The Buccaneers have replaced defensive coordinator Mike Smith with linebackers coach Mark Duffner. Ian Rapoport reported the news on Twitter, and the team later confirmed the move.

PewterReport.com’s Scott Reynolds called for Smith to be replaced as the team’s defensive coordinator by Duffner in a previous edition of SR’s Fab 5 following Tampa Bay’s 48-10 loss at Chicago. That’s exactly what happened.

Bucs DC Mike Smith and LBs coach Mark Duffner – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I have the utmost respect for Mike Smith as a man and as a football coach,” said Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter. “These decisions are always difficult, but our top priority here is to ensure that we do everything possible to help this team succeed. As I have said in the past, the issues we have had as a team are never one person’s fault. During good times, as well as the bad, it is a collective effort between the coaches and the players. We all understand that this is a result-based profession and our results to this point have not met our standards. I want to thank Mike for all the hard work and passion he has displayed here on a daily basis and I wish him well moving forward.”

Smith’s removal comes after the Bucs surrendered 34 points to Atlanta on Sunday in Tampa Bay’s third loss in a row. In 37 games in which Smith presided over the defense, the Bucs had allowed at least 400 yards in 20 of those contests, including Sunday’s game in Atlanta.

The Bucs rank 31st in total defense, allowing an average of 439.8 yards per game, and the team ranks dead last in points allowed with 34.6 per game. Tampa Bay also ranks dead last in passing defense, surrendering 355.6 yards per game. Ultimately, Smith had to be held accountable for the poor play of his defensive unit.

Smith was thought of to be a steal of a find when the Buccaneers hired him back in 2016. After being the head coach of the Falcons for six years – to much success, at times – Smith took a year off of football before joining Koetter’s staff when he got promoted as the head coach. In his first year as the Bucs defensive coordinator, Smith had the 14th ranked defense in the league in terms of total points scored against them.

Before the 2017 season, there was fear that the Buccaneers would lose Smith to a head coaching vacancy, as he had plenty of head coaching experience. In the end, there was interest for Smith, but no bites and he was retained as the Buccaneers defensive coordinator. This was thought of to be a major celebration.

Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

However, 2017 didn’t go as planned for Smith or the Buccaneers defense. Though they did battle through some injuries to key players throughout the year, Smith’s defense digressed from a Top 15 defense in 2016 to the worst defense in the NFL in terms of yards given up per game, and also finished last in the NFL in sacks with only 22 on the season.

The step backwards of Smith’s defense was part of the reason why there was thought to be total changes on the Buccaneers staff this offseason. Though Koetter ultimately survived, Smith did not and his time in Tampa Bay has come to a close.