Day Of The Piranha
October 11th, 2015
Bucs DE Jacquies Smith reaches for a loose ball on his scoop-and-score touchdown late in the third quarter that put the Bucs on top for good. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Nothing gets Lovie Smith off like takeaways. It’s almost like Lovie enjoys takeaways more than points.
So Lovie had to be on cloud nine when, trailing 24-23 with seconds left in the third quarter, Jacquies Smith scooped up a Jags fumble near the goal line and somehow pushed through a wall of humanity for a defensive touchdown.
The Bucs never trailed again. Smith’s play proved to be a back-breaker.
“For one, somebody pushed me, I’m still trying to figure out who it was,” Smith said about the play. “Someone pushed me because it was like piranhas trying to get that ball and get in and I had the sense of mind to kind of – some guys were trying to pick me up, trying to grab my jersey to pull me in. I thought I would stretch it out to see if it happens.”
It was Smith’s first touchdown in the NFL and a huge turn of fortunes for the Bucs. Now they had the lead and Smith noted the play pumped new life into the team.
“It gives energy and momentum life,” Smith noted of defensive scores. “It was a big-time play. It was like a pack of piranhas chasing the football. That’s what we preach all the time, if you run to the football, good things happen.”
The play came at a perfect time. The Bucs’ defense, specifically the secondary, was getting carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey. But instead of sweating another long scoring drive by the Jags, the Bucs took the lead.
For good.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
The team is really really young right now except at corner, where the over 30 crowd is not playing well at all. Sit those guys.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Talk about being in the right place at the right time, without that TD the win is in question.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
No piranhas at the corners. Two weeks to replace Jennings and Jenkins.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:26 pm
“Nothing gets Lovie Smith off like takeaways. It’s almost like Lovie enjoys takeaways more than points.”
Too funny, too true…
October 11th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
“Nothing gets Lovie off like takeaways.”
Not even Mr. Howell.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
@Joe … “The play came at a perfect time. The Bucs’ defense, specifically the secondary, was getting carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey.”
Truest statement ever Joe … the fumble recovery came at the perfect time. It turned the momentum big time. And as far as the secondary goes, I don’t think that we had one today. It looked as bad as it did in Game 1 against the Titans. Especially Tim Jennings, he looked REALLY bad. Can’t wait for Banks to get back (they also need to start Verner). And the play of our safeties wasn’t much better (McDougald made a nice interception, but too many times he looked way out of position). Alexander looked like he was having trouble in pass defense also (Bortles picked apart the middle of the field, and Alexander was often someplace in the vicinity … within 10-20 yds).
No doubt we need to go heavy DEFENSE in the 2016 draft.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:39 pm
Our pass defense has $ucked for some time now……it seems they are always able to get open over the middle….between the linebackers and safeties…..safeties never seem to show up well in deep coverage and the CBs are constantly burnt.
Today we had several penalties called off because the passes were completed anyway. That speaks volumes….even when our CBs commit a penalty….they still can’t stop the reception.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Buc1987 LMFAO
October 11th, 2015 at 8:59 pm
87, thats funny
October 11th, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Jennings is terrible on quick throws. He has cement feet off the LOS. He can make it up with his speed, but on quick throws he’s toast. Also our LB coverage and safety coverage is very suspect. The LBs are too worried about the run and the short routes that they dont get enough depth to defend against deep middle routes.
October 11th, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Piranhas on the D-line.
Goldfish in the secondary.
Banks, Banks, where for art thou?
October 11th, 2015 at 9:23 pm
LOL @ Howard
October 11th, 2015 at 9:28 pm
For a moment before he jumped on it, it looked like the whole group was just staring at it. Almost like a punt they’re trying to down as close to the end zone as possible.
October 11th, 2015 at 9:35 pm
I don’t think he wanted to dive on it an knock it away….wanted to make sure it was in his posession….lucky now Jags were anywhere around.
Was it George Johnson that knocked it out….or Howard Jones?
October 11th, 2015 at 10:45 pm
Football is what most can never fathom. – Bane
October 11th, 2015 at 10:52 pm
I missed this whole play. I was late getting back after the half. Saw it on the jumbo, but caught the tail end of the replay. So I have NO clue what happened. I thought it was a pick 6 at first. Then I heard fumble for a TD. Wish I could have seen it, haven’t even seen a highlight of it. Pivotal moment in the game though. Joe’s right.
October 11th, 2015 at 11:01 pm
@87. That’s why I try to stay in my seat 🙂
@TBBF. I think it was George Johnson.
October 11th, 2015 at 11:11 pm
The DBs
I have been supportive of Lovie and the team because they have talent and a lot of youth and the system on D is proven.
BUT…. TOdays NFL is 90% dump a pass at about 5 yards.
The defense is designed to allow that and come up and make the tackle. Back in the day that was great because the offenses would try some deep passes and runs and the Tampa 2 would stop the runs and the deep balls– whether in Tampa or chi or Indy etc…
But now teams use the short pass (part west coast part spread etc …) as the run. They will dump 4 yard passes in the flat, hit slants, and quick Seem routes all day.
This is the major reason for the DBs not looking good. The defense needs to adapt slightly. They need to play tighter. Look for the slants and Seems more.
Hell Tom Brady is hitting 70% by throwing in 2 seconds. ELI does mostly the same thing now. Mariotta did it. Bottles did it. They all do it. It negates the pass rush.
The answer is simple, play tight. They can still play there zones or get back but they need to look for those quick hits first.
I was a college DB (nothing big) and it is easy to watch the QB the first 2 seconds to see if he is about to release on a 3 step drop. They may look hard to defend but jumping slant is pretty easy if you look for it.
October 11th, 2015 at 11:14 pm
Case in point — just ask Russel Wilson from the SB last year
LoL
October 12th, 2015 at 1:32 am
Squeaked this win out mainly because of this play….great job Mr. Smith.
btw, anyone notice the 457 yds thrown by McClown for Cleveland today? Where do these flukes come from by certain QB’s? …..smh
October 12th, 2015 at 2:48 am
@Dave Says – You are so right on the DB. “The defense needs to adapt slightly. They need to play tighter. Look for the slants and seems more.”
Jennings and Jenkins need to get up on top of the WR. Hit them in the mouth to slow them down, then run side by side and make a play on the ball. The problem is Jennings and Jenkins. Both are past their prime and just don’t have the speed necessary in today’s game. Get up on the line and play bump and run. Kevin Pamphile filled in nicely but hold off on all the “bench Logan Mankins” rhetoric. He had his moments. Several. On the first play on the Bucs second series Tyson Alualu pushed Pamphile right back into Doug Martin for Telvin Smith to tackle him. The bottom line is that we have another quality starter if needed. The OL only gave up two sacks on the day. George, your starting to impress me. The player who someone lit a fire under his backside was George Johnson. The man was all out hustle today. Noticed him chasing run plays all the way down the field. The difference today on defense was they blitzed a lot with different stunts. The got to Bortles, six times. Lovie called a great game on defense, if he just had the CB and S to implement it. See what happens when good old Jameis keeps the ball from turning over?