When A Defense Is Predictable
October 1st, 2018
Tipping point.
Q. Did you anticipate getting as much single-high as you did early? Do you think that contributed?
Bears coach Matt Nagy: They were a single-high team, yeah. They were a single-high team. They mix in some zone, do some different — they played more man there towards the end. But they have that back end that had some injuries and some young guys back there, but for the most part, that’s what we thought they were going to do.
In any level of football, the worst thing that can happen to a team is to become predictable. And if a coach thinks he has you figured out, that’s bad because if that coach has a modicum of intelligence or creativity, he can gameplan all week long to expose you.
That seems to have been the case yesterday with the Bucs defense, maybe the most embarrassing of a string of embarrassments for Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith. It was the final straw for Joe. Yesterday, Joe did the previously unheard of. Joe called for Smith’s removal as defensive coordinator.
Joe has had enough of making excuses for Smith and buying into what the team had suggested. It’s now too clear it is all nonsense. Not every team has a defense full of all-stars and they are not worse than the Bucs defense. The Bucs are not the only defense leaning heavily on rookies in the secondary yet the Bucs defense is still worst in the NFL.
It was a “horrific” display, said no less an authority than Bucs coach Dirk Koetter. Yet if someone (the Glazer family, Bucs general manager Jason Licht, Koetter himself) doesn’t move on from Smith during this bye week, Smith’s continued hex on the defense is going to get people fired, including his good friend Koetter and perhaps the entire football staff come January.
How bad has the defense been under Smith since he was hired in 2016 (sans a five-game fluke)? As Jenna Laine of ESPN reported, Smith’s defense has given up 400 or more yards 19 times in the 36 games
And Joe won’t even start about how the defense regularly gets torched in domes.
The Bucs are also on pace to set a record that has stood for 37 years: most points allowed in a season.
The current record is 533 points and the Bucs are on pace to cough up 556. And that 1981 Colts team finished 2-14. If the Bucs finish 2-14, there won’t just be a housecleaning at One Buc Palace in January, the Glazer family just might bring in a hazmat team.
The Bucs had the worst defense in the NFL last year and Smith was brought back, which was a bit of a surprise. This season? The pass defense is much worse and that’s after Licht beefed up the defensive line and spent two high draft picks on cornerbacks.
Joe is sorry, but there is nothing to suggest Smith can get this turned around. Hell, he had all offseason with better talent to find a way to improve and instead, this pass defense has imploded terribly.
Shoot, if the Bucs have to keep folks from getting their feelings hurt, give Smith a generic title of “Football Operations Coordinator,” where he still has a desk at One Buc Palace and still gets to collect his checks but has no coaching responsibilities.
Joe fears if something isn’t done this week, the season will collapse and with it will be a lot of good men’s days with the Bucs.
The way defenders talked — and didn’t talk — and how they wore their emotions on their sleeves yesterday, Joe got the sense that locker room is on the verge of unraveling.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:06 am
omg we have a divided locker room over the quarterbacks
October 1st, 2018 at 9:08 am
It has to be done. Your defense just can not get punked by Mitch Trubisky. That can not happen. I don’t care if it’s on the road, on a short week, IDGAF! Fire Mike Smith. There is zero reason to keep him. Zero. I can’t get any worse for this defense. Having Mitch Trubisky man up on you is just not forgivable.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:13 am
JW’s been back on the field less than 30 minutes and the team is in shambles.
it’s chemistry ladies. it was lost the moment he came back.
congrats joe, 87 and 55 you are all kings again. lol
October 1st, 2018 at 9:14 am
Should have been breaking news last night that he was informed on the plane back to Tampa that he would no longer be needed.
Joe there was a story over the summer about JPP or Curry talking about playing their position differently than what they have been doing their whole career before coming here. They are lining man-up over the tackle instead of the outside shoulder, bending and getting around the tackle which THEY DO BEST. Why in the name of sweet baby jesus would you take two of the more talented players on your D and ask them to do something that doesn’t involve maximising their skills?
October 1st, 2018 at 9:14 am
joe — with this in mind, you must play fitzpatrick in the dome in atlanta, and against cleveland…you must prepare only to win shootouts…every game has to be a shootout – until the defense is fixed
October 1st, 2018 at 9:15 am
I Hate to suggest this:
Maybe our offense looks so good is because they are playing our defense in practice…now, with four games into the season, opposing defenses have figured out our offense’s weakness?
October 1st, 2018 at 9:16 am
#WeMustWinEveryGameByShootout
*until smitty is gone
October 1st, 2018 at 9:17 am
And if they finish 2-14, with the new prices and fans worn out? There will be no fans left. The only fans around will be from the out of town team.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:18 am
@ Robert: STFU! The defense doing what they did now for 4 weeks in a row has nothing to do with Winston. Moron.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:22 am
Why Adam? Does this look like a team that could survive in the Playoffs? God forbid we have to play the rams, a complete team with both an offense and a defense.
Might as well ride Jamies the rest of the season and see what he can do. Unless Jason Licht can work Magic these next two weeks and find TWO Veteran corners who haven’t been exposed to this defensive coaching staff and find a replacement for Mike Smith, then this is a 7 win team at most.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:22 am
I guess the majoe story for our Sad A.. Bucs has to be the QB huh? It surely is not the Defense. I’ll say again for the zillioneth time, This team is going nowheres but straight to the bottom.You don’t fix a Defense magically overnight. And you won’t win more than a couple of shootouts in this NFL.I stick by what I said at the end of last season, If Koetter wants a couple more years on his contract, he must fire his Road-Dog Smitty. But he won’t. The Glazers are gona have to do it. My wife and I cut the TV off and halftime and went to the Movies to see Predator. She says Our Bucs IS the worst Defense in the NFl once again. She’s right!
October 1st, 2018 at 9:23 am
I have been more than patient. We have injuries, fine… We are playing a lot of young DB’s fine… BUT to be historically bad is unacceptable. I could see the defense struggle at times and there is good reason to suggest it would based on how young we are at DB BUT Trubisky is not a good QB. I thought that was Peyton Manning back there for a second… I mean I expected Trub to throw maybe 2 tds 200-300 yards. I would have complained I would be annoyed and say we need to do better but what I saw yesterday was an absolute joke. There are no excuses for that kind of performance.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:24 am
Give the fans something Glazers. Give us a sacrificial Lamb. Bring us the head of Mike Smith. Fire Smith…immediately!!
October 1st, 2018 at 9:25 am
Really Robert? The game was lost when Winston took the field? Not when the team was down 35-3 before the second half?
I don’t care if a Frankenstein QB of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers is taking the snaps. This secondary is the biggest anchor on the team and will drag them down to the bottom of Buccaneer Cove unless it gets fixed.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:25 am
If Mike Smith stays, there will be a new front office staff next year including the GM. This will undoubtedly start the rebuilding process yet again. This will strip down the talent and start again to suit the needs of the new staff. I hope your friendship with Mike Smith was worth it Mr Koetter because it just cost you your job. And the FANS are left to suffer through this again.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:27 am
Young players and rookies playing are not ultimately an excuse for the predictable scheme. How many teams in the history of football have had to start some young players due to injuries?
That was the worst NFL defensive scheme in the history of the sport possibly.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:27 am
Haven’t we been complaining about a bad secondary and no pass rush for the last 10 years?
October 1st, 2018 at 9:33 am
Smith has to go. Now Where do we buy those billboards????
October 1st, 2018 at 9:36 am
Who would take the job? Why would anyone take the job? If the last half dozen DC could not change the “D” why should anyone think that the next one will?
October 1st, 2018 at 9:36 am
He’ll have two weeks to prepare for Atlanta…Two weeks for guys to get healthy, possibly bring in some secondary help. If we stink after the bye week, he has to go. Buckner IMO is next man up and deserves a look particularly if we have to clean house this offseason.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:37 am
There’s no way to sugarcoat this! The offense has distracted us from the disaster that is this defense long enough. No way, no way should Mitchell Trubisky light us up like that!
Fix it NOW!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 9:37 am
The defense might aswell not have been on the field, thats what it felt like
October 1st, 2018 at 9:37 am
I know what caused all of this. It was the lack of energy from the backup QB I tell you, that’s what it was.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:37 am
Are there any decent defensive coordinators on the street looking for a job?Could we bring REX RYAN in?
Bring back Raheem
October 1st, 2018 at 9:38 am
No not buying it. The falcons lost a bunch of starters but they don’t change their defense from week to week. Carolina has run the same defense since riverboat Ron got there so nice try but no the scheme is trash and so is Mike Smith.You can adjust to what any offense does which is what happened on Monday night to hold them scoreless in the second half. Zero faith in this coaching staff and all that money wafted on promotions and worrying about who’s face is on the building at Ray Jay it’s all for nothing every off-season. Blow it up because they can even Wil win the the off-season at this point.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:38 am
Rayjay1122 – not to excuse Smith, the stats are what they are. However, i would argue it is difficult to present different schemes when a section of the defense, in this case the secondary, is completely depleted by injuries.
Their defensive backfield has been a revolving door with most of the personnel made up of rookies, new free agents, and 2nd year players (Evans). I would imagine trying to get these guys that have never worked together on the same page with a primary scheme is difficult. Much less, mix up different coverages and schemes.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:39 am
Notice how the Steelers only got 14 at home against a good defense? I, sadly, was at the game yesterday and TV did no justice to how wide open Bears WRs and Backs were. Watching it live, a HS QB could have made the throws. We have no innovation to get a pass rush. We do nothing to disguise or mask coverages. It’s a sh1tshow. I was embarrassed. When Koetter said the whole staff should be fired, I’d oblige him. There are coaches on the street right now who can do better with this talent on BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL! I don’t even want to hear about our great offense anymore. Where was it yesterday????? I saw vanilla yesterday on O. No innovation, no anything. There is no heart, no passion. The fans care more than the players. I guarantee you this team can be much better on both sides o the ball with a decent coaching staff.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:40 am
I think Buc Nation is so shocked right now. Its beyond disappointment. You have a chance to go 3-1 into the Bye. We expected..Lights out effort. Lights out Football. And we got..Hey guys, the security locks are off..Walk right on thru our Defense. We’s just tryin to get back to Tampa!!There is no other solution Buc fans, The Glazers have got to show us..they got a pair! Fire Smith and tell Koetter and Licht they..are on a short chain too! Buc Fans deserve more.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:41 am
Thank you 1Gr8Buc, @Robert’s comments are moronic. — It had nothing whatsoever to do with Jameis and he is going to do a great job.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:42 am
Dirk is a loser for bringing his best friend back. STart over. Licht and CVo all need to be flushed. Then Dump Mccoy and our soft, slow LB corps. The stench of Smith is all over that defense. They are ruined.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:43 am
This defense has been giving up an average of 30 points a game for 3 years under this guy. He must go.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:44 am
Dump mike now and have a new dc prepare for two weeks.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:48 am
No defense + QB controversy = Season long debacle……It’s a Bucs life
October 1st, 2018 at 9:52 am
I would love to see Mike Smith gone
BUT – who do you replace him with???
Do you promote from within????
How do you know they are not part of the problem to begin with???
Can you realistically install a new Def scheme during the season??
October 1st, 2018 at 9:54 am
the defense was turning a corner the 1st 2 games. rough start at game 3 but fought back. they have a lot of young guys……
but something changed yesterday. guesss who’s back!!!!
and the losing will continue
October 1st, 2018 at 9:55 am
But for real how bad was LVD, Kwon, McCoy and Grimes yesterday. I mean those are supposed to be four of our best players and they were all horrible in every way possible. LVD got beat in man and zone, Grimes doesn’t even appear to want to be out there, Kwon is always (ALWAYS) a step behind his man and McCoy, well we all know that story even though the rest of the world wants to tell us he’s great yet we watch his pathetic play each week. If your best players are total trash, what can you expect from the rest of your team. Are we really expecting MJ Stewart, Carlton Davis and Isaiah Johnson to lead the way to victory. JPP Showed up Curry was pretty crappy to with his jumping offsides and getting blown off the ball. Nassib put out some great effort but now much in the results column and Vea played hard got good push but when no one else is doing anything that really doesn’t help much. Again Grimes, LVD, Kwon and McCoy should be where the finger is pointing from a players perspective and of course Mike Smith from the coaches.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:57 am
I love how @ Robert trys to make this about Winston. LMFAO
Winston will be the starter going forward so move on with your pathetic life.
This is about how the defense sucks out loud PERIOD.
This is why NO ONE believed or believes NOW, the Bucs are for real.
You can’t possibly win football games with this defense.
Firing Mike Smith won’t magically make this team better either!!
This is going to take a different coach, and ALL YEAR to learn a new system.
The offensive production we have seen is a result of these offensive personnel throwing their hands up the air having had enough of it.
We have wasted Mike Evans entire time here, and if we aren’t careful, we waste OJ and Godwin’s time here too.
October 1st, 2018 at 9:59 am
You’re right Robert lets blame the backup QB for the defense being horrible, since before he was here. Do you even think about the garbage you put our there before you type it?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:00 am
Smitty should get fired but Koetter is not going to do it himself. Someone high up in the Bucs org (namely the Glazers) have to force Licht to hurt some feelings and let Koetter know that Smitty has to go! Heck reassign the sieve or leave him as a figure head if you don’t want to completely exile the guy but the point is that what this guy is calling up is predictable and is putting this team in positions where the O has to be basically perfect to win a shootout like it did in New Orleans…. Koetter already has shown his hand by spreading the accountability among everyone in saying that all should be fired to take the focus off of any one an or in this case a bad football coach who might be a nice guy but simply has overstayed his welcome as One Buc. Cmon Glazers! Man up a make a command decision, force the coaching staff and the team to realize that there is accountability with this franchise as the bye week is the perfect time to do this unless you want to do it after the team finishes 4-12 if the Bucs can win a couple more shootouts like they did in New Orleans. Thank you Fitz for giving Tampa 2 good starts as you prevented an 0-4 start! Fire Smitty!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:03 am
We need winston to pick us up and take us to the playoffs. The biggest thing Winston can contribute towards that cause is a positive Touchdown:Turnover Ratio. So far, Winston is 1:2. I don’t judge him for this last game, as he was getting back in there, but if we are going to be a contender we need our #1 overall pick to demonstrate through wins/production that they are better than Fitz.
Fitz is not playing bad.
Winston’s first pick was arguesble that he could’ve stepped up in the pocket, but also a whif by Dotson. The second pick was the kid of poor decision that pisses me off watching Jameis is in year 4. I am not upset at all for yesterday, as he gets a pass and we are 2-2 going into a bye week.
However, I expect Winston to come out firing in Atlanta in two weeks. If we see anything less than legitimate franchise quarterback play, put Fitz back in then.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:06 am
@ndog thank you for bringing this up: after a lot of initial excitement about LD and then Kwon, it’s become clear that they just aren’t very good. Our LB corps is starting to look terrible — washed out and overmatched on runs, slow in coverage, small and weak overall. They can’t get through or around blocks. If I see LD get pushed off the screen on a sweep or a screen pass again, I am gonna break the TV. Kwon makes some plays but usually way downfield, chasing his man down. No picks, no big hits, no sacks, no tackles for loss, no disruption. We knew we had a weak and young secondary, but it’s time to admit we need to upgrade the LB position as well.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:10 am
I would expect the same at QB. Fair is fair. If Jameis is failing ( depending on fault) and not getting it done then Fitz goes back in.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:10 am
We could have had Jim Schwartz!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:17 am
all of this really falls on dirks shoulders…..he’s the HC……he should’ve told his buddy last year, that his defense is trash and needs to come up with something else because what he’s been doing the last 2 going on 3years aint working…..
smitty follows dirks lead….dirk doesn’t take blame for the defense and neither does smitty….smitty always blames communication and injuries….
ive said it before and i’ll say it again…..it aint the players and talent, its the coaches and scheme!!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:21 am
Winston should get 3games to prove it just like fitz…..I think we would’ve won had Winston started….maybe that’s why the team came out flat…..they knew if fitz started the game, it would be game over by half time….and it was….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:21 am
Robert is the new go deep ,heck they may even the same person, trolls are clowns like that. But your regurgitated crap blaming winston for a defense giving up 40 is beyond stupid and right to brain dead. But oh that’s right mike Evans threw the game according to your dumb ass.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:21 am
First, it appears that Coach Smith is mailing it in and just doesn’t care. He’s totally lost his fire and competitive edge. The O line got owned yesterday. Fitz was a head case and Jameis sucked. I’d give Jameis one more game to prove he’s not a complete interception machine. If he can’t get it right, trade him before the deadline. I’d trade GMC too. He is a an average D tackle on his best days. The linebackers were bad too. Start taking offers, find some new defensive coaches and players that don’t quit or constantly get burned. This team almost overnight has turned into a complete joke. I like Jason Licht but like so many here have said, he’s wasted a ton of high draft picks. Cellar dwellers again. I’m so glad I ditched my season tickets and gave my money to the Tampa Bat Lightning. The Bucs are a ship of fools. I’ve lost confidence in all of them. Week 6 in Atlanta will be very telling, but Ridley is a monster and Julio is better than anyone this joke of a defense has seen.
Atlanta 42 – Bucs 13
October 1st, 2018 at 10:25 am
In Dorks presser yesterday he said everybody should be fired including him…
I was like “can we consider that your resignation?” and ” best play call you’ve ever made.”
Something changed this week. That defense stood around during the first series, like they really didn’t want to be there..then it continued.
Leading the division, 2-1, big game going into the bye, and they Did. Not. Want. To. Play. What causes that?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:26 am
we must stick with fitz
October 1st, 2018 at 10:27 am
Steelers want a 2 and a “good” player for Bell..
We suck at 2nd round picks and we have an 8 time pro bowler we could spare….
October 1st, 2018 at 10:27 am
protect him, have no running game….and win or lose games by shootouts…like 41-38
October 1st, 2018 at 10:29 am
we can maybe gunsling our way to a 9-7 or 10-6 season if we are lucky…then a defensive team will knock us out if we are lucky enough to get to the playoffs
October 1st, 2018 at 10:29 am
a season of shootout would be kinda fun…stick with fitz…throw 40- 45 times a game
October 1st, 2018 at 10:30 am
I agree with sticking with Fitz, but they should try to get a first round pick for Jameis so Licht can waste another one.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:31 am
The Glazers should have been smart enough and gotten rid of Smith last year. Now they have spent a boat load of money on bringing in players like JPP and Smith is not utilizing their talents correctly…….Duh get rid of the Coach and start using the talent correctly.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:31 am
otherwise with jameis we will be 6-10….he is a non cerebral qb and person…listen to his rhetoric at the podium – you can’t fix “not too smart”
October 1st, 2018 at 10:32 am
I think we keep hiring all these horrible coaches because of the way the glazers try hard to be like jerry Jones. They can’t get someone in here because they are probably hiring people they’re able to tell how to run day to day operations. What other reason is their for hiring inexperienced coaches and general managers. If Licht doesn’t or can’t make any changes then he’ll be fired along with dirk
October 1st, 2018 at 10:32 am
Are there really people out there pinning this on our QB play?! Seriously?! No, I’m asking.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:33 am
fitz has floundered with jameis closely waiting in the wings…let fitz breathe easy by anointing his starter until further notice – and he will loosen up again….fitz is looking all tight these days
October 1st, 2018 at 10:36 am
we have no defense and it can’t be fixed over night…we must win by shootout…that is the best style to play out the rest of the season – sling it like the chargers, fouts, and air coreyall…that is really the best way to go this year…and it will be fun to watch…forget the d…we don’t have a d…facts!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:36 am
It also could be that the rookies that have been drafted in the backend are rookies and maybe not that good, but jason gump had chances thru FA to grab veterans that would help but he re-signs injured grimes, who is done, another ding for yer boy licht, cut the head off the snake and the snake fades, it needs to be a red wedding in january here in tampa and take them all out, bring in ronde barber to run the team, ronde can go start doing what the browns are doing by building a solid competitive team
October 1st, 2018 at 10:38 am
Fitz has 5 turnovers in his last two games and you clowns want to stick with him? The density of some of our fans is astonishing.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:41 am
I’d straight up trade GMC for Levion Bell in a heartbeat. Licht needs to do something. Make a move. Shake things up. GMC makes big money and it’s a waste. You could literally replace every single player on this defense and your results wouldn’t be any worse than they are right now. I’d like to give the rookie defensive backs a pass but they don’t deserve it either. Is it really that hard to find talent in the draft? This is shaping up to be a complete busted draft, top to bottom. Vea was not impressive yesterday. I’m such a sucker. I truly fell for it.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:42 am
1Gr8Buc ….Robert is positively THEE dumbest poster on these boards. He doesn’t even bother me anymore.
Yesterday he suggested on NUMEROUS threads that Evans was throwing the game on purpose to get Winston back as the starter. Numerous as in like 4 separate times he was so convinced that Evans was dropping balls on purpose from Fitz.
That’s not the dumbest thing ever said on JBF though in the comments. If there’s a top 10 list he’d prolly make it 5-6 times with Godeep rounding out the rest. Florida public schools ya know.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:42 am
So who will our next GM and Head Coach be?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:46 am
Pit
“Smith has got to go. Now where do e buy those billboards.”
Go to RayJay and put it on the stadium posters.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:46 am
@Adam from NY … “we can maybe gunsling our way to a 9-7 or 10-6 season if we are lucky.” Interesting observation Adam. Personally think that 4-12 is more likely based on what I’ve seen thus far.
BigMacAttack … So reading between the lines, your solution sounds like it’s to fire all the coaches, trade all the players and start over. I like it.
@feelthepewterpower … “We could have had Jim Schwartz!” To which Jim Schwartz would undoubtedly respond “Thank God I didn’t go to Tampa!”
ndog … Good analysis. I agree with ya. Check the defensive snaps versus tackles.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:48 am
Defense Rules Says:
October 1st, 2018 at 10:46 am
@Adam from NY … “we can maybe gunsling our way to a 9-7 or 10-6 season if we are lucky.” Interesting observation Adam. Personally think that 4-12 is more likely based on what I’ve seen thus far.
BigMacAttack … So reading between the lines, your solution sounds like it’s to fire all the coaches, trade all the players and start over. I like it.
@feelthepewterpower … “We could have had Jim Schwartz!” To which Jim Schwartz would undoubtedly respond “Thank God I didn’t go to Tampa!”
ndog … Good analysis. I agree with ya. Check the defensive snaps versus tackles.
——————–
In hindsight, but I have confidence Schwartz would have never allowed this many points through four games.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:49 am
BigMacAttack Says:
“I’d straight up trade GMC for Levion Bell in a heartbeat.”
That’s where I’m at. I don’t want to hear about the rookies and this and that injury. The whole D looks lost….and some play with very little effort.
That’s what I said yesterday anyways….trade GMC away….the defense can’t get any worse.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:52 am
Has Realist showed up yet this morning?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:53 am
Has Mike Smith been left go yet? Even Dan Patrick called for him on his show this morning.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:55 am
I’ve been saying this for awhile
They fired Lovie, but they kept his defense, GM, offensive coaches
It’s basically the same team that got Lovie canned
October 1st, 2018 at 10:58 am
Im for Todd Haley as the HC he is a fwd thinking offensive mind and the ppl that say you cant be HC/OC at the same time is BS, haley has some fire that the bucs definitely need, unfortubnately dunderbox licht has no clue on building a team because he would have traded GMC and possibly LVD years ago and gotten 1st and 2nd round picks for them but he is the worst gm in the league for a reason, if the bucs could somehow get haley and greg williams as DC now that would be a coaching staff to change the environment on this franchise, it is going to take a few years but with a competetnt GM he could build a team rather quickly and actually get quality FAs that can play football in the NFL…….peyton barber was Jasons lichts solution to the run game this year and the crappy OL, CMON MAN
October 1st, 2018 at 11:03 am
FortMyersDave- great post. Dirk is a coach’s son, Smitty’s friend and a prideful, darn-stubbornly loyal man. His comments at yesterday’s presser- taking the bullet- showed you exactly where his head is at. Sure, the self-accountability is commendable, at least to a degree, but the fact remains that the D is broken. It’s broken from a lack of quality talent, injuries, rookies, overrated LBs, what-name-you. It’s broken from a lack of aggressiveness (due to some of these factors) and a weekly game plan that is about as difficult to discern as my son’s JV football team’s D. Dirk can’t admit any of this. Won’t admit it. Outright refuses to. Someone is going to have to do it for him and relieve Smitty of his play calling responsibilities or this season is going to go down in flames.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:06 am
Dusthty Rhothdes,
There were a slew of free agent Running Backs, Cornerbacks, Safeties that Licht could have signed. But no, he wanted to beef up the D-Line with run-stuffers. Now we have mediocre quarterbacks throwing 6 touchdowns against this young, inexperienced secondary. And the Bucs are luck to get 75 yards rushing a game.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:07 am
’87- Careful! Before this game I thought that there was no way the defense could be worse. I was dead a$$ wrong! It’s worse!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:21 am
lol fanman…that’s just Smitty trying to outdo himself…..
October 1st, 2018 at 11:24 am
Lets face it, we were lucky to win the first two.
We don’t have a QB problem, either of our guys can play well enough to win. But nobody can win if you have to totally light it up in record breaking fashion every week.
With no running game either.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:26 am
Additionally, I am open to the idea that Buddy Ryan, Monte Kiffin, Belichick or whatever other defensive guru you can name might not be able to improve this group.
That is possible.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:27 am
“that’s just Smitty trying to outdo himself…” LMAO!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:29 am
Buc1987 Says:
October 1st, 2018 at 10:52 am
Has Realist showed up yet this morning?
I saw him with his skirt pulled over his head this morning in front of OBP with a sign that said, “BLAME HARD KNOCKS!!!!!!!!!”…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:34 am
glazers should call BB and make him part owner and give him a lifetime contract much like what nike gave LeBron….
that way this franchise would never be such an embarrassment again…..BB would never put such a horrible product on the field…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:42 am
If the Bucs hire a new Head Coach,GM
The new regime will gut this entire coaching staff and 70% of this pathetic roster
They will have to rebuild from scratch
October 1st, 2018 at 11:43 am
I guess building from scratch is better than sticking with the same losers
October 1st, 2018 at 11:51 am
Lakeland
I don’t think you have to gut the roster…..we have the players and talent…..just not the coaches, scheme and medical staff!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:54 am
Dont let this distract you from the the fact that in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis, Bubba “Spare Tire” Dixon.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:57 am
smitty spotted in walmart on dale mabry buying a bucs sweatshirt off the clearance racks…i wonder what that means
???
October 1st, 2018 at 12:00 pm
adam from ny
Maybe Smitty want a souvenir from his 3 year paid Florida vacation
October 1st, 2018 at 12:20 pm
James Walker Says:
October 1st, 2018 at 9:27 am
Haven’t we been complaining about a bad secondary and no pass rush for the last 10 years?
YUP.
Nothing has changed.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:31 pm
Dont let this distract you that there is still a bucs gm employed that drafted a out of work kicker in round 2 probably as much of a malpractice maneuver as signing derel revis and giving up first round pick
October 1st, 2018 at 12:40 pm
The first two games masked how bad this team and defense specifically is even with all the free agent help brought in. Which leads to acknowledging this is about poor management (Licht). Bad coaching (the complete staff).
Pretty soon even the blind die hard fan will lose interest and it will cost the owners money. But the Glasers have other more important matters to attend to… Man U has lost three in a row. The Bucs will always take a back seat…
October 1st, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Give mike till the falcons game an extra week of preparation, fresh legs. Well see then but if this unit we call “ defense “ goes out there and gives a qb a record game. He should be gone by the Tuesday after
October 1st, 2018 at 1:20 pm
BigMac
re: next GM and HC…here’s an idea, start all the way to the top and give Tony Dungy whatever he wants for $$. Hire him to be President of Football Operations. Let him choose.
He assembled and maintained one of the greatest staffs ever here in 96-2001
October 1st, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Cgmaster27 Says:
October 1st, 2018 at 10:38 am
Fitz has 5 turnovers in his last two games and you clowns want to stick with him? The density of some of our fans is astonishing.
—————————————————————————————–
Everyone says that JW3 played his best ball during the last five games last season, but in those last five games the Bucs gave up 13 turnovers, with JW3 losing 5 of 7 fumbles, and he also threw 5 INTs, while the Bucs went 1-4.
And that was his BEST ball?
tickrdr
October 1st, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Seriously
How about a gofundme campaign…
Billboards. The rest we can use to stage riots.
DISCLAIMER: I am in no way endorsing or inciting riots. Not really.
At least we would be heard. Local Media lacks the desire to push the hard issues.
I got my CC ready.
October 1st, 2018 at 1:37 pm
You guys are pushing this “predictable” thing too much. Every teams defense is predictable, idiots. WRONG! Tampa-2 is a terrible example. Bucs got away with it because they flat out had the talent to beat other teams, despite everyone knowing the defense. Disguise is a critical element to most successful NFL defenses. Even Smith went out of his way when he got the job to talk about how important disguise was to his defense, especially in this division. Didn’t hear anyone calling him an idiot then. –Joe
What is cover 2 defense called? What is the common name? Starts with a T……
Oh, Tampa Two……
Yea, we ran the Tampa 2 here 90% of the time for a decade and had some of the best defenses in NFL history.
Defenses use their systems for the most part and they stay in their system for 75% of the game… you change it up with some zone if your a man team, or some man if your a zone team, or some cover 2, nickle, dime, blitzes… But EVERY team in the NFLs defense is predictable… This is defense, not offense.
Our defense is not bad because we run a single high zone most of the time… Our defense is bad because of low skill and a lack of execution.
Dont get me wrong, I think the coaches do deserve to be fired as well… I’m writing in to say being predictable on defense is not why were getting burnt. Every team in the NFL has a predictable defense…. Also, you can easily read what kind of defense the opposing team is in EASILY before every single play.
Do yall know anything about football? I mean I know you guys watch… but have you ever played? Do you know how offenses and defenses work? I mean, if youve played football this is pretty basic stuff.
You can tell literally almost immediately at the line of scrimmage what kind of defense the opposing team is in… whether its man, zone, nickle, dime, 3-4, 4-3…. super super super super super super basic stuff here.
October 1st, 2018 at 1:58 pm
The only funny thing about this game is that Bears fans think Trubisky did great!!
I would look HOF too, playing against cardboard cut-outs, some flapping in the breeze.
Tampa Bay Bucs..QB maker..again.
October 1st, 2018 at 3:07 pm
LOL…we have a PREDICTABLE defense but yet Dirk Diggler likes to play games on who the QB is going to be for the coming week, injury news, etc. to keep the other team guessing. Makes sense to me….LMAO!
October 1st, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Dirk was just as predictable on offense, yet people blamed Doug Martin. What exactly has happened since Doug left? Oh right.
Turns out when you’re completely predictable, when teams know what is coming they can do something about it.
Anywho the offense, sans Dirk, will simply overpower some teams – meanwhile the defense might put up a good defensive showing in like week 11 and then everyone will say Mike Smith has finally turned the corner…
October 1st, 2018 at 6:16 pm
Remember that Smith got a big contract extension and raise to persuade him to stay and not take a head coaching job. He had a couple of interviews. Dirk interviewed with the 49ers before he replaced Lovie, and after Raheem Morris interviewed to be the Broncos head coach, the Glazers moved quickly to fire Gruden and replace him with Raheem.
And you know who began his coaching career in Tampa? Sean McVay. He instantly turned the Rams from the worst offense to the best. Thankfully, they’re not on the schedule this year.