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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 – NOVEMBER 13: Chris Conte #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers returns an interception 20 yards for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 13: Chris Conte #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers returns an interception 20 yards for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Zain Ahmed

Many of us saw the comments made my Ward about how he’s at “wit’s end” with his playing time, and I really didn’t know what that meant.

However, after a quick google search I found out that it means that he has basically become impatient. Later on, Baker backed up Ward’s comments via Twitter saying “FACTS I feel the same way bro”.

This was a little scary to see because after that, I along with probably several Bucs fans thought what is going on with the defense?!?

Ward and Baker’s concerns are definitely valid. Ward should be playing more, he is definitely better than Chris Conte in my opinion. The free-agent addition has had some blunders this past two weeks, but he is still learning the defense.

There will be some growing pains, however, he is still more of a play-maker than Conte.

The Bucs need some change to their defense and playing Ward would be a step in the right direction. Baker is the starting nose-tackle for the Bucs so it is unlikely that he was complaining about his playing time.

To me, it just seems like Baker was frustrated with the defense and wants there to be change, such as starting Ward over Conte. However, Baker similarly to Ward hasn’t exactly been lights out.

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Baker was supposed to help in the run game and help generate pressure, but he has yet to record a sack and the defense has been getting run all over the past few weeks.

These men are both players that should be starters and they are good players, but they must elevate their level of play along with the rest of the defense.

However, the players are not entirely to blame. This is going to sound like a broken record, but Mike Smith has to adjust his scheme to fit his player’s strengths. I know it is easier said than done, but SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

The defense has been horrible this season and it’s surprising considering the talent on the roster. I did not expect the defense to be completely shutdown. But, I expected at the very worst, a middle of the pack defense. This defense is one of the worst, if not the worst.

Giving Baker and Ward more playing time would be a good start to fixing the defense, but it wouldn’t solve the puzzle alone.

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