Schiano’s Defense Rankled Sapp
February 22nd, 2014
Warren Sapp unloaded on Greg Schiano’s defense
Earlier this week when Bucs stud Gerald McCoy and Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp unveiled the Bucs’ new helmet and log on God’s Channel (NFL Network), the two naturally were asked to talk about the new Lovie Smith era.
GMC responded like he couldn’t wait for practice to begin and said the Bucs easily have a foundation Lovie can bring to life. GMC talked about Lavonte David and Mark Barron and Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson, and he said with those guys, including himself, Lovie will have not only a defense Bucs fans will be proud of, but a defense the NFL will fear.
This got Sapp worked up and Sapp, a known loud and vocal critic of former Bucs coach Greg Schiano’s defense, went off when GMC rattled off the talented players in place for Lovie.
“None of these guys, their talent was being played to,” Sapp barked. “A college coach, whenever you are in doubt, you blitz. And that was what our defense did a lot of times last year, was blitz. Now I know a system and a structure is going to be in place. They are going to find [GMC] a one-on-one. Revis is going to get the No. 1 receiver, we are going to mix this coverage with these two safeties and somebody is going to be in trouble. We are going to play defense!
“They play that defense, the Tampa-2, everywhere in the world except Tampa last year! That bothered me. That really bothered me!”
You know what bothered Joe? When people who purported to be of a sober mind actually concocted a coverage that would find defensive end Adrian Clayborn guarding one of the fastest men in the NFL, Saints running back Darren Sproles. When Joe saw that he nearly dropped his bottle of beer.
Having a defensive lineman guard Sproles? In what world did people think something like this would actually work, short of Sproles fumbling?
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Don’t forget to mention McCoy loves Mike Glennon.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Not to beat a dead horse, but Schiano and his coordinators weren’t bright enough to play x’s and o’s at a professional level. That’s really what it all came down to.
Tampa-2 isn’t a magic bean, as Monte’s string of failures has shown. Still my favorite defense but you have to have clever minds calling it and good personnel running it. We didn’t have the former, so regardless of scheme there was going to be failure.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Speaking of love, Joe if you see V-Jax asks him if thinks Free is a top-5 QB this year too.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Would W.Sapp please just go away.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:24 pm
I’ll bet the D-line we have in place as of right now will double they’re production under love.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Thank you Warren Sapp for EVERYTHING you did for our team. Without you my team would have never won a Super Bowl.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Just seen Schiano at the combine in the Pats suite with belichick.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:39 pm
G-Mac also said he’d live some help. Schiano’s scheme was questionable at best, but I don’t think there was ever a time where he fully trusted his ends to get the QB without help. The blitzing was affective…our sack numbers went up. But to really play the style Lovie would like to play, all that’s missing is a 28 year old Simeon Rice.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:40 pm
Rumor: Greg Schiano Could Join Patriots Staff
Bucs owe Schiano $3 million a year for three more years. No way he ends up there unless there’s some unique contract stuff going on.–Joe
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Heard he might become Pats LB coach.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:45 pm
I remember seeing Clayborn on T Gonzalez in the Atl game on a 1st and 10. I called it at the line of scrimmage and Ryan saw it also and hit Gonzalez for 10 yards.
I saw it again at the line the following week in the Carolina game (Thurs night), Cam and Olsen did the same for 30 yards.
Teams scouted that and looked for it and Clayborn was toast everytime. If my lame self could call it before the snap , two pro bowl QBs won’t miss it.
That’s when Schiano lost me.
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Joe,
Coaches contracts operate like any other guaranteed contract with an offset.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Barry
how about you go away he has all the right to make a opinion expecially here since he is one of the greatest bucs ever and as well as what he is saying makes sense bowers clay born will improve this year just because of the scheme and the coaching they will get
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:03 pm
That defense rankled us all. Tampa 2 is called Tampa 2 for a reason
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:33 pm
Joe, in Schiano defense, they did practice Clayborn on the RB.
I just wonder who they used as an RB, one of the hurt ones or an OL or maybe one of the flood of coaches, who was it Joe?
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:42 pm
@Zam
Freeman would have won more than 4 games for us. Even last year as bad as Freeman was those few games it stills that a decent quarterback puts the team in position to win at the end of games. How many times did Freeman do that regardless of Schiano scheme. Even geno Smith did that to us, ej manuel had his moments. Glennon? Not a game changer, we didn’t need Freeman and we can do better than Glennon, our quarterback situation is no better than Minnesota resigning ponder or the titans with locker. So many people must miss Freeman but no one will keep bringing up Glennon once he’s replaced
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Sapp said, ” And that was what our defense did”
He thinks he still a Buccaneer. I like that.
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Do you guys really expect McCoy to say something about a teammate? Sapp isn’t a Glennon fan, I doubt McCoy knew that when he said he sided with Sapp.
I’d bet that McCoy would have nothing negative to say about: Josh Freeman, Kellen Winslow, or pretty much anybody he’s ever played with.
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:52 pm
I’m sure there is offset language in Schainos contract with the Bucs, which allows him to take a position with another team and whtever he is being paid by his new team is reduced from what the Bucs owe him annually.
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:04 pm
flmike,
You’re right. If Schiano takes a job with the Pats as a coach, the Bucs are obligated to pay the difference up 3mil/yr for 3years. If Schiano takes a job outside of the discipline say in TV like Jon Gruden, then the Bucs are obligated to pay the entire 3mil regardless of what he is paid in the new job!
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:42 pm
Bucs55 Says:
“Barry
how about you go away”
I’ll 2nd that. You can go away before Sapp goes anywhere.
Sapp is my all time favorite Buc. Big mouth and all.
Bucs55…I thank you for speaking up, when I should have in the 1st place.
Sapp is an a-hole. That being said he’s like family to me. So yes Barry you can go away.
February 23rd, 2014 at 12:24 am
Aye on Barry going away vs/ our homegrown Hall of Famer.
February 23rd, 2014 at 1:27 am
As far as McCoy praising a teammate, don’t forget he was Schiano’s biggest supporter and didn’t think he should be let go. If McCoy was in charge, Schiano would still be here, don’t forget that. So much for McCoy’s opinion.
February 23rd, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Mumbles Says:
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Joe,
Coaches contracts operate like any other guaranteed contract with an offset.
Exactly! How do you think Jim Swartz owed $12 million from the Lions is the new Bills coordinator?
February 23rd, 2014 at 11:28 pm
U can’t evaluate glennon with the inept offense last season
February 23rd, 2014 at 11:30 pm
I can’t believe Sapp is a broke bastard.