Hoping D-Line Is Dominant
June 20th, 2018
Tall task.
The way the NFC South and the Bucs secondary are constructed, Joe sure hopes the new-look defensive line of the Bucs is world class.
Last year the Bucs’ pass rush — or more accurately, the non-existent pass rush — was so godawful Joe fully expected someone from the owner’s suite at the Den of Depression whose last name ends in “er” to go full-blown Bobby Knight and hurl a chair onto the field. Joe likely would have done just such a thing, and more, as in heads — plural — would have rolled).
There simply was no excuse for how rotten the defensive line was and every person in the Bucs organization should share guilt for that pathetic display. From the very top officeholders at One Buc Palace down to the lowest-paid scout.
This is likely why Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht completely rebuilt the line this offseason with five new players.
The way Joe sees it, the line should be much better. How could it possibly be any worse? But will it be good enough?
Joe doesn’t need to recount what he thinks of cornerbacks on this roster not named “Brent Grimes,” and what Joe thinks of the (non) coaching of the young corners.
Combine the thus-far lack of coaching-up of young corners with the roster makeup (Ryan Smith and a couple of rookies), plus the quarterbacks in the division, and the defensive line must be dominant. Anything less and the only way the Bucs will win games is if the offense can win shootouts.
Surely, whoever plays opposite Grimes is going to be tested early and often. To expect a rookie to play like a seasoned pro right off the bat or for Smith to make that huge of a leap in play is naive.
Given how the Bucs finished No. 18 in points scored in both 2016 and 2017, Joe isn’t fully confident Tampa Bay can win its share of shootouts.
So there is no getting around it. The new Bucs defensive line is going to have to play lights out for the Bucs to play meaningful games in January.
June 20th, 2018 at 11:07 am
At least 2 threads a day on the d line… what else is left to be said?
June 20th, 2018 at 11:08 am
I share your views regarding the staff and young CB’s…..one thing that would help is if we stop drafting man press CB’s to play off coverage….second, ditch the off coverage scheme completely…..
most fans are in wait and see mode……will they sink or swim…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES….GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 11:11 am
what else is left to be said?
the coaches lack of adjustments and creative…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES….GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 11:20 am
If the Bucs DLine plays well consistently – The young defensive backs will instantly look “developed” and will force turnovers at a surprising rate.
If the DLine is a top 10 unit in 2018 – the Bucs will be in the playoffs with as good a chance as any other team to make a run for the Super Bowl.
June 20th, 2018 at 11:31 am
What a concept!
June 20th, 2018 at 11:42 am
I (again) agree with that the overall D will be much much better. The main perceived weakness (as Joe correctly points out ad nauseum) is the DB coaching. They have some good new talent, they need to do develop some good new strategies.
June 20th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Joe Says:
June 20th, 2018 at 11:31 am
What makes you guys think they didn’t draft these corners with the intention of moving to more press coverage? Duuuhhhh… I mean, that’s the evidence right before your eyes, but you instead decide to take the alternative interpretation to provide additional fodder for criticism. Classic JBF negativity. Highly questionable.
June 20th, 2018 at 11:46 am
Will be so glad when the offseason is over. It’s got to be hard to keep coming up with new ways to say the same things. Everyone else in the press and blog sites are doing the same things too.
June 20th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Uh-oh!!!! Joe broke charter and admitted that the offense needs to score more points!!!!!!! The real fans find it hard to blame ” the defense lost it in the 4th quarter” when the offense were doing their jobs in the first half!!!!!!!!!!
We need to see this team competitive for all 4 quarters!!!!! Now that they moved off more of lovie’s left overs, this should not be a problem!!!!!!
Keep fixing the “real” problem, the roster!!!!!!!!!!!!
G0 Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Schedules hard, Linemen banged up, DC sittin on his rear end up in the press box. EXCUSES..every GD year! No hiding come September. Win or Join TV’s Shark week Koetter and Smitty. No excuses this year. None..whatsoever.
June 20th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Offense needs to be top 10 in scoring with the talent they have.
June 20th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
@Joe … “Given how the Bucs finished No. 18 in points scored in both 2016 and 2017, Joe isn’t fully confident Tampa Bay can win its share of shootouts.” Realist, you and I were thinking the exact same thing. But Lord C hit the nail on the head with his “Offense needs to be top 10 in scoring with the talent they have.” We’ve got the QB. We’ve got the weapons. Only question is the OLine … how well will they do this year. If Dots comes back 100% (and stays healthy), we’ve got an excellent chance of ending up in the Top-10. And I’m still confident Bucs will add another veteran OLineman before the season starts.
June 20th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
The D-Line has the talent to win all across the line, so that is going to make it very difficult for opposing teams to game plan against. If the Bucs can play more press and take away the easy passes, it will allow the D-Line the few seconds they need to beat their guy and meet at the QB. It can’t all be on the D-Line, the secondary is going to have to do their job too for this to work.
June 20th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
So Realist the Bills going 85 yards in 4 plays was the offense’s fault? Or the Packers walking down the field WITHOUT EVEN THROWING THE BALL to take the lead then do the same thing in OT, is the offenses fault? Wow man you are really grasping at straws my friend.
I will ask the question again, please tell us the QB that won games with the worst defense in the league, the 27th ranked running game in the league and the 2nd worst kicker in the league?
Its a simple question yet no one ever gives me a answer. I wonder why?
June 20th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
When I see the word “HOPE” in the headline of a post, I remind everyone of the old saying:
“Hope is your worst enemy in the marketplace.”
June 20th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
@ndog
Of course it is the defenses fault that the Bills scored in 4 plays!!!!!!! But “real” fans maintain that the 3 turnovers and not scoring a TD until half thru the third quarter does not help the defense in any way!!!!!!!! Kicking 2 field goals in the first half, is not being competitive!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
And it was 75 yards in 3 plays – if memory serves me. And that’s just one of many examples. “YOU LIKE THAT” – is another.
June 20th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
What makes you guys think they didn’t draft these corners with the intention of moving to more press coverage?
if that was their intentions, why didn’t they start out playing that style in the beginning of the season?….why wait until their jobs are on the line?….why force them to learn off coverage if their intentions is to play man?….
makes no sense at all….lol….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES….GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
ndog
rhealist will never admit that smitty engineered the worse defense in the league…..it aint smitty’s fault…it was IRMA, HK and SOS
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES….GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Yooooooo I got a chance to take a peek at the Vikings lions game last night and let me tell you Akeem Spence yes Akeem Spence was a game wrecker. I was shocked and amazed. Granted I only watched a few minutes between the 2nd and 3rd qrt but the kid was unrecognizable. He and A’Shawn Robinson were absolutely owning the middle. That’s not the Akeem Spence that played here not even close.
I wonder if getting away from McIceCream made him better? Lol, McIceCream so soft the only way he makes his teammates better is when they leave the team. Sad!
June 20th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
“why force them to learn off coverage if their intentions is to play man?….”
Did you really just ask that 813?
Firstly – no team in the league plays man press coverage more than 60% of the time.
Secondly and more directly to your laughable inquiry – current bargaining agreement does not allow for any “contact” in OTAs. Press coverage is not allowed in OTAs…
June 20th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
DB55, you make the same amusing and simplistic mistake that your buddy Trollmax/Reality-Is-I-Can’t-Score-Chicks does in that you literally, and quite ironically ascribe true superhero powers to GMC when you imply that he’s so all powerful that he has the power to magically bring down all those that play with him (I suppose exceptions would be Michael Bennett and Clinton McDonald, no?) I guess time will tell to see if he can “cast him magical spell” on JPP and Vinny Curry. Akeem Spence? Really? Hahahaha…
June 20th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
C’mon DB55! Vikings d-line has been a monster for years. He played alongside more, better talented linemen. Bad example.
But yes, he does look like a different player. Too bad we didn’t retain him. If memory serves, he was a rotational guy here. Maybe he needed to be the starter? Oh well.
It’s got to be a team effort if we’re going to win games.
June 20th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
813,
Weren’t you against signing Richard Sherman and Talib?
Two guys that don’t get overmatched every game. Last year if our corners were tied to the opponents receivers they would have been beat. Last I checked hog tieing is frowned upon.
VH 3 is the one guy drafted that excels in man coverage. That’s 1 guy you see DB’ s everywhere??? Even VH 3 was terrible why because everyone here says he’s too short and too slow so matching him up 1-1 is not good thinking butt boi. Who are these mystery drafted press DB you’re referring to???????????
this draft class the DB’ s can press and the coach to the GM said they will play press. So either you’re really retarded or on the pipe….perhaps it’s a learning disability. Either way your incessant ramblings about press coverage merely draw undue attention to your lame ass takes and perchant for back door escapades. Go punch the clown and let your sister take a crack at redeeming your families honor.
June 20th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
pickgrin
contract mean hitting….lol…..not touching…..so no one is allowed to touch each other on the field…..if that aint the dumbest comment ….lol….
duke
to answer your question no…..ryan smith….VHG…calton davis…mj are all man press CB’s…..so try again
now lift your head out of that man’s lap and wipe your face…..redeem your families honor chump!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES….GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
duke
these coaches said the same thing last year about playing more man press coverage….never happened….same thing about playing more 34 fronts…never happened….
down the hole you go silly rabbit…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES….GO BUCS!!!!
June 20th, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Bucsfan
Say whaaaaa? He plays for the lions yo. No worries give you a pass on that. But he did get to the playoffs working with A’Shawn Robinson I think he’s a second year guy.
June 21st, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Excuse me “expert” joe, what team did you play for, you give opinions like you have been there, opinions are like as shoes everyone has their own. Just stop coming off like you are some sort of been there done that dude. And once again stop with the AC/DC cap everytime you mention our GM.!!!!!!
June 21st, 2018 at 12:56 pm
Your just too much joe, give it a break already