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

By David Harrison

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 03: Denver Broncos safety T. J. Ward visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl LI Radio Row at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 03: Denver Broncos safety T. J. Ward visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl LI Radio Row at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM ) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Keith Tandy #37 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball after an interception against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 17-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Keith Tandy #37 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball after an interception against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 17-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Brian DeFeo

This week T.J. Ward said he was upset with his playing time and I believe he should be.

Ward was an All Pro safety in 2013 and is frequently listed as a Top-100 players on the NFL player’s rankings. He’s older but he hasn’t forgotten how to play safety.

He was cut to save cap space but was still a crucial part of Denver’s “No Fly Zone” defense.

The Bucs literally traded away one of their free-agent acquisitions for him to be a part of their defense. Keith Tandy was an integral part of the defenses success towards the end of last season but he is recovering from injury and has never been an All-Pro Ward.

Tandy only played five snaps against the Bills and they were the last five of the game. Ward is a run stuffing safety that might’ve been able to make a play on the final five.

If Mike Smith believes that Ward is not ready to play his defense, he should adjust the play calling to get him on the field. It’s now Week 8 and the Buccaneers defense has gotten worse.

When Ward has played this year, he has given up some plays but so has everyone else. The best way for him to get better is to get him on the field.

If that means simplifying the defense, he should simplify the defense. Smith’s defensive play calling isn’t working so something has to change either way.

Chris Baker’s tweet was a little vague making it seem like he was also upset. I took it as he was agreeing that Ward needed to be on the field. Baker does have high expectations being one of the key free agent signings.

He is not living up to expectations, but no one on the line is doing anything well. The run defense is getting gashed and the pass rush has fewer sacks combined than Calais Campbell has by himself.

In my opinion, this is Smith’s problem to fix. The best way to fix a problem is using the best tools to get it done. While Ward and Baker haven’t been great they are the best we got and they need to be on the field.

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