Cornerback Blues Don’t Include Verner
October 12th, 2015
Tim Jennings gets a loaf
Shuffling in the defensive backfield isn’t working, not completely, Lovie Smith explained today at One Buc Palace.
The Bucs head coach was very troubled by developments late in yesterday’s glorious victory. Joe’s pointing at Tim “Loaf” Jennings.
That’s right. Watch Jennings get beaten, and then get up and loaf at a critical point in the game, the big 59-yard completion by the Jaguars. It was the key cog in their seven-play, 86-yard drive that set up a dangerous onside kick with 1:05 remaining and the Bucs leading by seven points.
In the words of Raheem Morris, Jennings earned a fresh “loaf.” And Joe’s very familiar with them after watching serial loafer Sean Jones play safety for the Bucs.
Inexcusable.
“We haven’t played well. Simple as that. I’m not pleased at all,” Lovie said. “Simple as that. We’ve had opportunities to take the ball away more times. A game like yesterday, when you finish on a note like that. … Missed tackles, just your play on the ball. We’re not where we want to be on the back end right now. It’s as simple as that.”
Lovie went on to say Alterraun Verner now playing nickel cornerback is a good fit for him, and said he did “a pretty good job” in “his first start” there yesterday. Lovie explained that the position demands a very “heady” player and a diverse skill set, two attributes Verner possesses.
Yes, Joe’s been hard on Jennings. The guy just doesn’t seem to be fast enough to play the position. (Take a look at the Jags’ first touchdown.) Also, Joe has hammered Mike Jenkins who isn’t much better. However, Jenkins gets a gold star for beating his man and pressuring Blake Bortles into his one interception, snagged by Bradley McDougald.
The good thing is the Bucs have options. Johnthan Banks is likely to return after the bye week, and Sterling Moore can play the outside cornerback, too.
Something has to change drastically before the Bucs head to Atlanta in three weeks.
October 12th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
the whole defensive backfield is a liability at the moment. just as likely to make a play as to blow one….ATL will be a big test, i hope the pass rush brings its A Game, because the CBs and Safeties (and LBs to some extent) can use some protection based on recent performances. Matt Ryan will complete 75% or more of his passes – i just don’t see this team preventing that – hopefully we force a few fumbles and an INT along the way.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
I like the idea of Verner at the nickel, and Sterling Moore at corner in place of Jennings. He is not the pro bowler he once was, Jennings is more of a back up depth guy at this point. Hopefully Banks gets back healthy after the bye, we will need a corner in the draft.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
Still cannot figure why Verner is on the bench
Especially yesterday when all the JAGS did on their comeback drive was target whomever Jennings was covering.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
I think Banks just being around Revis has helped a lot.
Banks got to witness the Revis close up and personal
and ask questions.
Maybe some of Revis’ magic power rubbed off on Banks.
Vernor is OK.
Jennings and Jenkins require yakkity-sax background music.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Tim Jennings is a bust. Simple as that. Over and over he was useless. Glad to see Lovie has a clue on this issue.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Does anyone else notice that every time we are playing red zone or goal line defense the other team always nails a touchdown almost immediately to a guy that’s just chilling in an empty pocket right in front of the right tackle. Can someone address that at some point?
October 12th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
That’s right. Watch Jennings get beaten, and then get up and loaf
____________________________________
LOL @ the announcer:
“An incredible defensive breakdown by Tampa Bay!”
Yep. That about sums it up.
October 12th, 2015 at 3:08 pm
I’m just wondering why Jennings wasnt pulled out of the game, and still in there on that last 86yd drive.
He was targeted 10 times, and gave up 7 recs out of those 10… and 150+ yds (according to PFF) Lovie shouldve benched him at the half.
October 12th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
SPOILER ALERT!!! WE RAN COVER 2 ON THAT PLAY!! >_< GOD D#####MIT STOP RUNNING COVER 2!!!! F)(K THAT S@@@T DOES NOT WORK UNLESS YOU ARE IN THE RED ZONE UGGHH!!! I HATE LOVIE!
October 12th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
How can we get it through Lovies head that the shutdown corners he had 5 years ago may not be quite what they were today. Verner hands down is better than either Jenkins or Jennings. I know he must be frustrated and when I saw Jennings getting burned several times yesterday I was burning inside for sure!!
October 12th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Kwon Alexander with that hustle tackle though! Wow! Young man is fast!
October 12th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Toast
October 12th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Joe- I know it’s easy to blame Jennings without knowing what the coverage was called, etc.
Let’s plat Devil’s advocate for one moment here. It appears we’re in a Cover 2- I noticed we have two safeties deep with the linebackers dropping into a zone. How the heck does Lavonte David not make a play on that ball? To make matters worse, how bad was that angle the safety took (Bradley McD)? I agree that Jennings is a liability in man 2 man, but I’m not sure this play is all on him.
October 12th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Banks and Verner are our best corners – and Sterling Moore has played pretty well when he’s gotten on the field as well.
Tape shows that Jennings and Jenkins are clearly our #4 and #5 CBs. And they represent very solid and experienced depth. But to start them both instead of Verner and Moore? WTF????
If you want to keep Verner at Nickle – then fine – Banks and Moore should be the outside starters. But I believe Verner should be used like Ronde was for so many years. Play outside when there are 2 corners on the field – and then come inside and line up on the slot receiver when the Nickle package is out there.
I was glad when we upgraded the talent level enough at CB to give Leonard Johnson his walking papers – but it was very frustrating to me to see Jennings and Jenkins playing the majority of snaps yesterday when it is pretty obvious that they are both are playing badly.
We have a pretty damn decent stable of cornerbacks – but the “pecking order” seems way out of whack to my eyes. Hope to see a lot more of Banks, Verner and Moore than the “yakkity-sax background music” CB play we saw from J&J. (good one Mr Cosell).
October 12th, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Banks at CB
Verner at nickel
And Jenkins at the other CB until next year.
I like the safeties they just need to learn discipline this year or adios
October 12th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Can we all just get used to the name TOAST JENNINGS. Dude is aweful
October 12th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
I cant believe Alexander chased him down like that. The hustle to out run every player on the field is amazing. And he’s the middle f ing linebacker. Lol
October 12th, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Is Leonard Johnson still available, Lovie HAS to bench Jennings.
October 12th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Jennings makes me long for the days of Leonard Johnson.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:31 am
I thought ATV should have been our Nickel Corner going into this season. I Think it best suits his skill set in this defense so I am happy to see the move and that he is out of the dog house. On the outside he did get burned a little to often, inside he should provide a much needed body on the slot and TE’s.
Banks is a must have on the outside, not an elite CB by any stretch but a very solid above average one. He’s head and shoulders above everyone else on the roster.
Moore and Jennings can be on a rotation until one shows why he deserves more play time.
Jenkins is the one player I am still baffled as to why Lovie wants him on the field so bad. He hasn’t shown anything in the last 3+ years and is a total liability when he does get playtime. I’m not to impressed with the ONE play he finally made, I’m worried about the 99 others that he was out of position or simply beat! I mean I know I am not the only one who has seen this time and time again!
October 13th, 2015 at 9:33 am
Jenkins may have gotten pressure on the interception, but if you look at the replay his man ran wide open. LaVonte David changed the coverage to man to man, and Jenkins just let his man run open down the field. Should have been a touchdown for the Jags if Bortles had seen it. It was good fortune for the Bucs no doubt, but if properly executed, it would have been an easy TD. Jenkins stinks. His best friend is either the sideline or the ground forcing drops for all the times he gets beat.