Ayers Talks His New Coach
June 24th, 2016
Discusses playing for DL coach Jay Hayes.
Think about it: free agent acquisition Robert Ayers is the second starting defensive lineman who has played in a Super Bowl.
Ayers, a defensive end, played for Denver when they got female-dog-slapped by Seattle. The other defensive lineman for the Bucs who starts and has played in a Super Bowl? That would be Clinton McDonald, who got his ring in the same Super Bowl. McDonald played for Seattle.
Obviously, during the busy offseason, somehow, the Bucs lured famed defensive line coach Jay Hayes. At minicamp, Ayers talked about his new defensive line coach.
“I mean, look at his resumé for one,” Ayers said. “All of the great players from Geno Atkins to Justin Smith to all of those guys he’s coached and that have had a lot of success in this league and look at Cincinnati’s D-line. The last couple of years they’ve had multiple Pro Bowlers and good players and things like that.
“That right there says a lot and he played the game – he played six or seven years. … He’s been around a lot of great players, so he knows a lot. He’s not coaching just from a guy who studied the game; he’s coaching from a guy that played the game, so that’s great.”
Joe will note that Hayes logged playing time in the USFL (RIP), not the NFL.
The more Joe talks to folks in and around the Bucs, the more excited Joe gets. Really. One thing Joe heard is that Ayers is really taking younger defensive linemen under his wing and doing his best to see they develop into productive NFLers. This was not asked of Ayers, he naturally took to it like Joe does to a bottle of cold beer.
So many little things like that make Joe hunger for real football come September.
June 24th, 2016 at 6:37 am
So happy that Lovie and his chrony coaches are gone. The Bucs added significant talent in the offseason along with quality coaching and a progressive modern day NFL scheme. The complete opposite of what loser Lovie would ever consider. Lovie is a chump. Garbage NFL coach. So happy he is gone. Worse than Schiano. Yup, just said it. Joe knows I’m right.
June 24th, 2016 at 7:18 am
Can’t wait to see the difference the coaches and new players make on the D line this season. I think alot of ppl are sleeping on Jac Smith, if this guy can stay healthy for 16 he’s def gonna break 10 sacks imo. The production has been there, he just keeps getting banged up because teams run right at him and he’s not the biggest guy in the world. But with additions of coach Hayes and guys like Spence and Ayers look for Smith to have a break out year.
June 24th, 2016 at 9:13 am
Genius has had some talented players to work with, and he knows what he’s doing, but a coach can’t take the #15 ranked defensive-end and make him a top 5 defensive-end, talent needs to be there for the coach to work with, Hayes can teach them playing technics but after that talent and the love of the game kicks in.
June 24th, 2016 at 9:16 am
Jeff.. Schiano had a clue, not early onset dementia.
June 24th, 2016 at 9:25 am
Schiano thinks Mile Glennon is a franchise quarterback. Schiano had the defensive line in the pros go after a team on the last play of the game on a kneel down. I think he would have been a great D-coordinator and eventually a good head coach, but my first statement says it all.
June 24th, 2016 at 9:47 am
Rsrq
Largely agree with you. Schiano could have made a good DC in the pros but he wasn’t ready to be an HC.
I think he has his perfect job right now. OSU will be stacked with talent as long as Urban is head man and so they always be good. When Urban leaves Schiano is young enough to replace him.
IMHO Schiano is not an NFL head coach. He more of a First sergeant kind of leader not a Captain much less a general. Different leadership skill sets.
June 24th, 2016 at 10:15 am
Schiano needed to learn a few things before being a coach nonetheless record says it all. Schiano was twice the coach Lovie was. I think if had just been a little more human with his own players they wouldnt have quit on him. The defense he played with the bucs got the most out of LVD and was probably the best defense weve had in a few years
June 24th, 2016 at 6:04 pm
The further we get into the offseason the more it seems we truly have a cohesive unit. Our guys are playing for each other. That’s the best possible outcome. Our future is bright!!