Production, Not Work
September 3rd, 2019
Noah Spence reaction.
Joe gets beat up by fans when Joe dismisses coaches’ speeches that rave about a guy’s work ethic.
Work ethic is great, but at the end of the day it’s about production.
As former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said of the NFL, “It’s a production league.”
Joe likes to use an old story that Joe’s old man once told him about Hall of Fame third baseman Pepper Martin. In spring training, Martin was getting tired of workouts. Reaching his boiling point, he spouted off at his manager, “I have an old mule back on my farm. I could work the mule every day and he won’t win the Kentucky Derby.”
So with work ethic in mind and the value of work, Joe brings up the sad case of former Bucs linebacker/pass rusher Noah Spence.
(No, Joe is not comparing Spence to a mule.)
Joe already shared his sadness for Spence getting cut, but the handwriting was on the wall. And with Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians being available this afternoon for the first time since the Bucs set their roster at 53, Arians was asked about Spence being released.
“No one worked any harder,” Arians said with clear dejection on his face. “The number of snaps he was out there and the production didn’t match.”
And that is what Joe has been saying all along. Joe doesn’t give a damn how hard a guy works. Of course, a workaholic is desirable. However, at the end of the day, if a workaholic is not producing, what is the point?
Joe hopes all players are held to the same standard by Arians.
September 3rd, 2019 at 1:33 pm
I’m in Sales and as my boss is fond of saying, “Don’t confuse activity with results.”
September 3rd, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Really thought he would thrive in a 3-4 vs 4-3. I suppose Spence was just too small for a 4-3 and not quite fast enough for a 3-4. Too bad – I was really rooting for the guy.
September 3rd, 2019 at 1:45 pm
John Wooden!
September 3rd, 2019 at 1:46 pm
Bama:
That is a helluva GOOD point! Joe wrote about that over the weekend.
This defense was supposed to be tailor-made for Spence to shine and he was invisible (except in practice going against Caleb Benenoch). Man, how far off the map has Spence fallen?
September 3rd, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Don’t tell me about the pain. Show me the baby. – Bill Parcells
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Kinda surprised Spence couldn’t make it on a 3-4 scheme. He was supposed to be better than Bosa in the 3-4. Licht many 2nd round busts.
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Sorry, but work is not production.
Production *follows* work, although work in no way guarantees production. Hence, players like Spence.
It is very rare in sports where production is independent of work.
Low work ethic and effort generally precede low production.
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Spence looked good at first as an OLB against teammates, because he was coming at a different angle, but with the same moves.
It doesn’t take long for an OL to figure out the different angle, and then to counter limited moves.
I’m not sure the guy was ever the same after two shoulder tacks.
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:08 pm
He could have been a good pass rusher. I think him blowing out his shoulder in week 2 in 2017 is what shot his career.
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:08 pm
Too bad Spence didn’t have the attitude to go along with his lack of production. He might still be here….allegedly!
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:22 pm
I think by the time he was in a 3-4 he was already too beat up and not the same physically. He flashed a lot in his role year and even last year against scrubs in last year’s preseason in a 43 like hi rookie swas on he did nothing. You sont just lose all potential unless body brears down.
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:24 pm
I don’t question Spence’s attitude… he was a warrior that first year. Just question his ability to grow in his craft and outplay and out think his opponents.
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:39 pm
“Pressure makes diamonds…or busts pipes.”
Jonathan Limpchimpi attempting to break the record for most wings polished off at Abe’s
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:58 pm
had faith as hard as he worked when he left Ohio State, the work he put in just to get back on the scouts radar, then he came here and showed a little promise. What happened Spence?
September 3rd, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Holy crap this dude probably had more articles written about him then any Buccaneer not named Winston. And he never did anything to deserve any of it.
Now he’s been thrown to the curb like the scrub he was and still getting talked about. The season is almost here. I guess that’s what it will take to end it. Call me crazy but I’d rather hear about relevant players.
This dude was yesterday’s news two days ago.
September 3rd, 2019 at 3:26 pm
It’s funny we always hear about Winston’s work ethic but the production isn’t there. Maybe at the end of the season you could use the same article in regards to JW turnover machine.
September 3rd, 2019 at 3:35 pm
I had a golf coach who once told me practice does NOT make perfect.
PERFECT practice makes perfect.
September 3rd, 2019 at 4:40 pm
So many one-liners. Why, we must be in the latitudes of platitudes! Here’s mine.
Drop a 50 burger on screechy Kwon, then cut the cameras to Mr. Lynch as his new LB superstar(NOT!) over-pursues the play!
GO BUCS!!
September 3rd, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Spence was the right pick at the time. This is an example of “not all picks pan out”. The Bucs have some of these on the roster but way too many “wtf” picks that are almost pre-disposed to failure. 1-3 rounds are for starters or QB’s. 4 -5 rounds are for quality athletes with warts (injured, run in with law, attitude). Rounds 6 -7 and FA are for players that have to be developed and kickers. If the Bucs would just stick to this basic formula the franchise could get moving in the right direction. I’m still blown away that the only starters out of this year’s draft class (a year with numerous holes) is White and a kicker that could have been had in free agency. By any objective measure, this draft class is a miserable failure. You don’t draft kids early that have to be developed when you can draft starters who are ready to go.
September 3rd, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Activity did not equal productivity, or at least be close enough to get the benefit of the doubt
Another wasted 2nd rounder…it’s like a curse, hoping ROJO can break the spell
September 3rd, 2019 at 7:33 pm
TDTB have you forgotten Edwards who will be a starter this year. And Nelson is hurt but has great promise when he returns. Our Kicker was the best in the country and you best be happy we got him. Other teams don’t wait to get the top kickers off the street. The 6th round pick needs more development but he is on the Practice Squad and available if the top players get hurt. Even Lindy’s rated our class with a B plus; equal to the Saint’s class and Atlanta and Charlotte’s classes were both rated B’s and Lindy’s uses unbiased experts!
September 3rd, 2019 at 8:50 pm
If it’s production we’re after, the Dolphins just cut a guy who had 4 sacks in 4 games this preseason.
September 3rd, 2019 at 9:57 pm
Yup, I said the same thing the other day.
September 3rd, 2019 at 11:55 pm
Honestly, I was worried about the drug issues he had in college. Thought we may have drafted the next Tanard Jackson. It didn’t work out, but I’m happy for the young man staying clean.
September 4th, 2019 at 4:10 am
Jameis Winston’s on the clock. Time to produce consistently or be fired.
Nobody cares about stats, intangibles, work ethic – unless you’re a loser. The OL is not so bad that you can’t safely get rid of the ball, get the ball out quicker, or take a sack without turning the ball over.
September 4th, 2019 at 6:55 am
I never understood the infatuation with the guy. Why is he talked about 5x more than any of our other round 1,2,3 busts in the last 5 years? Just cuz he’s jacked and looks so much the part?