What Arians Wants
August 2nd, 2019
Glimpse of future.
Joe still hasn’t gotten over it.
Look, Joe really wants middle linebacker Devin White to tear up the NFL. Joe hopes the guy is a multiple-Pro Bowler. He’s on the Bucs’ roster and anyone on the roster Joe wants to succeed richly.
But Joe is not a con artist. Joe didn’t want White. Joe thought the Bucs were in prime position to draft a pass rusher, the most important player on a defense.
This team should be embarrassed for how trivial if not downright irresponsible it has been by looking the other way at the position, save for the steal of Jason Pierre-Paul.
You think there is a reason the Bucs have been an NFC doormat for so long and they can’t get to the quarterback? Coincidence? Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences.
At the time White was drafted, Bucco Bruce Arians tried to reassure those who wanted a pass rusher that White would be that guy. It was difficult for Joe to swallow. Still is.
Even Pat Kirwan, intelligent co-host of “Movin’ the Chains” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, scoffed at the notion saying that a middle linebacker blitzing Drew Brees — “Good luck with that.”
However, Joe had a glimpse of the future and perhaps saw an example of what Arians was talking about. Tuesday in practice (props to Jenna Laine of ESPN for capturing this), defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea went after the Bucs offensive line and both of those guys were double-teamed. It created an alley.
Because that lane opened, White blitzed and flew to America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, flushing him out of the pocket.
Perhaps that is what Arians was talking about? And it sure appears that if Suh and Vea are single-covered, one is sure to break through, maybe both.
Joe hopes what the video demonstrates is what Arians has been talking about. Now, put the talk into action multiple times in a game.
.@DevinWhite__40 coming to a backfield near you. Watch the speed here… pic.twitter.com/PHGCAYa2yw
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 1, 2019
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Fingers crossed, but on draft day Suh was not on the roster…. I am very concerned about the OL and DL… and would have used the first 4 picks on those positions…
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Hardy Nickerson didn’t turn this team around… Nope, it was the draft pick of Eric Curry, the pass rusher, that turned it around.
Come on Joe, you literally have a perfect example of how important that MLB is to a defense – and you have a long list of Bucs busts when it comes to the d-line.
If White is as good as advertised then he’s the safest pick in the draft. If he’s not as good as advertised, then he’s just another Gaines Adam, or Keith McCants, or Eric Curry, etc, etc, etc…
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Rod Munch
sam whyce built the defense that dungy the clown wasted… 2 playoff wins is laughable not legendary… sapp drove that train period the rest were just role playing backups lucky enough to ride sapps coat tails their one respectable year.
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:27 pm
That was pressure in about 1.2 seconds
Even Brady wouldn’t get the ball out fast enough there
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:35 pm
ONE PLAY???
By that standard D’Cota Dixon is the next John Lynch. Seen him make more plays that White this summer. Please!
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:39 pm
I hope I misunderstand you Tmax because I beg to differ that Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice were “role playing backups”. No great defense is made up of just one great player. It is a team effort dude.
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:43 pm
I see nice pressure in this clip. I also see JW not panicky, roll,outand accurately hit ME13. Nice all around.
August 2nd, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Rookie DEs rarely make an impact.
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:24 pm
All you have to do is hit Brees in the mouth a couple times in the 1st quarter and it will take him out of his game completely.
They need to cut JPP and trade a draft pick to the Jags for Yannick Ngakoue.
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Now thats the ndamakong suh I know… Half assed effort on the double team… If suh is single blocked he a beast.. If he gets double teamed he gives up.. that tape has been out there for years
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Nice video Joe, but it’s hard to tell from that angle if Devin could’ve sacked Jameis on that play before he got the ball off (White was by Jameis when the ball came out it looked like). Since it’s practice, he might’ve veered off to keep from really sacking him. Tough to tell.
Like your illustration of Suh & Vea BOTH being double-teamed. If TB has a blitz called on a play like that, lots of good things could happen (sack, INT, strip with a FR, throw away, quick checkdown with a zero or minimal gain, etc). Pressure is pressure IMO. Can come from outside or inside, but it’s the impact it has on the play that’s important far as I’m concerned.
Far as the importance of a super-star MLB goes, there have been many over the course of NFL history who’ve been THE critical cog on defense for their team. JPP was a beast last year IMO, but his 12.5 sacks represents LESS than 1 sack per game. Add in his 16 TFLs & 20 QB Hits PLUS his 48 tackles (minus his 16 TFLs) and that has him directly impacting 80.5 plays on the season … an average of 5 plays per game. JPP had 933 defensive snaps on the year, an average of 58 per game. So he had a direct impact on less than 10% of the plays last season. Part of that he got credited with bringing disruptive PRESSURE on the play; part he was involved in the tackle on the play. And THAT’S from a super-star DE; rookie DEs most likely wouldn’t come close to that. But a great MLB (and everyone knows who they’ve been) can easily surpass that 10% direct impact on the plays number.
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:33 pm
NFL has evolved. Half top 10 Defenses don’t have dominant pass rush. Not saying it’s not important or useful but few offenses have a DK deep vertical game that allows an end time to get to QB. Most run quick game and either get pressure up middle if have Aaron Donald or need players in space that can cover, run, and Defend the edge. To me mistake was not passing on josh Allen this year but passing on Derwin James last year. Though think vea is good player. D white perfect skill set to match modern offenses and think he will be more valuable than Allen.
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Ghost … For the hundredth time, Bucs do NOT need to cut or release JPP to retrieve that remaining $7.4 mil for this season IF he stays on the NFI list … Bucs aren’t under any obligation to pay him that because it”s a ‘Non-Football-Injury’. You’ll see that later this preseason I’ll bet. And it’s in JPP’s best interest to stick with the Bucs since he already has a contract in-place for next year, and the odds of another team signing him for $12 mil AFTER a neck injury AND a year away from football is pretty slim I’d guess.
Yes he’s on the wrong side of 30, but he’s the Simeon Rice type of player that could play well into his 30’s if he chooses AND if he recovers 100% from his neck injury. Patience.
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:39 pm
It’s almost as though Joe doesn’t pay attention to teams other than the Bucs or the league at large.
Because if he was aware of the impact that Darius Leonard made all the way back in the distant past of last year, a year where he registered 7 sacks as an off the ball middle linebacker in a 3-4 defense. A defense which he elevated near single handedly as a rookie.
White has more raw natural talent than Leonard and has the pedigree of being compared to Ray Lewis and Pat Willis by the man who personally coached both of them.
I’ve pointed it out before Joe, you’re eye for draft talent the past few years has been spotty at best. Devin White is going to dominate.
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Is it me or did JW not avoid the sack and still get the ball out for a 10 plus yard gain to ME for a FIRST DOWN… TAMPA BAY!!!!
RAISE THE FLAGS!!!!
FIRE THE CANNONS!!!!
TOUCHDOWN…….
TAMPA BAY
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:50 pm
tmax
and how many gold jackets and SB rings do you have?….lol….
manning doesnt win an SB without tony’s defense….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 2nd, 2019 at 4:59 pm
Of all the QB’s in the league, I believe Brees can be most affected by the blitz up the middle. Being only 6 foot tall Brees,has to both see over the line and extend upward on the balls of his front foot to get the ball over the O line. Now if you really want to throw a wrinkle at Brees, send Carl Nassib up the middle with his arms fully extended. Brees is as good as gets ,but he has been frustrated with a good rush up the middleat times.
August 2nd, 2019 at 5:06 pm
Good post DR. As usual.
August 2nd, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Nice pass rush but did you notice it was a completed pass by Jaimes to Mike so that play was a win win!!
August 2nd, 2019 at 6:00 pm
Amen! to what DR said.
________________
Go Bucs!!!!
August 2nd, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Defense Rules is the “sage “ of JBF post responses
August 2nd, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Didn’t particularly need the video to know what be was talking about but thanks anyway. I mean Coach Bowles said this a pressure defense.
August 2nd, 2019 at 6:44 pm
So what you wanna wager Joe,I bet you whatever Devin has more QB pressures than Josh allen come seasons end.
August 2nd, 2019 at 7:18 pm
The problem then joe becomes, who is going to keep contain?? Brees and company are going to side step these middle pressures all day, then what?
August 2nd, 2019 at 7:32 pm
Exactly Joe! When you have two DT’s who demand double teams then someone is going to have a lane. The DE’s normally feast in this environment but so can blitzing linebackers.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Not like youd pay up anyway Michael aka Nosbos. You ain’t no man of your word.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:23 pm
Not cool Joe. Nobody cares who you wanted or who I wanted(Q).
You literally just wrote the team should be embarrassed for taking D.White. You actually just wrote that. This is absolutely the worst piece I ever read on this site. I will be honest and I and ashamed that I am on this website reading it and talking about it.
Nice site with pro level Access but the site almost makes me feel shame to be a Buc fan.. Thanks for kicking a dead pet bro.
My only guess is you love wrestling. In that case job well done.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:27 pm
If I called White an embarrassment I would feel like a complete creep. But I guess we are all wired differently though. Thanks for some coverage though.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Joe doesn’t understand how the draft works. If you have a guy on your board that you rate as a perrenial all-pro and franchise pillar for 10 years, you don’t skip him for a need player that you don’t have rated anywhere near as high. I mean, it’s not as if ILB wasn’t a need. In fact, with Kwon gone it was probably a top 3 need… And in a Bowles defense, maybe its the top need. The next pass rusher on the board apparently did not rate in the same class as White. So is Joe quibbling with their player evaluation or the philosophy of taking the player you rank as far superior over need.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:44 pm
JimmyJack,
Spot on. You’re WAY out of line Joe (Lee). If this kid becomes a perennial pro bowler, he was a great pick at 5.
August 2nd, 2019 at 8:45 pm
AwwShucks…..Or pay attention to the fact that Pittsburg(a club that has zero clue) traded up to top ten for same position ……but this was a DE draft. It’s so embarrassing the Bucs never knew. Them any Steelers we’re only teams not watching Mel Kiper and his list or they would of known……at least we have Mayock(the biggest dummy apparently) taking a DL who was not close to worthy of a top 10……let alone top 5……Everybody knows Mike don’t know how to evaluate and my bets says Mike’s top ten was 10 DEs. He didn’t rank any LBs til round 2 because MLBa are so thoroughly insignificant……like WRs.
Two Faced
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:24 pm
I agree with Joe seldomly… but Josh Allen was available and I thought/hoped he would be our guy. Then I hoped numerous others would be our guy. Hopefully Anthony Nelson isn’t just a guy.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:34 pm
White may end up with 10-14 sacks this year. Sack numbers tend to be higher in 3-4 defenses.
Defense is going to be fun to watch this year. Finally.
So far as the offensive line, I’m not that concerned. I believe Cappa will do his job well enough to be solid this year. NOw, if Dotson goes down…yikes.
August 2nd, 2019 at 9:36 pm
Btw, Joe…we have pass rushing DEs/OLBs out the nose right now. White was the right pick.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Maybe Joe is learning football others have known for decades: pass rush DE is certainly important, and a defense is much more effective with one, but a stud MLB has been, is and will continue to be THE key position on the defense. He just doesn’t get the Madden stats.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:11 pm
I think this team desperately needed a defensive leader……not sure Allen would have been that guy…..check that, quite sure Allen wasn’t that guy.
Devin White will help the Bucs build one of the great Defenses we are accustomed to as Buc fans.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:30 pm
Punk Blake if you ain’t get it all come to Orlando and get the rest like a man then porky.
August 2nd, 2019 at 10:35 pm
I’m talking about in general Joe, about your opening statement – you’ve been on White all offseason saying the Bucs should have got a pass rusher.
August 2nd, 2019 at 11:09 pm
Table pounding, nearly hurting Ira, shill, curmudgeon, stubborn, Craft beer hating, rage inspiring, manziel loving, give Freeman a big extension, sophomoric Joe strikes again.
Oh Well…
In BA I Trust!
August 3rd, 2019 at 12:19 am
Joe has written multiple times confessing unfamiliarity with 3-4 concepts and is clearly still uncomfortable in general about this kind of defense, what it can do, and what kinds of personnel are needed to do it.
Joe is not even clued in enough to understand the Hardy Nickerson reference by Rod Munch way up at the top.of these comments. Not surprising, since Joe has written many times as well about his lack of belief in the power and effectiveness of strong leadership by capable players.
Nice to at least see consistency here at joebrokenrecordclickbaitbucssocalledfan.com — and a helluva lot of dead horses.
August 3rd, 2019 at 12:39 am
Since:
Are you suggesting teams with 34 defenses don’t use edge rushers/defensive ends?
Look, Joe is, in part, basing his comments on information he has tabbed from dudes who coached in the NFL (with and against 34 defenses) and from suits who are in the Hall of Fame. If you are suggesting a pass rusher in unimportant and even less so than a middle linebacker, you and Joe are on two different planets and watch two different games. If middle linebackers were as important as you claim, they’d be getting picked in the top-five (or first overall) of drafts year after year. They rarely are.
But keep on dreaming that (pick a middle linebacker’s name) is more important than Von Miller or Khalil Mack.
August 3rd, 2019 at 6:13 am
Lynch, Barber, Rice & Brooks didn’t ride anyone’s coattails. The only one who rode Sapp’s coattails was your boy Culpepper & Kirwan.. that clown owes Sapp big time
August 3rd, 2019 at 8:27 am
Joe, your logic is flawed. By your logic we would take the sixth best QB over the best OL because it is a more important position. I’m confident the Bucs would have been delighted with either player, but in the final analysis, White was clean both medically and background, has an Alpha personality and is an athletic freak. He was the better choice…even if he gets hurt and Allen goes on to stardom.
August 3rd, 2019 at 12:21 pm
Joe, I wasn’t high on White because of his focus of making millions of dollars because I feared he would not be a good team player like Mejax. I wanted us to trade down so we could get the Top OG in the draft and the MLB that Pittsburg took. However, my distaste for White was wrong and Licht and BA were right in hindsight. Although, we’ll see just how good Pittsburg’s rookie MLB is compared to White this coming Friday. But the best OG in the draft sure didn’t look good in his first Preseason Game this week for Koetter and the Dirty Birds.