“Especially In This Defense”
July 29th, 2019
Noah Spence has a new fan
By ZACHARY SEIFTER
JoeBucsFan.com intern
Shaq Barrett is a believer.
To be more specific, he’s a believer in his fellow outside linebacker, Noah Spence.
Barrett, signed in free agency after five seasons with the Broncos, knows what an elite pass rusher looks like. He played with Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Bradley Chubb in Denver.
And he’s not too shabby of a pass rusher himself, having 14 sacks in the past four seasons as a rotational player.
So when Barrett spoke recently and the subject of Spence came up, there was great interest in what he had to say. His eyes lit up and he was quick to praise Spence’s game.
“He’s so explosive off the ball,” Barrett said with excitement. “His get-off is amazing. And then he’s real good with his hands as well, and got great body control as well, so he’s going to be very good for us this year. Especially in this defense.”
Prior to talking about Spence, Barrett explained how defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ defense is unlike anything he’s ever seen.
When asked to describe it, the only word he could come up with is “aggressive.” And he absolutely loves it.
Barrett also said that while in Denver, he was asked to drop back into coverage a bit. Not in this defense, though. Barrett said Bowles has him do nothing but get after the quarterback.
With Spence returning to his natural outside linebacker position, where he thrived as a college pass-rusher, he, too, will get his chances to put quarterbacks in the dirt.
July 29th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Super bowl!!!
July 29th, 2019 at 4:46 pm
Is it me or did we have a LOT of players playing out of their natural position these last few years? why did they draft players who were good at what they did and then make them do something different? im anxious to see how good these guys really are.
July 29th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Very hard to get high hopes from a player you could call a bust. Spence & Hargreaves are in the same boat. Whatever production you get from those players you can attribute directly to coaching. RoJo too
It would be nice if we’re still talking about these guys after next week.Time to Show Me Baby!!
July 29th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Will he be the old Spence or the new SPAWN!! GO BUCS GO FAMOUS GO SUHY GO SPAWN!!
July 29th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
It is my opinion that Jason Licht has acquired 3-4 defensive players while awaiting the proper coach go install a 3-4 defense.
July 29th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
AL121976 – Def not just you. HGIII was a press corner who wasn’t asked to play his strength(press). Spence was an 3-4 OLB being used as a 43 end. LVD was not blitzing as much as he should have been(see schiano era usage) and I am sure there is others we could all point out.
This is why I think McCoy was let go. He would have been out of position a little bit in this new 3-4 and it was not worth paying 13 million dollars to see if the experiment would work.
July 29th, 2019 at 4:57 pm
If Mike Smith was even a semi competent coach and not a mental midget, he’d have been using Noah in a Leo LB position (ala what Bruce Irvin used to with the Seahawks in their 4-3 base Cover 3) since his flipping rookie year. But nope. Instead they tried to force him to be something he wasn’t.
It’s a shame that Realist is so hopelessly confused that he’ll still defend Mike Smith to the bitter end. Sad really.
July 29th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Perhaps the better question is why was Licht drafting players with skill sets that Lovie and Smith would use to do something other than their strengths?
It’s always been my impression that GMs try to draft players that fit the coach’s schemes.
There’s a disconnect here that I can’t explain. Licht didn’t truly want the two previous head coaches to succeed? Makes no sense. There was no communication between coaching staff and front office? Could it be?
July 29th, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Although we say the same thing every year; this year really feels like we are on to something great!….Please, God…let this year be the one . I’m always positive. This year I’m convinced we’re gonna be a real futball team, and it will be different..
July 29th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
If Spence proves to be a stud OLB….heads should roll !….well the last remaining head…Licht !
July 29th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Another example where the GM is drafting players the coaches never said they wanted. Wonder if Licht just goes drafting without even talking to a coordinator.
July 29th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Isn’t the whole idea of good coaching is to put your guys in positions to succeed and design schemes that fit their strengths and not force players to do things they can’t? Fitting a square peg in a round hole. See Ryan Smith vs Julio Jones. And last year’s Bears game made Trubisky look like a HOFer by the end of the 1st half…..should be coaching 101. SMH!
July 29th, 2019 at 6:02 pm
Doolnuts, it’s very simple….
McCoy was let go because he sucks, haha!
BA wanted a PHYSICAL IMPOSE YOUR WILL DEFENSE. He didn’t want his guys playing with Batman dolls and getting blown off the ball. And he expects his d-line guys to have more than 17 solo tackles in a year if you have an annual salary of over $10 million 😂😂😂.
That dude had to go!! Peace out ✌🏻 McSoftie!!
July 29th, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Hmmm, wonder if Barrett & Spence could be the pass rushers you so desperately wanted us to draft this year Joe. Nah, BA & TB are just getting lucky I’m sure.
July 29th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Why not just draft the best talent and have a coaching staff do there job. Oh wait that’s the patriots
July 29th, 2019 at 6:31 pm
I can hardly wait for this season to start. I think we are gonna flat out surprise some teams.
July 29th, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Someone needs to ask a former Buc wth happened with Spence last year and coach Buckner. Seriously, every year he looks amazing in the offseason and is pumped up and then he plays in the 4th preseason game vs chumps and cant do anything. Was he hurt? or does he just suck? Inquiring minds would like to know.
July 29th, 2019 at 7:24 pm
Remember a Mike Smith press conference where he said his defense would be multiple and would not be strictly a 4-3 or a 3-4 front. My opinion is there were discussions about what Smith wanted to do given the proper personnel. I just cannot believe Licht would draft defensive players that Smith did not want without Koetter putting up a fight for HIS friend.
July 29th, 2019 at 8:12 pm
But wait….the “real fans” say Jason licht has picked nothing but busts and have guaranteed that spence, rojo, hargraeves andnjust about every other early pick is a bust so there is zero chance soence actually plays well is a different defense right?
I.mean, what ezcuses could one possibly make if they all.performed well under different coaching?
July 29th, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Issue with Spence will be staying healthy
July 29th, 2019 at 8:16 pm
Love that very first comment. SUPER BOWL!!!!
July 29th, 2019 at 8:30 pm
@JimmyJack
The Bucs absolutely have mismatched their personnel and scheme the past few years. Each year, you had reporters asking if they were going to run a 3-4 based on the drafts and our abundance of LBs and undersized DEs combined with corners known for press coverage. Lovie and Mike Smith’s defenses were antiquated cover 2s. Those are great when you have HoF pass rushers and DBs a la 2002 Bucs team. It’s garbage when you have most nfl teams running quick passes attacking gaps in the zone coverage. Previous coaches refused to adapt their schemes and we end up with a joke of a defense where players aren’t allowed to do what they do best. That’s why I’m excited to see what Bowles and the defense does this year. He’s going to put them positions to succeed that play to their strengths. I expect them to be middle of the pack in terms of defensive rankings which will be leagues better than what we’ve seen the past few years.
July 29th, 2019 at 9:11 pm
I am actually looking forward to preseason games. I can’t believe I admitted that. Lol
July 29th, 2019 at 9:32 pm
I’ve said it for quite a while now, there was a disconnect between Licht and the previous staff on what they envisioned the defense to look like. Licht was drafting multi-scheme defensive players and the previous staff was making them play off-man coverage and rushing four. In today’s NFL you will get absolutely eaten alive playing that style unless you have an All-Pro at every level of the defense, and even then you’re playing bend but dont break ball.
It was impossible to force bad pass and get turnovers.
July 30th, 2019 at 7:29 am
Bought into the hype for several years only to be disappointed during the regular season. Not doing it this year. PROVE IT ON THE FIELD
July 30th, 2019 at 9:38 am
At least this hype has more substance behind it.
July 30th, 2019 at 11:43 am
Like Parcells once said. If I’m going to cook the meal I want to do the shopping. Or something like that.
July 30th, 2019 at 1:52 pm
@Alaska: the Bucs have never looked even moderately “decent” on defense in the preseason for almost a decade.
We keep hearing “it’ll get cleaned up for Opening Day.” And it has not happened.
July 30th, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Good coaches find a place for their players
Example NE Bill Bellichick, simple