Wise Words From Dwight Freeney

January 19th, 2017
Freedom comes next for Mike Smith's bunch

Freedom comes next for Mike Smith’s bunch

Future Hall of Famer (?) Dwight Freeney, a true NFL sage and a Falcons defensive end, had his own spin on the phrase repeated over and over by Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter.

Yes, Koetter’s catchphrase of 2016 was “complementary football.” It’s some sort of BS coachspeak that means all phases of the game working together.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay offense featuring a dearth of weapons at receiver, the Bucs didn’t play enough complementary football last season.

The Falcons have their own brand of it, Freeney explained on SiriusXM NFL Radio last night. The Atlanta defense isn’t exactly special, but they have played with a freedom granted to them by the best offense in football.

That’s been the difference for the defense. “You can play confident, play loose knowing the offense has your back,” Freeney said.

For Tampa Bay, it was just the opposite. When the team was on its winning run, it was the defense choking out teams and the offense barely doing enough to win.

Imagine, per Freeney’s take, what the Bucs might accomplish next year with a real No. 2 receiver and a running back not stalling for a horrific 2.9 yards per carry!

6 Responses to “Wise Words From Dwight Freeney”

  1. Buc4Lyfe79 Says:

    Dwight Freeney, Vic Beasley’s biggest reason for going from zero to hero in a years time…I love Robert Ayers, but he’s NEVER done it like Freeney has.

  2. pick6 Says:

    yep it’s like lovie’s Rams defense way back when. it’s much easier to look good on defense and play for turnovers when your offense is good for at least 4 TDs a game

  3. R.O. Says:

    BS? Takes all phases to win. And 1 can lose it for you.

  4. GhostofSchiano Says:

    Success on Offense starts and stops with an O-line that controls the line of scrimmage, opening holes and buying Winston time. Something this team sorely lacked last year. Where you at George Warhop? Call him on the carpet Dirk.

  5. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Remember when the Broncos went to the Super bowl and lost? What was the reason they (the best offense that year) lost?

    Lack of defense.

    That is why we NEED to make defense the priority in this draft.

  6. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    And that is also why the Falcons will not win the Superbowl this year.