Looking Up For LBs
July 16th, 2019
Linebacker chatter.
Joe suspects the next-best thing to pull information from ISIS animals imprisoned overseas is to force them to watch the Bucs defense from last season.
Then again, it was such a clown act, the same animals might enjoy it.
(Column intermission: Joe suspects playing non-stop Taylor Swift music at loud decibels could just about break any hardened man. With a few belts in you and being able to watch her, Swift’s music is almost tolerable.)
Speaking recently on SiriusXM NFL Radio while he co-hosted “Late Hits,” Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian talked about the Bucs defense. He’s not high on the front line, though he likes Vita Vea and to a lesser degree, Ndamukong Suh. The Bucs secondary makes Polian wince in pain (more on that later) but when it comes to the linebackers, Polian has hope.
“They did get Shaq Barrett,” Polian began. “Devin White I think is going to be pretty good. Deone Bucannon is a specialized player who is really good in nickel situations so he is an upgrade. And they will know how to use him really well. And Lavonte David is a real solid player. So they have the right pieces in place.”
Polian added the four players he mentioned are effective. How they are used will determine how well the linebackers play.
Joe happens to agree with Polian that the linebackers shouldn’t be a concern at all. Can they play over their heads enough to compensate for all the youth in the secondary and no pass rush? That will determine how much improved this defense can be.
July 16th, 2019 at 8:25 am
Joe you can’t force ISIS to watch the Bucs D unless of course you want to be prosecuted for war crimes. There is such a thing called the Geneva convention.
July 16th, 2019 at 8:30 am
The linebacker play will be the key to our defense……QB pressure, run stuffing & to some degree, coverage……we are fast, smart & physical. It all starts with Devin White……4.42…..that’s all I need to say.
July 16th, 2019 at 8:32 am
Weekly Bill Polian thoughts on the Bucs
July 16th, 2019 at 8:44 am
Secondary was only as good as the weakest link and the weakest link wasTHE COACHING!!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 9:15 am
Somehow we have to pressure QBs or it won’t matter how good the LBs play. The secondary I do believe will be a pleasant surprise as long as we do not give the likes of Drew Brees enough time to enjoy a cold beer and half a dozen hot wings before hitting a wide open receiver.
July 16th, 2019 at 9:22 am
Primary reason I have hope for an improved defense is the talent and (likely) increased role of our LBs. Having more of them on field with more involvement should be a good thing.
July 16th, 2019 at 9:35 am
@Rayjay1122
And, an ice cream Sunday…..
July 16th, 2019 at 10:18 am
Bucs Believer:
🙂
July 16th, 2019 at 10:23 am
Sorry. Joe finds a Hall of Fame manager talking about the Bucs interesting. Besides, it is July. You want Joe to write about Scotty Miller pumping weights in his Kentucky garage? Or Carlton Davis running laps at a high school track? Or about about a drummed up photo opp of Bucs players appearing at (insert name of Pewter Partner business) wearing their jerseys?
July 16th, 2019 at 10:40 am
Linebacker shouldn’t be a weakness at all.
Everything else on the D though….
Taylor Swift is the first artist since Beatles to have four consecutive albums (Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989) log six or more weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart. The Beatles logged six or more weeks at #1 with seven consecutive studio albums from Beatles ’65 (which spent its sixth week at #1 in February 1965) to Abbey Road in December 1969.
Someone’s listening Joe.
July 16th, 2019 at 10:55 am
@Joe … “Can they play over their heads enough to compensate for all the youth in the secondary and no pass rush?” LMAO Joe, you’re like a junkyard dog with a bone. You just absolutely refuse to acknowledge that this year’s Bucs defense has undergone a huge transformation, so hey, let’s continue to talk about LAST YEAR.
Note to Joe: The Bucs will have a pass rush. Actually, and more importantly, Bucs will be able to put pressure on the QBs. And they’ll do it primarily with our LB corps, and to a somewhat lesser degree with our Secondary and DLine. This defense MAY take a few games to gel, but it’ll bear little resemblance to what we’ve seen over these past few years.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:12 pm
I second the DR comment above. Time to gain back pride in the Bucs D.
July 16th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
BucEmUp Says:
July 16th, 2019 at 8:44 am
Secondary was only as good as the weakest link and the weakest link wasTHE COACHING!!!!!
BINGO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 16th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Taylor Swift will grow on you if you’re not careful, Joe. Hence the need for Swiftomin. (See SNL)
July 16th, 2019 at 2:43 pm
@Joe
“You want Joe to write about…”
I enjoy your current policy of just writing about what interests you and is important to Buc fans.
Here is what I hope I do not have to see you write about this year….OFF FIELD Fups or injuries. I hate them both. I know ya gotta cover it I just hope none of the crap happens or that the injuries are minimal.
July 16th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
@Joe:
There are other peoples takes to write about too ya know.
We get it you have a man-crush for Bill Polian but gee-wiz
July 16th, 2019 at 5:13 pm
There is? Please notify Joe when next a Hall of Fame general manager spends 12 minutes on national radio breaking down the Bucs unit-by-unit.
Forgive Joe if he finds Polian one of the smartest football minds around. As always, if you do not like a subject, no one is forcing you to read it.
Remember, it is July.
July 16th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
Every position group on defense outside of the secondary looks solid on paper, although I’d love to see us pick up a veteran pass rusher at some point. If we can’t find 2 average starters from the slew of corners that we have drafted recently, then I am officially giving up on Licht.
July 16th, 2019 at 7:30 pm
if Polian is talking BUCS then I’m listening too.
Don’t know what y’all are whining about.
And when it comes to the Bus defense this year, we have so many new players and coaches on D that I can’t even begin to predict what it’s going to look like.
YES! Last year the Bucs D looked BAD! REAL BAD!
But that team is gone!