Same Old Talib
October 4th, 2011Joe’s grateful Aqib Talib is not in the slammer or suspended, and Joe knows Talib is a strong football player, but Talib hasn’t taken any kind of next step in his career through the first four games of 2011.
His missed tackle last night on Pierre Garcon gave Joe vivid flashbacks to Maurice Stovall’s heinous sideline non-tackle of Eric Weems’ last year that cost the Bucs a home win against the Falcons. Talib had plenty of Garcon to get him out of bounds. It was just a fail that cost the Bucs’ defense an 87-yard touchdown.
Check out the video of Garcon’s next touchdown; Talib is literally a half-step from Garcon while he’s running after the catch but gets outhustled and Garcon lands in the end zone.
Talib also dropped another interception right in his hands.
This is Aqib Talib, coughing up big plays and near-miss picks are a big part of his game. He’s a very good player who’s just not great. And frankly, as a renowned trouble-finder, he needs to be great — or stay out of handcuffs for the rest of his career.
Joe hopes Talib can take his game to the level of his potential as the season progresses.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:09 am
He’s not healthy, and probably won’t be until next season.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:15 am
Health has nothing to do with dropping that pick or being able to simply push Garcon out of bounds. No excuses, Talib needs to step up his game.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:26 am
He is not worth the drama
October 4th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Well, regardless, he is better than Myron Lewis or Elbert mack so right now, he’s the one we’re with so to speak.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:51 am
Brain price ain’t healthy benn coming off surgery let’s not make excuses. Raheem needs to get him and winslow under control after plays they were pushing and kicking colts players it was ridiculous
October 4th, 2011 at 10:51 am
He’s straight bad night in the office e.j. biggers is impressive but he never catches int’s talib = int corner e.j. biggers=coverage corner Elbert Mack =hybrid w/o the size ronde barber=g.o.a.t. just aged
October 4th, 2011 at 10:54 am
yeah, quite frankly… i’ve grown tired trying to defend the guys play this year. it has never been more evident. he has taken a step back this year… so far.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:56 am
Didn’t Joe say we didn’t need to get a corner in free agency because Talib, Biggers , and Myron were so awesome ??
October 4th, 2011 at 10:56 am
He’s not healthy? Says who? The Bucs have him at 100%. he hasn’t been on any injury list since Preseason. He isn’t very good, and never has been. Biggers is playing all the number One WRs, as Gruden pointed out last night. I said it all preseason. Talib is average at best. He’s playing much worse than that.
We need a high round CB in the next draft. I think we need two.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Don’t forget, it was Talib’s “defensive holding” call that gave the Colts the first down that led to the long Garcon TD. We had them backed up and in a bad down and distance when Talib grabbed on when he didn’t need to. We were also lucky his “chippy” unsportsmanlike conduct was offset by Garcon as well. Penalties, blown coverages, missed tackles, dropped INTs…. This guy is lucky to be a starter at this point. And that’s not even talking off field issues.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:11 am
it’s not a coincidence that biggers is covering #1’s right now. he’s our best corner right now, and that’s not a joke. if talib would just cover and not try to bait qb’s he’d be fine, but he just refuses to do that.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Well stated, Joe.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:16 am
C”mon Capt., You’re right that Talib is not playing at the top of his game and needs to step it up, but let’s be fair, there are a number of players that aren’t on the top of their game as we’ve come to expect. For one Josh Freeman, and Mike Williams, and Rejus Benn, and quite frankly Winslow is not having the season he had last year. We know all of these guys can play at a high level because we’ve seen it! I think everybody improves as games go on. But I’m not ready to write off anybody yet, including Talib!
October 4th, 2011 at 11:39 am
Talib worries me, and Biggers is not much better. At times they play great then they give up huge yardage. At the beginning of the season our secondary was our strength on defense and now it looks like the D line. Raheem goes very easy on Talib and this might be the time to tell him “Come on man!!!” The guy needs to know he is not playing at elite corner level. There must have been 5 dropped interceptions by our secondary last night. Put in Myron Lewis he can’t be that much worse!!!
October 4th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Last night was the reason so many Buc’s fans were clamoring for Nnamdi. He has proven he can lock up defenders and not get stupid penalties or arrested. Being arrested is the one thing Talib is consistent at.
October 4th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Aqib Talib = Deangelo Hall
Big Play Corner…makes big plays. Gives up big plays. In 4 years he has 16 picks. In Deangelo Hall’s 1st 4 years he had 17 picks.
October 4th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
@MTM
Nnamdi’s not having a bang up year either. Outside of Sproles and Koenen I can’t think of a big free agent signing that has paid immediate huge dividends.
October 4th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
The problem i am having with Aqib this year is. He is lining up against the teams 2nd receiver and still failing to make those crucial plays he’s known for. This is at least 2 games that I’ve noticed he is playing on the #2WR and Biggers is posted up against the #1. Now Biggers is NOT a ball hawk, but is playing pretty well against some elite talents. Aqib just has no excuse for not making these plays this year. Even the 1 int he got was off the hands of someone else. He got lucky to be in the right place when the ball took a good bounce in his favor. But as for him MAKING plays. It’s nearly non existent.
October 4th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Just like Romo can be great at times, but also makes the costly mistake….Aqib is the same, he has skills, but gives up the costly play.
I don’t know if you can coach that out of someone……I hope you can, but just not sure.
October 4th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
I would like to see Lewis get on the field again… but isn’t this his first week back since injury? Think he is gonna need a lil more time to get fully up to speed. But i did see him make a nice tackle on Special teams last night.
On a side note. How about that kid Devon Holland? This kid is the FASTEST person we have on the team it seems like and LOVES to hit.. Maybe we should start working him into our DB corp and see if he excels there also.
October 4th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
A missed tackle is the only fault Aqib had in the Game. The pass to Garcon on the sideline was perfectly fit between two coverage zones. That is what happens in Cover 3. I can’t blame him for the bubble screen. He was outnumbered by the OL and was shoved outside. Then bodies kept falling in front of him prohibiting pursuit.
Outside of the missed tackle and penalties(unforgivable), he played very well.
October 4th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Talib and Black are the two weak links On the defense. I know both have a lot of apologist. The bottom line is this. Talib is are number 2 CB right now, and in the last two weeks, he’s given up over 200 yards and and 3 TDs. That gets you replaced- even if you are a hard working, law abiding pillar of the community. Quincy has proven why you draft production, not potential. He looks like a beast, but is constantly hiding from contact.
I’m not gonna engage any of you apologist. Everyone has noticed the same issues I’ve been pointing out. If any of you are still trying to say either Talib or black is playing well, then you just refuse to look at their play objectively.
The good part is, the rest if the defense is showing signs of greatness!!
October 4th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Mauha Deeb….outside of the missed tackle….you mean the one that gave up the touchdown??? outside of penalties…you mean that holding call when we have them on their own 3 yard line???
You only get some many opportunities in the game to either show up or not….you blow a play in this game, it can cost you the game.
I don’t think anybody who watched that game would say Talib played well.
October 4th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@Steve Yes. That missed tackle and that penalty.
I think anyone would watched Talib that day would say Talib played well outside of one missed tackle and two penalties. There was nothing negative about his play outside of that. He was targeted 7 times and allowed 1 catch.
October 4th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Talib at this point in the season is definitely overrated but as was pointed out Biggers is drawing the number one receiver. Raheem had Biggers on Roddy White in the Atlanta game but he got burned repeatedly. Right now our best corner is Rhonde and that speaks volumes because as crafty as he is speed is obviously an issue. We need shut down corners in the next draft and give Myron Lewis a shot at some point. He was a fairly high draft pick and Talib is definitely letting us down. I think Talib will get better but these first few games have been alarming.
October 4th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
@CaptTim “Hes given up over 200 yards and 3 TDs” What? You are simply making that up. He has given up 4 receptions for 118 yards and one TD in 126 snaps. That is not bad considering if he makes that tackle it is more like 45 yards. He missed a tackle. Biggers has missed far more this year. Only difference is that on that play there was no one behind Talib.
October 4th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
PLEASE, EVERYONE, I BEG OF YOU, STOP PUTTING AN “H” IN RONDE BARBER’S NAME. THIS IS BECOMING RIDICULOUS!!! R-O-N-D-E, VERY SIMPLE.
October 4th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Capt. & Mauha,
Truth is, we don’t really know how many yards have been given up by Talib, because we don’t know the defense that was called and his responsibilities within it. According to Pewter Report, Mauha is correct. However, I’m not even sure if they are entirely accurate. Besides, just because Talib is not responsible for a certain guy doesn’t mean he shouldn’t make a play (i.e. the first Calvin Johnson TD was the fault of Jones, but Talib still should have made the pick. To me, that’s still on Talib.).
I agree with Capt. that Talib doesn’t appear entirely healthy, and it shows in his play. However, I think Capt. is exaggerating how bad he is playing. He’s not a weak link, but he’s not making the plays he needs/is expected to make. If he really is our best player on defense (which I previously believed he was but am not so sure anymore), that needs to change quickly. We have some really tough games coming, and he needs to play MUCH better.
October 4th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
@Hawaiian Buc That is exactly what I was trying to say. I am not “apologizing” for any of his play. I called him out on the missed tackle and the penalties. I am just not using the 1 bad snap to shroud the other 125 good ones. That would be ridiculous.
BTW I got my numbers from Pewter and PFF. I always try to cross reference when possible. Thanks for pointing that out, brother.
As far as the accuracy goes, it is true that it is all from a visual perspective but generally it is easy to tell who is on who/playing what/type of coverage etc. judging by the what the others are doing during any given play. Yes, it is not 100% accurate, but pretty darn close and as good as we can get.
October 4th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@ muah deb what game were you watching defensive holding not talking garcion twice not getting back in coverage defensive holding personal foul dropped int come on man in my Chris carter voice . Hate when people make excuses. He is not a top ten corner period
October 4th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
@tj,
He’s certainly not playing like one, that’s for sure.
October 4th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Talib was 12 to 15 yards off of Garcon on the quick out. Hell i called that before the ball was out of the centers hands. Why aren’t we bumping the recievers everytime and giving our D line a few seconds to get to the dam QB?
October 4th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Mauha Deeb Says:
October 4th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
A missed tackle is the only fault Aqib had in the Game. The pass to Garcon on the sideline was perfectly fit between two coverage zones. That is what happens in Cover 3.
==========================================
That wasn’t cover 3. Cover 3 has the corner covering downfield. The corner played the first 15 yards on that play.
October 4th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
anyone on here wanting to get rid of Talib is an f’n moron, plain and simple. Easily our best corner, possibly our best defender. Is he infallible? No, of course not. Due to the nature of his position when he makes a mistake its going to be a costly one, but please spare me the talk of cutting him, he is twice the corner of Mack, Biggers, Lewis, or Gaitor.
October 4th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Hawaiian Buc wow don’t be so sensitive. RONDE ok there you go.Sounds like your one of the Barbers relatives (did I spell that right?) If I spell checked every post on this blog I might be here burning the midnight oil. Oh and notice I got the two “ii’s” in Hawaiian right!! Heh heh heh
October 4th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Hey I will say one thing about Talib. Definitely not our best defender with a handgun. Also not our best cab driving slapper. Heh heh heh……
October 4th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
It makes me laugh that some people on here think Biggers is our best corner. Did any of you watch the Falcons game when he was burnt about 20 plays in a row ? LOL
October 4th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
kh Lewis and Gaitor have not seen the field so I have no idea how you can compare them but I agree he is better than Biggers That being said, Talib probably is our most TALENTED corner but talent has been letting him down of late. He played Corner and WR in college was a two way player but as many pics as he drops I have a hard time believing he was any good at WR. The character thing is a huge issue people want to brush under the rug. I mean I like T Jack too but he almost single handedly messed up our secondary in Raheems first year by not putting down the bong. I think Talibs career will end badly unless he changes his attitude of being invincible.
October 4th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Sorry Nick2. It wasn’t really directed at you, but more so at all the people that do it. There are so many people that write Rhonde. My bad!
October 4th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Look, I don’t think anyone is saying to cut Talib, but his play hasn’t been very good. What we come to expect from him as a “playmaker” CB is that he gets picks. Well, he’s dropping those. We also expect that he’ll get burned going for a play, which he is. If he gives up plays, but doesn’t make plays, then he’s failing. Period. If he’s not gonna get INTs when the ball is in his hands, then I’d rather have a good cover CB out there that will at least prevent the guy from making the catch or tackle him when he does. Also, Talib has been on the opposing #2 WR, which should make his job of “making plays” without “giving up the big play” that much easier… yet he’s still failing. I don’t care what stats from what site you look at, the screen pass was still his coverage. Ronde reads that and blows it up in the backfield, not get blocked out be the RT on the sideline. Talib is a very one dimensional CB and if you take that dimension away, and combine that with his off-field issues… well, we’ll see what happens when his contract comes up. Right now, he’s probably our 2nd or 3rd best CB.
October 4th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Whimsy- it makes me laugh. We weren’t playing any zone coverages last night. We played man to man press coverage. Gruden talked about it all night! About how Peyton was drilling watching all that man coverage. They mentioned it multiple times. It was the same as last week . Biggers is playing their top receivers. Talib is playing their 2nd receiver. He is being targeted by the offenses.
Yet their are still people claiming it’s Jones fault, or some defense where Talib isn’t supposed to cover his man
What the hell do you guys look at? Man to man coverage. If Pierre catches it- it’s talab’s bad.except for one play where the colts moved them around, and Talib was on Wayne. The second Painter saw that, he went right after Talib for a big gain.
Yet people Still try to excuse Aqib’s play. I Don’t think some of you understand the game. I think you post based strictly on players you like, and make excuses accordingly. It’s the only answer. You can’t be actually watching the games, and be that totally oblivious to what happens!!
October 5th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@ Capt TIm Dude, this is ridiculous. “We didn’t play any zone coverages last night”….. are you out of your mind? We played zone on 20 of our 57 defensive snaps. Capt TIm, I am losing respect for your words. It is almost as if you are completely making things up.
@HireGregOlsen It was absolutely Cover three. Talib was playing deep, which is why there was no one else behind him and another guy in front of him.
@TJ I am not making excuses. I am simply stating facts and backing them up with stats. If you can prove me wrong, go ahead. If not, STFU.