Titans To Start Rookie RT, Melton Is X-Factor
September 6th, 2015
How will Lovie Smith counter and attack the Titans starting a rookie right tackle?
In seven days, Tennessee will start a rookie third-round pick at right tackle.
What are you made of, Lovie Smith, Bucs’ defensive shot caller?
Yes, the Titans are rolling with the pride of the University of Utah, Jeremiah Poutasi. He’s a 6-5, 335-pound monster drafted four picks after Bucs rookie guard Ali Marpet.
You want a good run defense? Then you better have defensive ends that won’t get pushed around.
Enter Henry Melton, who is listed at 290 pounds. It’s easy to forget that Melton has gotten most Bucs first-team snaps at left defensive end this preseason. He’s been solid, and might just be that guy to counter what the Titans want to do with their revamped offensive line.
Tennessee looked very impressive in spurts in the ground game. Joe saw them manhandle the Rams’ front-7 in a big way.
Look back to the No. 1 run defense in the NFL back in 2012. It belonged to the Bucs.
Tampa Bay had nasty, versatile Michael Bennett on the left edge. Run stuffer (and run stuffer only) Roy Miller was up the gut with Gerald McCoy. And big Adrian Clayborn started three games on the right side before injury had him give way to run stuffer only Daniel Te’o-Nesheim.
Nobody ran on the Bucs. Teams were forced to light up the likes of a mentally and physically challenged cornerbacks crew.
Anybody watch the Titans this preseason, they’re coming to Tampa looking to pound the rock, especially with a rookie quarterback and a second rate bunch of receivers.
Former Bucs tight end and current radio analyst Dave Moore has spoken plenty this preseason about his concern over the Bucs’ defensive ends being soft against the runs, assuming projected starters Jacquies Smith and George Johnson are in those positions. Moore believes they just don’t weigh enough to be stout versus the run. They’re both lean guys who might not weigh 260 pounds.
Melton sure looks to be a key matchup next Sunday. Savvy oversized defensive end, a former Pro Bowler, versus a rookie right tackle.
September 6th, 2015 at 10:46 am
Contain contain contain! It’s legal to hit the qb on read options. And please please please don’t get destroyed by 8 yard slant routes. I predict a long day of yelling at my TV.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:02 am
@Joe
If we can not get any pressure on the Titans, Then for the rest of the year we should just have McCoy rush and drop everyone else in coverage!!!!! Then at least we can all talk about he is ” Quintuple teamed “!!!!!!!
September 6th, 2015 at 11:12 am
@DB55
It’s legal to hit the qb on read options.
YES! It’a still in the rule and LEGAL! I hope the Bucs do such an effective job of smashing Mariota in his grill that the NFL has to change the rules to protect the QB’s after this year.
I’m hoping our game plan has both DE’s focused on SMASHING Mariota. First and foremost if our DE’s get him on the ground he won’t be able to run it..if he get’s loose he’s faster and more athletic than virtually all of our defenders. He was a state champion in track and field. If he’s already handed the ball off we can always worry about the RB and still pound Mariota.
Unlike some FSU/#3 worshippers here who never got over the draft debate, I have no ill will towards Mariota. I think he’ll have a great career. But when he plays the Bucs it’s time to make him pay anytime he runs or fakes the run. Take that out of his game.
As a former Bengals fan I remember being in Riverfront when the then great Steelers came to town with the hated (by Bengal fans) Terry Bradshaw. Bill Bergey got a clean shot on Bradshaw…brutal…Bradshaw staggered to the sidelines and began to puke. The entire stadium stood and began to cheer!
Yeah that perhaps sounds a bit sick…like the Roman Coliseum but it is what it is. I guarantee you if one of our DE’s or LVD or Kwan totally plant Mariota our crowd will react the same way and the entire defense will feed on it.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:14 am
We got our #1 pick QB. Yet, I can’t remember going into a season without any hope whatsoever. Last year people were predicting 9-7. Had to chuckle at them. This year nobody in their right mind are predicting anything over 7-9. Should of fired Lovie. We might have alot of hope right now with Mariota. The picture of him eating crab legs with his Buc’s gear. Says it all. The footwork of Freeman, the long release of lefkawitch. Ooooooh boy. This guy is supposed to scan the field, get to that 2nd and 3rd reads. Phhhhhhh please locks on like Freeman. 2 seasons is all we should give this guy. Face it we drafted Ryan Leaf and left the next Randall Cunningham on the board
September 6th, 2015 at 11:20 am
This site has some of the most “downer” readers I have ever encountered. Why do you even watch the Bucs? Pathetic really.. OH WAIT, i know why it attracts so many downers.. its the pathetic operators of the site itself.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:21 am
I think our run defense can be better than 2012 with Melton at end. Everything depends on the waiver wire right now. If we pick up a another run stuffing end we could be really good and if that end is more than one dimensional we could be real good. Maybe Gohloston will step up his qb rush and move to rde. I think we are one decent end short and everything else will fall into place.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:30 am
I would be more worried about what Dick LaBeau is goung to do when he looks at the Bucs O-Line and sees 2 rookie starters. We saw how badly the Bucs handled the Browns blitzing 3-4 defense and it wasn’t good. The Titans are not nearly as talented as the Browns on defense so we’ll see.
The Titans are the worst team in the NFL with probably the weakest, most non-talented roster. So beating them would not be a great accomplishment. It would sure be nice though to get some early season momentum going off of that win
September 6th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Brian..I was told just the other day that this site is nothing but full of homers compared to other Buc related sites.
I had to laugh at that, because the guy was being serious.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:50 am
Sorry Brian…rah rah shish boom ba the Bucs go 14-2. The preseason was just a masterfully job of “the ropeadope”. Week 1 the o-line becomes the most dominant o-line in the NFL. #3 goes from a 48% passer to a 70% passer. Those naysayers apologetically rejoice with the “true fans”. Lovie coaches his eyeballz out each and every week. ASJ leads all TE’s in receptions and TDs. T Jennings leads the NFL in Ints. Sorry bud my meds are warring off. Back to reality
September 6th, 2015 at 11:57 am
Full of homers, what’s wrong with that, it is Buc territory here. At least there are Homer and Jethro Buc fans here, not like you fancy fast talking northerners. Leave us that are hillbillies alone. Y’all carpetbaggers.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:58 am
Believe me………..i hope my gift of sight. Is deceiving me.
September 6th, 2015 at 11:58 am
How about sending David or Alexander to blitz the rookie QB….JUST LIKE THEY WILL BE DOING TO US!!!!!
BLITZ HIS ASS AND DRILL HIM INTO THE GROUND!
September 6th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Kevin you stoled my thunder….
Player of the game next Sunday:
KWON ALEXANDER
KA will have 2 sacks & pick 6.
Lovie will used David and KA’s speed to compensate our ends lack of penetration.
September 6th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
May I begin with a simple FACT!! NOBODY knows for CERTAIN how this season will turn out. We literally could go 16-0 or 0-16. We all have eyes and “believe” that in reality the record will be somewhere in between.
I understand the “Luck miracle” that took the Colts from 2-14 to 11 wins. People simply do not see Fameis as the next Luck…OK
What about the KC Chiefs? Alex Smith is that great? LuvmyBucs posted a great factoid last night…the Chiefs picked up 7 from the scrap heap to turn their fortunes around..5 are still on the team. It is at least POSSIBLE the Bucs have also made enough improvement.
@Brian…you had me with your criticism of the Chicken Littles here but lost me when you blamed it on the Joes. I find them to be fair and balanced…no not in the Faux News sense but in reality. When they cheerlead they confess that’s what they’re doing…HOPING…otherwise they try and remain objective.
The reason we are getting so many downers here is two fold IMHO.
1st..the legitimate reason of fans who have been abused by a 30-70 record and have lost hope. And swept up in that are all kinds of scapegoats…can you say Lovie….if he doesn’t win at least six this year barring injury or MRSA I’ll stop defending him. But he at least deserves to have this season play out before we pass final judgement!!!
2nd….Human nature…many of us look at the glass as half empty without seeing the half full part. That’s terribly sad and a dysfunctional way to lead your life IMHO but it is what it is. There are some who do not want to get their hopes up because they FEAR disappointment. Life always measures out some disappointment and I’ve had my share. I just deal with it WHEN it occurs.
For the life of me I simply do not understand being disappointed BEFORE the disappointment even arrives. Won’t there be time to cry in our beer AFTER ACTUAL disappointment. Why embrace disappointment over hope?
I should add a 3rd reason. Some posters here have egos invested in their football “expertise”. Being right is more important than anything to them.
Don’t worry! It’s meaningless whether you are right or wrong on a sports blog.
Now if you’ve plunked down a huge bit of cash on the outcome…my dad was a bookie and I know better!!!
We are 0-0. We are winless and undefeated. How are you guys passing so much judgement based on that record?
September 6th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I think Mariotta will be more confuse than Winston on their 1st game.
September 6th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
#1 against the run, eh? Why run when you can pass with ease.
September 6th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Here is a little tidbit that I found interesting.
Dick Lebeau, now the defensive coordinator for the Titans, has a 19-2 record for his team against rookie quarterbacks.
The first loss was against Troy Smith, in a meaningless game 17 in 2007, when the Steelers did not play their starters.
The second loss was against the immortal Brandon Wheeden (Cleveland), who threw for 158 yards as well as a TD and INT. The Steelers had EIGHT turnovers that day, and the offense was 1 of 9 on third down.
But “America’s QB” don’t need no “stinkin” offensive linemen.
tickrdr
September 6th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Tampa can certainly win this game but if I had to bet, I’d say the Titans O-Line will look like world beaters and our O-Line will give up the booty all day.
Hope I’m wrong but all my experience as a fan of this team says otherwise.
Go Sucs!
September 6th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Per PR
12:12 p.m.
• Buccaneers claim LB James-Michael Johnson of waivers from Chiefs according to tweets that said his agent reported the move. Johnson was a fourth-round selection in the 2012 draft and notched 51 tackles for Kansas City in 2014.
12:45 p.m.
• Per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times citing the agent, Bucs claimed center Eric Kush from Chiefs, a 2013 sixth-round draft pick. Kush, who played his college ball at Cal, has played in three games, and started one in 2013.
September 6th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Lovie’s D is like the Syracuse B Ball Zone, you know what you will face. It doesn’t change it is predictable. When Syracuse has elite athletes, that zone is very difficult to play against.
When you have average athletes they are an average team. Lovie does not have enough elite athletes! Only David and McCoy!
September 6th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
he Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced have added five players via waivers after final cuts yesterday: defensive end Kourtnei Brown, linebacker Jeremiah George, quarterback Ryan Griffin, linebacker James-Michael Johnson and center Eric Kush.
To make room for these players, the Bucs waived wide receiver Rannell Hall, guard Kareem Edwards, tackle Reid Fragel and tight end Cameron Brate and released linebacker Jason Williams. Edwards was the Bucs’ fifth-round pick in 2014 but has disappointed in the preseason this year, while Hall was a standout undrafted rookie who got lost in the depth at receiver.
September 6th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced have added five players via waivers after final cuts yesterday: defensive end Kourtnei Brown, linebacker Jeremiah George, quarterback Ryan Griffin, linebacker James-Michael Johnson and center Eric Kush.
To make room for these players, the Bucs waived wide receiver Rannell Hall, guard Kareem Edwards, tackle Reid Fragel and tight end Cameron Brate and released linebacker Jason Williams. Edwards was the Bucs’ fifth-round pick in 2014 but has disappointed in the preseason this year, while Hall was a standout undrafted rookie who got lost in the depth at receiver.
September 6th, 2015 at 8:15 pm
SPBF the Colts had a great team the year Luck was drafted. The missing factor? Peyton Manning, who had neck surgery and was on IR. They had a nobody playing qb Curtis Painter. The difference between Luck and Winston was that EVERYBODY knew Luck would have no trouble adjusting to the NFL. Winston is scary to watch especially with his offensive line. HEY I HEARD DWIGHT FREENEY WAS OUT THERE LICHT? LOVIE? 1 YEAR DEAL??