Has Noah Spence Arrived?
January 1st, 2017
For a while there, Noah Spence was beginning to look every bit the part the Bucs thought he might play: feared pass rusher.
Joe even told Spence after the Seattle game that he just might get to 10 sacks if he wasn’t careful.
Joe must have jinxed the rookie because Spence has been pretty much a non-factor since. But there is a reason, Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith said last week. Opponents are now scared of Spence and, as a result, he is being targeted by teams to keep him away from quarterbacks.
“I believe that they’re giving more resources, they’re turning the protection at times,” Smith said of offenses now game-planning against Spence. “There’s ways to slow pass rushers down and I think that the type of month that he had in November, guys were watching the tape and going, ‘Gosh, we need to put chip help or we need to put a tight end over on that side.’ So that has happened and again, each week it’s a different dynamic.”
Just like any rookie, Spence is learning. Remember, he’s playing with a bum shoulder, too. (Perhaps that’s why the Bucs barely played him last weekend?) The NFL is all about adjustments and Spence is still learning.
He’s flashed enough to whet Joe’s appetite for sacks. And if teams are game-planning for him, Spence must be doing something right, or else teams wouldn’t waste valuable time and resources.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:05 am
He was giving a dominant Tyrin Smith fits in that dallas game. That more so than any sack convinced me we had a bad boy moving forward. SPAWN will be scary next season.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:16 am
Nice… Serious foundation being laid. We are headed in the right direction
Winston
Evans (GODZILLA)
Brate
Marpet
Pamphile
Simms
Alexander
Spence
Hargreaves
Anger
January 1st, 2017 at 8:40 am
But I thought if we had a good edge rusher to complement him McCoy would “dominate “? That was the reason given for his lack of production. Now whats the excuse?
January 1st, 2017 at 8:45 am
WhataBuc the only one I think may not stick is sims..
January 1st, 2017 at 8:59 am
Ndog: What lack of production from GMC? His statistics are as good as any DT in the NFL. He has had bad games just like anyone, but overall he has been very good.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:10 am
I still keep on thinking back as to WHY OF WHY did our previous rock star GM let Michael Bennett just walk in Free Agency?????
Could you imagine if we had Bennett and Noah Spence on each side of the line????
OMG……what a pass rush that would’ve been!…….oh well, a man can only dream so much.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:22 am
Could you imagine if we drafted Derek Barnett to put on the other side? Good grief what D line! If he falls out of the top 5, I would not mind moving up to get him. Light a fire under Koetter and Licht Coach Hayes!
January 1st, 2017 at 9:27 am
No way that will ever happen Mad Max
……..the bucs have more important holes to fill on this team than another DE / D lineman. ………
January 1st, 2017 at 9:39 am
BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE!!!!!!!! fill the holes in free agency
January 1st, 2017 at 9:54 am
Nos Bo’s
I feel ya I guess but he’s not part of the problem as far as want to goes. Again I say, skill players in free agency and draft only lineman, both sides
C’mon BUCS
Man this has been an exciting year none the less
January 1st, 2017 at 9:58 am
Wait to you see 2017 WhataBuc.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:02 am
And Scotty I agree. Stars are found in the first round. Man how we could use another on offense. Belichess been drafting at the bottom of the draft for years more but that hasn’t fallen off. Licht found Mongo in the 3rd round. I think with proper scouting another one could found there as well. Rounds 1 and 2 need to be dedicated to high impact weaponry. Atleast in my mind.
January 1st, 2017 at 10:23 am
I would be happy with a game breaker type of rb or wr. James needs weapons. The line can be built through the second/third round and free agency
January 1st, 2017 at 11:16 am
Chris he needs them in the worse way. If Dalvin’s name is not called the sound coming from the commish’s mouth better be Mike Williams.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:18 am
We are all about to watch this game in a few hours. Our lack of weapons is about to be glaring.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:18 am
Yeah Cook, Williams or Davis from WMU, Ross stunk up the field yesterday
January 1st, 2017 at 11:19 am
Williams looked fast on the crossing patterns
January 1st, 2017 at 11:43 am
Spence has had some great splash plays but his not so flashy getting driven 7 yards down field plays are also abundant.Love the upside , Love the edge skills but he’s not ready to play all three downs yet .
January 1st, 2017 at 11:52 am
I agree we need weapons, BUT #3 will never see them if continually he must run for his life… With his inaccurate A$$ lol
We need MONSTERS in the middle…
#Draftlineonly
January 1st, 2017 at 12:04 pm
What Dabuc
U people just don’t get it do u? THERE IS NO GOOD LINEMAN THIS YEAR!!!!!!!! So it has to be a weapon, unless u want to reach for a C or Roderick Johnson from FSU (3rd or 4th rounder and he STINKS)
January 1st, 2017 at 12:23 pm
GOAT they think Cook gone go fast watch how quickly the one O linemen from Bama gose.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Our O linemen Big Ben that went IR was playing really well before his injury. Its a BIG but if Sweezy’s plays next season along with emergence of Kevin Phamphile I like our Ob line situation.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:27 pm
I just don’t get it. Fameis drops back and pats the ball and pats the ball and oh wait might as well run for my d@$! life no one open down field. Our offense scares nobody.
January 1st, 2017 at 12:30 pm
This line only needs to be a run blocking unit. We are a PLAY ACTION OFFENCE!!! This team (with Sweezy) can be a GREAT run blocking unit. With this offence You RUN to SET UP the PASS!!!!
January 1st, 2017 at 12:35 pm
@ NOSBOS
I really can’t see us trading up for Cook. At least not unless he falls out of the top 15. I LOVE cook, and I’m a HUGE FSU FAN. But I think it might be better for this team to get Corey Davis in the 1st and D Onte Forman in the 2nd, with a Center in the 3rd. But I’m not a GM so IDK what’s gonna happen. Could there be some people traded from our team?
January 1st, 2017 at 12:43 pm
I don’t think he has arrived…yet. But he’s had a promising rookie year.
HE still has a lot to prove.
January 1st, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Ima check Corey Davis out GOAT.
January 1st, 2017 at 1:22 pm
Love Corey Davis! Just imagine him lined up opposite ME. Teams would fear the sh@t out of us then! He has worked his a&s off to get where he is today, so being hungry for success will not be a issue with him. Look him up his story on YouTube. He and Evans would jive well, similar backgrounds etc.
January 1st, 2017 at 1:36 pm
He doesn’t look the same, since November. He’s lining up so far away on the edge, the tackle doesn’t have to react with a sense of urgency. He has a good 5 yards to get ready for Spence, who just gets pushed 10 yards down field. Nothing to do with teams helping out on Spence.