The Ryan Smith Trifecta
September 24th, 2017
Brutal
First Ryan Smith was a cornerback the Bucs insisted was a safety. That didn’t work.
Then he was a kick returner. That didn’t work. He was historically bad.
Now he’s a cornerback — with glaring weaknesses since training camp — who got torched today in Minnesota.
Joe’s hands are thrown in the air. What else is there to say? The Bucs have mis-evaluated Smith from the start. Joe puts that squarely on Mike Smith, Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter.
C’mon, guys.
Despite intense struggles in training camp and preseason — with a few highs mixed in — the Bucs believed Smith, who had zero snaps on defense last season, was good enough to be their No. 3 cornerback. Joe wrote about this many times.
Well, enter Smith today into the starting lineup with Brent Grimes being a last-minute scratch with a shoulder injury.
Smith was brutal.
There’s really no need for Joe to review exactly how Smith was beaten deep and short and dished out cushion like he worked part-time for Rooms To Go. It was ugly. Ironically, Licht was on the Buccaneers Radio Network before the game talking about how Smith has great speed and how his performance and experience today would really help him and the Bucs down the road.
Maybe it was just a guy seeing his first start and getting overwhelmed. But Joe really has zero faith in Smith — and the Bucs’ evaluation of him.
Get well soon, Brent.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Ryan Smith shouldn’t be allowed on the team plane, he should be cut – he’s awful and has no business being on the field.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
VH3 wasn’t any better
September 24th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Yea the problem is Grimes and VH3 are both injured?
Who else we got?
What an ugly game today.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
I’m done. Winston wasn’t great, but I’m more pissed about the D. All offseason long we’ve heard about all of our depth. Well, we used our depth tonight, and it’s not depth, it’s trash. Maybe 8 or 9 wins but no playoffs again.😢
September 24th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
No pass rush. Vernon wasn’t any better at all. Conte was no help. This was Smith first real NFL game at CB, I’m not even close to putting this one on Smith.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
So who’s a better option at this point?
September 24th, 2017 at 4:16 pm
Rod Munch, he’s at least decent on special teams. Forced the fumble last week and had that great play to put the Saints at the 1 last season.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
No one saw that coming. When you rely on a 34 year old cb you are destined to fail.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:18 pm
So- as bad as depleted defense was “America’s QB” had a chance and proceeded to throw 3 picks. Plenty of blame to go around
September 24th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
but you like conte, don’t you joe?
September 24th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
As I have said all off-season and been killed on this site, forget about playoffs. This team is NOT ready
September 24th, 2017 at 4:21 pm
this atl det game is crazy
September 24th, 2017 at 4:25 pm
atlanta wins on crazy review…10 second runoff screws detroit
September 24th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Tandy and Conte were brutal as well. Just an ugly performance.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
I think Lovie fielded a better secondary than the bucs put on the field today. VH3 couldn’t cover a pillow with a blanket.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
VH3 was way worst than Smith I hope @JOE didn’t get the numbers mixed up because VH3 was giving it away for free…
September 24th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
That’s the rules……the Falcons deserve the win
September 24th, 2017 at 4:32 pm
The Vikings were just superior in every way. Their coaches were better, their game plan was lights out better than ours, their offense was better, their QB was better, their Defense was certainly better. Just a complete butt woopin but a much better team. Nothing to do but move on.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
I didn’t mention it because we won last week, but VH3 was horrible last week too. Our defensive backs coach needs a but whipping.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
All CB’s SUCK
September 24th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
How does Glennon win against the Steelers with 101 yards? Insane
September 24th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Forget Ryan smith, how abt our STARTING CB hargreaves getting beat brutally over and over. Sorry bro. You cant ball
September 24th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
“Dished out coushin like he worked part time for Rooms to Go”
Joe is a lyrical genius !
September 24th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
Plenty of blame to go around indeed..But Jameis and his 3 interceptions and throwing to Evans while he’s got 3 men covering him, then to boot, Howard was wide open!!
September 24th, 2017 at 4:42 pm
Hargreaves was 10 times worst..he’s a top 10 pick and started from day one!!Smith was a fourth round pick that we took that the Bucs want to play safety.Hargreaves is pure garbage when it comes to man on man!!
September 24th, 2017 at 4:48 pm
Licht passing on laremy tunsil for vh3 was just a dunderhead move grab the LT because acorner that high should bea shutdown for many years instead he is abig part of carr ringing up 500 and the GOAT keenum lightning it up
September 24th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
Ya man, you have it twisted. I’m not too wound up about Ryan Smith. It’s the awful Vernon Hargreaves that is more concerning. First round pick…dude sucks. He was completely dominated today.
September 24th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
Your writing about Smith. Your first four articles after the game was how bad Winston Played. 3 picks and if it were not for Brate it would have been 4 and a
6 pick at that.
September 24th, 2017 at 5:15 pm
VH3?? Wtf was that. Wow did he suck
September 24th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
“Kobe Faker was absolutely right in everything he said”
Rod munch
September 24th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
VH3 is a bust–already knew Ryan Smith was awful but VH3 was totally useless, awful, good for nothing, the secondary lost this game just like last year, Jameis had th throw like crazy to stand a chance– of course that lead to interceptions, stupid game.
VH3 was AWFUL
September 24th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
I think VH3 should be benched he was that bad, Bears game he missed an easy interception also, dude needs to ride the pine for rest of the season, no cornerback is worse than him, he was that bad. So Joe–write up a story bout him — who cares bout Ryan Smith–he is backup Hargreaves is the starter–he sucked really bad. Stupid pick why get a cornerback with pick #11 Useless player
September 24th, 2017 at 6:31 pm
Honestly, I can see how they Buc’s coaches could fall in love with Ryan Smith’s athleticism, because he is fast and moves well, but that doesn’t mean he knows how to play CB and be slotted as the 3rd CB no less.
September 24th, 2017 at 8:41 pm
Smith wasn’t any worse than Hargreaves, who has a year of experience as a corner back. I thought Joe told us a corner needed at least 2 years before they could be properly evaluated.
September 24th, 2017 at 9:47 pm
Problem is lack of pass rush. Qb had all day to throw and was not shaken. Next year bucs need to stop drafting heavy on offense, stop ignoring the glaring hole at pass rush and depth at corner. This year they will be screwed bc of this
September 24th, 2017 at 10:43 pm
The sky is falling the sky is falling! Bucs fans are the worst part of this organization.
September 25th, 2017 at 10:55 am
Told you!
We missed on McCourty.
I knew it!
If we lost Grimes, we would lose games!
VH3 is not very good. Ryan Smith is a redshirt rookie.
We miseed on McCourty and Joe Haden.
We also should have drafted another CB or DE in the 2nd.
Justin Evans hasn’t seen the field yet!!
2nd rounders should be starters!!
Make some trades!!
Go get Mo Wilkerson and Buster Skrine.
Or go get Hughes or Dareus from Buffalo!
We need D-line and CB additions immediately!!
This looks like Schiano in his first year!
1st in run defense, last in pass defense!
September 25th, 2017 at 1:50 pm
I don’t really understand your hatred for Smith. I don’t understand how you can write up an article all about Smith and not call out VH3 once for his exposure of a game he played today.
And this coming off of an EASY pick drop last week which led to the Bears only score. He’s not playing well thus far this season.
September 25th, 2017 at 8:13 pm
If the bucs want to protest they should protest their bad play, sick of being frustrated by underachievers, no more football. Watch more golf where these players are respectful of their country and opportunity to make a living. See you bucs, hope you protest in a empty stadium.