DJax Growing As Voice Of Bucs
November 12th, 2017
Emerging leader?
A lot of folks talk about leaders. But as Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham once said, that vast majority of talk of leaders is just “rhetoric.”
But it seems a new go-to person for the Bucs is beginning to make his presence felt to young players and the team as a whole.
In his postgame remarks, winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter raved about wide receiver DeSean Jackson and what he has meant to the team in recent weeks. Koetter said this may not show up in stats but Koetter said he cannot appreciate Jackson more with his team attitude and work ethic and what he has been doing on the field, which Koetter admitted Jackson hasn’t quite yet been rewarded for.
Koetter said Jackson has become every bit the veteran receiver and worth every dime he’s been paid when the Bucs decided to sign him as a free agent.
Recently, Jackson, who doesn’t speak with the pen and mic club a whole lot, said he had never experienced in his life the losing the Bucs were going through this season. So it’s easy to understand someone on the outside would be waiting for Jackson to go mental.
Instead, Jackson has turned his frustration into results whether it is in the classroom or the workout room or in practices or on gamedays. Jackson is pushing himself so much that he’s starting to be the go-to person in the locker room, even though he’s not a captain.
Jackson has been doing his best to turn around the fortunes of the Bucs and after today’s win, Jackson asked to address the team.
Koetter wasn’t going to go into specifics about what Jackson said but Koetter was impressed with the message.
After Koetter’s press conference, Jackson was gone but Joe did talk to Peyton Barber to find out what Jackson told the team.
Barber admitted the locker room grew silent as Jackson had words of encouragement for his teammates.
To paraphrase Barber, Jackson implored the Bucs not to just sit back and enjoy this win. That it is only a step, a lonely step. That the team must put as much energy and film study and work into practice in the coming days to prepare for Miami, and maybe even more work and sweat and film study and homework.
Don’t let this stop now and don’t let the momentum fall by the wayside, Barber told Joe about what Jackson was telling his teammates.
And Barber noted Jackson had his teammates paying rapt attention. The locker room, at least for the time being, seems to be Jackson’s.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
I like how Koetter was back to his condescending tone towards the media after a garbage win as if no one is paying attention.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
DJax has a bad name with many fans. Everything I’ve read and heard is he’s a great teammate. He was going down a bad path here in Philly but thanked Andy Reid for deactivating him and sending him home early in his career…then Chip Kelly happened and he was demonized for no reason. He was a pro in Philly, a pro in DC and now a pro in Tampa. I hope his voice continues to grow.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Please shoot this over to that jackass JP Peterson in 620. He and Ron keep harpoon my on Djax for no reason.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
This is nice to hear.
I never liked this signing, his history coupled with what former teammates have said about him.
That said, he hasn’t had one of his signature meltdowns yet, even with all of the losing. Maybe the man has discovered a new part of himself that he likes. If the locker room is listening, I hope it continues.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
NJ……I haven’t been too kind about DJax on this site. My grief has nothing to do with the player, it’s the signing that bothered me.
We spent a ton of money on this guy and it didn’t fix one single problem we had on this team last year. I’ll never understand the Bucs approach to free agency when we have problems in every phase of the game except our pass attack and they spend most of their money on the pass attack.
It was the stupidest free agent decision I can recall and doesn’t surprise me when our players don’t even know what their identity is.
November 12th, 2017 at 5:53 pm
@SIO “condescending tone”? I didn’t hear that. He’s as straight a shooter as there is in his interviews. That visceral hate really taints your optics.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
“condescending tone”
I’ve never really seen it like that. It comes across like that sometimes, but I think he just hates doing daily presses, and doesn’t bother trying to hide it.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Breaking News!
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Lowly Jets
They are now 3-6
They are going to the Super Bowl
November 12th, 2017 at 6:13 pm
Maybe Winston’s rah rah act is wearing a little thin with his teammates who prefer the mature guidance of a veteran
November 12th, 2017 at 6:14 pm
Hmm makes you wonder why he had to say that. Whoever these guys are that don’t care about losing need to go, they needed to go years before Winston got here
November 12th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
@Jimmy while agree that we have multiple homes to fill, I do think he fit a need. His contract is large but manageable for a team with our cap space. The team has a young core of WR and having a vet is valuable.
I do think our management overvalues our offensive line. Donovan Smith should have been the player to change positions. He should be a guard in the NFL. Not a good run blocking but liability at pass protection left tackle.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:17 pm
Lakeland…..Unlike you some of us were glad for the win. Personally I was just glad to see a team play at a professional level today. Yeah the season still sucks we all know that……..If all you can do is rub it in then why don’t you just check out til the draft rolls around.
No reason to be a scarastic d*** to your fellow fans who are just enjoying this crumb of success.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:19 pm
At the very least we should all be grateful that our Bucs swept the city of NY.
Not happy about the season but I’ll take bragging rights all day over a yankee
November 12th, 2017 at 6:23 pm
Not buying it. I am however, happy if the team has had some more “closed doors” and comments like Dirk’s look to me to address complaints a guy like Jackson would have. So if they making nice, that’s a good start. Telling is the comment about being worth every dime. Talk like this is not usually HC’s domain unless DJax feelings are hurt. But I was glad to see him have a decent game today.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
I can see your point NJ. But I don’t think the plan was for DJax to be a huge leader, maybe I’m wrong. If it was I think they could have gotten somebody a lot less cheaper.
The thing that bothers me most about the DJax signing was that it felt like they ignored our rush attack. Our pass rush. Our secondary. Our Oline.
Seemed that the Bucs were acting like they were one piece away and DJax was the missing link. Horrible evaluation of their own team IMO
November 12th, 2017 at 6:32 pm
JimmyJack…DJax didn’t walk in here like he wanted to lead. Instead he acted like he wanted things handed to him, just wanted to get paid. Didn’t really seem to want to work in OTAs. He got some good attention in Hard Knocks, but having been to most of the pre-season team practices, he seemed a bit removed when the camera wasn’t on. As for the team, they choose team captains each year and he would have been a logical player pick for team captain. Personally, I wish he would come in here expecting to lead, and earning it.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:33 pm
Think there is video of this moment:
https://mobile.twitter.com/TBBuccaneers/status/929850839992291328
November 12th, 2017 at 6:47 pm
So they were cheering and clapping in the locker room video postgame after that horrible game today? SMDH. Koetter is so far in over his head. Now we are to believe the DJax is a team leader?? WTF. Koetter really has no clue how to be a head coach or lead a group if he thinks that guy is a leader. Hurry up Black Monday so we can get this guy out of here.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Roy…….I really think that C is more about respect then anything. Its like the case with McCoy where he gets all the blame because he wears a C. Anybody who thought that McCoy was a leader after 2-3 seasons here was fooling themselves.
It’s not McCoys job to be a leader but it is the Front Offices job to identify a need for leadership along the Dline and bring somebody in to be that guy.
Leaders are not born because their teammates vote for them. It’s just an easy cop out for McCoy haters. If the team want to keep building around a Captain who is not a leader then they get what we are left with……..One of the worst defensive front in the game today.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:55 pm
@Jimmy I understand and I don’t think he was intended to be the rah rah guy but after that Winston show last week he had to step in. I think he is here to show the young guys some tips and to serve as the speed we needed.
I totally agree the pass rush was something that needed to be improved. I think they were relying on Smith to be healthy. I also think they didn’t get the crack at some of the FA they wanted. I do think the Tapp signing over Houston is laughable.
November 12th, 2017 at 6:58 pm
Mark Dominik Draft Picks
Adrian Clayborn 5 Sacks,6 QB hits
Mark Barron 5 solo tackles, INT
Gerald McCoy 3 solo tackles, sack, 3 QB hits
Lavonte David 7 Solo tackles, 2 TFL, FF
Who said Dominik couldn’t draft
November 12th, 2017 at 6:59 pm
@jimmy the problem is they haven’t even built anything around McCoy on the d-line and he’s moving past his prime now.
He played great today. Same with McDonald, LVD, and Beckwith
November 12th, 2017 at 7:00 pm
@JimmyJack
Agree with your remarks about Lakeland. I do not understand those who love peeing on other’s parade. The hate is just to existential to slip in under the “poster’s football opinion”.
November 12th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Adrian Clayborn 5 sacks, 7 QB hits, FR
November 12th, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Well, the fools piss on me all offseason. Just a little taste of revenge, that’s all.
November 12th, 2017 at 7:04 pm
In other words…..I Told You So
November 12th, 2017 at 7:07 pm
Yeah I know unbelievable. Licht has been here too long for this to still be such a glaring weakness. He could have looked at this team when he first got here and identified it and invested into fixing it. In four years he has done nothing but turn a blind eye to the same existing problem that has actively gotten worse………..And to make matters worse he hires another D-Coordinator whose system centers on a four man rush that we don’t have.
I’ve been on the Licht bandwagon because he evaluates talent nicely in the draft but I’m jumping off now because he is proving that he doesn’t know how to build a team.
November 12th, 2017 at 7:08 pm
I spent the whole offseason saying the Bucs needed to upgrade the O-Line and D-Line. And they needed CBs, the mass here laughed and call me stupid. And I predicted a 7-9 season, they call me dumb. Who is dumb and stupid now?
November 12th, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Well Lakeland while you are exacting your revenge you are also pissing on the parade, as petty as it is, of the rest of us.
My suggestion is to not take these comments seriously. I remember being on here during preseason and quite a few fans were literally saying we would be in the Super Bowl this year………You can’t fix stupid and there’s not much a need to argue with it.
November 12th, 2017 at 7:23 pm
I know Lakeland. Most fans wanted Dalvin Cook. A lot of fans don’t care about physical football or appreciate a crushing block………They look at sports center highlights and think that’s what wins in this league.
It boggles my mind because you look at just about every team that gets into a Championship Game and it’s not the skill players that dictate the games. It’s the other way around. Takes more then one flashy runner to transform this offense.
November 12th, 2017 at 8:12 pm
I love jameis, i really do. (And im not one of those BSing MFers who prefaces his prejudice hate with “i like Jameis” so his idiocy sounds acceptable…
But thats an adult leader speech. I love it… but it shows how lacking in mature leadership this team is that someone whos been here for a few months is the one,who has to step in
November 12th, 2017 at 10:14 pm
I agree Jolly but hey if that’s what it takes- I don’t care.
If you think about it, the offensive side of the ball is especially young with the exception of demar dotson and Evan smith. So it makes sense that there was a void in veteran leadership on that side of the ball.
November 12th, 2017 at 10:35 pm
I thought for first time in a long time this team’s defense came to play and didn’t quit. Very good effort finally. There was a physical demeanor from the defense that has been missing all year.
I’m still very concerned that the coaching is bad You watch Adrian Claybourne today destroying Zac Prescott and Talib shutting down receivers and you think that why are these guys playing well when they left Tampa but couldn’t get the job done here. Our team culture is too loose and coaches don’t know how to play to the strength of its players.
November 13th, 2017 at 11:02 am
Jimmy J, It’s a meaningless win against a bottom 3 NFL team. Jets will end up with same amount of wins as Bucs ( 4-12, 5-11 or 6-10). Lakeland may have predicted before the season 7-9 which is probably giving this team to many wins. Our offense is getting worse because of a lack of NFL lineman and we are very week at quarterback. If we can beat Falcons or Saints then we have turned the corner. But that will not happen this season.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:31 pm
@Lakeland not all of us called you stupid. (Not for those reasons at least, lol)
I’ve been a proponent of drafting lineman in the early rounds for years- that’s how you build contenders. That being said I was also very high on OJ and was happy to see him fall into our laps. But d-line in the 2nd and/or 3rd rounds should have been addressed without question. I loved Noah Spence as a pass rusher, but injuries are an unpredictable b!tch.
Should have not just relied on him and Jac Smith, despite their apparent potential. I think Swaggy has been very disappointing to everyone as well, especially as the only FA d lineman that was signed.