“None Of Us Really Did Anything Good”
July 16th, 2011
He of the explosive get-off, Bennett shared a few nuggets Joe found intriguing.
First, Bennett flashed a down-to-earth perspective on the D-line. Asked what he was working on to improve this offseason, Bennett said he’s focused on all phases of his game because he needs work on everything and his teammates should be doing the same.
“Obviously, the stats that we had last year shows that none of us really did anything good,” Bennett said.
Bennett went on to say he looked forward to “when Coach Millard comes in and shows us and gives us a chance to harness our talents.” Joe looks forward to Millard working his magic, too. And, lest he not be forgotten, the other new D-line coach Grady Stretz will be in the mix.
Bennett also said he’s down to 265 pounds. Why? To be ready for “a more a fast paced, fast type of defense like the old Tampa front, so it’s not going to be big and heavy and holding up like we did last year.”
On Brian Price, Bennett was upbeat, saying he talked to Price and felt good about seeing him on the field.
Asked to name standout leaders at the Bucs minicamp in Bradenton, the man who replaced Stylez White late last season singled out E.J. Biggers and Aqib Talib.
Joe’s been a big fan of Bennett, and Tim Crowder, too. Just a couple young guys with a pile of intangibles and potential.
Got 10 minutes? Go back and read former Bucs DE Steve White’s take on Bennett. Joe guarantees it’ll fire you up.
July 16th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Whatever happened to Steve White? We used to get his very informative commentary on the Bucs and then he seemed to have disappeared. This guy is good! I hope there’s enough time for Millard and Stretz to work their magic on these young guys and all the rookies like Bowers and Clayborn.
July 16th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Joe here,
Steve’s around. You can follow him on Twitter. @sgw94
Hopefully Steve will bless Bucs fans with his gospel analysis again this season. Steve actually shared some great insight with Joe privately on Gerald McCoy earlier this week.
July 17th, 2011 at 3:51 am
I recommend following @sgw94 on twitter. If you’re impressed with his football knowledge, he’ll blow you away on twitter. He’s a really cerebral guy. You may not agree with him on everything, but he’s man enough to “type” it out with you explaining his point of view.
July 17th, 2011 at 3:54 am
Oh and I like hearing this from Bennett. I want to hear nothing but humility from this team. No one wants to give them anything. I want ’em to take IT ALL…
And there’s no better example of this than in Freeman.
July 17th, 2011 at 5:18 am
“Obviously, the stats that we had last year shows that none of us really did anything good,”
I cannot put into words how prolific this statement is. He knows it. The rest of the DL knows it. The rest of the team knows it. The rest of the league knows it. Yet, he comes out and says it with no candy coating.
This means he knows he sucked and it is still eating at him. As it should all of the DL. AWESOME!
There is going to be some unbridled fire in training camp and the preseason. I am expecting ultra competitive “no holds barred” action from this line.
I got a ish ton of new found respect for Bennett. I will be rooting for him come training camp, no doubt. GO BENNETT!!!!
July 17th, 2011 at 7:13 am
I’m not sure how this story relates to the Steve White story. White’s point was about Michael Bennett as an undertackle. From what Bennett just said, he sounds as if he will be playing very little DE this season (he weighs 265 lbs).
I have to agree with White’s analysis, however. An undertackle doesn’t have to make plays in order to do his job, he needs to be disruptive, get penetration, and ruin the flow of the play which allows other players to make plays. If an UT is truly doing his job then it will keep offenses from being comfortable with passing from the short sets (3 and 5 steps) but perhaps even more importantly, it will keep QBs from stepping up in the pocket and allow the edge rushers to come around wide and into their arc. This is what made the tandem of Rice and Sapp so effective, one player made the QB want to step up (Rice) and the other kept him from stepping up (Sapp) which made for a very nervous QB. I just hope AC has the kind of speed around the edge to make the QB want to step up while GMC keeps him from doing it.
July 17th, 2011 at 8:40 am
I agree with Bob that Steve White is missed.
July 17th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Bottles>drafts
July 17th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Glad to hear that bennett agrees with my analysis that the d line, inluding 40 million gmc, did nothing last year. I personally think that bennett is a better ut than the big disappointment.
Funny how many tried to make GMC the camp star yet MB doesnt mention him. Further proof that no matter how hard the org, sheep and captive media try to force gmc as the leader and star – you cant fool the lockerroom.