“Advanced With Our Disguises”
December 6th, 2016
Secrecy rules
The word “disguise,” when used in conjunction with the Buccaneers defense, was often about pretending to be an NFL player in recent years.
See Michael “Ghost” Johnson, Sabby The Goat, Tim “Loaf” Jennings, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and others.
Those days sure seem over.
In part, that’s because defensive coordinator Mike Smith has a new meaning for “disguise.”
As Smith promised when he was hired, his Bucs defense would be all about confusing quarterbacks. Lovie Smith, of course, was all about showing his defense’s hand, even when his secondary was barely a pair of deuces.
Last night, Mike Smith told the Buccaneers Radio Network that his defense’s trickery act has improved and thrived for several weeks.
“We’ve done a really good job with out disguises,” Smith said. “What we try to tell our guys is, ‘We don’t want to send a text message to the quarterback before the ball is snapped.’ And a lot of times with your alignment, you can do that. So we’ve really advanced over the last month, month and a half, with our disguises to the quarterback. Because most of these quarterbacks in the NFL are very cerebral. And if you tell them what you’re in, and what coverage you’re in before the snap. They’re usually going to cut you up.”
Who could argue with Smith? His pass defense is surging and locking down opponents. Allowing seven fourth-quarter points through the past four weeks is the stuff playoff dreams are made of.
December 6th, 2016 at 4:43 pm
mike smith has done a great job….he has done what he said he was going to do…improve the defense….he’s made an huge impact…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Would really like it if Smitty doesn’t leave after this year. Hopefully he doesn’t want to be a HC again or maybe Koetter and Licht and the Glazers can convince him to stay.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:01 pm
The hired the right Smith to run the defense. Glazers should make him co-head coach and pay him what it takes to stay.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:04 pm
We have came a long way in a short amount of time since this
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/08/trust-me-theyre-not-just-standing-there-in-cover-2-or-cover-3/
Go America!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
D-Rome Says
October 2nd
“The defense is unquestionably worse by just about every measure.”
Mike Johnson Says
October 2nd
“Disappointed in our D coordinator Smith? Theres a reason ATl owner Arthur Banks fired him you know. And we..picked him up behind the saviors(Koetters) recommendation. Grab some wood guys. We got a lot more losses comin our way this year.”
Tom Edrington Says
October 5th
“I can’t believe someone (Joes) actually used the word “playoff team” in a post about the Buccaneers.”
Pit Says
October 2nd
“Let’s start checking who will be our first round pick for next draft.”
thunderchunkyPA Says
October 2nd
“This team is a dumpster fire, we are the BROWNS with better uniforms.”
Tampa Tony Says
October 2nd
“Should’ve hire Schwartz and not his buddy Smith.”
Thomas Branham Says
October 2nd
“He never had a great defense in Atlanta.So he probably won’t be able to get one here. Cut him now and let the line coach take over.”
December 6th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
^ This is the downside to HOT TAKES. They don’t go away.
LOL
December 6th, 2016 at 5:27 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
December 3rd, 2016 at 7:47 am
One huge improvement that no one is talking about, Is how the back 7 when asked to blitz/rush is that they are disguising it much better. The timing has been very good as they walk up to their spot at the last second!!! Earlier in the year they were giving away the defenses when they would come up to soon!!!!
from the article
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/12/interactive-defense/
December 6th, 2016 at 5:28 pm
Having posted what the naysayers said…now let’s see what the more positive fans post. Watch the difference.
thunderchunkyPA Says
October 5th
“With this killer schedule, I was saying 7-8 wins and that would be a good improvement…they can turn things around.”
EA Says
October 5th
“Stay the course, Keep pounding the rock until it cracks, simple as that.”
DallasBuc Says
October 5th
“Expect winning… It’s not over until it’s over.”
December 6th, 2016 at 5:30 pm
How we respond in hard times determines whether we are the right kind of fans.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Well as Joe has reported in the past, Smith to the Jags seem all but certain at this point.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Lets be frank Bonzai, this defense looks light-years ahead of what we saw early on. I’m not a negative poster, mostly, but it did not look good at all.
@Realist- Agreed that they are not “showing their hand” like in earlier games.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Maybe we can fire the current head coach and hire the current “DEFENSIVE” coordinator this time for defensive continuity purposes. Na…no NFL team would ever do that…;)
December 6th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
I think the return of our starters and I give some credit to Ayers for putting some (pardon this Joe) SAPPiness back in our defense. This defense has been nothing short of beastly. I just hope we don’t lose Mike Smith to the jags or Jets
December 6th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
@Bucsfanman
I am just glad the Coach Smitty brought it up!!!! I knew I was just saying the same thing a couple of days ago!!!!!
@Buccaneer Bonzai
Good keeping tabs!!!!! We know who the “real” fans are!!!!! But don’t scare them off!!! We need to grow Buc Nation!!!! and we need pawns and foot soldiers while we generals plan the next move!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Saints will be a big test for those disguises. Drew Brees is one of the 2 or 3 headiest QBs currently playing the game, and he gets to see this defense twice within a 2 week span. if we can confuse him i don’t think the other 2 QBs we face in the regular season will be cracking the code
December 6th, 2016 at 5:52 pm
I like how Kwon Alexander slaps everyone into position right before the snap. He is usually right about where the ball is going. He was missed during that four game collapse last year.
December 6th, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Huff to active roster.
December 6th, 2016 at 6:26 pm
Since I am new at following American football. I get sometimes overwhelmed by emotions but I didn’t see any posts where mr Banzai here sais that we would have turned it around and make a run for the playoff.
Which means hindsight is 20/20. And btw I couldn’t be happier that I was wrong
December 6th, 2016 at 7:07 pm
ProFootball Talk has the Bucs at No. 9 in the latest Power Rankings. Florio writes “The Cowboys will soon find out why they want nothing to do with the Buccaneers in the playoffs.”
December 6th, 2016 at 7:09 pm
I dont think the posters that pointed out on october 2nd that this defense was worse than last year are not fans or was wrong. The fact is this defense was giving up the most big plays and was 29th in total defense. Those comments were fair and accurate at the time. Now if those same fans can not see improvement now, then you would have a case to bash them because clearly the defense has played much better these past four weeks and the numbers backed that up. Even the coaching staff said they had to make changes after the atl lost which means they saw the same thing as those fans saw on october 2nd which was a complete horror show equipped with jason vorhees, freddie krugger and chucky!!
December 6th, 2016 at 7:42 pm
@EA
I would be shocked if Jags went Smith or any defensive for that matter, Bortles and that offense is what’s killing them IMO anyway.
Smith and the d are the biggest reason for our turnaround the last month or so. Hope they can keep it up.
December 6th, 2016 at 7:50 pm
EA
I’m hearing Tom Coughlin returns to Jax. Coughlin has a couple of rings too.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
The buc realist
You trending on twitter bro. Lol, people can’t believe you said something positive. Rotfl. Check Joe’s twitter timeline.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:06 pm
The defense has been simplified enough so the players don’t have to think too much pre snap. This allows the dbs to play closer to the line of scrimmage. This has their confidence sky high allowing them to force more turnovers.
December 6th, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Well I just purchased NosBos his Noah Spence 57 Jersey. Dude is playing so well I may have to buy myself one too for Christmas.
Freakin’ GO BUCS!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Mike Smith took quite a beating earlier in the year but gotta credit him for being able to turn it around, the players look their getting comfortable in the scheme and our defense is a whole lot more advanced than Lovies.
We’ve forced 7 interceptions in the last 4 games!! Not to mention the amount of fumbles we’ve recovered.
I was on the Swartz bandwagon but the Eagles defense has looked like crap the last month, it’s starting to look we made the right choice.
December 6th, 2016 at 9:35 pm
On OCT 2nd the bucs defense was worse than last season. Not sure why you bring it up. Anyone paying attention realizes that Smitty turned around his defense and are playing significantly better than they did to start the season.
December 6th, 2016 at 9:54 pm
The difference is the players are now playing and the coaches are coaching. They found out what wasn’t working and changed it. I think WrathofKwon said it best that players are now playing. The coaches can only put them in a position to succeed they still are the ones who have to play. Coaches and players are now on the same page.
December 6th, 2016 at 10:26 pm
THIS IS GETTING REAL !!!!
WIN THIS WEEK AND WATCHOUT CITY WILL BE ON FIRE AGAIN!!
December 6th, 2016 at 10:42 pm
@Bonzai,thanks for calling out all that ignorance!Espescially The most ignorant of all Mike Johnson.All the negativity that comes from the whole area including media.I listen on iheart and i had to get rid of it for a few weeks.Even after they started winning,they were absolutely disrespecting the coaches ,players and ,def the g.m. by not giving respect to any win, until this last game. Really the locals are just now eating their crow.Luckily we have a coach with a lot of class or certain members of the negative media would be avoided like the plague.
December 6th, 2016 at 10:48 pm
I am sorry but all this talk of if Smith leaves after this season leaves me a little baffled! Lets enjoy the moment and what is happening now… Lets let those issues play out after the season! Enjoy the transformation and realize we can build on itirregardless if Smith is here or not!
December 6th, 2016 at 10:49 pm
Also I have listened to tampa sports radio when it was 820 the team.I’ve heard them all.There is one in particularly disrespectful to alot of people.The sad part about it,I dont think he even realizes what he does he is such an ignorant person..
December 7th, 2016 at 12:03 am
The dead has awakened!
December 7th, 2016 at 12:05 am
Joe y’all forgot about ya boy $acbuc$
December 7th, 2016 at 12:44 am
Yes… Coach Smith has done an admirable (if not better) job with the Defense. I must say I am not surprised (although I had my doubts). As I said before the season, this is the BEST coaching staff – from top to bottom – the Bucs have EVER had. Strength of schedule be damned, I predicted 10 wins before the season…. right now, the way they are playing, 9 or 10 wins looks pretty good. I love Dirk Koetter’s frankness and all of this in the first year of the coaching staff being together ! The biggest thing I liked (like) about the staff is the successful experience level – there are no son-in-laws, etc., Alas, I fear that, because of this experience level and the recent success of the team lately, a few of the coaches will be lured by offers from other teams after this season. Hopefully, enough of them stay and schemes don’t change that much next year. With Coach Koetter, a true franchise quarterback, and some good draft picks the future looks bright indeed. (the Aguayo pick does not look very good right now and kickers are “mental anyways) but hopefully Aguayo will turn out to be the kicker that Licht envisioned (he did against KC).
Go Bucs !
December 7th, 2016 at 12:48 am
Joe Im a go out on a limb and say I think we just match our Super Bowl Squad from 2002. Look from top to bottom BUC fans.
Father Glazer= Glazers Boys
McKay=Licht
Gruden= Koetter both Are OC’s
Kiffin=M.Smith
Marnelli=Hayes
And y’all figure out the other matchs with Tomlin, Herm Edwards etc..
Defense
Sapp, Booger = McCoy, McDonald, Spence,Hughes, Siliga
Rice, Spires= Noah, Ayers, Will, Russel, Lambert, Jack, Howard,
Brooks, Quarles= David, Kwon, D.Smith, Galton, Lynch, Bond
Barber, Kelly= Grimes, Verner, Hargreaves, Robinson, Elliot
Dexter, D.Smith= Bradley, Conte, Tandy, Ryan, Major
Offense
Brad=Winston
Alstott, Pittman= Doug, Chuck, Quizz, Barber,
Keyshawn, McCardell, Jerivicous= Evans, Vjax, Hump, Freddie, Shep, Huff
Becht etc= Cam, Myers, Cross, Stocker
Kristy, McDaniel, Cosey, Walker, etc=Hawley,Smith,Marpet,Kevin,Dot,Gos, Evan
I actually think we have better depth this year then we ever had. I don’t wanna sound blasphemus but it’s just my opinion guy and gals. Go Bucs!
December 7th, 2016 at 1:54 am
You the Man SB.
December 7th, 2016 at 7:56 am
Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:
December 6th, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Maybe we can fire the current head coach and hire the current “DEFENSIVE” coordinator this time for defensive continuity purposes. Na…no NFL team would ever do that…;)
——————————————–
You have fat for brains, fella. Haven’t seen you on here lately. Go back to where ever you came from, troll. DK is the current HC who hired MSmith. Get your facts straight. Go MIGHTY BUCS!!
December 7th, 2016 at 11:50 am
I for one have to admit that I had my doubt about Smitty’s def. But I’ll gladly admit I was wrong. This part of this season, almost feels like Nov/Dec of our super bowl year. Where everything is just starting to click at the right time. Watch out!!!
December 7th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
I forgot the glue guy The Lynch pin. I’m ashamed of myself