Still Puzzling
August 6th, 2018
Not his fault.
All through last year and seeing the Bucs defense torched worse than a camper shoving a hot dog directly into the middle of a flame, Joe was simply puzzled how this could be.
In Joe’s eyes the Bucs had talent to succeed.. Maybe not a top-ten defense but certainly not the worst in the NFL. Even Andy Benoit of theMMQB.com noticed the Bucs had talent.
Linebackers Kwon Alexander and especially Lavonte David are sensational run defenders. They have sideline to sideline speed but, more importantly, they play downhill, aggressively attacking blockers who try to double-team a Bucs D-lineman.
Joe doesn’t dispute what Benoit wrote but it reinforces Joe’s thoughts. The Bucs had talent at each level of the defense, including one of the top defensive tackles of his age, Gerald McCoy. It had two Pro Bowlers at linebacker. It had another Pro Bowler and perhaps a Hall of Famer in Brent Grimes in the secondary, along with a former No. 11 overall pick at corner who the year before showed promise.
And it all went to hell last year.
How? Why?
August 6th, 2018 at 5:16 am
“torched worse than a camper shoving a hot direct directly into the middle of a flame, Joe was simply puzzled “
Dooshlarue is puzzled by this.
August 6th, 2018 at 5:28 am
“it all went to hell last year.
How? Why?”
Everyone you mentioned was injured in 2017. Grimes, David, Alexander and Hargreaves all missed consecutive games with fairly significant injuries- and were also somewhat hampered by those injuries even after they returned to the line up.
Plus lack of pass rush all year long negatively effected everyone who played on that defense.
August 6th, 2018 at 5:49 am
The reason Jason Licht signed or drafted 5 D lineman, 2 corners, and a safety
was because there were missing and broken pieces of the puzzle. Kwan, Grimes and LVDl missed 4,3,3 games respectively. Robert Ayers played his customary
12 games, Both He and Gholston did not play up to expectations. The same could be said for Baker and Ward. Brand new puzzle, lets see if all the pieces fit this year.
August 6th, 2018 at 6:11 am
Swaggy was miscast as a nose tackle. Teams would doubleteam him and push him back into the secondary opening running lanes and plugging rushing lanes needed for LB’s to get to the QB.
August 6th, 2018 at 6:28 am
It was the coaching staff that so many are “totally confident” with.
August 6th, 2018 at 6:36 am
Joe missed his morning coffee.
August 6th, 2018 at 6:42 am
pickvrin every team.has injuries. What were the excuses for them?
August 6th, 2018 at 6:57 am
Ayers summed it up. Predictability. Can have the best individuals in the league but if the other team knows where you’ll be then its pitch n catch
August 6th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
All the guys you mentioned were injured for various amounts of time… so we ran even simpler basic coverages.
And on top of that, you need at least one defensive end who can bring pressure. We had none last year.
August 6th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
I still say Lavonte David is on his way out the door. We had depth, so why draft a LB two years in a row? He has lost a few steps now.
I don’t think he’ll be cut this year, but I do think next year they might move on, or soon after.
August 6th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Pickgrin Says
“Everyone you mentioned was injured in 2017.”
This is true. D@$& true!
In fact, we had 21 of 22 starters inured last year, more than any other team.
August 6th, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Bob in Valrico Says
“The reason Jason Licht signed or drafted 5 D lineman, 2 corners, and a safety
was because there were missing and broken pieces of the puzzle.”
I think you are sort of right.
I think he drafted 2 CBs because our current ones were not a sure thing, and Grimes is retiring next year probably. As it turns out, VHIII and Ryan Smith are looking much better than expected (though some of us predicted it).
Stewart might still overtake the starting spot. It’s a real competition. But Vernon is a lock for the slot.
I think he drafted a Safety in the hopes of finding a replacement for Conte by next year.
And the DLs? That;s pretty obvious, lol.
August 6th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
1. Injuries.
2. No D line
3. Forced into bad situations by America’s Turnover Machine
August 6th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
LOL – I wondered what happened to this article.
Shows up at 5 am. a few comments – then it disappears – shows back up at noon.
Scheduling snafu Joe?
August 6th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Now don’t get upset joe, but maybe you overestimate the talent on the defense!!!! For example, while you cheer gmc93 going to a pro-bowl, the Best DT in the NFC South Kawann Short has been out performing and out producing gmc!!!!!!!!
The Injuries to the top talent was devastating!!!!!! So was playing the average Highest ranked offenses in 2017!!!!!!!!!!! Throw in that only 5 other offenses turned the ball over more than the Bucs!!!!! and you have the results that you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
QUE THE EXCUSE MOB!!!!!!!!!!…..LOL…..
you wanna know why it went to hell joe,
poor coaching
lack of adjustments
lack of creativity
outdated scheme……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
no pass rush
August 6th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
Late to the fight, but Realist you nailed it!
“Now don’t get upset joe, but maybe you overestimate the talent on the defense!!! The Injuries to the top talent was devastating!!!!!! So was playing the average Highest ranked offenses in 2017!!!!!!!!!!! Throw in that only 5 other offenses turned the ball over more than the Bucs!!!!! and you have the results that you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Mediocre talent level. No depth. Excessive injuries. No pass rush. Quality of your opponents offenses. Mistakes by your own offense. But hey, it’s sooo much easier to just blame it on Scapegoat Smitty and be done with it. Good job bucboi & BucEmUp … at least you’re both consistent in your finger-pointing.