Ok, I think we've all had a chance to take a breath and calm down just a bit since sunday a week ago. Still the overwhelming majority agrees that Mike Smith is the Bucs biggest problem so far (and I was in the camp that thought he was our greatest signing when we got him). What would it take to change your opinion on Mike Smith?
So far our pass rush and DLine play is improved over last year (sure that is not saying much). Our coverage and containment look to be the biggest problems to me. And that leads to tons of points against, and yards through the air.
If we can start to clean up the communication errors and cover enough to get our PPG back down around 25, while continuing on a pace for 35-40 sacks per game, would you be ok keeping Smith around at the end of an 8-8 season? Especially if our rookies show growth?
Personally, I wouldn't, because I think that his history over the last three years would still show more inept defenses than adept defenses, and he would still be a liability and reason for not making the playoffs. I would need to see this defense get so much more better than I think they have the potential for right now. Anything short of playoffs and MSmith has to go at the end of the season.
