Spence Just Knows How
May 12th, 2016
Jascon Licht likens to a stud NFL DE.
In a way, Joe feels bad for Noah Spence. The second round draft pick of the Bucs has all sorts of pressure on him.
This team has been bereft of an edge rusher for a decade. Yes, Joe is happy the Bucs drafted Spence, but fears too many people expect Spence to be the second coming of Simeon Rice immediatley. That’s simply not fair for the rookie.
And while Spence may never make folks forget Rice, he could remind some of Elvis Dumervil. That’s the thought of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Appearing recently with popular sports radio and television personality Adam Schein of “Mad Dog Radio,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, Licht said he has no doubt Spence will be productive because, well, he always has known how to punish quarterbacks.
“Well, in terms of a player, there are certain guys, in this particular case talking about pass rushers, that just know how to do it,” Licht said of Spence. “They’ve known how to do it for a long time. You go back all the way to his high school days where he had a ton of production. The all-star game he played in where he and Jameis [Winston] became friends, he had a dominant game. And through his career at Ohio State and Eastern Kentucky and through the Senior Bowl, everywhere he shows up, he has production. He knows how to do it.
“He is like – I am not comparing him necessarily as players – Elvis Dumervil was a guy like that. He had a ton of sacks if you back at his high school years and he did it in college and he’s doing it in the pros. Not everybody does that and translates [to the NFL] but [Spence’s] skillset does.”
Man, if Spence turns into Dumervil, Licht will have hit a home run. Only twice in his nine-year career has Dumervil had less than 8.5 sacks. Four times he has had 11 or more sacks.
Remember folks, it is rare for a rookie to have double-digit sacks (not even Dumervil did). If Spence has eight sacks, Joe will believe he had a fine rookie campaign.
May 12th, 2016 at 8:11 am
I’m not expecting double digit sacks from him his first year, like Joe stated that’s a little unfair to expect that from him right away, but I do expect him to provide some pressure on 3rd downs and make sum key plays throught the season and show flashes of why he was rated the best pure pass rusher in his draft class. My prediction for his rookie campaign is 6-8 sacks “respectively”.
May 12th, 2016 at 8:12 am
Joe,
Your pic references Akerman Spence
May 12th, 2016 at 8:13 am
Akeem… damn autocorrect
May 12th, 2016 at 8:49 am
I’m really not getting where this pressure you keep talking about is coming from. I feel like the sentiment that I’ve seen is that everyone is just excited to see the kid grow and develop.
May 12th, 2016 at 8:58 am
I would be satisfied with 7 sacks in his rookie year…but hope to see 9 or more.
The main this I want to see is his addition causing the rest of the dline to increase their sacks by 2 or 3.
May 12th, 2016 at 9:17 am
I agree with Bonzai…..I think the key is the overall improvement on the Dline with pressure…..and I think Spence will help us do that.
I also look for many sacks from our LBs……mainly because of a changed scheme and better CB coverage.
May 12th, 2016 at 9:32 am
“Jascon Licht likens Akeem Spence to a stud NFL DE.”
Akeem??? Come on Joes, more coffee…
May 12th, 2016 at 9:43 am
Said it before, this the next Von Miller in the NFL. Get ready for an animal to show up on Sundays.
May 12th, 2016 at 10:23 am
All I’m saying if Jacq Smith and HoJo can get get five sacks in their rookie seasons playing a limited role, based on what JL is saying that he is a natural, at least 8 would be great, but also if the others produce as a whole on the line, including “exotic blitzes”, that get the qb on the ground or force errors, that’s improvement.
May 12th, 2016 at 10:53 am
I just hope the kid comes out, plays well, makes his mistakes early in the season and we see growth over the course of the season.
May 12th, 2016 at 10:54 am
I thought it was Noah spence
May 12th, 2016 at 11:09 am
Sacks are great. I hope he gets 20. But, if the quarterback starts throwing the ball earlier due to pressure, I’d take that too.
May 12th, 2016 at 11:27 am
Lets not forget we should also be getting more pressure from our New York Giants’ free agent we signed from the other end of our Defensive Line. We also should get even more pressure from McCoy inside too. Throw in some LB blitzes by our LBs and that should increase our interceptions and we should get more three and outs to help our Offense! Our great kicker will help our starting position for our Offense too!
May 12th, 2016 at 11:39 am
Khalil Mack
**1st round (5th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
• DE/LB
• Height: 6-3 || Weight: 251 lbs.
2014
• Sks: 4.0
• TKl: 59
Vs
2015
• Sks: 16.0
• TKl: 57
May 12th, 2016 at 11:39 am
*15 sacks
May 12th, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Crunch them numbers LUV!
We just need Spence to contribute and make an impact. The sacks will come.
May 12th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
not expecting 10+ sacks right out of the gate but hope he generates a ton of pressure that forces the qb into mistakes….too many times last year the qb would just sit comfortably in the pocket looking, waiting and finding someone open with no pressure around him….cause the qb to have happy feet and see ghost and we will be fine…GO BUCS!!!
May 12th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
The number of sacks Noah Spence gets will depend on how much playing time he gets. He is not that bad against the run. Granted he is no William Gholston. I would like him to start which would be difficult with Robert Ayers, Jacquies Smith and Gholston to compete with. The defensive line should improve as a whole with Spence and Ayers added to the mix. When Ayers is lined up inside next to McCoy with Spence and Smith on the outside, that is our best pass rushing group. I am looking for between 8 and 9 sacks from Spence. Not only sacks but it is just as much about QB hurries. McCoy led the team last year with 13. Spence has a shot to beat that number.
May 12th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Give the kid Spence a few games. He’ll see what the NFL is really like and up his game. I expect him to be in full swing at about game 8 or 9. The kid will do well. I think he will have at least 10 sacks this season..seriously.
May 12th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
I’ve got 5.5 over/under on sacks, who’s with me?! If he’s close to that, I’ll be happy this year. Let’s not kill the kid with pressure and label him a bust if he doesn’t go all Von Miller.
May 12th, 2016 at 5:51 pm
Von Spence
May 13th, 2016 at 9:07 am
I’m more interested in year one how many pressures he can produce.