Time To Bust The Sackless Streak
November 6th, 2015
Sackless George Johnson
Perhaps the biggest disappointment among the new crop of Buccaneers picked this offseason is defensive end. George Johnson, a Bucs trade target who is paid good money.
He was pegged to replace Michael “Ghost” Johnson but turned into a ghost himself.
First, he was whiffing in rush lanes in preseason. Then he was a little too tired to be a starter, losing his job to Will Gholston.
Johnson made a big strip against Jacksonville but hasn’t done much else.
Right now, he remains sackless. And this is a guy the Bucs were talking about being a double-digit sack master.
With DE Jacquies Smith (five sacks) leaving Atlanta wearing a big walking boot and not practicing this week, it seems Johnson will get a big shot at redemption Sunday against the Giants. New York likely will pass the ball a heck of a lot.
Johnson simply must awaken in the second half of the season. Otherwise, he’s certain to have a new team (if any team) in 2016.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
No more DE’s with the last name Johnson please.
November 6th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Who picked Johnson?
November 6th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Might as well bench him and go with an extra CB……since we don’t have enough to cover with our current crew…..can blitz the extra CB on occasion.
When is the last time we batted down a ball?
November 6th, 2015 at 2:00 pm
ruggyup Says
“Who picked Johnson?”
Most of the Tampa Bay fans did. I didn’t. I was against it from the start.
But hey, Tampa fans live in denial of their football ignorance.
November 6th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
Two words: Howard Jones. Look for him to be in the game by the second play. Funny how the rookies are killing it and the FA are struggling, hmmm I wonder why?
November 6th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
BB
You know darn well no one was excited about this signing especially when it needlessly cost us a fifth round pick.
November 6th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Roger that Joe. Mot only is it times for Johnson to rev it
up, its time for our entire Defense to play better. Much Better. Its going to take a Saints and Falcons effort for us to beat the Giants. Eli is going to be like the..throwin somoan against us. And we are going to have to have a nice run game to eat up that clock and keep him off the field. If our D shows up and plays with some effort and passion? We win. If not, Giants are gonna spank us soundly.
November 6th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Thank Christ we didn’t sign Greg Hardy though….
November 6th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Not that he doesn’t need to step up his game, but he was a very big reason that last play by the falcons failed. Gerald got his ankle, but Johnson is the reason that throw wasn’t made before McCoy made sweet love to Matty’s ankle. If not for Johnson, that ball would have been gone, probably even with McCoy hanging on to his ankle.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Ghost Johnson 2.0
November 6th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
as soon as he cost us a draft pick in addition to a multi-year contract, it became a bad acquisition
November 6th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
The fact that we have had next to nothing since simeon left shows just how hard quality de’s are to come by. Bennet was good but thats about it.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
I still remember Sapp would brag often that “It take two to block me” which left some unfortunate tackle to try to stop Rice. Need McCoy and Spence to play more like Sapp, less like Crapp.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Going to be a lot of Giants fans at this game, a lot of my co-workers, cousins, are going to this game, bunch of Giants fans. Could be a home game for them if Bucs fans don’t show up and show out.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
George Johnson had a rotational role with the Lions and only averaged around 30 snaps per game. The Bucs ended up swapping their 5th round pick (168) for Detroit’s 7th round pick (231) for Johnson. Johnson had a career-high six sacks for the Lions last year — the first six sacks of his career. Detroit looked at Johnson as a productive DE, but one who will be hard-pressed to duplicate his career year. The Lions’ reservations with Johnson are understandable. He played parts of four seasons with the Bucs and Minnesota Vikings from 2010-13 and never had a sack in those years. Not to mention he played with a very good defensive line which featured Ndamukong Suh. The Bucs need to keep him at under 30 snaps a game but may be hard pressed with the injuries to Jacquies Smith, Clinton McDonald and Tony McDaniel. Every player on the defensive front is struggling getting sacks this year which makes one wonder how much does our secondary have to do with it, considering all the quick slant routes which are killing them? Johnson has to feel the heat with Howard Jones breathing down his neck. Time to wake up George.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Chalk 2015 UFA class up with as big of bust as the 2014 class. Seriously, how can anybody be this bad at talent evaluation? Carter? Melton? Johnson? Honestly horrible again. Thankfully we had the 1st pick, you all do realize that this isn’t going to get better. When Doug Martin leaves next year it will be ugly. Copy and paste this, that’s why “I know why”.
November 6th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
@ JOE, I found the problem. Johnson had his most productive season last year (in a relief role) playing next to Suh. Just like it two to block Sapp, it takes two to block Suh thus Johnson had the 1 on 1 match ups, of which he won 6 out of ????
Now he plays next to Geraldine McCoy and thus is double teamed, but if he does beat his man then at least Geraldine is there to help the player up. How else do you explain Michael Johnson and Now George Johnson being irrevelant playing next to what many consider the best DL in the game??????
November 6th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Tampa is about 75% New York now anyway isn’t it? Not many of us real home folks left.
November 6th, 2015 at 4:59 pm
just do what the packers do and stay away from FA…the packers may sign 1 FA but that’s it…build thru the draft and resign your own players…we get burned every year in free agency…GO BUCS!!!
November 6th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
reminds me of kyle moore what a waste of a roster spot
November 6th, 2015 at 6:42 pm
DB55
Your memory is far too short. A bunch of people wanted him signed. You know the ones…they are the one who, every year, want the Bucs to spend all their money in free agency.
November 6th, 2015 at 6:42 pm
He’s still getting into game shape. Also, remember Lovie’s defense is hard to learn. The secondary is still having trouble. #childplease
November 6th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Please, please Bucs puts Eli’s a$$ in the dirt!!! Repeatedly!!! I got a few of my friends coming over Sunday and they happen to be either Midgets or Jets fans, I need this win!!!
Let the cannons go!!!
November 6th, 2015 at 8:38 pm
I thought midgets talk was politically incorrect, like uh hamster for an example. It will be good to better these giant invaders from new york city. Go Bucs, it’s your turn to win this matchup. Fight hard and come out winners. Cowboys, you’re next!
November 7th, 2015 at 7:31 am
another reason why GMC is NOT the leader of this team…nobody listens to over paid lady bing award winners that don’t produce
November 7th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
He wasn’t bad looking in preseason and seems too get hurries and bull rushes defenders pretty well . I think this entire d line isn’t getting sacks because of time . What I mean is this d line could be one of the best when fully healthy , however the corners and secondary sucks so bad even Jacques smith hasn’t been getting sacks . Only person getting sacks is the fast athletic Howard jones. Can’t be a coincidence the fastest person has been getting all these sacks when George Johnson isn’t . It’s not because Johnson sucks , it’s because of speed he’s a slower DE . If we had a real good SS , and a really good CB2 , than the bucs defenders like LVD and that LE would be dangerous and a much stronger unit . Fix the secondary and the D line gets more sacks . It’s why they look inconsistent . It’s not hard too figure out . Tampa 2 needs too be banished , retired , put away whatever the word is and Tampa should go man to man coverages and draft bigger guys who can play man coverage defense . That won’t happen though because Lovie and Fraizer are in Tampa and that’s what they used in the NFL they’re entire career. No surprise schiano man to man defense with revis and banks made LVD into the best damn lb in the league . LVD is a man too man defender this zone shit is causing him and other players too be underutilized . Sadly until Tampa switches over to a man too man defense not shit will be happening .