“Mike Smith Loves Having Corners In Off Position”
August 10th, 2018
Just in case you were baffled watching cornerback Ryan Smith repeatedly line up nine yards off wide receivers last night (and it wasn’t just Smith), a Bucs legend has a reason for you.
As if Bucs fans didn’t already kinda figure this out, Ronde Barber said on the WFLA-TV broadcast that defensive coordinator “Mike Smith loves having corners in off position.”
Yeah, Joe likes to quote Barber because Barber talks to Smith and all the power brokers at One Buc Palace. Heck, two years ago, Barber called Smith the “nicest guy in professional football.” Barber knows and respects Smith, and he’s also pals with general manager Jason Licht. So Barber’s comments bring deep meaning.
This whole “off position” thing has its upside but not when talent is lacking at cornerback and the pass rush is anemic. It’s a big part of what punished the Bucs last season.
Early last night against the Dolphins, the Bucs had a near interception when Vernon Hargreaves blitzed, coverage was tighter and Justin Evans was aggressive. No coincidence. But of course, you can’t live by that model throughout a game.
It’ll be very interesting to see how Mike Smith does or does not adjust this season. …See a good off-coverage sample below from last night.
Fales ➡️ Owusu
This 45-yard completion set up a Greg Joseph FG.
📺 » @CBSMiami#TBvsMIA #FinsUp https://t.co/MsnhchFE9Z
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 10, 2018
August 10th, 2018 at 11:05 am
That video literally makes my tongue itch! I remember the Bucs’ faithful clobbering Lovie for adhering to a system that doesn’t work. What say us about Smith’s reluctance to change? I know what I say about it. STOP IT. JUST STOP.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:06 am
Sadly, that defensive formation was designed to prevent that type of completion.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:08 am
That was actually a great pass and catch. They had the guy double teamed and Fales hit him in a great spot.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:09 am
full 10 yard cushion and still cant stop the deep ball.
Smh, might as well line up press and at least have a chance to beat the easy passes and force them to go play a downfield throwing offense. Lower % passes by default and Evans will have a chance to make some plays on the ball.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:11 am
@Syl – Yes it was a pretty good play but I think what trouble’s most of us is the cushion being given, double coverage and they still made the play with a receiver who isn’t even a top tier one, let alone a QB named FALES, owning us. If you’ve paid attention the #1 issue with this Defense is that they make scrub, has-been, never-was QB’s look like John Elway. It’s got to stop.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:12 am
Let’s be honest here…
…that was third and forth string defense at that time, and Miami kept rotating their QBs constantly.
We saw during camp that Smith was practicing off. I don’t know why anyone is surprised. It was still good enough to hold their starters to 3 points in the first quarter, and only 10 by the half.
#Bend#Don’tBreak
August 10th, 2018 at 11:14 am
to be fair that play that you used as an example was actually really good coverage just a good throw and safety still could’ve made a play on the ball. but there was plenty instances when the coverage was about 8 yards off and they were short gaming us all the way down the field . first drive is prime example. no matter who you have coming off the edge they will never get home when receivers are running 3 yd curls with defenders 10 yds back off them. smith did adjust through out the night and the 2nd drive on defense the corners were up near the LOS and the results were much better
August 10th, 2018 at 11:15 am
I sort of agree with Syl. It was a great throw and catch…gotta give the Dolphins their due…but as Syl pointed out the coverage was there.
There were not one but TWO chances for a DB to step up and make a play. Frequently in the balance that exists in the NFL it comes down to that simple exhortation. “Make a play”. The Dolphins did and we didn’t. It wasn’t because a coach had his players out of position…the play was DOUBLE teamed yet neither guy made a play.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Bonzai – Your takes are measured, honest and well informed. On this we disagree, I think you’ve got to practice the way you play and we saw what the scheme has done for 2 seasons now and it isn’t working. I saw a TON of wide open receivers being targeted by all of the Dolphins QBs and a lot of those throws were successful. We’re talking MIAMI Qbs not Philly’s, or division foes, and Owusu and not Julio ‘Lil Secretariate Jones. They can bend and not break with this team but we won’t be so lucky when the real bullets start flying I reckon.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:16 am
I don’t know why the head coach keeps allowing this to happen. Knowing his job is on the line. This would be the time to put your foot down and and say I’m the head coach I want us in press coverage more. We have seen for two years this off coverage doesn’t work. Why he keeps allowing this to happen is baffling to me you are the head coach. You can tell your defensive coordinator what to do. It’s not like your asking to change his whole defense just change the coverage to more press.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:18 am
I thought it was Vh3 and co. Lining up deep because it was comfortable to them??? I’m confused
August 10th, 2018 at 11:24 am
“The problem is…
our 9 million dollar #1 cornerback doesnt play man but zone coverage”
The Kobe Realist
August 10th, 2018 at 11:29 am
the comment section really shows how little fans know about football …. a great throw will beat good coverage everytime . for that guy to be able to hit that pass.. that’s a great throw . i was definetly pleased with the coverage last night especially from the young guys. smith was the obvious weak link but even he was getting wayyy to much heat from fans last night just strictly based off reputation . when he was allowed to play up close he was doing a far better job & that PI call against him was complete BS . still he will have to vastly improve to be anything more than 5th cb on the roster if he makes the team at all. the defensive backfield is going to have a ceiling based on the fact that you have conte starting as one of your safeties . when playing cover 4 you are basically asking your safeties to play man to man on vertical routes and that’s why the infamous conte burn reel exists .
August 10th, 2018 at 11:31 am
I hope QBs keep throwing that pass because they will be intercepted 2 out of 3 times….that time was the 3rd. Owusu was flat covered….I can’t believe that throw & catch and one of our DBs didn’t get a hand on the ball….try it again.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:31 am
This coverage also lets receivers get a full head of steam and our sub par corners can’t change direction and get out of their back peddle quick enough! How about practicing re rerouting your man at the line of scrimmage and throw off the timing! Wasn’t that why we drafted MJ and Davis??
August 10th, 2018 at 11:36 am
When Mike Smith was asked about it last year he said that he doesn’t tell corners where to line up, it’s a personal preference for them, now we’re finding out that he does like them being 10 yards off.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:39 am
much ado about nothing. coverage was there, great throw and catch.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:40 am
Why can’t it be four or five yards and. Or 8
August 10th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Yeah off coverage was fine there just not executed well.
Watched the highlights but haven’t seen the game. Per the play-by-play the starting D seemed OK other than giving up some early quick passes.
2 sacks by the 2nd quarter by D-lineman (McCoy/Spence). Pretty sure JPP was in on some good plays and Evans had a pass breakup and Davis/Stewart supposedly played well.
Offense got off to fast start and was pacing for 30+ points in the game. O-line seemed to hold up well even with backups starting.
Sounds like Kwon had a sh1t game and that Ryan Smith should possibly be cut lol… but other than that it seemed everyone played pretty decent – at least in terms of the starters.
August 10th, 2018 at 11:44 am
That’s exactly the kind of play you WANT to be playing “off” against. Coverage was actually decent. Just a nice play by the fins….
August 10th, 2018 at 11:55 am
Oh and Rojo didn’t have a great night. But so did most every other rookie back.
Guice had 1 decent run where he had a big hole and made 1 guy miss for another 5 yards or so. Every other run was unimpressive where he went down on first contact.
Rashaad Penny didn’t look too bad but didn’t do much really either; and his O-line still looks terrible
Barkley’s first run was amazing. After that he had 3 carries for 4 yards.
Super small sample sizes. But going play by play with rojo
1-Dropped pass – damnit man lol. If he catches it he gets lit up right away anyway for a meaningless gain on 3rd down but still. Was also hit pretty immediately while in process of the catch.
2-2nd and 6 and he gets a 1st down up the middle. Hit short but pushed and fell forward. Very solid>
3-goal to go – o-line gets blown up / no chance
4-the TD run – solid cut back
5-outside run – gets hit 4 yards behind the LOS but breaks the tackle and goes for no gain
6-O-line completely blown up and he’s dragged down from behind before any blocks ar eeven set
7-draw play that the DT reads and destroys Seaton (?) at OT -he gets like 3-4 yards. If Seaton makes that block then that would have been the only play in the entire game ROJO actually had some space to do anything.
8-looks like a bad read by jones on what is just the final play of the 1/2
All in all I didn’t see anything to give me concern in all his touches. Just didn’t get much opportunity in terms of a well executed blocking play – other than the TD which was blocked well
August 10th, 2018 at 11:58 am
This was just a great play… It happens.
So who was Mike Smith flipping the bird to in the pic?
August 10th, 2018 at 11:58 am
bonzai
you were the main person saying smitty gives the BC’s freedom to line up where ever they want…..
but the film and experts suggest otherwise…..smitty forces them to play off….that outdated defense will get us killed vs the saints, philly and pittsburg….
all 3 teams have great QB’s, WR’s & RB’s that will exploit that type of coverage….
smitty needs to go back in his basement and never come out…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Can’t find the date/time for the NFL network replay of our Dolphins game….anyone have that?
August 10th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Everyone freaks out anytime the Bucs are not jamming on the line!!!! But not one peep about the QB standing behind the line and patting the ball with no pass rush in site!!!!!!!!!
If the sheep would watch other teams, they will see that they will lineup in off coverage as well!!!!! what we want to see this year as Buc fans is coverages that will be mixed up and varied!!!!!! But don’t freak out when we see the Bucs in off coverage!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Bucs Realist right on w the pass rush, fales was looking like foles in the SB, and in smittys defense unless you know what coverage they are running coulf be reasons they are off or not and this may blow your minds but in some defenses the backend disguises their coverages to mess w the qb & OC, im sure it was vanilla as hell on the backend but again, where was some pressure? I mean beat the dude in front of you
August 10th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
@Realist
Off coverage is fine when done right. Agree we don’t need to be pressing every play but if that’s the skill set of 3 of our top 4 corners; we should probably press more often than we typically have… regardless of the pass rush considering the CBs seem to stick on their guys better in press in general…
And I’m sorry but no D-line can make up for a quick slant or pass into an gaping hole of coverage that is thrown within 1.5 seconds. Press coverage is a much more logical way to negate that type of quick passing bullsh1t than counting on JPP to sack the QB within 1.5 seconds.
I don’t see a lot of long developing type completions in the game log… everything mostly labeled as a “quick/short” pass.
As far as the D-line – I don’t recall anyone claiming we’d have a top 5 unit personally – at least no media writing that. It’s moreso that we were the worst D-line in the league last year and should be far from that this year….
We had 2 sacks when we were barely into the 2nd quarter by D-lineman… and that is amazing compared to last year; when our leading sack artist had 2 f*cking sacks all year. Not sure why you’re so quick to label the D-line a disappointment…
Just looking at the game log there was no big completion on the 1st team D in the first few series. The success Miami had was with runs and quick short passes. You can’t expect the D-line to stop quick passes in off coverage… to get to the QB THAT quick… Just not making sense today my liege.
August 10th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
leading DE sack artist I meant* since McCoy had more than Clarke’s 2.5 sacks
Still.. We had 22 sacks last year total – or barely 1 a game. We had 2 in almost 1 quarter last night…
And Miami’s O-line isn’t a bad unit at all. Google Miami O-line and there are articles about how it’s supposed to be a strength for the team. God knows everyone here loves Laremy Tunsil lol
August 10th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
realist
still no pass rush huh….even tho smitty has 4 1st rounders to play with….sound like scheme not talent….
whats his excuse now?…its preseason?
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
@Realist
Off coverage is fine when done right. Agree we don’t need to be pressing every play but if that’s the skill set of 3 of our top 4 corners; we should probably press more often than we typically have… regardless of the pass rush considering the CBs seem to stick on their guys better in press in general…
And I’m sorry but no D-line can make up for a quick slant or pass into an gaping hole of coverage that is thrown within 1.5 seconds. Press coverage is a much more logical way to negate that type of quick passing bullsh1t than counting on JPP to sack the QB within 1.5 seconds.
***************************************************************
couldn’t have said it better…..we know you cant play man press every play but you also cant play off coverage every play…..
and as you mentioned, when teams started throwing quick passes, no adjustments were made, last night or last year….the simple adjustment would’ve been play closer to the LOS but no, smitty prefers to die slow…..
with that sadi, the 1st defense only gave up 3points thanks to the fins shooting themselves in the foot….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
This picture is hilarious. Looks like Smitty is a senile old man trying to subtly flick of the photographer.
August 10th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
I think some need to rewatch a replay of last nights game!!!!! The truth is that there were some man press!!! There was some blitzes from the nickel!!!! And they were most likely working the young guys in more off coverage because they need the work!!!!!!!!! so hopefully some will rewatch!!!! at least with 813bucboi we all know his AGENDA!!!!!! he is just trying for fire coaches so he can say ” see it was not lovie’s fault”!!!!!!!!!
Watch and enjoy the Bucs coaching staff cover the holes and develop the rookies!!!! It is an exciting preseason already!!!! The “real” fans know how far they have come since they were the Bottom of the barrel with the incompetent one loser lovie smith!!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Lord knows!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
If anyone should have a gripe about the secondary last night it would be the Dolphins. Bucs throwing often and easily against them. Did not matter who the receivers were for the buc’s they were getting open – it was not Evans and Godwin all game long.
37 of 47 vs. 26 of 45.
I will take 26 of 45 for under 300 yards against bucs. With 1 TD, 1 interception every Sunday.
August 10th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
I agree with Syl. It was a very good catch and pass into a double-team.
I don’t know what to think of having players play so far off. The CBs assigned to the WRs are so far off that the WRs get a tremendous running start to pick up far more speed than our CBs can manage. At least that’s what it looks like.
I would think this coverage would be useful on 3rd and 10 instead of 1st and 10. Regardless, I’m left to assume that the coaches simply wanted to see how these players would perform in that specific coverage in that specific situation. I have to believe with the first pre-season game coaches, like experienced players, are looking to try things in a situation where it doesn’t matter.
August 10th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
@Realist
My HOPE is that any emphasis on off coverage is for that exact reason – young guys who are already good at press getting work at what they need work at most.
That’s super understandable. I’m not going to fret too much over the type of coverage we play in preseason since it’s all mostly vanilla.
But I’ll be upset if we’re playing off coverage most of the game in New Orleans and giving up 75+% completion. I’m tired of seeing that sh1t man lol
August 10th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Can’t find the date/time for the NFL network replay of our Dolphins game….anyone have that?
Saturday morning at 6am i believe
August 10th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
realist
lol…wrong again!!!!!!
I have no agenda….I speak the truth…..folks are tired of a defensive guru underachieving……plain and simple….
and folks are tired of all your excuses……
have you read any of LC’s comments…..lol….pull your skirt down and whip your chin!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
realist
you all know your agenda is to keep dirk and smitty in OBP as long as possible so you can play with their balls…..
luckily, if they don’t win, you’ll have to find a new pair to suck on!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Wow, that escalated fast.
August 10th, 2018 at 1:44 pm
@chanepic
It works everytime, just mention his boy loser lovie and 813bucboi gets exposed faster than incompetent lovie’s obsolete scheme!!!!! he then starts fantasize about men in women’s clothing and other weird stuff!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:47 pm
Yikes!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Nice middle finger pic Joe….
Maybe that was for 813? lol
August 10th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Realist
His name is Boi, I don’t think he’s trying to hide it!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
If you have two safeties up top with a better pass rush than WHY NOT play tighter coverage.JAM THE DAMN WE AT THE LINE AND MAN UP!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
The truth is, if Smitty insists on running this defense, he will be fired by game 6. If Dirk isn’t the one firing him, he will be gone too. Bend but don’t break may work in Preseason game 1 against the Dolphins, but even they will figure this out by game 4 and expose it. If he doesn’t make adjustments we are dead. As someone said, we have 3 out of 4 corners that are best in press coverage so why are you running them 10 yards off? you don’t draft Lamar Jackson and try to make him a pocket passer or Tom Brady and make him run the option. You play to the strengths of the personnel.
Having said this (and I don’t like Mike Smith)- I believe he is experimenting in preseason and will give him the benefit of the doubt, even if my remote control throwing is in mid-season form already thanks to his stubbornness.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
gobucsfan
Thanks…..Sat 6:30 am……..and I think that’s the only airing for those who want to see the video of the game.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
813bucboi Says
“bonzai
you were the main person saying smitty gives the BC’s freedom to line up where ever they want…”
Um. You need to check your history. You are confusing me with someone else.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
I mean we all know Mike Smith likes them playing off coverage, we’ve watched it for 2 years straight.
The question that needs answering is WHY????
August 10th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
813bucboi, you are confusing me with someone else. That wasn’t me. I don’t get that deep into coverages.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Wow. two posts in a row blocked.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
813bucboi Says
“bonzai
you were the main person saying smitty gives the BC’s freedom to line up where ever they want…”
Um. You need to check your history. You are confusing me with someone else.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Realist , no other team plays off coverage as much as the Bucs…..NONE OF THEM!!!
There is a time and a place for different coverages. Ont problem is that every play every game.is.mike Smith time and place for off coverage.
This defense will get BURNED BADLY when the games count and I’m sure there.will be excuses as to why its.not the coaches fault right?
August 10th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
Does anyone remember “Bend. Don’t Break”?
That’s what we’re going to get. You can recognize the newbies, because they never heard it. We had one of the best defenses in the league for about a decade. Their moto?
Bend. Don’t break.
The way I see it, if we get that, we’re good. People trying to cause chaos over last nights game, when the first team defense held the score low, are just not seeing the whole picture.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Mike Smith seemed to do well elsewhere. His defense worked. If you are judging him by the last two years, you are short-sighted. He did not have the personel he needed to do a great job.
Now, if the defense is bad this year (it won’t be), then things are justified.
The defensive line is what will make the rest work.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:44 pm
87
that’s for all you folks thinking he’s a guru….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
Why couldn’t he save his own job in Atlanta? They had just as bad a pass defense as we did and still do and a really good offense being ran by Koetter. The inability to stop anyone on offense year after year is what did then In with Atlanta. If I’m the head coach and something isn’t working I’m going to step in and fix it before I lose my job. In Jacksonvile that defense was influenced by del rio… that’s obvious. He has done absolutely nothing since the beginning of his days in Atlanta and his two years so far here to show he knows how to run an effective NFL defense. I ask again what are the excuses going to be when we continue to give up NFL High completion percentages with all of the new Talent across the d-line and in the secondary? What is it going to be! Too much of anything can be a bad thing and that’s what’s happening with this off coverage he refuses to play tight aggressive coverage at any point in any game. it’s not that it needs to be pressed man all the time but for God’s sake mix it up a little bit and stop showing the same damn looks all game every game that’s the problem. Every offense we Face knows exactly what they’re going to be going up against for four whole quarters and that’s exactly why backup quarterbacks look like Hall of Famers when they play us. if these Corners don’t move up this team is toast
August 10th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
any time someone mentions smitty’s lousy defense rhealist is always the first one to defend his booty partner…..lol…..
well find out soon enough….when its time to eat crow, don’t hide, smitty lovers…
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Funny but no one , mentions that the fins played one coverage all nite.
And the DB did vary from press , 5, 8 and 10 yrs. But the narrative is more informative than the fact.
August 10th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
BucEmup says:
“he refuses to play tight aggressive coverage at any point in any game.”
You need to rewatch the replay again!!!! not every defensive snap was off coverage!!!!!!!! I know the sheep will see it once and freak out the rest of the year, But watch all the snaps!!!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
I’m with 813
It doesn’t off coverage or not……. Whatever WE play and what scheme WE use doesn’t work it only worked for 5 games in 2 years going into 3
August 10th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Last night yes you are correct there were times in the game where the corners were playing up on the line, and when they did it worked. His years in Atlanta and his last two years here I would like you to share a link showing me any replays of any of our Corners playing on the outside that are up on the line playing man coverage. You can’t because they’re not there I see him doing it a little bit last night but that doesn’t mean anything until the game start to count once week one comes along regardless of what he shows in preseason he will revert back to what he believes will work and they will get toasted. Trust me when the regular season starts if our Corners are not playing 10 to 12 yards off the line and they’re playing aggressive and they’re still getting burned with ridiculous completion percentages I will be the first one to get on here and say that I was wrong it’s the talent not the coaching, but until I see them at least try it in a regular season game I’m sticking to what I see. No other team plays as much off coverage as far back as consistently as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and no other team has a worst secondary than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that’s not a coincidence
August 10th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
bucem
I agree……auther blank told us his team was soft under smitty and dirk and look at what has transpired….we have a mentally & physically soft team….
but sssshhhhh……we’ll keep that between you and me…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
As frusterating as off coverage can be, that was actually the xorrect instance to call it. It’s meant to avoid such plays from being completed. And it was even executed to a T. The db’s just failed to play on the ball.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
@BucEmUp says:
“I would like you to share a link showing me any replays of any of our Corners playing on the outside that are up on the line playing man coverage. You can’t because they’re not there”
And if Joe deletes the link for some reason then just go to youtube and search for “Ultimate 2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Highlights” and go to the 2:00!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Dooshlarue Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Realist
His name is Boi, I don’t think he’s trying to hide it!
coming from a “DOOSBAG” like yourself, I find that quite the honor…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
lamarcus
we on the same page….
the only thing smitty lovers have to hang their hat on is a fluky 5 game stretch 2years ago and bashing previous HC….even though dirk and smitty are currently on the hot seat….lol….
its cool….I love seeing losers eat crow…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Realist, you cant sit here and pretend that Mike and Lovies schemes are drastically different. They both heavily utilize alot of cover 3 and alot of off coverage. Mike has done nothing to prove that he is more competent than Lovie. Nothing.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
largo
sssshhhhhh!!!!!!!
that’s a secret only “real” buc fans know!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
It was an interesting game for all four quarters. Thats all you can expect from a preseason game. I draw no conclusions from vanilla defenses and offenses
in preseason.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
@largoBuc
No pretending needed!!!!! And considering the much harder schedules in 2016 and 2017 it is not even close!!!!!!!
Loser lovie 2014 points against 25.6
2015 points against 26.1
Coach Smitty 2016 points against 23.1
2017 points against 23.9
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
I remember last season arguing with the dopes in here that kept telling me that it wasn’t Mike Smith who was having VH3 play 15 yards off the line of scrimmage, nope, it was VH3 freestyling. Remember this was back when Mike Smith was beloved because the defense played well for 6 games in 2016. Anywho I said VH3 isn’t playing off on his own, and even if he was the coaches would tell him not to do that if they didn’t want him to do that, yet the dopes here told me I was wrong and I didn’t know anything about football. LOL!
Dopes gonna dope.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Any time a team a team is considered soft the first person to look at is the Gm who put the roster together.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
This is the make or break year for MS. Anything worse than an average defense is unacceptable. He has enough horses to pull that off. We are not a bottom barrel defensive roster. He has proven players at every level with a variety of skillsets and depth.
Outside of 2016’s season end the product has been bad; but not as bad as Lovie; and Lovie did face historically easy schedules against much worse offenses than what we have faced under MS – in terms of the offensive scoring output of the teams we faced under both coaches; and/or backup sh1tty QBs each has had the luxury of facing.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
I agree with Lord of corn mostly!!!! Except the “make or break” As I see this is more about developing the young rookies and players ( and the “real” fans know that is a lot of them” is what counts this season!!!!!!!!!!! The “real” fans don’t see how a D-line and secondary are totally remade and then tell the coach that it is a “make of break” !!!!!!!!
I rather have the coaches have the confidence to play and develop rookies to make this defense a “badazz” defense, even if that comes next year!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Sorry but I cant agree that Mike is some superior defensive mind because of one metric, that isnt even that much terribly different at that.
You have no other reason to defend Mike than yoyr blind hatred of Lovie. Most are just looking at the body of work Mike has put forth with little regard for what Lovie did 3 years ago. What Lovie did does not change what has transpired the last two years. If you have to do mental gymnastics and bring up past coaches to excuse the crap defense we were subjected to last year, something there is faulty.
And just to be clear, I want Mike to be this great defensive mind that adapts and gets the most out his roster. Haven’t seen it yet.
August 10th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
I contend the same thing I’ve contended since mid-2016…. make Mike Smith the head coach, get a real defensive coordinator, and move Dirk back to what Dirk did so well, and that is coaching the offensive.
Mike Smith is a very very good head coach, but he’s an out of touch defensive coach.
Dirk is a very very good OC, but I have not at all been impressed with him as a head coach, there’s nothing he brings to the table as a head coach that makes me think he’s anything more than an OC, something he excelled at.
I think this team would be in such a better place people were in the proper position. Everyone would benefit from this, with the exception of Dirk’s pride. But the entire point of Dirk was getting an OC to work one-on-one with Winston, full time, to be the future of the franchise, and instead they promote him to HC a year in, and now he’s splitting time yet won’t release control of calling the offense to someone else (although he did last night and the offense looked great, even if it was just preseason).
Get the right people, in the right positions, and watch as everything is better – and it can be done without a rebuild.
No, it won’t happen, and no, I won’t quit saying it should happen.
August 10th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
By ‘make or break’ – I don’t mean he has to have a top defensive unit or anything.
I mean more so that if we are bottom 2 in the league in both points per drive and yards per drive given up again as we were in 2017 – I don’t know how you can stick with the guy lol.
I’m still keeping faith with this staff and pretty much want to see what Joe asked for in the 10 year birthday post: “Joe also wants to be able to finish watching at least four out of five Bucs games this season and confidently proclaim Tampa Bay was the hungrier and more physical team — win or lose.”
No more blow outs in 1 out of every 4 games please. Compete. Show growth. Stop looking like a bottom barrel team. There are enough chess pieces that there is no reason we should have to see that sh1t.
GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Dline? The best thing they did was give Tannelhill a perfect pocket to peel oranges. Lmao. Run def is still garbage our 100 billion dollar DT still can’t make a stop on 4th&1.
JPP showed you how real ballas play, I think he made every tackle before the missed fg. At least it seemed like it.
If mike smith can’t improve this D with about 5 pro-bowlers on it then idk what to tells you guys. You got PBs in JPP, McIceCream, David, Grimes and Teflon Kwon (somehow). But if you’re counting on Allen or Curry to do something then your in for a long wait. I tried to tells youz they were back-ups and only came in to give Barnett cox and the others dogs a breather. Them dudes can’t ball, but Curry’s hair sure is pretty.
#WeakHavoc
August 10th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Lord Cornelius
I enjoyed your breakdown of the other rookie running backs, one update, NFL.com retiring Darius Guice is done for the season with an ACL. So at least that didn’t happen to us.
August 10th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Rod Munch, I don’t get it either. You’re right, last year everyone was saying VHIII was playing 8-10 yards off the defender all on his own as if he was disregarding what Mike Smith wanted him to do. Now it seems the narrative has changed.
I don’t blame the fans for the change in narrative. I blame Mike Smith. Last year Smith said the soft coverage was on Hargreaves. Now it’s “Mike Smith loves having corners in off positions.” Whatever the real story is, it sounds as if he’s not being coached up properly.
August 10th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
there’s that SOS excuse again from rhealist….lol….what rhealist fails to realize is that smitty had better talent than the previous HC…..
but yeah, its SOS…..lol….
@largo, let realist continue to wet the bed…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Off coverage….Zone is what killed the Jags last year vs the Pats. They were dominating the Pats in man coverage….but they got bit once or twice by rub plays and they went to zone to prevent that and to prevent a comeback…which prevented them from winning!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
And btw, is Coach Smith flicking us off? lol
August 10th, 2018 at 4:41 pm
“Like Kobe has stated, our pass defense will look better and our overall defense will benefit with BRENT GRIMES OUT
You sheep love Grimes but you guys want the corners to play bump and run
GRIMES dont play that and at 5 8 185lbs, he cant
#KOBE&MONK BFF
August 10th, 2018 at 4:42 pm
6:30 am Saturday
August 10th, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Any time a team a team is considered soft the first person to look at is the Gm who put the roster together. And Lovie and Licht put their roster together. But at
no time did we have a five game win streak under Lovie and his defense. I credit
Licht for seeing the problem and making moves to correct this season.
August 10th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
813bucboi says:
“smitty had better talent than the previous HC….”
Uh oh!!!!! That sounds like an “excuse”!!!!!!! you have been once again!!!! Especially since incompetent loser lovie had the juice and was the vet head coach that was supposed to know what talent looks like!!!!! If it was not here, then that is on his buffoon azz!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
813
Lol. Yes he needs to hit the basement. Bonzai and realist always say things that dont show up on tape. Whatever their opinion they try to turn into facts. As we can see thats not easy to do.
August 10th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
The proof will be on the scoreboard soon enough, then the the excuses.will be flowing like the woman who are instinctively flocking like the salmon of Capistrano
August 10th, 2018 at 5:31 pm
Bend but dont break philosophy is going to get us destroyed by the tough quarterbacks we have to face this year. Smith is too passive and we need aggression imo. Hope he changes the scheme up from last year. Buckner? Now that guy is aggressive. Buck for DC 2019
August 10th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
@Bucemup
I did make a post that had a link to a 2016 Bucs that had the corners at the LOS at the 2:00 mark a while ago!!!! I don’t think joe will allow it!!!!!
you can look it up if you want to, on youtube, and search “Ultimate 2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Highlights”
August 10th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
My favorite play of the game was on the last defensive series. Dolphins need a FG to win, time’s running out, no timeouts left. Smith has most of the DBs hug the sidelines so In the event of a reception they won’t be able to get out of bounds. The pass was intercepted, sealing the victory for the Bucs. But it wasn’t the interception that I liked as much as the defensive play call. Smith was truly thinking outside the box on that one, so hopefully he will be more creative now that he has a full complement of players at his disposal.
August 10th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
BucEmUp Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
If you have two safeties up top with a better pass rush than WHY NOT play tighter coverage.JAM THE DAMN WE AT THE LINE AND MAN UP!!!
^^^ Exactly! You’d be in zone, corners are in charge of the third to about 20 yards from hash to sideline. If the WR goes deep you pass him off to the safety on your side, if he’s in your hash/zone you FUUUCK him up jam his ass. Ronde was so good at disguising his coverage’s within this scheme. God I miss that dood!!! Issue is this… we don’t have any corners that can play smart and physical. Love Grimes but he ain’t gonna be jamming hand fighting. VHIII must have good pass rush to be feasible. Davis could be their saving grace. If he can step up then Smitty might save his job and this defense. Could you imaging a lock down corner that takes away half the field? I’m dreaming he can step up!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Great pic of Smith, lol
August 10th, 2018 at 6:29 pm
Do you think the should’ve drafted Guice crowd is hanging out with the should’ve drafted cook crowd?
August 10th, 2018 at 6:33 pm
This defense will suck again. Mike Smith is a piss poor dc . He was ranked 32 last year with those same plays last year n now he still won’t change he need to leave . He don’t want to win .
August 10th, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 4:41 pm
“Like Kobe has stated, our pass defense will look better and our overall defense will benefit with BRENT GRIMES OUT
You sheep love Grimes but you guys want the corners to play bump and run
GRIMES dont play that and at 5 8 185lbs, he cant
#KOBE&MONK BFF
——————-
Uh, Grimes can. He’s got the hops.
August 10th, 2018 at 6:53 pm
feelthepewterpower Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
August 10th, 2018 at 4:41 pm
“Like Kobe has stated, our pass defense will look better and our overall defense will benefit with BRENT GRIMES OUT
You sheep love Grimes but you guys want the corners to play bump and run
GRIMES dont play that and at 5 8 185lbs, he cant
#KOBE&MONK BFF
——————-
Uh, Grimes can. He’s got the hops.
^^^No he can’t. He’s too small to jam. That’s what the Faker is talking about. He got crazy hops u right but that won’t help him jam Julio Jones and KB etc… at the line of scrimmage.
August 10th, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Realist , what happened on that play at the two minute mark when they were playing closer to the line? Did they get burned on a slant route or did they disrupt the route? I’m willing to bet it was a different result than playing 12 yards off……am I right?
August 10th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Javion Elliot blows the big one. Depending on how Grimes and VH3 are feeling at the 53 man cut, he needs to be bounced out da club.
August 10th, 2018 at 7:12 pm
Grimes doesn’t need to play Bump and run…..and I don’t have a problem with that..Its what he does best is playing off.
Problem is that the corners we do have that will be much improved playing at the Los is Smitty doesn’t let then. It’s not about wanting every corner to always play press, it’s about allowing the players to do what they do best. I have no issue with a player doing what he does best but when the coaches make them play differently and.it fails and they continue to make then play lime that…..thats all on coaching . VH3 is better at press, our two rookies prefer press, Ryan Smith can’t play anything and Grimes is good at playing off although a lot of the time Grimes is more like 5 to 7 yards off…..not out of the broadcast camera view off!!! Smitty want to make sure an over sized tractor trailer can be parked in the coverage gap to “deceive ” the wr into thinking he is open when he isn’t. (Even though he is open….WIDE OPEN!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 7:15 pm
For all of you guys that wanted Guice he tore his ACL and is out for the yr.
That seems to be the Second yr in a row we almost drafted a RB that tore his ACL in his rookie season. Hopefully we avoided the curse.
August 10th, 2018 at 7:28 pm
What I find funny is that Joe proves here that Mike Smith lied to the fans it’s simple as that! He said he doesn’t that it’s the players fault but Ronde blows up the lie on local tv and not one peep about the lie from the moral majority! A so called self appointed realist called Lovie a liar and was so butt hurt that he typed like he was man enough tho go confront Lovie about being a liar, but of course we know that couldn’t happen. This man went on and to the break of dawn about him to the point the man is still on his mind to this day and not a peep about Mike Smith’s lie. Calls others sheep because they don’t prescribe to his love for Mike theLiar Smith! With all his moronic exclamation points. It’s funny he despises one “Coach My Scheme” but loves the”Coach My Scheme” we have now.
Then you have Walter Ziegheil, godeep666 and Brian Bucs all upset that Jameis lied about something he probably was too drunk to remember doing and these guys are up in arms about the lie but you can bet the crack between your cheeks they won’t have a problem with this lie. Total hypocrites!
tnew hey was just showing all the fans who are hating his defense and hollering for him to be fired that they’re #1! So guys keep up the hollering at the games see if he’ll show you you’re #1 in his book!
August 10th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Btw in the picture I don’t think he was flicking anyone off…..hes too nice to do that. I think he got caught eating a booger and when he saw the camera he freaked out and froze with the booger picker sticking up
August 10th, 2018 at 7:59 pm
BucEmUp 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😅😎😎😎!!!!!OhEmmGee!!!! That was funny!!!
He asked Hey ma what’s for dinner? She said I don’t know go up yer nose and pick a winner, pickin boogers!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Yes american enabler
The Bucsheep are hypocritical draftking fantasy fans that have football IQ of a highschool cheerleader
They blame smitty for playing off coverage but their beloved
Brent Grimes plays only off coverage for all his 13 year career!
Shouldnt the blame be towart Forest Gump for overpaying 10 mill to mikos little boytoy who cant play man coverage?….wouldnt a press corner like Malcolm Butler be a better fit for bump and run defense?
“Kobe’s analytics is based solely in logic,math and infatuation of Jenna Laine”
Kobe Faker
August 10th, 2018 at 8:40 pm
Kobe go read my comments six posts up. I don’t know what the “sheep fantasy blah blahs” say but a real coach plays every player to their best strenghts. If you believe that is what has happened perhaps Mike Smith is your Sheppard!!!!!!!
There are more square pegs being hammered into round holes on this defense than my 4 year old sons vpk class.
August 10th, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Darin Says
“Bonzai and realist always say things that dont show up on tape. Whatever their opinion they try to turn into facts. ”
First, if you’ve been here any real amount of time, Realist and I have had some massive feuds over the years. The simple fact that we agree on anything is a true miracle.
Second, we don’t turn anything into facts. We use established factual data as evidence. Your issue is that factual data never supports your agenda. So you claim those facts are made up.
As to 813, he and I disagree from time to time, but at least he’s a true fan and not an ignorant troll. He is compassionate about winning, and I respect that.
August 10th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
@Bucem
IMO, last year Smitty didnt have the talent in the roster to succeed…
Agree with you. Smitty has no excuses there is enough talent to be top 15 defense
August 10th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Kobe I know he has the talent. Licht has done a fair job with the roster. If put in the right positions this defense should be good enough to keep the offense in games. Average is all I ask. I’m just tired of seeing completion after completion after completion. I have been dreaming for years of seeing some aggressive play on the outside coverage. Tired of them giving away six yards on short slants. It kills a little bit of my soul every time
August 10th, 2018 at 9:19 pm
Man I hope we win this yr so us JBFers for a while can become family again.
August 10th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
Ole Smitty better hope he’s got the talent this year cause he does and can’t bark up that tree again this year. If he loses with this group he most definitely needs to be shown the door of One Buc Place. And if that happens I would like to make a wager that he won’t be a Head Coach next season to all those people that think Ole Smitty is great cause I don’t think he’s great!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 10:04 pm
Ihhh the clip has nothing to do with off coverage…? Did you upload the wrong clip??? 🙄
August 10th, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Smitty will never be a head coach again…..not a chance. He’s to stubborn and picks his nose in public. Not good for ratings
August 10th, 2018 at 10:27 pm
That’s funny Buc Em Up!!!!
August 10th, 2018 at 11:39 pm
SB Says:
“Man I hope we win this yr so us JBFers for a while can become family again.”
Ah yah…..Kumbaya and all that. JBF will NEVER have it!
Have another drink my friend.
August 11th, 2018 at 7:29 am
There’s that photo of Ole Smitty flipping everybody off again. Well same to you Ole Smitty Boy!!!! You better win with your defense this year or there are going to be a lot of people flipping you off Old Buddy!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
We were told we were getting two run stuffers in Free Agency from the World Champion Eagles but that didn’t pan out against Miami. The only sure run stuffer I saw was JPP and when he had to run all the way to the other side of the field to make the tackle they already got five yards. The first string Philly Defense were the run stuffers. We got two of their second stringers but are paying huge salaries for them and they got pushed back by Miami’s OL. At this point the Saints wouldn’t even need to pass, they can just run down the field and score. We would have been better off with Miami’s DT Spence, who Licht let get away from us two years ago even though he was our strongest DT and best run stopper. Oh well I am hoping Vea will be able to come back and stop the run up front. We may have to keep Lambert and replace Vinny with him just to shut down the run. Unrein and Vinny should only come in just long enough to spell the front DL. If Buckner is able to really develop Stevie T he may make a better choice than Unrein and maybe we can trade Unrein back to Philly for money to repay us for his cap hit. I have very little trust in Smitty with him playing our CBs off when their forte is press coverage. I did like his creative end of game Defense and at least his tries at blitzing, but that is it! If he can’t do better this next game fire him and elevate Buckner who we can count on to be aggressive. Our long ago former DL Coach who now is the DC for Dallas has done well with little material for years for the Cowboys!
August 11th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
OK Joe, where is my latest post here? I hit the submit comment button and suddenly I was back at the first of this article and my post had disappeared.
August 11th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Stop censoring posts Joe!
August 11th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
LOL Not. Unless you are banned.
August 11th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Smitty is not adapting his defense to feature the best talents of his players. Just like Lovie he is forcing all players to fit his system and he fails to evaluate his failures and adjust to win football games.
I did like his trying a few blitzes and his creative defense at the end of the Miami Game, but that is not enough to keep his job. If he keeps forcing his press cover DBs to keep playing off coverage, fire him immediately and announce Buckner as his replacement so we can see some aggressive defenses and win with defense in the regular season. Our long ago DL Coach was promoted to DC by the Cowboys and has done a good job with lesser talent than we have right now on our Defense.
August 11th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for finding my long post and printing it well after it was posted, Joe.