A DE Lurking In The Shadows
March 7th, 2018
Reunion with Bucs’ DL coach?
Looking at the potential free agent defensive ends expected to hit the market when the free agency dinner bell rings next week would make many Bucs fans want to ram their heads into a toilet.
For example, Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Rumors has Dolphins defensive end William Hayes as his No. 2 free agent edge defender — and he hasn’t had six sacks in a season since 2012! But there’s a name on Robinson’s list that may go right over the heads of a few Bucs fans; they may want to keep an eye out for Alex Okafor of the Saints.
No, Okafor will never let folks forget Reggie White. He’s been mediocre as can be, with the exception of the 2014 season in Arizona when Okafor had eight sacks. His position coach? That would be new Bucs defensive line coach Brentson Buckner.
The problem with Okafor? He’s a walking urgent care facility.
He blew out an Achilles last November ending his season. A defensive tackle in college at Texas, 27-year-old Okafor was used as an outside linebacker/edge rusher in Arizona.
After his eight-sack season in 2014, his second in the NFL, Okafor has dealt with all sorts of leg injuries including one that is still a mystery but happened away from the Cardinals (non-football injury).
So this may be a name to keep in the back of your head next week. If Okafor can somehow stay healthy, then he and Buckner have made magic before.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:03 am
Tampa Browns
March 7th, 2018 at 8:07 am
So in other words, neither of these guys.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:09 am
Silly article
March 7th, 2018 at 8:15 am
I’ll take him to the Bucs the way I see it is if we can get a cpl decent edge rushers an another solid DT to push up the middle I’m happy they all get 5-7 we would have a tremendously better DLine I think Buckner will improve all our players already An I got a really good feeling about Spence this year the start of his career reminds me of how McCoy’s started with injuries I think he will be really good for us this year add a DT like Poe or Richardson in FA an add one in the draft the same goes with DEs an CBS I think we just had a unlucky year last year with Winston getting hurt an Kwon being out the beginning of the season we really were close a lot of games I think we played rather decent the last quarter of the season I trust our gm An coaches let the process play out they have a plan they know there jobs are on the line watch y’all will see
March 7th, 2018 at 8:16 am
So glad that joe is paying attention to The Buc Realist comments again!!!! This just shows that it is time to come back to common sense!!!!!!!!! OMG its another “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
March 6th, 2018 at 9:20 am
We have been patching that d-line too much that trading for a DE is a bad idea!!!!!! Look for a free agent like Alex Okafor, who played 4 years in Arizona with our new D-line coach and who played last year for New Orleans and keep the draft pick!!!!!!! We don’t need an old DE who’s first priority is not football!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
And don’t be surprised of a huge smoke screen coming to the bucs defensive formation!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 8:17 am
Give me on of Peppers or Wilkerson…..or if avialable Wake or Bennett. The other guys mentioned can be depth
March 7th, 2018 at 8:18 am
8 sacks in 1 year of his career – 4 years ago? That’s “making magic”??
March 7th, 2018 at 8:19 am
We are looking for younger players with upside. Buccs have run into issues drafting/taking free agents with injury histories.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:31 am
Okay, we do need depth as well, and people here seem to discount that fact. Not every free agent will be brought in to start.
However…I’m against getting this guy. While he meets the age requirement, the health factor is too big a deal for us at this point. He’s fragile. And given the injury plagued nature of last season, that would spell doom in Tampa.
In consideration of depth, I’m leaning toward keeping Robert Ayers another year.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:33 am
Why not throw a 6th round pick at Miami for Wake? Or see what Jacksonville would want for Dante Fowler?
March 7th, 2018 at 8:34 am
I think many of these Fans would take a double digit sack D-lineman over a play-off game. If you can’t find a pass rusher get more DB’s to defend what you have. Improve your offense so your Defense can play less. We bitch constantly about a Pass Rush when there are many other ways to win games.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:37 am
We don’t need ANY more fragile, oft-injured Tub Twinkies. Like someone wise once said, “your best ability is avail-ability”. No truer words have been spoken. And with the Saints comfortable letting him go, I put a lot of stock in that as well. We have so many crippled b*tches. sheesh.
Instead, let’s scroll through the Free Agent Tracker by position to find another DE instead—-oh wait, let me jump over to Rotoworld since it ain’t here, then we can discuss Buc faithful. Lol.
Go Bucs! Sign Healthy! Go Barkley! Go Primetime!
March 7th, 2018 at 8:38 am
4-12 is starting to look incredibly optimistic. 2-14 is much more realistic given the piss poor roster and lack of intelligence from the worst franchise in nfl
March 7th, 2018 at 8:43 am
Rotational role? Ok. Starter: no.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:58 am
Yeah, not convinced he’s the answer. Maybe depth.
March 7th, 2018 at 8:59 am
Why are we reading about guys who may be worse than what we already have???
March 7th, 2018 at 8:59 am
Desperate times for a desperate team!
Life of a bottom feeder!
March 7th, 2018 at 9:06 am
2-14 and record setting defense in terms of terrible
March 7th, 2018 at 9:10 am
He needs a few more years more experience ….
March 7th, 2018 at 9:18 am
If Philly is willing to swap 6th rounders with the Bucs, which would result in them climbing 25 spots, in exchange for a healthy Vinny Curry that they need to cut anyway, we could ensure landing a good DE age 29 as a moderate fix from getting to the open market, on a manageable starting salary for a DE. Then cut Gholston and Ayers.
Can not give any higher compensation than swapping 6th rounders! We need all the draft capital to MOVE UP FOR BARKLEY!
Go Bucs! Go Barkley! Go Healthy! Go Primetime!
March 7th, 2018 at 9:19 am
The 2-14 predictions are a joke and just totally incompetent post. We are at worst a 6-10 team this year. The draft hasnt even started yet and Jason Licht hasnt even dipped his toes in free agency yet. Which by the way, what are you waiting on Licht!?!? DO SOMETHING!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 9:20 am
Do you guys even realize just how knee jerky you are? You know who you are. Last year you were not only calling us a contender and some were not even calling for just one but multiple SuperBowls.
Step back from the ledge, jeez. The bottom line is we are an attitude away from being a decent team. Something we haven’t seen in well over a decade.
We weren’t as good as you claimed last year and we aren’t as bad as you’re claiming now. We actually do have a talented core of young players. But they play soft when they get in a big game. We need a few guys to step up and show their leadership. And we could probably use another voice or two keeping the team in line.
You guys are way too doom or gloom about everything. It’s obvisous you guys(most of you) can’t handle an offseason.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Buckner has the 3-4 experience–we have multiple linebackers that can be used in 3-4 formation including Spence as outside linebackers. Why are we not going to a 3-4 defense? Is it because we have GMC on the roster and have to align according to his talent–I don’t get it. Appreciate any responses on why we do not go to a 3-4 defense.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:29 am
And we don’t even wed a pash rush that desperately. We just need a winning attitude on that line. Which, granted, maybe harder to get then just talent.
I could care less how bad our Dline gets beat all day. If they could just suck it up and empty their tanks on a few final drives and find a way to make a few close out plays throughout the season it would make a huge freaking difference.
Our Dline doesn’t have to get 50 sacks to make a difference. Timely plays can be just as important. And it’s something this line doesn’t do…….BTW, our offense doesn’t do them no favors when they put up three points and get dominated every dam first half. Our defense was constantly caught sucking wind in most fourth quarters.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:34 am
Firethecannon……That’s Mike Smiths defense and they knew exactly what they were getting when they hired him. His defense relays on front four pressure which is exactly our biggest weakness.
I don’t think he’s a bad coach but I think he was the wrong guy for this team.
What really pisses me off above all was Lovie Smith was fired because his defense sucked……And the main reason it sucked is the same reason Mike Smiths defense sucks.
At this point I’m supporting Dirk because I have no choice. But when you look at the team, players and situation I think he has been the biggest abomination of a HC we have had. Due to underperforming and awful evaluation
March 7th, 2018 at 9:34 am
sounds like another noah spence to me…..often injured and unproductive…..he’s nothing but another “PATCH”!!!!!!!…..we’ll be looking for his replacement next year!!!!!!…..
licht screwed up…..Quinn would’ve solved our DE problem for the next few years…..he played 34 OLB this year that’s why his production dipped this year….and he was banged up the year before that…..show him love and show him the money when his contract is up…..simple as that!!!!!
he would’ve been back at his natural position providing much needed help for GMC and giving the new DL coach some talent to work with…..but he blew it and now we have to settle for 3rd tier FA’s…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 7th, 2018 at 9:38 am
Have to agree with Tbbucs3 and JimmyJack on this one. Those who read JBF know who the pathetic trolls are who simply come here to inflame and insult. Too bad there is not a mute function for this type of poster who offers nothing new or interesting, simply the same juvenile blah, blah blah that is not worth rehashing…. As for the pessimists who are simply fed up Buc fans, yeah, some of these doom and gloom fans are the same who were through the ceiling last year with outrageous predictions of double digit wins….. I think Tbbucs3 nailed it with the 6 -10 season prediction…. Bucs pick 7th in the draft (granted beating the Saints probably hurt the Bucs two-fold; losing 2 spots in the order and any real possibility of trading down with a qb hungry club that would need to leap frog someone like the Jets to get their guy), before we start penciling in the new GM and head coach for 2019 why don’t us so called Buc fans at least wait and see what transpires in the next 2 months.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Cannons- Spence is too undersized to be a 3-4 pass rusher and run stopper. Will Clark would get eaten alive on the outside. If we were going to the 3-4 we likely wouldve kept Baker. The common traits of 3-4 defenses are long tall freaks playing the outsides (49ers Aldon Smiths). Kwon and Lavonte would actually work in a 3-4 by playing the 2 middle LBs spots but there would be a huge void in the outside spots. 3-4 or no 3-4, we still need a pass rusher. Our defense is built for a 4-3 minus the pass rusher. If we get a pass rusher, just 1, and i think were a middle of the pack defense. Which is all im asking for this season.
March 7th, 2018 at 9:49 am
Jimmy Jack: I do agree that Dirk appears to be a “bit” over his head; he can’t manage the clock, he seems content to leave Mikey Smith alone despite the “softness” in which the D plays with these ridiculous 10 yard cushions and predictable schemes, and his offensive play calling has gone so “vanilla” and predictable. His 2 minute offense only works when the team is down multiple scores and playing a very soft nickel/dime prevent. When its a one score game Dirk goes with the high percentage dink and dunk, mismanages the clock and seems to play for field position where a dicey long field goal is this objective which Murray is going to miss over 50% of the time. Heck the only reason the Bucs beat the saints is that Winston went against all of Dirk’s “2 minute tendencies” on that bomb to Godwin; the Saints were counting on a simple 3 to 6 yard dink and out play and were content to watch Murray attempt and miss a 53 yard field goal like he did in the MNF ATL game…. Much like Norv Turner, I think Koetter simply is not wired to be a head coach, especially one who also handles offensive play calling, perhaps this will change in 2018 but Dirk seems to be quite stubborn and unwilling to concede a mistake (Dougie Martin case and point)….
March 7th, 2018 at 10:43 am
Firethecannons,
The problem with your suggestion that the Bucs have the personnel, LB’s,to switch to a 3-4 is that it’s they lack secondary positions specifically safety.
There is no shortage of posts that use the same flawed premise that because the team has LB’s they should switch to the 3-4. This is a great example of how fans believe that they “know” football but in reality …don’t .
March 7th, 2018 at 11:33 am
Ft Myers Dave…….Its not even a question that Dirk “seems” to be content with letting Mike Smith handle the defense. He’s has been quoted on this site coming right out and saying it……….To paraphrase he said he “doesn’t meddle with the defense”
The dude is half a coach with that mindset. And he said he wants a badass team. How the eff is he supposted to do that when he doesn’t meddle with half our team? I guess we can just assume he doesn’t meddle with special teams either. Call me crazy but you hire the HC to manage the entire team. This guys a joke as of date. I’ll just blindly hope he figures it out or that I’m wrong.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:37 am
And I don’t like to read every quote I see and try to find hidden meanings or agendas but that one is clear cut. Reading it felt like getting kicked in the lip.
March 7th, 2018 at 11:47 am
More walking wounded for the Bucs to pay..ah la Sweeny.
March 7th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Joes — if yer gonna name guys like this, how about getting some momentum going for Richard Sherman? He’s barely 30, his achilles injury is one players recover fully from and the Bucs secondary needs are more desperate than any excepting DE.
March 7th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Injury prone?
Oh well then we are definitely signing him! Lol.
March 7th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Not sure what Bucs management is looking for but good younger blue collar players who want to play and win would be a plus. Im getting tired of expensive free agent busts looking for a free ride(Chris Baker), spending the year on IR or half ass effort. We need alot of help just about everywhere… Why pay top dollar for a couple high dollar vets when you can get 4-5 good players for the same $$. We have elite players now but they cant carry the whole load every week. We need to be competetive and good depth gives you that. Unfortunately i think the Bucs will need to spend more $$ than other teams, just to intice good players to come here. Dont break the bank or mortgage the future on some guy looking a paycheck
March 7th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Heh thanks for the responses! I have a better understanding now.
Hoping Buckner can make a difference for us, maybe he can get Gholston and some rookies coached up. Go Bucs!
March 8th, 2018 at 7:56 am
JimmyJack: have to agree 100 % despite being a Buc fan since 1976…… I am a fan but am very aggravated!