“We’ve Seen Improvement In Our Pass Rush This Year”
December 24th, 2015
Quarterbacks are awfully comfortable facing the Buccaneers. In fact, opposing gunslingers are completely more than 69 percent of their passes.
And that’s what makes the following comment from a Bucs coach so stunning.
Asked on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week what was markedly improved about the Bucs, nickelbacks coach Larry Marmie, a longtime mentor of Lovie Smith, named the pass rush first when identifying upgraded elements of the defense.
“I think we’ve seen improvement in our pass rush this year,” Marmie said.
His other named 2015 defensive improvement was a stabilized linebackers corps.
That pass rush comment really stunned Joe. A member of Lovie’s staff believes the pass rush is improved significantly. But you know what? It is improved, though not enough. The ousting of Michael “Ghost” Johnson meant that much.
Rookie Howard Jones has five sacks in limited duty and has shown more life than Johnson and the other bad Johnson, sackless George Johnson. Akeem Spence and Henry Melton have made nobody miss Clinton McDonald. Will Gholston is improved, and with seven sacks, Jacquies Smith has had another great year for a guy off the street battling injuries.
And with all that improvement, the Bucs still have a sorry pass rush.
It’s back to the drawing board in free agency to find a live body off the edge.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:56 am
Uh-oh! Did he really say “improved”? There will be some interesting posts to follow!
Prepare thyself……………
December 24th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
Sad thing is that he’s right. We’ve went from non existant to just really bad. Its an improvement right? Dont say i dont compliment the D!
December 24th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
One mans trash…
December 24th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Well done Couch! You’re right! It’s a little ‘tongue-in-cheek’ but true nonetheless.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Sacks are a useless stay I say it over and over again…. It’s about pressure and perceived pressure. To make the QB uncomfortable and rush his throw.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Gotta realize the secondary is worse than a slice of Swiss cheese. If we had a better secondary these guys would improve also. RE, better dbacks all around, and more weapons for Winston should be the focus of the offseason.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
When you are coming from horrible…..improved is a dubious observation….
And, I’m generally positive about the direction of the Bucs….so that’s a rare negative from me.
December 24th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
C’mon, it wasn’t Larry Marmie, it was really Baghdad Bob, right?
“The pass rush is improved…. and our Supreme Ruler Saddam Hussein has personally captured 7 armored divisions of the United States Army!…. simple as that, infidel”
December 24th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Sacks are great but it’s the pressures and hurries that also make a huge impact, and we’ve had very little of that.
Improved? Yes.
Good? Not at all.
December 24th, 2015 at 1:19 pm
I’d like to see less of a rotation, and more HoJo. The bull rush I saw him use against the Falcoln’s LT (Gholston had a sack step into him) makes me think he isn’t one dimensional. The next two games should be about personnel decisions and we need to see what we have in HoJo.
December 24th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Most Bucs fans recognize that our defense needs a major infusion of talent. Our interior DLine looks to be fairly solid, but our DEs are mediocre at best. Will Gholston and Jack Smith are keepers, and possibly H Johnson, but we definitely need at least 2 new high quality DEs (one through the draft and one through FA?). Our starting LBs are OK, but we still lack any real depth there. Secondary largely needs to be replaced … they just aren’t getting it done. Moore is a keeper, plus possibly Verner and Banks, but beyond that … meh. Probably will take 2 drafts though to fill holes and improve depth.
December 24th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Well said D’Rules! We need secondary help like nobody’s business. Now, keep in mind we were saying this about our O-line last year and we did OK. There’s hope! A solid thumper at safety and a shut-down corner and we’ll be OK. (I still can’t believe we let Revis go!!!)
D-line I think could use MAJOR upgrades at both DE spots. Smith, Gholston, and HoJo are good rotational players but not starting caliber.
I thought McDonald was doing an OK job until he got hurt and Melton looks more of the rotational type as well. It couldn’t hurt to get another DT.
December 24th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
The tea leaves are reading that Mario Williams will be traded to the Bucs!!! That’s what we need right there. Bye bye G. Johnson
December 24th, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Why trade for him when we can sign him? What kind of tea is that?
December 24th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
The Bucs defense is built around Gerald McCoy and he sucks big time.
December 25th, 2015 at 1:51 am
Jacquies Smith is a FA in 2016. I wonder if the Bucs will let him check out the open market?