“Fatal Flaw”
May 20th, 2019
Needs breakout season.
When you look at the film (How’s that for an Ian Beckles intro?), or more precisely, when you look at the roster, the projected Bucs defense is downright frightening.
Now the Bucs have had scary defenses. In the Lee Roy Selmon/Batman Wood days, that was a scary good defense. And of course, the Super Bowl years the Bucs had a scary good defense with Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks and John Lynch and Simeon Rice and Ronde Barber.
Even in the horrid Bucs days of the 1980s, the Bucs had a defense that would frighten folks with, among other players, Hugh Green and Scot Brantley.
Wanna bet Eric Hipple remembers those Bucs defenses?
But now, looking at the roster scares the hell out of Joe how in the world this defense expects to put heat on quarterbacks and expects a bunch of rookies and unproven young players to cover receivers.
But while looking at the same roster, Will Brinson of CBS Sports thinks it will not be the defense, but the lack of a running game that may sink the Bucs’ pirate ship this fall.
I’m confident Bruce Arians can get the most out of Jameis Winston this season. They’re a perfect match for skillset and style. No risk it, no biscuit, etc. If I’m Tampa, though, the balance of the offense is a major concern. Winston has Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard, but what’s the answer at running back? Ronald Jones, Peyton Barber and Bruce Anderson are not the trio you’re looking for. Running backs are fungible but Arians thrived in Arizona by moving around David Johnson and maximizing his skillset to help open up shots down the field.
Brinson has a point. There is nothing about the Bucs run game that should scare opponents.
Here is the thing that might haunt the Bucs for years: They had a chance to pick up dangerous running back Darrell Henderson out of Memphis in the third round. Instead, they traded out of that position with Los Angeles, which did draft Henderson.
If the Bucs are terrible on the ground this year and Henderson plays well for the Rams, well, Joe doesn’t really want to think about that.
Oh yes, and the Bucs travel to Los Angeles this year to face the Rams and Henderson. Joe hopes passing on Henderson doesn’t come back to bite the Bucs in the rear end.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:42 am
Personally, I am not ready to give up on the 2019 season before they even get into training camp. Let’s see what BA can do with this roster first.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:45 am
One important question remains on this very subject Joe. Who knew who David Johnson was before Arains got his hands on him? In fact what has done since Arains left?
May 20th, 2019 at 10:46 am
Peyton Barber is gonna be a really good back with a capable line. Barry Sanders would get stuffed with our Jell-O-Line.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:51 am
These coaches and front office got exactly the roster they wanted to get!!!!!!!! Is anyone trying to suggest that ole stale biscuit did not know the O-line was old and overpriced??????? did he not know that the RB were the worst producing RB group in the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They could have done any number of moves in free-agency or the draft, and they did exactly what they wanted!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How long????? Not Long!!!!!!!!! Because what you reap!!!!! Is what you SOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 10:53 am
To be fair to Johnson, he’s been banged up.
May 20th, 2019 at 10:54 am
Licht is still a gm?
May 20th, 2019 at 10:58 am
The “real” fatal flaw, was that they only looked for and hired a coach based on working and fixing the QB!!!!!!!
How long????? Not Long!!!!!!!!! Because what you reap!!!!! Is what you SOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 11:03 am
Arians year with the colts in 2012 remember they had rb injuries and they were down to Vick Ballard who was running great. Dude has had 1 carry since Arians left
May 20th, 2019 at 11:05 am
Kind of shocking that the Bucs didn’t seriously address RB and RG in the draft. Don’t worry RoJo is going to be the bell cow this season….
May 20th, 2019 at 11:06 am
With the Bucs in cap hell, there is no way I would’ve signed lazy ass D. Smith or Hargreaves to big contracts. I would have taken my chances on the draft & FA. plus McCoy, Gholston, Allen & maybe JPP would be goners. Of depending on if they had people to replace them. Just a thought. Couldn’t be any worse than the mess Licht has them in.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:06 am
I’d say this is the roster of an expansion team but I’d be doing a disservice to expansion teams everywhere as the Jags and Panthers both went to the Playoffs in year two and the Vegas Golden Knights went to the Stanley Cup Finals in year one. The Licht apologists will learn soon enough.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:10 am
Mckay > Licht
Allen > Licht
Dominick = Licht
Licht sucks
Not a sheep
May 20th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Seriously, the doom and gloom never stop around here. Anticipating the worst is a mentally ill way of operating.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:12 am
It is quite obvious that Licht & perhaps the new staff don’t put a high priority on 3 positions…….Oline, RB & DE……sure, we spent a 2nd round pick on Rojo & one on Spence….and two on Smith & Marpet a few years ago…..but overall, those 3 positions haven’t been valued.
Unless you are selecting very high, these positions can really be crap shoots.
I’m holding out hope that the new coaches’ evaluations are that we have more talent at those positions than we fans think…..
May 20th, 2019 at 11:12 am
I am with you, John. The defense is a work in progress. BA may make a scary DE out of GMC yet and Vea is solid at NT after playing that position in Washington in a 3-4. Also PFF might go to Switzerland to get help on his neck like Payton did and be back ready to play in four months! Our LBs look good with White in the middle with David to guide him and two experienced sackers on the outside, and two of our Rookie fast playmaking CBs look like starters already and get Edwards and Whitehead as sure tackling savy Safeties with developed backups behind them as well as an experienced and proven DC and good position coaches in an aggressive scheme and we could have a very scary Top Ten Defense Again. You know the Special Teams will be lots better, and BA will have plenty of fire power in his Offense too. Line up Vea at full back in the
Red Zone with Barber and let defenses sit back in the end zone and dare us to pass and our Red Zone worries will be over. We will run down their throats and power it in. When they stack six in the box Jameis will hit the end zone with passes. But with two 4.3 burner WRs we can score a lot more without even entering the Red Zone. BA will devise different plays for each opponent and exploit their weaknesses, too. It will be a New Day in Tampa Bay!
May 20th, 2019 at 11:21 am
No dear GetOverIt, Delusions of grandeur is literally a symptom of mental illness…expecting to miss the playoffs after going 5-11 for two straight years, missing the playoffs for 11 straight years and having a 10 season running average of a 5-11 record is rational based on history. Nothing about the offseason has changed that.
There is a fairly relevant quote for you dear poster that goes something like this: ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.’ Now tell me GetOverIt, is insanity a mental illness?
May 20th, 2019 at 11:35 am
“Arians thrived in Arizona by moving around David Johnson and maximizing his skillset to help open up shots down the field.”
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Bruce Anderson will be BA’s next David Johnson. Bank on it. Bruce was a proven receiver in college.
But even if we had a stable of thoroughbreds they’d still be hard pressed to dominate the run game with this horrible run blocking offensive line.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:42 am
Good coordinators can generate an effective running attack with average runners. I’m more worried about seeing Cappa develop into a quality RG and Dotson and/or Benenoch holding down the RT for a full season.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:57 am
Joe is right on with his thoughts on Henderson!! But our OLine is the biggest problem with our running game! Would have loved Henderson or Jacobs or Sanders in the draft but the only one that we had a legitimate shot at without giving future draft picks was Henderson… who is the real deal!
May 20th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
realist
thats where your wrong!!!!…yet again….
dirk was hired/promoted for the QB…..and when he couldnt develop the qb along with the team in general he was canned!!!!!!!
BA was hired to “fix the team”….develop players!!!!…something dirk failed to do on his way to back to back 5win seasons…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
They should GetOverIt because what you said is accurate. And I wouldn’t overly concern myself with the RG position,once those pads come on I assure you the SEC young man Zach Bailey will catch this staff’s eye and ultimately win that job. As far as RT goes,probably should think less Benenoch and more Brock Ruble. Ruble measures are basically the same as Dot. I think Ruble will be groomed to become Dot’s eventual replacement.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Im not ready to give up on Rojo yet. The guy was written off by Koetter who never saw a running play he cared for unless it set up a pass play. Lets give him one more chance under Arians before we write him off.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
realist
and yet, in the past, you’ve always found an EXCUSE for dirk as to why he wasnt playing rojo!!!!!!!!!
OMG, its another excuse, hum i mean @rhealist report!!!!!!
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The Buc Realist Says:
September 19th, 2018 at 8:28 am
Mainly its has been pass protection, and numbers on special teams!!!!! The pass protection cannot be underestimated!!!!! But the “real” fans said this last year when the argument of why Payton Barber was not getting all the playing time with a struggling O-line!!!!!!!!!
The exciting thing sheep is that the game plan and roster is being tailored against its opponents!!!! you sit ROJO against the team that is great at rush defense!!!!!! Total pass attack and it was planned!!!!!!!
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so dirk didnt play rojo because of pass pro and he game planned to sit rojo against teams that defended the run well…..planned total pass attack huh….lol….sounds more like lack of development and a 1 dimensional offense!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
What’s funny is how just a year or so ago RB was a misnomer here. Now folks now folks question a man’s belief he has all he basically needs in Peyton Barber. A guy 230lbs RB that will allow him to pound the los in the first half. Because the in the second half is where you typically see longer runs. You know after the DLine has been somewhat worn down. All you gotta do is watch Marshawn Lynch in Seattle games you’ll quickly notice most of the longer runs happened in the second half.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Peyton Barber gained over eight hundred yards running basically straight ahead behind a weak line. Rojo a whopping forty something yards, news flash Rojo is not going to eat many biscuits this year. They will just keep him as another failed trophy for the idiot Licht.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Maybe some of the new players are sleepers and maybe some of the Vets will respond to the new coaching staff and the new BA Schemes. Maybe we can get to the playoffs. I honestly believe some posters may actually feel that way. Unfortunately to admit that at this point in the offseason is a sure bet way to lose your membership in the “We Hate Everything BUC Related Club,” As for me, each offseason I am an optimist and after years of ridicule have learned to avoid the anger and volatility that flourishes in these comments. See ya all at training camp.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:22 pm
C’Mon!
The “run game” is NOT the RB.
Certainly, the RB is important, but so is philosophy, blocking scheme and playcalling.
Fact is anyone making prediction on any future phase of this Bucs team is just speculation without one shred of evidence.
This is not Koetter’s philosophy, scheme or playcalling.
If this was BA & Bowles second season, some better predictions could be made.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:24 pm
Henderson isn’t here. Move on. If he was here the haters would be hating on him too.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
The sky is falling. The sky is falling. The last few years the team looked loaded and ready in the spring. Then the season came and they sucked. This year we look terrible in the spring, all doom and gloom, so I like our chances and think we’re in good shape.
May 20th, 2019 at 12:37 pm
Looking forward to what Barber/Jones can do behind a better coached OLine!! And better running scheme. Oline (not ours) can make an average back look like the second coming of Emmitt Smith! If one of our RB’s goes down ther will be decent RB’s available via late round trade. (Check out Bengals stable of running backs now)… they can’t really keep em all
May 20th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
It’s funny watching you guys pine for Henderson soooo much completely disregarding the fact that he was passed over by 31 other teams and was merely the 70th overall pick, bypassed 69 times…. and add to the fact that the RB that he most resembles on tape and physically is out of the league, former Ram Tre Mason…. you do realize that there are a lot holes in Henderson’s game and he might not be all that good, right? Just checking. Carry on with your ridiculous love fest. Remind me again of how the trade up for Trent Richardson wet dream turned out for ya’ll.
May 20th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
“Henderson isn’t here. Move on.”
I am here, while not here physically, I am here in mind and spirit.
I will be here every day until the Gumpster Fire is extinguished!
I will link every Henderson TD and I know there will be many (27 last year) as well as every stat. I will do a comprehensive and detailed study of every carry and reception.
I hear that he will be returning kick offs for the Rams as well because he had about a 25% TD per return rate. Too bad he played behind Tony Pollard at Memphis who holds the all time NCAA Kickoff (7) for TD record.
FIRE LICHT TONIGHT!
May 20th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
This guy has it backwards. The bucs were forced to throw the ball playing catch up constantly and when they did try to run the ball yhe opposing team had such a comanding lead they were not afraid to stack the box.
Like i said last seasons and seasons past…fix the defense and fix the team
ITS COACHING!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 1:12 pm
realist
you sure were praising the o-line and rb’s not too long ago…lol….now they’re old and overpriced?….luckily dirk and smitty ran out of excuses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Buc Realist Says:
September 21st, 2018 at 9:40 am
The o-line and pass protection can not be underestimated!!!!! The O-line, RB and TE are just stellar so far in pass pro!!!!! Having those clean pockets and time to develop routes, make it too easy!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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so they went from “stellar” to old and overpriced in 7months….lol….
#FRAUDEXPOSED!!!!!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
Taking an RB in the first round is not too smart so your trent richardson comparison is lost. But if you can grab a competent RB in round 2 or 3 then you are helping your team for 3-5 years (lifespan of a RB), licht and his scouts do not comprehend what a RB is, therefore they passed on guice, johnson, michale, chubb, freeman, etc and in back to back years draft RBs that cannot make transition to easiest position in the NFL, and henderson will be a top tier RB that the bucs passed pm because its the bucs way
May 20th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Poor realist is going to need a new keyboard soon. His exclamation point is getting worn down.
May 20th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Uno- It’s a passing league and Arians is a passing HC. Can’t figure out the physics works but somehow you can’t use all your body weight to tackle the QB now a days.
Dos- Do you know of our situation at safety. Justin Evans has turf toe and Isaiah Johnson is next man up. Mike Edwards is a hawk.
Tres- Personally think Peyton Barber is a very good RB and so does BA. He’s not just BS like with VHIII. Him and OJ really help to protect the QB.
Quatro- RoJo was brought into this league under what was likely the worst coaching staff of 2018
Not saying it’s not great to have a great RB, but it’s NOT AS necessary these days. People should be grateful we have a good blocking RB in PB.
May 20th, 2019 at 1:57 pm
@BlogTalkFootball.com
You have no idea!!!!!!!!!!!!! I buy keyboards in bulk since 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How long????? Not Long!!!!!!!!! Because what you reap!!!!! Is what you SOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Confusing time of the year for football fans everywhere. Do I get today and wear my GM hat or do I don my HC hat? With training camp just around the corner for me it is Head Coaching hat. Football being a team game while it would be nice to have studs at every position but under the salary cap era not realistic. Most important is the sum of players in a offense and defense. Finding the best 53 players for the upcoming season is what is most important. The draft this year and all previous years are done the ink is dry. Stealing a line from Game of Thrones ” the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.”
May 20th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
23 carries, 13 hit behind the LOS
one of, if not THE worst line in football in terms of yards before contact.
and you want to talk about running backs…
blocking schemes still matter, coaching still matters.
Warhop and Dirk were trying to run a scheme they did NOT have the horses for
because they were incompetent
Can anyone tell me why those Denver Bronco teams of the early 2000’s could put Just Another Guy back there every single year and have them rip off 1,200 yards? You guessed it…
May 20th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Havnt even seen a scrimmage in this defense yet. Not sure how we judge the players already since they havnt played in it. And the run game is about the mindset and run blocking ability of the staff and Oline. We will see if they buy in. Id say they will or else theyll be in Miami or the next worse team.
May 20th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
54
great post
GO BUCS!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 3:11 pm
@PriMech54: I’d have to go back and watch film, but I would wager that 95% of the few tines RoJo got into the game on offense, the ball went his way.
If I saw it, no doubt every DC saw it.
And when you KNOW one player WILL get the ball, how difficult is it to stop?
Answer: not at all.
Coaching and play-calling matter.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:31 pm
What would haunt the Bucs is having Ryan Smith playing big minutes yet again. The idea that you waste another high pick on a RB, after doing it last year, is just dumb. Barber is good enough, and Ronald is a total unknown since he was used so God awful poorly by Dirk. What isn’t an unknown is how God awful that secondary is – and the fact it must be fixed or you’re never going to have a chance.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:31 pm
I honestly don’t think Bucs have any Talent issues I think it’s been a coaching issue an I don’t think BA will take any BD from anyone his way or highway I think these players need to follow a Coach into battle an know there coach has there back watch the difference this year goBucs
May 20th, 2019 at 4:50 pm
If you watched the New England Patriots power running game they also used a blocking Tight End in the blocking. Despite D. Smith not playing to the whistle he was usually able to stop the big powerful DEs. His krypton was always the smaller speed rushers. However, knowing that, BA can simply put Auclair beside D. Smith whenever a speed rusher is close to D. Smith and Auclair’s first duty would be to chip that speed rusher before going out for a pass and then D. Smith would be in position to bury that speed rusher on that play. Then pull our expensive Center and put Barber right behind him picking up speed to run over whoever is left as a potential tackler and then he can stiff arm the CB and get a good gain. BA can transform this OL with a Power Scheme taught right. The Realist is just too blind to see it coming!
May 20th, 2019 at 5:12 pm
Just make our OL sit down and watch a no name OL of the Patriots using an old school power running game just steam roll over every opponent all the way to a National Championship without any first round picks last year. That should give our OL the confidence they can do the same thing with determination and a lot of hard work! Then even our much maligned Jones or undrafted Anderson can pop through that hole and run to a TD too. With a lethal running game the opponents will have to put extra players up close to stop it and then Jameis will have a field day passing them crazy just like Chicago did our Defense just last year picking us apart. We also will have a ball hawking aggressive defense getting turnovers and early stops to fuel some routs. BA will love it and you will too! Lots of flag waving and cannon fire at home!
May 20th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
For the Ronald Jones has potential crowd…..what do you guys actually think his ceiling is?
May 20th, 2019 at 6:38 pm
I was happy that the Bucs traded away the RB in the draft and went with defense.
Defense needed as many players they could get.RB was not as big a need especially since you can find solid RBs looking for work all the time.
May 20th, 2019 at 9:17 pm
TB his ceiling is high on the right team
May 20th, 2019 at 10:37 pm
I for one am tired of hearing how the Bucs suck at this or that position and how Joe expects a horror show this year as a result.
Just because the personnel in a given group are roughly the same as last year does not mean the Bucs will SUCK at that position in 2019.
Because – ya’know – COACHING…..
May 21st, 2019 at 3:55 am
Joe is the speculation master. Even if we drafted Henderson. Its the Bucs. How good do you think he would be behind are Oline? Im not sold on the trenches, on both side of the ball. We need more help. Im trying to stay optimistic. And I hope they improve with coaching. And more reps. Because they did not impress last year. And I havent seen much development from are team in along time. If we make the playoffs. BA should get coach of the year. For making chicken salad out of chicken sh@t.
May 21st, 2019 at 8:29 am
BA must have decided after watching GMC’s film that he would have to end up benching him for a bad attitude if BA tried to force him to play DE. When BA said he would use GMC as a 3 technique that meant GMC would only be on the field in the rare times when we play as a 4-3. You can’t pay 13 million dollars for a part time player who also may be a malcontent in the Locker Room where BA needs team leaders to keep everyone confident and determined to win! I wish GMC finds a team outside our Division with a shot at the Super Bowl this year. Now we will need play Carl Nassib as a DE and start rookie Anthony Nelson as an OLB on the left side too. Then play Rookie Terry Beckner Jr. as the DE on the right side until PFF comes back. Beckner has a quick get off like GMC and great motor to sack the QB but will tackle RBs better than GMC. As the DL backups I hope Stevie T will be developed this year as the backup NT so we can play Gholston at LDE and Beau Allen as RDE. If we hit a team that starts dominating us by running the second string DL should shut that down and give our starting DL a rest.