Don’t Get Blown Up
September 25th, 2016
Bucs DC Mike Smith said “explosive plays” have killed his defense.
The Bucs, for the most part, have played solid defense.
That is, except for a few plays. “Explosive plays,” Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith calls them. Big plays that have gone for big yards. Smith discussed this malady last week.
“We’re giving up way too many explosive plays and really it’s about us, not necessarily about them,” Smith said. “And again, probably could’ve been a different call and maybe put them in a better spot, but when we make the call we’ve got to go out and we’ve got to execute it. We haven’t executed in the first two games. We’ve had 12 plays that have gone for over 400 yards.
“Sometimes they’re missed tackles, sometimes they’re missed assignments and sometimes they’re bad calls by me. So we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to tackle better, we’ve got to execute better and I’ve got to make better calls.”
Smith is confident that will happen, and maybe today. He stressed how the players are still learning his defense and, equally important, he’s still learning his players.
“Absolutely, there’s no doubt,” Smith said. “Every day, it’s a learning experience for us as a coaching staff and for our players. You have ideas that you think you want to do and then you get an opportunity to do them on the practice field and sometimes they go to the side, sometimes you say, ‘Yeah,’ and then they go to the game and maybe we’re not ready for that specific scheme that we’re trying to install.
“This is all new for them and I don’t think you can really say what kind of defense we’re going to be until we’ve got at least four games under our belt. We haven’t experienced a lot of things in the regular season. In the preseason you’re getting vanilla looks, we’re doing vanilla things, so it gets a little more complicated. I’ve got to find – and we’ve got to find as a staff – the fine line where we don’t put them in situations if they’re not ready for it.”
Four games, huh? Well, today is the third game. Thank goodness the Rams don’t have any explosive players, save for possibly Todd Gurley (no, Joe doesn’t believe Tavon Austin is anything remotely explosive unless returning punts.
Hopefully, the Bucs will have made enough strides in a week to keep the rotten Rams offense in check this afternoon.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:45 am
Really, in two games they have allowed 12 plays for 400 yards. That is crazy! I hope the Bucs can win but with all these injuries (and releases) it won’t be easy. I think our lack of height I the secondary is ab it of a problem too. In that picture above Fitzgerald is well covered but he is just going above the cornerback to grace the ball.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:45 am
The BUCS really need to play a complete game today at home. The offense and defense need to work to compliment each other and really tighten down on this Rams team. The defense has been pretty stout against the run the past two games, although there were a few breakdowns last week. Our offense needs to sustain drives early to prevent our D from being overexposed. I am worried that the Rams may be able to complete underneath passes on us at will and that our offense will come out sputtering. If that happens we could be in for a long day. But on the other hand if the defense can get some pressure on the quarterback early maybe we can see Grimes or VH3 jump some routes and take the ball away. I feel like I never know how this young BUCS team is going to show up. Hopefully they bring their A game today and hand it to the lambs. Let’s go BUCS!!!
September 25th, 2016 at 9:03 am
Travon austin needs to be watched carefully
Vh3 was decent against bigger wrs. Lets see how he does against quick explosive receivers
Betting line is down to 3.5. Money coming in for the rams
Greg williams take away koetters screens and doubles ME13
September 25th, 2016 at 9:16 am
Any word on how practice went this week? In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye on the injury report or just make stuff up from my nice, comfy, air-conditioned office.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:17 am
This going to be a boring defensive game. Jameis will probably get sacked about 1,000 times and Charles sims will look mediocre vs this front 7. Hopefully, our defense will finally step up against a crappy Rams offense and hold them to some FGs instead of 60+ yd TDs. I think this will be a 13-9 affair in Bucs favor.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:20 am
That pic was illustrative of our defeat last week. NO DB in the league was going to stop that pass to future HOFer Larry Fitzgerald. That has to be stopped much earlier…as in with a pass rush…or strong checks at the line to throw the route off…good luck with that against Fitzgerald.
Bottom line…I’m looking at three things today. We must have a pass rush.
#3 has to have a good game…not great just good. And I keep my fingers crossed about injuries
September 25th, 2016 at 9:32 am
@joe, I live in Milwaukee Wisconsin will I be able to watch the game?
September 25th, 2016 at 9:48 am
RumRunner
I normally live in St. Pete but since retirement last year I spend three months on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
I have Direct to see games up here. If you had written this earlier in the week I would have been happy for you to make the drive up and watch the game here.
You could have brought family and enjoyed the great outdoors the rest of the time.
Remember this for next year and perhaps you can plan a weekend getaway with the family…happy to show you the local sites…until game time of course!!
I drive back to Florida this coming week but next year any of you guys who live in Milwaukee or Northern WI…Michigan’s UP and are real Buc fans have an open invitation…but only until October. Gotta get back to my other paradise.
I’m soooo lucky I feel embarrassed. I live in two of the most amazing places in the nation.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:02 am
Stpetebucsfan,
In Albuquerque now. In a few years, will be splitting my time between here, Sarasota and Eagle River, WI. We’ll have to get together for a game somewhere. Buc fan since first win in 1977.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:31 am
eagle river, I love that place
September 25th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Will have you over. Got the land, just need to build the house.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:55 am
My inlaws have 40 acres just outside of town. Can’t wait to have a freezer full of venison and wild turkey. Not so much hunting as it is deer ranching.
September 25th, 2016 at 11:18 am
Kobe, betting line is down to 3.5? I’ve had the Bucs -3 since Tuesday, among other bets I’ve made.
September 25th, 2016 at 11:44 am
Eric offshore had it up to -5.5
It opened at -3.5 where it is now
We need this game
A great game by brate and jacquizz will be fantastic and comforting with asj and dmart gone
September 25th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Actually Bovada opened betting lines at -5 on Tuesday. Pretty sure a lot of folks jumped on that action.
September 25th, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Stpetebucsfan,
That would great! My family would love it! For now I guess I’ll have to settle for good ol’ Gene on the radio. Lol Dave and Gene are hilarious together so it’s all good! Much love guys Go Bucs!!! FIRE THE CANNONS!!!
September 25th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Kobe, -5.5. Wow! I’m glad I didn’t get in on THAT line! Lol!
September 25th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Kobe, unless I would have bet on L.A., of course!
September 25th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Can someone please explain to me why they’re not twisting and stunting with their D-line, like they were during the preseason? It’s the same old stuff, DEs get pushed past the QB, McCoy gets double teamed and the other DT can’t beat the guard one one. Jay Hayes preached scheme when he was at Cincinnati, and did it during the preseason. Cincinnati still does it, but the Bucs have stopped once the season started. When they had Sapp, before Simeon Rice arrived, they were running games up front with Brad Culpepper, Booger McFarland, Ellis Wyms, Chartric Darby. McCoy needs help from the inside, out. Culpepper even had 9 sacks back in 98′. I’m not dwelling in the past, but I’m curious as to why they stopped doing something that was so successful IN THE GAMES THAT COUNT!!! The pass rushing teams run those stunts and twists up front. What’s going on?
September 25th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
Brad Culpepper is one of my favorite Bucs of all-time! He came out of nowhere to be an above-average player in this league. He should have been a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
September 25th, 2016 at 1:33 pm
Jersey, no, I can’t. Might have to do with the game plans for these two games, although I would run pass rush games more with AZ than ATL. AZs deep passing attack would give pass rush games more time to work IMO.