“Playing Offense With Defensive Players”
September 5th, 2016
Attack. Attack. Attack.
Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith likes to get after it, as in the quarterback. Smith isn’t hung up on takeaways. He’s obsessed with confusing quarterbacks, disguising coverages and blitzing until quarterbacks get maimed or start thinking too much.
Lovie Smith is shaking his head somewhere.
Dirk Koetter beautifully emphasized the Mike Smith mindset today at One Buc Palace when he said Smith is “playing offense with defensive players.”
The Bucs have lots of active bodies at defensive end, versatile ones, too. They’re going to use them.
Remember, Koetter told Joe how much he admired the successful eight-man rotation in of defensive line coach Jay Hayes, used so well with the Bengals. It’s a reason why Hayes is in Tampa.
And Koetter was true to his feeling. The Bucs kept a whopping 10 defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster, including undrafted rookie Channing Ward.
September 5th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Think that Hayes came over at least partially to take over as D coordinator when Smith leaves for a head coaching job. Hope we get 2 years out of him but I see 1 as more likely.
September 5th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
It sure would be nice to get Knighton “the pot roast in that mix”, even in preseason. Run stuffing could still be a problem.
September 5th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Back up I hope it’s two also reason why I say that Hayes needs more time with Mike systems so it can be an easy transition
September 5th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
I would not over think the “why” Hayes is in Tampa we would just be thankful he is. Let’s be honest 5 minutes is enough time to spend in Cincinnati 13 years is cruel and unusual punishment.
September 5th, 2016 at 1:39 pm
What Tmax said.
September 5th, 2016 at 1:40 pm
For Hayes……good fishing, warm Florida sun, no state income tax and a foundation of GMC & Clinton on the Dline….and the prospect of drafting a DE.
That will perhaps a promotion in a year or two……good reasons.
September 5th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Joe, that link on Channing Ward was interesting (sounds like he made quite an impression starting way back in May as a UDFA). That link led to another on the JBF blog back in May titled ‘Bucs Earn Bronze For 2016 Nobody Class’. Sounds like you were high way back then on Ward and Cross (who both made the 53 cut), as well as Barber and Johnson who made in onto the PS. Since they were all UDFAs, I’d say that Jason Licht was doing a pretty respectable job in bringing in talent. Sounds like our coaches are doing a good job too of getting them trained up.
September 5th, 2016 at 2:50 pm
TMAX and NosBos,
Drove north on I-71 through Cincinnati this summer – UGLY! The time it took was too long to be there.
September 5th, 2016 at 5:14 pm
BucinJAX
Cincinnati even put it’s airport in Kentucky.