“It’s Disgusting Watching Them Play Defense”
November 3rd, 2018
Bucs problems more than QB.
What was supposed to be a discussion on why the Bucs should wave goodbye to America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, turned into a conversation of why the Bucs are so putrid.
The quarterbacking, coaching and defense of the Bucs came under fire from former NFL pro personnel director Louis Riddick and former NFL linebacker Jonathan Vilma along with Mike Greenberg on BSPN’s “Stay in Bed,” seen weekday mornings.
Both Riddick and Vilma said the Bucs should unload Jameis. Riddick said it is as simple as he doesn’t trust Jameis and Vilma said that for the Bucs to contend in the NFC South, they need a gamewrecker at quarterback and Jameis probably will never be that type of QB.
Then the two really began to unload saying, in so many words, Superman (and/or Batman) himself couldn’t save the Bucs at quarterback because the Bucs are so miserable. Riddick said that Bit-O-Honey-scarfing Bucs coach Dirk Koetter never should have brought back former defensive coordinator Mike Smith for a third season.
“It’s disgusting watching them play defense,” Riddick said, as he railed against what he believes is a pitiful Bucs secondary and a just plain bad roster.
Added Vilma, “You can’t keep Ryan Fitzpatrick for the next three or four years.”
Riddick also noted Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has a whole lot of work in front of him fixing the roster, starting with quarterback.
You can watch the segment below.
November 3rd, 2018 at 12:09 am
Doublespeak at it’s finest. So Winston should go because he doesn’t have the “body of work” but not even Cam Newton could save this team because the defense is so horrific? Do these brick heads even compute how contradictory they sound? We cannot let this go unchecked any longer.
November 3rd, 2018 at 12:25 am
I think Fitz may have 3-4 good years if he has the players around him. It’s pretty obvious who should stay and who should go. If Licht had hit on one third of the draft picks he’s blown, this team would making statements right now. I don’t know if it’s bad luck or bad scouting, but Licht calls too many bad shots. His bad decisions cost games and cost tons of money. I think he’s a great guy but he’s not the right guy. You can’t miss on that many high round picks and be competitive. You can’t miss on that many free agent signings and be competitive. He’s the root of the problem and Koetter is a symptom. I almost think the Glazers could do a better job themselves.
November 3rd, 2018 at 12:26 am
Let’s face it guys. If we don’t want at least 3 games in November we are looking at the abyss of another regime change.
November 3rd, 2018 at 12:28 am
Ugh! It’s hard to be a Buccaneer fan.
November 3rd, 2018 at 12:29 am
BigMac…….Hold your horses on Fitzy just a bit. He’s been a very poor QB over his career when facing a passrush. That’s why he’s a backup.
Carolina looks to bring some heat so if Fitz can handle it I’ll listen. But if his gives us another stinker like Pit or Chi want no part of that 4 year plan.
November 3rd, 2018 at 1:04 am
Ya ole destin Johnny has been saying that about our lack of talent roster for sooooooo long
Can we get a new gm already
November 3rd, 2018 at 1:22 am
Again, we’d be making a huge mistake if we cut Jameis. Ride out with Fitz until he begins to falter then put Jameis back in. Dedicate the majority of our draft picks next year on fixing the defense, and bring in an experienced QB coach to fix Jameis’s mechanical issues. We’ve had 3 QBs who have started multiple years for us (Williams, Young, and Dilfer) go onto another team and win a SB, we do NOT need a 4th in Jameis.
November 3rd, 2018 at 1:32 am
What does Marshall Faulk know? DAMMIT YUCS!
November 3rd, 2018 at 3:00 am
Just a thought, but wouldn’t it be ironic that the whole time our franchise QB was 3rd string Ryan Griffin and by a fluke we put him into a game. Now that they have benched Jameis, and should Fitz gets hurt, do they bring in Griffin or go back to Jameis? Does the search truly begin?
November 3rd, 2018 at 4:13 am
we need a new gm,coaches,q.b,some players………..do we really stink that bad ?
if we do, blow it up,at least that way we might have some hope instead of this stench, that wont go away.
sorry, I blame a lot of this on Licht,he didn’t do it right this time what makes you think he can do it right with a 2nd chance.
we need a gm who can make the right choices (ie:kicker,q.b.,coaches,etc etc) for example, and not play pin the tail on the donkey, blind folded
jmo
November 3rd, 2018 at 4:15 am
@Joe … ““It’s disgusting watching them play defense,” Riddick said, as he railed against what he believes is a pitiful Bucs secondary and just plain bad Bucs roster.”
And therein lies the BOTTOM LINE to this whole misadventure: “Just plain bad Bucs’ roster”. No question IMO that this defense is bad, and it’s not JUST the Secondary (they’re mediocre rookies for the most part, what did folks expect?). But our LB corps is playing terrible football, and our DLine … despite several big names being paid big $$$ … isn’t getting the job done. Our offense, although healthy, has its own problems (mediocre OLine play, no real running game, QBs inconsistent).
Compare this Bucs’ team position group-by-position group with the Saints, Panthers or Falcons and guess what: we’re poorly constructed & we don’t stack up. THAT FALLS ONTO THE SHOULDERS OF THE GM. This is the team that Licht built. How many of us said prior to season start that we needed RB help, needed experienced CB help, needed OLine help. Virtually everyone … including you Joe. And how many screamed for the Bucs to get help over this past month or two while we got devastated by injuries. Again virtually everyone … including you Joe. And what did Licht do? NADA … ZIP, ZERO, ZILCH. This will not end well, for a lot of people. I hope the Glazer Boyz hold Jason Licht accountable for wasting a whole bunch of their money.
November 3rd, 2018 at 4:27 am
All to true but a major problem is Winston and his mediocre QB play since his last year at FSU.
November 3rd, 2018 at 4:55 am
Who cares what they say? The bottom line is this team has a top-rated offense, the best Bucs offense EVER. Cut down on turnovers, and play just a little better defense and everyone’s tune changes. If they don’t do that then we get to changes coaches – yet again – and start all over. That will make the kind of fans who ran Belichick out of Cleveland very happy.
The Bucs can still make a run at the playoffs. They haven’t given up, and they’re still fighting. Whether they do or not, I’m hanging with Koetter and Licht as long as the players do. I’m hoping the Glazers are not so emotional as those pining for more change. I believe they’ll notice the many improvements, and lack of quit in this team. If they can see that then they should stick with the plan. Patience is a virtue.
The alternative is a ticket to another round of the coaching carousel, which is an episode I’d like to miss. And one that will be talked about on ESPN as just a continuation of the Buc’s historical volatility.
November 3rd, 2018 at 5:42 am
@Buccaneer Bill … “The bottom line is this team has a top-rated offense, the best Bucs offense EVER.” Bill you’re exactly right … in terms of PASSING YARDAGE. But games aren’t won or lost on yardage; in terms of POINTS SCORED, we’re ranked #7 after 7 games. Still pretty danged good IMO … at that rate we’d score 459 points this year, more than we ever have before.
But a BUNCH of that productivity came in the first game, when we scored 48 points. Over the last 6 games we’ve scored 153 points total (a little over 25 PPG average). Pretty sizable drop-off from 48 PPG, and more in line with what we can expect the rest of the season (hopefully). That’d be scoring at a rate of 408 points this year … a far cry from 1977 when we scored a franchise-low of 103 points in 14 games.
But even scoring that many points on the season Bill, we can’t overcome a historically-bad defense … UNLESS it turns around quickly. And without an infusion of new personnel (especially in the Secondary), it’s really hard to see that happening against teams like Carolina, New Orleans & Atlanta (5 games left right there).
New Orleans tried that approach (offense scoring more than the defense surrendered) … and failed miserably (with Drew Brees as their QB no less). In 2014 they went 7-9 (scored 401 pts; gave up 424 pts). In 2015 they went 7-9 (scored 408 pts; gave up 476 pts). In 2016 they went 7-9 again (scored 469 pts; gave up 454 pts). It wasn’t until the ‘fixed’ their defense last year that they got back on a winning track (scored 448 pts; surrendered 326 pts for a 11-5 record).
Bottom line IMO is that unless an offense can at least outscore what their own defense surrenders, it’s hard to even break-even on the season.
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:14 am
And through all this discussion of the woeful defense we haven’t even touched the surface on the pour special teams play the last several years.
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:16 am
Jameis Winston has to get some blame for how this season has turned out so far, he just can’t turn the football over and he was consistently doing that. The majority of the blame though, has to go to Koetter and Licht. Koetter thought it was good idea to bring back his buddy Mike Smith as DC when there was no evidence he should have. If the Bucs were just a mediocre defense things would be different, but they’re a horrific defense. Licht can’t find a kicker for some reason and didn’t upgrade the secondary, he choose to stay with the status quo and the Bucs are basically they same team from the 2017 season. Both of these men can’t be trusted to improve the Bucs.
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:29 am
It all started with Licht’s decisions /picks along with the scouting depts recommendations.
You cant make ice cream out of stink weed….it will never work.
Blow it up.
JMO
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:48 am
With Fitz there is hope. Last week that’s when the torture stopped.
Let’s see what Duff can do with a healthier defense.
Go Bucs!!!
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:48 am
Fire the cannons at the front office and owner’s
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:48 am
Ignoring JW regression since the suspension would be foolish
He looks like a rookie still making the critical error at the worst times
Red zone pics are deadly he hands them out like candy
How ironic would it be if Monikin took over for Dirk
November 3rd, 2018 at 6:48 am
Does anyone actually believe that Winston would have beat the Saints and Eagles?
He would have sunk the season in the first 3 weeks.
November 3rd, 2018 at 7:10 am
I just did the math dnd if Ronald Jones can play just 22.65 years he will match Tom Brady’s career rushing stats. Jadon Licht rules. Ho jump in the pool buddy.
November 3rd, 2018 at 7:38 am
Everyone who is blaming the GM the coaching staff and the quarterback. Well your all right because all 3 stink and shouldn’t be with our team after this season. It’s collective awfulness and they have been awful for a long time. Same coach same Gm same result. Thanks Glazers for bringing these guys back and making us stomach a 5-12
November 3rd, 2018 at 7:42 am
Don’t forget how demoralizing it is for the defensive players when the QB turns the ball over like he is giving out trick or treat candy. Thank GOD he is finally gone.
November 3rd, 2018 at 7:51 am
Vilma: “Winston is a good quarterback” to which Greenberg replies “he was the #1 pick of the draft, with such high expectations”. Therein lies the problem, there are 10-20 “good quarterbacks” in the NFL but the NFL South has 3 great quarterbacks and 1 “good” one. As good as the Bucs are at moving the ball, once they get in the red zone and the field compresses Jameis folds under pressure, his ability to get touchdowns after driving his team up the field (the “good” Jameis) is below average. Due to a lack of vision and timing which are needed in the end zone he fails at throwing the fade routes and he also isn’t able to find the 2nd and 3rd guys unless he scrambles around and buys time.
So since the Bucs can’t develop Winston as a great quarterback they have to retool themselves, get another “good” quarterback that isn’t a turnover leader.
I think the trio of Evans/Godwin/Howard with an accurate QB can be enough over the next 5 years to have a top 10 offense (scoring too).
There aren’t many really good free agent QBs out there so play Fitzpatrick for another year or two, draft a smart QB and test Ryan Griffin when the team is playoff eliminated.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:06 am
PriMech54 Says:
“Doublespeak at it’s finest.
Do these brick heads even compute how contradictory they sound?”
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VERY well said, @PriMech54. — Well done, sir.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:18 am
BucfaninMi Says:
“”Ugh! It’s hard to be a Buccaneer fan.”
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Understandable sentiment, but I think it’s actually easy to be a Bucs fan.
It’s just hard to lose. But I don’t think we would actually trade being Bucs fans for one moment. I look forward to every Sunday, big time, whether we are good or bad.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:23 am
Why post this. Bucs fans have wanted Mike Smith fired last year. And yes we know this defense stinks. This isnt news at all. And yes we don’t trust and JW anymore. So @joes I say again why post this. Why even bother watching BSPN at all anymore? Its garbage TV other than the actual games.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:33 am
There has been an incremental improvement on defense since Duffner took over.
Much of the defenses problems are a lack of talent on that side of the ball.
this patchwork on defense is the responsibility of Jason Licht. Can’t keep wasting salary cap dollars on midtier free agents that aren’t available or talented enough to improve a defense that has been neglected for years. Attacking the ball is a more aggresive approach, but an infusion of players with that ability need to be added. I haven’t seen enough evidence that Licht can do this. One note on grimes whose play has improved recently, renting a player for one year because you have failed to build the roster properly is foolish and shortsighted IMO.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:36 am
@Defense Rules
As always, your post above is so well said and thought out.
Thanks for the wisdom.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:51 am
Someone needs to print these articles out and post them ALL over the locker room. Unfortunately, except for JPP, I doubt they would ever be read as there is absolutely NO PRIDE on this defense.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:55 am
@Bob in Valrico
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100% agree.
The major reason of Jason Licht decisions has been to help JW succeed with any cost, including here destroying what we though it was Bucs tradition, DEFENSE.
Unfortunate a lot of FSU/Bucs fans try to ignore this, and continue to blame everything and everywhere, just to cover up the BELOW AVERAGE JW skills as QB, and terrible character as a man.
November 3rd, 2018 at 8:55 am
Defense Rules right on, licht has destroyed this franchise, riddick moving up my gm board along w eric bienemy as the HC, Saban #1 then riddick gm & bienemy the HC, then grab grier and build an OL/Defense and get an RB
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:26 am
No defense can overcome three to four turnovers a game.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:49 am
I disagree that the talent is bare. Plenty of good players. In a new system alot of these guys will play much better. Excited to see what new coaches are coming in next year. I think Duffner will have these guys playing much better before the end of season. Too bad he wasnt put in charge before the season. Could be a whole different story right now.
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:52 am
Ed
Well said
Also , who said …turning the ball over on offense is no bueno. Now your below average defense is back on the field is an extreme problem. The defense is gased in early third quarter in most games. …is absolutely right.
You can’t lead the league in turnovers in half the games played
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:58 am
In regards to licht
He has definetly missed. No question.
He had to pick Jameis or Mariota that year. Bucs needed a franchise qb
Neither appears to be “that” guy or deserving of such a #1 or #2 pick. Both are average qbs.
With that said. This is the best collection of receivers and tightends we have ever had. I think most teams would want Justin Watson or auclair in their starting line ups. I mean we are 8 deep at those skill positions
Bringing in JPP was a good start to making defense better We got to go defense next 2 drafts. This team is better then people think
November 3rd, 2018 at 9:59 am
Let Fitz have 3-4 good games before saying he has 3-4 years left. If that ball he threw right to a defender hadn’t been dropped this would be a different conversation. Stop projecting Futz is decent and at worse with this offense he keeps up middle of the pack in the draft and we still won’t be in position for a new qb
November 3rd, 2018 at 10:33 am
Drafting for need vs. drafting best player available is usually not a great result. Especially when it make you reach.
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:24 am
BucBill
“They haven’t given up, and they’re still fighting.”
I neither agree nor disagree I HOPE you are correct. Today’s game will go a long way to see if our hopes come true.
The Bengal game was TWO games to me. When JW was hitting Bengal players in the numbers you could see the wind go out of our sails. Look at a couple of the Bengal int returns…players had clearly given up and simply jogged towards the Bengal.
BUT then Fitz comes in and the team seemed to regain their fire.
I’ll be watching tomorrow and I hope you’re right…I hope we haven’t given up yet….but that is clearly the danger going forward.
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:29 am
This team has talent everywhere except for the secondary, which is a dumpster fire. And RG. Winston will always be an enigma, I’m done with him. Fitz may just be the answer for the next two seasons. Let’s see. At least when Fitz walks up to the line of scrimmage I’m confident he knows what the hell to do, And the players play for him.
November 3rd, 2018 at 11:36 am
We’re a quarterback, defensive coordinator, and kicker short of making the playoffs
November 3rd, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Poor Bucs even more Belittled than those Sorry A.. Raiders! Fire Licct. fire Koetter. Bring in a new HC to evaluate Jameis next year. I think Jameis wil do well IF and WHEN..we get a running game. Koetter got him throwin like a..Somoan!! All the time. Its the caoching people. Make Tony Dungy Head of Football Operations and lets seriously start to make this franchise a winner.Koetter and Smitty never should have been hired. They failed in Atlanta.
Then We hired them. What that tell you about us?
November 3rd, 2018 at 3:24 pm
Wait… you mean the NFL’s worst defense might be more of an issue than the NFL’s best offense? But… no…. it’s Winston’s fault…. it must be…. it can’t be the defense giving up 33 points a game, nah, it’s all on Winston.
November 3rd, 2018 at 4:54 pm
I’ve read posters who want to deep six GMC…LVD…Donovan Smith…Koetter…Licht..fire Smitty, but we still have JW lovers posting
“nah, it’s all on Winston.”
NOBODY has blamed ALL of this on Winston. But the question for JW sycophants…Is the #1 pick in the entire draft responsible for ANY of it?
November 3rd, 2018 at 5:06 pm
@Rod
Winston just keeps putting the game on our defenses back. It’s pretty sad when JW is running the show our defenses time of possession is more than the offense. If not for all those turnovers we could help protect our weak defense better. But I’m sure you already knew that, you just left it out on purpose.
November 4th, 2018 at 12:19 am
jameis Winston is 17-7 when the Bucs play AVERAGE defense giving up 24 pts or less. This year most of Winston’s turnovers have come in the + side of the field. He isn’t even putting the defense in bad spots other than the returned pick 6. The Bucs defense still gave up 30 pts all any themselves. Another BELOW AVERAGE game we’ve come to expect. Until this sh*t show of a defense can get to AVERAGE this team is going nowhere. Fitzpatrick or Winston can’t save them.