It’s Not Working
September 25th, 2016
The Mike Smith defense isn’t working.
Joe doesn’t know how else to say it. It’s damn ugly.
The pass rush is inconsequential, and the blitzes are failing.
The Buccaneers’ talent upgrade in the secondary isn’t showing up in the box score. Maybe that’s not surprising because it’s the returning safeties who are getting burned week after week. Today was Keith Tandy’s afternoon the Hall of Shame.
The Rams might have as bad an offense as the Bucs will face this season. And they just torched the Bucs.
Los Angeles grinded out 137 yards on 33 carries, and Case Keenum wasn’t rattled by the Bucs — or by the drops his receivers made.
That final touchdown call, with Case Keenum throwing deep on 3rd-and-2, was brilliant, but also an indictment of Smith, too. There was zero fear of the blitz Smith called. Brent Grimes was toss aside like a ragdoll.
It’s only three games, and there are notable injuries, but Smith has a long way to go.
Joe likes Smith, but remember, Joe lobbied for Jim Schwartz to take over the Bucs’ defense. Just look at what he’s doing for the 3-0 Eagles.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:42 pm
3 field goals all year
September 25th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Now they look like the greatest show on turf again smfh
September 25th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
I think the defense will improve throughout the year.
But our safeties are horrible. Hard to decide which to take first in the draft…WR or S.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
First year. Jameis gets excuses so why not Smith after installing a defensemble 6 months ago
September 25th, 2016 at 7:45 pm
The Rams have 37 points. The Rams.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Worst safeties in the league. We’ve given up more big plays than anybody. Hmmmmmmmmmm………
September 25th, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Because Schwartz who some of us wanted is knocking it out the park.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:47 pm
It wasn’t good in Atlanta, even if Mike Nolan changed things and made it worse. I thought Mike Smith adjusted his scheme to the talent. The safties suck! You have to keep at least one high, real high. The corners don’t trust them to help, that’s why Verner is getting holding penalties.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Yeah hard to decide on what to draft, Jahlil Peppers or Mike Williams. Leaning towards Peppers, if we can get Jeffery in free agency but I doubt it.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:48 pm
And Joe is on twitter tweeting great effort to professional football players after they gave up touchdowns. Tell me that was sarcasm @joe
September 25th, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Again Horrible Safety play + No pass rush = ?????
September 25th, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Theres only 1 person to blame
Will joe? I doubt it
The teflon jason gump licht
September 25th, 2016 at 7:52 pm
@joe how long will the game have to be delayed before they just say forget it rams win or do they wait no matter what
September 25th, 2016 at 7:53 pm
I am just beyond disgusted. FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS we loose to the Rams. We are awful. Koetter needs to tell Smith something has to give.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:56 pm
Sad but true. It’s hard to figure out whether the gaping holes are due to sloppy out of position play or bad scheme or roster deficiencies.
September 25th, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Coach Smith, the game has past him by. The defense didn’t work in Atl and it do not work now. This defense has given up the most points in the N.F.L. What a disgrace. time to bring the bags back, out,at lease on defense. Tell him to get out that box and get on the field
September 25th, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Rojas … It is September, we are not finished with our 3rd game yet and your talking about the draft? Really?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Is the game over or nah and how long b4 they say rams win
September 25th, 2016 at 8:04 pm
Maybe Mike Smith should coach the D from the sidelines instead of the box. It’s worth a shot, right?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:07 pm
The Broncos and Panthers are next. Yes it is time to talk draft.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:08 pm
The Bucs are great! Great at making the opponent look good. Even if the Bucs force a punt on this 3rd and 11 the chance that the Bucs score a TD to win seems remotely possible.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:11 pm
just 16 NFL quarters ago the Ram manhandled this team!!! They get another offseason in their system and the Bucs switched systems!!!! Seems like they are improving by the simple fact that they hung in their this time around alone!!!
But some want to over react as not to point fingers at some others!!!
Simple fact is, A couple clean up of plays and they are leading!!!! make the kicks and it would be tied!!!!!!
September 25th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Important is that Joe wanted Shwarz. Joe is always right. Joe can do no wrong.
Start being a professional.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:14 pm
@vabuc
Where you live at in VA?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:14 pm
Remember when we scored 12 points and still won?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:15 pm
@Buc Realist
Fact is they scored 9 points all year
September 25th, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Why is it..How is it..A team who scored no touchdowns in its 1st 2 games come into Tampa Stadium and score touchdowns? Where is the..vaulted anointed new Defense? Hell, Lovie Smith Defense looked better than this one!
September 25th, 2016 at 8:20 pm
Yes i live in va @iamkingsu…but i know the answer they said the game will start back up at 8:28
September 25th, 2016 at 8:23 pm
@VaBuc
I said where at in VA? Because it ain’t but a few of us here
September 25th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Just wondering Joe. Is JW a franchise QB? You said he needed to win this game. His pick and strip fumble td were HUGE. sounds more like Mark Sanchez than Ben R. Thoughts?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
How did Buffalo Beat the Arizona Cardinals??? Its the NFL! did you think they were never going to score??
@ mike johnson
this time in coach my scheme’s 3rd game they were smoked 56 to 10, and that was when Atlanta stopped playing in the 3rd quarter!!!!!!!
September 25th, 2016 at 8:30 pm
If we got to bust on the D…here is what makes me want to puke…not once but TWICE we couldn’t even get off the field at 3rd and 17!!!
This was big in the first part of the game when #3 had to start drives inside of his 20 because the D can’t get off the field.
And Mike Smith outcoached himself big time on one of those long 3rd down conversions…he had GMC dropping into freaking coverage instead of rushing.
Wow just wow. Take your best pass rusher out of the rush and expose him matched up on a player he can’t possibly cover.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:37 pm
weak freaking sauce
September 25th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
3rd and 18….
September 25th, 2016 at 8:41 pm
SBF- jw was bad. He cost us at least 14 points. HE is supposed to be a franchise QB. Not looking like one
September 25th, 2016 at 8:44 pm
Ok so let’s start taking draft position shall we.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Let me guess….
Most of you are already ready to start “tanking” the season for the top draft pick to get who we want, right?
SMFH. I genuinely believe that the Bucs have the worst fans in the league.
The fact of the matter is, if the Falcons lose tomorrow, we’re still at the top of our division, so guess what…
#GeuxSaints
September 25th, 2016 at 8:50 pm
This is what happens when your HC hires his friend rather than the best coordinator available, jim Schwartz
September 25th, 2016 at 8:54 pm
And for everyone that says
You have to look at this exactly like free agency.
You can’t MAKE coach want to come here. Who’s to say that they didn’t reach out to him for an interview but he declined?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Bucnut2 – My condelences to you for being born with a brain that is incapable of reason. For everyones entertainment, I would like to invite you to explain how/why those 2 turnovers were Jameis Winston’s fault. Im sure bucs fans can use a good laugh after being exposed to a limp d defense all afternoon.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:55 pm
Joe there’s a lot not working including Jameis to VJax!
September 25th, 2016 at 9:00 pm
We need game breaking speed on offense and replace all of the safeties on defense.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:01 pm
They’re on pace to have the worst season defensively, statistically in the history of the sport. Give “Smith time, he only installed the defense 6 months ago.” Funny thing, Schwartz had 6 months to install his defense. Eagles have a top five defense. Bucs??? It’s not even worth commenting on. “And with the first pick in the 2017 draft, the Tampa Bay buccaneers select?”
September 25th, 2016 at 9:34 pm
Defense didn’t play that good but we still should’ve won the game. The INT off of Sims hands cost us 7 points and the strip sack returned for a TD cost us another 7 points. If just one of them happened instead we win.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:34 pm
Jameis deserves better than this
Having to overcome the worst defense in the NFL is not easy.
The Bucs have the most cap room in the NFL and it shows.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:38 pm
@Joe … “Joe likes Smith, but remember, Joe lobbied for Jim Schwartz to take over the Bucs’ defense.” It’s not DC Smith, nor Hayes nor any of the other defensive coaches. IT’S THE PLAYERS Joe. Was at the game today and our DLine had zero push … of course we were missing our top 2 DEs today. In all fairness, DLine was decent against the run though. Our 2 safeties continue to amaze me … they can be in on several tackles in a row, then get badly burned on the next play. No consistency it seems. Not only is this a new defense that they’re having to learn (chemistry takes time?) but I’ve come to the conclusion that as a team, our defense is average at best (and that’s a stretch). It lacks elite speed at key positions, but makes up for it by being small, tackling poorly and committing too many penalties at critical times. Far too many of our defensive players just don’t play big when the lights come on.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:44 pm
And the overreaction of the night goes to Jersey Buc
September 25th, 2016 at 9:47 pm
BigStinky … Plenty of blame to go around. You’re right about the INT and the strip sack … take them away and we win. Or let our rookie kicker hit the extra point and 41 yd FG and we could’ve kicked a FG to win at the end of the game instead of having to go for a TD. The ‘what if’ game could go on and on though. There were so many incredibly bad plays by the Bucs today … on offense and defense … that I lost track. And yes, Jameis threw for over 400 yds, but he contributed to the loss as much as anyone. Looked great at times, and really bad at others. Not altogether unexpected for a 2nd year QB I guess?
September 25th, 2016 at 9:49 pm
You doing a lot of tap dancing and back peddling ……hell how about some break dancing@ Realist! We still gotta coach the LOVIE out of them! Ha ha ha!
September 25th, 2016 at 10:04 pm
Mike Smith’s defense is worse than Lovie Smith’s defense with more talented corners. Simple as that.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:48 pm
And blindly optimistic award goes to…celly!!! Congratulations! You just won another season of watching an upcoming team, that’s been up and coming since 2008. Lol.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Come on Buc Realist..sing it..Its my party and I’ll cry if I want to..by Leslie Gore! Hell, Lovies Defense look better than that Sh.. on the field tonight. Sooo, Caoch Koetter, step up and take the blame. Face the Music sir. You were anointed the savior by Buc Realist and the rest of these clowns (including Joe) Soo give us a tap dance, a SPIN..if you will!
September 26th, 2016 at 1:08 am
Jason Licht won’t be jumping in any pools,anytime soon.