Disconnect On Defense
January 22nd, 2018
Bucky Brooks talks to Joe.
Very interesting insight on the Bucs Joe got last week from a guy plugged in within NFL circles.
That would be NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks. The former NFL cornerback chatted with Joe about various subjects and one was the Bucs defense. Brooks sees a defense that had talent but for whatever reason, Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith is not getting the most from it.
Brooks believes, for whatever reason, whatever Smith is preaching isn’t exactly sinking in.
JoeBucsFan: What is your takeaway on the Bucs defense, which really collapsed?
Bucky Brooks: The issue with the Bucs is their continued inability to develop a pass rush. Until you can generate a pass rush, it’s hard to play. Like, really, really good football [teams] consistently in the league, they are built for everyone to pass the ball. I think if they can address that, find a way to get that going, then you will see the rest of the things falling into place.
Joe: Are guys not buying in?
Brooks: I don’t know. Not necessarily “not buying in.” When you don’t have execution, that’s not exactly guys not buying in. Guys aren’t obviously taking onto the field what the plan is because there are too many mistakes, too many errors.
Joe: Could the players be tuning Mike Smith out?
Brooks: I’m not saying tuning it out. They have more talent than what they have shown. There is something going wrong with the execution. So, they just have to do what is being said in the meetings, onto the field.
What Brooks told Joe about talent struck a chord. About two or three weeks ago, Joe was texting a current NFL player (not with the Bucs) who told Joe there is no way the Tampa Bay defense should be this bad because, the NFL player wrote, the Bucs had “ballers” on defense.
Joe already has written this and it sort of reinforces what these two sources are saying: If, say, a new defensive coordinator came in and was told, ‘Hey, we are going to clean house on defense but the only five players returning are GMC, Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander, Kendell Beckwith, Brent Grimes and a former first round pick of a corner,” the candidate for the job likely couldn’t sign his contract quickly enough.
There simply is no way around it. The Bucs must get a pass rush and now, not three years down the road.
Problem is, last year was the year to do that in free agency. The pickings are really slim this year, so basically Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has to either overpay an average-at-best end, trade up in the draft to make sure you get Bradley Chubb — and pray he is an actual freak who produces as a rookie — or swing a trade.
Sad thing is, a team with a defensive end is in a seller’s market. Licht would have to bend over with tons of Team Glazer loot and likely draft picks to land a decent end via trade.
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:13 am
I agree Joe.
The Bucs have outstanding linebackers but the defensive line is the worst in the NFL.
Watching what Minnesota, Jacksonville and Philadelphia are able to do as a result of how good there defensive lines are is eye opening.
The Jags with Blake Bortles where five minutes away from the super bowl because they have a great defense and a great running game.
The Bucs don’t have to have a great defense with Jameis at QB, but they do need to be at least average and they also need to have a solid running game.
Instead the Bucs have the worst defense in the NFL and the worst group of running backs in the NFL.
I like OJ Howard, but it was a mistake to not draft Derrick Barnett or Dalvin Cook with the first round selection last year.
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:17 am
Don’t forget Justin Evans. And Demarcus Lawrence is better than average. So is Ansah IMHO
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:19 am
Other then 54 93 and 58 and grandpa
Who are these ballers?
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:24 am
Oh!!!!! I love articles where Joe’s beliefs are backed up by leading question and hearing what he wants to hear!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish joe would have asked him which game he watched that really pointed out where the talent was apparent but the coaching held them back????????
and double bonus if we go with someone’s plan to draft a RB while ignoring the defense even more, ( how many 1st rounders does the offense need???) That will give another year of blaming a coach and how it is holding the franchise qb back!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:28 am
No defense led by a soft, fragile, selfish bad character bum like cancer93 will ever be on the same page. Poor mike Smith is in a no win situation trying to overcome cancer93 sucking the will to win and desire to be great from every free agent and draft pick that walks through the door at one buc… you can’t win when your highest paid captain is the softest player on the field week in and week out. The .e first crying clown mccoy is the main factor in bucs defense sucking and quiting.
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:33 am
Destin you dont consider ryan russell, ryan smith, tj ward, saggy baker, and vernon hargreaves ballers? What have you been watching, we obviuosly have superior talent…ballers and superior scouts that are finding these ballers…..
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:37 am
Destin
The ballers are usually the guys who had a high level of success either in college or in the nfl, on the bucs or another team. So mccoy, mcdonald, spence, david, kwon, hargreaves, evans, grimes, ward. Ya know guys who went from excelling to sucking in smiths d. Guys who are being put in position to fail. The cover 2 base he runs is set up for 4 man pressure. No pressure all year and he didnt adjust. Should have went to cover 3 or cover 1 ALOT more. He has great linebackers who can blitz but instead they were in zone coverage. Any qb can pick apart zone coverage with all day to pass. Their d was as predictable as it gets. Bad coaching. Plenty of talent on this team. So yeah now that we know he wont adjust we know they will sign and draft multiple DEs.
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:47 am
Thank you DestinJohnny … “Who are these ballers?” Eagles had SEVEN (7) Dts & DEs who played an AVERAGE of 15 games last season (no one less than 14 games) and ALL but 1 who were 1st or 2nd Round picks. Don’t bother comparing the Eagles’ DLine with the Bucs’ DLine, it’s a sad comparison.
@Joe … “There simply is no way around it. The Bucs must get a pass rush and now, not three years down the road. Problem is, last year was the year to do that in free agency.” Therein lies the real truth Joe, not that the Bucs’ team is made up of a bunch of ‘ballers’ and that our coaching staff sucks. Jason Licht blew his chance to fix this thing over the past couple of years, and now we’re sucking hind teet. Note to Jason: FIX THE BLANKETY-BLANK DLINE starting right now. It’ll probably take 2-3 years, and you won’t be here to finish the job, but we have to start someplace. No more of this throwing a 7th round bone to Scapegoat Smitty. Don’t go cheap … spend some REAL money & some REAL draft picks for a change.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:29 am
Soft coach soft play calling soft players. Other good teams celebrate tackles for loss and sacks but we have a guys will gholston who celebrate after a hard hit even on runs of 3-4 yards. Hate that a defense this bad celebrates tackles on 2nd down when we all know this team can’t stop anyone. Unfortunately this defensive scheme had the same mindset as Lovie passive defense which what Mark Barron called it when he got traded, basically waiting around to see what a defense will do to you then react.
There’s no savior coming for this defensive line without some high cost and one piece wouldn’t be enough especially if it’s a rookie so I suspect we’ll see more of the same next year except GMC is a year older and he’ll have even less of an impact
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:32 am
Most of the playoffs teams have a great pass rush… It is that simple… Even pats can get after it at times. Our guys cant get a sack to save their life.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:36 am
considering every player on the defensive line is a part time player at best due to limited skill set or fragility it will take at least 4 new bodies and the eradication of the leader of the losing culture before the line could even be good much less impactful.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:38 am
Joe
Why do so many players,analysts and fans divide on GMC?
We know where you stand but why haven’t you looked at where the other side of the coin comes from
This is not a few dumb fans screaming crap but knowledgeable people of the game who say the same thing
Is it easier just to call them HATERS or are you afraid you may see their point
You can change players coaches or even the fri t office but until the lockerroom leaders are all in the same page of WINNING the Bucs will be happy to go on vacation in Jan
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:42 am
I disagree that there is enough talent. Yes, we have some talent, but only one guy on the defensive line (unless Spence finally gets healthy).
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:43 am
ATrain Says:
“Why do so many players,analysts and fans divide on GMC?”
No players or analysts are divided on him. Only fans.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:47 am
ATrain
like all journalists in today’s society joe has decided to ignore facts and only present one side when it comes to his Super Hero the crying clown cancer93. Joe refuses to address the fact every free agent that has been brought in during the failed 8 year career of cancer93 has regressed. Joe also fails to acknowledge his super hero is a HUGE liability against the run and is routinely blown off the ball. You highest paid team leaders set the tone and the tone that cancer93 sets is SOFT and lackadaisical at best and flat out quits at worst. When the man wearing the C is the softest player on the field week in and week out and does not have a desire to be great every play, how can you expect the young guys to overcome the soft team philosophy which is tolerated and supported by ownership. the losing culture is real and the leader is none other than the crying clown cancer93… I can’t wait for his selfish me first pro bowl appearance. Instead of getting healthy for HIS TEAM like the rest of the stars who sit the game out, the crying clown will be in front of every camera he sees embarrassing himself and the team every chance he gets.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:49 am
I think it’s safe to say that GMC is a really good player but his entire career has proven if he is there best you got you ain’t winning nothing. He simply can’t be the best player on the defensive line anymore, that doesn’t mean trade him it means best best players needs to be an edge rusher
If GMC is on this line and everyone can universally agree without edge pass rusher in free agency and draft that we won’t be any better why not trade him then go ahead and revamp the entire line.
Jacksonville didn’t suddenly get a pass rush overnight it took years of drafting then Campbell but then over the top, that’s not the bucs since they don’t even draft d line
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:49 am
if licht has half a brain he will ship the crying clown to dallas for a 6th round pick and give these young players and new free agents a chance to succeed without the leader of the losing culture infecting them and sucking the will to win and desire to be great from their souls.
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:50 am
Sorry to say, but Bucs biggest problem on defense is just lack of talent. The LB group is strong, but after that not much else. Watching the two games this weekend and watching grown, experienced men play made the Bucs defense look like playgrounders or amateurs
January 22nd, 2018 at 9:56 am
The Bucs has Tampa Bay Talent. But most of these guys will be backups on other teams.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:00 am
This couldn’t be more spot on, you don’t have a roster of.nfl talent and be last in the league without bad coaching. I said two years ago Mike Smith wouldwreck this team. I didn’t buy into that five game stretch of optimistic turnovers.
This will be Koetters last year and it’s all because of Smith, unless.he is fired.mid season or by some miracle get plucked by another team all hope for next season is screwed. Koetter is.too loyal and that really is a disappointment
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:05 am
BrianBucs … B-I-N-G-O !!! Bucs MAY have a defensive coaching problem, but until Licht provides this defense with some REAL TALENT there’s no fair way to know how good or bad this coaching staff is. This group could make Schwartz or any other DC look absolutely pedestrian. Look at who’s under contract right now. Take away McCoy, David, Kwon, Beckwith & Evans (the latter two being rookies who’ve yet to show consistency & durability) and yes, the Bucs defense does look like ‘playgrounders or amateurs’.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:12 am
As Joe typed earlier, there is a solid nucleus of talent on defense. Not sure how a team has the worst defense in the NFL with GMC, Kwon, David and Grimes on the roster.
You have Pro Bowlers — mock the game if you wish but generally, the Sabby Piscatellis of the world don’t play in it — on every level of the defense, yet it is horrible.
Is it Licht’s fault Smith and his crew cannot develop a young cornerback?
Never, ever underestimate how bad coaching can drag down a team.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:14 am
Went all the way back to 2010 and all I see is epic failure on drafting Defense. Several times I’ve heard about our lack of being able to develop young players on defense, but man besides a couple very good LB’s the cupboard is completely void of talent. Hargraves was considered too small and too slow for NFL receivers before we drafted him so not much surprise there. Most of the D lineman the Bucs have drafted that past 10 years have either not made it at all in the NFL or lasted a very short time. Two Bucs Drafts yielded ZERO players and several only account for one or two average players. Now on offense we’ve gotten Evans, Marpet, Godwin, Winston, OJ Howard, also Brate & Humpries were undrafted free agents.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:15 am
If Joe didn’t know any better, he’d swear TMax is Akeem Spence. LOL
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:15 am
@BucEmUp … ‘This will be Koetters last year and it’s all because of Smith.’ Congrats on buying into Joe’s daily drubbing of Mike Smith. Do you seriously consider this to be a ‘roster of nfl talent’? And as far as Koetter being ‘too loyal’ goes, you might want to consider who picks the coaches (something tells me it’s in the GM’s job description, but hey, that’s just a hunch).
And BTW BucEmUp, I like Koetter but not as both a HC AND an OC. He’s shown me enough for me to conclude that he’s in over his head in trying to do BOTH jobs. Even a highly-experienced HC/OC like Sean Payton had 3 losing years in a row with Drew Brees as his QB until the Saints started paying attention to defense. Gut feel is that it was the Saints’ long-time GM (Mickey Loomis) who finally said ‘Enough is enough Sean, we’re gonna build a defense’.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:17 am
I’ve said endlessly Mike Smith never should have been allowed to coach the Defense. His time in this NFl has come and gone. But the Glazers and Koetter see it different. Koetters career might depend on keeping Smitty. And it will end soon.
Once again next yr, Smitty will return to his perch high on top in the pressbox (to get a better view of the field of course) and once again his troops will underperform. And once again, the Hounds of Buc baskerville will be crying for him to go next year. What a truly..pityful franchise!
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:18 am
This team is literally going on a 15 year run of terrible drafts mostly on D. You can’t hit on everyone that is obvious but completely striking out on so many players is really the source of our problems. The Jags have drafted tough physical players and it has paid off for them.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:19 am
THANK YOU FOR CANNING THE ” NO TALENT ” EXCUSE!!!!!!
this article sums it up perfectly…..our defensive coaches cant develop players(DE CB) and our defensive scheme sucks…..simple as that!!!!!!
this is the 3rd or 4th article that @joe has posted regarding the “no talent ” excuse and everyone from nfl exec., to form players to current players to scouts all say talent is not the problem…..
everybody cant be a 1st round pick!!!!!!….you have to develop what you have….GO BUCS!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:22 am
SPOT On there Bucky Brooks on your Buc Defensive assessment..Spot On Sir!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:24 am
Defense Rules Says:
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:05 am
Take away McCoy, David, Kwon, Beckwith & Evans (the latter two being rookies who’ve yet to show consistency & durability) and yes, the Bucs defense does look like ‘playgrounders or amateurs’.
if you take away 3 pro bowlers from any defense they’ll look pretty amateur…lol….
but yet, take away 5 starters from any defense and their would be a drop off….but as you pointed out on defense we have currently 3 pro bowler and 2 very good rookie that will only get better…..GO BUCS!!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:24 am
@Joe … “Is it Licht’s fault Smith and his crew cannot develop a young cornerback?” Seriously Joe? Who has Licht provided for Smitty’s crew to develop? VHIII our 1st round pick? Too short & slow to be an outside corner, plus doesn’t have the quickness & leaping ability that Brent Grimes has. Good hitter IMO, but he’s really a nickel CB (or potentially even a Safety). Square peg in a round hole. Or maybe Ryan Smith, our 4th round draftee? Wasted a year trying to make him be a Safety (go back & re-read Licht’s comments when R. Smith was drafted, then tell me that it’s Smitty’s fault). Good height & even speed, but he was really a rookie CB this past year playing on an island. I’d invite you to go down the rest of the CB list, but why? No REAL TALENT there.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:26 am
Poor coaching and scheme in combination with inferior talent on the D-Line = crappy defense. Simple as that.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:31 am
In the last 4 drafts,
2014
1.WR
2.TE
3.RB
2015
1.QB
2.OL
3.OL
2016
1.CB
2.DE
2.PK
2017
1.TE
2.S
3.WR
4.LB
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:32 am
813bucboi, it’s not that simple. You can’t have a Top-10 defense (or offense) just playing 4 or 5 players. T-E-A-M-S are much more complex than that as you well know I’m sure. Match up the Eagles (or Jags) defense with the Bucs defense position-by-position … all factors considered … and I’m sure that it’ll become obvious that we have SOME talent, but not enough to compete with quality teams.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:33 am
*2017 Two 3rd round picks*
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:42 am
There are so many factors to the defense!!!!
The defensive roster is Top heavy!!!!! with not enough good players to overcome huge injuries that we saw this year!!!!!! Joe says that they cannot develop a CB? maybe that is true! But what is absolutely is true it that you cannot develop a CB with no pass rush!!!!!!!!
Even strength of schedule plays a part!!!!!!!!! look at the easiest schedules of the nfl
18. Minnesota Vikings 0.492
18. Seattle Seahawks 0.492
22. Arizona Cardinals 0.488
23. New England Patriots 0.484
24. Indianapolis Colts 0.484
25. Kansas City Chiefs 0.477
26. Cincinnati Bengals 0.465
27. Philadelphia Eagles 0.461
28. Los Angeles Chargers 0.457
29. Pittsburgh Steelers 0.453
30. Baltimore Ravens 0.441
31. Jacksonville Jaguars 0.434
31. Tennessee Titans 0.434
a lot of playoff teams with these easy schedules!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:43 am
my question for all you “no talent” folks is, before the season began in 2016, did you think we have 9-7 talent?…..
before this year did you think we had 5-11 talent?……
my point is, AFTER THE SEASON, some like yourself wants to jump on this, “no talent” bandwagon but there was never any indication that the bucs “lacked talent”….sure we had “some” holes but most thought we were at worse an 9-7 team again…..
it reminds me of the article @joe put out about our expectations and our GM licht “cringing” at the fact that most were expecting us to be a playoff team…..”cringe”?…..WTF?…..
I know a lot of fans would’ve appreciated licht if he came out and publicly said, ” hey, we’re still 3 or 4 years away….stick with us…be patience”……fans wouldn’t be so upset….fans would set expectations so high(which is sad)…..
if licht “cringed” at the fact that people thought we were going to be a playoff team, why didn’t he(or others) come out and shoot that notion down during the whole “we’re not rebuilding” “stick carriers” movement during last offseason?…….
because he’s a damn lie!!!!!….he thought just as much as everyone else that we would be a playoff team or at least in the hunt like last year…..trust me, he never envisioned 5-11 with this current talent…..that’s bears…jets….Texans…dolphins territory…..we aint that bad are we?…..GO BUCS!!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:46 am
Who in the hell is Bucky Bruce? A nobody who thinks he’s somebody. What a clown. Name says it all.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:52 am
813bucboi
I don’t think the Bucs has quality NFL Talent or quality NFL coaching. And their management sucks.
January 22nd, 2018 at 10:54 am
LakeLandBuc Says:
June 7th, 2017 at 11:49 am
I don’t believe in “Paper” Champions. But I will make a realistic prediction, no California Dreaming or wishful thinking here. But I honesty believe that we will finish the season at 7-9. I think we will we will go 2-4 in the NFC South and 5-5 against the outside teams. I don’t base my prediction on our roster or our improvements or upgrades alone. I base my predictions on the opposition roster, strengths, upgrades also. I know that we have upgraded our offense, but all 3 of our rivals in the NFC South has an explosive offense, capable of scoring 500 points. I don’t believe our defense can stop these teams, I don’t believe we’re that good on defense. I don’t believe our offensive line will give our QB time to go through his reads and utilize our weapons. And I still believe that Jameis is the 4th best QB in the NFC South. And I believe that we are the 4th best team in the NFC South. This is not hating, nor is this negative thinking, this is my opinion as I see it. And only time will tell, if i’m wrong, then i’m wrong. But I will analyze it as I see it, and this is the way I see it.
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:01 am
Adjust the f@cking scheme once and for all, good Lord. How many times can you send the same players on the same stunts before you realize that it isn’t working?
We have a linebacking core just full of special talents and these jackwagons can’t figure out a way to put any of them in a winnable pass rush situation.
Patrick Willis wasn’t built to be a 34 middle linebacker, but he destroyed the league when the 9ers switched to a 3-4. Von Miller isn’t built like a 34 rush linebacker, but he’s one of the best in the league when he’s put there. Good coaches develop schemes around good players.
Send these old bulls out to pasture and bring in someone with half an imagination.
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:07 am
He’ll, I’d rather see Raheem Morris crazy ass out there trying to install a 2-gap scheme with a safety playing WLB than this old worn out crap.
INOVATE…..PLEASE.
These guys get paid tons of money to do nothing but think football, and apparently all they do is sit around and talk about the old days and try to figure out how to re-create it.
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:07 am
Arden Key.
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:08 am
My bad on the talent argument
Gholston almost got a sack this year
He came very close to having a two tackle game.
Also Noah spence our defensive end who runs a 4.85 forty and weighs in at 230 “lb and has one move (to the outside,go figure) almost played in 2 games.
I can go on and on and on.
We have 6-10 talent at best.
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:08 am
@realist
so I guess the SB trophy has an ” *” on it that says: “congrats…SB winner of the softest/easiest schedule”……
I don’t see whats to complain about….when rah went 10-6 everyone said it was BS because he faced an easy schedule…..had we reached the playoffs no one would’ve said a damn thing……
if dirk had the eagles schedule and went 13-3 and playing in the SB you could give a rats a$$ about the schedule……GO BUCS!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:12 am
Lakeland
I agree with you about the coaches….we are lacking quality coaches…..talent, well we don’t have 19-0 talent but we don’t have 5-11 either…..thats bears….jets….dolphins….Texans territory….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:23 am
813bucboi
I don’t buy that ” strength of schedule” BS. The Bucs losing to these teams contribute to these teams winning record. Some of these teams would not have made the playoffs, if the Bucs had beaten them. The Falcons would have been 8-8 if the Bucs had beat them twice. The Bills would have been 8-8 if the Bucs had beaten them.Carolina would have been 9-7 if the Bucs had beaten them twice.
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:27 am
I will say this again about Chubb, the Falcons are not looking back with the go get Julio trade, don’t think Rams are looking back with th ego get Jared Goff trade or was the the Eagles with Carson Wentz, either way those teams went after what they wanted and it paid off. Yeah, Chubb has to be a sure thing and a game changer, we do have some other ballers, but bring in Bennett if he becomes available, then this defense turns it around (I hope we see both VHIII and R. Smith light go on like it did with Ronde. Yeah, I’m the optimist on this
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:35 am
If you study what Licht does he had fast wide receiver with good hands who also was tough and the Captain of our Special Teams but he would command a good contract and he let him, Shepard, go in Free Agency (to the stinking Panthers), then he used a third round pick to replace him with a cheap rookie (and our Special Teams suffered). Then there was the strongest DT we had, Akeem Spence, who had helped us at least stop the run but he was going to have to pay him since he was not getting rookie pay anymore, and he let him walk in Free Agency too. He then took the money saved and blew it on our Red Skin Free agent who was a Bust this year and we couldn’t stop the run anymore. That third round pick we spent on replacing Shepherd could have been used on a good Center or a DT. Keep our proven players and stop letting them walk and you will have more opportunity to build our Lines, Licht!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:59 am
“Poor coaching and scheme in combination with inferior talent on the D-Line = crappy defense. Simple as that”
Negative Jeff killed it!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Lakeland
only fans that voted “totally confident” in week 14 want to say SOS plays a huge factor…..even if it does, the only team consistently beating good team and having a tough SOS are the PATS…..GO BUCS!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 12:44 pm
@defense , I was bashing the Mike Smith hire the hour it happened. Mike Smith sucks….always has always will. Was he a good head coach? Not horrible. But Dirk Matt Ryan and Julio made that team. Every season they had a defense as bad as we did and if Smith was capable of saving his own job don’t you think he would have?
Every team in the league has room for improvement, but any team in the league ranked dead last with a roster full of talented athletes that make it to the NFL is bad coaching PERIOD!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
@rrsrq
Agree 100% that the Falcons are no longer looking back at the ransom they paid for Julio.
However they certainly paid that price after Smitty’s 13-3 coach of the year season!!!
All of those draft picks that Atlanta spent hosed them in ’13 and 14 and went a combined 10-22 those two years and cost Smitty and Koetter their jobs.
Now those of you who would trade up to get Chubb and spend all the draft picks required better have patience. Do you want to burn two seasons for ONE player as the Falcons did for JJ. BTW I consider JJ the very best WR in the NFL…but he still wasn’t worth it!!!
There is nobody in this draft given our many needs that I would trade up for!!!
I would however not be upset if we found a sucker beneath us to trade down.
Has to be the right deal but if it’s there I take it.
January 22nd, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Licht needs to get a ton of healthy udfa in the next draft–right ht, wt and build and motor AND GET A COACH OR 2 THAT CAN COACH THEM UP, MAKE STUDS OUT OF THEM
January 22nd, 2018 at 1:28 pm
The Bucs don’t have any legit pass-rushers for Mike Smith to get sacks out of … can’t get blood from a turnip. HOWEVER, with GMC, Kwon, LaVonte, Grimes and a stable of 4 okay safeties there was NO EXCUSE for having the worst defense in the entire NFL … NONE.
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Smith wasted LVD, the Kwonster, and GMC last year. Those 3 should have been in more blitz packages, but Smith was no. can. do. Bucs have to draft for defense, defense, defense this year. Also, special teams could use some extra attention. O-ville hosting the Pro Bowl this year. Weather should be perfect for it. 🙂
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:21 pm
@nflnut
I agree….
@orlbuc
I agree….should’ve put moved GMC around at LDE & RDE so teams cant game plan to block GMC….let him use his quick get off on the edge….but WTFDIK….GO BUCS!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Not one coach out of the four we’ve had lined McCoy up outside! Why? Because these left (even right) tackles would knock his d!ck in the dirt!
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Bonzai
I’m afraid you must have missed some articles out there
Even this site has written an article at the beginning of this season about 3 NFL players who called out McCoy
Please stop being a Blind supporter of this man like many others
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Football is still a team sport. It’s premature to throw our back seven under the bus until the D gets a pass rush.
Understand our pass rush wasn’t weak..it was ABYSMAL…TOTALLY lacking.
Until we fix our pass rush it’s pretty rough blaming our DB’s. If we had a pass rush then perhaps Smitty would find the cojones to move our CB’s into press coverage…but when you know the opposing QB has five or more seconds to check things out it’s really really hard to play CB or game plan for the D.
Fix the freaking rush so we can honestly evaluate our CB’s.
Again if Talib really wants out of Denver…sign him…re-sign Grimes and if we find a pass rush somewhere it will be night and day difference!!!!
January 22nd, 2018 at 11:48 pm
All of this doom and gloom. Four of their last five games they lost by 6, 3, 3, 3 points. They lost to the Patriots by 5 and the Bills by 3. That is six very winnable games which would have made their record 11-5 and changed everything. The problems with the defense was losing Akeem Spence, Alterraun Verner, then Noah Spence to a shoulder injury. Other injuries and the constant interchanging at the Safety positions also contributed. The defense needs a stud DT and CB in FA or the draft. Of course we need a DE too. That is just three players to make up those close games. Sign or draft a LG and watch this team progress. Must re-sign Brent Grimes, Clinton McDonald and Keith Tandy.
FA – G Andrew Norwall 5M TO 6M
FA – WR Sammie Watkins 7M
2018 NFL DRAFT
1) CB Denzel Ward (5-11 190) Ohio State
2) DT Tavin Bryant, DT DaRon Payne or DT Christian Wilkins (move up in draft)
3) DE Jalyn Holmes (6-5 270) Ohio State