JPP Says He Has A Lot To Learn
August 17th, 2020
Jason Pierre-Paul broke his neck last season and had little time to learn the nuances of a 3-4 defense that was foreign to him after years in the Giants’ celebrated four-man front and whatever you call what the Bucs played in 2018.
(Once upon a time in 2018, Joe was told by someone in the know that JPP did a lot of freelancing that season and it wasn’t always appreciated by those around him, but it was tolerated because of his production through the first three-quarters of that season.)
Today, JPP talked to Joe and local media and shared that he’s still learning the linebacker position under Todd Bowles.
Joe asked linebackers coach Larry Foote to elaborate on where JPP is deficient, and Foote gave a fun and detailed answer.
“Just the dropping, just the coverage, going to play a curl-flat, a hook-curl,” Foote said.
“You know, [in] our defense we pass a lot of crosses off so he gotta learn how to do those things. Be an athlete. We know athletically he can do it, but he probably had a half a year of doing it. That’s the most probably coaching I got to do with him, is just teaching him about coverage and underneath drops. And you know I always joke with him, like, ‘One day you gotta learn this stuff. When you get your little-league team down in Miami, you gotta teach these guys these techniques.’ But he loves it. You know those guys that’s normally his whole career put his hand down [in the dirt], them guys get off when we ask them to do some DB-oriented drops.”
Joe was glad JPP brought up how new he is in the Bucs defense. Joe often overlooks that. Certainly, JPP was far more concerned with healing a broken neck than getting up to speed with Xs and Os during his spring, summer and fall recovery.
When he returned against the Titans, the Bucs sort of let him rip as an edge rusher, and then he settled more into a well-rounded role as the season wore on.
JPP might just make a significant stride this season, if he can stay healthy. How cool would it be to see JPP pick off a pass. His last pick came in 2013.
https://www.facebook.com/billcurrietampa/photos/a.428317763648/10157964851783649/
August 17th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
I love hearing about the defense. Everything’s Brady, Brady, Brady…….and for good reason. But to be honest, for me, Brady hogging all the attention is boring……….I know I’m strange, while the rest of you are goo goo gaaa gaa about Tooooo-oooooo-oooom.
To be honest when this offense takes the field. I wont even be watching Tom at first. My first look is right at RoJo…..I’ll be for sure looking to see Ronald and what I wanna see is if that first blitz gets stopped. You running in the no bisk it Offense dude…..Either pick up your blitzes or get out right now…..We arent trying to 4.2 yard our way to a TD we looking for 50!!!
Go Bucs Defense!!!
August 17th, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Wanna hear something scarry? The Saints All Pro Line gotta worry about JPP coming at em in a few weeks. Oh, right and we got a Sack King coming at em from the other edge…….Yeah dont expect too much Cam Jordan mouth this year. They a little scared up there in New Orleans.
August 17th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Bonus fact is the Saints are downright terrible on Opening Days. Ebarasssed constantly. I betcha we even got a better Game1 record then them. We ain’t got much on em but we got that.
August 17th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
This team will go as far as the defense allows.
@JimmyJack: look for play #1 against the Saints to be a swing pass to Jones.
August 17th, 2020 at 1:58 pm
On Paper, we are truly loaded on both sides of the ball this year.
Speaking of the Saints, I agree with Cobraboy that our first play might be a swing pass to ROJO.
You know the Saints will bring the heat right away against Brady, and a little swing pass can be fatal to them, in that situation.
August 17th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
Championships are usually won with great defenses a solid QB play its pretty that simple…
August 17th, 2020 at 2:52 pm
no TC and PS sucks…
would love to hear about nelson and some of the depth players…
i think teams will only go as far as their depth takes them…
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 17th, 2020 at 5:07 pm
If I am not mistaking, JPP was always a Defensive Lineman. If last year was JPP and Shaq’s first year playing a 4-3 base, then I can only imagine how much better they will be in their second year. The Bucs defense was definitely a top 10 – maybe a top 5 by season’s end.
August 17th, 2020 at 5:30 pm
i got a feeling the dirty taint’s will be more than ready, to get up and prepared for brady and the bucs opening day, they may have taken jameis winsome, a little lightly, but they are not casting shade on the goat, defense wins this one, who’s defense it is, remains to be seen, prediction bucs in a dogfight, 21-17
August 17th, 2020 at 9:37 pm
>>in 2018, Joe was told by someone in the know that JPP did a lot of freelancing that season and it wasn’t always appreciated<<
If you remember Mike Smith's defensive backfield always looking lost, running around in circles and looking at each other after every play, looking obviously confused. Then you have GMC, who JPP played next to, always shooting the gap on running downs, abandoning his responsibility and providing a beautiful running lane. It's no wonder JPP felt like the best thing was to just do what he knew. Nobody on that team was setting much of an example for playing within the system.
August 22nd, 2020 at 12:27 am
Year two of Todd Bowles’ hybrid 3-4 defense is going to be an eye opener for many Buc fans and some of the local pundits who have not yet let go of the long standing 4-3 mindset of years past.
Also, quite a few are going to be shocked to see the transformed RoJo. It will be those who can only recall the horrible rookie disappointment he was. (Hint, he took a page from Walton Payton and learned how to run up a mount as part of his new off season regimen.)
Stay tuned Buc fans!