Dirk Koetter: Noah Spence Is Not A Linebacker
October 16th, 2018
More insight into the Noah Spence mystery
Things keep looking worse for Noah Spence, unless new defensive coordinator Mark Duffner has changes on his mind.
Consider that the Buccaneers cut defensive end Will Clarke, who was playing more than Spence this season, and no other NFL team wants Clarke. Same for defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.
And just before opening day, the Bucs claimed Browns reject DE Carl Nassib, who plays a lot more than Spence. The Bucs’ 2016 second-round pick has been deactivated for most games this season.
And then things got real ugly for Spence on Sunday. Practice squad rookie DE Demone Harris got promoted to the active roster and played while Spence was in street clothes — and that came shortly after general manager Jason Licht started raving about Harris’ potential on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
Well, how about Spence playing linebacker, which he did a bit in college?
Dirk Koetter fielded that question on his radio show Friday and shot it down in a hurry. Spence is a defensive end, says the head coach.
The Spence mystery marches on, but perhaps Jason Pierre-Paul solved it for fans on Monday, during his chat on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
JPP was talking about how much he agrees with D-line coach Brentson Buckner and appreciates how real he is.
“He won’t put you on that field if your football ain’t good, “JPP said.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:03 am
“Koetter is a defensive end” 😂 he sure can get defensive though
October 16th, 2018 at 10:03 am
Absolute shame what has gone on with Noah Spence. Had so much hope that the kid was going to be a great pass rusher.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:05 am
“No where Spence is the 10k caloie per day Kenny Bell”
“Lol! Lorn Corn is wearing his 57 uni while Spence is in street clothes”
Kobe Faker
October 16th, 2018 at 10:07 am
So Clarke an worthy are good or better then Spence but Spence is still on the team looks like Spence is in Bucks dog house
October 16th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Another second round miss by Licht smh we have a bunch of talent Winston, D Jack, Evans, Godwin, Howard, Brate, JPP, Mccoy, Kwon, Lavonte David, Justin Evans think how much talent we would have if our early draft picks would have hit Spence, Roberto, RoJo, Vita Vea, ASJ, this team would be loaded way too many second/third round misses
October 16th, 2018 at 10:18 am
He needs trading to a 3-4 team before the deadline.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:19 am
Why did they risk losing Clarke if they don’t play Spence? It would make more sense if they just let him go… what are they waiting for? An epiphany?
In a game where you knew matt Ryan was going to throw, they still didn’t activate Noah.
Probably could have used him on the 3rd and longs we got torched on in Atlanta.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:22 am
Cant play scared of injury…
Its mental for him right now…
Skills are OBVIOUS…
He may never recover…. BUT IF he can, he will be fine!!!
October 16th, 2018 at 10:23 am
I bet NOSBOS is pissed off that I bought him a #57 Jersey on that bet that I had lost.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:23 am
Doesn’t matter this whole team pass rush is boo boo
October 16th, 2018 at 10:26 am
Why does it feel like if Noah Spence went to the Patriots, they would turn him into a 10 sack OLB? — Doesn’t it just feel like that would happen?
October 16th, 2018 at 10:29 am
SB
I don’t think they let people wear jerseys over their straight jackets at Chattahooche!
October 16th, 2018 at 10:31 am
noah spence is clearly not a football player just like the majority of the soft heartless quitters on defense.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:32 am
TampaBay Demon, i think you could be right on that, it just goes along with the Licht mantra of drafting crap that doesnt fit the scheme that was being run in Tampa, I hope Vea will be good but not sure he fit the scheme being run….next HC and GM will have to figure this mess that licht has created out
October 16th, 2018 at 10:32 am
Just trade him already in a package deal along with dancing Batman/fraud GMC. This team needs a Hardy Nickerson type in the worse way!
October 16th, 2018 at 10:40 am
What….are we getting 1 sack per game…..all from the same guy?……let him play……how on earth could he be worse?
October 16th, 2018 at 10:50 am
Spence deserves a shot at LB. he is pretty quick and it might work. Seriously, our LB’s are not that great, why not give him a chance to play OLB ? I think Koetter who claims to get input from players is really stuck in his ways and has done little to adapt during the season.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:51 am
Another failed Jason Licht pick.
It’s almost an insult to Bucs fans that he’s still on this roster. They picked up Carl Nassib off the waiver wire without a formal evaluation. They have played practice squad guys over Spence. It’s an insult to Bucs fans because Noah Spence is *clearly* not among the best 53 players on the team and the Bucs owe it to the fans to put the very best players on the roster.
I hate this “you gotta keep working” or “you gotta be ready when your number is called” coach-speak. It’s clear he doesn’t have a future here and it’s clear he doesn’t belong on the roster. Cut him, and allow him to have an opportunity somewhere else. At the very least demote him to the practice squad because right now he is, quite literally, taking up a roster spot. At this point it looks like Roberto Aguayo has a brighter future in the NFL than Noah Spence.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:56 am
He’s not a linebacker
He’s not a 4-3 defensive end
Hmmm why was this guy drafted over Michael Thomas?
October 16th, 2018 at 11:12 am
“Thats why failed draft picks are devastating to franchises…
Not only cant they play and deserve be replaced but they are forced to play because if they don’t the GM will look bad”
“My drafting is like a box of chocolates, you dont know who i will pick but it surely will be a Bust”
Jason Gump
October 16th, 2018 at 11:18 am
lol Kobe
October 16th, 2018 at 11:23 am
a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme …I would try to trade him to a team that uses a 3-4
October 16th, 2018 at 11:42 am
I agree about this being more about “dont make the GM look bad”
Wasted soo damn many R2 and R3 picks its not funny
And those guys should be playing solid ball by now
October 16th, 2018 at 11:43 am
Spence is developing into another Easy Money Sweezy!! I’m callin it like it is folks. Drop this guy..like a bad habit now. Dead weight time is gone.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:50 am
Dirk Koetter: Noah Spence Is Not A Linebacker
——————————–
NEWSFLASH: He isn’t much of a defensive end either.
October 16th, 2018 at 11:57 am
I love it when people say “just trade him”. For what? If he can’t dress for the worst defense in the league then why would anyone give anything of value. He’s basically a step away from being cut. Think people.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Kobe Faker wanted Sterling Shepard with that pick.
That surely would have saved this franchise.
lol.
And I’ve said this once already – the only jersey I own is a Winston one right now.
Spence – when given playing time – was the best DE on our roster as a rookie.
Fact.
Sorry that I was excited by that. F*ck me I guess.
I guess I’m better off throwing a bunch of dumb sh1t on the wall and pounding my chest over the 10% I get right as Kobe Faker does.
Go Bucs lol.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Whose fault is it that Spence was taken in the 2nd round? He was projected to go higher at one point, but every other team passed on him. But not Jason Licht. Every team needs their 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounders to contribute. The Buc’s have had way too many misses in these rounds. Licht is a big part of the problem people. He has to be the next to go.
October 16th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
he had shoulder surgery twice…maybe his shoulder is just ruined and he is physically done…all surgeries are not a success either…but the bucs would keep that in house…dude just sits on the bench – obviously something is wrong that they are keeping very private…guys are being pulled off the street to suit up before him…he is so done it’s not even funny – problem is we keep banking on him to be a productive part of a struggling defensive line…he is being well paid and well fed…10k calories a day – what a cushy job and lifestyle
October 16th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
The problem is that for every 2nd or 3rd rounder, Licht has crushed the free agent (draftees) pick-ups, Brate, Barber, Humphries, etc. BTW, Adarious Taylor (Galnton) looks lost this year, why not throw Cichy in for a series and see what he can do? What’s he gonna do, give up 20 yarder over the middle like everyone else is doing?
October 16th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Spence is a defensive end just like Mark Barron is a Saftey
October 16th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
I love it when people say “just trade him”. For what?
_____________________________________________
WTF …you have to at least try. If there are no takers then so be it. Chastising people for their comment is ignorant and hateful. Think man
October 16th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Pretty sure the shoulder injuries are what did him in. Probably not playing instinctively and is hesitant now.
I mean he was the best pure pass rusher in the draft that year. He showed a ton of potential his rookie season, even playing while injured.
It’s a damn shame. Injuries suck. Can’t teally blame him for that. I do agree though if he’s not gonna play why take up a roster spot at this point? That patriots miss on draft picks all the time, they just cut them and move on.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
I’d sooner see him play as a LB in a 3-4 scheme. But Smith wasn’t creative enough to try it. Hopefully Duffner has a set of balls.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Trench War: It’s just an ignorant comment. Sure you can try. I think most that know a little bit might just skip that step because its never going to happen. He’s got 2 shoulder surgeries under his belt and can’t crack this lineup.
Sure, why not a 2nd round pick and a few mill in compensation. We can at least try? Cmon, don’t take it so hard.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:44 pm
JabooBuc
do some research man. you are way, way out of touch…. draft picks are valuable. much more valuable than taking a gamble on a proven bum who can’t stay healthy. gm’s don’t toss draft picks around on losers. especially losers from an organization as dysfunctional as the Buccaneers the risk vs reward just does not work out.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
Spence needs to get back down to 230 lbs and play on passing downs where he can just get after the QB. He doesn’t need to be a 257lb DE where he can’t get on the field. Lose the weight and play him in passing downs. This is a passing league now and Tampa needs pass rushers. They have Gholston, Curry and JPP to play DE on running downs. Am I the only one who sees the weight gain as a bad move? Spence is what he is, a 230 lb pass rusher.
#Get After it!
October 16th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
Reality – Maybe you should go back and read the comments.
October 16th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Spence runs like a 4.85 , not elite d end speed and cert not LB speed . He is a pretty well rounded rusher but is as bad against the run as it gets on an nfl roster .
October 16th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
He’ll be a LB for his next team
October 16th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
I will be shocked if he is in the league in 2 years
October 16th, 2018 at 4:44 pm
Yeah it’s too bad, but I won’t be surprised if he’s out of the league in 2 years, and I won’t be surprised if he’s getting 9.5 sacks for the Seahawks or Cowboys in 2 years. The guy was always a project player and wasn’t considered a reach. There are busts and then there are guys that everyone says all the talent in the world but are headcases. Spence was in the headcases category, but as far as I know he’s been a model citizen since he’s been here, he just has seen his production fall off a cliff since a very good rookie season.
October 16th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Anybody seen Spence in the meeting rooms or at practice? How has he been doing coach? Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2018 at 5:51 pm
He’s just not good enough. We cannot continue to miss on these early draft picks. These guys are supposed to be starters for your team for years. Not us. The revolving door continues at DE!
October 16th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
He was good enough at 235- but the Tackles anused and hurt him.
They beefed him up to 265- and hes to slow.
The answer would be obvious to any coach but ours
October 16th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
I’m not buying any of it. This defense sucks and so do the coaches which includes Buckner. They all need to go. We’ll see how Duf does but I won’t hold my breath.
October 16th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
I wish there was some decent journalists in the city that could actually get to the bottom of this- the guy was being heralded as a 20 sack guy- by other teams even.
Joe,
Do I have to become an investigative reporter to figure this out?
Could you guys get some real answers?
October 16th, 2018 at 11:12 pm
People we had to sign 3 free agent defensive lineman and trade for another because why????????????
Jason cant draft
Same with Grimes
October 17th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Makes you wonder if this is a disciplinary action. Had some issues in college but was hopeful he was past that. They obviously still see value in him or he wouldn’t be tying up a roster spot. Bringing in guys off the street and dressing them on game day over him leaves that as the only logical explanation.