No Sack Predictions From Ayers
March 17th, 2016
No forecasting
Yesterday, new Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers met with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club. Well, sort of, in a 21st-century way.
Ayers was part of a conference call. Joe’s a little surprised NFL clubs haven’t yet embraced Skype.
Right off the bat, Ayers was asked indirectly about the Bucs’ Scroll of Shame, how the team has gone a decade looking for 10 sacks in a season from someone, anyone, since Simeon Rice left.
While Ayers obviously wants to do his best, he’s not ready to predict he’ll break that ugly streak.
“Yeah, I knew [Rice was the last Bucs defender to get double-digit sacks in a season],” Ayers said. “Someone else was talking to me – my agent, or maybe Coach [Dirk] Koetter was telling me that. Somebody was just telling me that. That’s big.
“You know, I can’t make predictions like that. I definitely feel confidence in myself that I can do that. I feel like I’m a player that is on the rise and I feel like I’m improving. I feel like I’m getting better, I’m learning the game, I’m understanding things better. I’m constantly trying to improve, constantly trying to learn and I think playing with Gerald McCoy will definitely free me up to be able to do a lot of those things.
“There’s a lot of talent on that defense and I’m looking forward to it. I have to correct you on one thing. In my mind, I had 10 sacks last year [laughs]. They took a half away and gave me 9.5. I’m just joking, but I definitely feel that I’m capable of that. I can’t say what I will do, I just know I believe in myself and I believe in the guys around me and I believe in the staff.”
Joe hopes there is a monster bonus in Ayers’ contract if he does reach 10 or more sacks.
This shameful period of Bucs history is starting to turn into the long, long, long, too long streak of no kickoff returns for a touchdown — until Run Micheal Run Spurlock broke that jinx.
March 17th, 2016 at 7:13 am
Ah that sweet sweet memory “Run Micheal Spurlock Run” I’m a grown @ss man and I had eye leakage in that curse breaking moment.
March 17th, 2016 at 7:31 am
He should easily surpass anyone named Johnson by week 3
March 17th, 2016 at 7:34 am
Just rush the MF passer please. Someone, please?
March 17th, 2016 at 8:06 am
Maybe we draft a DE that will also get to the magical number of 10 sacks, maybe Jacq
March 17th, 2016 at 8:14 am
Again, the sad sack stat. One point of data only.
Hurries, knockdowns, batted balls, etc. Anything and everything possible to disrupt the play. These plays only come when the back 7 are working in concert.
How many of the 70% passes completed were short inside slants coming from 3 step drops?
March 17th, 2016 at 8:18 am
When I first read the header, I thought he might be predicting “no sacks”
March 17th, 2016 at 8:35 am
Ayres is going to be fine. He’s a solid vet like Clinton McDonald.
If we get the DE’s we’re looking for, and actually have a secondary where the core talent isn’t benched, I expect significant improvement. The situation can’t be worse than the last two years.
Gasp, with the offensive largley intact in it’s second season, imagine a defense that can play with a lead in the first quarter?
Dallas Buc, we’ll rush the passer and predict we’ll do much better this season too.
March 17th, 2016 at 9:32 am
Hope you are right there Biff. Would be nice to resemble a dangerous, quality football team again instead of the Homecoming game on every other team’s schedule.
March 17th, 2016 at 9:41 am
I hope he can get at least 9.5sacks like last year…hopefully gmc will be good for at least 8sacks and players like w.gholston(3) h.jones(5) j.smith(7) can all duplicate or improve on there sack total from last year…hopefully we avoid the injury bug from our star/impact players and we can get some rookies to be productive in their roles….oh and mike evans gets his head out his a$$ and catches the damn ball…GO BUCS!!!
March 17th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Don’t really care if they have a 10-sacker as long as they get lots of pressure and sacks as a team.
March 17th, 2016 at 5:13 pm
I’ll make a prediction for him.
3.5-5 sacks. MAx.
Now let’s see Ayers prove me wrong.
March 17th, 2016 at 5:17 pm
Haven’t heard this guy actually talk yet but from what I read…. I will be the first to say it…. BEST FREE AGENT SIGNING SINCE VJAX…
HE MIGHT NOT GET TEN BUT I PREDICT AT LEAST 10 MORE SACKS FROM THE GROUP!!!!
March 17th, 2016 at 8:47 pm
2 turnovers by Sustr, 2 goals. Come on Cooper sit Sustr. Go Lightning. I digress.