traffic JAM at 5pm!! After a win??? Crickets!………..
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith aka “I’ll take a sh!t on your billboards son!”
September 21st, 2015 at 12:20 pm
for all the chris conte haters, here you go. this tweet was awesome (and conte retweeted it): https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/645671680073990144
September 21st, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Exactly right Joe! It was a major momentum shifting play! I was so excited by it, I pushed my girlfriend out of her seat, lol
September 21st, 2015 at 12:26 pm
No Onelove they wait till around 1 something a.m. to post under the cover of they feel no one is still watching. Chit is like something str8 out of a comic book. You know who you are,do yourselves a favor and keep waiting on it.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:31 pm
You’re High if you think Conte had a great game. Why? Because he int’d a ball that was at least 7 yards under thrown? He got steam rolled in the run game and is slow in coverage.
September 21st, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Jennings played well too, banks Verner jennings Moore ….huge huge upgrade over banks Verner johnson. We were able to get qb pressure cause there were no 3 step drop and get the ball out cause guys were doing their job. Throws were either being forced into coverage or else bread was holding the ball too long and the pass rush could get to him
September 21st, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Brees *
September 21st, 2015 at 12:38 pm
@OneLove,
You are exactly right. I don’t get all the negativity – are you people Bucs fans, or is this just some place to come and throw up all your life’s misery? I don’t like many of the things Lovie has done either, but how can you not love this win?! Why can’t some of you just enjoy the moment?! I feel sorry for your lives being so miserable
September 21st, 2015 at 12:57 pm
I wonder if the SenileDog is going to continue to argue that all turnovers are random?
September 21st, 2015 at 1:06 pm
OneLove:
Sorry….Speaking for the rest of the Bucs fans…….we are still in shock…..waiting for a gawd forsaken yellow flag to take it away.
Look like the Defense found their manhood. They played well late last year, last week was a total shock to everyone.
Jameis and the offense….I expected it to be rough…I even expected INT’s and yes PICK SIX’s, just not on his 1st throw. But that is to be expected. But it was the defenses total collapse that stunned everybody…
They got a win, defense played good. But people need to temper this. The Saints are a damaged team. But a “W” is a “W” and I will take it.
Want to impress the fans?
Win streak.
Win @ home
But all things being equal – by week two this season, they got 50% of their win total of last year.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:38 pm
tim Jennings played well too…GO BUCS!!!
September 21st, 2015 at 11:51 pm
Well done!
September 22nd, 2015 at 10:47 am
R.O Says – Dude u have your head where the sun don’t shine. You simply have no IQ for what you comment on. Chris Conte not only had an INT but he forced a fumble as well. Conte’s overall score for Pro Football Focus was (+1.7) His score was 10th best of all Safeties on Sunday and top for the Bucs. His run defense score was (+0.1) and against the pass (+1.5) and he had no penalties. He had 3 passes thrown at him with only one completion. Then there was the play in the first quarter when the offensive tackle for the Saints pulled as they were running straight at Conte. The sound of the helmet to helmet collision could be heard throughout the stadium..Conte put his body on the line to disrupt the run.He had a great game and you stated that we are high? Take another hit.