Defense Should Be Proud
October 6th, 2017
Extraordinary gameplan.
Joe spent the good part of this morning cleaning up the mess in his kitchen because he Frisbee’ed his mug of Community Coffee against the sink. Yes, Joe’s still so PO’ed how the Bucs totally wasted an outstanding defensive effort.
Think about it: The Bucs, with a limp edge rush (What edge rush?), down two high-level NFL linebackers and down two safeties, held the mighty Belicheats and Tom Brady to one lone touchdown by forcing Brady into two turnovers.
New England was just 4-for-12 on third down!
And yet the Bucs didn’t win. And folks wonder why there are punch marks on Joe’s refrigerator?
Joe has to give major props to defensive coordinator Mike Smith and his troops for playing their hearts out last night. What a crime it was for them to set up the offense, especially in the first quarter, with short fields only for the offense curl up into a fetal position.
October 6th, 2017 at 11:49 am
Mike Smith deserves alot of credit……….now can he fix stinking VHG3????
October 6th, 2017 at 11:51 am
Absolutely. Great D performance last night. I think we’re all geeked about Evans. Man, he was bursty to the ball. His fill on some of those run plays were intense. Almost a second pick, that first pick was pure want to. As those vets come back, and with the experience that the young’uns got, should solidify this defense for that crucial second half of the season push. Lots of teams are 2-2 right now, some are bad teams that just go lucky, are the bucs one of those teams? We shall see!
October 6th, 2017 at 11:51 am
This defense is a Brent Grimes injury away from being below average.
October 6th, 2017 at 11:54 am
Man, I CAN NOT wait to see this defense firing on all cylinders when Alexander,David,and Ward come back. Ward/Evans(if he plays like last night all year) is getting me very excited. Glad to see we got some sacks but no thanks to our DEs
October 6th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
I was impressed with the defensive showing. I have been very clear I’m not a Mike Smith fan…but perhaps he’s not as bad as LOVIE.
GET A NEW KICKER IN THE NEXT TEN DAYS AT ALL COST. BRING IN TEN OF THEM IF YOU HAVE TO….GET IT DONE!!!
October 6th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
McDonald > McCoy. Let’s get real
October 6th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
@EA
This defense is one healthy Alexander,David, and Ward coming back to being above average team also.
Be positive man!! GEZZ!!
October 6th, 2017 at 12:19 pm
@Lamarcus
Yeah, sure. Lol
October 6th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
Shameful performance by the offense is all that matters here. The gameplan stinks outloud. We should have dominated time of possession in that 1st quarter based on the way it played out. We do not take advantage of game opportunities that come to us………Instead NE takes full control of the ball all quarter(and half) while our offense muttles 9 lousy yards on the ground. This led to our defense sucking air in the 2nd half.
We squandered our chances to win this game while players look like they are lost in the full moon. This team isn’t ready to contend yet…….not by a long shot.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:29 pm
Giving up only 19 points should have won that game last night. Defense played pretty well – and there was a pass rush. Brady was hit, pressured and sacked an adequate # of times.
October 6th, 2017 at 12:40 pm
being gronkless certainly helped our defense, but yes, they defied the many critics (like me) who assumed this would be the Case Keenum experience multiplied.
that being said, tommy boy completed 75% of his passes and moved the chains with ease most of the game. they will need to be a little more disruptive vs Arizona
October 6th, 2017 at 12:51 pm
I’m tired of being positive, it’s gonna take a while, yesterday’s game frustrated me more than any game I can remember.
October 6th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
We should probably cut our 2nd round bust Justin Evans. Can’t tackle or make any plays as quite a few here have said. This could be an awesome site, but damn some of the doomsday commenters here make it hard at best. Relax people, jeez. Frustrated at the continued kicking issues? Check. Frustrated Jameis is still not connecting with Desean? Check. Thrilled that our defense limited Brady to 19 points? Check. They put up massive numbers against the Texans who most consider a very good defense. So, if our defense can continue to improve while 3 of our better defenders are out, then all will be good. Our offense will get better. Or just keep believing the worst, it seems to be all some of the commenters here have.
October 6th, 2017 at 2:21 pm
I’m not sure whether this defense played as well the whole game as everyone says.
The first half they moved down the field and there were at least 2 drives beginning inside their 5 yard line that resulted in points. I also saw too many 2nd and 20+ downs that ended up being converted to first downs with our corners (again) giving 13 yard cushions.
I’m fine with ‘bend don’t break’ but “outstanding”?
I just want us to call things as we see them
October 6th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
And yes, VHS needs Jesus… bc that boy can’t get a hand on a ball. That TD to Hogan was the classic Hargreaves cushion.
Please please please put him at Nickel.
October 6th, 2017 at 2:24 pm
And if VHS doesn’t stop celebrating receivers dropping balls that’s he’s 5 yards away from, as if he had slapped it out of their hands, I’m gonna lose my mind.
Reminds me of the Gerald McCoy play of old.
October 6th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
With the injuries we have the defense right now they performed better than expected, but they still gave up over 300 yards through the air when Brady didn’t have his 2 favorite targets out there in Gronk and Edelman, that’s troubling.
October 6th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Defense did it’s job. Jameis didn’t do his until it was too late.
October 6th, 2017 at 6:41 pm
I am trying to figure out what in my above comment could have possibly tripped a filter.
October 6th, 2017 at 11:42 pm
Defense did its job but on a Thursday night game the home team always has a huge advantage and the D took it while the other facets of the game: offense, special teams and coaching (play calling, time management, half time adjustments) were not exploited by Tampa. Unless its a Thursday night game in a place like Chicago , Cleveland or perhaps the LA/Carson Chargers its logical to expect a home team playing on a short week to take advantage. The Bucs did not. It was a lost opportunity and the type of game that separates a 10+ win team from the average 8-8 kind of team…..
October 7th, 2017 at 12:59 am
This Defense is Mediocre! Just like VH3 @ outside cornerback!!
October 7th, 2017 at 8:37 am
Fort… I was at the game, and it looked like an away game with all the Pats jerseys and such. Not as bad as the Giants game, bu it still sucks.
October 8th, 2017 at 3:49 am
To all the ones who say Robert Ayers was not a fantastic free agency signing. Ayers had nine total QB pressures and showed how he can bring it against one of the best offenses in the NFL. How about Gerald McCoy with 18 QB pressures and 7 run stops in just four games? Clinton McDonald had a huge game as well with three solo tackles and a sack.