Matt Forte & Anthony Becht Were Surprised
October 2nd, 2018
“Is anyone listening here?”
Matt Forte played 10 NFL seasons and had more than 14,000 yards from scrimmage. Anthony Becht logged 167 games, plus nine playoff games.
They’ve seen a lot.
However, even those guys were taken back by what they saw from the Tampa Bay defense during the Windy City Wipeout on Sunday.
“That doesn’t happen much in the NFL. You might see a guy blow a coverage here and there, but there were people running free all over the field,” Forte said on the Bears postgame podcast Under Center. “That is something when you can exploit a defense like that. I don’t know what [Bears coaches] saw on tape. I think maybe [the Bucs] were in a position when Fitzpatrick was rollin’ they were a little too overconfident, or they got complacent.”
In one of the more interesting interviews Joe has heard from Becht in a while, the ex-Bucs tight end hopped on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday and basically had nothing positive to say about Tampa Bay’s performance against the Bears in a nine-minute segment.
The repetitive mistakes from the Bucs defense were eye-opening for him.
“There were communication issues. There were two guys chasing the same player. And you know what, it’s ok when that happens one time. Then you go to the sidelines and you get chewed out by your coach and you fix it,” Becht said. “Four more times it happened, all big plays, touchdowns. That was the most glaring thing for me. I have not seen anything like that. … “The fact that they were not able to fix things in-game was the most disappointing part of those blown coverages throughout.”
Becht went on to say the Bucs defensive issues are easy fixes — “literally in one day” — but players have to listen and follow through.
Young players like those in the Bucs secondary need to respond to coaches and re-focus in games, Becht said, which can be a major challenge.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:03 am
players have to listen…..
and not be distracted…..
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:09 am
If the players haven’t listened in 3 years, what makes you think they will start now?Clearly they need a new voice.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:09 am
There is no chewing out on the sidelines and no accountability when the DC is up in the box eating tacos and surfing amazon for some new deals on bedding.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:10 am
I am so sick of hearing it was a blown coverage or miscommunication, these guys can’t cover anyone. I have said over and over I blame Licht. How can you not see the most glaring need is a cornerback and we did nothing in free agency, we need a veteran corner with experience. Please don;t say grimes, he’s the best we have is not saying much. This team will never compete against elite teams with this defense.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:11 am
It’s been happening for years. Nothing is going to change. Fire the man at the top
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:11 am
FORTE..people were running free offensively all over the field.
BECHT..Defensive guys chasing the same player. They were unable to fix things in real time game situations.
REMEDY…..Fire Mike Smith and DIRK KOETTER
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:12 am
Robert is an idiot. This idiot is blaming defensive breakdowns on the qb. You are the biggest idiot
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:16 am
Still believing!
Look…we are 2-2. People are acting like we have zero chance to make the playoffs. Now, I get the haters and trolls…we could be 4-0 and they would still say we have no chance.
But true Tampa fans understand being a fan does not mean going which ever way the wind blows.
There is no reason to give up, not yet. 2-2.
We know we have the offense. Sure, people are dejected because Fitz ended up being Fitz, but it was going to happen. Faith in him was misplaced. Before the Uber thing came out, most here considered Jameis Winston to be the QB of a bright future in Tampa. Well, the Uber thing happened almost three years ago. It did not change a thing so far as Winston’s current rate of development.
So far as the defense goes, it only requires the one thing that Tampa fans seem unable to give…patience. I’m not talking about Mike Smith. I’m talking about the players. We have 4 rookies in starting roles on defense. One was in his first game overall. That’s 4 of 11 players needing some time to grow into their roles.
There had to be growing pains.
But the thing to watch for is consistent improvement from game to game for each of those guys. And once they start getting it, the entire defense will be improved.
Mike Smith’s scheme can work…it worked for Kiffin. But Kiffin had key elements and better rules to play under. Mike Smith has the elements, yes, but 4 of them need developmental time.
It takes three years to truly evaluate a player in order to determine if he is a bust. Did we really expect them to prove themselves in 1-4 games?
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:17 am
If Smith isn’t gone then I blame ownership. The have the right to make changes. If they can’t or won’t then it’s time to hire a VO of football such as Coughlin in J-Ville. Bring in Brooks or someone who will hold people accountable and knows football. I’ve worked for bad ownership of a successful business, they tend to let things go because the bottom line is still good enough instead of looking at it as $ that’s not captured by lack of change and someone truly in charge. I feel like the Glaziers have let us down more than anyone.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:18 am
I am not reading any other article regarding the Bucs unless the title says Mike Smith is fired.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:18 am
For the most part, I think Koetter is a good coach. BUT his huge failing is his stubborness. He says it will do not do any good to fire Smith this early in the season. Well Mr Koetter, your D was not that great last season. What changes did you implement this offseason with your coaching staff? Nada? Change any of the horrid secondary coaches? No? Even Buckner was a weird last second hire.
How does this team add so much decent talent to the D, and it is worse than last year?! We already had an acceptable level of talent in McCoy, David, Alexander, etc. then added JPP, Vey, Unrein, and a lot of draft stock. HOW do we end up being worse than last year?!!!!!!!!
Because our Coaches SUCK
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:19 am
I think everyone was more surprise the piss-poor performance by the high flying offense. That same offense led by the Magicman, that was on a record setting pace.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:19 am
As I said weeks ago, people would expect Vita Vea to make an impact immediately, and that just was not possible.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:20 am
More surprise by the piss-poor performance
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:22 am
calm down webster
you said that, not me.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:22 am
There’s no good reason this defense can’t be average. Typically you don’t shoot for average, but considering where it’s at right now, it would be a marked improvement.
There is talent in this team, probably not enough to be consistently very good, but more than enough that this team shouldn’t be the worst.
There doesn’t need to be wholesale changes made in the scheme mid season (off season is another story). They need to simplify things for this young secondary and rely on the veterans in the front 7. Lean on those guys to get pressure; they can do it, if not all the time; and have the secondary run man or basic zone schemes (maybe try to hide it a little during pre snap). And for goodness sake, do not rely on 4 or 5 players with less than 2 years experience all reading the same thing from the offense, because they won’t and that’s how coverages get blown in this defense.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:27 am
Yeah easy fixes for a coach that knows what the F…ck he is doing!!! Not a Fat old F..ing Geezer who looks like he would be more comfy playing shuffleboard in Sun Coty Center waiting for his CNA to change his Deepends rather than an NFL coach!!
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:29 am
Come on LakeLand. Surprised? I’m not. You guys were Hoping Smitty could turn the corner. I knew..he would and still will not. I..personally fo like the idea of a DC who is unwilling to change. No gametime adjustments, no leadership. Just..smiles and smiles to go…Do something. Get outta that pressbox and on to the field. Anything. Teams are eunning thru our Defense faster than Tsunami’s!!
Weekly. Yet Koetter says, Its fixable. OK…Well I hope us fans get a brand new fix next yr with different staffing. I’m tired of the LOSING. We should demand changes to this Sorry A.. team.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:29 am
Bonzai, totally agree and this is why you don’t fire Smith now. You have to give them a chance to correct this on the fly. Like it or not Bucs fans, this is your team and coaches for the remainder of this year.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:35 am
So everyone on Earth can see the issue except our own HC. How freakin sad it is to be a Bucs fan. Absolutely hopeless.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:42 am
Bonzai, others you guys are out of your skull as Lakeland and others have stated this team is just horribly constructed by Jason Licht to be competitive, just because Ira and the Joes dont blame licht doesnt mean it isnt true, just because someone says kwon is a great MLB doesnt make it true, tape doesnt lie, kown is average at best along with a good portion of the team. JPP, stud, but he is not inested with the buc disease. This team will be lucky to win 3 more games, this is not an aberation with this defense it has been consitent this entire year and the past 3 that he has been the DC, look up the derek carr record game here in Tampa, that is the mike smith defense, the cardinals, falcons, vikings that is the real team…..totally poorly built franchise with no identity by jason gump
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:45 am
Its not the young players who are the problem its the heartless career losers in leadership roles on defense that have been and will continue to be the problem. Until the leader of the losing culture is eradicated this franchise has zero hope. Best case for bucs is a gmc trip to IR
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:49 am
DR
When kwon was drafted I asked if he was going to play safety and I was laughed at. Teflon Kwon is no mlb.
I’m wondering if one of the reasons licht seems to do such an awful job of building this team is that good free agents may not want anything to do with the Bucs. There’s got to be some truth to that.
October 2nd, 2018 at 9:52 am
Well Koetter you got your bad arse football because horrible the worse defense this franchise had ever…congratulations you’ll never be a head coach again
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:04 am
all rookies in the secondary except a second year safety with a below average D-line, what could go wrong????? So much for the NFL GM Licht did his job!!!!!!! The Bears watched the Steelers tape and saw that bunch formations and 3 routes on one side of the field were rookies were missing assignments!!!!! The “real” fans think the secondary played like rookies!!!! The D-line played poorly with the exception of 4 pass rushes, was terrible!!!! and Kwon is having his worst year!!!!!!! The so-called fans can blame the DC and/or scheme, But they need to look at the personal!!!! at the trying to build a defense around GMC for 8 years!!!!!!!! The Bucs got worked over by two 3-4 teams that cause major confusion for the O-line!!!!!! When asking someone in the know last off-season about the Bucs redoing the Defense to a 3-4, the answer was a big no, that Some very higher ups want to jam GMC into the ring of honor!!!!! This team has some talent, But cannot be successful against injuries!!!! it is too young!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:07 am
There is enough culpability for the entire leadership here – Glazers, Licht, Koetter and Smith. Only one from that list will be a part of the team next year.
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:14 am
These are the same defensive schemes/concepts that got Smith and Koetter fired in ATL. Same personnel types; big run stoppers on D line who can’t rush the QB.
At the time of his dismissal, his concepts were viewed as outdated. That was more than five years ago!
Bottom line, he got canned then and should be canned now.
However, a new DC will be saddled with the same personnel types. Outside of JPP and Justin Evans, the cupboard is pretty bare on the D side.
Wasted an entire draft in 2016 when they wasted high picks on Hargraves, Spence, Bennenoch and a KICKER. Zero to show for any of them.
At 2-2 with ATL up next and the offense back in the incapable hands of Jameis, this season is quickly circling the drain.
My advice, take the next two weeks to mentally prepare the fanbase for no playoffs again and a total housecleaning in January.
Go Bucs!
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:16 am
year3 and the defense is still having “communication issues”…..lol…..is smitty teaching the defense in German?……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:17 am
jlbucs what is with your obsession with Smith being on the sidelines? Do you really think that would change anything?
Robert yes they were distracted by the morons in the building not teaching them anything about what they are supposed to be doing.
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:25 am
Its obvious the defense doesnt have faith in Smitty Defense. Its obvious Robert Ayers was right. Its obvious that Koetter won’t fire his BF. Its obvious most fans seen this cover nobody defense was coming(except for “Realist”) But hey, what do “real” bucs fans know about anything.
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:27 am
Smith apologists crack me up. Keep the excuse coming and never admit your wrong
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:29 am
About to start a go fund me account for a fire Mike Smith billboard
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:36 am
@ndog – It’s just the epitome of his lack of engagement and ability to coach. I am really only obsessed with him not being on any sideline. He should have never been extended after that trash defense he put out there last year. This isn’t anything new….just the same insanity that has gone on for years now.
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:36 am
This article nailed it “receivers running free all over the field”. The Keystone Kops Buc defense.
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:47 am
@realist has finally risen from the dead….lol…..
a below average dline?….ive never heard of a dline that has 4 1st rounders on it being called below average….especially when 2 of those linemen are SB champs……
you would think our coaches would watch film, create a game plan and have their players prepared just like the bears coaches…..
look at the personnel?……lol…..we just changed personnel….but the results are the same…..
and if this staff cant figure out how to beat a 34 defense, they should hire you to help pack their sh!t!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2018 at 10:57 am
DB55
I’m wondering if one of the reasons licht seems to do such an awful job of building this team is that good free agents may not want anything to do with the Bucs. There’s got to be some truth to that
I think you’re right. The last time we were in this situation was ’95. Dungy (and McKay) and a helluva scouting dept. made it cool to be a Buc. We need to call in Chip and Joanna Gaines. This is a major fixer upper now…
October 2nd, 2018 at 11:00 am
Can we please stop with the excuses already?!! Coaches and coordinators have taken teams with less talent and had more success in less time than this staff. STOP making excuses. EVERYBODY has injuries, everybody has young players and rookies.
3 consecutive years of regression with better players? No, that is 100% on coaching!
October 2nd, 2018 at 11:13 am
And this defense is operating the same. Even when we do get a lead they try to give it away. So what makes anybody think after what we have seen and the scores so far that is going to change? I don’t care if it is Jameis or Fitz the defense is going to leave them hanging out to dry.
October 2nd, 2018 at 11:25 am
bucsfanman
I agree…..
couldn’t have said it better…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2018 at 12:40 pm
The excuses are made for the offense, not the defense.
October 2nd, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Lakeland
when the offense had a rookie QB, rookie LT, rookie G and 2nd year WR we won 6games…..
not buying the whole, “you cant win with rookies in the secondary” excuse…..
and the proof is in the defense itself…..you act like last year we were ranked in the top 15 in defense…..this is the same horrible defense that had grimes, conte, tandy, ward, Robert mclain and VHG playing….we finished at the bottom of the league with 1 rookie playing j. evans…..
stop making excuses for smitty…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 2nd, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Jim Schwartz for head coach next year
October 2nd, 2018 at 1:09 pm
813bucboi
I’m not making excuses for any of them
I’m only saying that you can’t single out Smitty
Jason Licht, Dirk Koetter and the entire coaching staff should be held responsible
The offense stunk against a young Bears defense with a depleted secondary
The 2015 Bucs won 6 games with a young team starting 6 rookies
Trust me, if this team win 6 games, Licht,Koetter, Smith will be fired
October 2nd, 2018 at 1:12 pm
I believe this team has to win least 9 games to save Licht, Koetter, Smith job
All of this chatter about firing Mike Smith is pointless
They all will be fired at year end if they don’t go 7-5 during the remaining games
October 2nd, 2018 at 5:01 pm
You can expect great quarterbacks like Brady Brees Rogers or Rothlisberger and other future Hall of Famer‘s to dissect a defense like we have here.
When a quarterback comes into a game having thrown only one touchdown pass and throws five against you in the first half you have a serious mental concentration and focus problem coming right down from coaching staff with players being absolutely unprepared to take the field .
There was a huge lack of focus at Soldier Field this past Sunday and that is the job of the coaching staff to have the players prepared to play which they did not do making the screaming and hollering from fans completely justifiable.
Now it’s time for this staff to never ever walk out on the field with a game plan like that or immediately after the Game Koetter should be fired.
He has run out of foul balls the next pitch is a strikeout or a hit no more chances.
October 3rd, 2018 at 12:06 pm
It would be an easy fix. It would start with firing Mike Smith. His hire should have never been approved to begin with. There were actual good candidates out there and Koetter wanted to hire his buddy… that should have never happened.