Football Wisdom From JPP
November 5th, 2019
No excuses.
Back in May, Joe was beyond skeptical that Jason Pierre-Paul would ever take another snap for the Bucs.
Look, the dude had a broken neck. You ever see players play football with a broken neck? Most doctors would tell a guy to shut it down for good, unless he wants to roll through life in a wheelchair.
Joe remembers this summer a Bucs type telling Joe one reason the team was keeping JPP was that they hoped a guy who could return to the league to play superior football after blowing up his hand would show the same resiliency to return from a broken neck.
Joe thought that was borderline irresponsible. And Joe thought someone at One Buc Palace better hope they have a career safety net at the ready when that same JPP hope blows up in their face and they are told to clean out their desk.
Fast forward to now and who would have guessed? JPP has sparked a renewed pass rush from the Bucs the past two games.
Sunday after outside linebackers Anthony Nelson and Carl Nassib went down, JPP, in only his second game back from that neck injury, logged 72 snaps. Last week in his first game back he had 42 snaps and after the game said he wanted more.
Well, he got it.
“It came obviously unexpected, but two guys went down and we had to get the job done,” JPP said. “It felt good, though.”
Then JPP waved off using injuries as an excuse for the loss to Seattle.
“This is the game of football,” JPP said about stepping up when teammates go down. “Opportunities are made and given, so the next guy up will have an opportunity to showcase his talent. That’s what the game is about.”
Juxtapose JPP’s words to Bucco Bruce Arians’ after the game when he mentioned how Jamel Dean was caught by surprise that he was going to play nearly every snap Carlton Davis got hurt pregame.
Then Arians mentioned how his secondary was gassed, not that he was wrong.
JPP sucked it up and made plays. The Bucs secondary? Those guys got torched right and left.
No matter what happens the rest of the year, for Joe, watching how two guys dealt with major injuries, JPP and Alex Cappa, Joe just has mad respect for those two.
November 5th, 2019 at 4:07 pm
He’s a true stud.
Hopefully they can keep around with Shaq and Nassib.
Licht has painted his dumb*** into a corner here.
November 5th, 2019 at 4:09 pm
now he just needs to paint in a good corner!
November 5th, 2019 at 4:10 pm
That why you don’t go after the light skinned brothers. They are soft man
November 5th, 2019 at 4:13 pm
#56
in
2019
November 5th, 2019 at 4:16 pm
Lamarcus you are a dumbphuck
November 5th, 2019 at 4:24 pm
of course crazy Joe was …that’s what crazy Joe does lol
November 5th, 2019 at 4:28 pm
JPP, Nassib, and Barrett are all on the last year of their deals….brilliant!!
Next season we can use the excuse that all of our pass rushers are too young, but just wait until the next year.
November 5th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
I think the young corners are playing better. JD had a couple of deflections and was pretty close to his man most of the day
November 5th, 2019 at 5:05 pm
MIND OVER MATTER! MAN UP YOUR NEXT!!!
November 5th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Dean was a real mixed bag… obv gave up the big passes but had toght coverage on some and some breakups. . But what bother me was he looked like he was really loading on some plays especially against the run.. like just standing there waiting for the plays to come to him
November 5th, 2019 at 5:22 pm
JPP is a rare dude. Hopefully his and Cappa’s toughness are rubbing off on some of the softer players.
November 5th, 2019 at 5:40 pm
We need 10 more JPP’s!!
November 5th, 2019 at 5:53 pm
Coburn … First I’ve heard that Dean didn’t know until just before gametime that he’d be starting. For a rookie who’d logged a grand total of THREE defensive snaps prior to that this season that must’ve come as a real shock. Chance to ‘showcase his talents’ … Sure. Bigger chance to get eaten alive by one of the best QBs in the game … definitely.
Personally thought he looked ‘slower’ than I anticipated he look, but I take that as him being a rookie afraid to make mistakes more than ‘loafing’. And especially after getting picked on so relentlessly. He ran a 4.3 sec 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so he’s obviously not slow. BTW, that was the fastest time among CBs & the 2nd fastest among all participants at the Combine. Now we just need to see that translate onto the field. And in time I’m sure that it will. He’s really only got 2 years under him as a starting college CB because of his injury history.
November 5th, 2019 at 6:02 pm
Obviously, we need more guys like JPP and Cappa. Hard to find these days.
Great read, Joe.
November 5th, 2019 at 6:06 pm
I will admit I didn’t expect JPP to be back this year. Gotta be impressed with his want to.
November 5th, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Again, I tried to tell y’all about those chickens and prayers. But wtfdik!
November 5th, 2019 at 6:10 pm
JPP is a veteran with years of experience under his belt. Vita Vea has said how huge an influence he has been on him and Vita Vea looks like a Manimal this year.
May I ask who is JPP’s equivalent in the secondary?
November 5th, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Millenials making their way into the NFL. Started for the Bucs years ago with Dexter Jackson the II but the rest are catching up. Even though they are fast and strong physical specimen’s they cry when things don’t go their way. They would rather be home playing Forte Nite or Madden then anything else. They complain that practice is too tough and it is cutting into their video game time. They show up like Super Hero’s and end up wearing komono’s, complaining about what position you want them to play, and crying over sprained ankles.
November 5th, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Well said !…5656
November 5th, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Well let’s draft more corners this year……
November 5th, 2019 at 8:08 pm
JPP is an absolute freak.
He’s the rare combination of off the charts athleticism combined with determination and grit to match it.
A leader of men. By example.
JPP mentioned using his dad’s blindness as a source of strength when overcoming the hand injury. He said his father doesn’t let him effect himself and finds was to succeed and be happy.
We need to franchise tag JPP in 2020.
If he goes to free agency, that would hurt.
November 5th, 2019 at 8:10 pm
Petty officer,
Vita Vea is a monster. Love that pick. He is a ginormous pain in the ass for interior of offensive lines. I believe he is only going to get better. For such a mountain of a man, he’s quite quick/nimble.
November 5th, 2019 at 8:46 pm
PettyOfficer
That was a great question! Sadly we know the answer and I know your question was rhetorical.
We have no veteran leadership in the DB. VHG is just trying to save what’s left of his career. His example has hardly been inspiring…let the guy get past you then chase him.
SteveK Agree about JPP…need to try and figure a way to keep him.
November 5th, 2019 at 10:47 pm
@petty
Back on IR for 2nd time in 3 seasons