“Obviously, He’s The Best Player On Our Defense”
May 16th, 2018
Defensive coordinator Mike Smith was guarded in his chat session today with Joe and local media.
Smith often takes a CEO-style public approach, especially when compared to Dirk Koetter and some Bucs assistant coaches.
Today, Smith held his first news conference since the end of the 2017 season and he was hit with all kinds of questions. There were few bold statements, unique takes, or singling out of players, but one did stand out.
Smith drew a clear line in the sand when asked about No. 93.
“We know this; Gerald McCoy has been a Pro Bowl player for a long time and he’s obviously the best player on our defense,” Smith said.
That’s the highest praise right there. And Jason Pierre-Paul is now in the house, even if he hasn’t been attending spring practices.
If McCoy is the best Bucs defensive player, then this certainly should be a big season for him, possibly a whopping breakout year with all the new toys around him.
May 16th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
If McCoy stays healthy in 2018 – odds are good that he is poised to have a career year.
Another prime example why the “Theme” that should be adopted for 2018 is
“NO EXCUSES”
May 16th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Pickgrin-
Love that idea for a theme! No hype, no pressure, no reason to fail, NO EXCUSES!
May 16th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Since it is the offseason, May you guys one day share the context of some of the photos you use. This one is great and would love to know what was going on in this photo as well as some other ones. Love the site and keep up with the great work Joe.
May 16th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
That statement alone is why Smitty wasn’t fired- if Geraldini is still the “best” we have to offer opposing Os, this D is in deep, deep do-do beyond Xs and Os.
Don’t get be wrong, I’m not knocking the player, I’m knocking the regime for not seeding this D with the talent necessary to be functionally competitive. It has been 5 years since Licht took over and we’re just now surrounding this guy with some above-average talent? Now, when his knees are bad and there are fewer seasons ahead, than behind? Let’s be honest, there was no best player on this D last year. They were all shades of terrible. Sure, LVD and Kwon had moments, but they were inconsistent at best. If anything, Grimes was the best of the lot.
May 16th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
LOL this one Has to be killing Tmax.
May 16th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
@813 they stealing your hashtag homie!!!
May 16th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
To my dismay I think he’ll be a top 60 player on top 100 list above Suh and Atkins. Suh has an off yr in sacks but Atkins had 9 sacks plus similar tackles than gmc. That smile is the only reason I can think of but wtfdik.
Atkins had more tackles, sacks and wins but is somehow less than McIceCream?! Okay, work on that smile geno.
May 16th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
I think he is absolutely right….for once….I don’t believe there is a reputable analyst, opposing GM, coach or opposing Olineman who would disagree with him.
Only a few disgruntled, whining complaining “fans” who are looking for someone to blame for the team’s failure.
GMC is not our problem…unfortunately, he is not our solution. I certainly think the reinforcements will help.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Lavonte has been our best defensive player since he’s been here for the most part.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:14 pm
bushidoevans
you see that sh!t!!!!!!….lol….
ive been saying #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!! since January and they just catching on!!!!!
its cool…..glad all bucs fans are united and thinking the same thing….no excuses….but im a trend setter….im taking it to another level…..
no excuses is obvious for everyone……we now need to shift our focus to the coaches…..pressures on them now….win or go fishin!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 16th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Show and prove and you’ll shut up a lot of doubters including me if he has a big season. If he has an average season with all this help he will forever be what I’ve always said he is….. Somewhere just above the word good and average just not great
May 16th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Tmaxipad, Dbag55 and some other zero understanding trolls with zero understanding of what a good DT looks on the field just started shedding tears again. Amazing what coaches around league say and our coaches say about McCoy (you know, people that actually have knowledge of NFL football) vs what the donkey trolls on this site in the past have said about McCoy. I know trolls, I know, he is the reason we don’t win… Never mind the other 52 men on the roster every year. It’s all the best player on the defense’s fault!
May 16th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
bucfaninnc
I agree….my vote goes to LVD….GMC is the bigger name but LVD means more to this defense imo….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 16th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
I like McCoy a lot, but I’m not sure about this, I think clearly you can make a case that David is the best player on defense just because of how incredibly good and consistent he is. In the one and only year when David was used as an edge rusher we saw what he did, his numbers were amazing and much better than Luke who won the MVP that year, which is ridiculous since Luke wasn’t even the best LB in the NFC South that year. Since the Jersey Trash(tm) left David hasn’t been in a place to be featured, yet he does his job at an exceptional level, year in and year out. If Mike Smith had any sense at all he’d actually go back and see what an exceptional EDGE rusher David is and use him that way, oh and when you blitz Mike you might want to player your corners NOT 15 yards off the line of scrimmage, just a suggestion.
Anywho no disrespect to McCoy, he has the year in and year out awards that show how incredible of a player he is, David is the same, just without the rewards. If David had been playing on good defenses, that did not have Chris Conte on them, we’d be talking about if David is having a HOF type career or not and we’d all be comparing him directly to Brooks. To be clear he’s not Brooks, but he’s not too far off either, and if we had a time machine and put him back in those dominant defenses in Brooks slot, man, that, that would be something to see where he’d be at this point.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Pickgrin
Frequently Championship teams have multiple players that have “career years” during the title runs.
If GMC and #3 have “career years” I think we make the playoffs. If several more players in the right spots have career years we advance…if enough Bucs have career years I believe we have the talent to make a real run at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
GMC has to show me that he is the best defensive player on this team. And if he is we must have several more pro bowl players to make the playoffs. As Buckner said today we don’t need a superman we need super friends. GMC has the players around him to make this defense really good. So we will see how far he can take us or will we get the same thing from him.
May 16th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
tmax’s typing fingers are bleeding right now.
Joe, release tmax.
He want’s to come out and play.
May 16th, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Buckner hasn’t even coached a game and folks are fawning and swooning. “Buckner says”….this, that, the other thing.
Can’t recall prior incidents of this adulation over a nondescript position coach.
It’s weird.
May 16th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
@Dave Pear — as in former Buc & Raider, Dave Pear?
May 16th, 2018 at 6:34 pm
Much love & respect for our warrior, Gerald McCoy #93. — Very proud to have him here representing Tampa Bay as he has for these years. Looking forward to much more and hopefully a playoff run.
May 16th, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Sorry for the off topic post but I just spoke to the wife of Todd Monken at my job on the phone and told her how excited I am for this season!!!
#NOEXCUSES
May 16th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
BucFanInNc Says
“Lavonte has been our best defensive player since he’s been here for the most part.”
Is that a joke? Lavante has underperformed for years now.
May 16th, 2018 at 7:00 pm
All the pieces are finally in place for the mighty GMC.
Hallelujah!
Too bad he’ll get hurt and we’ll never know.
Not wishing it, just sayin.
May 16th, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Dave Pear Says
“Joe, release tmax.”
He’s already here…under an alias. Not too hard to spot him. Just look at the new usernames and read their comments.
May 16th, 2018 at 7:13 pm
GMC is ttttrrrraaaaasssshhhhh.
May 16th, 2018 at 7:15 pm
Bonzai
Yah. Lavonte is garbage. Smh
What the hell games are you watching ? Do you drink so much that you don’t remember the games ? Or do you hit to much of the crack rock?
Pretty sure if there was a poll for best defensive player , gmc and grimes would get a few votes ,and lavonte would get 75%
Man. Hope you are not having a brain aneurysm right now.
May 16th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
^^^^
Here is another one. Lamarcus thinks gmc and grimes are garbage. You must hang out with bonzai and not watch the games too
May 16th, 2018 at 7:50 pm
Nope. I watch games just like everyone else. Sorry. When u are established veterans with multiple probowls littered on your defense and end up ranked last in defense you get no props from me. No free passes. Our young guys I’ll give passes to not the veterans not today or ever
May 16th, 2018 at 7:53 pm
And Grimes. The dude slips and slide everywhere and leads the league I’m getting his ankles broken
May 16th, 2018 at 8:49 pm
GMC and LVD both underperformed last year to be honest.
Both were also injured.
May 16th, 2018 at 9:09 pm
They have done so well under the captaincy of lvd and gmc. History proves being undefeated this year is a real possibility with such proven winners.
May 16th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Reality
What? That C on GMC should mean Courage. Lvd best self proclaim strength is his ” smartness”. Yea that Captainsy gets y’all blown out 21 -0 first quarter.
May 16th, 2018 at 10:01 pm
I hope our defensive coordinator is being a politician here because it is far from obvious that GMC is our best defender. Levonte David is our best defender IMO and Kwon is up there too.
May 16th, 2018 at 10:35 pm
Great article on p report , Finally a coach that is going to set McCoy Straight !!!
T max and DB 55 it’s a must read , F nnn Finally !!!
Mr Smiley has been sat down and told the truth !! He should hug Buck as he will get all the attention he so desires if he listens and performs !!!
May 16th, 2018 at 11:30 pm
Bonzi is absolutely right. Lavonte David had a bit of a bounce vack year last year, but he had two mediocre years the two previous years.
Missed tackles, missed coverages
David talked about it himself, several times.
During his First couple years, Lavonte had the attention of the entire league. Most predicted he would be perennial All pro.
After Davids struggles, most Feel Kwon is a better linebacker.
Hopefully Lavonte builds on his play from last year.
I have no idea what some of you base your opinions on. Its pretty obvious you cant be watching the games
May 16th, 2018 at 11:35 pm
Sorry, JPP is our best player on D
May 17th, 2018 at 1:16 am
For enlightenment, you can find some startling numbers right here at JoeBuc.
There are other sources
Read
“The decline of Lavonte David”
Posted here on
1/28/18
May 17th, 2018 at 1:19 am
Sorry
“Addressing the Lavonte David Decline”
1/28/18
May 17th, 2018 at 7:43 am
He had 5 strip fumble recoveries last year?
A few years ago he had 6 sacks and 5 ints? Only linebacker to do / maybe urlacher
Your right though. Lavonte sucks.
May 17th, 2018 at 7:46 am
Vita vea is a smiler too. And quiet.
So he won’t be tough enough and suck too Posters here are pathetic. Cause he don’t have guys that step on other players like Albert haynesworth , they aren’t leaders and soft.
May 17th, 2018 at 7:47 am
Come on guys even the Tom Brady’s of the league have a bad season or a season that just didn’t go right. Doesn’t mean the player is declining. That’s crazy talk. LVD is in his prime. He wasn’t even healthy last year an he still had a decent season. Is there some concern with our team of course there is but let’s be positive. Being negative doesn’t do anything but make a situation worse. NO EXCUSES TAMPA LETS GO
May 17th, 2018 at 9:02 am
LVD is the best player on our defense
May 17th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Bwaaa Ha Ha Ha!!!! Smitty tryin his darndest to boost Batman’s ego. Man I can’t WAIT for this dude to just go the F away.
May 17th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
@ Buc believer, same way the majority of fans can’t wait for comments like yours to go the F away…