JPP’s Potential Return
October 10th, 2019
Return days away.
There is no such thing as too many pass rushers. Just look at what former Bucs great John Lynch has done with pass rushers in San Francisco.
So when Shaq Barrett was finally shut down last week in New Orleans, it wasn’t just a few times that Bucs fans said to themselves, “Man, I wish JPP was back.”
That may not be far off.
Stud pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who blew out his neck in a one-car accident in South Florida in May, has been on the shelf ever since. He’s shown up this week at One Buc Palace attending Bucs practices and Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians said JPP is just days away from hitting the practice field.
“He can start practicing next week and we have a schedule set up for him, and [we’ll] see how it goes,” Arians said.
Recently it was learned the Bucs reworked JPP’s contract so that he can become a free agent after the season. Previously, the Bucs had him under contract through 2020. To Joe, that signaled the Bucs are not all that confident he can return to double-digit sack form. Given the fact he will be 31 on Jan. 1, that’s not a reach of a gamble.
But if — that’s the keyword, “if” — JPP can come back 100 percent, the Bucs team won’t have to rely on Barrett for all of the sacks. Currently, Barrett (nine sacks) has all but two of the Bucs total sacks. That cannot continue.
“It’s huge – just leadership alone,” Arians said of how JPP returning can help the pass rush. “It’ll be a lot of fun with he and Shaq [Barrett] and Carl [Nassib] and all those guys rushing the passer.”
The importance of JPP returning was evident in New Orleans. Outside of a couple of swipes from Carl Nassib, Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was largely left alone by Bucs defenders.
The question Joe has is, which JPP will the Bucs be getting?
October 10th, 2019 at 5:04 am
He played every game last year, and we were still 5-11. His return isn’t going to be some kind of magic pill for this defense.
October 10th, 2019 at 5:08 am
Here’s what I don’t get. As of this morning on JPP’s Instagram, JPP is still wearing a neck brace when working out. How is that practice ready?
October 10th, 2019 at 5:19 am
Todd, he clearly states that he was doing that 3 weeks after his accident.
October 10th, 2019 at 5:41 am
Hodad … Good point, but IF he can return to 2018 form like Joe said then MAYBE we can get more consistent pressure on opposing QBs. IF that happens, that’d surely help our young Secondary.
Heck, ANYTHING would help at this point. One rookie back there is a challenge for a DC I’m sure. TWO rookies back there must be really hard to compensate for (assuming that SMB or Dean replace VHIII), especially against teams with elite WRs & TEs. Throw in that Davis & Whitehead are only 2nd year guys themselves and the ‘challenge’ is pretty close to unprecedented. There’s no VETERAN LEADERSHIP back there (and no, I don’t count VHIII as a veteran leader).
Bottom line though is that ‘You are where you are’. Our DLine has some veterans on it, but behind that we’ve now got a bunch of rookies & 2nd year guys. They’ll grow, and I’m convinced they’ll be good, but it’ll take awhile IMO. In the meantime, it gives Joe something to pee & moan about while he defends our ‘inconsistent’ offense.
October 10th, 2019 at 6:14 am
Any help we can get on defense is good. Hear that offense? Any help would be appreciated.
Complementary football!
October 10th, 2019 at 6:17 am
This is being over blown.Its not the lack of pass rush, its the soft coverage.Teams know (again) that recievers are always open.These corners need to play bump and run when they are up on the line not just close. You have fove yards to.hit and scrap.with the guy and throw off the entire timing of the play between the qb and wr.TWO OF LAST WEEKS tds woukdnt have happened had the pass catcher been jammed at the line.
Carton Davis geyting ejected hurt, vhIII needs to play slot hopefully Jamall Dean can man the other side.This team really needs to go get Patrick Peterson more than theu need JPP
October 10th, 2019 at 6:48 am
Maybe I’m just pessimistic, but something about this just seems fishy and rushed to me. I hope he doesn’t suffer an injury in a rush to get back onto the field.
October 10th, 2019 at 7:16 am
Nassib
Have you ever seen a guy with so much energy do so little?
October 10th, 2019 at 7:42 am
Clod
I havnt seen it from Nassib but others yes. He was dominant in 2 games this year already. Rewatch the games and focus on him. Thats how you evaluate. U dont look at the box score
October 10th, 2019 at 7:50 am
Can he play CB?
October 10th, 2019 at 8:00 am
It really doesn’t matter whether he’s here or not. A pass rush will not help this secondary. Shaq Barrett had a historic month and the secondary remained terrible.
October 10th, 2019 at 8:07 am
Knowing JPP….he’ll be ready and play well…..it’s just in his DNA…..
I’m hoping an injection of Ryan Smith & Dean will help our secondary….
And…we need to get our offense back on all cylinders.
October 10th, 2019 at 8:10 am
Darin, I dont look at the box score. Tell me, where on a box score do you see energy?
October 10th, 2019 at 8:10 am
Add at 10 sack guy to Shaq pressure it will improve , that’s what you call so getting players to improve on what you have , plus don’t compare last years defense to this year. Different scheme and coaches surely we see that as intelligent fans.
October 10th, 2019 at 8:14 am
“Are You guys that gullible
This entitled idiot has a broken neck
He is going to play a few plays and go straight to IR for a fake injury
He is going to do exactly to get all his guarentee money and heal for next years new team
Are you guys that gullible?”
Son of Kobe Faker
October 10th, 2019 at 8:18 am
This is where Licht has been getting smarter. Like the Patriots, he working the system to get more comp picks. By redoing JPP’s to expire the end of this season, it not only frees up money to resign Shaquil Barrett and Carl Nassib, but if JPP signs for big free agent money to another team, we can possibly pick up another comp pick, perhaps as high as a third rounder.
October 10th, 2019 at 8:25 am
pass rush and secondary go hand in hand….
shaq cant be the only player putting pressure on the QB….when that happens, OC’s take shaq out the game and DBs get exposed….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 10th, 2019 at 8:27 am
BA calling one of the dumbest players to ever suit up in the NFL a leader. wow that ladies is exactly why there is no hope for BA or this minor league franchise…. counting on mental midgets as team leaders is beyond laughable and truly the buccaneer way… he deserves to get hurt…. he is a proven dumbarse
October 10th, 2019 at 8:53 am
IMO , Nassib fits four three scheme better than a three four. One thing that is m obvious is that he sometimes has trouble finishing and getting his big frame to break down enough tackle through the player. He relies a little too much on arm tackles which can be shook off easier.
October 10th, 2019 at 9:02 am
@Defense,
It wasn’t Joe who declared our secondary #TotallyFixed
How much draft capital does one have to spend to find just 2 CBs?
October 10th, 2019 at 9:06 am
…and lets not forget, in the Bucs game vs the Rams we had great Dline pressure, but Goof still put up over 500 yards passing.
#TotallyFixedSecondary
October 10th, 2019 at 9:34 am
BA’s BS is hard to keep track of with respect to what’s fixed and what’s a work in progress… more proof America needs a maximum age of 65….
October 10th, 2019 at 9:39 am
Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:
October 10th, 2019 at 9:06 am
…and lets not forget, in the Bucs game vs the Rams we had great Dline pressure, but Goof still put up over 500 yards passing.
that great dline pressure produced 3ints by goff….plus a fumble and the W…..with no pressure TB didnt throw for 500yards but he picked us apart and collected the W while standing in a clean pocket…..
pressure was good against the 9ers but JW shat the bed….
pressure was good against CAR and we won….
pressure was good against the giants but kicker missed 3kicks…..
pressure disappeared against the saints and secondary got exposed….
JPP would be a huge boost because: pass rush and secondary go hand in hand….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 10th, 2019 at 10:10 am
I would rather have one really good cb that you can count on rather than 3 or 4 that are just average. EX. Peterson. Not a big fan of Ramsey. I ‘m sure there are others much better than what we have now, that we might be able to get. Licht for once in your life do your friggin job.
October 10th, 2019 at 10:31 am
Previously, the Bucs had him under contract through 2020. To Joe, that signaled the Bucs are not all that confident he can return to double-digit sack form. Given the fact he will be 31 on Jan. 1, that’s not a reach of a gamble.
Faulty reasoning. His contract was no longer guaranteed, Joe, so they could have released him either way
No, the stipulation had to come from JPPs end…he wants out of Tampa.
October 10th, 2019 at 10:44 am
JPP is a G-O-D!
He is gonna prove everyone wrong!
10 sacks in 8 games!
Boom!
Go Bucs!
October 10th, 2019 at 10:54 am
Would love to see how the saints defend barrett with jpp on the other side
October 10th, 2019 at 10:59 am
Hey if we are somehow in the playoff hunt near the end of the season i would love to get him back later than earlier! If he can play up to form, that could be the surprise ace-in-the-hole we spring on teams near the end giving them very little time to game plan for two dynamic edge rushers.
October 10th, 2019 at 2:02 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai says “Faulty reasoning. His contract was no longer guaranteed, Joe, so they could have released him either way
No, the stipulation had to come from JPPs end…he wants out of Tampa”
Bucs did not have the cash to pay JPP 13 mil next year when they have Jameis and two young DE/LB to sign (Nassib and Barrett). Plus, if they released JPP they would be giving up a possible comp pick in 2021. It was smart to have JPP sign a new deal that expires at the end of this season.
October 10th, 2019 at 2:38 pm
I got ripped for saying JPP will take the field before Halloween. EVERYWHERE.
Oh well, same fan base that says winston is a bust, vea is a bust, bruce is past his prime, matt gay was a bad pick in the fifth round, rojo wouldn’t improve, godwin is average, etc.
dumbest fan base in sports. i love this team but damn…..
October 10th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
@Buccernutter Winston is average, VEA is solid, Matt gay is fine, Godwin..i knew he was good all along, ROJO–lets be patient and see where it goes.
JPP is a machine (missing fingers) but a machine
October 10th, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Allhail
You’re a rare breed of buc fan to admit all of that.
October 10th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Hurry back JPP we need you badly!!!!
October 10th, 2019 at 7:56 pm
JPP
With
S-Sqack
KILLER