Scratching The Surface
November 17th, 2016
Blossoming.
The Bucs need a pass rush — past and present — worse than Joe needs a cold beer on a hot July Friday afternoon.
That’s one reason the Bucs drafted rookie Noah Spence in the second round.
After a slow start, Spence seems to be catching on, highlighted by a strip/sack against the Bears. Spence is now tied for the rookie lead in sacks with Joey Bosa and Yannick Ngakoue with four.
To hear Dirk Koetter talk, the Bucs coach believes those numbers are just a tip of the iceberg.
“I think what even makes it more impressive is he’s playing with a harness on all the time since his shoulder came out and he never really had any injuries in college,” Koetter said. “So sometimes young guys that have to face stuff like that where they have to wear a harness or wear a brace of some sort, it has an adverse effect on their play.
“And something that we wanted [was] Noah to become a better player against the run, that’s one of the benefits maybe of our injuries that we’ve had at defensive end, is Noah has had to play more in run situations and I think he’s definitely gotten better against the run. You draft him where you draft him because of his pass rush ability, but I think he’s improving his overall game.”
The injury to Spence’s shoulder is enough that he told Joe he will need an MRI after the season and, if needed, a medical procedure.
Many a player wouldn’t tough it out like Spence. Apparently, most players aren’t driven like Spence.
November 17th, 2016 at 7:35 am
I really like Spence. I hope he keeps growing and becomes the beast we hope he is. It speaks volumes he is still battleing out with a bum shoulder. But speaking of pass rush and defense. What in the world has happened to LVD? For the last several years he has been in the top of the league in tackles. This year so far he is #4 on the Bucs and 74th in the league. Kwon is 12th and McDougald and Conte are tied for 54th. Kwon has almost twice as many tackles as LVD. Is his career going south already?
November 17th, 2016 at 7:38 am
Glad we got this guy now please please please BUCS do not stop stocking the shelves we need young talent on both sides of the ball
November 17th, 2016 at 7:46 am
Hey Joe Noah Spence is tied for second, currently rookie sack leader is Leonard Floyd.
November 17th, 2016 at 7:54 am
I have been quite surprised that on many plays of the last 2 games that both teams have been lining up help on NS57!!! Whether a chip block by the TE or having the RB help the O-tackle!!!! Once again with someone with speed garnering so much attention!!!!! That really frees up the other lineman and lanes to bring people from the back 7!!!!
Now stay healthy D-line so this team can compete this gauntlet of a schedule!!!
The Culture is slowly changing!!!!
November 17th, 2016 at 8:02 am
love this guy. what a concept. let him play run downs so that he can gain experience at playing the run in the nfl. thats the best way to get better i believe. wish it didnt take injuries for that to happen. keep it up spence.
November 17th, 2016 at 8:17 am
He needs help. Tough to develop DE with mentally weak fragile defensive tackles and part time DTs…
November 17th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Jury is still out, ball-out with a four/sack game, I wouldn’t care if they came in the first four KANSAS CITY positions!
November 17th, 2016 at 8:44 am
Sorry “possessions”
November 17th, 2016 at 8:51 am
Noah improving against the run is huge. Both Ayers & Gholston play the run very well, but with so many mobile QBs nowadays (Newton, Mariota, Carr, etc) every DE has to be able to seal the outside to some extent. Bucs need to add at least one more quality DE in the next draft (assuming that Jack Smith makes it back).
I’m really hoping that Bucs most recent addition to the DLine, Sealver Siliga, can make a significant impact and quickly. Our run defense up the middle has been pretty shaky this season and that’s what he’s supposed to be good at (345 lb run-stuffer who’s made 101 tackles & assists in 5 years, vast majority of those in first 3 yrs with Patriots). He’s got potential and it’d be nice to have another productive DLineman to give GMC, McDonald & Spence a few less snaps each game.
November 17th, 2016 at 8:55 am
Nice article Joe. I think he’s having a very nice season and I appreciate his effort.
I think Joe was specifically talking about defensive ends.
November 17th, 2016 at 8:55 am
He will be more than fine. Needs time and health, both of which will come. He showed a bunch to me by running at the combine with a hamstring injury from the Senior Bowl. Guys like him will really benefit from an NFL off season vs an I need to improve my draft stock off-season. He will put some muscle on in the right areas, stop worrying about running 40s and only concern himself with playing DE in the NFL.
November 17th, 2016 at 9:04 am
Whatever happen to that great pass rusher ( Da’Quan Bowers )? The player that the Great Greg Schiano chose over Michael Bennett.
November 17th, 2016 at 9:08 am
I noticed a lot of DL running to the ball now. Gholston as well as Noah, great hustle that both resulted in strip/sacks the last couple of games.
November 17th, 2016 at 9:44 am
@lakelandbuc
Dom was the one that made the choice, and he used the team doctors to ensure that his draft picks would start!!!!! dom promised Greg Schiano that DB91 was a high sac guy!!!!!
Greg Schiano the only Head Coach that started MB71 for 16 games!!!!!!!
dom (pop-star) worst GM in Buc History!!!!!!
November 17th, 2016 at 10:23 am
Sorry Buc Realist, I am surely no big fan of Dominick, but he definitely wanted to keep Benn but was outvoted by Schiano and another unknown individual.
Asked him myself when he was on NFL Sirrus.
I believe it was personal for Schiano (big surprise) because Bennett criticized the defensive calls in the loss to Washington and the rookie QB RG 3.
November 17th, 2016 at 10:27 am
@The Buc Realist
For anyone saying Mark Dominik was the worst GM in Buccaneers history obviously doesn’t remember Bruce Allen.
November 17th, 2016 at 10:38 am
Everyone should pay attention the bucks are slowly moving to a 34 defense . if you look at the d tackles they pick up they are all 330 + . I have a strange feeling they ate going to trade Gerald McCoy if the can find a way to get Sheldon Richardson . Just Dont be shocked and remember where you heard it from
November 17th, 2016 at 10:40 am
@drdneast
I have heard many different excuses and reasons why from pop-star of how MB71 got away and DB91 became a starter!!!! only to have the head coach bash him thru training camp and then replace him with a nobody as soon as the season started!!!!!!! I do not believe any of the stories that dominik has come up with, ( and the rest of the NFL as well since he has tried to get back into league front offices, but door mysteriously close on him!!!! )
I have heard from a very good source that the truth was that a certain NFL gm leaned heavily on a medical staff to fail the shoulder!!!!!!! take it for what its worth!!!!
I am so glad that the dom/lovie mess is becoming history!!!!!!!!!!!
November 17th, 2016 at 11:02 am
I believe that if Jaq. Smith hadn’t gotten hurt we would be seeing alot more hybrid schemes. Keep bringing pressure. Spence is a big key for this team going forward this year.
November 17th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
spence is exactly what we needed….GO BUCS!!