“If He Don’t Bring It On Sundays, We Got Issues.”
August 11th, 2016
There’s a beauty in the “naturally pissed off” madness of new Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers, who has driven teammates to the brink of fighting through training camp.
When you set an intensity level so high against your own team in practice, like Ayers has delivered daily, you better damn well perform the same way against opponents. Otherwise, you lose credibility. If you’re going to talk angry and practice angry, and act like a bully, then you better play angry.
Right tackle Demar Dotson, who’s in the camp of Bucs thinking about belting Ayers, made this point succinctly after practice Tuesday.
“If he don’t bring it on Sundays, we got issues,” Dotson said of Ayers.
This is what’s known as raising the bar. “We need that,” Dirk Koetter said multiple times of Ayers’ practice habits.
Joe was waiting for Koetter to say, ‘We needed that.’ But he didn’t go that far. However, Joe will say it. The Bucs trenches needed a nasty influence, a guy to get other players thinking harder about playing for blood and with everything in their souls — all the time.
Watch No. 91 tonight. See if he walks the walk. If Ayers can be the player he’s been in practice, then the Bucs have bagged their best defensive end since Michael Bennett was allowed to walk away for no good reason.
August 11th, 2016 at 9:02 am
Koetter: We need someone here to play for blood!
Ayers: I’m your huckleberry. That’s just my game.
August 11th, 2016 at 9:18 am
@ Ben no other comment needed on this thread. Nailed it on the head. Can’t wait for 09/11!
August 11th, 2016 at 9:21 am
Can we get someone (anyone) in the secondary to play & lead with that type of intensity!
August 11th, 2016 at 9:24 am
Bullyball I’m wit that program.
August 11th, 2016 at 9:38 am
One player with a great attitude can make a huge difference and change the whole mindset of an offense or defense. Just look at the impact that Jameis had on the offense last year. I’d bet that Robert Ayers will have a very similar impact on the DLine this year. Add in Kwon’s impact (especially with the LBs) and Brent Grimes’ impact (especially with the secondary) and we’ve got some great potential games ahead. Add in the impact of Mike Smith, Jon Hayes and some other great position coaches, and I still can’t understand why some fans and media aren’t super-excited about what Dirk Koetter and Jason Licht are putting together here. To me it’s similar to what I felt back in the 90’s when Tony Dungy took over … except this time we’ll have an offense to go along with a defense. And it starts tonight. Go Bucs!
August 11th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Nickerson and Sapp Were the last guys in the clubhouse that brought the bully mentality. Not always popular – but necessary when you have a losing team.
August 11th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Too bad the so called defensive leaders last 6 years did not share Ayers intensity. It’s embarrassing the so called leaders were more worried about having fun and cashing checks than playing hard and smart football…in between injuries of course.
August 11th, 2016 at 9:56 am
@tmaxcon
Those last 6 years are gone, my man. It’s 2016! Let’s get ready for THIS year! Why gripe about the past at this point?
August 11th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Defense I stated months ago their seems to be this aire of disdain for the Buccs in the media world. You look other teams that haven’t been spit in years that are being shown love. Joe quickly shut my point down by doing an article by someone who stated a little something positive as if it were all in my mind. Back then I said my hope is we accept a “iu against the world mentality” and accept being the bad guys.
August 11th, 2016 at 10:03 am
My mindset is f@$!’em,not some not half f@$!’em all..
August 11th, 2016 at 10:19 am
NoS-BoS … “seems to be this aire of disdain for the Buccs in the media world.” Easiest way to change that is to WIN. That starts this year.
August 11th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Watch Ayers’ presser……you can’t be anything but inspired…..we need as many like him as we can get….
August 11th, 2016 at 10:51 am
Why, Johnny Ringo! You look like a ghost just walked across your grave.
August 11th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Wit you when you right Defense..
August 11th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Bout time this D had some dawgs again! Gotta have that mentality on defense. Spence has it too… and Kwon and VH3. Time to bring it!
August 11th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
This type of mentality can be contagious and I hope it spreads through the whole team.
Bring the swagger back!!!
August 11th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
I would be surprised if he didn’t “bring it” the question still is whether or not it will be the good “it” or the same “it” factor that the Johnson brothers were so good to bring to our line.
August 11th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Darn right he better bring it on Sunday. I’ll go down there and kick his butt myself if he doesn’t. Wait… he’s how big???
August 11th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
We’ve been a soft team for years. It’s about time we got some rough riders on this team. It’s about time that we should be able to start imposing our will on teams. It’s about time teams will be afraid to play us. It’s about time we got some crazy in us! Let’s go!
August 11th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Tonight, I can’t wait to watch the defensive system, and the pass rush. I think this is going to be a complete 180 for this team. I’m EXCITED WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Be ashamed if you were one of them fans who said we didn’t need a bully like player in the past. I say this and I Quote” He not s Buccaneers man he’s a locker room cancer”. About dam time we got some cancer. If Ayers can make the guy I labeled as one of the nicest dudes wanna punch him then he better bring it. That’s like being a bully to your family and punking down to strangers. Dot should punch him right in the chop. Ayers should get the Geno Smith.
August 11th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Go Bucs!!!! I’m tied of getn punkd! BEASTING!