All About Winning
May 30th, 2016
New Bucs DE talks about his new defensive coordinator, Mike Smith.
Yes, Joe is like many Bucs fans, intrigued by how defensive coordinator Mike Smith and defensive line coach Jay Hayes will bring along rookie Noah Spence.
Joe also is eager to see what the duo does with free agent defensive end Robert Ayers. So far, Ayers seems energized working for a veteran with a loaded resumé like Smith.
“He’s all about winning; he’s all about putting people in position to be successful; he’s all about giving you knowledge and being able to anticipate what guys are going to do or how they’re going to attack you,” Ayers said. “He wants to fill your toolbox up. He doesn’t want to send you out on the field and not be prepared for anything – that’s the thing I like.
“He’s giving us a lot of knowledge and he’s putting a lot on our plate and expectations are high, as they should be. We’re all just trying to soak it all up and let him motivate us and motivate ourselves and get better.”
Interesting, yesterday Joe was listening to SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “NFL Rewind,” co-hosted by Zig Fracassi and Smith’s former defensive coordinator in Atlanta, Mike Nolan.
Nolan fielded a question about schemes and players, and Nolan emphasized whatever scheme a defensive coordinator plans to use, he better build it around the talents of the players first and foremost or otherwise a coach is playing with matches alongside a bucket of gasoline.
Just judging by how Smith’s former assistant was talking, it sounds like this Bucs defense is going to be difficult to predict from play to play.
May 30th, 2016 at 9:13 am
I don’t think any Buc fan doubts that the Buc defense will make as big or better improvement this year as did the offense last year. That’s as obvious as the sun rising every morning.
May 30th, 2016 at 9:19 am
This is so f@#king exciting! 43, 34,…nickel. This defense will need a new nickname this year. Too early right now, I know but who cares lol. Cmon man we’ve got #GMC, #KINGDAVID, #KWON, #VH3, #SPAWN, #GRIMES #AQUAMAN (JAQUEIS SMITH)
May 30th, 2016 at 9:23 am
Coaches coach and players play, if you don’t have the smart, talented, footballer, then no matter the scheme or name of a coach the team will fail, I hope this new staff picked up some players in that defensive back field! GO BUCS!!
May 30th, 2016 at 9:40 am
Some coaches (no name needed) try to fit square pegs in round holes.
Those coaches suck.
That’s what took I from the article.
May 30th, 2016 at 9:40 am
I notice that Bucnut2 hasn’t commented on this article yet…..oh, wait…. It not about Winston.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:15 am
You can bet that if Mike Smith gets a HC job again Nolan won’t be on his list of candidates for DC.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:20 am
Eric75
Bucnut2 had to go rub one out to his Marcus Mariota poster over his bed but he said he’d be back for the next Jameis article.
May 30th, 2016 at 11:32 am
What will represent the biggest change from last year to this one will be the much needed changes to the defense. The offense will continue to progress, and I think Mike Evans will be just fine, but the defenses improvement should help us to another 3-4 wins this year. Wild card at a minimum.
May 30th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
BuccaneEric75…I read his comment waaaay after I read yours this morning.
Too funny man. Too funny.
May 30th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
And if you have no understanding to what your reading…….that sucks twice as much on (no name needed) BALLS!!
May 30th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Smiths defenses in Hotlanta weren’t top notch but being he’s our DC and can concentrate solely on the d then if he can get it like he had in Jville man we are in for a heck of a season! We all know the defense is the biggest reason the Bucs struggled so if we got a coach putting round pegs in round holes and square ones in square………. we’re good to go Houston we have lift off!
May 30th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
I used to hate watching mike smith smirk on that atl sideline ..you guys remember? he use to stomp the crap out us.glad hes on our team.