Welcome Back, Robert Ayers?
October 26th, 2016
Encouraging scene at One Buc Palace this afternoon
The Bucs have had a miserable edge pass rush since Robert Ayers trashed his left ankle in the first half against Arizona in Week 2.
Is Ayers is raring to go?
Ayers didn’t seem to be in full pads (hard to tell), but he was working with teammates on the practice fields this afternoon at One Buc Palace. Will he play Sunday? Was he limited at all today? That information is not available yet. But the signs are encouraging based on what Joe saw during the open media window.
Ayers had said last week on the Buccaneers Radio Network that he had no setbacks in his rehabilitation and was very encouraged.
Remember, before Ayers went down, teammates and coaches were labeling Ayers the emotional engine of the defense. The 31-year-old newcomer has remained very engaged and has been seen fired up on the sidelines, but really being on the field is a different animal.
Joe has a good feeling right now.
For what it’s worth, Joe did see Ayers running barefoot to the locker room in the halls of One Buc Palace.
October 26th, 2016 at 1:59 pm
You posted this right after the bya week, Martin, McDonald, Ayers, all at practice. I’ll believe it when the inactives are announced Sun @1130
October 26th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
It would be fantastic to get him back for Oakland, even if it’s just limited snaps.
We need to generate a pass rush one way or another, otherwise Crabtree and Cooper will go off.
Any word on Clinton McDonald?
October 26th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
If he does make it back I wouldn’t expect a lot from him right away. It takes a while to shake the rust off after being out so long. Not to mention until that ankle is fully healed his explosiveness is going to be limited.
October 26th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
@unbelievable McDonald also practiced today
October 26th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Thanks Zaza
October 26th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
mcdonald is a plus, L Murray is a beast
October 26th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
First time leaving a comment, LONG time reader here at JoeBucsFan. Cant wait to see Ayers back on the field.
Joe am I the only one that noticed that Noah Spence had legitimate pressure on a few occasions against the niners. Kaeprnick slipped out of 2 would be sacks. I think this was his best game so far
October 26th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Agree, and thank you for being a loyal reader.
October 26th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Oakland has one of the best pass blocking o lines in the league. Even with Ayers we are not likely to even breathe on Derrick Carr. We are much better off rushing 3 and playing double coverage on both crabtree and cooper.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:14 pm
If Ayers is able to play, that will be a boost. The Raiders have more weapons than San Fran so it will be critical to get a pass-rush. Plus, Carr won’t be running around like Kap.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:16 pm
We need you Ayers. Find a way to get out there.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
the return of ayers will be a welcoming sight….it will still take him 2 or 3 games to get back in game shape….his interior pass rush will be key….GO BUCS!!!
October 26th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
If Robert Ayers wasn’t injury prone, he’d be an excellent addition to the team. Probably Licht’s best signing.
But alas, he IS injury prone, like ALL of Jason Licht’s signings.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:33 pm
I’d like to see Brent Grimes show us why we should think he was a great signing this week.
Because, so far…he’s barely been acceptable. Better than most of our CBs, so there is that…but he hasn’t played better than our draft pick.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Lol, i dont see him playing for 3-5 more weeks
He wants to be here another year and get paid and not cut
If he is injuryed most of the yeat, he can blame that for lack of production
Ayers is a pro when it comes to last year of contracts and proof it years before signong
This is his 3rd team …he knows the system
Lol we probably will have a good year from him next year, because he has to proof it
But this year? Nada
Sweezied again
October 26th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
@Bonzai- All the slipping aside, NOT hearing Grimes name leads to believe that he’s doing his job. I would expect that with some of the d-line returning that there will be more play-making opportunities.
I’ll say this, he’s head and shoulders over what we had last year!
October 26th, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Grimes is as awesome, not sure what you are watching.
October 26th, 2016 at 4:00 pm
Grimes has been good except he slips too many times and that when he gets beat.
When ball is in the air he is very good at knocking down passes. If he can defy age and play at the level he did at Carolina and at SF for this year and next season then he will go down as a very good FA signing.
He isn’t the tackler that Hargreaves is but as a cover corner after a slow start he is starting to show the form he had in Atlanta.
October 26th, 2016 at 4:09 pm
If Carr is given time, his receivers do get open and often! Gonna need all hands on deck to create a pass rush this Sunday. If not, Its gonna be a long day at Ray jay.
October 26th, 2016 at 4:52 pm
I would limit him I’m or hold him out… we will need to Thurs night on short rest.
October 26th, 2016 at 6:06 pm
Hopefully Ayers will come back and have a monstrous game like GMC did last week.
October 26th, 2016 at 6:51 pm
Joe, this is why I hated drafting a kicker early and giving up a pick. We could have had that de from Maryland you liked a lot. He’s currently got like 4 sacks with Jaguars. I like to stock up my dl and ol with depth during draft. These guys always get hurt..
October 26th, 2016 at 10:15 pm
Bonzi – Brent Grimes play has “barely been acceptable?” Brent Grimes is our best CB. In all three victories he played outstanding. He only allowed one catch against the Panthers plus the crucial interception, when Carolina had a first down at the 1-yard line, late in the game. Against the Falcons, he allowed one catch for 5 yards on three targets at him and had two pass breakups. Grimes shut down the 49ers as well. Hargreaves has been solid too, being thrown at 37 times and giving up 25 receptions (67.6 percent). He has yet to allow a touchdown. As Joe stated above, the secondary is only giving up 58% completion rate compared to 70% last year. If Hargreaves is giving up 67.6%, then Grimes has everything to do with the completion percent dropping to 58%. To say Grimes has barley been acceptable is complete nonsense. The most underrated of the CB group is Jude Adjei-Barimah. He has quietly become the unsung hero at nickle cornerback. Grimes is on his way to his 4th consecutive and 5th Pro Bowl and is one of Jason Licht’s best FA signings. Not to mention the impact he has on Hargreaves and Adjei-Barimah. Noah Spence got some snaps last game and he should start? If Robert Ayers returns look out.
October 26th, 2016 at 10:35 pm
Lol some regular poster on here still sruggle with football reality plus the Bucs will beat the Raiders with or without Ayers
October 27th, 2016 at 6:22 am
Trubucfan22 Says:
October 26th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Oakland has one of the best pass blocking o lines in the league. Even with Ayers we are not likely to even breathe on Derrick Carr. We are much better off rushing 3 and playing double coverage on both crabtree and cooper.
–Agree that their O-line is great. I believe that we are better off blitzing, especially our LBs. They are fast and instinctual. Turn them loose.
Mike Johnson Says:
October 26th, 2016 at 4:09 pm
If Carr is given time, his receivers do get open and often! Gonna need all hands on deck to create a pass rush this Sunday. If not, Its gonna be a long day at Ray jay.
–That is the very first post of yours that I can completely agree with.
Mark the date.