Brooks: Effort Missing On Too Many Plays
November 10th, 2016
Derrick Brooks analyzes the Bucs defense
Iconic Derrick Brooks gave a passionate public finger-wagging at the Bucs defense yesterday.
Some players and the collective effort clearly got under Brooks’ Hall of Fame skin.
Considering Brooks is very selective with his criticism, and usually rather subdued, it was quite significant.
Speaking on Tampa-2, his Wednesday show with Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620, Brooks fired away.
He explained that while watching the Thursday night’s game with John Lynch, the legendary Bucs safety was in disbelief at the Bucs’ defensive showing.
So what were Lynch and Brooks seeing?
“The small subtleties of this football team not executing some simple things as effort,” Brooks said. “Yes, there were some effort plays that I felt our defense gave up to that Atlanta offense, and it was just pure effort that did not win. It wasn’t scheme. It wasn’t right play/bad defense. It was just effort, of want to. And that was a little bit concerning.”
Yes, Brooks saw positives, but the negatives are weighing too heavily.
“It’s time to look in the mirror. It’s not about making any more excuses,” Brooks said. “It’s simplifying the process to me to say, ‘What are we going to accomplish today?’ not eight games from now. What are we going to accomplish today? Are we going to win today and get back to winning and establishing that solid foundation from a play-in/play-out basis and compete in practice?’
“That’s what I’m taking this all back to. I’m not buying into a lack of padded practices. … Compete every day in practice and get each other better. Make the practice the game. And no, I’m not concerned about injuries. Heck, you can’t get no more injured than what you are right now. So it’s a next-man mentality.
“Compete in practice and make sure the next man is prepared the best he can by facing the competition he’s facing in practice, and accomplish that on a play-in, play-out, day-by-day basis, and then you can live with a maximum effort on Sunday.”
“That would be my suggestions if I’m in that locker room.”
Joe can’t type the heartfelt emotion in Brooks’ voice. You can hear that via the link above.
It almost sounds to Joe that the frustration of Bucs fans now extends fully to Brooks, who’s been wearing his fan hat for eight seasons. (Where does the time go?)
Brooks said some of the bad effort plays might not stick out to the average fan, but he sees the game in a different way.
No. 55 pointed to the Bucs passing on opportunities to punish ball carriers at every opportunity to wear them down for later in the game. And Brooks assured the audience he knows what he’s looking at and gave the example of a running back feeling six hits on a short gain versus just one guy tackling him.
“My football eyes are very clear. There’s nothing wrong with them,” Brooks said.
Brooks said he wasn’t calling out Vernon Hargreaves. But he ranted about how Hargreaves needed to bring his A-game and effort facing Julio Jones even if he knew he would lose his share of battles.
“Doggonn’it, make sure it’s a competitive play. Make sure he’s beating you at your best right now in your career as a rookie,” Brooks said. “Make sure he’s getting your best effort now.”
Brooks, referencing 1995 and 1996, said he knows what it’s like for a defense to give its best effort but fail. And playing through that mentality is critical.
“I was losing my share of battles, but dammit, I went down fighting,” Brooks said.
Brooks said the core of the current Tampa Bay defense has been together long enough to where they should be giving a better collective effort that what was seen Thursday night.
Inspiring but saddening stuff from Mr. Brooks.
November 10th, 2016 at 11:46 am
It might be high time to bring in Brooks just as the Broncos brought in Elway as a VP of Operations type.
November 10th, 2016 at 11:48 am
Time to trim the fat off this team
November 10th, 2016 at 11:58 am
WOW…..that first paragraph says it all….sounds to me like brooks has noticed this team starting to quit on dirk and smitty….when a team isn’t giving full effort, that usually means the hc has lost the locker room….players aren’t listening to the hc, they’re just going thru the motions….the effort is lacking because they know they have an incompetent hc….
my favorite part was,”“It’s time to look in the mirror. It’s not about making any more excuses,” Brooks said…..i hope @realist and others read that sentence over and over again….GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Atlanta played it perfectly since the Defense had played a game and a half a little over 98 hours before!!! They ran some stretch plays/screens to get the defense gassed quickly. (plus, I bet the DE’s knees were sore from all the diving donald penn diving at them!!!) They were gassed during the second quarter!
Is gassed and effort the same thing???
They do need a little more talent and already creating a new young core that will be added to with next years draft!!!!!!!
Its amazing that the Bucs only have two first round picks on this defense GMC93, and VH28!!!
Second round pics LVD54, NS57
Third round pics????
Fourth round pics KA58, AS97, WG92
November 10th, 2016 at 12:09 pm
813bucboi I hope everyone in the Bucs franchise right now reads that sentence over and over again.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Dirk Koetter: I think the intensity is a lot better than you think. Now when it got away from us a little bit there at the end. But, yeah. Come down, leave your tape recorder and come on down on the field. That hittin’ is real, ok, that hitting is real.
Koetter had a lot of intensity in his response. So that’s great news. Koetter likes what his team is bringing to the table, even during a blowout home loss.
I don’t know what Koetter was seeing on the field…I’m with Derrick Brooks on this.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
I’ve decided I’m not gonna stop saying it till draft day. DE Derek Barnett round 1.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
He also said it is not the scheme (ie coaches) but its the players and their effort levels but take his words and twist them to your agenda 813 that’s what you do best.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
@REALIST….did you not read what a hall of fame linebacker just say about this team…..
first-since when does 1 ot=half of a game?….ot is only 15minutes…that’s 1quarter not 2….
second-yes, gassed and effort are 2 different things….they are professional and atl had the same turn around minus about 14minutes….
third-Robert ayers=1st round pick…conte-3rd round pick….
a hall of famer has noticed that this team just isn’t giving 100% effort and that is a nice way of saying this team has quit on the hc….
go back and read what brooks said…especially my favorite part of all,”“It’s time to look in the mirror. It’s not about making any more excuses,” Brooks said.”……DIRK=JIM TOMSULA…..GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:23 pm
“The small subtleties of this football team not executing some simple things as effort,”
i.e…. they quit. They gave up.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:25 pm
@ndog….i think he’s saying it wasn’t the scheme or game plan atl had, it was just lack of effort….players have quit on dirk….GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:25 pm
60 game snaps is about the average, so 90 game snaps is a game and a half for the defense!!! simple math, but I am glad you asked since you did not understand!!!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:32 pm
” It was just effort, of want to. And that was a little bit concerning.”….
when a team has quit on a coach, you have no choice but to can him….this is dirk’s and @realist worst nightmare….its a lot easier to can a coach or 2 than to replace 6,7 players…..atl quit on dirk and smitty during the season so this is nothing new….the players know dirk and smitty are in over their heads and don’t want to give 100% effort for a coach that has cost them games by mismanaging the clock and timeouts and has quit on them during games a few times this year…..DIRK IS IN TROUBLE….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
How can anyone put that on Koetter if they all decide to quit on him. From what I’ve seen, he’s an intense, motivated, rookie HC that’s played 8 games so far. If the players want to put so much effort into giving up, than get the f@#k off the field. I guess giving up on coaches halfway through the season is what they have been taught though down here in two year and done Tampa Bay.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
@realist…stats are for those who try to skew facts…the fact is OT IS 15MINUTES….1 EXTRA QUARTER….glab to see you ignored everything else i mentioned….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA….GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Remember McCoy told his teammates to calm down in practice after the Washington loss. Don’t practice angry. He is our defensive leader.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:49 pm
I’m wondering if there are “loafs” out there?
November 10th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
@SOEbuc….they are just returning the favor….dirk has quit on this team more than twice this year…combine that with his clock and timeout f up’s and mix in a few head scratching play calls, i understand why they wont give max effort…do i like it?..no…but i understand it….why give 100% effort while you wait for your rookie hc to adjust to life as a nfl hc….the adjustment period should be gone by now….its not like he is schanio coming straight out of college…he’s been in the nfl for a while now….the players have inside information….they know dirk is in over his head….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
813:
Interesting comparing DK to Tomsala….you might be on to something. Dirk may have trouble matching his 5-11 record, however.
November 10th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
I think this goes back to what has been said numerous times before. We have too many players on the team who are too conditioned for losing. They’ve gone in to hibernation mode and are steeling themselves to another lost season. There’s no maximum effort going on because they’ve accepted their fate, just like they do every year.
November 10th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
@jon…they are equal…both have been in the nfl for a while…both were good/decent coordinators….both were in house promotions…both were in over their head…both teams quit on them in the middle of the season….
your right about the record…we may have seen our last win vs. the 49ers….GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
I agree with Mr. Brooks and I’ve been saying/seeing the same things.
Problem is who’s gonna correct it and is the organization equipped to make the proper changes needed to fix the issues.
November 10th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
People wonder why GMC gets so much grief and this is it. Is GMC the best player on the defense, every year? Yep absolutely. But he does get lost in many games at many time. He has never evolved so that his production matched his amazing talent. Would 31 other teams want him? ABSOLUTELY, not even arguing that. Do I want him on the bucs? ABSOLUTELY! I can’t say that strong enough. I don’t care if he high 5s Brees or Newton or whoever after the game or play but during it he needs to find the RAGE. We need his play to match his off field work and athleticism. RAGE Gerald, RAGE. Have your fun by making the game yours. Preside over the 3 by 3 yard area that you exist in. Find your inner beast and turn it loose! You are the leader of your side of the ball. Every player will feed off of you! You are leading by example. This is your defense. OWN IT.
November 10th, 2016 at 1:39 pm
@Tnew,
I agree McCoy needs a Dwade figure on Defense. I think he will excel on a team where he can play without being a leader. Similar to Simeon Rice. If I recall Arizona fans had soured on Rice as well.
November 10th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Have any of you given any thought to the fact that the constant coaching turn over is the sole problem ? It’s not Dirk, and it’s not Mike. It’s the fact that they can just lay down and a new coach will appear with zero player repercussion. They sure would take this a lot more seriously if there was no way out of the hard work it takes to succeed. They need to learn to give there all or it’s the highway !!! And yes Brooks should be head of football operations…
November 10th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Just what we all thought. Not all, but there are a good number of starting defensive players that are just out there cashing paychecks.
November 10th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
So, much like Joe suggested with Jameis, I think Kwon needs to be given 10 minutes in coach’s office with a closed door and a list of players’ numbers.
November 10th, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Very telling words from the Don! What a lot of us have already noticed with this team.
This defense needs a true leader/alpha male who’s also a great player at his position.
Lavonte and McCoy have extreme talent, however they both lack that true leadership trait. They aren’t guys who can step up, and stop this bullsh*t. They aren’t the guys who will hold everyone else accountable.
Kwon is a missile but he needs to be aimed in the right direction or he’s ineffective. He should not be the QB of the defense, they need someone with more smarts.
Go Sucs!
#lichtmyb*lls
November 10th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
For those that say – constant coach/gm change is the problem…
The glazers NEVER EVER made a mistake firing a coach or GM
NOT ONCE. They are perfect and should be commended
Not 1 GM/coach was successful after the firing from tampa bay
The glazers problem is hiring the correct GM/coach
Koetter will never be a successful nfl hc coach if ever gets rehired. And our lovable buffoon would be back in arizona scounting kickers because he is a mockery in the nfl FO circles
*dungy was successful at indy and fortunately drafting the greatest regular season qb…
BUT we would have never won the superbowl without firing dungy and hiring grudog
***in kobes opinion, winning only 1 superbowl with manning in his prime was failure
Be perfect again
#firejasonlicht
November 10th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
@kobe…i agree about the glazer gang and dirk….
the only thing i disagree with is dungey failing with peyton in his prime….that wasn’t the case….peyton would always throw a int or two in the playoffs killing their hopes….he did it vs the pats, steelers and chargers….he did it vs the saints and it cost him big time….GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Love myself some Derrick Brooks. HE bout said it all. EFFORT. I’d add passion also. Our Defense goes to sleep quite often and wakes up..after the play is completed. Hell, Lovie’s Defense played better. Derrick is also spot on about the excuses. You know the ones..1st yr head coach, new scheme, young players..and on and on….But they don’t call us the Yucks..for nothing!!!I was reading today where the Bears say they are extra hungry for a win. The mauling starts at 1pm sharp this Sunday.
November 10th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
@architek….TOM COUGHLIN….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA….GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
i noticed the effort was lacking a couple of games back… crucial 3rd down needing a sack & a fresh howard jones comes in from the sideline and basically jogs in the backfield and line dances with the opposing team’s tackle… didn’t even attempt to look like he even wanted to make the play… & of course they got the 1st down
November 10th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
“@jon…they are equal…both have been in the nfl for a while…both were good/decent coordinators….both were in house promotions…both were in over their head…both teams quit on them in the middle of the season….”
wow comon man. I’m sorry but his resume sh1ts all over Tomsula’s from an NFL perspective and it’s laughable that you are comparing them. Tomsula was only a coordinator once in his career and it was for the freaking Berlin Thunder. Tomsula was never a coordinator in the NFL level. He was the D-line coach for 7 years in San Fran and their D-line was really only good when Harbaugh was coaching and they were stacked with talent across the front 7.
Koetter has run successful offenses for 3 different NFL teams over the last decade. Each offense was different and catered to the personnel. We had the most yards in the history of our franchise last year. And you want to fire him 8 games into his first year. Way to keep a balanced perspective.
I also thought this was amusing:
“@realist…stats are for those who try to skew facts…the fact is OT is 15 MINUTES”
15 minutes is technically a stat / fact. It’s technically a stat / fact that most games are 60 snaps and the Bucs played 90 snaps. It’s a fact that they played 1.5 games worth of snaps. It’s not stat manipulation.
Wins & Losses is a stat. Points given up is a stat. No matter what in the end we have nothing but stats to go off of. You choose to ignore stats that don’t fit your narrative and hang your hat on stats that do.
November 10th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
get rid of 93 and this team plays harder, faster and smarter INSTANTLY… Don’t let the smiling ice cream man fool you any longer. he’s a fraud.
November 10th, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Hey tmax
Ive read gmc forgiving the burglar who robbed his house and hurt his dad, but you ? He will never
If you see a ice cream trick behind you?..haul as $
November 10th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
@lord….I love this quote,”We had the most yards in the history of our franchise last year”….and who was the hc?….
“Koetter has run successful offenses for 3 different NFL teams over the last decade.”….what did he and smitty win?…didn’t they get canned together while on one of those teams?….
the comparison between the 2 is glaringly obvious….both were rookie hc, both were in house promotions, both are in over their head, both have shown to be incompetent hc, both cost their team with incompetent decision making, and most importantly both of their teams quit on them in the middle of the season….
0T=15mintues of playing time…not 30mintues…that’s a fact….snap counts are stats….wins and loses are facts….scores are stats….
your comment above only highlights how unqualified dirk is at being a hc….which is very amusing….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 4:53 pm
@lord…”And you want to fire him 8 games into his first year. Way to keep a balanced perspective”…..
he has lost the locker room…the effort isn’t there…the players have quit on him just as he has done previously….how else do you fix a broken locker room?….you bring in an experienced hc that demands respect and has creditability….dirk doesn’t demand it and has zero creditability and that’s why players have quit on him….tom coughlin…bill cowher…a coach like that would be able to turn this team around in 1 offseason…not 3years as some(you and @realist) suggest….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 5:04 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Who is your third choice Marty Schottenheimer???? LOL!!!!!!!!!
We will stick with the good coaches we have thank you!!! The “Majority” has spoken!!!!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!
And Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 5:08 pm
@813bucboi
just to let you know, I think George Seifert is still alive as well, if you are just writing names down!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
@realist….if you haven’t noticed, those are superbowl winning coaches that have stated they want back in the nfl….
stick with the good coaches?….lol…3-5 is real good huh…don’t worry….one more blow and dirk will be dead….LOL….DIRK=JIM TOMSULA!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 5:31 pm
@realist….this team has quit on dirk….THE PLAYERS HAVE SPOKEN….LOL…DIRK=JIM TOMSULA!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
andysound2000 Says:
November 10th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Have any of you given any thought to the fact that the constant coaching turn over is the sole problem ?
———————————————
Derrick Brooks never had that problem. Agree 100%.
November 10th, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Why keep trying to start a car when you know it is out go fuel.
Knowledge is fuel, this DC has NO knowledge of how to coach an effective defense.
Result, players get sicks of playing they’re arses off for a guy that keeps calling a Lovie defense.
Sorry but that the problem….go bucs wooed
November 10th, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha! As the DON would say “Its a RIGGED SYSTEM!”
November 10th, 2016 at 7:20 pm
And of course with all that said…Not one mention from Joe on the DEFENSIVE LEADER…
Brooks is right…
PUNISH THE RUNNER.
Don’t pick him up off the ground and ask him if he is OK.
November 10th, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Why anyone would waste their time and money on this bunch is beyond me. It’s obvious they are outmanned, out talented, out coached, and wayyyyyyyyyy overpaid. Look, even if most of them got cut after a couple of seasons they will have enough coin to last them a long time. Why should they play with passion and determination?
November 10th, 2016 at 11:45 pm
Db needs to be the gm