Conte Excited About New Line
July 31st, 2018
Geeked.
Joe always hears how all the new defensive linemen of the Bucs will set linebackers free to roam. But what about the secondary?
It helps there too, Bucs safety and fan favorite Chris Conte told Joe after practice this morning. Yeah, Joe knows if a quarterback is rushed there is less of a window for him to get rid of the ball and complete a pass.
But there is more to it than that, Conte said.
“Rushing and coverage always works together,” Conte said. “So if the quarterback doesn’t have as much time throwing, you don’t have to cover as long and you have opportunities to make plays.”
Making plays = precious takeaways, right?
“Hopefully, those [new defensive linemen] will get up there and allow us to make plays,” Conte said.
Conte also said something Joe found interesting. He said there is a newfound accountability in the defensive meeting rooms that was lacking previously. Joe can only assume that has something to do with offsides-jumping, Lightning-trolling, belly-shirt-wearing, practice-hating, kicker-heckling, tree-grinding , non-contact-football-loving, chicken-wings-grilling, playing-time-squawking, TV-cooking-star, half-sack Swaggy Baker, though Conte never dropped his name specifically.
“I think we have a focus and have a lot of communication going on in the meeting rooms,” Conte said when Joe asked him what was different this year with the defense. “Guys [are] proving to each other they know the defense. We’re trying to get things right.”
Hhhhmmm? Communication, knowing the defense, getting things right. Sounds like the opposite of Swaggy the Slob.
July 31st, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Of course….as I’ve been saying…it has been a talent problem not a coaching problem
July 31st, 2018 at 2:11 pm
It’s so pathetic that the players had to suggest to the coaching how to get the most out of the weekly meeting room sessions. The players had to put a plan in place to hold everyone accountable. This DC SUCKS but hey….maybe he’s lucky enough to have players figure out how to fix things before he could be fired.
July 31st, 2018 at 2:13 pm
I don’t see Buckner putting up with any Swaggy type crap. That’s a big grown man with an “in-your-face” attitude. No palm tree dancing this year boyz!
July 31st, 2018 at 2:20 pm
we’ve been hearing this communication BS for going on 3years now…..is smitty teaching the defense in german?……
just say it conte….theirs nothing that can help an out dated defense…..not talent, not players, not “communication”…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 2:25 pm
bucem
I agree….the tone and accountability should start at the top by coaches and trickle down….seems like the players have to pull double duty and coach as well as play….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Not sure if that points to Swaggy, I think it points to Coach Smith (not Lovie)
July 31st, 2018 at 2:45 pm
ALL of the above^^^
Sounds a lot like things coaches are supposed to do!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 2:57 pm
What this means is not just knowing your assignments and coverages, but knowing everyone else’s assignments. Once you know that, your communication and audibles make more sense as you understand what your responsibilities are and the players around you, which should lead to less coverage break downs or gap responsibility not being properly covered, etc.
July 31st, 2018 at 3:15 pm
mojo
if players had a hard time learning their assignments, why should we feel good about players having to learn their responsibilities as well as 10 other assignments and responsibilities…..
that makes no sense….and if that’s how smitty wants to run things, why wait until 2018 to do so….why not set the tone and have players learn what everyone else has to do in 2016 when he first took over…..
seems like smitty is just wingin it…..that’s bad for business…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES…GO BUCS!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 3:23 pm
Blah Blah Blah!!! We have been hearing communication has put the defense over the top for some time!!! I think Smith does not know how to communicate with his players. That is why he sits up in the Crows Nest!! Maybe the players will Coach each other up and move up from 32nd!!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 3:30 pm
I love it when experts like BucEmUp & 813bucboi unanimously agree that Mike Smith is just a dinosaur who has no idea how to run a defense in today’s NFL. Got news bucboi … there’s nothing “outdated” about having the skilled players to rush the passer, to stop the run or shut down the pass. Like Chris Conte said, “Rushing and coverage always works together.” And Smitty’s finally got that.
Jacksonville’s defense improved dramatically in 2017, allowing only 268 pts (after allowing opponents to score 400 pts in 2016). Giving up over 8 FEWER pts/game in 2017 is quite an accomplishment IMO, even better than the Jags offense scoring 99 MORE pts in 2017 than they did in 2016 (thanks largely to the dramatic increase in turnovers created by the Jags defense). The combined improvement on BOTH sides of the ball (let’s call it COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL for kicks) allowed the Jags to go from a 3-13 record in 2016 to a 10-6 record in 2017 & win their division.
And guess what else bucboi … they did it with the SAME DC (Todd Walsh). Another dinosaur BTW. But the Jags added considerable TALENT to their defense in 2017, and it paid off handsomely … for BOTH the defense AND the offense. Bucs still have ‘holes’ in the defense (Secondary?) but we’re a LOT better off this year than we were last year. Now all they have to do is prove it, on game days.
July 31st, 2018 at 4:00 pm
@Defense Rules
The funny part is when they see good defense, they will try and say that it is all because of Buckner!!!!!!! Even though Coach Smitty grabbed Buckner off the street and has said how excited he was to learn from Coach Smitty!!!!!!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 4:28 pm
dr
first, others agreed with me and bucem…..4 of them and counting I believe….
second, the scheme is outdated because there is not 1 create element to it….its simple….and that’s what OC’s have figured out….doesn’t matter type of talent you collect, if the scheme is still simple, OC’s will simply pick you apart….
third, why even try to compare JAX defense to what we have here….your not comparing apples to apples…..the thing that your missing is that (1) they have a person at the top that knows how to win….(2) they play to the strength of their players and don’t force their scheme on players….
again, until fans like you and rhealist hold this staff accountable, you’ll always find an excuse for this staff…..luckily, the talent excuse is out the door in 2018….
this year, we’ll see if its talent or scheme….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 4:32 pm
The funny part is when they see good defense, they will try and say that it is all because of Buckner!!!!!!!
WRONG AS USUAL!!!!!!!
it will be because of licht!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
July 31st, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Joe don’t you dare talk about precious take aways since you guys still to this day ride Lovie Smiths back for always pushing them! 😎
July 31st, 2018 at 4:56 pm
@813bucboi … “this year, we’ll see if its talent or scheme.” Yes we will. And if I don’t remind you of that statement at the end of the year when the Bucs has improved dramatically, I’m sure that Realist will.
Talent counts in the NFL. That’s why guys like Mike Evans excel at their craft. No question that Mike works hard, but it’s the talent in addition to the hard work that makes him a superstar. Last year’s defense worked hard IMO (they never quit on their coaches or on each other, which tells me a lot), but they lacked talent at too many positions. Smitty & his staff actually did an admirable job trying to compensate for that (and for the multiple injuries), but this is the NFL … and talent counts.
Joe’s made a living off of selling that the Bucs’ defense is the worst in the league. I don’t happen to agree (Joe could rightfully care less BTW). How much yardage Bucs give up (or how much they gain) is irrelevant to me. POINTS ALLOWED and POINTS SCORED are the only real stats reflected in the Won-Lost column. And using that criteria, Smitty led the Bucs defense to a #15 ranking in 2016 and a #22 ranking in 2017. Don’t personally like the direction it went in, but the difference was primarily due to that 5-game win streak in 2016 … led by the defense. IF we can string together a couple of similar win streaks this year, no reason we can’t have a Top-15 defense and maybe even make the playoffs. Tough schedule, unknown injuries most likely yet to happen, and a myriad of other ‘unknowns’ but if you can’t run with the big dogs, get back on the porch.
July 31st, 2018 at 5:13 pm
@813bucboi … “it will be because of licht!!!!!!!” Interesting bucboi … I thought that you were the one talking about ACCOUNTABILITY. So if the Bucs defense does well this year, it’s because JASON LICHT improved the talent level. Why doesn’t the corollary hold true: that the Bucs defense did poorly in 2016 & 2017 because JASON LICHT stocked the defense with relatively little talent?
@813bucboi … “first, others agreed with me and bucem…..4 of them and counting I believe.” So am I to understand that if I can get 5 to agree with me, then I’ll be right and you’ll wrong? History is replete with examples of ‘the crowd’ supporting the biggest or the loudest or the most charismatic or the one who ‘tells them what they want to hear’ … and ALL of them being wrong in the final analysis.
July 31st, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Defense at :56….shack!
July 31st, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Quality players win games And Licht finally realized he had focussed on offense
and neglected the defense. Four new D lineman, 2 corners, 1 safety prove Licht
finally saw the light.
I am with DR agree with his message.
July 31st, 2018 at 8:07 pm
Realist the last time I saw good defense for a five game stretch it was a fluke..Said it was a fluke when it happened and for the rest of that seasons and al.of last season they went back to being the worst team in coverage. This is an out dated, predictable defense. In Mike Smith’s an words the goal is to try and make the wr think they are open, baiting them into thinking they are not covered when they really are. That s all they do every play and they get picked apart. No in game adjustments….HELL NO WEEK TO WEEK ADJUSTMENTS!!!
If our corners don’t move up in coverage this season they will be last in the league in coverage again.
Mike Smith is done. No.matter how many seasons he fails there will always be an excuse. At no.point will anyone who supports him ever say it’s his fault. On the flip side though if his system played the way it’s been coached over the past three seasons starts to work , then I will admit it was talent and not coaching..
However I’m willing to bet cold hard cash that as long as our dbs continue playing 12 yards back off the line there will be no.improvement
July 31st, 2018 at 9:38 pm
Agree with DR
July 31st, 2018 at 9:49 pm
Chris gonna have a big year!
July 31st, 2018 at 10:03 pm
Defense rules
The defense sucked. Period. U can’t justify being last in the league. I don’t care if it was a talent issue or a scheme…..just make a stop when it counts and then like 5 games u could of won if a play happens. 10-6. Didn’t happen didn’t get the job done. Period. Now if you like him cool but u always defending Msmith. Koetter said himself on HBO to JW that he didn’t have to carry them anymore because ” he has a great defense now!”. And damn sorry Koetter but u was wrong and far off then. Yeah it was like a 100 million dollar defense or close to with a probowler on every level. No talent my ass. Teams are doing more with less
July 31st, 2018 at 10:05 pm
Defense Rules gets it 👍
August 1st, 2018 at 1:21 am
I fail to see how Baker is at all to blame. Most of the players from last year are still in the building. Baker had a normal season considering his past stats. He had a couple decent seasons in DC but the rest are average or below. The bigger question is why this GM would give him 9 million dollars. Another question is why this coaching staff was unable to get the most out of him. It is just one excuse after another with this team.
August 1st, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Anybody got any theory on why we aren’t hearing about better LB play during our padded practices when we have greatly improved our DL which in theory should free up the LBs to make better plays? Our Offense has been able to run the ball on our Defense and we know we have great LBs but we are not hearing our LBs are shooting the gaps and blowing up our running plays. Why not?