Smith: Buck (Bucs?) Stops Here
September 29th, 2016
“The sky is not falling.”
Want to point fingers at the Bucs defense? Gerald McCoy (always a too easy target)? Chris Conte? Lavonte David’s goose egg in Arizona?
Well, Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith said the blame game is easy. So who should fans rage at for the light-up-the-scoreboard defense?
Smith says he should be the target.
In his weekly press conference this morning, Smith suggested there shouldn’t be a rush to judgment. The season is young. But Smith more than a few times said he has not done a good enough job to turn around the defense and he and he alone is to blame.
“Let me tell you, the sky is not falling, that is for sure,” Smith said. “I know everybody is frustrated with what we have put out there in the first three games, nobody more than me.
“It is not any one player’s fault or any one coach’s fault. Ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure our guys understand what we are trying to get accomplished and we have not played the type of football we need to play. We have given up way too many explosive plays, but they are only a handful of plays. That is what the NFL is all about.
“You can’t go back and say, ‘Gee, I wish I had that third-and-18 call back.’ Or ‘I wish that fit had been better.’ We have to keep grinding as a staff and keep grinding as a group of men and show some resiliency. We have done that at times. I think we have been inconsistent in different periods of the game. There are times where we look like we are going to play good defense and there are other times it is like ‘Oh, my God‘ and you are scratching your head.”
Smith, as he previously has said, is hoping the defense turns the corner after the fourth game, meaning that after four games, players should have a full grasp of the defense.
Smith also pointed out that the full measure of the defense should be graded after 16 games, not just three. He also noted there have been positive elements to the defense, such as the rush defense and, overall, the third-down defense.
Still, if one is to blame anyone on the pinball-like points allowed, Smtih said the blame is all on his shoulders.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Smith says like any good manager will.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:55 pm
He’s right, the sky isn’t falling. But social media is falling apart.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
I”m tired of blaming. I’ve spent what feels like the entirety of my Bucs fandom trying to figure out whose feet the blame should lay at. I’m not interested in it anymore. This is the plight and perpetual existence of a Bucs fan. Every week is finger pointing. Every week is calling for jobs. Every week we’re too high on players that aren’t performing. It’s the worst.
September 29th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
A defense will go as far as its pass rush will take it.
September 29th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Man, we have a new DC, defensive scheme, rookie head coach and one of the youngest rosters. Y’all chill.
I’m still excited watching this team perform and for the future.
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
well…I respect him for saying he’s to blame for the defense being the worse in the league….unlike dirk, he didn’t throw his players under the bus and say the team must find a way to win….maybe he should pass that advice to the hc…GO BUCS!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 1:18 pm
@813 – I’m not sure where you’re getting that he threw anyone under the bus. He said multiple times that he was responsible for finding a solution and that the culture issue is his to solve. How is that him throwing anyone under the bus?
September 29th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
That’s easy. Team Glazer.
September 29th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Oh don’t worry Smith, I’m giving you ALL THE BLAME BUDDY!!!
You know what’s even scarier, Smith saying “The sky isn’t falling” instantly reminded me of Lovie Smith saying “Don’t lead the charge” last season.
It’s would be even better is Lovie said that headed into week 4. I’m going to have to scan last years pressers and find it now!
Same lame excuses as Lovie, we need time, the guys need to grasp the system. GIVE ME A BREAK!!PLAY MAN COVERAGE AND STAY ON YOUR MAN!!! BE A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND COVER YOUR MAN. HOW IS THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND? STUDY FILM AND DO YOUR JOB!!!
I’m sick of this soft zone BULLSPIT!!! FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 2:06 pm
The ghost of Lovie just flashed across my computer screen saying “We’re almost there, We’re going to be great, We’re almost there, about to tunr the corner” blah,blah,blah.
I see miss communications between the secondary, missed coverage assignments, finger pointing. I trust Mike Smith will get I turned around but I think it may take until late October maybe even November before the defense is humming like it could / should.
I have seen good defensive line play at times, and at other times it looks terrible. Why on earth did they drop McCoy into coverage on third and long? That was such a Schiano / Lovie move. Come on Mike Smith I had very high hopes for you, please don’t let us down.
September 29th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
“I”m tired of blaming. I’ve spent what feels like the entirety of my Bucs fandom trying to figure out whose feet the blame should lay at. I’m not interested in it anymore. This is the plight and perpetual existence of a Bucs fan. Every week is finger pointing. Every week is calling for jobs. Every week we’re too high on players that aren’t performing. It’s the worst.”
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One of the best posts in the history of JBF. I’m standing and applauding you sir.
September 29th, 2016 at 2:21 pm
C’mon guys, we know it’s all #93’s fault. duh 😉
September 29th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
@Patrick….dirk said multiple times that the team needs to find a way to win and this team has a culture problem….I saw a team fight to the end and refuse to lose….no one laid down….he blow the clock management and failed to take full responsibility…instead he said players have to find a way to win the game…how can they when the hc is blowing the clock and abandoning the run?….GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
I’m blaming mccoy. Stating the obvious.
September 29th, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Patrick in VA- I’m standing, applauding next to Hawaiian!!!
We heard that it was coaching last year! I wonder who we’ll point at if things continue to go south?
September 29th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
Schiano’s defense was better. They never looked this bad.
September 29th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Smith put the blame on his shoulders, which is a breathe of fresh air after the Lovie regime. But we all know regardless of the play calling the defense has to execute. The line has got to get there, more specific ftom the edge. And the secondary has to step it up. Conte has appeared to be out of position too often and the corners get beat too often. From what we’ve seen the past 35 games is this defense simply does not have the pieces and lack the ability to execute.
September 29th, 2016 at 4:12 pm
Game planning is huge, certain plays called will put players in position to make plays. Don’t act like coaching isn’t important now.
September 29th, 2016 at 4:22 pm
We need to get pressure out our DE. Gholston and Lambert are good against the run but do NOT put the pressure we need in the passing game. With Jacquies Smith and Robert Ayers out we need to see more of Noah Spence and Howard Jones. Until we can get that pressure the defense will struggle.
September 29th, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Schianos defense was the best bet we had in the last 4 coaches, but Dirl os the guy I want calling the offense. This almost seems staged its so pathetic with the defense.
September 29th, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Correction Godzilla13 we don’t get pressure from anyone, ANYONE!
September 29th, 2016 at 6:02 pm
I just love this SPINNING smith is doing. No the sky is not falling apart. The sun will come up and the Bucs will lose..like they always do. The blame should be placed squarely on Coach Koetter. He is the Head coach. Koetter sit back and smiled while Lovie took the heat last year. Well sir, Your turn at bat. You are the HMIC. Fix it or join Lovie and Schiano at the local fishing hole!
September 29th, 2016 at 6:33 pm
It’s an amazing world filled with people who are rushing to judgement that a system and team are complete failures after 3 efforts.
Want to know why the defense sucks? It’s real simple: Clean pockets that even a rookie can feel comfortable throwing from against the Bucs. The Bucs pass rush is the singular weakest unit in the entire NFL. They have no equal. They just aren’t talented enough to get consistent push. And there’s no escaping it for the rest of the season. Unless Ayers comes back healthy (who knows if he will be 100%).
The Bucs will draft a DT and a DE in the first 2 rounds next year. And maybe their entire draft on D (except for another WR).
September 29th, 2016 at 6:52 pm
The rush defense has always been good(since Raheem that is). You came here to fix that pass defense
September 29th, 2016 at 8:08 pm
If Jameis can control the turnovers we have a good chance at winning this weekend. We need to run the ball a lot more first and foremost. And I think Peyton should get some carries against Denver. How funny would that be if he had his breakout game against the other Peyton’s old team.
September 29th, 2016 at 10:30 pm
Beat Denver and the problems wash away.
September 29th, 2016 at 11:22 pm
You know…. Sometimes it would be refreshing and honest if a coach would give the simple yet totally accurate answer which is, “Beginning with me, we suck.” Then, stop right there and just repeat this answer to the questions asked. The coach could mix it up a little and give a little smile one of the times he says this one response.
The coach-speak and amateur psychology lesson about how blaming someone is easy to do is silly on his part at best. Just say, right now we suck at playing this defense but we are continuing to work and we’ll get better or none of us will be here that long.
September 30th, 2016 at 9:27 am
^^^BYE^^^Ha ha ha ha!