Smith Sees Production From Spence
May 18th, 2016
Agrees with Jason Licht.
Not long ago, Joe brought an interview Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht did with popular sports radio and television personality Adam Schein, in which Licht said rookie defensive end Noah Spence reminded him of Elvis Dumervil.
Whenever and wherever Dumervil played (high school, high school all-star game, college, Senior Bowl), he had production, Licht said. So last week, when the Bucs defensive assistants were made available to chat with the fourth estate, Joe told this to Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith.
Smith agreed with his general manager.
“I think it’s very accurate,” Smith said. “Usually when guys are successful in high school and they’re successful in college and they have the traits that you’re looking for – the height, weight and speed – they’re usually successful in the NFL.
“I know that [Spence is] going to be ready to come in here and compete. Nobody has got a position on our team. We’re not saying, ‘These are our starters,’ we’re going to let the guys come in here and compete.”
While it is neat to hear NFL folks, especially those with the Bucs, compare Spence to a stud NFL player, Joe once again has to urge caution.
First, there is a lot of pressure on Spence and Joe fears that if he doesn’t have eight sacks or more, then fans will turn on him like they have on Gerald McCoy.
Joe hasn’t done the long research on this, but from pecking around on the Ineterwebs a little, since 2008 only two rookie defensive ends recorded 10 or more sacks. In 2009, Brian Orakpo had 11 and in 2011, Aldon Smith had 14.
Given all the defense ends drafted in the first round starting in the 2008 draft, the odds suggest Spence getting double-digit sacks this fall would be a minor miracle.
May 18th, 2016 at 6:23 am
Major not minor Major…….but you know what it’s 2016 seven years after A Smith did it so why not go with Spence with 15 sacks!!!
May 18th, 2016 at 6:31 am
Defensive Rookie of the Year!!
May 18th, 2016 at 6:37 am
On NFL Radio they were talking why rookies DE do not breakout right away, And they basically said that even though they can know counter moves, that they usually do not have the strength to fully use the counter and break the hands of fully grown Tackles that they are going against!!!
But if all else fails, wear fake dreads and get a couple of late hits on QB’s after the play and people will think he is a “Beast” just like adrian slowborn!!!!!!
May 18th, 2016 at 6:37 am
Before everyone starts whining when RA misses a field goal, maybe should read this… http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000663303/article/parcells-nearly-booted-vinatieri-out-of-patriots-history?campaign=Twitter_atn
May 18th, 2016 at 6:44 am
Spence is that guy Licht will be leaving some money aside to pay 3 years from now
May 18th, 2016 at 7:07 am
Lol @realist I couldnt beliefe the hype and hypocracy everyone spewed over that bumb,i knew from day one he was a wasted dumbanick pick.
I used to.hate smith and that smirk cause he use to always kick our holes in.glad hes on our payroll now
May 18th, 2016 at 7:08 am
He is a rookie and they don’t put up those numbers at DE that early. Plus he will be in rotation and will be in for smaller percentage of snaps. I feel if he gets 5 sacks than that will be good measuring stick
May 18th, 2016 at 7:24 am
He’s a rookie. Getting 10 sacks this year is not that important I just want to see that he is a potential beast! I would be happy with seeing him be disruptive when in the line up and maybe one or two sacks when the game is on the line. Seeing an attitude of fighting the hardest when it counts the most.
May 18th, 2016 at 7:28 am
R.O. Did you read this article? Hint: Its about Noah Spence.
May 18th, 2016 at 7:37 am
@Dreambig
That is why he is R.O. ( really obnoxious)!!!! The only surprise is that he did not post that the Bucs should have the best kick return game if they copied his running routine!!!!!!
May 18th, 2016 at 8:14 am
If UDFA’s rookie Jacq Smith got 5 and as a rookie HoJo got 5 and Spence is supposed to be a better talent (they were also rotational players), I see no reason not to raise the bar to 10 sacks. Those guys should be competing to hunt the QB. If he gets less, then at least across the board our d-linemen need to have 8 each (Ayers, Spence, HoJo, Smith, Gholston, GMC) and the DB/LB’s need to have about 10 combined. Sack for Americas QB and FG kicker and close some games.
May 18th, 2016 at 8:43 am
We don’t need 10 sacks from him right away, (altho it would be nice.) we just need to see him provide sum pressure on the QB. It’s not always about the sacks. (Unless your a bone head like MJD) We want to see him constantly around the QB and not dissapearing for lengths at a time. He has a good motor so I think that won’t be a problem. He will be a alot better than the no. 1 pick outta South Carolina a few years imo.
I’m projecting 7 sacks with a strip fumble or two.
May 18th, 2016 at 9:36 am
Props when props are earned.
Spence was on my wishlist, but now that he is here, he has to earn his place in fandom. We can talk about how great he will be all we want, but he still has to prove it. Just like Winston and all the others before him and after him have to prove themselves.
Props when props are earned.
May 18th, 2016 at 9:37 am
10 sacks? lol. Not. Going. To. Happen.
There are onyl 2 players on hte dline who have that potential (this year)…GMC and Smith…and Smith is borderline.
May 18th, 2016 at 9:44 am
@Bonzai
Don’t forget that we might see some of DE dropping in coverage when LB’s blitz. I think Jacq Smith and Spence would be the two best to drop coverage or cover the flats, or even just as a decoy spilt wider for a little more of a Gap for LB up the middle!!!! But that will mean less attempts to rush the passer on preferred passing downs!!!!
May 18th, 2016 at 10:19 am
It’s completely unrealistic to expect double-digit sacks from this guy. Our expectations should be that with his addition, we have more success as a defensive UNIT.
May 18th, 2016 at 10:36 am
Man Joe didn’t you post this kind of story a few days ago? Same Licht and Smith quotes as before. You must be on a quota to put out so many stories a day. Redundancy is not always a good thing, you know like how the site keeps us from reposting the same post? Ha ha ha!
May 18th, 2016 at 10:57 am
Picking an over/under for a rookie is a little premature Joe. However since you’re doing it anyway, I will take the under and say Spence gets 7 sacks as he works his way in to the starting line-up by season’s end.
For the 2017 season and thereafter for the next decade? The over/under should be 10.
May 18th, 2016 at 11:01 am
No fear Joe some of us fans give rookies 3 years. Even if they’re drafted in the top 5 picks, but hear ya, because from what I gather you’re not in my group of fans.
I’ve seen you attack rookies mid-season.
May 18th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Noah isn’t who im worried about being judged his rookie year. I feel sorry for Aguayo. 1st kick he misses… all hell will break lose from the ignorant.
May 18th, 2016 at 11:23 am
“Usually when guys are successful in high school and they’re successful in college and they have the traits that you’re looking for – the height, weight and speed – they’re usually successful in the NFL.”
————————————————
So did Gaines Adams suck in high school and college – and was too short, fat, and slow?
Captain Obvious by Licht and Smith – and it does’t hold water at all. Doesn’t every player drafted in the NFL have those traits? Success in high school, college, great height weight speed?
Come on man!
May 18th, 2016 at 11:33 am
Did everyone forget that D2, UDFA, practice squad guy Howard Jones got 5 sacks last year? I doubt he played more than 15% of the total defensive snaps. If Jones can do that – what can a highly touted pass rushing specialist with bonafide 1st round talent like Noah Spence be expected to accomplish taking 50% of the snaps at defensive end?
Seems like a fair question.
Maybe Jones is a true diamond in the rough and becomes the next Michael Bennett. Jack Smith (when healthy) has certainly showed similar attributes with his #s and coming from such humble beginnings. Or maybe – between Ayers, Jack Smith, Gholston, Spence and Jones – we can finally get some real pressure and production out of the DE position this year. There may be more talent coming off the edge now for the Bucs than we think. Work your magic Jay Hayes.
May 18th, 2016 at 11:48 am
@Joe
Von Miller had 10.5 in his rookie year as well — 2011
If we’re expecting more than 5 sacks from Spence this year we will be greatly disappointed.
JJ Watt rookie year: 5.5
Khalil Mack rookie year: 4
Muhammed Wilkerson rookie year: 3
Justin Houston rookie year: 5.5
May 18th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
the sacks will come but I want to see him provide constant pressure to qb’s causing them to step up or slide in the pocket, throw too early, throw it out of bounds something that makes the qb uncomfortable….also I want to see him play stout against the run….im happy we got him but during the senior bowl I saw him get ate up against Conklin and drango….I got him down for 6 sacks this year…GO BUCS!!!
May 18th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
nuts to expect double digit sacks…..especially if he’s going to be a rotational player for the first few games at least, and not a three down player.
May 18th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Joe that’s where my post went. I’ll eat fried crow and go on quiet time if Noah ain’t the next Kalil Mack. He reminds me of Mack, Von Miller and Dumervil. Spence is gonna give Demar fits in training camp. Dumervil gave Dotson the business every time they matched up. I just hope we don’t give up on Big Dot because he does great against bigger DE. Plus he has been playing his heart out on small salary.
May 18th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
I am saying 6 sacks. GMC will miss 4 to 6 games as usual which will put even more pressure on Spence. I have confidence Spence for the long hall but bucs need some DT’s that create havoc and finish plays when it matters right now they don’t have that.
May 18th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
SPENCE=GAME ON!!! Still can’t believe he’ll fell to us;)))))
May 18th, 2016 at 5:41 pm
He*
May 19th, 2016 at 1:51 am
Enough of this on Noah Spence playing a rotational role in his first year. He is the pass rusher we have all been waiting for. You just wait until training camp. The coaches will have no choice but to play him full time. Spence does a nice job setting the edge against rushers. He is one of the better DE at shedding blocks. In the Kentucky game he shed double teams on multiple occasions to make a play. He reminds me of Houston’s DE Whitney Mercilus who had 12 1/2 sacks last year. Noah Spence has dominated collegiate offensive linemen with his pass rushing ability. Jacquies Smith, Howard Jones and George Johnson can rotate on the other end while Robert Ayers and William Gholston rotate inside.