Koetter Absolves Corners
November 1st, 2016
Brent Grimes, Vernon Hargreaves, you are forgiven, my sons.
Those were the words from Bucs coach Dirk Koetter after being asked if the Bucs defense handed the Raiders a win.
In case you missed it or incurred a sudden form of amnesia due to the traumatic blunt force of the galling loss, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who wasn’t good enough for Lovie Smith, napalmed the defense for 513 yards, one of the greatest passing games in NFL history.
Many Bucs fans immediately began pointing fingers to the Bucs secondary. Koetter said Sunday that is unfair.
“We couldn’t get enough pressure,” Koetter said. “He finds those guys and they do a good job catching it. I thought [cornerback] Brent Grimes was in position several times and [cornerback] Vernon [Hargreaves III], they were working it over there. I’m still real confident in both of our corners. Coverage’s best friend is a good pass rush.”
Just SOS, man. Joe isn’t saying Koetter is wrong here. He is right. But Jiminy Christmas, what does this franchise have to do to get a consistent pass rusher?
Joe doesn’t know what is more dumbfounding: That this outfit has only won 17 home games since the start of the 2009 season (three since Greg Schiano was fired) or that it is a decade since it had a double-digit rusher? Players, draft picks, free agents, defensive line coaches, about the only thing the Bucs haven’t tried in order to find a reliable pass-rusher is sacrificing a chicken at midfield.
Granted, the Bucs drafted Noah Spence in the second round, and while his development is slow enough to irk some Bucs fans, he’s coming along fine and did put Carr on the ground Sunday for a team-leading three sacks.
Of course, the Bucs could have easily traded up into the second round to draft a guy like Yannick Ngakoue out of Maryland (Joe knows some folks at One Buc Palace were smitten by him), who the Jags drafted in the third round. Ngakoue, who isn’t a starter, already has four sacks and two forced fumbles.
This Ngakoue would be leading the Bucs in sacks! But no, the Bucs needed to trade up into the second round to draft Jan Stenerud.
We’ve heard this and we’ve heard this and we’ve heard this over and over and over again since Chucky was prowling the sidelines: The Bucs need a pass rusher. This is just out of hand now and the excuses are long over.
Joe sure hopes Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht stocks up on two positions in free agency and the draft: pass rusher and wide receiver.
When oh when is Team Glazer finally going to get fed up with this constant void in their roster? When will enough be enough for them? Or do they actually enjoy all those visiting fans sitting in the lower bowl of their home stadium?
November 1st, 2016 at 5:07 am
Gotta agree with you, Joe. The challenge is going to be in deciding which to take first in the draft. I mean, both positions are pretty important.
I guess I would fall on the side of a good pass rusher then a WR.
There were good young WRs with tons of potential in free agency this year…too bad Licht is incapable of signing guys like that.
I like his Grimes signing…I like Ayers. Though I would only call Grimes a hit. Ayers is injury prone, so its sort of a double edged sword with him. Great locker room and leader guy…just need him on field more.
November 1st, 2016 at 5:28 am
Sign Jason Pierrre Paul in the offseason. He went to USF. I bet he would like to come home.
Sign Alshon Jeffery.
Extend Mike Evans.
Cut Alteraun Verner.
Sign Terrell Pryor.
November 1st, 2016 at 5:46 am
Connor barth> jan stenerud
November 1st, 2016 at 6:03 am
Your article makes it sound like the Bucs haven’t tried to draft DLine pressure over the past years Joe, but in reality we’ve spend a LOT of draft choices on that very thing. Bucs front office has just failed at it time and time again … miserably. Particularly in the 2007-2012 years.
2007 Gaines Adams DE
Greg Peterson DT
2008 Dre Moore DT
2009 Roy Miller DT
Kyle Moore DE
2010 Gerald McCoy DT
Brian Price DT
Erig Lorig DE
2011 Adrian Clayborn DE
Da’Quan Bowers DE
2012 None
2013 Akeem Spence DT
Will Gholston DE
Steven Means DE
2014 None
2015 None
2016 Noah Spence DE
Bucs have drafted 8 DEs and 6 DTs in the past 10 years. Only 4 of those 14 are presently on the team, with GMC being the longest survivor. Roy Miller (Jax), Adrian Clayborn (Atl) & Steven Means (Phi) are still in the NFL also.
Elite DEs, like QBs and CBs, have to be home-grown I think, The odds of grabbing one in FA for a decent price are probably quite low since everyone needs them. Personally believe that every year we should draft a DT or DE with one of our #1, #2 or #3 picks (most of the elite DTs & DEs seem to come from the higher draft picks for some reason).
November 1st, 2016 at 6:30 am
But it’s Banks and ASJ’s fault
November 1st, 2016 at 6:40 am
I saw lots of blitzes in the first half and low and behold we got some pressure on the opposing QB. Late in the second half and into OT I saw us send only four while our linebackers were ten yards away from the line of scrimmage waiting for a play to come to them as the opposing QB was chucking it 30 yards downfield over there head. That’s the definition of not having your guys in a position to make a play!!!
This was a team loss though. The offense was horrible late in the game and into OT (I think Jameis got hurt on that shot he took at the goal line, he sucked after that and wasn’t his usual self on the sideline), Mike Evans didn’t help him out too much on couple of critical third downs, and the defense ran out of gas down the stretch.
If the wins in Carolina and SF were positive examples of complimentary football, where the offense protects the defense and keeps the opposing team on the sideline by sustaining drives and coming away with points, the fourth quarter and overtime of this game were quite the opposite.
Let’s put this one behind us and beat the stinking falcons in Thursday! Then let’s take care of bratty jay cutler!
November 1st, 2016 at 6:46 am
No d-line picks when LOVIE was here? Are you kidding me?
November 1st, 2016 at 6:54 am
They could have also signed Mario Williams put didn’t want to pay the price.
November 1st, 2016 at 7:34 am
When are they going to cut bait from their soft ass 100 million dollar locker room cancer with a smile…. Free pass gmc
November 1st, 2016 at 7:35 am
Did he really absolve Grimes or VH3? Or was he simply stating the obvious? When they have that many chances to get catches and make plays, those guys are going to make the best corners look pedestrian and the worst corners look, well, worse. The YAC rate given up by the corners was way too high, which he alluded to on several occasions. He also all but stated Brent Grimes’s PI in the end zone was a stupid play. I think his overall message was, yes the corners may have gotten embarrassed, but there were several factors that went into it (e.g. no pass rush, more passing opportunities, bad playing calling by mike smith.)
November 1st, 2016 at 7:52 am
Trade GMC now, get a 2nd round and 3rd round for him maybe you get a 1st round pick, send him out to SF he seems to have the santa clara mindset, have not seen the same lavonte since schiano was here either, it seemed to me that with schiano running the defense that LVD was a wrecking ball and that has gone drastically down hill since that time
November 1st, 2016 at 7:53 am
How can you drop 7 And still give up all those explosive plays and YAC?? We’re not playing against the Tampa Oline on sundays where you can rush four and get pressure. This ain’t practice!
November 1st, 2016 at 8:27 am
“He is right. But Jiminy Christmas, what does this franchise have to do to get a consistent pass rusher?”
Ask your business partner and good buddy Jason Licht. Isn’t he the one responsible for acquiring the talent and hasn’t he known since walking through that door that this team needs a pass rush above all else except QB? Whatever you do just don’t hold him responsible. Wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings. Could really put a strain on that business relationship and budding friendship.
November 1st, 2016 at 8:48 am
The fans don’t absolve the team of its awful home performance though
November 1st, 2016 at 9:01 am
Julius Peppers is still ripping it up on Sundays.
Julius Pepeers has bounced around lately
Julius Peppers would be a great addition to this team
Julius Peppers is just on example of the Bucs passing on an opportunity to get a pass rusher in here.
November 1st, 2016 at 9:07 am
DallasBuc:
There is no business relationship between Joe and any employee of the Bucs.
Nice try though.
November 1st, 2016 at 9:19 am
They were not the only ones
{Repost} LUVMYBUCS Says:
April 29th, 2016 at 6:50 pm ←
“Yeah Joe – He’s not a sleeper.
After reviewing tape he’s the only kid I’ve seen, give Jack Conklin, and Decker; problems.”
April 29th, 2016 at 9:52 pm ←
“Dammmmnnnn JVille drafted Yannick”
November 1st, 2016 at 9:25 am
I agree with dallas buc it may not be a business partnership but its something
November 1st, 2016 at 9:34 am
The Buccaneers need to stay away from signing players who are older than 30 unless the team is on the cusp of winning a Super Bowl.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:51 am
Oh so the JBF Jason Licht Kool Ale which promotes the business of JBF and the business known as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the likeness of its entirely unaccountable GM is 100% free?
I did not know that.
November 1st, 2016 at 10:53 am
513 passing yards and not one article of smitty and his trash defense….if this were last lovie would be getting bashed right….their would be 4 article by now on lovie and his outdated defense….SMH…GO BUCS!!!!
November 1st, 2016 at 11:00 am
Derrick Carr pass for 513 yards against the YUCS. Which QB hasn’t had a great passing game against this pathetic defense?.
November 1st, 2016 at 11:46 am
There really aren’t any words for it. The Raiders set the record for penalties and we still couldn’t beat them. So, to recap, we have no pass rush and our offense is incapable of sustaining drives which in turn leaves the defense on the field. Who should we blame? EVERYBODY!
November 1st, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Remember. .They got rid of Michael Bennet. Unbelievable!
November 1st, 2016 at 4:05 pm
“[…]the only thing the Bucs haven’t tried in order to find a reliable pass-rusher is sacrificing a chicken at midfield.”
When all else fails…
If you can sneak me into the stadium Wednesday night…