Is Evan Smith Up To The “Crossdog” Assault?
September 12th, 2015
Former Pro Bowl center Shaun O’Hara shined a spotlight on Evan Smith versus Dick LeBeau.
Damn, Joe is salivating at the thought of a real Bucs game tomorrow, especially one with America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, under center.
Haleleujah!
Former Pro Bowl center Shaun O’Hara center got into Xs and Os talk about playing against Dick LeBeau, the legendary Titans defensive coordinator. And, like a center would, a spotlight shined on Bucs starter Evan Smith.
It’s on the starting center opposite LeBeau’s defense to thwart a LeBeau trademark that is sure to be fired, O’Hara said.
“He wants to bring these up-the-A-gap blitzes. We call them crossdogs,” O’Hara said. “Mike-Will crossdog, you know, you slant the nose [tackle] one way and you bring one linebacker in the backside A-gap. You bring the other linebacker around, and you’re trying to get pressure right up the middle, which frustrates and really throws quarterbacks off.”
The wild onslaught expected from LeBeau has been talked about a lot. And it’s real talk. How could LeBeau not try to freak out Jameis early. Jameis was prone to early-game mistakes in college, and in NFL preseason.
Smith better bring his A-game, the one he displayed in Green Bay with the Packers, not the one he delivered last year for the Bucs.
“If you’re center’s not sure exactly what he’s doing, and who they’re supposed to slide to, and who they’re supposed to declare, and who everybody has in protections, it’s going to be really tough,” O’Hara said.
Joe believes Smith didn’t show enough in preseason to get LeBeau worried about his prowess as an intelligent center.
Surprise Bucs fans, Evan. Please.
September 12th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Yikes lookout Jameis!
Take the sack or throw it away.
September 12th, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Won’t just be Evan. Logan and Ali will have to bring their A games and Doug better be able to pick up the blitz and of course JW will need to see and “feel” what’s happening. Football is still a team sports.
And yes Joe!!! We are ready for some football. Some of us because we are excited for the Bucs…others because they hope MM plays lights out so they can say I told you so and others hoping we suck for the same reason.
September 12th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
I have NO CONFIDENCE in EDS whatsoever….thats the weakest link…..just watch, you’ll see!!
September 12th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
I read an article that said that all the Titans secondary is hurt and they’re going to be using the second string guys. One of which is an undrafted FA.
Side note: Dalvin Cook is NASTY!!
September 12th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Either PLAY TO YOUR PAYGRADE or GET THE F!CK OUT…Simple as that.
September 12th, 2015 at 3:15 pm
“Is Evan Smith Up To The “Crossdog” Assault?”
HECK NO!!!!!!
Evans = Worse center in the league.
September 12th, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Lmao! I’d rather have Warren, at least I believe he has Jadubs best interest at heart but as a tribute to SPBF imma try to keep it positive today. 😜
Jaboo is stoked right now, hell even I have butterflies.
September 12th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Bonzai
NFL com wrote an article yesterday at Peyton manning and how his arm is diminishing. I found it interesting since we debated that same issue just 2 days ago.
September 12th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Most effective way to beat those blitzes is to run the ball. Then run it some more … and then some more. Get TN thinking run then Jameis can beat them with a lot of short stuff. Haven’t been all that impressed with our OLine’s pass protection, but their run blocking has been pretty danged good.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
2 tight end formation
September 12th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Evan Smith needs to step up in a big way this season or his punk a$$ should be replaced! “Simple as that”.
Agreed about the run game. We need to pound the rock, and pound it some more. Get them crowding the box and then set up some play action for both short passes and some big plays. Also some quick screens will help greatly with the blitz.
TN is not a good team, we should be able to run at will, and beat them on both sides of the ball.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Absolutely.
September 12th, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Fortunately the pound the rock gameplan plays to a Buccaneer strength, which is relatively decent RB depth. We COULD throw a ton of backs at the Titan D all game long. I certainly hope we see it tomorrow.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
DB55 Says
“Bonzai
NFL com wrote an article yesterday at Peyton manning and how his arm is diminishing. I found it interesting since we debated that same issue just 2 days ago.”
What debate. When you said he was unable to get to a second Superbowl, I simply pointed out that you were wrong…because he did it in 2013…2 years ago.
You can try to twist it all you want, but I was right. You were wrong.
And I also pointed out that even if his arm is “diminishing” it was still better than any other in the league.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:14 pm
@DB55
Also, I just read the article you are speaking of…and I quote:
“The Broncos hit a lot of big plays throughout the season, with Manning showing increased ability to go vertical throughout the year. They simply didn’t try to go deep against Baltimore. That may have been because of the weather, Ed Reed or possibly Manning’s arm strength. There just isn’t a ton of proof of the latter theory.”
So really…that didn’t help your point either. Didn’t expect me to follow up and do the digging, did you?
September 12th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
And yes, you had said he would never “go” to a second Superbowl.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Maybe the Bucs could just borrow David Andrews, the Patriots’ UDFA center.
He looked pretty good Thursday night.
tickrdr
September 12th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression – the dark side of the Force, are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you, it will.
September 12th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Where can I find bucs gear in Tampa?
September 12th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
As u may not recall Joe, Smith and the Bucs handled LeBeau’s blitz packages last year when they played against the Steelers.
The reason theoffensive line looked so bad against the Browns as you should know is teams don’t game plan for preseason foes. That and the fact the Browns had four extra daysof rest and the Bucs were coming off a short week between games.
In retrospect, the Browns couldn’t have done us a bigger favor by showing us it was an aspect of the game the line needed to work on.
I’m counting on Koetter having the offense prepared.
September 12th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
All I know is I’m sick of all the bull about 2 rookies starting on the offensive line being a problem. Did anyone watch the New England, Pittsburg game. Brady had 3 rookies starting on the o-line, and look at the game he had. The key, if you watched, was getting the ball out quickly. I lost count of the times that he would throw it the second he had the ball hicked to him to a reciever without a defender within 5 yards of him. Bottom line is, “It can be done”.
September 12th, 2015 at 8:08 pm
DB55
Great side note! Dudes a manbeast. In a year or two some horrible NFL team (Titains) will be chanting “Croak for Cook”
September 12th, 2015 at 8:17 pm
And Payton Manning has never had a great arm and now has a genuinely awful arm by NFL standards. He is a wizard and he is accurate. It’s what it takes to be great, not arm strength.
September 12th, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Jameis better bring his A game! Evan did a good job vs Lebau last year, so im not worried. Jameis better not hold onto the ball for too long! And I hope he can read that defense, at least to a degree. But im alot more worried about the rookie than I am Evan Smith.
FYI we could have and should have drafted Jameis former team. mate Tre Jackson, who was drafted by New England in the third round. Instead, we went with Ali Marpet outa Hobart after trading up. Not say Marpet wont be decent someday but..