How Far The Defense Has Come
December 14th, 2018
Joe actually had to do a double-take, the kind you might see Bugs Bunny or Yosemite Sam or Foghorn Leghorn do in the famous Looney Tunes cartoons.
Before someone at One Buc Palace (Dirk Koetter?) finally observed what fans saw way too much of last year and told then-defensive coordinator Mike Smith to pack up and get out, it was appalling beyond words how bad the Bucs defense was. It didn’t matter the down.
Joe has posted several articles that demonstrate how much better the defense is under the guidance of Mark Duffner. But the good people of NFL Films just pumped out a stat that, honestly, the last time Joe did a double-take to this extreme he was grazing through Times Square in New York. After walking past a model pretending to be the Statue of Liberty, Joe realized she was not wearing any attire at all, only body paint.
(Joe thought, “You’re not in Clinton County anymore.”)
Per NFL Films compiling stats for BSPN’s NFL Matchup, the Bucs have one of the better third down defenses in the NFL! Yes, really!
When opponents have to go seven yards or more to move the chains on third down, the Bucs have the No. 10-ranked defense.
Given what Joe has been conditioned to seeing since the start of the 2017 season, especially the first five games of this season, it’s a stunning stat that shows just how awful a job Smith did. Joe means “awful.”
That will be the biggest hurdle when (if?) Dirk Koetter sits down with Team Glazer after the season. How can he explain away why he gave so much rope to Smith. Koetter gave so much rope, he may have hung himself.
December 14th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Does anybody remember when Dirk was under the gun to fire Mike Smith??……..to paraphase he basically said that no matter what they did they wouldn’t have a way to achieve any type of radical change.
I know Joe had articles about this. Dirk was so freaking wrong about this defense. It’s further proof of how bad a coach he is. Also the reason why nobody believe he was the guy to fire Mike Smith. He was forced.
I’d love to know who truely did decide to fire Mike. If it wasn’t Dirk we could still be #32 in the league……if he had his way.
Hashtag All I Need to Know.
December 14th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
You can’t retain somebody that’s content with the Dead Last Defense in the league.
Or the Dead Last Running Game.
Or the Dead Last RG…… ..
The list continues
December 14th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Now if Jamies can just put together a 2nd half we’ll be legit
Even if the kicker keeps missing
December 14th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Going to be nasty weather….rainy,40’s,windy…so we’ll have to rely on our running game
December 14th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Especially, if, it turns out Dirk was ordered to fire Smith. Thanks Dirk, for wasting one more season before you leave. Thanks Dirk, for not seeing the obvious. Thanks Dirk, for the unforgivable sin. Now hurry up and leave.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Hey, wasn’t Foghorn Leghorn playing DB for us this season? I could have sworn I saw him at some point.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
I don’t see the Ravens bada** defense anywhere ok the list…
December 14th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
“Terrible matchup vs BALT sunday.
our run defense is going to get lit up like a charlie brown christmas tree
lamar jackson going over 200 yards
the tampa bay bucs have the top 3 least amount of talent in the NFL..
thank you, Kicker Picker”
Kobe Faker
December 14th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Hmmm.. I don’t see the Ravens SCARYY defense anywhere on that list…
December 14th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Kobe you are sick in the head.
Larmar won’t even sniff 50 bro.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
@BucsFan#7423
Any QB needs a clean pocket to operate effectively. In the second half against the Saints last week, Jameis had to scramble for his life on almost every single snap. If you’re willing to put that loss on Jameis and not the offensive line, then you clearly don’t understand what you’re watching on Sunday’s.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
I’m sure McIceCream loved Mike Smith. Based on the tips McIceCream gives Smith when he’s performing at Hamburger marys I’d say he likes him a lot.
Best thing for Koetter to do is go be a girls assistant volleyball coach he’s got a knack for that based on how he coaches football.
Bring in Bruce Arians, a man’s man. And watch all the sissies leave this team immediately.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
[Not sure what you trying to stir up but Jameis never left the game and has not been on any injury report this week. Further, Joe spoke with him in the locker room Wednesday and he was not wearing any brace or wrap of any sort and was walking just fine. — Joe]
You see how mobile he was in the first half, stiff-arming Rankins and leading the team in rushing yards (IN 1 HALF) then in the second half he couldn’t move, plant or throw.
Some of you people are either blind or dumb af. I say both but wtfdik.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
I don’t think it matters who fired Smith. Everyone knows Koetter was giving him too many chances.
But look at the alternative. Would we rather he give up too quickly?
All Koetter did is give someone a chance to keep their job. It didn’t work out so Smith is gone now. I STILL think keeping Koetter is the best thing, unless we can get Jim Harbaugh, which is unlikely. Too bad Dungy will never coach again. We could hire him, keep Monken and Tony could fix the defense.
Marvin Harrison will be available soon. He might make a good DC.
Duffner has not done nearly enough to keep his job.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Wow. I said Marvin Harison. Meant Marvin Lewis, lol.
December 14th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Hahaha, I was thinking you had gone off the deep end, Buccaneer Bonzai, when you suggested Marvin Harrison as DC. — LOL!!!!
Good stuff, we all have mistypes. Perfect for a Friday!
GO BUCS
December 14th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
@Joe … “When opponents have to go seven yards or more to move the chains on third down, the Bucs have the No. 10-ranked defense.” Kudos yet again Joe, you’ve surpassed every expectation I’ve ever had for the media. Seriously? You really had to scrounge I’m sure to come up a stat like that. Wow, 7 yds or more huh? And we’re the #10 defense in the league measured against that?
Not defending Smitty, because I do believe that Duff has had a positive impact on this defense (as mediocre as the talent level is IMO), BUT … take a GOOD LOOK at the first 5 games (that Smitty was the DC for) versus the next 8 games (that Duff has been our DC). Notice any differences? Our opponents in the first 5 games (Saints, Eagles, Steelers, Bears, Falcons) presently have a COMBINED 37-27-1 win-loss record (57.8% winning percentage) AND THREE of the 5 are division leaders (those 3 have winning records BTW).
Now look at the next 8 opponents (that Duffner has been DC for). Notice any differences there? Our opponents in those games (Browns, Bengals, Panthers, Redskins, Giants, 49ers, Panthers, Saints) have a COMBINED 49-54-1 win-loss record (47.6% winning percentage) and ONLY ONE is a division leader. Even more significant, ONLY ONE even has a winning record.
And yet, Bucs won 2 of the first 5 games (40% win %), and we won 3 of the next 8 games (37.5%). Hmmm, the bottom-line RESULTS look eerily similar.
December 14th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
The defense has passed the eye test much better in the last 8 games vs the first 5 for sure. They are getting more pressure up front, there are more blitzes and the secondary is actually tightening up some. I don’t need numbers or which opponents they have played to tell me something is different than the absolute worst defense in the league.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:30 pm
JimmyJack Says:
Does anybody remember when Dirk was under the gun to fire Mike Smith??……..
YES SIR. I remember that, you are correct.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:34 pm
Tampa Bay Demon Says:
Hey, wasn’t Foghorn Leghorn playing DB for us this season? I could have sworn I saw him at some point.
No, he was playing DT and wearing #93, smiling and helping opposing players up off the ground. He also apologized for knocking said player down. Then he smiled, mouthed “I love you Rod Munch” to someone in the upper deck of Raymond james. Comic book in hand and ice cream on his mind.
December 14th, 2018 at 6:48 pm
There is absolutely no excuse that Koetter could offer up that will explain why he kept Mike Smith after 2017. The truth: he did not care enough about the Bucs to go to all lengths to hire another better DC. He could of and should of done more to replace Smith long before the 2018 season. He and Jason Licht should be released immediately after this season. Jason Licht is as much and even more to blame, he is way below average at picking players and he could of fired Mike Smith at any point–no excuse–he is responsible for all of the failed mess.
December 14th, 2018 at 8:46 pm
Jimmy Jack is right about the Smitty slash Dirk situation. If you actually believe that Koetter voluntarily fired Smith then I have some prime real estate to show you down in the Glades…….. Koetter’s loyalty to beloq average coaches and players are a key reason (though not the only one) why he should be fired no later than the Monday after the Bucs and ATL slug it out for 3rd place and draft positioning.
BTW. Back in the dark ages when Ray Perkins was running the Bucs to 5 and 6 win seasons like Dirk a lot of people used to like Creamsicle leisure suit wearing Hugh Culverhouse to Foghorn Leghorn as that rural Bama accent if Mr C was a match to above said rooster……. Sad that Koetter and Licht had carte blanche to build a roster but ended up with teams whose record is similar to Ray Perkins’ teams which were limited in talent due to Hugh the screw always competing with the Bidwells for being the cheapest owner in the NFL and now the Bucs may have the most inept owners as far as hiring a GM and head coach.
December 15th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Jason Licht=Foghorn Leghorn
December 15th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
[Joe saw Jameis last year with his shoulder wrapped. Even put that out on Twitter how that was strange. — Joe.]