Defense Came To Play
October 5th, 2017
Had defense looking sharp.
Joe has to give major props to Mike Smith.
The Bucs defensive coordinator was down three starters including Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander. Smith was relying on rookies Justin Evans and Kendell Beckwith to help slow the great Tom Brady. Smith also had no edge rush to work with.
And time after time after time the defense bailed the Bucs out. Kept them in the game. Gave them a chance to even with the game.
Until Nick Folk walked on the field.
Smith’s defense got a pick, a sack/fumble and two more sacks (none from a DE). The D held New England to six second-half points and forced two critical fourth-quarter punts.
How awful this must have been for the defense to play their hearts out, finding a way to somehow keep Brady in check and keep the Bucs in the game when the offense couldn’t score with a fistful of Peter Gammons walking down the Vegas Strip?
This loss is not on the defense in any way. It’s on the arm of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and fully on the poisoned foot of Folk.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:50 pm
Ayers owns this house. Spawn got one quit. McDonald plays hard every play. We need a DE opposite Spawn or just play Gholston on pass plays.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
Give some major props to Doug Martin while you’re at it.
He was about the only real bright spot of the game.
Also Jameis had Humphries and Brate wide open on the last play.
I feel like I just got mugged after watching this game.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
So what this team can’t win games that are essentially handed to them.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
*no quit
October 5th, 2017 at 11:52 pm
Koetter blew it…terrible playcalling
October 5th, 2017 at 11:52 pm
I meant that Doug was the bright spot of the offense.
The defense, outside of Vernon who got roasted again, played really well. Well enough to where we should have won this game easily.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:52 pm
Joe,
The defense and Doug Martin were on point!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:52 pm
Really? Not one 3 and out in the entire game. They cannot get off the field, and that’s not just this game. In every game, 3rd and long is always… ALWAYS… converted. Brady aside, the Bucs secondary is terrible.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
Folk was 0/3. He never got the third opportunity. If he makes any one of the three and we kick at the end, its 19-20 Bucs.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
Agreed Joe
Game ball to GMC or Evans. Both played very well.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
Smith also had no edge rush to work with.
Spence was beasting. Watch the tape before hammering on your keyboard.
Please. Don’t insult everyone’s intelligence by saying Spence was beasting. –Joe
October 5th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
<—Fourth
October 5th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
Defense did their part. Did more than enough to win.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:53 pm
We were also fortunate with some major drops by the Pats but you’re right Joe they did show up as best they can, despite the injuries.
Unfortunately we have Ryan smith and VH3 on the field. I never liked the VH3 pick but like any Bucs player I root for him and hope he’ll improve. Doesn’t look like he has at all this season though. Not sure if that’s him or Mike smith coaching him like that.
Sucks to have that many opportunities and lose. Plenty of blame to go around on Koetter, Jameis, Brate at times and most especially folk.
10 Days to find a kicker mr. Light!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:54 pm
Jameis was bad for 3 qtrs tonight. Folk has cost us 16 pts in two games. Post game analyst ripping Koetter for simplistic plays and not adjusting to the defense. We are 2-2 and not the end of the world but that was a game we should have won!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:55 pm
Where’s that Doug Martin article?
October 5th, 2017 at 11:57 pm
I can’t believe how bad the Patriots played on National TV. Is this the end for Tom Brady? Tom Brady stunk up the field tonight.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:57 pm
Not Winston’s fault. All I got to say is get the Folk out.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:57 pm
I’m seeing nothing from Heargraves in terms of play making
October 5th, 2017 at 11:58 pm
VH3 was too soft for the most part, particularly on Hogan’s TD. Other the that, I tip my hat to the defense.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:58 pm
Jw did in fact bounce back w better second play calling. Alotta drops and missed blocking assignment’s and penalties. But if OJ looks for that ball and catch it we could of won it.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Doug Martin should have had 25 carries and the Bucs win going away. Why put the game in Jameis hands? When clearly doug is hot and the O-Line are dominating the Pats.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:00 am
Lakeland,
The Bucs actually got good pressure on Brady. When he had a clean pocket, I’d bet his completion % was over 90%. Winston did his usual mix of great throws showcasing his arm with long stretches of WTF.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:00 am
I love Jameis but he’s never going to be a franchise QB if he doesnt learn to be able to hit wide open receivers more consistently. Great job by the defense and Martin. Everything else was just terrible and embarrasing.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:01 am
Jamarcus the ball was thrown too early OJ was still a few yards out from the end zone.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:01 am
Play calling was the fault. Since DK become head coach he is scared to open the offense especially against big opponents. In my opinion DK lost the game and that rush throw in the end. Bad decision by Jameis.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:01 am
Hargraves current play absolutely sucks! His idea of defense is backing himself out of the play, watching the receiver catch the ball and then tackling him after he makes a first down. Success means the receiver did not score. This season, he couldn’t cover a shoe with a blanket.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:02 am
Why did Jameis Winston throw 46 passes? Dirk Koetter refuses to stick with the running game. He’s a pass happy OC, no doubt about it. The Patriots were helpless against the Bucs run attack.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:02 am
Justin Evans balled out! If Brate catches the first redzone TD that hits him eight in the hands but instead we had to put on the foot of Folk. And the drive before that its know way Koetter should’ve not gone for it on 4th and 1. He knew folk was going shank that kick it was Aguayo all over again. He had no confidence in sending him out there. He friggin blew his breath when he sent him out there
October 6th, 2017 at 12:02 am
I’ve been hating on Mike Smith but I’m man enough to tip my cap. Our defense made me proud.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:05 am
jW threw a perfect pass for a TD to Brate
Brate drops it
Jameis runs in for a TD on the next play
Evan Smith makes a boneheaded penalty
Then Folk misses a 31 yard field goal.
But sure it’s JW’s fault.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:06 am
Both teams played sloppy tonight, but the Bucs won the turnover battle and still lost the game…that fall on the coaching
October 6th, 2017 at 12:09 am
It wasn’t a Hail Mary pass you morons that pocket collapsed. New England had 9 ppl in the end zone you have to hit it quick you’re not going to be able to get enough height on the ball to throw it up and get it back down from that close. Winston threw it to a spot at the goaline
October 6th, 2017 at 12:10 am
Koetter needs to gtfo with that archaic air coryell bullsh!t. Couldnt beat the worst defense in the nfl tonight because our playcaller is stuck in a 1980’s timeloop
October 6th, 2017 at 12:10 am
Lakeland is right, the Bucs lost the coaching battle tonight. They also lost the special teams battle and that was enough to ensure an L! Will the Bucs ever have a game where all 4 facets of the game *offense, defense, special teams and coaching all click? D did show up but the offense did not wake up until late and Folk pulled an Aguoyo, YUCK!!!!!!
October 6th, 2017 at 12:17 am
Denfense was only good for the second half. First half, just throw away that taoe
October 6th, 2017 at 12:18 am
Again. McDonald >McCoy
October 6th, 2017 at 12:25 am
Think it’s time for Koetter to hand the playcalling over to Monken….
Koetter lost this game tonight and I think he knows it.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:36 am
Mike Smith called a tremendous game tonight. 19 points will be close to season low.
Now they’re all over Jameis. How many inch perfect passes did Jameis throw?
Brate made one catch, but dropped a number of key third down passes and cost us a full seven points (as noted about) on another drop. The running backs missed a bunch of passes that were right in their hands.
Some guys we’d been down on stepped up tonight, DJax, Conte, Ayers and other Dline…
Koetter was smart with his timeouts and didn’t make any egregious mistakes with game management. Punting on a fourth and 6 punt at the opponents 40 down two possessions, going to Folk for 48 yards on 4th and 2, kicking deep instead of the onside kick were questionable, but if you ran a simulation those decisions wouldn’t be obviously wrong even though I’d have gone the other way on at least the first two.
Before the game Joe said he wanted to see us go deep, I thought to my self, I’d like to see Jameis regularly complete a 6 yard pass on 3rd and 5 and a 4 yard pass on 3rd and 3.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:37 am
Embarrassing showing. Winston is right now an average QB with above average skill players around him and a HC whose offense isn’t generating the 30 points per game that adding Jackson and OJ Howard should have brought.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:57 am
Stop with the Spawn crap, he is just as horrible VH3 Learn another move dude !
October 6th, 2017 at 1:02 am
Defense, other than Hagreaves, was good tonight.
Ayers had a good game. Spence was in thebackfield a few times.
First game our DEs showed up
Evans played well. Smith( other than that special team play) played very well.
We didnt lose this game because of the defense.
Or Jameis
Play calling was bad tonight
October 6th, 2017 at 1:14 am
I think the offensive and defensive play caller sucks a big one just like vh3, this is the most talented squad we’ve had in a long time but now the play callers on both sides of the ball are being bailed out by talent. Dirk is getting out coached consistently and overthinking simple situations, Mike Smith scheme stinks
October 6th, 2017 at 2:23 am
Man, if only our coaches were as good as the commentators on this site. I mean, there’s just no excuse for getting outcoached by the best coach in the history of the NFL (on a short week). The loss sucks, but most of our fans just want to jump off a cliff because of a close loss to the World Champs. We’re only 4 games into a 16 game season, and most of you would have been happy with 2-2 before the season started. When we win, you think we’re going to the Super Bowl. When we lose, you think we’re the worst team in football. Calm down, it’s one game. It sucks, but it’s over and we can still have a great season. But it gets really old to have the sky falling after ever single loss. Calm down and stop being so dramatic.
October 6th, 2017 at 7:23 am
Mike Smith did a good jon with the D this week. They actually executed a decent showing. I was pleased with what I saw. The offense needs to keep Martin in as much as possible. Folk has to go.
October 6th, 2017 at 7:26 am
The good news is….we found a running game with Doug Martin back, the defense was much better, there’s still a lot of football left to play, and we are 2-2 thru the first quarter of the season.
The bad news is ….we wasted a big opportunity. That game was winnable! In fact, we SHOULD HAVE WON THAT GAME! We also have NO kicking game (which needs to be addressed ASAP!), a young QB who HAS TO START PLAYING MORE CONSISTENTLY, and an entire team….coaches and play callers included, who have yet to figure out this teams identity.
Glad we’ve got 10 days to address some of these issues, or the season could get out of hand very quickly.