“You Can’t Live That Way”
February 14th, 2018
Frank words for Mike Smith.
It’s almost like Joe’s having flashbacks of the nightmare that was the Lovie Smith era.
The only damn thing it seemed Lovie gave a crap about was takeaways. He preached and he preached and he preached takeaways. But God forbid you ask Lovie about tackling fundamentals — Joe found out the result the hard way once.
It was Lovie personified watching ballcarriers drag Bucs defenders two, three, four yards downfield while they were trying to punch a ball out instead of bringing a runner down.
Punts? Lovie didn’t care about punts, so long as his defense was trying to get takeaways. Never mind opponents easily moved the chains each and every week because the Bucs were sloppy tacklers as they were so focused on friggin’ takeaways.
Of course, this also meant the defense was spent in the fourth quarter because they logged so many plays due to the fact they couldn’t get off the field — but takeaways, yeah!
Punts are takeaways, too.
And it seems, from the words of Tedy Bruschi of BSPN, that’s what happened last year. Bruschi all but accused Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith of relying too much on takeaways and not doing the little things right, such as rushing the quarterback.
In a BSPN video, Bruschi wagged a finger at Smith — without naming him by name — and suggested the Bucs have talent to be much better than worst in the NFL on third-down defense and worst in the NFL in pass defense. Bruschi stated the only time the defense looked respectable last year was when they got takeaways.
“You can’t live that way,” Bruschi said of the Bucs.
You can watch the video below.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:17 am
Bruschi clearly doesn’t read JBF posters who continually proclaim we don’t have the talent. But then there is the group that proclaims we don’t have the coaching….which is it? Well there is the group that proclaims we don’t have the talent or the coaching. LMAO
According to a significant number we should all just give up on 2018…it’s hopeless until we fire the coaches…change the ownership…and move the franchise to Orlando.
We have posters saying no excuses and then offering the EXCUSE that ONE player has drug down our defense. The other ten guys can’t possibly get themselves motivated without that ONE player to do it for them.
Everybody should just chill and root for our successes…perhaps we get lucky in the FA and draft and Licht has done pretty well in UFDA’s. We have the critical piece…a franchise QB.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:37 am
Trolls are trolls spbf – but the 2017 season obviously messed with a LOT of Bucs fans heads.
There’s this persistently stated by many expectation of nothing improving and being in this exact same position next year with new mgmt and coaching staff having to start all over again.
I’d say that’s less likely than the team improving a good bit on last year’s results.
IMO, 11-5 is more feasible than 5-11 in 2018.
What’s going to be hilarious is if McCoy has a career year in 2018 and helps propel the Bucs into a deep playoff run – all while wearing a “C” on his chest.
Would Tmaxi man up then and admit maybe he was wrong about Gerald? Of course not – he’d call everyone low expectation fans since we didn’t win the Super Bowl and that it was the cancer’s presence that lost us the NFC Championship game on a last second field goal because the ice cream man couldn’t make a play to block the kick – being in the 4th Quarter and all… That dude ALWAYS disappears when the game is on the line….
February 14th, 2018 at 11:40 am
SPeteBucsfan… U really believe Light has done PRETTY WELL as gm ? Jamie may or may not be a franchise qb and so far his play is only average…Paying for season tkts means I am tired of the bucs being last in the nfc south almost all of the time.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:44 am
Here is what I would say about this…Licht and the Glazers went out and got the #1 guard in FA 2 years ago (Sweezy-hasn’t worked out), then they got the #1 WR (Jackson) and the #2 DT (Baker) in FA last year- really neither of those have worked out as of yet. BTW- we also got a Pro Bowl Safety that could barely crack the starting lineup. Hardly a talent issue, IMO seems more like coaching or inability by the coaches to step outside their schemes to fit the talent they got or an inability of the coaches to get the talent out of the guys that we have. Either way, unfortunately, I expect the same thing to happen because THIS is the year the Glazers decide to stand firm with these 2 jokers (not a fan if you couldn’t tell)
February 14th, 2018 at 11:45 am
I will believe we have defensive talent when we actually field a good defense.
I was hard on Lovie but in retrospect I don’t think the team was as talented as I personally thought it was. Schiano at least had Bennet/Revis/etc on top of GMC/Lavonte.
But either way – Schiano/Lovie/Dirk n Mike/whoever – the defense has f*cking sucked 4ss and been one of the worst in the league. Considering that’s across a bunch of coaching regimes it’s hard to say it’s the coaching and not the talent. The only consistent variable in all the bad defenses is unfortunately Gerlad McCoy – whether that’s fair or not.
On the other hand we all can acknowledge there is offensive talent here now due to LIcht’s drafts primarily; and the team has set a bunch of offensive records with these new horses/Winston. 2017 was disappointing due to the lack of a run game / terrible red zone execution but that team moved the ball up and down the field at will most games typically through the air. A run game + slight OL upgrade and we should be seeing closer to 30 PPG than 20.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:45 am
You low standard delusional optimists are pure entertainment… thanks so much. SyFy channel has more realistic content than the feel good BS you guys spew day after day to justify and accept 16 years of complete and embarrassing failure by the glazers ran buccaneers
February 14th, 2018 at 11:47 am
*Not a fan of the coaches is what that should have said for those that can’t read between the lines.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:52 am
The BSPN bit seems like hate now.
And duh. Fire Hayes great, but what about all the other problems. Jameis still playing the same, no run game, cant score. Defense cant cover or rush. Players running wide open. It all looks bad
February 14th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
I’m gonna have to go back two years to the day Mike Smith was fired and see what my comments were at the time.
I TOLD YOU THIS GUY CAN’T COACH DEFENSE!!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
im part of the “no coaching” crowd and im the bus driver for the “#NOEXCUSESIN2018” fan club…..
I never blamed GMC for us being 5-11….I’ve blamed coaches for that…..ive blamed him for not making players around him better….ive blamed him for being serious about having fun and blamed him for not being serious about winning…..those aren’t excuses….those are problems……Irma, hk, sos, no bye week, lack of talent are all excuses…..
imo, when you have the longest tenure player acting as if losing is ok, that type of behavior can be learned which can become detriment to the team progress of them achieving the goal….winning….and that can be/is a problem….
we’ve lost for so long with GMC, why are people scared to lose without him….
and teddy is right….we have the talent….smitty did a poor job of coaching…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
The only consistent variable in all the bad defenses is unfortunately Gerlad McCoy – whether that’s fair or not.
^^BINGO^^
each “defensive guru” has failed when coaching a GMC lead defense…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Ben
I certainly understand your frustration and do not expect you to pay your hard earned money for season tickets.
However Licht has done extremely well drafting talent with the obvious exception of Roberto Ohnono. He’s also done an excellent job of finding UFDA’s like Brate and Hump. He’s been abysmal at FA’s. Our pro scouting department needs a major upgrade. Then again we do not really know about the Glazer purse strings.
Perhaps Licht wanted Calais Campbell but was forced to take Swaggy because of budget limitations imposed by the Glazers. We are WAAAY under the salary cap that’s for sure.
There are only so many draft pics available. Licht spent them largely on offense not defense. I suspect that gets re-balanced this year.
As for #3…he certainly has room to grow but his play until last year’s injury has hardly been “average”. He made a Pro Bowl at a very young age and he passed for more yardage his first two years than ANY other NFL QB in history. By definition that is not the average.
I like #3 but I’m not a blind sycophant. The AZ scandal still bothers me because of how he handled the deal instead of addressing it immediately. I hope he continues to improve his decision making and ball security. I’m the optimist and have seen growth so I believe he will but I understand those who doubt.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
We had one of the best 3rd down defense’s in 2016. Then proceeded to be one of the worst in 2017. Big reason why we regressed so much.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Pretty sure our redzone D was a lot better in 2016 also (could be wrong though).
February 14th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Thing is..Lovie Smith is not a Buc problem any longer. But Mike Smith is!! You can throw in Koetter also. Everybody on this Buc team..every player..every coach is a problem except Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith. Throw’em morsels and bread crumbs Buc organization. Give’em crap to relieve their anguish and pain. While the real cancers eat you alive.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
my business partner and I are both die hard bucs fans…..he told me today that the reason why hayes was fired was because GMC didn’t like all of hayes stunts…..he said he heard GMC and sapp talking on 620 and that GMC said that they were running too many stunts….GMC went to smitty and voiced his displeasures and smitty said his hands were tied….next thing you know a few weeks later hayes was canned…..
now I haven’t done any research just yet but I remember people saying GMC didn’t want aaron Donald drafted here because he didn’t want to play NT….then we all heard how GMC didn’t like the “toes on the line” approach by schiano…..we all heard GMC voice his displeasures about playing in a 34…..and now this….
if true, when is he going to learn that it aint about what pleases him its about what produces wins!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
The defensive problems are a combination of things, there’s not one single issue. The Bucs has talented players on defense. But those players are put in the best position to succeed. The players are playing to their strengths, because they not in the right position. I said this before they added Chris Baker. He’s a 3-4 DE, he’s not a 4-3 NT. Akeem Spence was a 4-3 DT, the best the Bucs had against the run. Kendell Beckwith is not a OLB, he’s a 4-3 ILB. Justin Evans is not a Free Safety, he’s a box Strong Safety. Chris Conte is a Free Safety, not a box Strong Safety. Will Gholston is not a 4-3 edge rusher, he’s a run stopper. He should be playing DT. Noah Spence is a 3-4 OLB, not a edge rusher. Then there the defensive playcalling. Mike Smith should be on the sidelines next to Dirk Koetter. He should be on the sidelines, getting into defensive players and defensive coaches faces. Instead of sitting in the booth sipping his Latte. There’s more issues, a lot more.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Manziel Madness- How about that RedZone Offense? LOL- This is pure coaching again. Settling for FGs (with unproven kickers mind you)-coaches, Not going for points in the last 2 minutes-coaching, playing prevent defense until you are the laughing stock of the NFL by letting a WR catch for >250 yards without making an adjustment-coaching, not blitzing-coaching, Holding or blocking in the back on every GD punt return-coaching, should I go on?
February 14th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Given a choice between firing the Glazers, Licht, Koetter, Smith or any two position coaches, I’m for getting rid of the Glazers. Then Smith. Then Licht. Then Koetter.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
The players are put in a position to succeed. And they are not playing to their strength. Because they are not in the position to.
I made errors
February 14th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
I meant the players are not put in a position to succeed.
I need to slow down
February 14th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
^I knew what you meant-LOL
February 14th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
My post is poorly written as well, Lakeland. I’m actually for giving Koetter another chance. Licht, I’m 50-50 on, primarily because i’m afraid he’ll go short run myopic on me. The Glazers and Smith need to go.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
@ManzielMadness
2016 defensive redzone TD% was 54.72% ranked 18th
2017 defensive redzone TD% was 58.00% ranked 24th
Turnovers are interesting as well
offensive giveaways
2016 offense tied 24th with a total of 27
2017 offense tied 27th with a total of 27
Defensive takeaways
2016 defense ranked 3rd with 29
2017 defense ranked 7th with 26
and if you look at pts allowed per game, it hardly moved at all for the defense!!!!!! Something Joe will never talk about!!!!! And was a field goal less than any of the loser lovie’s defense!!!!!!! The defense was not successful because of 3 reasons, 1.) injuries, 2.) the defense has been patched by band-aids for some time. 3.) strength of schedule!!!! playing the second hardest schedule in the league!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
@Lakeland
I’d agree with most those assessments other than J. Evans. I think he’s a free S all day with the best range I’ve seen from any S we’ve had in years. There was an interception last season where he basically crossed the entire field while the ball was in the air.
And Noah Spence was able to play as a 4-3 DE effectively when healthy and did well enough against the run imo.
Odd thing about Baker is supposedly Baker wanted to be in a 4-3 not a 3-4 actually.
But in the end I just don’t think we’ve had the horses on that side of the ball and primarily the D-line. We’ve had to completely rebuild the entire roster in the LIcht era – without any worthwhile leftovers from Dominic other than GMC/Lavonte/Dotson and 1 good year of Martin basically. That’s pretty insane in terms of a talent deficiency / roster overhaul that was needed.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:57 pm
who is the talent? VHIII? Ayers? Baker?Chris Conte? Keith Tandy? Mc Clain? Noah Spoence Injured? Glanton? and I can keep on….The only talented guys we have is GMC KA LVD….the rest is not talented in most of the cases and some others can be talented…….I clearly remember when 2016/2017 season we were begging Smitty to stay, because we played good defense in some games. I am not blind and everybody knows what our defense was last season, but please stop sayiing the word talent and defense in the same sentence, because we do not have talent……..we need defense and RB………and we will be fine
February 14th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
@Realist
The defense was bottom 3 in the NFL points given up per drive / yards given up per drive.
How can you spin that one?
The only reason the defense wasn’t bottom of the league in PPG given up on the entire year was due to the offense moving the ball as well as they did (#9 in the league) and not punting much compared to NFL averages; therefore leaving the defense with less series to play / less potential points to give up.
I did this math a while ago so I can’t remember the exact numbers; but the offense actually helped the defense more-so than the NFL average; in terms of weighing the offensive turnovers against the # of punts. Yes the offense turned it over more than the NFL average; BUT they also punted way less – to the point that the defense actually did not face extra possessions on average because of our offense. It was the other way around.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Tampa bay Bucs Defensive Coordinators
2008. Monte Kiffin
2009. Raheem Morris
2010. Raheem Morris
2011. Keith Millard
2012. Bill Sheridan/Greg Schiano
2013. Bill Sheridan/Greg Schiano
2014. Leslie Frazier/Lovie Smith
2015. Leslie Frazier/Lovie Smith
2016. Mike Smith
2017. Mike Smith
6 in 10 years and two Head coaches calling the defense
Every time the team get’s a new HC, they get a new DC. Some players don’t fit the new DC scheme. So those players are not playing to their strengths, if they are retain. The team draft players to fit their scheme, then the coaches are fired. So the cycle continues, new coaches, new system, players out of position.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
The claims that nothing on the team improved are false. There were improvements, but they were spotty, and they came over time.
For example, as a whole for the season, people feel the offensive line sucked…but if you actually look at the tape, they improved from game to game most of the time. People forget how new the offensive line is. It just needs time to gel. Most Olines take time to do so.
Ryan Smith started his first year at CHB for the Bucs, and though he was not spectacular, he DID improve the more he played.
VHIII started off horrible, but even his game got better toward the end of the season. Yet fans only acknowledge the season as a whole. The truth is he did regress at first, but when he was moved to slot, it seemed to be a wake up call and he started playing better, even when moved back to his regular role.
Ali Marpet started the year at center badly, even had a few bad snaps. But by the time mid season came along, he was getting the knack for it. In fact, before he was placed on IR, he was playing extremely well.
Same goes for Sweezy. He got better in the second half of the season…including his run blocking.
Yes, if you look at the overall season, things were bad. But thing also started to improve late in the year, and not just when the backups came in. Before that too.
Even Winston got better late in the season.
So fans look at 5-11 and think of individual games or plays that were bad, but they fail to see the progression throughout the season.
We are not as far off as everyone thinks.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:12 pm
LakeLand Says
“Every time the team get’s a new HC, they get a new DC. Some players don’t fit the new DC scheme. So those players are not playing to their strengths, if they are retain. The team draft players to fit their scheme, then the coaches are fired. So the cycle continues, new coaches, new system, players out of position.”
This statement is so true.
And I think the owners see it (finally). Which is why most of the staff is remaining.
Incidentally, I actually liked the direction of the defense when Schiano was coach. It was getting tougher, I thought.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
@The Buc Realist
You nailed it.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Lakeland…for 2 yrs I’ve been sreamin Smith needs to parchute into his sidelines to command his troops. Better View my A..!! His view has produced a lotta loses. Whose correcting Defensive mistakes on the sidelines? He can have one of his assistants in the pressbox. But he need to take command on that sidelines and demand accountability. He won’t though. He’ll be sittin there next yr with those binoculars. More fans need to demand he take control of this Defense. Hell, Koetter ought to be demanding it.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
StPete, I always enjoy your posts but I had to jump ship with this statement: “perhaps we get lucky in the FA and draft and Licht has done pretty well in UFDA’s. We have the critical piece…a franchise QB.”
‘Lucky’ is like using the Florida lottery as your retirement plan instead of investing for retirement. You MIGHT hit it big, but the odds are FAR GREATER that you won’t. Teams like New England & Philadelphia were built methodically; not so much on luck. And yes that should include the other 3 teams in our own NFC South … team management identified their team’s shortcomings then systematically went about fixing them by bringing in quality TALENT. And yes, I’m in the TALENT camp. A good coach can ‘lift up’ mediocre players, but only so far. On our 53-man roster at the end-of-2017, I could probably name you at least 1/3 & maybe as much as 1/2 of the team that should be replaced for a variety of reasons (that won’t happen BTW). And that falls on our ownership & GM. The coaches very likely aren’t getting it done either, but looking at what they’ve been given to work with, it’s difficult to make that determination for certain at this point IMO.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
The Bucs have individual talent, they have McCoy, Kwon, David and Grimes – all four are pro-bowl level players, but the issue is depth and the steep drop off that takes place once you get past those 4. J Evans had a solid rookie year as did Beckwith, so those are two more pieces. The issue is, as every knows, if you can’t rush the passer then you’re going to fail – and then you compound that by having guys like Ryan Smith and Chris Conte out there, it’s like the Bucs are playing shorthanded.
The 2003 Bucs defense, even with all their talent, failed when Brian Kelly got cut. They had zero depth at corner and that break in the defensive wall killed the entire team.
On a positive note it’s still possible to get a turnaround if you can just get to the passer – and that could, I believe, be done by changing schemes. If you have only one defensive lineman, but 3 LBs PLUS a DE coming back who is only 235lbs who can play LB, then switch your scheme to a 3-4 and try to get your edge rush that way. Grimes can still play man-to-man so if you can get someone on the other side then perhaps things can change quickly.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
@Realist
“2.) the defense has been patched by band-aids for some time.”
Definitely agree with this. We’ve focused on the offense for three straight years time to start focusing on the defense. Need an injection of youth and talent especially on the lines. Last year we didn’t have one defensive end that scared anybody. Ayers and McDonald are best used in a rotation. Still not sure if Spence can hold up a whole season with his hand in the dirt but he is (and was) our only threat.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
@Lord C … “I did this math a while ago so I can’t remember the exact numbers; but the offense actually helped the defense more-so than the NFL average.” Don’t know what math you’re using Lord C, but I came to the exact opposite conclusion. Bucs’ time-of-possession last year was 29:43 … MEANING that the defense was on the field more than half the game. In 2016 the Bucs TOP was 30:48 … MEANING that the offense regressed by more than 1 minute/game in 2017.
Just for kicks, go back & look at the play-by-play results for the Cardinals game last year. Defense was nothing to brag about, but of the 38 points they surrendered, 14 points can be dropped squarely in the lap of the offense as a result of turnovers leaving the Cards with incredible field position. And the 3-and-outs in the 1st half (when Jameis was in BTW) really didn’t do much to help the defense either.
On the season, 28 points that counted against the defense were actually surrendered by the offense. And time-after-time when the defense did get turnovers (40 altogether), the offense squandered the opportunity. Should we mention that the defense SCORED 21 points that went on the offense side of the ledger? It’s really hard for me to buy that “the offense actually helped the defense more than the NFL average.”
February 14th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
JJ
Hoping the redzone O improves with a decent running game. We also need to stop targeting Cameron Brate so much when we get close to the endzone.
“letting a WR catch for >250 yards without making an adjustment-coaching, not blitzing-coaching”
LOL almost broke my tv when they kept Smith on Jones the entire game. However, if were gonna win in this division loaded with quarterbacks you need to be able to rush the passer with your front four and drop everyone else into coverage. If we blitz all the time, they’re gonna torch us.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
@REALIST
enough with the excuses……on any given sunday, if a team is prepared and focused they can beat any team…..every team has injuries…..you say band aids….dirk says these are “HIS” players…..
OMG…its a JBF repost……and one of my favorite JW speeches….
“Don’t worry about the rain, and F your circumstances! We don’t got no circumstances! All we know is ball and ball is life!
So much fun. And Joe loves the mindset. This year, the Bucs have enough talent and the coaching to win — to hit 10 wins and get to the playoffs. “F” the circumstances, the schedule, the excuses, the inevitable injuries. It’s time for a breakthrough season.
that cam from IRA…..not a poster but IRA!!!!!….
hold these coaches accountable!!!!!!….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
LAKELAND
I AGREE!!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
DR
TOP includes a lot of factors and isn’t as good a measurement in terms of saying how the offense potentially hurt the defense.
The D being last in yards allowed per drive is a HUGE factor in the TOP for example that you’re not taking into account. You’re essentially punishing the offense for the defense giving up long drives by saying that.
Here’s the math isolated on just the possessions that the Offense forced on the defense by punting or turning it over vs the NFL averages:
The Bucs punted 65 times in 2017. The NFL average was 75.
The Bucs offense turned it over 27 times. The NFL average was 22.
So the offense turned it over 5 more times in 2017 on average compared to most NFL teams; but punted 10 times less; for a net “help the defense” stat of 5 possessions compared to the NFL average.
They were top 9 in yardage; while the defense was bottom of the league – so putting the TOP stat on the offense makes no sense.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Also just did a mock draft on fanspeak and it seems semi-realistic albeit super lucky with a few players. This would be amazing:
R1 – Bradley Chub -DE
R2 – Will Hernandez – OG
R3 – Sony Michel – RB
R4 – Rasheem Green – DT
R5 – J.C. Jackson – CB
R6 – Kemoko Turay – DE
R6 – Bently Spain – OT
That’s some trench warfare right there sprinkled in with a shiny new RB and a talented CB.
February 14th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
lc
great numbers…. the bucs offense did a great job of keeping the defense off the field they just failed in the redzone. the defense could not stop anyone from scoring especially with a lead and late in games. that is a sign of poorly coached mentally weak defense with NO on field leadership
February 14th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
The play calling was garbage and obvious in the red zone- With a crappy run game Koetter continuously went run-run-pass and settled for FGs. When he did pass, there were no rubs (picks), crossing routes or anything, just vanilla plays that the defense sat back easily had covered.
I hear ya about the D-line, but if playing 15 yards off WRs is your answer for 4 quarters, then something is wrong the wires in the brain. He really has done this for 2 years with the exception of 5 games last year (which for the 2 of the last 3 games he resorted back to his “cover- No one” defense and cost us the playoffs) and a handful of sporadic games this year. He sits up in his perch and allows pitch and catch up and down the field, it is unwatchable.
February 14th, 2018 at 2:06 pm
@LC
If we got Will Hernandez in round 2, Michel in round 3, and JC Jackson inn the 5th I’d be shell shocked lol.
February 14th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
I think when the Bucs were horrid it was easy to accept years like last year; when you think you’ve made a leap and get smacked down it hurts more. I thought we were going to be good last year, not just hoped we would.
This team will go nowhere until it can shut another team down in the 4th quarter. A team tied or down by less then three with 2 minutes or less left in the game beats the Bucs way too many times – seems like all the time. When the pressure arrives the D folds.
February 14th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
WHA???
If this is true, who the heck is the defensive coordinator then?
February 14th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
JJ
“but if playing 15 yards off WRs is your answer for 4 quarters, then something is wrong the wires in the brain”
Preaching to the choir.
WE SHOULD play tight in coverage. Here’s a quote from an earlier JBF article from when we drafted Hargreaves.
“Presented with a buffet of coverage styles and ask to pick what best describes him, Hargreaves had no interest in politically correct nonsense.
“Press-man. End of discussion,” Hargreaves said.”
February 14th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
I did a new mock draft
1. CB Minkah Fitzpatrick
2. OG Will Hernandez
3. DE Duke Ejiofor
4. RB Josh Adams
5. CB Levi Wallace
6. WR Antonio Callaway
6. DE Mike Love
This is my final mock draft
February 14th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
ashame the choir sees it but the “conductor” doesn’t
February 14th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Great draft Lakeland but Antonio Callaway? LOL Million dollar talent, 2 cent head- that will never change.
February 14th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
JJBucFan
He’s been living in Atlanta with Melvin Bratton, working out and staying out of trouble.
February 14th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
The Bucs need a punt returner, kick returner. And they need a threat in the slot. Hump is ok, but Callaway is a threat every time he touches the ball. He’s 1st round talent that may be available in the 6th.
February 14th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Here was my mock draft, I did a few trades….
Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 16 (BALT): Arden Key, DE/OLB, LSU (A-)
Round 2 Pick 9 (OAK): Rasheem Green, DE, Southern California (B)
Round 2 Pick 15 (ARI): Ronnie Harrison, SS, Alabama (A+)
Round 2 Pick 25 (TENN): Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah (A)
Round 3 Pick 5: Donte Jackson, CB, LSU (A-)
Round 3 Pick 12 (G.B.): Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida (A)
Round 3 Pick 15 (ARI): Braden Smith, OT/OG, Auburn (A+)
Round 3 Pick 19 (BALT): Tony Brown, CB, Alabama (B+)
Round 3 Pick 24 (CAR): Justin Reid, FS, Stanford (A+)
Round 3 Pick 32 (BUF): James Daniels, C/OG, Iowa (A)
Round 4 Pick 8: Frank Ragnow, C/OG, Arkansas (A)
Round 4 Pick 19 (LAC): Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn (A+)
Round 5 Pick 7: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame (A+)
Round 6 Pick 28: Tre’Quan Smith, WR, Central Florida (A+)
Round 7 Pick 13 (WASH): David Bright, OT, Stanford (A+)
Round 7 Pick 21 (G.B.): Dimitri Flowers, FB, Oklahoma (A+)
Round 7 Pick 22 (S.F.): Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia (A+)
Round 7 Pick 23 (WASH): Eddy Pineiro, K, Florida (A+)
Round 7 Pick 25 (TENN): Adam Breneman, TE, Massachusetts (A+)
Round 7 Pick 29 (JAX): Will Gleeson, P, Ole Miss (A+)
Round 7 Pick 30 (SEA): Aidan Schneider, K, Oregon (A)
Round 7 Pick 31 (CINN): Tre Flowers, SS, Oklahoma State (A)
Round 7 Pick 32 (SEA): Greg Stroman, CB, Virginia Tech (A+)
February 14th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Joe Says:
February 14th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
GMC went to smitty and voiced his displeasures and smitty said his hands were tied…
WHA???
If this is true, who the heck is the defensive coordinator then?
———————–
Really Joe…. Your cryin superhero has been running off and quitting on coaches his entire career. way to act surprised… you clearly need an afternoon shot and beer to clear your head. cheers
February 14th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
The Bucs’ points margin since Winston entered the league is minus-137, with a turnover margin of minus-4
give a crap what defense ya got…fix that homes
February 14th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
LOL Rod Munch
February 14th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Joe Says:
February 14th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
GMC went to smitty and voiced his displeasures and smitty said his hands were tied…
WHA???
If this is true, who the heck is the defensive coordinator then?
***************************************************************
GMC went to smitty because he wanted hayes out….smitty said his hands were tied, means if you want hayes gone your going to have to talk to licht and upper management…..
when GMC went to the front office about mr toes on the line, mr toes got sent packing….
Im not saying this is true, im only saying that was told to me by someone who follows the bucs as much as any other die hard….he tunes into 620 all day everyday…..and visits this site as well as others…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 14th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Everybody wants to primarily blame one side of the football but it doesn’t work that way. Football is a complimentary sport. One side of the ball feeds off of the other.
You need to win in this league performing well with what you were built to do. The Bucs do not do this. We were built to play great offensive football featuring a devastating ariel attack. An offense that could put up big points. We were built to put pressure on the other team to keep up.
If our defense is sitting on the sideline watching our offense giving us 1TD-2TD leads they are going to feed off that and gain confidence. They’ll get hungry to make big plays of their own and do their share……..Thats complimentary football………Instead what we get is an offense who constantly struggles and rarely gives our defense a lead to play with. Our offense constantly finds themselves struggling to score only to get down by double digit points…….When this offense struggles our defense plays with no confidence and feels pressure to do all the work, which they weren’t built to do. The offense does so little to help our defense that by the fourth quater of most games the defense is seen sucking wind.
If your blaming the defense your barking up the wrong tree. This team wasn’t built to win with defense. The moment this offense can play to their potential you may just see the defense play a bit more confident and a little faster. Yeah, it’s rotten to blame the offense for the defense feeling dejected but it actually does work this way.
February 14th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
Todd Wash
Keith Millard
Randy Melvin
Bryan Cox
Joe Cullen
Jay Hayes
??????????
All D-Line coaches since GMC time with the Bucs
Still no playoffs
February 14th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Gotta give your defense a few leads to play with. They were behind all season. Go back and look at any game the defense had a lead to play with and they looked pretty decent……Granted the only times I remember them getting a lead was vs Mia and NYJ which are no juggernauts. But the offense should be able to give us leads against many more teams we had played this year……..Well, maybe not. They may be overrated
February 14th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
JimmyJack
I wasn’t blaming the defense, I was commenting on this topic. And the topic is about Mike Smith. I know that the offense was the biggest disappointment for the Bucs. They averaged 19.2 PPG, when they were expected to averaged 25-28 PPG. A lot of fans were expecting the 30+ PPG range.
February 14th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
Lakeland
Wasn’t commenting to you just in general. I would have bet you understand this since you are one of the few sensible posters here.
February 14th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Jimmy says:
“Go back and look at any game the defense had a lead to play with and they looked pretty decent”
You mean like the 5 games that Winston got the Bucs a lead (or tie in 1 case) late in the 4th Quarter only for the defense to give up the losing score each and every time? You mean like that??
February 14th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
As a shame as it is that we still need more offense I think that’s the case come draft day.
Gotta take Chubb at 7 if not I’m all for Nelson. Then get RB round two. Or they can take Barkley and get that guard in round 2. I believe RB/G will make the biggest impact this coming season.
Keep Sweezy and Phampile and let them compete for the other guard spot. I don’t like changing Marpets position every year, keep him at C for the sake of continuity.
February 14th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
I dunno but looking back on the defensive side of the ball, maybe tmax is right. GMC has been thru how many coaches?
February 14th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Pickgrin…….Thats not complimentary football. I’m talking establishing an identity within the game and letting the defense play with a lead during it. Not for one drive.
When they play with a lead they can play confident and it allows them to play faster. Also see my post where I said how the defense was caught sucking wind numerous times in the fourth quarters.
February 14th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
@Lakeland … “This is my final mock draft.” FINAL is such a … FINAL word. I’d take bets now Lakeland that we see AT LEAST 1 more mock draft out of you before the real thing takes place. BTW, I agreed with you … all the way through Round 1 (I love Minkah’s leadership style, something the Bucs desperately need). Licht will pick up a Guard in FA (Norwell I hope), & Hernandez wouldn’t be there in Rnd 2 anyways when we pick. I’d put a RB (either Michel or Guice hopefully) in Rnd 2, then Rnd 3 MUST BE a DE followed by a DT in Rnd 4 (or vice-versa). After that, I don’t care who Licht picks, as long as he grabs Bo Scarborough (hopefully he lasts until Rnd 5) & at least 1 more DE.
February 14th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
@Jimmyjack
Here’s a few games we had a lead late and the defense simply choked hard:
Bills game – offense goes up by 7 with just a little over 3 mins left against one of the worst passing offenses in the entire NFL. What do they do? Give up a quick 10 points to lose the game.
Packers game – offense goes up by 3 with 6 mins left. Defense gives up a long 4+ minute drive that basically kills the game clock and lets them tie it to send it to OT. Gives up long TD drive on first possession so the offense never had a chance.
Panthers game – offense goes up by 4 to enter the 4th quarter. They engineer a 6 minute clock killing drive and then Murray misses the FG. Defense gives up an easy TD drive with basically no time left to lose the game.
Hell – there is not a single game in 2017 where we had a close lead and the defense held it at the end. We either had to win by a large margin that any defense could protect (Bears/Jets/Dolphins) or have the offense win on the final possession(Giants/Saints). If we were up 3-6 and the other team had a few minutes left might as well call the game a loss.
February 14th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
“JimmyJack Says:
February 14th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Pickgrin…….Thats not complimentary football. I’m talking establishing an identity within the game and letting the defense play with a lead during it. Not for one drive.”
I missed this comment lol. I wouldn’t have laid out the choke jobs otherwise since that’s not what you’re talking about.
Basically the offense needs to get the defense a 2-3+ TD lead every game or we’re f*cked. Even then – that Redskins collapse doesn’t feel that long ago.
February 14th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
I used to have a great deal more respect for 813 and others but If you are on the Tmaxipad troll train, then I just hope you ride it Right out of the Tampa Bay area.
Losers calling people Losers are quaint and funny, but downright irritating after all is said and done.
February 14th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
Soo…………….” Tmaxipad” Should be the only word in your filters Joe that put my last comment in “moderation”?
February 14th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Yup………..we can’t type T-maxi-pad, without the hyphens guys.
February 14th, 2018 at 6:05 pm
Your moderation filters suk Joe. But you already know that and defend them vehemently.
February 14th, 2018 at 6:30 pm
I get you Lord C. And there is no excuse for the offense choking.
And it is not about the offense going up by huge numbers every game. It’s about this team having some kind of identity, which is clearly missing. IMO they were built to win with offense. I expect the offense to lead the way for this team and establish a presence in games. Most often they come out flat and struggle to put up points. This puts pressure on our defense to keep us in the game. And sure, they should be able to get the job done but it is a recipe for losing to rely on your weaker side of the ball to establish identity.
The offense needs to establish the Identity of this team. They need to be a unit that apples pressure to the other team. If they could come out and give the defense some leads it will do two things……..1) It will put pressure on the opposing offense to match our scores. 2) It will give our defense confidence knowing they don’t have to do all the heavy lifting for victory and just a few big plays will make the difference. They will feel liberated to take my chances and with a lead the opposing offense will often be more predictable.
It was true what our players said in week six and was true all year. We have no identity. It needs to come from offense…..I don’t see how anybody would say it needs to come from defense. Until that happens we will be a losing team.
February 14th, 2018 at 6:35 pm
But I’ll give you the Bills game. That was one time our offense came to play and our defense couldn’t do their part.
Maybe that was a game that this team could have stepped up and started playing as a team. You see a lot of times in sports where a team has one game that gets them to turn a corner. That may have been our missed opportunity and you can put it squarely on the defense for allowing a subpar offense to destroy them when the offense gave them multiple opportunities to pretty much win us the game.
February 14th, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Just look at both Atlanta games and everybody will have their own version of how we lost but the way I saw it was that our offense established no presence in those games and Matt Ryan was able to do his job without any pressure or any urgency to score.
They got up on us and basically coasted throughout the game. Our offense shows up in the 4th quater and displays a comeback ability which is nice but too little too late. Never once did Atlanta have any decent amount of pressure to score…….That has to change. We let teams get into a comfort zone when they play us.
February 14th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
SB
Glad I am in your head sir!!!! Sad thing is you know that I am always right…. the bucs will never win a meaningful game with the cryin clown captain blowout wearing the C…. just a overrated religious hypocrite fraud. I am embarrassed for you and your man crush on a career loser.
February 14th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
You’re an idiot tmax. You don’t even know the team. Anybody that does knows the true captains are Winston and Kwon.
Both of whom need to take a little more activiness in their leadership roles. GMC is a born follower. You’re the only Buc fan thinking he leads anything.
February 14th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
JimmyJack
So you agree that GMC shouldn’t wear the C?
February 14th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Kansas…..Technically He shouldn’t. But his peers are going to keep voting him as a sign of respect so it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Also because I know true leadership doesn’t step up just because they wear a C on their jersey.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:16 pm
Only took a minute and forty four seconds to realize Bucs problems thanks to the wonderful sports channel EsPN.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:28 pm
JimmyJack
i spent 5 years listening to the cancer93 apologists on this site proclaim what a great leader she was.
So the highest paid team captain who can not wait for the next me first camera time gets a free pass and the leadership responsibilities fall on young kids basically… dude that is hilarious and so typical of the low standard excuse making bucfan.
she is a good dt with a great first step to nowhere. Not a leader, Not a Team Captain and certainly not a winner. but thank you I do love the BS you guys pedal to justify man crushes on a career loser and quitter.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:00 pm
Petting losers requires sympathy. And I..have none!
February 15th, 2018 at 8:39 am
Looking at this years opponents I see another 5-11 season maybe even 4-12 unless the D learns to; Rush/Hit/Sack the QB, Stuff the run, Defend the pass, Tackle and Stop offenses on 3rd down. I may be in the “old School” camp by believing Defense wins games-Offense fills the stands! The Bucs failed on Defense and the majority of last seasons woes are on their shoulders. That is why I am shocked the only coaching change on defense (so far) was firing the D-line coach.
February 15th, 2018 at 8:42 am
Rush/Hit/Sack the QB, Stuff the run, Defend the pass, Tackle and Stop offenses on 3rd down.
Oh I forgot to mention that when a defense can do all these things consistently & effectively the turn overs will increase!