Defense “Light Years” Better
August 7th, 2017
Comforting update.
Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith made his first appearance at the podium this summer after this morning’s practice. What he had to say should have Bucs fans swinging their sticks.
Last year, much was made of “communication” issues. From what Joe learned through the grapevine, the constant use of that terminology was/is a very, very, very broad-brush PC term that really does’t aptly describe what was going on. Not inaccurate, but not exactly specific, either.
Well, this morning, Smith was asked about those communication issues and if they are a thing of the past. Smith replied the defense, when it comes to communication, is “light years” better than last year at this time.
Smith even added the communication issues are a good bit better now than they were at the end of last year when the defense carried the Bucs into the playoff race.
August 7th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Good! Now week one should be a lay-up handed over on a silver platter. With Cutler and the possibility of Landry not playing due to his active investigation the def should really take the dolphins behind the woodshed if you know what I mean. Now if only Suh would pull a hamstring or kneel for the national anthem we’re all set.
August 7th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
please share more about the “miscommunications” last year. how bad was it? was someone doing the opposite of what was called for?
glad it’s fixed!
August 7th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Can’t because Joe cannot get anyone on the record to confirm it. Yes, it was bad and if Joe can confirm this, everyone would clearly understand the root of the problem.
August 7th, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Smitty’s assessment that “the communication issues are a good bit better now than they were at the end of last year” should be music to every Bucs’ fan’s ears. Can only imagine Bucs’ offense AND defense BOTH ranking in the Top-10 this year at this point. Bound to make the playoffs if we do though.
August 7th, 2017 at 12:29 pm
“I think its the maturation of kwon calling the plays and putting the defense in the right position”
“Kwon stated he didnt even know how to learn and read gametape in Lsu”
Kobe Faker
August 7th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
All us swinging sticks can’t wait to see this team take the league by storm!
August 7th, 2017 at 12:56 pm
I think communication is a vague broad excuse for “our players sucked for a time being until they understood and got more comfortable in my system.” Like he said, it was a communication problem until they went 6-2 with the #5 defense. Kinda like miltary speak.
August 7th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Health is the only thing that can stop this D from being really damn good this year.
Even then; we are better prepared (depth) this year to deal with injuries for the most part
August 7th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
throw in jay ajayi has a concussion….GO BUCS!!!
August 7th, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Interesting. Very Interesting.
Now I am intrigued as to what specific defensive “communication” problem from early last year Joe has uncovered – yet can’t get anyone in the building to go on record about….
Let the speculation begin…
Moving into the present – glad to hear that Smitty likes what he sees. That reinforces my hope that the Bucs can have a big year in 2017.
August 7th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
@Trevor and @Pickgrin
All I know re: communication, was that last year some player(s) said the defense got together after the ALT game and realized they weren’t on the same page / weren’t communicating correctly. Whatever happened in that meeting sure made a heck of difference.
No idea the details or/and if coaches had involvement.
August 8th, 2017 at 7:40 am
atlanta embarassed them, and some of the hungry players who want to win called out some of the loafers who were really fine just to get by either way, win, lose, as long as they were getting paid, for too damn long there has been a culture of complaicency, until jameis, kwon, and ME 13 said hell no, and the godfather also demanded this nonsense change, so basicly it’s get on board, were going full steam, lead, follow, or get off the damn ship, ooooh-rahhhhh go bucs!!!!!!