“They’re The Worst Defense In The League”
April 13th, 2018
“Ref, can I trade you this red flag for a white one?”
When one contemplates the words and video flowing on NFL Network, it’s easy to project that the Bucs have a simple goal when the NFL Draft kicks off in 13 days:
Fix the damn defense in a hurry.
Former defensive end Willie McGinest has three Super Bowl rings and spent 15 years on the field. Currently breaking down teams on NFL Network, McGinest is appalled by the Bucs defense and says better tackling and a talent upgrade is needed immediately.
“They’re the worst defense in the league,” McGinest said. “And it doesn’t really matter what you’re doing on offense if you can’t stop people. Technique was not good, controlling the line of scrimmage was not good, the [coverage] on the back end was not good. … The tackling was terrible. And if you can’t tackle and you can’t stop the run, it pushes you behind the 8-ball.”
McGinest supported his takes via the video below.
America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, also forces the issue far too much, McGinest added, and Jameis has to get off that roller coaster in 2018.
So what will the Bucs do in the draft for “the worst defense in the league,” a defense that is relying on a older players in the secondary and in the trenches?
Joe already detailed how candid Dirk Koetter clearly appears to be leaning/yearning for defensive backs help.
April 13th, 2018 at 5:11 am
Tell is something we don’t know.
April 13th, 2018 at 5:12 am
Agreed! Last year, the Bucs had the only defense in the league that could give up points during halftime!
April 13th, 2018 at 5:40 am
Not just last year but the last 10 years.
April 13th, 2018 at 5:47 am
So unless Chubb is there at #7, the Bucs should trade back? Not sure I agree with that. Keeping the defense on the sideline is a good strategy too. If Barkley or Nelson are there at #7 you have to take them. Nobody else on D is worth the 7th pick.
I like the Bucs LBs. I like the FA moves for the D-Line, but think we could use another DE and DT. I really wish we would have got a CB in FA. There are still a few good S left in FA (Vaccaro, Boston). I would get one there and use your picks for other holes.
April 13th, 2018 at 5:47 am
Bucs are drafting a RB and OG early this year so defense will largely have to “wait” – again.
Trading down is preferred because we have a pretty desperate need to bring in CB talent. But if either Nelson or Barkley is available at #7 – we HAVE to just go with the best that the draft can offer and be happy we are getting such highly rated talent at a position of need.
April 13th, 2018 at 5:56 am
No Barkley no Chubb at 7…..trade back get the best RB available and load up on D.
April 13th, 2018 at 6:19 am
You must have a willing partner to trade back and don’t see that happening. Barkley, Nelson and Chubb will be gone. That will leave James or Fitzpatrick and then try to trade up for Guise. Grab a DE and CB later in draft or trade next year’s picks if there is someone we really like.
April 13th, 2018 at 6:35 am
If the big 3 are gone, Minkah Fitzpatrick is the pick. He makes plays!! He blocks kicks, makes picks, can blitz, stuffs the run, and takes it to the house when he makes picks. He can also play both CB and safety. He has all the tools and ball skills and is clean off the field. Pick him and later in the draft take the best CB or safety available and have a flexible, diverse defensive backfield. He is special and may actually be why we get one of the big 3. Because he could go before we pick.
April 13th, 2018 at 6:36 am
Obviously this team needs upgrades on d defense but there isn’t a defense in the league that doesn’t need upgrades. Good coaching would not allow that kind of embarrassment. Move up on the line play more aggressive press coverage for.once PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2018 at 6:37 am
Bucs have not made the playoffs since 2007. Joebucsfan.com launched in August 2008. Coincidence? I think not!
April 13th, 2018 at 6:39 am
Forget about the Madden curse, the JBF curse is far more potent and far more real.
April 13th, 2018 at 6:57 am
Hmmmm, yet somehow we are led to believe that retaining Smitty is a good idea. Lack of talent? Obviously. Fundamentals? Sorely lacking.
Get it fixed or we’ll be in the basement again!
April 13th, 2018 at 6:59 am
Does being the worst make the Bucs first in the worst?
Coaching?
April 13th, 2018 at 7:02 am
Bad drafting strategies
See vh3 . Spence , Ronerto
April 13th, 2018 at 7:04 am
Roberto
April 13th, 2018 at 7:12 am
Bucs Guy, I don’t agree that “keeping the defense on the sideline is a good strategy too”. For many years the Detroit Lions scored 40 to 50 points a game and they lost most of those games. In our division with Cam, Ryan and Brees, they can keep pace with us.
April 13th, 2018 at 7:29 am
And yet I continually come to this site and see comments about how Jameis is the problem. Said it before but we had leads in at least 4 games last year that this defense gave up in the final 2 minutes. This team could have been 9-7 with a hurt QB and no running game if they just had an average defense.
April 13th, 2018 at 7:34 am
Worst defense in the league? If not BINGO…at least close. And JPP…one player isn’t going to change that. But man, have to say it again….that one last game win that may cost us dearly in trying to upgrade the horrible defense was important, wasn’t it? It set a tone that will lead to a string of victories…conference championships…sure. Like they are high school kids. Frankly guys, don’t you see how silly that position is?
And BTW…no need for personal attacks…just look at the couple positions ahead of us and the draft that would have been ours, see what they get for that pick, and see who we draft at 7. That will say much more than words.
April 13th, 2018 at 7:42 am
This team has too many holes to fill. RB, because they stuck with Martin way too long, OL because they were cheap and did not add top talent for years, and lack of defense ends which are mandatory in the NFL. Sorry, forgot a secondary who’s only talent is a mature CB. Past drafts and FA moves (management) are to blame here. It’s gonna take some time to make up for bad decisions.
April 13th, 2018 at 7:57 am
When you can’t stop 3rd and 20 on a regular basis …that’s a problem…
I know people are so focused on using top 2 picks on running back and guard …but their back half of field on defense (secondary) is horrific. And yes I know we need dline still too
A stud outside corner and strong safety and all 4 levels of defense have been upgraded with better talent
April 13th, 2018 at 7:57 am
Running back Is still huge need
April 13th, 2018 at 8:01 am
Our d played really well in the middle/end of the 16 season. Most of those defensive components are still there. Yes vh3 was awful(last year) was it the scheme or poor play? I am hopefull we can recover and find some form
April 13th, 2018 at 8:01 am
Are some still ranking the defense by yard???? Yes there were major injuries to the defense, and I don’t know if free-agency alone for the defense will fix all of that!!!!!! Defenses mostly get younger and faster thru the draft!!!!!!!!
If we are ranking the defense by yards!!!! Maybe Joe should mention that the Bucs defense faced the combined highest rank offenses!!!!!!!!!!
And if we still go by the yards, then the Patriots are really in trouble, because despite the Bucs injuries and facing the toughest offenses for yards, The Bucs only let 12 more yards a game then the Patriots!!!!!!!! Which is incredible when you throw in the fact that the Bucs offense gives the ball away at over twice the rate that the pats did in 2017!!!!!!!!!! Pats 12 giveways, Bucs 27 giveaways!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder how many yards came from all those offensive giveaways!!!!!!! and by the way!!!! The bottom of the offensive giveaways looks exactly like the draft order!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2018 at 8:16 am
“Bucs 27 giveaways!!!!!!!!!I wonder how many yards came from all those offensive giveaways!!!!!!”
Realist- This is the point I was trying to make yesterday regarding Jameis and the offense. It’s easy to say that the defense is solely to blame. Those giveaways are points unearned #1, and #2 it puts undue pressure on the defense.
April 13th, 2018 at 8:23 am
I believe Nelson will be the pick at 7 , however Minkah Fitzpatrick is a straight up player. He comes up and delivers in run support stopping big backs for no gain in one on one situations , but his read and react to the ball is where he really shines. Minkah does not just intercept passes , he takes them back all the way. Fitz can blitz also. I would not be dissapointed at all if Minkah Fitzpatrick was our selection at 7.
April 13th, 2018 at 8:31 am
When you build a defense around a soft player like GMC you gonna soft results.
April 13th, 2018 at 8:33 am
He’s right. They’re terrible. Lovie-esque, if I had to describe it.
April 13th, 2018 at 9:35 am
Anyone recall the Buds glory days?
What made that team?
A great offence?
NO!
It was defence, defencd, defence…..
April 13th, 2018 at 9:39 am
The defense was embarrassing last year.
I agree we have a desperate need at running back, but the Bucs also have a gaping hole at Safety and Corner.
April 13th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
rhealist
read the title slowly!!!!!!….smitty was responsible for the worse defense in the league!!!!!!….by far!!!!!!….screw yards….they are irrelevant just like being ranked #4 in passing yards!!!!!….how’d that work out!!!!!….
smitty has talent and depth and more still to come!!!!!!
pull your skirt down!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
April 13th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Funny how real hof’ers don’t seem to blame jameis but rather the soft defense led by mr McIceCream himself but wtfdik?
April 13th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
Horrific defense+bad coaching+bad special teams+turnovers= 5-11!
You could argue that any combination of two just being AVERAGE, we would’ve won 5-6 more games.
I hope they get this fixed. That was awful to watch last year.
April 13th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
“Kwon Alexander and Justin Evans is 2 of the worst tacklers in the NFL”
Kobe Faker
April 13th, 2018 at 2:23 pm
The telling stat is that the Bucs defense gave up the most points per opponent drive. For those who say the Bucs defense isn’t the worse because they were 22nd in points against… BUZZ. No, they only gave up the 22nd most points (and 5 points out being 27th I believe) because the offense held onto the ball and did a decent job of keeping the defense off the field.
April 13th, 2018 at 10:22 pm
Doesn’t matter what defensive players we get when the DC is terrible.
Why was he retained? Einstein said the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over again & expecting a different result–ie, stubborness is a real sh*tty human quality.
Knowing that, I have no reason to watch the Bucs play in 2018. A terrible DC and a HC who was better off as a full-time OC.