When Will Motor Bring Results?
August 17th, 2017
Bend it like Gumby. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
Defensive end Noah Spence has had a rather quiet camp.
Yes, Joe has written that before and readers have jumped down Joe’s throat for writing it (though Joe is not the only Bucs beat guy who has noted this).
It’s not that Joe doesn’t want Spence to blow up the NFL, it’s just an observation. There may be all sorts of reasons for Spence not flashing much, including coaches reigning in the defense because they don’t want defenders lighting up teammates.
(Yes, Spence clowned a Jags right tackle in joint practices Tuesday. Joe is only specifically citing Bucs training camp practices.)
Recently, when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was interviewed on SiriusXM NFL Radio, he mentioned Spence’s drive may be unrivaled on the team.
“He is getting that edge [rush] pretty consistently and he plays with an edge,” Licht said. “He is very explosive, and he has an all-out motor. He wants to be the best. If you polled our team, I bet 100 percent would say the same about him. He has ‘it’ in terms of wanting to be a beast out there.”
Hearing the word “motor” in relation to a pass rusher makes Joe cringe every time. This was the biggest accolade when people talked about former Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who now loafs in Atlanta.
Yeah, yeah, yeah a guy has a motor. Fine. Great. Joe is more of a results guy. This Riley Bullough has a motor too but he is hardly guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster.
Joe was blown away last year by Spence’s toughness, especially when he had his separated shoulder jammed back into place on the field against the Stinking Panthers in the season finale and played basically with one wing. Blew Joe’s mind then, as well as now.
Spence has all the intangibles. Now it’s time to harness those intangibles into results.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:04 am
Spence easily is our best pass rusher on the field and it’s obvious visually imo. I believe still.
Also interesting how different sites have different impressions. Pewterreport did a break down of the first preseason game film and came away thinking Ryan Smith has a ton of potential and pointed out a few athletic plays where his speed to the ball was great.
It’s all mental with Smith if i had to guess. He’s probably thinking WAY too much. The only way to get over that is to give him a lot of reps. Maybe he never figures it out – but it seems premature to write him off when this is basically his rookie season at CB
August 17th, 2017 at 11:20 am
Any reports on how this guy is in the film room? DEnds get a lot from studying themselves and their opponent – wonder if he’s doing that..
August 17th, 2017 at 11:21 am
I really like Riley Bullough, and hope he makes the team. The dude is one bad Mo Fo, who played his entire last season in College, with a broken shoulder !
I was impressed last game with Spence against the RUN!
He flat stood up the Cincinatti Running Back, when he broke through the line.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:24 am
Noah Spence is the LEAST of our worries on the DL right now. He and GMC are going to get theirs. I think Ayers will as well…and Gholston will be solid if not spectacular. If there’s anybody I worry about it’s Baker!!! He has to show me something starting in Miami!!!
Here is where I perhaps differ from fans and this site. While I think a ten sack guy would be nice I’m not nearly as obsessed with that.
What I’m looking for is a front seven that get the most sacks and QB hits and QB rushes. It’s a team sport. If LB’s and even VHG contribute with some sacks it’s just as good as if Noah gets a dozen by himself.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:34 am
Noah Spence is going to be good this year. He has the want to and the talent to develop.
He’s the best Pass rushing DE on the roster since Mike Bennett.
Damn, how good would our D be with Bennett in the fold.
Thanks Dominik! You double dipped on two bad DEs (Clayborn and Bowers), and forced your agenda to let Bennett walk. I firmly believe the “failed physical” from the Bucs was controversial. Look at the MRSA and what lot to come from he led staff in the following years.
Dominik also prided himself on not drafting O-Line, hence why we have had to build it up.
Mark Dominik and Lovie Smith are the two worst GM and HC in Buccaneer history. Could you imagine if they were paired together!?!
We are looking up, and Noah Spence is going to blow up this year, joe.
I agree with BucRealist, Joe likes him some Jacques Smith, but doesn’t show consistent love for Noah Spence. Maybe Joe is just tempering his expectations, as it has been too damn long since we have had a player with 10 sacks.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:38 am
Spence is a tremendous pass rushing talent, but he’s also very small compared to the NFL tackles he will face. If we didnt have a vanilla soft zone 4 3 running defensive coordinator maybe he would pull his head out of the ground and stick Spence back in a Con Miller like role and raise hell all over the back field. But he’s not going to do that, our defense is going to get torched again this year and eventually Jason licht will have to give the Axe to koetters buddy and promote someone like Jay Hayes who actually knows how to run an NFL defense. Y’all can clown it all you want but once the games start yo matter the old “its only preseason ” excuse we have heard for the last decade doesn’t work anymore. Botles will roast us tonight unless he changes things up scheme wise.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:38 am
I think now and many will say later that this year NS57 is our best lineman!!! He will easily make the splash plays this season!!!!! At the end of the year everyone will wonder who NFL GM Licht will bring in to compliment out best DL NS57!!!!!!!!! did joe even watch the last pre-season game??? or was he busy watching hard knocks for the third time?????? What year is this Joe?????? saying that Gumby will have a hard time getting on the field with RA91 and WG92 are good run stuffers??????? Its a passing league!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And go get that QB Gumby dammit!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbl_kUO3DUM
August 17th, 2017 at 11:41 am
lets hope spence finds his groove this year…. I remember a lot of people saying he was the best pure de in the draft and should’ve been a 1st round pick if not for the off the field issues but I ‘ll have to agree with joe….we need to see more….their were 6 de drafted before
bosa-10.5
buckner-6
l.floyd-7
e.ogbah-5.5
s.lawson2-(activated from PUP list 10/21)
k.dodd-1(reinjured foot week3 placed on IR)
spence-5.5
I want to see him get at least 8 this year…improvement is improvement….
regarding ryan smith, I don’t think he’s as bad as joes making him out to be….the blame needs to be put on the scouting department and coaching staff for screwing with his development….he had great film as a cb in college….trying to turn him into a safety was a HUGE mistake….another example of licht trying to out smart everyone while over thinking things….
let him play the entire game tonight and all of the final preseason game….let him become our ST ace and DEVELOP!!! him….he has what you want in a cb he’s just trying to knock the rust off…GO BUCS!!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 11:43 am
@Stevek
The truth is reveled!!!!!! Calling for JS56 as the “potential breakout double digit sack guy” year after year after year has left some with “butt hurt”!!!!!!!!! Too many times some evaluate a player using past preconception of another players failures!!!!!!!! That is why you will never hear The Buc Realist call a player the next “older player”!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2017 at 11:43 am
A lot of these 10 sack guys are every down players…that gives them the opportunity to get a rhythm going and feel for their opponent’s tendencies. Right now it doesn’t sound like he’s an every down DE. If that’s the case, he comes in just on specific scenarios….then it depends on the defensive assignment vs what the opposing team attempts to execute….He may dominate on film but not in the stat sheet similar to McCoy. And much like McCoy….he has to stay healthy to be effective or to simply stay on the field.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:44 am
I don’t get too worked up about practice. Some guys are great practice players but don’t show up on game day others (Allen Iverson) are great on game day but you wouldn’t know it by watching them practice.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Heard he takes copious notes, for whatever that is worth. But really, you can sign a grad student to take notes.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:49 am
I think now that Spence is lighter and stronger will will see Smitty move him around to create problems. I would love to see Spence line up on the edges, and perhaps inside standing up and blitzing.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:51 am
I think he’s disappointed in his camp so far and the lack of QB pressue he’s applying. That 3rd a long situation in Cincy was written just for him and he freaking jumped offsides. Shows he’s pressing too much mentally. Also he starts low yes, but he gets stood up too quick. He’s like a poor man Dwight Freeney that could keep his inside shoulder low during the entire rush. Once he starts getting that (he will) he’ll be even more of force and the sacks will come. But, his camp has been pretty unproductive so far.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:57 am
What stuck out to me was earlier in training camp, Ayers (I think it was Ayers) was singing his praises saying when Spence finally gets it, he will be unstoppable. I would think that at this point he should be on the backside of the learning curve. Hopefully we start to see some big time impact early this year.
August 17th, 2017 at 11:59 am
Give this kid some air, for limited LIMITED. playing time he did a great job for a defense that no one showed up for the first half of season.
S.RICE was said to be terrible against run and I will take those numbers over someone who can stop run but cant rush. (like everyone we have had since Bennett)
Noah keep up the work , 2nd year and you hope to see yearly growth and development.
August 17th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
I’ve seen multiple beat writers cite him as the MVP on multiple occasions. It’s really hard for a guy whose primary job is to sack or strip the ball from a qb can flash while being extremely careful to not get near said qb. The only time he can be graded is on his 1v1 work. Say he is going 100% and trips up on an inside move and rolls into Jameis’ or for that matter Bortles’ knee. What then?
I’ll trust what the coaches see and say. The day Koetter, Smith or Hayes says he isn’t producing well then I’ll buy in.
August 17th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
☺Funny thread man. Spawn fina ball. End of story.
August 17th, 2017 at 12:24 pm
You would think we’ve been a hot bed for championship success over the last decade with the way some here assume players don’t need a little development time. Regardless of how good they might’ve been while in school. I mean I can understand pats fans being arrogant but until we garner some more hard wear I don’t get it from some of you Bucs fans. Mofo not voted All-pro his rookie season he trash. (SMH) man😒.
August 17th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Spence was very disruptive in the last game. The man is getting ready to step things up.
August 17th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
If we’re all reading between the lines, you’re subtly telling tales that cannot be told about Spence. The connection to him loafing, the party/drug/ alcohol connection with Martin and ASJ and the tone (distain and questioning) JBF takes with players who are problems. I’m assuming his suspension just hasn’t beed announced yet?
August 17th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Agree with Bobby M that “A lot of these 10 sack guys are every down players.” Spawn will probably get in on 58-60% of the defensive snaps this year at the most … tough to make double-digit sacks playing only that much (and if our defense can’t stop the run, he might get closer to 50%). Also concerned that he might now be too light (240 lbs?) for getting a lot of time in a 4-3 defensive scheme (he’d probably fit perfectly in a 3-4 as a OLB though).
In 2016 only 16 players recorded 10 or more sacks … 10 LBs & 6 DEs. Most of the DEs (like Mack & Avril) are in the 250-265 lb range (none weighed in less than 250). And Noah was in that weight range last year. Just a bit concerned that although he’s in fantastic shape, he may be too light to get the playing time he’ll need to make double-digit sacks. Smitty might end up using him more as a situational pass-rusher. Hopefully not though.
August 17th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
DR
your changing your name to OR next year after Jameis, Evans and Godwin make defensive players spectators.
August 17th, 2017 at 1:46 pm
You are wrong about Spence Joe. As training camp has progressed into full contact, Spence has become unstoppable. He played great against the Bengals, was lights out all week at Jags camp and I’ll bet he lights it up tonight
August 17th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
We had 1 of the worst total QB pressures last year and it seems we will again be in the bottom. With the modern 2/3 second ball is out offenses it is tough to get sacks and hits to the qb
our overall defensive talent on all 3 levels is not that great and just pretty average.
We will have to rely on the brilliance of Smitty again. He has a great feel of the overall flow of the game and will not PANIC. Kobe was amazed how he fixed holes during the games but didnt expose ourselfs. Smitty would adjust little things that are not noticable but very highly effective. He has great defensive game plan concepts and dont mind losing little battles as long he wins the war.
With Smitty we will probably be at the top with defensive 3 and out percentage. We dont have a defensive star that dominates and controls the game but what we have is a opportunist team players that doesnt have alot of turnovers or splash sacks but they as a team will lead with 3 and out percentage again in 2017
**Our defensive personnel is worst this year than last year
tonight is ryan smiths last chance to be not an embarrassment. he will be replaced by the 2 undrafted corners when we start the season
“our 2017 season, defensively will depend on Smitty…again”
Kobe Faker
August 17th, 2017 at 2:53 pm
he will be fine
August 17th, 2017 at 3:01 pm
He’s already the best pure pass rusher on this team, let’s be honest. He needs to work on his run game play to be a 3 down guy of course.
But I’m not worried about Spawn, Not at all.
Now, if you want to discuss Chris Baker, Clinton McDonald or Robert Ayers… then we have some things to worry about!
August 17th, 2017 at 5:36 pm
Von Miller is 6-2 5/8, 246 and Noah Spence is 6-2 247, almost identical. The big difference between the two as far as sacks in their rookie season is Vonn Miller plays in a defense that is designed more for his type of play. Spence will have a huge year this year and they just need to make him a starter and give him more snaps.
August 17th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
From all accounts EXCEPT The Joes Spence has had a good camp. I don’t see why the joes love to take the negative narrative all the time. Let’s not forget that Spence was playing with a dislocated shoulder and in a harness for most of the season. Spence has been quoted saying that he was uncomfortable in the harness and it hampered his game last year. Gholston said his work ethic was exceptional and he studies hard. Coach Hayes said Noah is finally understanding that u can’t win on every play, it’s about setting guys up for a move later on in the game.
I’m not worried at all about Spence. I wasn’t expecting All Pro play from him, plus he was injured. In the words of Aaron Rodgers R-E-L-A-X RELAX!!!!!