Tuesday, 4 a.m.
5 Thoughts
- We have seen them now. We have seen the promise delivered. This is the kind of football we should expect from the Bucs: disciplined, efficient, relentless. They won't go every week with no turnovers or no penalties, but they should be able to run and play good defense.
2. Is Donovan Smith playing an entire game with no penalties football's version of a no-hitter?
3. He has now started 15 straight games, still short of a full season. And Ronald Jones II has 882 yards in those. He has 330 yards in the last three. In other words, he finally looks like a grown up.
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4. Oh, so that's why the Packers drafted Jordan Love. The last day Aaron Rodgers suffered more than that was when Danica Patrick said goodbye.
5. So, Vince. What do you do when there is no daylight?
5 Comments
(From Bruce Arians' day-after press conference)
(On the play of the defense): “I think we made great adjustments on the sideline. Those can’t happen unless you do a great job of preparation during the week. I think it was a little bit of holding our breath. Like Todd (Bowles) said, ‘Let’s let it go, man. Let’s go play. Jamel (Dean’s) interception, then Mike's (Edwards) interception and knocking it in for touchdowns – then, it was our game. Really, really proud of the guys (for) the way they did respond offensively and defensively.”
(On the possibility of another such performance): “There’s no doubt – that is the standard. Knock on wood [we] stay healthy, and keep preparing on the practice field. I could’ve told you last Thursday we were going to play [well]. We had Thursday and Friday practices that we’ve never had before. We’ve had great practices, but there was something special in the air on Thursday and Friday’s practices. It’s like, ‘What are we going to do this week?’ Our message is, ‘Let’s make sure we’re doing the same thing every single day this week.’”
(On newly acquired defensive tackle Steve McClendon): “He’s got to go through the protocols and pass the physical, but he played in yesterday’s ballgame (for the Jets). We all know Steve – he’s really a quality human being and a hell of a player. Losing Vita (Vea), we just needed to sure up against some of these big-time running teams (and acquire) another nose-guard type player. Jason (Licht) was able to make it (happen) and hopefully we can get him past the physical and get the trade through.”
(On Ndamukong Suh): “I think he’s getting less attention. I think he was the most double-teamed player in the league last year and he’s loving that single-block stuff. [Anthony] Nelson jumped in there and played a little three technique and Nacho (Rakeem Nunez-Roches) played really, really well. Suh’s just making the best of his opportunities and he loves getting after Aaron [Rodgers] – that’s for sure.”
(On defensive coordinator Todd Bowles): “Todd is one of those guys – he’s here at 4:30 [a.m.]. [Jamel] Dean’s here at 5 (a.m.), so there’s guys coming in the door to sit down and watch film with him every single day. That’s your job. Todd does a great job – he’s a great communicator [and] he’s a great teacher. To have those guys with smaller groups – one, two [or] three [players], maybe –in the room with him and teaching them what to look for. It’s really, really helped their growth as players and their confidence, too.”
Game Balls
Offense: If you want one winner, it would be running back Ronald Jones II. But let's give it to the offensive line that opened holes for 4.5 yards per carry, allowed no sacks and didn't have a penalty.
Defense: Are people ready to start noticing Lavonte David, the Bucs invisible linebacker? He had a typical stat line: eight tackles, a sack and a half and two tackles for losses. But when a team loses, no one notices its linebackers. Now, you can't help it.
Special teams: Ryan Succop had a 50-yard field goal and five extra points.
Grades
Quarterback: It wasn't one of the statistiallyl-loaded performances of Tom Brady's career, but his rating was high and his interceptions were at zero. Nothing wrong with managing a game. Grade: B.
Running back: Week by week, Jones is more and more impressive. He may end up with 1,000 yards this year. Grade: A.
Offensive line: Were these the Bucs? Where were the penalties? Where were the breakdowns. The Bucs can win a lot of games with this effort. Grade: A+/
Receivers: Finally, you could see why the Bucs wanted Rob Gronkowski. If these wideouts get healthy, the team could go on a nice run. Grade: C.
Defensive line: A stellar effort, where players took turns assaulting Aaron Rodgers all day. Grade: A.
Linebackers: David and Devin White combined for 18 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and five tackles for losses. A textbook game. Grade: A.
Secondary: Rodgers only touchdown pass was to Jamel Dean. The team gave up just 160 yards passing. Grade: A.
5 More Thoughts
- The Bucs have played 298 football games. Sunday was the second time they have played without a penalty. The other time was in 1983 in a 23-20 loss to Detroit.
2. He's rested, he's ready. Welcome back to head coaching, Raheem Morris.
3. According to Pro Football Focus, rookie Tristan Wirfs gave up no pressures on Sunday. Rookies of the Year are the guys with the flashy numbers, but Wirfs has been superb.
4. If he were alive today, would Bugsy Segal be a big Raiders' fan?
5. Carlton Davis, who leads the NFL in passes defensed, had four more Sunday. The rest of the team had two.
Checking the Stats
Category Player NFL Rank
Passing Yards Brady 10
Rushing Jones 3
Tackles White 8
David 11
Sacks Pierre-Paul 3
Interceptions Davis 3