Noah Spence Ends Camp Flashing
August 24th, 2017
“Gumby” was an animal today.
Joe has written before that defensive end/outside linebacker Noah Spence has had a rather quiet camp, aside from clocking a camp meat offensive lineman.
Spence was anything but quiet today and late in practice, the dude was coming over the line of scrimmage as if he was shot out of a naval artillery gun.
It’s just a good thing America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, was wearing an orange jersey or he might be lying in a hospital examination room as Joe is typing this very post.
The Bucs were experimenting with a three-man-front defense. But on one particular play, it was a four-man front and Spence snapped across the line like a bolt of lightning from the right side, Jameis’ blindside. Had real live hitting been allowed like a game situation, Spence would have chopped Jameis in two. It was just the kind of position defensive ends drool over.
Of course, since the quarterbacks can’t be hit, Spence pulled up.
Two plays later in a three-man front, Spence again roared past the line of scrimmage, this time from the left side. Again, he would have splashed Jameis had real hitting been allowed.
Joe sure hopes the fact Spence very much flashed today is a sign that he’s beginning to warm up. Perhaps, the knowledge he got from Simeon Rice is beginning to pay off?
August 24th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Maybe i’m missing something, but I have not seen the pressure from him during the 1st two preseason games.
August 24th, 2017 at 12:51 pm
You might have something with the Rice thing.
August 24th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Who did he beat (left and right side)?
August 24th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Didn’t see. Have a guess, but don’t want to guess. As Dirk Koetter says coming off the field, didn’t have access to video where Joe could rewind the play 20 times.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Yeah, the only down side to a guy blowing up in practice means that someone on the other side of the ball didn’t do their job well. However, it would be real nice to have Spence arrive and be a mauler in 2017.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
Often the case in games as well.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:13 pm
Libucfan
He had TONS of pressure in the Cincinnati game. I have to re-rewatch the jax game today.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Yeah, seen lots of four man fronts so far in the preseason and not many 3-4. Noah seems custom-made to be a stand-up LB roaring around a tackle
August 24th, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Yes Joe but in practice that means that one of our players didn’t do his job well. I am all for our opponents not performing well.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Speaking of having a quite camp.. don’t recall reading a single thing about Keith Tandy.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Yeah he splashed and was in the backfield pretty consistently vs Cincinatti. Very quiet vs Jax
August 24th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
“libucfan Says:
August 24th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Maybe i’m missing something, but I have not seen the pressure from him during the 1st two preseason games.”
Yeah you’re just missing it then because it’s been there
August 24th, 2017 at 1:31 pm
He flashed against the run in the Cincy game, when he broke through the line, and stood the Cincy running back up in place, before he threw him to the ground.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Its camp Joe. No need to be peeking as of yet.
August 24th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Word on the street, is that he has had a very good camp then some have tried to portray!!!!!!! I wonder if anyone noticed that the jags slide over the RB over to NS57 when he was in the game!!!!!! Left the LB to come blitz so easily!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2017 at 2:20 pm
@Winnipeg- Me either, to tell the truth. I can’t recall if I even saw him on the field. I hope he didn’t revert back to his ‘ghost’ days. We still need depth and frankly, I haven’t been impressed with the rookie Evans so far.
August 24th, 2017 at 2:23 pm
@Realist- He’s still raw. That’s the scary part! It also may be why he is perceived to be having a so-so camp. I don’t view it that way at all. He’s a 2nd year guy getting over an injury. The sky’s the limit! He’s got to put in the work though.
August 24th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
Future Hall of famer
August 24th, 2017 at 4:20 pm
If Spawn was working with the ones – then that’s not good news for Donovan Smith.
We are going to HAVE to address this OT situation via either draft or free agency next year unless Smith and Benenoch both make huge jumps in progress this year. Last year was just flat out fugly watching the tackles we fielded try and do their jobs at an NFL level. The mental mistakes were out of control, the run blocking was not good enough and the pass protection on the edges left a LOT to be desired.
Our franchise QB deserves a top 10 level talent protecting his blind side and if Donovan Smith can’t get there or close in his 3rd year with almost 50 starts under his belt – then we need to start looking elsewhere for a premium LT.
August 24th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Guess you missed the practice when Donovan Smith was throwing around Spence like a rag doll? Damn near pancaked him once.
Perhaps right tackle. Joe understands fans don’t want to read this because they would rather believe the frauds at PFF than the GM of the Bucs (who was an offensive lineman himself). So, unless Donovan Smith turns into Jeremy Trueblood, he isn’t going anywhere.
August 24th, 2017 at 4:51 pm
I wish everyone except Jameis was wearing an orange jersey. Ahhhhh the good old days. I understand why they did it but i wish the glazers had stuck with the orange. N yeah lets hope Noah shows us the improvement saturday night. Love his effort. Go Bucs
August 24th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
PFF has nothing to do with my perception of Donovan Smith Joe.
The eyeball test showed that Smith was simply not a consistently good LT last year. His run blocking and pass protection were both quite spotty and he led the league in penalties.
Not saying he sucks or shouldn’t be on the team – but if he doesn’t improve a measurable amount this year – its time to look at other options for starting LT.
Like I said – Winston deserves a top 10 LT and Smith is nowhere close to that mark as of what we’ve all seen from him to this point.
You know I’m right Joe – but if you stubbornly disagree and continue to content that Smith’s play to date is just fine – then that’s on your credibility – not mine as far as opinions go.
Just because the GM who drafted Smith continues to back him doesn’t mean Licht doesn’t know he needs improved play from that position.
August 24th, 2017 at 7:21 pm
TouchDownTampaBay Says
“Yes Joe but in practice that means that one of our players didn’t do his job well.”
Not necessarily. Both could be playing very well, but one could be slightly better.
August 24th, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Just so people are aware, the NFL has this thing called Salary Cap? You can’t have all pros at every position. Donovan Smith is doing just fine.
August 25th, 2017 at 2:46 am
bucsfaninchina Says:
August 24th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Yeah, seen lots of four man fronts so far in the preseason and not many 3-4. Noah seems custom-made to be a stand-up LB roaring around a tackle.
I couldn’t agree more. Spence is way to athletic to keep strictly his hand in the dirt. I want to see him play our Von Miller role. If we see that Saturday night I’m going to be one happy fan.
August 25th, 2017 at 2:49 am
Donovan Smith with take a big step forward this year. Right tackle is an issue. I’m sure depth at both positions is not looking to good.