Top 30 Buccaneers Mysteries Of 2014 – No. 23
February 8th, 2015
A coaching non-move makes the list
In many ways, Tampa Bay’s 2014 season was more bizarre than the MRSA-infected, quarterback-gone-mental, Fire-Schiano-billboards campaign of 2013.
There were plenty of real Bucs mysteries last year, and Joe’s revisiting the most interesting of the bunch.
No. 23 — Never moving Michael Johnson
Even the greatest Bucs optimist can’t spin the lifeless right defensive end play from Michael Johnson in a good light.
The big-money free agent played about 4 1/2 good quarters all season en route to four sacks. Johnson even left some fans aching and yearning for the days of Stylez White.
As the Bucs watched Johnson fail repeatedly, why was he not tried at left defensive end? The Bucs never legitimately shook things up in that department.
This was mind-boggling. Why not try and light a fire under Johnson? He’s supposed to be an elite athlete with experience.
Bucs brass and Johnson supporters bragged last offseason about how Johnson didn’t really slide with his play for the Bengals in 2013 (3.5 sacks). They claimed he was just “asked to do different things” and was successful at those, and he contributed in other ways, like a stunning 10 passes defensed (nearly all bat-downs).
So why didn’t Lovie try something different with Johnson?
No. 24 — “I didn’t want to put more points on the board”
No. 25 — Glennon success without an offensive coordinator
No. 26 — Putrid punting
No. 27 — Defending three-step drops
No. 28 — Eight consecutive red zone runs versus Rams
No. 29 — Leaky Sean Glennon
No. 30 – Jorvorskie Lane
February 8th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
This is truly a mystery……perhaps he just isn’t that good….or perhaps he really was hampered by injury….but not bad enough to bench him….We desperately need him to excel next year….
February 8th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Cutting him at this point makes no sense
February 8th, 2015 at 12:58 pm
High ankle sprain and a broken hand may have contributed to his low production. None of us really know for sure but I’m sure the coAching staff does.
As for moving him to LDE, we tried that move with Clayborn and it hasn’t borne any fruit. Rather Resign Clayborn with an incentive laden contract and move him back to RDE.
Besides, why move him to LDE when the Bucs found a very capable Jacques Smirh to play the position.
This is another of my highlight of the season for all you Buc haters.
Signing and the play of Jacques Smith.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
I like this series a lot, Joe.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Congrats on like 3 highlights Ddneast. There’s like 50 lowlights though. I’m glad you look for the positive and ignore the negatives, but if you never correct the negatives you don’t get better. And if you refuse to talk about or acknowledge the negatives, how do you expect to correct them? Hopes and dreams?
February 8th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
I could see Johnson moving to left and being used to stop the run. The guys big and he takes up space. He’s obviously not a pass rusher so lets see what he can contribute in other roles while we develop our young dlinemen. Of course all this is moot if Lovie still trys to force Johnson to be Simeon Rice or whoever. Leave it to Lovie to try to jam Johnsons square peg into his round hole.
February 8th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Lovie is a dunderhead
Fire Lovie
February 8th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Sign hardy. This will be the best signing value in free agency. The fuy is a monster up front. I think he will get through the trial and come here
February 8th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Maybe the answer is to take the opposite of what Lovie wants?
February 8th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
When I read the article where his agent said that mj misses Cincinnati and never should have left, I lost all respect for him. MJ performance deserves a code red.
http://youtu.be/Psl7ZVwiRl4
February 8th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Maybe he was hurt all season and he’ll be good in 2015?
Like was stated: Absolutely no reason to release him
for cap reasons.
February 8th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Johnson just isnt going to work, especially at his salary.
Just caught up on the Punter article.
Spencer Roth, Baylor. Big boy at 6’5 220 who can tackle if the returner makes it to him. 6th rounder maybe?
February 8th, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Good series Joe, the Bucs were so dysfunctional this season it was probably tough to trim the list down to 30…. I can’t wait until you start addressing the numerous OL “mysteries” as I am sure it will have a few spots taken in the top 20; in fact I am surprised Warhop’s name has not come up yet but I am sure it will soon on this list…..
February 8th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Because Lovie learned from Kiffin and Kiffin never moved defensive linemen around either. You were either a Left DE or a Right DE, there was no switching.
Lovies defensive philosophy is the least flexible in the NFL. If you don’t have the horses in all the right spots it will get exposed by pretty much any NFL OC with half a mind.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:49 pm
I know what the negatives of the season and the players are Bucrightoff, I just don’t need to rehash them over and over and over again like you do.
My perspective if why things went wrong last year are also a lot different than years.
But tell me, if you work with your hands, how do you stay as effective and as productive as you once were when you have one that is broken.
I mean really, are you that blind with hatred or just stupid.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:53 pm
After reading the majority of these posts, ahhhh never mind, I’m tired of insulting you morons, LOL.
February 9th, 2015 at 4:06 pm
[…] No. 23 — Never moving Michael Johnson No. 24 — “I didn’t want to put more points on the board” No. 25 — Glennon success without an offensive coordinator No. 26 — Putrid punting No. 27 — Defending three-step drops No. 28 — Eight consecutive red zone runs versus Rams No. 29 — Leaky Sean Glennon No. 30 – Jorvorskie Lane […]
February 9th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Johnson gets another year. 1. They spent a lot of money on Johnson, and he was hurt. 2. Coach Smith believes in second chances, and they need to show they did not make bad picks last year.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
The tank job was from week one not just the last week of the season. No one on the team played at the highest level possible to inlude rookie sensation Mike Evans. Go back and watch how MJ was harassing Aaron Rodgers early in that game,it was like he had been sent memo to back off the wonder boy and that’s exactly what he did why? Cause we were tanking. MJ is fine,when given the green light he comes off the line of scrimage like a track star. Keep Michael Johnson. Posters open your minds.