Ayers Learns From Spence
June 20th, 2016
Learns from a rookie.
One would think a guy who has logged seven years in the NFL would have seen it all.
But that is not the case for Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers. After an underwear football practice last week, Ayersconfessed he is learning from rookie defensive end/outside linebacker Noah Spence just by watching him.
“I wouldn’t call him my protégé because I’m learning from him,” Ayers said of Spence. “He has a lot of natural things that you just can’t teach and I’m trying to study him and learn from him, too.
“That kid has a lot of ability and he’s willing to learn. He’s making the mistakes just like all of us are, but he has the want-to, he has the abilities, so I personally feel like the sky is the limit.
“We’re going to take it one day at a time. Not only him, but there are a lot of other guys that have a lot of ability. You know, Howard [Jones] and William [Gholston] – who I personally feel like has had the best OTAs of us all – he’s done really good, so there’s a lot of competition, a lot of good players on this line.”
Now Joe has made it clear little can be gathered watching linemen in underwear football because there are no pads and they are not allowed to hit. It’s mostly footwork and handwork and basic fundamentals for linemen.
But Bucs coach Dirk Koetter did notice things Gholston was doing well that encouraged him. Koetter said Gholston was a “grinder.”
The fact a veteran with a Super Bowl ring is watching and learning from Spence tells Joe this kid Spence may be special.
June 20th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Ugh which rookie jersey to buy spence or vh3!!! Crap ahhhh
June 20th, 2016 at 8:54 am
Both
June 20th, 2016 at 8:57 am
With MacDonald back and Spence and Ayers added to our existing players. I Look for our Dline to be special in the coming years.
June 20th, 2016 at 10:09 am
I don’t recall a pre-season where it’s seemed like so many players are geeked up about the potential of the team. It’s mostly just a lot of platitudes and trope. This really seems like there’s a vibe and a significant uptick in talent on this team that hasn’t been there for as long as I can remember. Can’t wait to see it play out.
June 20th, 2016 at 10:11 am
If the NBA finals taught us anything it’s that your star players have to show up and dominate. Unless our star players come out and dominate expect the same results from yesteryear.
June 20th, 2016 at 11:21 am
Joe got his tapes mixed up. These comments were from Ayers.
June 20th, 2016 at 11:22 am
Joe got his tapes mixed up. These comments were from Ayers. Why not fix the story instead of deleting my comment?
June 20th, 2016 at 11:23 am
Saw it on video last week. You can probably go to buccaneers.com and see the words coming out of Ayers’ mouth. Don’t delete the comment, fix the story.
June 20th, 2016 at 11:29 am
Ayers: http://www.buccaneers.com/videos/videos/Robert-Ayers-on-Adjusting-to-a-New-Defense/b17aeabf-ad1c-4a9e-867e-b94c98e0531b
June 20th, 2016 at 11:31 am
Starts at the 1:08 mark http://www.buccaneers.com/videos/videos/Robert-Ayers-on-Adjusting-to-a-New-Defense/b17aeabf-ad1c-4a9e-867e-b94c98e0531b
June 20th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
jeez dude
June 20th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Whether Ayers or McDonald – its the same take. An experienced and respected vet DLman is very impressed with what he has seen from rookie Noah Spence so far.
In addition to the potential of Noah Spence, Jack Smith, Will Gholston and Ho Jo – lets not forget the “other Spence”. Akeem Spence is a solid young DT who WILL be vying to take the starting job away from a very capable McDonald. There’s a lot of young talent in the hopper up front. If Jay Hayes can work his magic with even a couple of these young guys – the Bucs DLine will be formidable.
June 20th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
Of course Spence is special. That was always clear. Just needs to stay clean and the sky is the limit.