Jacquies Smith Not Big On His Story

November 19th, 2014
Jacquies Smith brings down Redskins QB Robert Griffin III.

Jacquies Smith brings down Redskins QB Robert Griffin III. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)

Bucs defensive end Jacquies Smith is quite a story. Signed by Tampa Bay just after the first game of the season, it marked his fifth stop through the NFL and CFL in three years, and his first time on a 53-man, NFL roster.

All of a sudden, Smith has become a bright spot in a unit that has been miserable.

Aside from the win at Pittsburgh, the only time this year it seemed the Bucs had anything remotely close to a consistent pass rush was this past Sunday at Washington.

Enter Smith. While Mr. $24 million man Michael Johnson was ghostly, Smith came has three sacks in the past three games. That’s enough to make even Warren Sapp howl with glee.

Smith isn’t into his past. Rather, Smith is into the present and how to put quarterbacks on the ground, now with bratty Jay Cutler squarely in his cross-hairs.

“Everybody has a story in this league,” Smith said, almost insulted. “It doesn’t really matter how you get here – it’s what you do when you get here when you’re given the opportunity. You’ve got a lot of guys buying into what the coaches are talking about and they’re comfortable in the playbook and things of that nature. Once you get your opportunity, you just have to go out there and do the best you can with the opportunity. Guys are making plays.”

Joe sure wishes Smith would talk more about his past. It says something about the guy that he has been this dogged in pursuit of his dream. Speaks volume,s in fact.

But Joe also likes that Smith seems much more concerned with the matter at hand, and that is sacks and pressure. As we all witnessed against the Redskins, that can easily be the difference between wins and losses.

18 Responses to “Jacquies Smith Not Big On His Story”

  1. Chef Paul for Brandon Scherff Says:

    I love that pic. That was a darn good play. He was this close to getting that strip. Keep on trying, you’ll get them!!!

  2. HawaiianBuc Says:

    Watching the games, you don’t even have to look for this guy, because he jumps out at you. You can see he’s just different from every other edge rusher we’ve got. Even when he’s not getting there, he works his arse off and he at least gets pressure, unlike Michael Johnson who appears to be going about half speed. I really hope this kid keeps it up, because I don’t think we can afford going after another pass rusher early in the draft.

  3. OB Says:

    I believe that he is the missing link for the defensive line, you have to have a complete DL for it to work, we may be getting there slowly but surely.

  4. biff barker Says:

    Great story. It would be nice to have to pay this guy someday. Shades of Michael Bennett? Hope he can keep up the pace.

  5. Patrick in VA Says:

    If we were to drop Keyser Soze after this season would we be on the hook for his entire contract or would we have a cap hit and that’s all? If we have to pay him then I would be fine with seeing him in a rotation that features more competent rushers, like Smith.

  6. The Buc Realist Says:

    let him do something against something other than the train wreck that is the Redskins! This reminds me when Joe wanted to put Mason Foster to Eat Pinapple ( make the pro-bowl) after he had 2 good games ( not great, just good) against 2 bad teams.

  7. HawaiianBuc Says:

    @Realist,

    This guy has been putting pressure on Qb’s since he started playing. this wasn’t his first good game. Yes it’s too early to put him in the pro bowl, but he is showing promise. Are we not allowed to feel good about anything without your approval?

  8. Patrick in VA Says:

    @Hawaiian – I think people have forgotten how to enjoy games and support the team. They’re uncomfortable with this situation and they don’t know what to do with themselves. They’ve got their go to responses for losses but all they know how to do is be the “word of caution” for everyone to not get ahead of ourselves.

  9. Mike J Says:

    Isn’t Smith pretty much what Steven Means (another wasted Dominik pick) was supposed to be??

  10. ATLBucsFan Says:

    We’re suffering from PTDS – Post Team Disappoint Syndrome. Keep up the good work Jacquies. Glad you have your opportunity. Make the best of it. Help cure us from PTDS.

  11. ForgotAboutDre Says:

    I’ve been pumping up Jacq Smith since he was in the backfield constantly against Minnesota. I’m really happy for him, but it’s also kind of sad when you consider he has looked like our best DE since Bennet.

  12. Brandon Says:

    The Buc Realist Says:
    November 19th, 2014 at 10:36 am
    let him do something against something other than the train wreck that is the Redskins! This reminds me when Joe wanted to put Mason Foster to Eat Pinapple ( make the pro-bowl) after he had 2 good games ( not great, just good) against 2 bad teams.
    ———

    Yes, let’s ignore the accomplisments of anybody until they come against the best of the best, because you know, we get to play the best of the best, once every year or so…NOOOO!!! The Redskins ARE a train wreck but that doesn’t mean for a second they aren’t professionals that are expected to play at a high level. Do you think Michael Strahan didn’t pad his stats and have good games against the dregs of the NFL? No, he did what he was supposed to do. Against the better teams, it was more of a struggle. There aren’t many guys like Warren Sapp out there, that save their best for the best. Usually these guys give all they have every Sunday.

    I’m happy Smith is playing well. And for those of you still pining for Michael Bennett, I am a times one of them, he has a whopping 4 sacks in 10 games for the Seahawks this season. He’s not exactly the 2nd coming of Simeon Rice here. He was good, but he’s a high effort guy without a ton of speed or ability. Smith actually has a lot of explosiveness to his game. Perhaps we found another Robert Mathis (who was a truly special pass rusher).

  13. DB55 Says:

    Only in America! He had a sack against Pittsburgh too. Maybe he’s our lucky charm cuz every time he gets on the field we get a least 3 sacks a game.

  14. Ray Rice Says:

    Yea this guy has been taking advantage of his reps that’s for sure. When he’s on the edge you can feel him coming. He also has a high motor and doesn’t get caught up in the wash when being locked with an OL like our other high priced DL do.

  15. Architek Says:

    Hawaiian –
    How do you feel about going 4-12 or 5-11?

  16. HawaiianBuc Says:

    @Architek,

    What does that have to do with this article? This article is about the emergence of Smith. At this point, we are in the stages of evaluating players. It’s clear this season is over. We’ve been looking for a pass rusher coming off the edge for quite some time now. It’s too early to say Smith is that guy, but the preliminary signs are encouraging. Us going 4-12 is what it is. It’s probably reality. I don’t like it, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t some positives that can still come out of this season.

  17. nate Says:

    I think all this shows is smith I a de ent pass rusher so far.. bht the rest of our pass rushers are garbage!

  18. sho-nuff Says:

    IMO the new CBA produces soft free agents…I would just draft and turnover until we find MEN