“Violent”
November 17th, 2016
No. 91, Robert Ayers, has a longtime fan.
Man, the Bucs sure lead the NFL in ironic twists.
Joe learned of a new one this morning.
Listening to defensive line coach Jay Hayes talk on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Joe nearly soiled his shorts hearing Hayes explain that he was after defensive end Robert Ayers in free agency back in 2014.
Hayes was with the Bengals then, more than 10 years into his reign leading Cincinnati’s stout D-line.
That offseason, the Bucs paid a fortune to defensive end Michael “Ghost” Johnson in free agency. Johnson abandoned the Bengals and Hayes explained he really wanted Ayers to fill the void. But Ayers signed with the Giants.
Johnson turned out to be a disgrace and a thief of Team Glazer loot. His own agent later said he didn’t want to be in Tampa and wasn’t a great pass rusher.
Meanwhile, the Bucs likely could have had Ayers two years ago for much less than what they paid Johnson.
Hayes said he knew Ayers from when he came out of college in 2009, and he explained that Ayers is a true impact teammate.
“He’s got a lot of energy and expects the guys to play hard, play fast. That’s what he does,” Hayes said. “He plays with great energy and strength and is violent. You know, for a defensive lineman, that’s what you want. He is all of that.”
It was huge to see Ayers bounce back Sunday against the Bears. Bucs defensive coaches gave him their game ball.
What would Lovie Smith’s defense have looked like with Ayers off the edge?
November 17th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
it’s a different Dline with Ayers playing on Sunday.
November 17th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Like Lovie Smiths Defense without Ayres
November 17th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
He’s too mean, violent and uses bad words. Lovie never would have had him.
November 17th, 2016 at 12:56 pm
No comment!
November 17th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Hard to say. Both came into the NFL in 2009. Throughout his career Michael Johnson has put up better numbers than Robert Ayers in just about every statistical category for defensive ends.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Awesome…now can we see that kind of performance agains a team that isn’t crappy?? Kansas will tell us more than Chicago obviously. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves (again) assuming because we show up against a team that happens to suckith more than our own that we’ve somehow fixed the ineptitude problem on Def. Yep, I agree it’s a different line when Ayers is in the Cryo instead of a helmet no doubt but like we have found relying on 1 guy to carry that line won’t get it done (GMC). Need to as that fire from everyone against good opponents as well. Hope to see that. Really do.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Ayers and McDonald make a big impact on everyone else.
What we saw last week was the entire D line and LBs playing in unison. If they can play like that again this week, we may have a chance.
O-Line will need to play better. Pamphile coming back should help.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:33 pm
I think thay Macdonald is more important than Ayers in the line. This Sunday we will really see what are they made of.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Lovies defense would have looked the same. For a cover 2 to be effective you need….. SAFTIES!
November 17th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
This is Robert Ayers 8th season in the NFL. He never had a double-digit sack season. He has 28.5 career sacks. He had a breakout season last year with 9 sacks. His best season with Denver 5.5 sacks, it’s not like he was tearing the league up.
November 17th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
1Gr8Buc Says:
He’s too mean, violent and uses bad words. Lovie never would have had him.
spot on and hilarious!
November 17th, 2016 at 2:32 pm
no, for a Cover-2 to be effective, you need a pass rush…
November 17th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
i’m no expert on d-line play, but i know there are different ways to measure production and value at the DE position. Michael Bennett also only has one double digit sack season, but i have heard very knowledgeable football people speculating on whether he is one of the league’s most valuable d linemen this side of JJ watt. Not because of sacks but because of what the rest of the defense can do because of his verstality and all around game.
November 17th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
I think Ayers is more of an impact-effect player than an impact player on his own. Meaning that he has a group effect. I don’t see Ayers taking over a game on his own.
He’s a great addition and hopefully we can get more production like the Bears game from this unit as a whole.
Too bad we forked over all that cash for “ghost”!
November 17th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo gets great hoy & hubilation when Hoe writes articles about Pablo’s favorite Buc coach, Hay Hayes. Hay can develop Haquis Smith, Howard Hones, George Hohnson and others…Hats off to Hason for bringing Hay in.”
November 17th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
pick6. Michael Bennett disrupts O-Lines and create openings for others to get to the QB. Aaron Donald is good at that also.
November 17th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
“He plays with great energy and strength and is violent. You know, for a defensive lineman, that’s what you want.”
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🤔
November 17th, 2016 at 3:13 pm
hear that GMC….mean and violent….GO BUCS!!!!
November 17th, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Bucs seem to be exceptional at taking players who have one stand-out year, throwing wads of cash at them to entice them to join the Bucs and expecting them to be consistent impact starters. Michael Johnson was one of those in 2014 (11.5 sacks in 2012) but the list goes on and on with guys like Bruce Carter in 2015 (5 INT in 2014), Alterraun Verner in 2014 (5 INTs in 2013), Dashon Goldson in 2013 (6 INT in 2011), etc, etc. All of those players (and far too many others) basically had one standout year, hit free agency, and the Bucs couldn’t stop drooling … and yet, we’ve been disappointed time after time. Robert Ayers had one big year in 2015 with the Giants (9 sacks) but was somewhat more consistent than the others for a couple years previous to that (10.5 sacks total in 2014 & 2013) and I’m really hoping that he’ll duplicate his 2015 performance. But right now he’s more on-track to duplicate his 2013 & 2014 performances (5 sacks per year average). Really hoping that Ayers can stay healthy for the rest of the year and kick some rear end. The Bucs need him desperately.
November 17th, 2016 at 4:11 pm
Defense Rules. I agree
November 17th, 2016 at 4:22 pm
I never expected double digit sacks from him, just consistent pressure and more ability than what we’ve had in the past. We can see that when the d-line is healthy and we’re able to rotate guys, they can play effectively.
I really don’t care how many sacks any 1 single guy has, as long as they’re bringing consistent pressure and affecting the quarterback as a whole.
November 17th, 2016 at 5:20 pm
Ayers is rubbing off on the rest of the team…..positive impact on changing the culture. GO BUCS
November 17th, 2016 at 8:18 pm
Would Ayres have helped Lovie? Probably not. He would swear in the locker room and Lovie Dovie would bench him. Ha! Seriously, he wouldn’t have helped that much. Maybe they win 1 more game a season. Glad they didn’t get him back then. Could have fuked up the Quest for JW. Lovie, worse than Leeman Bennett.
November 17th, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Ayers is violent, curses, and plays like he wants to stab someone in the neck..but when it comes to his two little princesses at home..totally different guy who gets dominated by the girls in his home!
Love Robert Ayers..you guys need to find my first post at his signing..I was like all over the place, happy as flock..
Even my husband is starting to have a man-crush on him..
A bad azz all the way…and we NEEDED that!!!
November 17th, 2016 at 10:10 pm
What does Lovie Smith have to do with the Bucs being below 500? Get to 500 Got..hammit! This website spends an awful lot of time assigning blame to the past. BUTT..thats the Buc way. Embossed in the Coulda/Woulda/Shoulda..wrap drive. WINNING IS ALL THAT MATTERSs. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Until you can become a consistent winner, you will always be the..consistent loser..which is what our Bucs are comfortable with. WIN!!! What wrong with the Bucs? Simple..they are not..WINNERS. Time for a Crown Royal!!.. on the rocks.