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

Michael Horan

The big controversy of the week – and perhaps season – has been the simmering frustration that several players have had with Buccaneers defensive coordinator, Mike Smith.

It began immediately after the Bills game when safety T.J. Ward spoke out, and continued when he was backed up by defensive tackle Chris Baker.

Both players have legitimate gripes. Neither veteran signed on to be used as rotational players, and neither seem to be liabilities when they’re on the field.

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Of the two, I’d say that Ward is the one that needs to see the biggest uptick in snaps, at least for this week.

It’s possible he’s lost too many steps and that Denver was correct in releasing him, but the Bucs won’t know unless they give him the chance to prove it. If he doesn’t show that he can still play, the Bucs should release him and let him go somewhere that better suits him.

Against the Panthers I expect to see Ward playing a heavy amount of ‘prove it’ snaps, but I’m not so sure what will change with Baker.

The big tackle has been mostly invisible this season and I think that the Bucs are mostly set with their malfunctioning defensive tackle rotation.