Sacks Are Harder
May 14th, 2017
Joe isn’t sure how many readers are watching Rock Riley’s videos each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon right here on this corner of the Interwebs. Joe has one question, “Why the hell not?”
Rock has all sorts of cool items in his videos. Like in his debut, where he interviewed former Bucs defensive tackle Brad Culpepper.
Culpepper explained how the game has changed, and no, not just as a passing league, but how quarterbacks have changed since when he played (1992-2000).
“Quarterbacks are getting rid of the ball so fast,” Culpepper said. “I mean they really are. It used to be, you know, if you could get four seconds you can get in there. I mean [now], you have to get back there, almost in less than three seconds.”
That’s a huge difference and may explain a whole lot of things. Among them is the Bucs’ lack of a double-digit sackmeister for now a decade.
No, Joe is not absolving the Bucs organization for this shameful stain. We are now well into the third Bucs administration since Simeon Rice left (Bruce Almighty/Chucky, former rock star general manager Mark Dominik and current Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht) and still the team doesn’t have a double-digit sackman. That is a flat out disgrace.
Other teams find them and other teams aren’t stupid enough to let a budding star like Michael Bennett walk away for no good reason. So why can’t the Bucs?
Maybe Noah Spence can finally stop this nonsense this fall?
May 14th, 2017 at 8:08 am
It wasn’t for no good reason….coach Toes on the Line was a Jack-Ass!!
May 14th, 2017 at 8:28 am
from Dubai… other teams find a way to get double digit sacks. It is a mix of talent and scheme and a ton of luck. Seattle and Arizona had two guys with more than 10 sacks last year…. I do think QB’s are running less 7 step drops but schemes are quicker with better athletes on D.
We should have at least one this year go Bucs…
May 14th, 2017 at 8:28 am
Bennett wasnt a “Buccaneer man” whatever the hell that means.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:32 am
Blame Dominick for wanting to start his draft pick instead of Bennett,
May 14th, 2017 at 8:34 am
mark dominik told the training staff to “fail” michael bennett so he could crow bar in his draft picks!!!!!
Head Coach Schiano was the only coach that started bennett for 16 games!!! Head Coach Schiano was very quick to bench bowers!!!! mark dominik was the worst GM in Bucs history and that is saying something!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Joe,
what is the word on the “dominik dunk tank” for the first Bucs watch party???? is it a go yet???????
Go BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 14th, 2017 at 8:35 am
Looking for Spawn to go full tilt and help forge a new dynasty…
#seizethemoment
12-4
May 14th, 2017 at 8:37 am
The problem with this theory is that OTHER TEAMS are getting plenty of sacks still.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:39 am
On the topic of Rock Riley, I really like the guy, but I have to admit I’ve only watched one of his videos.
It isn’t because I didn’t like it…I actually did. It;s just because I fail to make the time to do so because of work. At least, that’s my justification.
I do make the time for Ira though…but that’s sound only.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Listen the main reason we haven’t had double digit sacks in so long has to do with a lack of quality pass rushers, but also a lack of leading in games. Face it the bus haven’t had leads in the 4th quarter very often, you know when d linemen can pin their ears back and really get after a QB. Usually teams are running out the clock down the stretch against us. I imagine if we can get double digit leads in games we will finally get double digit sacks
May 14th, 2017 at 8:40 am
BB – Exactly.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:41 am
Hard to get sacks when the opposing team can run it down your throats, not happening anymore with swaggy baker in the middle
May 14th, 2017 at 8:46 am
I’ve always been more concerned with sack totals, than one dude’s sack amount. What good is having a 15 sack guy if the team only has 17 sacks for the year??
Stop this nonsense Joe. One guy getting double digit sacks is the MOTHER of all red herrings. In fact, I’m naming it Mama Red Herring.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:47 am
I think it was Defense Rules who posted sack numbers and was comparing last year’s d-line with the 97-2002 d-line stats. I looked up the all teams sacks in 1999 to 2016 total team sack numbers and just with a quick glance it seemed in general that teams get 10 less sacks then they used to!!!!!!!!
May 14th, 2017 at 8:47 am
So Rock Star found Bennett, kept him for a couple of years, then got rid of him? That is just stupid.
I am with Big Hog on this one and I have always thought, Shiano did not like Bennett and Dom accommodated Coach Toes On The Line
And if the Bucs don’t draft a DE like they didn’t this year, it makes developing a sack-master even more difficult.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
May 14th, 2017 at 8:37 am
The problem with this theory is that OTHER TEAMS are getting plenty of sacks still.
I don’t follow 🤔… Please explain lol
We’re talking bout OUR defense right…
May 14th, 2017 at 8:49 am
More excuses for good old McCoy. It’s just so hard now, how you can expect McCoy to actually make a impact when the other teams try so hard and play all the way through the 4th quarter. You guys know that’s exhausting right?
May 14th, 2017 at 8:52 am
It would be fun to have a 10+ sack master. The sack is one of the most exciting plays in football. Pressures, throw-aways, tipped balls and limited YAKs aren’t glamorous but collectively contribute to wins. QB’s have faster deliveries today but so did Dan Marino. So I guess the argument will continue. As for me I would vote for winning more games sacks or no sacks.
May 14th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Oh yeah for you McCoy doesnt have help fellas McCoy had exactly 9 total sacks in the 3 years Michael Bennett was here playing with him. I guess Bennett is a bumb to right?
May 14th, 2017 at 9:15 am
I am betting that Spence and Ayers will each reach 10 this year. Opening up with Tannehill and Glennon…a good thing.
May 14th, 2017 at 9:16 am
I used to watch Rock and still do! He brings good nuggets for us and he is just getting started.
Give me more of what we got defensively the second half of last season and I’m happy!!!!
I rather have Ws than 10 sack guy. I rather see several guys on d-line with 7 sacks than a one man show. I think Licht and Smitty are focusing on a team effort rather than a one man show.
Go Bucs!!!
May 14th, 2017 at 9:16 am
I must be stoned stupid lmao
Ndog , what are you talking about.
May 14th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Ndog dummy, could you list all the DTs that lead the league in sacks again? And then compare that with DEs that are sack leaders? No really, take your time. Not sure what your point is. Oh, you don’t have one? I see. I think it’s time to change your diaper again.
May 14th, 2017 at 9:24 am
Ndog
DEFENSIVE END
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
its obvious that you dont know the difference.
Go learn about the game, then come back.
Shortage of posters who know anything about football.
Clueless trolls? Herds of you here.
May 14th, 2017 at 9:25 am
Happy Mothers day LifeofaBucsfan.
May 14th, 2017 at 9:38 am
Ndog,
Your argument yesterday was very sound. The one about Clinton McDonald having a super bowl ring and therefore is top tier “help” for McCoy. Try to make that point again, I think people will really get it this time.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:09 am
I’d rather have 4 guys with 8 sacks than one with 13. If all of your chips are in one player if he goes down there goes the defense.
I think Spence does get 10 sacks though this year. Mike Smith has all the pieces in place after this draft to play a very confusing, calculus-like defense this year. Dynamic packages that can be a true 4-3 base, a 3-4 hybrid, and a true 3-4. That’s why the FO traded up to get Beckwith and Stevie T. The final 2 pieces for the 3-4 look.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:11 am
Joe, add a link so we can have easy access to all of Rocks vids. Love that guy
May 14th, 2017 at 10:21 am
Capt Tim if you actually read the posts then you would know the McCoy lovers say that he can’t produce because he doesn’t have a great Defensive End to help him. I was pointing that out that he played with Michael Bennet for 3 years who yes is a Defensive End. So very good for knowing that im very proud of you, so this has nothing to do with football knowledge just common sense. So the question is can you read?
May 14th, 2017 at 10:27 am
When we start having leads in the 4th quarter – I think the sacks start piling up…Lots of sacks are a by product of game flow. When the D-line can just focus on the pass and the QB has to hold the ball longer to push the ball downfield…
Go Bucs! The Season can’t get here fast enough 🙂
May 14th, 2017 at 10:31 am
“Oh yeah for you McCoy doesnt have help fellas McCoy had exactly 9 total sacks in the 3 years Michael Bennett was here playing with him. I guess Bennett is a bumb to right?”
——
Here goes Mr. “I don’t know who Carlos Dunlap is” again. Bennett was not a Pro Bowl type player when McCoy was here. He was clearly on his way, but if you remember Bennett slid late in that year because of his shoulder. This hatred you have towards one of our own is pretty frightening. You should probably get checked out. For me, if I see all the experts, coaches, players, front office personnel, and virtually everyone else with a brain saying McCoy is one of the premier players at his position, I would shut my trap and listen when grown folks are talking. But nah, some anonymous person on the internet who went to 8 games last year knows more than everyone else, because he “saw with my own eyes”. You’re a joke, and it’s hilarious that you don’t even know it.
You can point to him being told he has to do more as a sign that he wasn’t any good. First of all, you’re a bigger tool than I thought if you think that anyone told him he wasn’t a good player. Even if they did believe that, that’s not the atmosphere of the Pro Bowl (and I’ve been to more Pro Bowls than you went to Bucs games last year). I’m sure he had some people tell him he has to be even better, especially late. Every great player is never satisfied. Every great player will always find and look for deficiencies in his game. Every great player will find ways to motivate himself and get better. But no-sports playing “Ndog” knows exactly what was said.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:35 am
You lost me at Brad Culpeper. I will be nice and just say that I have a very low opinion of him ever since he verbally shredded my wife at her place of business a few years ago.
I do think when healthy that Noah Spence can be a double digit sack machine. I see a ton of upside with him.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:35 am
You guys are so sensative. I really wonder if you know what a football is when you see it cause you certainly don’t know what a great player looks like.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:38 am
@ContePiscatelli
That is an excellent point! We not only didn’t have leads we rarely got wide leads…with this year’s offense we’re liable to force more teams into a pass happy offense earlier in contests which as Conte points out lets our DL pin their ears back and get after it.
There is another factor. Our DB play has been adequate at best over the past decade. Ronde was at the end of his career and surrounded with mediocrity.
I think we played better last year and I think Grimes and VHG will do a good job. If Smitty allows them to do more press and jump routes that too could give the DL another fraction of a second before the QB can let it fly.
Football is still a team sport. We definitely need improved play from the DL but if Smitty gets a half dozen sacks for LVD and production from several guys..if the DB’s and Evans cover better on the back end…we could improve our rush.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:38 am
@Ndog,
By the way, guess how many sacks Michael Bennett had his first 3 seasons? 6. You see, players tend to get better as they go along. I know that’s hard for you to input into your calculator, but maybe you can try.
Here’s another mind blowing fact – a 3 technique, I mean DT (don’t want to lose you) isn’t supposed to get the number of sacks as a DE. They are supposed to push the pocket. If you don’t think McCoy pushes the pocket….. Wait a minute, I apologize, the area between the 2 guys outside guys on our offensive line …….. then you clearly need better seats. If the ends aren’t getting pressure, then the QB can easily step to the side and avoid the rush up the middle. What am I thinking, I know this is way too much for you. Good day sir.
May 14th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Dude you know nothing about me please quit assuming you do. I don’t assume to know anything about you. The bottom line is I want more from our highest paid player and a #3 overall draft pick. I just don’t get how you people are satisfied with being mediocre. I root as hard for McCoy as anyone but am let down time and time again. Hopefully this year will be different but I’m not holding my breath. And lastly trust me I have seen more football than I probably should have but that doesn’t really matter it’s a matter of expectations which are very high for me.
May 14th, 2017 at 11:10 am
Sacks are important, no doubt, but what’s more important is disrupting a QB’s ability to execute a planned play. Not all can scramble with their eyes downfield effectively.
Sacks are a team, not an individual, effort. You gotta disguise, you gotta cover, and you gotta not let a QB escape in any direction.
My favorite sacks aren’t a DE blasting in. My favorite sacks is when the entire pocket collapsed and the QB is smothered in a pile.
May 14th, 2017 at 11:22 am
The reason the bucs havent had sacks is because we only have one good dt look at all the great dlines its a group effort the giants are good at all positions on the line so are the texans bengals rams dolphins and so on they all have studs at de and dt even atlanta has more than one good lineman
May 14th, 2017 at 11:29 am
Hawaiian, put the pineapple down.
Ndog knows what he’s talking about. Not only has he seen 8 bucs games in his life, he also watches FSU games AND got third place in a local madden tournament.
Waiting to hear YOUR credentials.
May 14th, 2017 at 11:51 am
Our dline play this year will be alot better with the signing of chris baker he’s our best lineman right now and he’ll push mcoy to play tougher i actually do play madden myself go to bucs games study film ive been doing it since i missed our superbowl because i was stationed in north carolina anyone that knows football should know that this buccaneers roster is getting real close to being very good
May 14th, 2017 at 11:59 am
I expect to see a lot of 3-4 this year. In may ways it’s not a lot different than the old 5-2 with more responsibility for lineman.
Would not surprise me to see Gholson/Baker, McCoy/Stevie T/Siliga and Ayers/Johnson as DL, and Smith, Spence, David and Alexander at LB on passing downs, with Evans close to the LOS/nickel. 3-4.
The flexibility of the D seven crew the Bucs have assembled is quite intriguing. I’m not sure there will be any one defense that defines this team this season.
And it couldn’t be this way without Smith re-upping as DC.
May 14th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Bucs had 38 sacks last year. 9th in the NFL. Let’s not act like this team can’t get to the QB. Now with Swaggy and a healthy, more experienced Spence they’ll be even better.
May 14th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Brad Culpepper look totally different now.. He’s down to a muscular 180 lbs now, trim and fit.
May 14th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Nice 89 but to be clear I have missed only one home since 1994 and I only can dream of being that good at Madden. And I am not judging those who can’t afford tickers trust me as from 94 to 96 I worked the games just to get to go in around the middle of the 1st quarter so I completely get it.
May 14th, 2017 at 1:42 pm
I think our defense played bad last season as a unit. And I don’t expect anything different this season.
May 14th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
rayjay1122 “I will be nice and just say that I have a very low opinion of him ever since he verbally shredded my wife at her place of business a few years ago.” Yeah that will happen with Brad Culpepper. My father worked with him for a few years. The guy is a gigantic moron and jack ass. Concussions and steroids will do that to a man.
May 14th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
What are you comparing McCoy to? In his class, the guy drafted near him to compare him to was Suh. Suh, one sack every 2.34 games. McCoy, one sack every 2.2 games. Last year Suh had 5, McCoy had 7. How many times has McCoy been fined for being a jerk? Ejected and hurt his team? Gerald draws double teams, and when our DEs can slip around and get to the QB, it will be great! But make no mistake, GMC is a difference maker when he’s in the game. Some folks don’t like him because he’s a gentleman and religious man…and that’s their problem, not GMC’s.
May 14th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
I agree Fred E. Bucs..and I hope we come out and compete this season. I’m not talking about competing in streaks. I’m talking competing on a weekly basis.
May 14th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Lakeland Buc…well put…the Bucs have been steaky at times. Need to get to consiistent play, solid wins throughout.
May 14th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
streaky…
May 14th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
rayjay1122 Says: I will be nice and just say that I have a very low opinion of him ever since he verbally shredded my wife at her place of business a few years ago.
——————–
This is interesting to me. I just wonder if he did it as a customer in your wife’s place of business or as a lawyer. Culpepper is one few guys I think who used his NFL career to launch his real career…as an attorney. Pretty successful dude.
So I just wonder if he was justifiably mad, just being a lawyer, or something else.
May 14th, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Nothing against Rock, but wasn’t he beat out for the 6 am slot at WDAE by the “Sports Page” goons? This is, the show that went from not knowing much about sports, a rename to “Rick and Tom”, then to not talking much about sports (6 am political issue hour with two libtards)? I realize this may tee a few folks off. Too bad. My opinion.
May 14th, 2017 at 3:22 pm
Love Rock! He needs his own podcast.
May 14th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Culpepper tv ads nauseate me, how did he get on survivor? How do you tell… their lips are moving, that’s how you tell.
May 14th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Michael Bennett?..budding star?..I like Bennett just as much as the next guy but for a guy to avg. 7.6 sacks a year since he left the Bucs and 5.0 sacks a year career avg just isn’t what I call star or budding star, he is a solid player but that’s it.
May 14th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Brad C is correct about the quick release nature of today’s QB’s and offenses. It worries me a little that we have such a down-field passing game and a suspect O-line, not to mention a QB that can hold on a little too long. Does Koetter have some west coast O he could work in to counterattack the modern-day DEs? We certainly appear to have the weapons to do so.
Fun facts:
Who was the NFL’s sack leading DT duo in 1999?
Sapp & Pepp.
Who did the Bucs draft #1 the following offseason, 1 pick before “the freak” Javon Kearse?
The over-rated, under-performing, oft-injured Booger.
Props to Pepp!
May 14th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
Kalind Says
“I’ve always been more concerned with sack totals, than one dude’s sack amount. What good is having a 15 sack guy if the team only has 17 sacks for the year??”
That will never happen because teams would be forced to double or triple team the player, freeing others to get the sacks.
May 14th, 2017 at 5:30 pm
The Buc Realist Says
“I think it was Defense Rules who posted sack numbers and was comparing last year’s d-line with the 97-2002 d-line stats. I looked up the all teams sacks in 1999 to 2016 total team sack numbers and just with a quick glance it seemed in general that teams get 10 less sacks then they used to!!!!!!!!”
2016 it was only 5-7 fewer than 2002 – 14 years ago
2015 it was only a 4 sack difference
2014 a 2 sack difference
2013 had more sacks than 2002 (4 more).
It;s not that sacks don’t happen as much, it’s just that the league has called more penalties when sacks that were once legit (and should still be) happen, cancelling out the sacks.
It’s not that big of a difference from 2002.
May 14th, 2017 at 5:56 pm
Hulk bring this back on topic. Hulk no listen to rock because Hulk want more than two or three minutes. Hulk feel like Rock need much longer show. If show was twenty minutes Hulk would watch every one of them.
May 14th, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Buc89- you need to try that Pineapple
Hawiaan is exactly on point.
Not is just Trolling.
Probably upset that he didn’t get any mother’s day Flowers
Happy with McCoy?
Licht loves McCoy. KOetter has stated numerous times, That McCoy is our best defensive player. The Only player the Dirtybirds had to plan around.
The NFL players vote him in Top 100 players every year.
Always in Pro bowl. Sapp states that McCoy is a Better player than he was.
Which is true
.
Every professional or expert sings his praises.
Only”People” who bad mouth McCoy, are a small herd of Thick browed , Clueless Trolls. They are bitter, unhappy, Miserable, no life having, No clue having zombies- that cant stand the fact that McCoy is a happy, Nice guy, AND the best DT in the NFL.
And They dont count. They’re idiots
The trolls think you have to be miserable and hateful.
Because they are.
And I imagine that- if you were them, you’d be miserable too!
Happy Mothers day