“Whoop The Guy In Front Of You”
October 21st, 2010
The great Derrick Brooks co-hosts a weekly radio show on WDAE-AM 620 every Wednesday at 4 p.m. where No. 55 talks all things sports with Steve Duemig.
There’s always a little Bucs chatter, but it’s hardly a Bucs show.
Yesterday, Brooks was asked about the struggles of the Bucs defense stopping the run and about the defense in general. If its possible for Bucs-loving Brooks to point a finger of blame, then he did just that at the Bucs’ defensive line, specifically the pass rush.
Brooks said he sees good things on film from the defense and believes the run defense will turn around somewhat quickly, but he cautions that the overall learning curve will continue for a long time. Brooks showed frustration with the pass rush, saying that you can “overscheme” the rush and the front four need to line up and “whoop the guy in front of you.”
Brooks repeated that line multiple times, “whoop the guy in front of you.”
It may sound simple and silly, but the analysis is the core of the problem. The Bucs have stopped winning the in-your-face, man-to-man battles on the D-line.
No sacks and flimsy pressure in past three games. The Bucs are lucky to have come away with a win in that stretch.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:20 am
Missing dbl nickle, Qb Killa and Lynch right now. Not just they’re play but the lost leadership as well.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:47 am
This is where the talent gap really shows up. Guys don’t win the one-on-one battles. The rookies have a bit of an excuse, but the more seasoned players just lack talent.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:51 am
Tampa misses Derrick Brooks
October 21st, 2010 at 8:57 am
who’s directing these cats today on the field styles G is no motivator on or off the field Ryan Sims who is the field general who is going to show and prove on and off the field
October 21st, 2010 at 9:02 am
Good point A-Train! This team needs on the field leadership in the worst way. This is why I’m always getting on Ruud’s A$$!!! You can lead by example: Derrick Brooks; or you can be a vocal leader: Sapp & Lynch. These guys performed, but they also got in people’s faces if they were screwing things up for the team. No one; and I mean no one on this team wants to be the bad guy and hold players responsible for their actions or their play on the field. This is the difference between teams like the Steelers, Ravens, Patriots, and the Bucs.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:15 am
I pointed this out over @ sportsnation in a fan post, & i’m not sure how embraced it was—line ’em up white, mccoy, price, & moore, & just let ’em go. it was good enough for rice, sapp, culpepp, & chidi…
October 21st, 2010 at 9:17 am
& why in god’s name did we not bring back marinelli as d-line coach? i know he got a “promotion” to d-coordinator in chicago, but he seemed to be out on the market for a while, & he’d surely join his son-in-law…
October 21st, 2010 at 9:34 am
Lots of times we as fans hear stuff like, we don’t know what’s going on behind the scene or we don’t have all the information. this is one time we can clearly see all we need to see, there is no spark to this defense, they are never fired up on the the field they are standing around with their hands on their hips, on the sideline everybody has their head hanging down.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:45 am
christopher Says:
October 21st, 2010 at 9:17 am
& why in god’s name did we not bring back marinelli as d-line coach? i know he got a “promotion” to d-coordinator in chicago, but he seemed to be out on the market for a while, & he’d surely join his son-in-law…
================================================
Well his son-in-law, Joe Barry, is now the LB’s coach at USC. Way to have no idea what you’re talking about…
October 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am
bucfanlostiniowa,
Very well stated and I completely agree! No aggression and no sence of urgency. The D is more like a 60’s love fest then the violent; physcial team that Raheem has promised. Can anyone say Finesse!!
October 21st, 2010 at 9:50 am
I agree the Bucs have missed brooks leadership on and off the field.
At least Dungy had the smarts to leave a 9yr veteran (Hardy Nickerson), on the team to give leadership to the rookies Sapp, Brooks, etc.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:51 am
Fire Greg—I meant last year, when we had barry…what was marinelli doing? oh, & way to be an a**hole…
October 21st, 2010 at 10:00 am
Are we one of the smallest defenses in the NFL? Have we sacrificed power for speed? I’m tired of seeing guys knocked down and getting dragged down the field.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:20 am
The only team recently to have success with a straight 4 man rush is the Giants. Look at their players and wonder why. We aren’t there yet, not even close. I think they need better technique/teaching on how to rush, where, when, use of hands, leverage by a real defensive lineman with NFL experience. Wash doesn’t have that and has never been in the trenches. Sapp says the low man always wins. True, and McCoy is 6-5 and has to work harder to stay low and not fall down. They also need to work on mixing up the rush packages, zone blitzes, overloads, etc. So many good teams do this, and do it well. The Eagles have been successful at it for years. Why is Ryan Sims so fat? They should force him to eat properly and lock him up 24-7 until he gets right. Fat does not help. It is dead weight that your legs have to lug around. It decreases agility. The Bucs’ D line problem runs a whole lot deeper than “whoop the guy in front of you” but that would be an excellent place to start, and I miss Brooks too.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:46 am
This team is SOFT. Why? Because we have a Mike Tomlin wannabe coach who talks a big game but doesn’t back it up. I’ve never seen a team get pushed around like this one. We always hear Raheem blabbing about being violent. What a joke. Without Freeman & Mike Williams, this team would be 0-5. They’re winning despite their coach.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:54 am
Snook,
“Because we have a Mike Tomlin wannabe coach who talks a big game but doesn’t back it up.” Exactly! I have been thinking that same thing, since day one with Raheem! From the constant mentioning/comparing to Tomlin/Steelers in his pressers to the Sluggo signing.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:58 am
Raheem has this team ready to run through a wall for him, too bad they aren’t willing to tackle for him.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:24 am
Good one!
October 21st, 2010 at 12:48 pm
” Without Freeman & Mike Williams, this team would be 0-5. They’re winning despite their coach.”
Hey, I said pretty much the same thing the other day.
And the Tomlin-esque position is 100% accurate. When They hired Raheem, Tomlin was on his way to the Super Bowl with the Steelers. That is the reason they took a risk on Raheem. Problem is, when you listen to them both talk, Tomlin is leaps and bounds ahead of Raheem.
So the Glazers need to cut their losses with the Raheem Morris mistake. He’s NO Tomlin.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:23 pm
When Derrick speaks I listen as he is obviously watching this wretched defense or at least last weeks wretched performance. Why would Raheem try to get all fancy with rookie linemen and one of the youngest teams in the league. Raheem we need to dump the 3-3-5 and play basic football but please can we blitz???? We are ranked next to last in the league in blitz attempts which is something you do when you are not stopping the run at all. I wish Bill Cowher were here everyday.
October 21st, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Oar — Hardware went on to play three more years, if I recall, and Brooks never played again after, what, his 13th season here? Brooks was done
October 21st, 2010 at 5:01 pm
JimBuc,
So your telling me they don’t miss his leadership? Or do you really think Raheem and Dom would have kept Brooks at his 9th year(if the situation was earlier in his career)? I dont think so. I have my own theories on the components of Brooks release, but they certainly could have used his leadership and knowledge for one more year. You know that final one of his contract.
October 21st, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Brooks had to go. I’m sure his personality was missed-but he was a huge liability on the field. Actuallly he probably played a year or two longer in the league than he should have. The fact his services were not needed by a single other team in the league speaks volumes. Don’t know if he was offered a coaching position (probably would have been a great idea) but if he thought he was still a viable asset on the field it seems he would have turned it down anyway.
Yeah it could have been handled in a more classy manner I suppose–but how?