Simms: Shaq Ignites Defense
September 29th, 2020
When Shaq shines.
A former Bucs quarterback who is now a big shot national NFL talking head thinks he knows the straw that stirs the drink for the Bucs defense.
That would be Shaq Barrett.
The NFL’s incumbent sack king was shut out on sacks through two games. While the Bucs played solid if not good football on defense, Shaq was not visible. (Yeah, Joe knows X’s and O’s types say Shaq was giving a lot of effort and made a difference, but it clearly still added up to a goose egg in the area he is getting handsomely paid to produce.)
Ex-Bucs QB Chris Simms, on his podcast “Unbuttoned,” said the Bucs defense could be downright “scary” now that Shaq is back.
“This could be a scary team when they play that way,” Simms said of Shaq leading an all-out assault on Broncos quarterback Jeff Driskel. Simms added when Shaq, Jason Pierre-Paul, Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh are all on their games, “You are not going to be able to block them.”
Offensively, Joe heard Simms say the Bucs are improved but still not smooth. He noted the Bucs are still using a lot of Belicheat concepts and as a result, the offense doesn’t seem to be all on the same page. Yet.
“[Tom] Brady did look good,” Simms said. “That pass to Chris Godwin [for a touchdown]? That’s an old Patriots play. I feel like I am seeing a lot Patriots stuff still infused in the offense which is making Brady comfortable.
“I don’t look at the offense and say, ‘Aw man, they are awesome. They have it all figured out.'”
It was a good sign for the Bucs that foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski was very active in the passing game, Simms added.
September 29th, 2020 at 2:31 pm
First
September 29th, 2020 at 2:36 pm
This defense is going to get fire from all over the field. Shaq will certainly provide his share but JPP…White and LVD…and WINFIELD!!! This D has a lot of leadership and juice to draw on.
September 29th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
This “old Patriot play” thing Simms keeps bring up all the time. WTF!!! I mean there are only so many routes. And they have all been run by every team since the first forward pass. Give me a break with the crap already…
September 29th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Agree with Simms on the offense. We are proving to be in every game if we don’t turn it over. Shocking!!!
I’ll take winning ugly vs losing with ‘potential’.
In BA I Trust!
September 29th, 2020 at 2:49 pm
If they ran more Patriots plays, I think you’d see a lot more shotgun. I’m sort of surprised they’ve used shotgun as little as they have. It seems to me you play to your players strength, and giving Brady more time to read the field and react is a good thing. What you lose is some of your running game, but the running game isn’t that good anyways, so just tear up all plays from undercenter unless it’s 3rd and 1 or you’re at the goalline. But then, of course, that’s where Leftwich actually goes to shotgun, it makes no sense.
September 29th, 2020 at 2:56 pm
Shaq was showing up, he just wasn’t getting sacks – but still, it’s glad to see him get a couple so he doesn’t feel like he has to push things.
Personally the difference, in my opinion, is Winfield. He’s such a giant upgrade over what they had last year and he’s playing at an outstanding level, the second coming of Ronde, a 1st year pro-bowler who should be getting all-pro consideration. If he can keep that up for an entire year and not hit that rookie wall or get exposed in the pass game, wow, what a difference maker. Add with that everyone on the team being more comfortable with the defense in its 2nd year, and those young corners continuing to get better, this could be a special unit.
Or, with the lack of depth, they could get one or two injuries and fall apart. But lets not go there.
September 29th, 2020 at 2:59 pm
Work in progress. Give them a little time, and things will gel. Just keep winning!
September 29th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
AJ I’ll agree that the routes are the same but concepts are different did you watch the game last night? No one is running the type of things we’re seeing Kansas City run(concept wise). That playbook is ridiculous. I know we have them later this year. One game at a time but that will show if this defense is ready. Right now the defense is carrying us which is what most of us thought had to happen. I’m not at all happy with the run blocking we don’t have road graters which is why I believe we’ve gotta run more misdirection and quick swing passes to the backs. Spread the field and then hit between the tackles.Not sure why BL wants to run screens with Mike that’s more of what should be done with Miller or Godwin. They can make a guy miss and then take it to the house. I love Mike but that Carolina game where he had open field to run he looked confused. Not sure if he was surprised that the QB hit him in stride or what.Lol
September 29th, 2020 at 3:03 pm
simms is full of $h!t!!!!!!
simms was the main guy saying he thought the bucs would go 8-8…
we lost, he said brady didnt look like brady….
we win, it was PATS plays…..lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 3:06 pm
Rod
check our redzone efficiency…..
BL is working magic….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 3:15 pm
I live in New Orleans for the past 13 years and as a life long Bucs fan mY favorite development is looking at Saints threads about Brees. They’re just as divided as it was in here with Jameis. Half want Jameis and half want Brees.
September 29th, 2020 at 3:25 pm
brad
i can hear the saints now saying: he is who we thought he was!!!!….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 3:26 pm
“Brilliant minds like Rod Munch and Kobe Faker have the same thoughts
We have a top 3 defense in the NFL but we wont come out of the NFC because of our offense
We cant compete with Seattle, GB, San Fran, Dallas, Rams
because we are not allowing Brady to be Brady and be effective and succeed
Brady wins with his head. Need TB12 at his best which is 90% in shotgun formation and spread offense
Brady beats defenses by his presnap reads and decision making
Brady wins mentally not physically
unplug Leftwich headset”
Kobe Faker
September 29th, 2020 at 3:32 pm
The quick passes for touch downs to the fellas were designed that way.
Seems the Buccaneers were listening when we asked them to better protect the receivers from further damage and cut those crazy constant deep routes from wearing them out. No one on defense expected the plays and they burned em several times with it. Short and sweet. Deception. The Buccaneers have so many good weapons that they can confuse defenses all day long,
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 3:36 pm
rod munch’s back to back posts nailed it…very on point
September 29th, 2020 at 3:40 pm
– more shotgun would be good…more pats plays are ok too
– shaq was playing pretty well…just not stat sheet well…he was being disruptive and getting pressure…fans who just look at numbers were complaining
– vita was really sleepwalking thru the first 2 games…seemed way out of shape…hopefully he’s getting his legs now…
– and winfield is bringing all 3 units together…hopefully it can last because he still is a rook
September 29th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
Shaq hasn’t ignited anything, joes. He was brought here by Todd Bowles who did. Jason Licht helped with the paperwork. Sure has been fun watching thiis D slowly mature. They will only get better. 🙂
September 29th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
yall play too much madden and fantasy football…lol…
keep bashing BL…the more we win, the more yall look like fools…
but some of us already knew that…lol…
GO BUCS!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 4:38 pm
AWJ coming off the edge is a thing of beauty to watch. So quick and agile. Looks like a cheetah tracking down his prey.
September 29th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Clearly you can see the offensive play calls have advanced weekly becoming a more intricate web of deception based off of so many super receiving targets.
Moving Shady around can help to open things up but his ball protection is
SUPER SCARY!
I am dressing up as Shady for Halloween. scary with the ball. YIKES!!!
I could be wrong but I feel a QB Spy this game.
Somethin tells me he’s gonna try to run and use draws and underneath stuff.
You don’t think a OC notices 4 INT in 2 weeks? 13 sacks in 2 weeks?
Countless QB pressures and knockdowns? The Chargers aren’t ready for this fight but we are.
GO BUCS!!!!
September 29th, 2020 at 5:14 pm
hey Rod that’s why bend over on the line so Tommy can see….lol
September 29th, 2020 at 8:03 pm
Great Point Rod!!
Winfield actually HAS been a difference maker in the entire scope of things.
Many fans don’t see that
September 29th, 2020 at 8:14 pm
Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!
Can’t compete with the rams? Check the scoreboard one year ago today.
Can’t compete with the cowboys? I guess they didn’t need a miracle to escape the Falcons.
Can’t compete with the 49ers? Wow that practice squad must be all-pro.
Can’t compete with Seattle? An overtime shootout loss with a 3rd string qb ain’t as competitive as it used to be.
Can’t compete with packers? Olivia Munn and Danica Patrick in scantily clad swashbuckling gear wrestling in the south end zone might change that!