Mark Duffner And Communication
October 25th, 2018
Not just communication.
Was it just a communication breakdown?
When Mike Smith was defensive coordinator, he bemoaned how problems with communication were a significant issue as to why the defense, but for a five-game stretch in 2016, regularly got dragged up and down the field.
While the Bucs defense pitched a first-half shutout against Cleveland, and had a goal line stand and a perfect overtime in Mark Duffner’s first game replacing Smith, the defense sure looked a lot better.
Then on Monday, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter told WFLA-TV Channel 8 sports anchor Dan Lucas that one thing he liked about Duffner, who was on the sidelines Sunday as opposed to Smith who preferred to get a bird’s eye view in the coach’s box, was that Duffer didn’t “over-communicate.”
Joe asked Duffner if the communication issues of the past were as simple as maybe Smith’s play calls were too long (like Chucky’s offensive plays are often are considered too wordy). Did perhaps something get lost in the translation when Smith would relay a call to a coach on the field before it would go to Kwon Alexander and then 10 other defenders.
Duffner didn’t really bite on Joe’s question but seemed to indicate communication wasn’t a major or only issue.
“Everything contributes to what we would consider better execution and faster execution,” Duffner said. “Whatever you can do to make it smoother and more attacking on our side of the ball that’s what you want to do.
“Communication could certainly be part of it but it’s not the only thing. If we did that we would have probably have done it a long time ago.”
Whatever it was that Duffner did (many used the term “simplified”) in changing the defense, Sunday’s win has given fans hope that maybe he can turn the defense around completely.
Joe is hopeful but would like to see a string of games where the defense plays better, not just against the fire hydrant of the NFL dog park known as Cleveland.
October 25th, 2018 at 9:06 am
Our Defense under Duffner was doing good, until we lost Kwon.
I saw where the Saints got Eli Apple, and have to wonder why we were not in the running for his services ?
October 25th, 2018 at 9:10 am
everyone touting how the defense has turned a corner might want to remember the were playing the BROWNS
should have been KO in round 1
October 25th, 2018 at 9:24 am
Chris@Apple: Eli Apple was considered to be about the only 2016 top 20 draft pick to be a worst bust than VH3 and was also considered to be a cancer in the Giant locker room if you believe all the scuttlebutt coming out of NY…. Then again Apple and VH3 probably could help this secondary if they were both available and healthy……
October 25th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Did the defense get better
Or did the competition get worse?
October 25th, 2018 at 9:33 am
Gather around class. Today we’re going to listen to a new music band from London who call themselves Led Zeppelin.
October 25th, 2018 at 9:34 am
these guys are supposed to be pros, i am sick of hearing about communication. you shouldn’t have to blame the coach everytime these guys miss an assignment, they should know what their doing by now.
October 25th, 2018 at 9:35 am
We just need to run this same kind of simple, aggressive defense the rest of the year. With how dominant our passing attack is if our D can just perform mediocre the rest of the year we’ll make the playoffs.
October 25th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Lakeland great point, the bucs or whoever is facing a rookie qb should bury that guy with looks and stunts and disguises, rookie qbs should get buried, so of course its the competition…..now the bucs go against a veteran team with aveteran qb, that will never miss the wide open WRs that I am pretty sure were there against the browns but baker is a rookie and dalton is not, buc better score some points in cincy……get joe mixon on your fantasy team he is going to eat up this depleted LB crew
October 25th, 2018 at 9:57 am
5 sacks without the “master” pass rush tackle….hmmm…he’s not needed…the time is right to trade the most overrated player in Bucs history…strong DL draft coming too
October 25th, 2018 at 10:00 am
See ball.
Attack ball.
See receiver.
Attack receiver.
See quarterback.
Attack quarterback.
It’s not rocket science.
But it sure looked like something changed in the attitude of attacking the offense that was missing with Mike Smith’s 15 yard cushion method.
At least there is hope now. And I think it can’t be overstated that having the DC on the field is a BIG plus.
October 25th, 2018 at 10:33 am
Gruden loves veterans. Give him Geraldine McBooty and tell him he can give us whatever he wants for him. Even a Beast Mode sweater. Anything. Just get McBooty out of here.
October 25th, 2018 at 10:46 am
@Lakeland … “Did the defense get better … Or did the competition get worse?” Could’ve actually been a combination of BOTH Lakeland. Cleveland obviously suffers from many of the same problems the Bucs do, and last Sunday’s game probably wasn’t a battle of strong SuperBowl contenders. BUT … a win is a win, no matter how ugly. Good teams win the games they’re supposed to win, and the Bucs were favored in that one.
My guess is that we’ll also be favored to beat the 49ers & the Giants (hopefully). Cincy’s defense is struggling right now it appears, and IF our offense shows up this week, that’s a perfectly winnable game. The Redskins game is also winnable (hopefully), as will be our 2nd game against the Falcons (hopefully). Dallas is struggling a bit too, so you never know there (although we’re playing them in Dallas & they seem to do better at home against us). The rest of our schedule (Panthers twice, Saints once more, Ravens) I’m admittedly not very optimistic about. Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’m really optimistic about any of our remaining games (Bucs seem to have this penchant for self-destructing for some reason).
IF EVERYTHING went right (minimal injuries, no shooting ourselves in the foot, etc), we could POTENTIALLY end up around 9-7. We could just as easily end up around 5-11 or 6-10. You just never seem to know which Bucs team is gonna show up on Sundays.
October 25th, 2018 at 11:14 am
Response to Chris Apple….A lot of teams are pulling trades to make their teams better. Just look at the wire-tapes everyday. Apple would have made an outstanding adition to our secondary. But we..are afraid to give up draft picks.
Again, I’m not sold on our heart. I don’t think we truly have that burning deisire to create Dynasties..or championship pedigreed. I always use Bellacheat as an example. He will do anything to make his teams better. And now the Saints are following in the same suite. Not us though. We just bring back low risk guys and has beens…
October 25th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Preseason optimism always meets reality for the Buc fans, like a broken record hung up on a deep scratch.
October 25th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Hey Dusthy do we not have a veteran QB? Why is it he has issues hitting the open WR? Is 4 years not enough to be considered a veteran QB?
October 25th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
This right here is why JBF is the BEST!
Combining two of my favorite things into one article – Bucs football talk and classic live Led Zeppelin.
BTW – Any Zeppelin fans who are late to the party on this young, very Zeppish sounding band called Greta Van Fleet from Michigan need to check them out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXUqYFf4RfQ
October 26th, 2018 at 9:44 am
I don’t agree that the Browns suck. I saw one of the best and balanced team that the Bucs have faced.
Their RB’s were amazing and even their punter excelled.
A dynamic young QB who despite being sacked 5 times didn’t turn the ball over and kept them in the game.
Their defense covered our talented receivers like a blanket and their pass rush was great. They stopped our running backs.
Their head coach made some regrettable mistakes, passing up two chip shot FG’s, that cost them a victory.
The Brownies will be in the playoffs sooner than later.
I don’t think the Bengals are nearly as good as the Browns.