Communication At Core Of Defensive Turnaround
August 6th, 2018
Joe went 1-on-1 with Lavonte David this weekend a variety of subjects.
First, Joe want a clarification on the Twitter darts Robert Ayers has been throwing at his old team.
Thankfully, David cleared up that pustule. David also emphasized that the Bucs’ consistent success in practice this summer has been about an increase in communication that has become more instinctive for the group.
“When we got back [this season[ we sat down and agreed to make it our duty to be there for one another and do our best every time we step on the field and in holding each other accountable for everything, even little things, “David said of the defense. “Communication has been, you know, probably the main thing that’s happened inside this turnaround.”
There’s that “C” word again. It was at the center of the Bucs’ nearly worst-to-first turnaround in the middle of the 2016 season. If you remember, the Bucs were brutal through eight weeks, culminating in a clobbering by the Falcons at home. Then, magic! The defense was excellent through the second half of the season and finished with the best third-down percentage in the NFL. Players said the fix was a communication issue that was fixed by Mike Smith during the bye week.
Then came 2017, when communication broke down on defense, starting with nobody demanding that Chris “Swaggy” Baker care and others care enough.
After David referenced “turnaround” for what’s happening now, Joe asked David about that word and David backed off it in a hurry.
“We haven’t played a full game yet,” he said. “We don’t know. Let’s see a real football game and see how it goes.
Joe believes the players believe that the defense is completely revitalized, that it’s no longer the 32nd-ranked unit in the NFL as it was last year.
The test comes early — against the best offense of the past decade on opening day.
August 6th, 2018 at 8:52 am
But according to Jenna Laine this team is the exact same team as last year and wont be any good. SMH at these people who have no idea what they are talking about yet still get paid to do so. So you are telling me Will Gholston = Vinny Curry, Robert Ayers = JPP, Marpet = rotating guard every other series, two second round pick corners = a fourth round cb/safety, Beau = Swaggy, Jensen = first year center who had never played center in his life, Barber = a washup RB who had the worst YPC the year before?
August 6th, 2018 at 9:22 am
The defense has enough talent added to it that it should end up ranked in the top half of the league, lets say 14 or 15. Combine that with an offense that will again be ranked in the top 10 or 12 in the league and you have the makings for a winning season, maybe 9-7. But being in the NFC South, I don’t see us getting in the playoffs; I don’t see us getting to 10 wins (I think Carolina will crash and burn this year). The NFC is just too good for us to get a wild card. But a winning season at 9-7 would be a nice improvement over the embarrassment of last year.
August 6th, 2018 at 9:52 am
Communication has to be shared in and among the players and among the coaches as well. COACHES should’ve been the 1st to notice.
I’m with ndog on this one. Talent-wise, we are much better than last year. By default, there’s no where but up for this defense to go. We would have been an 8-8 or better team with an AVERAGE defense last year, with inferior talent! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
August 6th, 2018 at 10:04 am
I’m with NDog and My Man……”Put that in your Pipe and Smoke It”. We are better with all the new players acquired. This communication thing is great and all but MY THING is I hope Smith is able to COMMUNICATE what it is he wants and expects from this team. I’m not sold on Ole Smitty and have said before I do not believe him to be a good communicator. Needs to take his ass down to the field and out of the Crows Nest. I may be wrong but I may not!!!! GO BUCS in 18 !*!!!!! Yeah ah!!!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 10:07 am
I am so sick of all the negativity from the media around this team. If people actually did their job they would see that his team is flat our better than last year and even last year we were without LVD for several games, we were without Kwon for several games, we were without Noah Spence all year long, we had a hurt QB most of the year. Yes those things can happen again but when they happen to other teams it was just a one year thing but when it happens to us it just means we flat suck. We really need to not say anything and just come out and destroy every single team we play starting this week with the Dolphins and set the tone that we are going to dominate everyone that lines up against us.
August 6th, 2018 at 10:10 am
Just get off the field on 3rd down more often. That’s all we really need.
The defense doesn’t have to be “great” for the Buccaneers to win a bunch of games this year. Just decent. Average.
A 15th ranked Defense means we probably win 10 games.
A top 10 defense means a good chance at a deep playoff run.
Whatcha got Mike Smith?
August 6th, 2018 at 10:20 am
WHAT A CONCEPT!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 10:31 am
as long as gmc is on the field 3rd and 15 will always be a gimmie! until the mindset is changed and the leader of the losing culture is eradicated there truly is NO HOPE for a mentally tough defense that can get off the field.
August 6th, 2018 at 10:40 am
Last year when we had players that would not communicate Smitty should have benched them and played players who would. If it is that important get an intern to stand on the sidelines with a dish like the networks use to pickup sounds from the game, then send those sounds to Smitty wherever he is. If he identifies the player for not communicating jerk him off the field. Don’t go a whole season sinking your team. The biggest problem is Smitty’s failure to put his All Pro DB on the side with their best receiver and letting VHIII use press coverage on the other side. Stop playing the bend don’t break zone defense all the time. Vary your coverages, and don’t be chicken to blitz more often!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 10:48 am
The funny part is that every team in the division will play the Steelers and the Eagles. Are we the only team that according to the Brainiacs that are guaranteed to lose.
August 6th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Not the dreaded C word again.
And I agree press box Smitty should come down from his air conditioned perch and “communicate” face to face with his players. Passing a message (if he even does that) through a headset is not effective.
I bet coach Buck COMMUNICATES right down his Dline’s throat and up there Azz on gameday.
Ndog there is no way to know if we are “flat out better” in August. Could? Should?
I hope you’re right, but gotta line up and play first.
#WALKTHEWALK
August 6th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Wow…..why didn’t the coaches think of that ? Lol!!!!! What a joke.
He still didn’t really deny what AYERS said because he knows he is right. MIKE SMITH is coach my scheme 2.0. If I see 12 yard coverage on Thursday I’m shutting the t.v off
August 6th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
lol…..
whenever the defense sucks, the main culprit is always communication…..HK, IRMA and injuries are always a close second…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
BUCEM
BINGO!!!!!!!
that’s all we ever hear are excuses…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
August 6th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Ayers was a disgrace on the field. Couldnt stop the run. Got burnt on his edge often. Statue vs the QB.
I understand the guy was probably well liked by teammates but bro your game was junk.
Ayers was never a three down edge player and that is what we needed so I dont fully blame him. Sometimes players just dont fit. Chalk it up to a wiff for Licht.