“We’re Planning On Playing A Lot Better Than We Did The Last Time”
December 14th, 2017
Mike Smith may be the Tampa Bay version of dead coach walking, but he still has a pulse, as well as a unique opportunity before him.
NFL scheduling gurus have forced intense chess matches across the league for at least the past two seasons. The idea is for teams to play division rivals late in the year.
In the case of the Bucs, they face Atlanta on Monday night in Tampa after facing them on Thanksgiving weekend.
That means Smith intimately knows the Falcons offense the way it’s playing right now. The film is fresh (so is the humiliation). Atlanta rolled up 516 yards and converted a galling 11-of-14 on third down against the Bucs. Julio Jones notched 253 yards and two touchdowns.
So can Smith adjust with the advantage of recently seeing the Falcons? That’s exactly what he’s paid to do.
Of course, the Falcons have the advantage of knowing the Tampa Bay defense (what defense?).
“We’re planning on playing a lot better than we did the last time,” Smith said today.
Well, that’s comforting.
Smith now faces three NFC South foes in a row. If he’s any good at his job, we’ll see effective adjustments starting Monday night.
December 14th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Need to. Bucs have diarrhea defense, can’t stop the run.
December 14th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
LMAO!! Good to know he has a plan in place. When you fail to plan you plan to fail.
December 14th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
In order to close out games, You must stop somebody. You must haave stoppers and Rushers. I’ve counted 4..maybe 5 games where we could not stop last minute drives and just fell apart during the 4th qtr. 20 to 30 points is more than enough to win in this league, But you sure as hell better be able to get off the field with your D. Yes, we have been plagued by turnovers. But we’ve been more bushwacked by a lack of stopping anybody. This is not rocket science people. Its..Rucking up and Playin hard nose kick A..Defense which..we cannot/refuse to..do!!
December 14th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Unless we can limit Julio Jones’ production we don’t have a prayer. How about assigning Grimes to cover Jones one-on-one?
December 14th, 2017 at 4:32 pm
If he’s any good at his job, we’ll see effective adjustments starting Monday night.
……….
“If” is the largest two letter word in the English language.
December 14th, 2017 at 4:48 pm
birds-35 bucs-10
we come out flat….we start slow….we get blown out….simple as that….GO BUCS!!!!
December 14th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
If Smitty wants different results he better start Evans and Tandy as Safety’s to slow Julio down or it will be the same ole song and dance. I think that is an Aerosmith song!!!! LOL If not Bucs get it handed to them again!!!!
December 14th, 2017 at 5:28 pm
So, the plan is to play better.
…
…
Good plan.
December 14th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Sure.
They’re planning on playing better, but we all know they won’t.
What a joke.
December 14th, 2017 at 6:16 pm
Koetter and Smitty need the ATL game badly on Monday night. Might just save a job….
December 14th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
And why wasn’t this plan used when the Bucs played the Atl the first time, or any other game. I like Smitty, but he needs to go lay down, get some rest
December 14th, 2017 at 6:33 pm
You know MJ, I haven’t picked the Bucs to win a game in the last 5 weeks I think. Based on my premonitions and your last comment I am changing my pick to the Bucs. I think there is Merit to it. Season is over, nothing but Pride on the line for us and we usually shine at that time. I have endured with this team over 29 losing seasons in only 41 years. I have had 11 “ok’s” and one SB in my following. I am The definition of a “Die-hard” though and I will be here until I am dead. \
This is the kind of game the Bucs Win!!!
December 14th, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Maybe if we gameplan for one of the best WRs in the league we might do a little better…
December 14th, 2017 at 7:08 pm
I wonder which of his “14schemes” he will apply on Monday…
December 14th, 2017 at 7:08 pm
I don’t care what he does in these next three games because he already destroyed the season. If he cared at all about the team and the fans he would have adjusted long before now.
Bears, Cheifs, Seahawks, Chargers, Saints. Those are the five games that everyone bought into. Those five games were a mirage. Games full of opportunities caused by really bad qb play from wilson, and brees. San diego was full of injures, the bear suck. When I watched that final New Orleans game and that Dallas game where I don’t know if Dak Prescott threw more than two incompletions and Brees torched them, that was the defense we would see this season.
Worst hire and extension made. Koetter and Licht need more time…Smith needs to go.
December 14th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Bet the money line it’s a lock.
December 14th, 2017 at 8:23 pm
Coach Smith said in his presser today that the best way to try and neutralize or at least slow down Julio Jones is to match him up with some size and physicality.
This is why Ryan Smith and Justin Evans will likely be seen covering Julio more often than 5’8″ 175 lb Grimes again this week.
Don’t know if I agree with that or not – but just pointing that tidbit straight from coach Smith’s mouth out for all (myself included) who wondered “why not put Grimes one on one with Jones more plays since he’s easily our best CB?”
Hope the young uns are better prepared this week than the last time we faced the Falcons.
I do think both J. Evans and R. Smith have shown some good skills and have improved with playing time in their rookie year (this is a rookie year for Smith at CB). Definite keepers moving forward IMO.
December 14th, 2017 at 9:48 pm
Oh so now this “genius” of a coach decides how “we” should defend Julio Jones. This whole thing is ridiculous, absurd an a comedy of errors from this laughable staff. If someone ran a business the way these guys coached they’d be on the dole.
December 14th, 2017 at 10:12 pm
America Groper that’s funny!!! Lay down and get some rest!!!!! That’s some funny shat right there.
December 14th, 2017 at 10:27 pm
Smith means Julio Jones will only get 150yds. this game. That’s “better.”
December 14th, 2017 at 11:11 pm
Sad but true.
December 15th, 2017 at 6:35 am
Question is can Mike Smith adjust?
Answer……a big fat NO!
December 15th, 2017 at 7:07 am
I am more interested in how Koetter calls the offense! Is the guy going to try 3 long passes at 2nd and 2 in the red zone? Is he going to pass up a FG near halft time if down 20-6? I wonder if Koetter will show any adaptability form the poor coaching traits that probably contributed to losses in Green Bay, Buffalo, Arizona (throwing away point after AZ went up 24-0, gave the white flag ala the Jets in Denver but in the 2nd quarter, not the 4th)….. Guy is dead man walking, does he have pride or does he mail it in and we see a 37-14 beat down like TOM JONES predicts in the St Pete Times (natives of Hillsborough County like myself) do not consider that Tampa’s paper but merely the survivor of a media war which claimed Tom McEwan’s Tribune and before that the Tampa Times (AM paper for those of you too young to remember the early creamsicle years)… Yet I think Tom Jones has a fair chance of being spot on given the Bucs proclivity to bending over on National TV unless one is playing Miami or Carolina…. Tough being a Buc fan….
December 15th, 2017 at 7:19 am
I predict a huge Loss ….. you know why?
Every time we induct a new member to the Ring Of Honor we NEVER show up!!
Always an embarassing loss or poor effort to honor past Greats, Alstott, Barber, Brooks, and Lynch. Pshh.
December 15th, 2017 at 7:52 am
Maybe since Gruden is in town he can give IRK & SMITH some pointers or maybe go down on the sidelines and pull this one out for all us Buc Fans!!!
December 15th, 2017 at 10:31 am
@Joe, you stated “That means Smith intimately knows the Falcons offense the way it’s playing right now.”
and on the other hand Atlanta hasan intimate knowledge of Smith’s defensive play calling as well….hmmm.