Do Or Die For Noah Spence
January 9th, 2019
Last chance?
[UPDATE: 9:59 a.m.]
The coming 2019 season very well may be the final chance for Bucs defensive end Noah Spence to make a mark with the team that drafted him.
After two seasons that were injury-plagued by shoulder issues, Spence was pretty much a non-factor this past season. So much so that sometimes, Joe had to check the roster to make sure the former second-round pick was still active.
Earlier today, Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio reported new Bucs defensive coordinator (though not yet officially announced) will bring long-time NFL defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers with him from his previous gig with the Jets.
In New Jersey, Rodgers was Bowles’ defensive coordinator.
Joe did quick research on Rodgers and in his 10 seasons as an NFL defensive line coach, three with the Cowboys and seven in Miami, only once has Rodgers’ defensive line finished in the bottom half of the league in sacks. In fact, in six of Rodgers’ 10 seasons as defensive line coach, Rodgers’ players have finished in the top-ten in sacks.
Here is where Rodgers’ defensive front ranked each season he coached defensive line in the NFL.
2005: 14th.
2006: 19th.
2007: 3rd.
2008: 8th.
2009: 3rd.
2010: 10th.
2011: 10th.
2012: 7th.
2013: 11th.
2014: 16th.
Rodgers came to the Cowboys in 2003 as a defensive tackles coach under Bill Parcells (with Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator). Rodgers also served as defensive line coach with Dallas in his last season with the Cowboys under defensive wizard Wade Phillips, who succeeded Parcells.
So Joe is going to guess if Rodgers cannot turn around Spence this year, it will also mark Spence’s last season with the Bucs.
Joe is just going to guess a guy who worked with Bill Parcells is a no-BS guy.
[UPDATE: 9:59 a.m.] There seems to be some debate whether Buckner leaving is a done deal or not, or if Buckner will be retained.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Didn’t even know this schmuck was still on the team…
January 9th, 2019 at 10:19 am
I’m optimistic he can turn the corner ! Coaching has been terrible overall for the Bucs ! A real Headcoach like BA will get the real Spence to show up or bye !
January 9th, 2019 at 10:21 am
I am hoping Noah is tried as blitzing LB in a 3-4 package. He seems too light for a DE.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:24 am
Where in the hell did this Rodgers dude coach, and with what player personnel…during the 2007-2009 years of his tenure??! That’s doin’ something there.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:33 am
Might be his first chance in a position that he can actually be successful.
January 9th, 2019 at 10:35 am
This article had so little to do with Spence
January 9th, 2019 at 10:39 am
i hope this staff develop players better then the previous staff did….
#DEFENSEWINSCHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 9th, 2019 at 10:43 am
Like I said, Arians was notorius for cutting..Dead Weight out of AZ. Batter up Spence. You will have to perform this season or watch the NFl on TV!
January 9th, 2019 at 10:54 am
The bigger question is whether this staff can trade or cut gmc so they can “Really” run a defensive scheme that fits the personal and not just gmc like other coordinators had to!!!!!!!! Or will the owner continue to overridde common sense and continue on for the push to put gmc into the stupid ring of honor?????????????????
very excited to see what this coaching staff thinks of the current roster as they will churn it out and over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the “real” truth is already known, but will dawn on joe and the sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2019 at 11:24 am
Not sure what happened to this kid. His rookie tape flashed. Whatever tho. Sorry for believing.
January 9th, 2019 at 11:25 am
it would not surprise me if Spence was asked to drop weight now for edge / OLB in teh 3-4 package. I just don’t know if the dude is capable of pass coverage if that is part of the OLB duties in that scheme
January 9th, 2019 at 11:28 am
realist
not the talent/roster excuse again….lol….
bruce is way better than dirk as most believe…..with his experience and leadership we should be able to win at least 10games with this roster…..
we killed the bears 2years in a row before this year and with good coaching they won their division….
this was a win now hire…..
#DEFENSEWINSCHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
January 9th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Sacks are overrated. You have to look at the D as a whole. How about Run D?
January 9th, 2019 at 12:22 pm
813, the bears destroyed the bucs because their Gm, ryan pace, a guy from the sean payton/NO franchise built by FA, trade & the draft a dominant lineup that matt nagy/vic fangio viewed as their dudes. Pace has been with the bears a year less than licht and built the bears up to where they now are. The Bears have the best LBs in football and have drafted with a plan the past few years and made trades to make them where they are today which might be 2 bounces from the super bowl. The bucs are so far away from the Bears, talent wise its crazy. Hopefully arians knew this months ago when the glazers hired him and started telling licht who he wants to stay and who he wants to sign as FA and through the draft
January 9th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Unfortunately, Rodger’s sack totals from 2015 to present have mostly sucked.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:25 pm
R.O. Says
“Sacks are overrated. You have to look at the D as a whole. How about Run D?”
Sacks are the most important defensive line stat there is. Even bad defensive lines can stop the run (not ours). But when a team is getting a lot of sacks? They usually stop the run too.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:26 pm
Spence is a OLB in a 3-4. The Bucs played well in The 3-4 years ago, and think Spence may be a good fit.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
spence should be let go along with ROJO, cant see these guys contributing at all next year.
January 9th, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Joe
Any word on if their running a 3-4, 4-3 or blend of both? Also Buckner ain’t going no where and I bet Monken stays too. Arains ain’t no fool
January 9th, 2019 at 1:20 pm
@Dusty Rhodes
We absolutely destroyed the Bears week 1 of 2017. Probably our easiest win of the year.
You’re basically saying Pace completely rebuilt that team 1 year later to the point that they are on a different stratosphere than the team that whopped their a4ss in 2017. That just seems ridiculous lol.
Maybe Mike Smith just got destroyed by wheel route concepts.
Ppl over estimate talent discrepancies in the NFL in general IMO
January 9th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Gotta be critical here. More stories get written about Spence them many of our good/relevant players.
Kinda find it obnixous. I get it. Drama sells but sometimes the site feels empty because of the lack of love our true performers receive. Meanwhile this guy has earned squat and gets the spotlight, allbeit bad spotlight.
January 9th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
I sure wish I could get paid a fortune to be absent from work for three straight years!
Cut all of the dead weight! Does anyone think Noah can get after the quarterback better if he standing up? He can’t even challenge a LT with one hand in the dirt!?
Do you think he can cover a back out of the backfield? He will need to do that in a 3-4. If he can, why hasn’t he done it already? Because at present, no Buccaneers’ LB can cover anyone to save their lives!
I’m hoping all Bucs are better but, have little reason to believe that Noah will make an impact or even the roster.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Gotta agree with you JimmyJack. Spence is a complete bust. No need to discuss the guy at this point. Will be a wasted roster spot if he is able to even make the team this year. Certainly not wondering if the dude will be around in 2020.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:07 pm
Hold your horses. Apparently, Todd Bowles has not yet signed anything with the Bucs as their DC and now there is speculation that the Bears DC job is also under consideration with Bowles. He has ties to Matt Nagy and BA.
January 9th, 2019 at 2:41 pm
Zero but if memory serves Bowles ran a hybrid.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:06 pm
You can’t stay in a straight 3 -4 alignment in today’s nfl .
Even the most traditional 3-4 teams bring an additional lineman, hand in the dirt, often. 3,3,5 is more the look or 4 2 5.
This desire by fans to switch to a 3 4 is fine but it’s no longer your daddy’s 3 4. It’s all about blended fronts and packages. ..4 3 as a base can be less flexible , because it covers more, than the 3 4 and requires less substitution. Now if you find a group of extremely athletic,
multiple skilled line backers..then the 3 4 base can stay on field longer.
January 9th, 2019 at 3:07 pm
If you want a stra
January 9th, 2019 at 3:15 pm
^^^ straight 3 4 then Oc’s are going to exploit the scheme with packages, alignment and space.
I notice that many fans of running man coverage only or majority of the time are usually pushing the 3 4. Wake up to the changes in the league . Press is so easily beat that it’s the preferred choice of coverage for the QB’S in the league. Especially younger QB’S, they have been practicing against it for years and it’s easier for them to understand and beat.
Be careful what you wish for..
January 9th, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Straight up, Spawn is an OLB. Not a short, stalky DE working the right side. If they switch to a 3-4, I would love to give him another shot and my interest in Devin White at #5 would certainly grow.
January 9th, 2019 at 5:03 pm
As usual Joe is obsessed with sacks to the exclusion of everything else involving the defensive line. While the sack stats per year for the defensive lines coached by Kacy Rodgers are impressive, what were the rushing yards allowed stats? Remember, it all starts up front and that means stopping the run – first. If you can’t stop the run, then there is no need for the opposing team to pass and consequently your sacks stats will suffer. So, how about some research and a post about well the defensive lines coached by Rodgers stopped the run.