Buccaneers Round Table: Is T.J. Ward right about his comments?

Ren

So the Buccaneers had two different players pop off about their lack of playing time after a Bucs loss at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.

No matter which side of the fence you come down on pertaining to weather or not T.J. Ward or Chris Baker should of aired their frustrations publicly. Are they correct in wanting , but more importantly, deserving of more game day snaps.

T.J. Ward. You’re up first.

First I’d like to defend Ward about publicly complaining to the media. He wasn’t looking for a microphone after the game to put defensive coordinator Mike Smith on blast. Per Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat reporter, who broke the story and was the media member Ward vented to. The locker room was nearly empty, most of the reporters and players had left. When Stroud walked up to the 3x Pro Bowl safety and asked what was up with all the rotation at his position. That’s when Ward frustrations got the best of him and told the reporter that  he not used to being a part time player and he is here to make the defense better because that is what he does.

Not damning, but does Ward have a point?

When Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter was asked about it during his Monday press conference I think he put the issue to rest.

Koetter explained that he and the disgruntled safety actually had a meeting on the previous Thursday, and in that meeting Koetter told Ward what exactly what he needed to do to earn more time on the field.

As far as I’m concerned there is your answer, and I believe that Wards’ outburst was more about the way the his defense played in the last 4 minutes of the Bills game. Than about his actual playing time.

Koetter laid it on the table for him. Now we could see T.J. Ward play more this Sunday against the Panthers, but that will have more to do with his play against the Bills than his venting session. In the limited plays Ward did get last Sunday. Did he check all the boxes Dirk Koetter had given him the week before? If so. Ward plays more. It’s as simple as that.

Must Read: Week 8 Divisional Sit, Start, and Sleepers

So that brings us to Chris Baker.

Baker didn’t run to reporters either. He waited till one of his teammates (Ward) complained about playing time and decided to include himself into the conversation.

After Rick Stroud posted his story on T.J. Wards comments. Baker quoted a link to the article on Twitter posting “FACTS I feel the same way Bro”.

This time the media asked defensive coordinator Mike Smith about Bakers tweet.

“He’s a rotational player for us”. was Smiths response.

Far from a ringing endorsement about Chris Bakers play thus far, but I think Baker has a point.

Defensive Tackle Chris Baker was signed during the off season as a free agent. He had played his previous 6 NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins where in his last year recorded a career high 6 sacks.

When Mike Smith talks about Baker being a rotational player, what he really means, is the Baker is in on downs when Smith thinks the opposing team is going to run. When Mike Smith thinks the opposing team is going to pass, Baker is on the bench.

The Buccaneer run defense isn’t stellar, but their pass rush is worse. If Baker had a career year getting to the quarterback in 2016 and your pass rush is statistically last in the NFL it may be time to give Baker some situational downs where he can get to the quarterback.

Thanks for reading.

You can follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt

Until next time.

GO BUCS!!!