David Says Defensive Free Agents Were Needed
June 14th, 2015
The leaders of the Buccaneers defense like to point to how well their “D” played (allegedly) in its final 10 games.
But that same defense had many key pieces bounced.
Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio recently, Lavonte David named the six experienced defensive free agents Tampa Bay added — Bruce Carter, Sterling Moore, Chris Conte, D.J. Swearinger, Henry Melton and George Johnson — and referred to them as “those guys that we probably needed.”
Joe found the admission of need by David particularly interesting, especially considering the Bucs ditched starting middle linebacker Mason Foster, David’s very close friend.
Joe loves the free agent signings, all second-tier type guys, and nearly all very familiar with Lovie Smith’s old school Tampa-2 defense.
Unlike the Bucs’ offense, the Tampa Bay defense has run out of excuses. If this unit continues to blow late-game leads and doesn’t rank among the top half of the NFL, look for Joe call for some heads to roll.
June 14th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
…and, Joe, if the Bucs defense proves it is in the top half of all D’s then I predict a 7-9 or 8-8 season. Build this team around its best player, McCoy, and we will have a winning season. Strengthen the O-line for Jameis and we will have a playoff contender. But that will take another year, at the least. So, I’ll be ecstatic about a 7-9 possibility this year.
June 14th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
…and for someone who has been a Buc season ticketholder since the Dungy days, hoping for a 7-9 outcome is a letdown, but it is what it is
June 14th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Good call and synopsis Seminole Bill. Unlike many of the posers out here, like me, you have season tickets and from your tone I believe you.
I don’t think 7-9 would be an underachievement. Winston, no matter how god, is still a rookie.
We are also a unicorn short on the defensive line with an edge rusher but I am hopeful we will eventually find one and the FA’s we signed will produce a sufficient number until then.
June 14th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
If we get a double digit sack total by committee from our DEs this year (and that is doable) I predict a top ten defense this year and a lot more turnovers too. But on offense we will have to see how ready to play our OL is when the pads come on and especially if our two rookies can handle our defense when in pads then this will be a fun year at last.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Bottom line – this is a work in progress – good fans will have to accept whatever comes out of it.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
We still need a Respectable Right Defense End & Middle Linebacker. Maybe we’ll supplement the positions through the waiver wire & or trade-But we’re almost their. Just need two more pieces.
A Top 10 Defense + 1,800 Ground Game, w/Two 1,000 yard receivers. Can win you a lot games in this league.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Maybe I am to positive but we were in many games last year that wr could have won. This year we have a offensive coordinator, unlike last year, and our defense is in its second year with these players. I am not going to be happy unless we get 9-10 wins. And I am a season ticket holder as well.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
(Possibilities)
RDE-Chris Clemons
MLB-Mychal Kendricks
Note: Jacksonville’s RDE Chris Clemons (*8 sacks in 2014). Was rumored to be on the chopping block, before Fowlers knee injury.
June 14th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Clemons would be huge man.
June 14th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
And ndog you’re not too positive. This squad is prime to make big noise this season mainly because of the points you stipulated. It’s “SkullGang man Red banner 1ball2blades”. The Bay got something to say.
June 14th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Like the non high profile signings on D. Under the radar, looks good to me. No complaints.
June 14th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
I agree that 7-9 wouldn’t be a huge underachievement with our current talent but 9-7 wouldn’t be any major achievement either,
Let’s win ten in this crapola division with our weak schedule.
These “six” are great additions to the defense. No NFL team can have elite players at every position. The really good teams have their share of elite but their so called “secondary signs” like Michael Bennett are truly competent professionals who can play their position if not dominate like an elite player.
Get the right combination of elite and secondary players and you have a solid defense. The Bucs have a good enough start with two truly elite players at DT and LB. If they can fill in with strong secondary help, or if one of the six can suddenly blossom ala Shelton Quarles after he joined us from the CFL…we could easily have a top ten D.
June 14th, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Again wise words St.Pete,I’ve said it before outside of Urlaquor(I know I misspelled it)Briggs and maybe Tillman I can’t recall many other players with the exception of Peppers that Lovie snatch from Carolina on that defense. Can’t recall any of them but we know those defenSe’s were tenacious as hell.
June 14th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Still can’t figure out why Bucs fans thought Foster was any good. Nice guy but didnt have the skill set needed.
See the same thing with Glennon.
Look he aint Joe Montana but the numbers he put up with having the worst line in the NFL Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin hurt his rookie year is astonishing.
June 14th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
I’m sitting at the crib watching NFL network’s top 10 countdown”NFL turnarounds”thinking to myself wait till they get a load of this Buccaneer turnaround in 2015. Some of y’all about to be shocked out ya underwear.
June 14th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Is it me or are they forecasting? Time
June 14th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Time will tell. 81 49ers went from 6 and 10 to superbowl champions. Anything possible.
June 14th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
Not sure why Joe thinks a defense filled with 2nd tier guys is a good thing. He says 2nd tier but really they are 2nd string players. The defensive ends and safeties that the team will trot out for game 1 would not be starters on any other team. That is not a good thing! At all! I love my Bucs but you guys are going to be in for a rude awakening. There is a reason the experts have the Bucs ranked as one of the worst teams in the league headin into the 2015 season. I think the offense has potential but the o-line is a work in progress and these two rookies will struggle initially. I hope I’m wrong but you guys talking about 10 wins just seem like fans who aren’t really analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of this team.
June 14th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
The Pats were 5 and 11 in 2000 the rest is history. Some of you talk about Belichek like he’s a football God but he was on his way out the league before the emergence of Brady. This 6 win BS notion for us next season is repulsive.
June 14th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
99 Rams 4 and 12 Tent Greens gose down,Warner comes in And again the rest is history.
June 14th, 2015 at 7:15 pm
This defense is going to need the offense to score at least 21 points a game.
June 14th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
I like some of our rookies on defense, especially Kwon Alexander and Chris Hackett.
June 14th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Shane they will put up 3 touchdowns routinely.
June 14th, 2015 at 8:03 pm
1800 ground game? Keep dreaming we would be lucky to get that if we had AP
June 14th, 2015 at 9:11 pm
Routinely?
Someone’s been sippin’ on the gin n juice…
June 14th, 2015 at 9:41 pm
Not sure about Conte – but all the rest are upgrades and/or at minimum excellent competition and quality depth. The talent level on this team is increasing. Jason Licht (with help from Lovie on these Defensive pick-ups obviously) is doing a good job of identifying and bringing in talented players. There is definitely more talent on this team than what there was the last few years.
The addition of Winston will be the key to this team’s future success. Surround this young future superstar QB with solid talent on both sides of the ball – and watch him be the difference maker.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:12 pm
So let me get this straight 87,you find it hard to believe that a offense with all these weapons and a phenom at QB will have problems producing three scores routinely? Wow,keep in mind and I’ll say it again there is no film of our offense,and much like another poster mentioned in another article Koetter produced a top offense in ATL with a line just as porous as the Buccs line was last season.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:14 pm
Think and expect bigger people.
June 15th, 2015 at 1:52 am
GetAClue
Seattle Lead the league in rushing last year with 2762 yards
Followed up by:
• 2.)Cowboys (12-4): 2354
• 3.)Jets (4-12): 2280
• 4.)49ers (8-8): 2176
• 5.)Texans (9-7): 2161
• 6.)Bengals (10-6): 2147
• 7.)*Panthers (7-8): 2036 ←Only Divisional Leader w/ Losing Rec.
• 8.)Ravens (10-6): 2019
• 9.)Eagles (10-6): 1992
• 10.)Chiefs (9-7): 1918
• 11.)Packers (12-4): 1917
• 12.)Dolphins (8-8): 1872
• 13.)Saints (7-9): 1818
• 14.)Vikings (7-9): 1804 <-*Without AP
• 15.)Broncos (12-4): 1785
Outside of Carolina only 3 of the top 15 teams finished with a losing record.
Note: Average Combined Rushing yards from scrimmage in 2014 was 1781. Bucs ranked 29th in league with 1375 combined rushing yards.
June 15th, 2015 at 3:10 am
Defense wins championships in any game. It’s why our Lightning are hanging by a thread.