Mike Smith Redemption
September 16th, 2018
Turnaround.
When a team has a bad game, Joe calls people out. So it is only fair when someone does well, Joe has to give them props.
And so Joe doffs his cap to Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith. Coming off an embarrassing performance in New Orleans last week and using two backups at corner due to injuries, the defense found a way to win.
It got pressure on the quarterback, even though Jason Pierre-Paul was playing on a bum knee and the injury bug also had hit the defensive line. Smith found a way to help Ryan Smith, who Joe considered nothing more than a special, special teams player, have the best game of his NFL days. Smith was sticking on Eagles receivers and shedding blocks.
Smith found a way to put other reserves into the right positions. And rookie Jordan Whitehead who made more than a few good tackles to help kill drives.
Was the defense perfect? No. But it made plays when it needed to make plays. It stopped drives when it had to stop drives.
In short, Smith’s defense did what it had to do with the Super Bowl champions. They may have been punched in the mouth here or there, but the Bucs punched back, more than a couple of times.
September 16th, 2018 at 5:43 pm
I’m no Ryan Smith apologist.
But let it be said that nobody,other than Ryan Fitzpatrick, made more plays today than #29.
September 16th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Whitehead had a couple of really nice run fits. And the defense didn’t kill themselves with any needless penalties. Like you said, not a great game defensively, but considering the injuries they did enough to win!
September 16th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
I mean they played better but still a lot of wide open receivers, especially later in the game. Of course I understand we have Ryan Smith and 2 rookies out there, so there’s gonna be some mishaps.
D-line pressure has looked better each week, but still a lot of missed opportunities for sacks and hits as well as TFLs. Hopefully they keep improving.
As I said earlier in the week, I’m looking at week 4 as the date for them to really start having their chit together and play solid.
1 score games are too close for my comfort, let’s for for the kill early! GO BUCS!
September 16th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Joe when are you gonna give us a poll on who to start week 5?!
September 16th, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Redemption? Not yet Joe. Long ways to go for this Defense. But today they showed a lot of heart. More than they have shown us in quite a while. Its a
start. But Smitty’s got a ways to go. He’s nowheres close to redemption. beat the steelers and hold’em. Then we might have the start of somethin…..
September 16th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
A couple more games like that and Joe will have to do more than a tip of the cap!!!!!!! Don’t forget that this was the “Status Woe” offseason!!!!!!! And Great Job by Coach Smitty out-coaching the eagles defensive coordinator!!!!!! Even though Coach Smitty had less talent with way less experience!!!!!!!! Hold them accountable INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#trust the coaches!!!!! Fix the “real” problem!!!!! the roster!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 16th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Good effort defense!
Much better results than last week – although Foles and the Eagles minus Jeffries and Sproles is Hardly Brees and his weapons in their house…
Defense played well enough to get the W and that’s all that matters.
Sitting at 2-0 with “the toughest 3 game start to a season for any team in the Super Bowl era” is quite an accomplishment for this young team.
September 16th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
We’re tipping our cap to a defense (and its coordinator) that allowed over 400 yards?!? I mean I’m extatic we won, and winning is a cologne that masks certain issues, but come on. The defense is far from out of the woods yet!
September 16th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Thank you Joe for acknowledging someone on a positive note,well deserved today for Coach Mike Smith. Defense was out there a long time in that second half and that heat was brutal for everyone. Three or four people had to be taken out on stretchers around us, can’t imagine how it felt for both teams out there. Thought he was well prepared as was his defense Go Bucs
September 16th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
The offense has hit it’s stride right off the bat and though the defense struggled somewhat they still gave up 100 yards less than last week and did get more pressure. If only it could come up with some pass defended. Seems qbs complete too many passes.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
I agree with Joe
Mike Smith deserves some props for the performance today
September 16th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Why did the game come down to the wire?
September 16th, 2018 at 6:05 pm
Yes but GMC had a serious LOAF on the Eagles first TD. GMC needs to be called out on that hard. It was embarrassing and he nnEds to step it up. 110% on every play. If he would hav eve h me get hav caught the runners foot and stopped the TD.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
I want to see what our injury report looks like. Alot of our guys went down today.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
Then again I don’t understand how Mike Smith gets credit for players playing better, Ryan smooth happened to have the best game of his career and it’s thanks to Mike Smith…. Your seriously reaching there Joe’s. This was the same game as last week worrying about the other team getting the ball back. There’s only one reason Mike Smith is getting props from you and that’s because of the offense.
Buckner is responsible for d line pressure
September 16th, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Really good offense gives the illusion of a decent day at the office for the defense. If we couldn’t score 4+ TDs a game, Mike Smith would be heckled out of town. I think the players deserve some props for really playing with pride today though. They did enough against a struggling team.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
2-0. Tastes pretty good to me!
September 16th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Just happy the Bucs don’t have to play the Eagles again unless in the playoffs.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:31 pm
Let’s call it a good start. Mike Smith better not break his arm patting himself on the back but it got the job done.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Let’s give it up to the secondary today. I know it pains everybody but Ryan Smith played an outstanding game. numerous plays went in our favor because the secondary held down coverage for a very long time and debate whether our staff can develop a corner still rages but the coaches look shiny today
September 16th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Defense did well considering that the 2 starting CBs were out. Good fill ins, by and large. Still would like to see more sacks.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Mike Smith has got his work cut out for him Pittsburgh coming up. This one smells like another shootout. Hey we are 1-0 in shootouts. I like our chances. I like our chances a lot.
September 16th, 2018 at 6:58 pm
Well let’s hold off on that. The eagles were down to one starting WR and other starters missed time. I will say this…Carlton Davis times his jump a second later he’s coming down with that INT instead of Nelson Aghelor getting that TD
September 16th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Talent…. that is all…,& there is some young guns earning and learning….
September 16th, 2018 at 7:14 pm
Unbelievable, Mike Johnson, Leighroy, Season is Over, Not There Yet, Lambchop, LostinPa … LOTS of sour milk coming from the 7 of you. Our Bucs defense held the Super Bowl champs to 21 points … that’s something to celebrate all by itself IMO. Particularly since at one point our Secondary was composed totally of players with 0-1 years of NFL experience at their positions.
Philly not only controlled the time-of-possession (35:39 to 24:21) but also got TWO crucial turnovers at critical times. With a temp of over 100 degrees down on the field and a banged up, undermanned defense, Bucs defense was on the field for 75 plays (Philly was only on there for 58 plays). Ya our D gave us 412 total yards, but Eagles’ #1 defense from last year gave up 436 total yards … in a LOT less time on the field.
I still saw a bunch of players on defense who are learning-on-the-job, but that’s OK. Coverage improved as time wore on in the game, as did tackling. So for heaven’s sake, be happy for these guys because they played their hearts out and defeated the Super Bowl champs on a brutal day.
September 16th, 2018 at 7:15 pm
As The Who sang in the ’60’s…”The Kids Are Alright”
Indeed they are….our rookies had some mistakes…some bad angles as they continue to learn just how fast NFL players can run….but they played pretty well and most importantly they do not seem overwhelmed by their surroundings at all.
They clearly already view themselves as NFL players…that’s great. I think all three are going to be contributing but I find Whitehead to be the most fascinating. Davis may look can’t miss but I think Whitehead is about to blow up…he’s a fierce hitter and again does not seem intimidated by the big time.
September 16th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Defense Rules is on point as usual!!!!!!!!!!! To think that Philly only had a touchdown until the end of the 3rd Quarter!!!!!!!!!!!! They flat out out-coached the champs!!!!!!!!!!! That game was hard fought in the trenches for 4 quarters on a very hot day!!!!!! And to think that they just started to fix the defense with the roster upgrades!!!!!!! It was good to see it come a little earlier than the ” real” fans expected!!!!!!!!!!
#trust the coaches!!!!!!!!! Fix the “real” problem!!!!!!!! The roster!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
September 16th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Sorry but this defense still blows.
September 16th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
We finally got pressure despite playing one of the top Offensive Lines in the
NFL, which enabled our young secondary to look improved too. There was great heart and determination to win on the hottest of Field’s. This team has to be scaring every other team on our schedule. It will be nice for us to really show what we can do when we beat down the Steelers on their own field on National TV.
September 16th, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Hipocrites are funny. Bad play= coaches fault (didn’t develop them or coach them up or terrible scheme or should be down on the field like I would even though I never coordinated a game in my life) or GM’s fault (didn’t pick who I wanted and so in). Defense plays better (needs some work for sure) this week and the coach has nothing to do with it? Hilarious. Poppycock! Team game. Kudos to Joe for giving credit where credit is due. Tough game next week….get healthy….Go Bucs!
September 16th, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Leighroy …in case you see this…..
Who are the starting DB’s? Rookies or 1/2 way decent veterans? Rookies.
Oh….calm down…stop whining. Oh wait we HAVE to whine. It’s JBF.
I’m no Smitty fan…..but let’s be real. He’s dealing with what he’s dealing with.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Reach87 …lol this guy gets it.
Sorry dude I just read your post or I would have pointed you out.
September 17th, 2018 at 1:12 am
Who’d a thunk it? Smitty finally decided to push his defense closer to the line and our LBs are playing great and all the incredibly young secondary have been able to at least hold on to the wins against Brees and the SB champs. I really hope Vea can come back and be a run stopping machine. That is a big piece of the puzzle that needs to be fixed on defense.
September 17th, 2018 at 2:22 am
That Steeler team is gonna be hangry on MNF being winless and not wanting to get embarrassed by our Bucs. Ben had himself a 4 TD day against the Chiefs. So, it’s not gonna be easy. Let’s hope our D can get crucial TOs and stops. It’s going to come down to ST and D I think. Catanzaro has to be perfect.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:28 am
I agree, I will give credit where credit is due. While there were still a few times that we were playing prevent more than I thought necessary…the corners were playing tighter than they ever have in the last three years of Smitty coaching here. I liked seeing the aggressive play stepped up a notch.
NOW THE BIG QUESTION IS WILL HE STICK WITH IT OR REVERT BACK TO CONSTANT SOFT COVERAGE? Hopefully he has learned from this
September 17th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Ever since BBonzai reminded me that Smith was HCOY with the Chicks, I’ve tempered my opinion. The big 3: GMC, LVD and the Kwonster had good games. Whitehead is going to be a stud like Lynch, Washington and Cotney were. Hats off to Philly. That’s a monster dline they’ve got! Heh-Heh, DK has planted a monster O in Tampa Bay. It’s just starting to bloom. LOVE IT!!!
September 17th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
El_Buc941
Joe Namath should start Week 5 for the Bucs! (It’s our off week.)
Game 5 is different. If the Bucsare at least 3-1, Fitz should start.