Can JPP Carry The Defense?
July 6th, 2018
Impact needed immediately.
Recently, new Bucs defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul shared a picture of what remains of his right hand after he had a Fourth of July accident a few years ago that mangled it.
Sadly, not everyone has heeded his words. Joe sure hopes JPP’s graphic photos were seen and led to responsible fireworks use earlier this week.
Joe also hopes JPP can transform the Bucs defense this fall. Jenna Laine of ESPN says JPP is one of the key players the Bucs are banking on for a turnaround season.
The Bucs traded away a third-round pick and swapped fourth-round picks with the New York Giants this offseason to land Pierre-Paul, who has amassed 58.5 sacks in his eight seasons. The Bucs are hoping he can be the force off the edge that they’ve so desperately needed since Simeon Rice; they haven’t had a double-digit sack guy since 2005. When informed of this, Pierre-Paul even said, “We’ve just got to change that.” His availability and consistent pressure alone will be huge for a defensive line that has been marred by injuries to its starters over the past two seasons and only produced 22 sacks last season. Pierre-Paul played more snaps (964) than any other defensive end in the league in 2017. “I think I played every snap,” Pierre-Paul said. “That says a lot right there. That just tells you that no matter how tough the game is going or [if we’re] winning, I want to be out there.”
JPP’s impact will be needed more than ever now that we have learned America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, is suspended for the first three games, the toughest three-game start for any team in the Super Bowl era. And consider the corner playing opposite of Brent Grimes will likely be Ryan Smith or a rookie.
The new Bucs defensive line cannot settle for just being good in the month of September. They have to be dominant. Will JPP rise to the occasion?
July 6th, 2018 at 8:09 am
We will be up 21-3 at the half in NO week 1
July 6th, 2018 at 8:12 am
And, if Spence is healthy, we should have some sacks from our DEs….
I’m looking for bundles of sacks from our LBs this year.
July 6th, 2018 at 8:15 am
But if he is not the savior and does not carry the team, then its the coaches fault, right Joe????????
July 6th, 2018 at 8:15 am
This year will be like lovies first year
July 6th, 2018 at 8:31 am
Who would have guessed our second line would be just as good or better than last year’s first stringers.
July 6th, 2018 at 8:34 am
Barring injuries….the defense will be noticeably better. I expect more then just a “bend but dont break” philosophy. I think Smith can have more confidence in his secondary knowing he’s got talent on the d-line….that should lead to a more aggressive approach. Last year i felt like we just let teams burn up clock and yds with the hopes of a consolidated field in the red zone to make our stand…..keep it to mostly FGs….hope the offense keeps pace or takes off. None of the above happened….We couldn’t hold anyone, we gave away field position with turnovers, the offense didn’t score near enough, we couldn’t kick FGs….at least when Winston was QB. Fitzpatrick avg nearly 24 pts per game….Winston was 19 per per game.
I think JPP will be a good reference….He has a ring….His QB will likely make the Hall of Fame….JPP knows what it takes to get there. This collective group is a talented…but completely clueless on winning at the pro level consistently. Especially Winston and GMC who tend to be the two head figures.
July 6th, 2018 at 8:40 am
But…but…he doesn’t kick OL when they’re laying on the ground…I mean all he does is just play the game successfully. He doesn’t bully people he just BEATS them.
Considering what he came back from…tough to be a one handed DE…and that he played every snap for a NY team going nowhere…this cat has HEART. This is what our team has been missing as a whole.
I get wanting more badazzzz…me too…but more importantly is the kind of heart that JPP brings to the game. Every snap for a mediocre to poor team going nowhere tells me this guy is a warrior. That’s what we really need.
July 6th, 2018 at 9:30 am
If our corners are forced to play 10 yards off the LOS again no one will get 10 plus sacks cause they will dink and dunk us to death. So hopefully the coaching can actually let the players play to their strengths this year and oh BTW play the best players who deserve to play not like last year where our great coaching staff (right Realist) started Chris Baker all year.
July 6th, 2018 at 9:31 am
JPP IS most CERTAINLY an improvement…team is better by a large margin over the last game of the 2017 season
July 6th, 2018 at 9:37 am
realist
wrong…..it starts with the coaches!!!!!!!
wheres your confidence?……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 9:40 am
you cannot win a race with four flat tires even if you have the fastest most powerful engine
July 6th, 2018 at 9:43 am
the new d-line is the new engine in the four flat tires are Mike Smith the problem with this team is that they keep putting new engines in the car but they keep using the same types of tires that fail. Try a new set of tires
July 6th, 2018 at 9:44 am
Oh but I thought this was GMCs online??? Better be careful Batman just may pull a hisy fit in his Batcave and refuse to share his cookie and juice with the rest of the line.
July 6th, 2018 at 9:44 am
813
wrong….it starts with the players !!!!
have you ever coached any sport at any level….or played any sport at any level ?
sure you need good fundamental and coaching of them….but the greatest coaching can only occasionally over come a greater talented opponent
July 6th, 2018 at 9:55 am
Wouldn’t go that far.
As a product of a fantastic coach, a very good coach can not only get the most out of you but he can also put you in position to excel, both as an individual and as a team.
Belicheat is an obvious example. In another sport, Bobby Knight was like that. How many of his former players ever did anything in the NBA that you can remember (lone exception is Isaiah Thomas)? Yet Knight’s teams were dominant in college.
Dan Dakich holding Michael Jordan to 13 points (6-of-14 from the field) in a tournament game?
One word: Coaching.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:20 am
Unfortunately I do feel as if the Bucs have been taken advantage of by a far superior organization. The Gmen knew for a fact that JPP was at the tail end of his career and to get a 3rd round pick for him was a steal. Not to mention, dump contract.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:36 am
You’re right about one thing, the defense is going to have to carry them in the beginning.
But our d line wasn’t marred w injuries, we just sucked
July 6th, 2018 at 10:49 am
No he can’t carry a def anymore. Snacks was doing most of the damage on the front 4. JPP is simply better than what we have but plays far below his salary.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:52 am
@Mike10 … “our d line wasn’t marred w injuries, we just sucked.” Might want to relook at the injuries from last year Mike … We WERE marred with injuries AND we sucked.”
@StPete … “Considering what he came back from…tough to be a one handed DE…and that he played every snap for a NY team going nowhere…this cat has HEART. This is what our team has been missing as a whole.” Perfectly said StPete. Agree wholeheartedly.
@Joe … “The new Bucs defensive line cannot settle for just being good in the month of September. They have to be DOMINANT.” That right there is the name of the game IMO Joe … our DLine has to be DOMINANT. And not just in Sept, but all season long. A DOMINANT DLine will free up our LBs to play more aggressively, and when that happens our Secondary can also be more aggressive. Last year the whole defense tried to play way too conservatively, and we paid the price. WHEN IN DOUBT … ATTACK.
July 6th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Considering the lack of talent available at DE this year in both FA and the draft – Licht looks like a genius for somehow landing a proven talent like JPP for the cost of a 3rd round pick.
Pierre-Paul is under 30 and thus, still in his prime playing years for the next 3 that the Bucs have him under contract.
We won’t know till September what the starting DLine really looks like or how effective it can truly be – but its hard to imagine there will not be a HUGE improvement from last year’s results.
The return of Noah Spence and the additions of JPP, Curry, Allen, Unrein and Vita Vea gives the DLine a completely new look with major talent upgrades across the board at 3 of 4 starting spots. Also a deep rotation to help keep everyone up front fresh.
The end result may well be that the Bucs defense actually WINS 4 or 5 games for this team late in the 4th Quarter – instead of the exact opposite which we all watched in horror game after game as the 2017 season unfolded…
July 6th, 2018 at 11:36 am
JPP…has what McCoy does not….unrelenting determination…fire in his azz !…so yes JPP is a HUGE improvement each play and in the huddle between plays….enjoy
July 6th, 2018 at 11:52 am
I couldn’t agree more Pickgrin! Even our greatest DL never had a quality rotation like we have now to keep us strong at the end of games. This is going to be a special defense to keep us in all our games and allow us to win more than we lose. Unfortunately we don’t have a quality OL Coach so we still won’t have an excellent OL but it should be, with the addition of Jensen, an improvement over last year’s OL. Next year however our first pick has to be a high quality LT so we can move D. Smith to RG, some more depth in our backup OL and a Buckner quality OL Coach so we can have a shot at Super Bowl next year. Need depth at DE too!
July 6th, 2018 at 11:54 am
@Joe
. . . a very good coach can not only get the most out of you but he can also put you in position to excel, both as an individual and as a team.
BLAMM!!!
totally agree and have posted the same/similar thing many times
good job
July 6th, 2018 at 12:53 pm
AlteredEgo is on point!
Coaching only gives a blueprint to the players. Players with Heart and determination gets the job done.
Players get it done.
Coaches draw up the game plan.
GMs find players with Heart and Determination!
July 6th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
alter
your wrong buddy…..
I played in HS and college….
obviously you never played in either…..
it all starts with the coaches…..as joe and many others have pointed out…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 1:15 pm
813…have you ever coached ? LOL…I played in HS and college too….
July 6th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Dear Joe: I am new to this site but if I could suggest that you block these negative folks that continue to attack others views. I can only imagine how this negative energy results in a churn of active users, which ultimately will result in fewer advertising dollars for you. You have one chronic abuser on this site by the name of 813bucboi. He attacks people on every open chat. He claims to be a high school and college football player (AKA Al Bundy) and a coach. But reading his entries only begs to differ. Just a suggestion
July 6th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
alter
yeah so whats your point….
joe already spelled it out for you…..
perfect example is the rams…..look at what they did with the same team under fisher….8-8 every year….good coaches come in and their in the playoffs…..
it all starts with the coaches!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
newtotampa
lol…..
not true at all…..so you’ve read all on my comment with you being new huh….lol…
whatever…..truth hurts…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Now that is an odd reply Bucboi. I now realize what has got you so upset, Payless shoe stores announced they are closing all of their locations and Bundy will be out of work
July 6th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Jpp will play less than 7 games for the basement bucs.
July 6th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
Man some of you are truly miserable people. I feel bad for your families.
tmax-is-a-beotch is included in that group.
July 6th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
new
your lame….
holla back when you learn football…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
PLEASE STOP ACTING AS IF WINSTON IS RODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!! Give me a break!!!!!! He’s a turn over machine with padded stats in fourth quarter!! He was 3and 10!!!!! Fitzpatrick was 2and 1 !!!!!!!!! Stop trying to sell us Winston based on stats and stats are for losers!!!!
July 6th, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Newtotampa Says:
July 6th, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Dear Joe: I am new to this site but if I could suggest that you block these negative folks that continue to attack others views. I can only imagine how this negative energy results in a churn of active users, which ultimately will result in fewer advertising dollars for you. You have one chronic abuser on this site by the name of 813bucboi. He attacks people on every open chat. He claims to be a high school and college football player (AKA Al Bundy) and a coach. But reading his entries only begs to differ. Just a suggestion
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NewtoTampa meet Tmaxcon / Realityisabeotch
July 6th, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Newtotampa Says:
Dear Joe: I am new to this site but if I could suggest that you block these negative folks that continue to attack others views. I can only imagine how this negative energy results in a churn of active users, which ultimately will result in fewer advertising dollars for you. You have one chronic abuser on this site by the name of 813bucboi. He attacks people on every open chat. He claims to be a high school and college football player (AKA Al Bundy) and a coach. But reading his entries only begs to differ. Just a suggestion
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Where did you move from? Seattle? San Francisco?
People here agree and disagree on a daily based on the subject. I enjoy the differing opinions, I even learn a few things, get a few laughs, and most of all vent. MIsery loves company and if you have followed this team the last ten plus years we have had plenty of misery to share.
Put on your big boy pants when you sit down to participate on Joe Bucs Fan page.
July 6th, 2018 at 6:32 pm
JPP is not the second coming of Simeon Rice, but he is still a force and will be a huge improvement. Also, I think the man to really watch is Vinny Curry. With the added beef inside, the DE’s should be freed up more.
Now if we can just get a true franchise quarterback…….
July 6th, 2018 at 8:02 pm
BrianBucs
Yup. All true!
July 6th, 2018 at 8:40 pm
Fire Mike Smith
July 7th, 2018 at 12:08 am
New to Tampa.
Come on you are new to this site than immediately call out people for opposing your views. And come with a line to joe that his has to hurt your bottom line. What do you want a bunch of people agreeing with each other. You are at the wrong site for sure. All the comments are playful banter among fans. Trying to make out points while trying to dispel others. So if you are already butthurt I suggest just reading the articles and comments and not posting anything. And your first post doesn’t help to come to a bucs website and say we got hosed for a third round pick by the giants. Because that is not a fact we don’t know yet. So you are already being negative which in return is going to get negative feedback. So maybe if you don’t want to have people disagree with your post how about not posting negative crap from the get go. 813 I got your back.
July 7th, 2018 at 10:17 am
He can’t carry the entire defense……in his right hand 😳 #TooSoon?
July 7th, 2018 at 11:20 am
I saw JPP’s mangled hand pics for the first time, sad to see the result. Anxious to see him play for the Bucs for sure.