Sad Sack Record In Play
November 7th, 2010
Joe hates to go here, but it’s halfway through the season and the Bucs have dialed up six sacks.
Six!
They need five more to make sure they don’t tie the NFL mark for heinous pass rush units.
One could get aroused by the Bucs’ defensive line having at least a little success against the run today. Stylez White opened the game with two good stops, and Michael Bennnet had some good penetration and a tackle for a loss, and even rookie DT Al Woods got into the act. But Joe’s not aroused, the Bucs were barely average against the run at the end of the day.
And then there’s the pass rush. Yeah, Gerald McCoy got a shot on Matt Ryan and they got some pressure, but the pass rush is still horrid compared to the rest of the league. Six sacks does not cut it over eight games.
Joe has no illusions that the pass rush will improve this year. As Joe has written, the Bucs will need to pile up points and rack up turnovers to beat most teams. Thankfully, they’re more than capable of that.
November 7th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
I hope there’s more improvement on the D-Line, as a whole, by the end of the year. I think it’s inevitable that we will be spending a first round pick on a pass rushing DE. This upcoming draft (praying there’s no lockout) is full of DE’s: Adrian Claiborne, Allen Bailey, Cameron Heyward, Cameron Jordan, Ryan Kerrigan.
Other positions needed: RB (I can’t see us re-signing Carnell WIlliams), Safety, MLB (if we let Ruud go), LG for depth?
November 7th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
So Suh has more sacks as a rookie than the entire bucs team.
Other than offsides, has anybody heard McCoys name called? When’s he going to make a tackle let alone a sack??
November 7th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Its just as important that they sign a run stuffing\pass rushing linebacker. I know their system requires guys who are not a liability in pass coverage but guys who can do both do exist. Any of Pittsburgh’s linebackers for instance. Wouldn’t mind keeping Geno cuz of his elite speed for a backer but Ruud and Black have both entirely underwhelmed this year. Quincy Black has exactly one notable play for the whole year, his sack back in the Carolina game. Since then he has been invisible. Ruud has had some splashes but just as many embarrasing moments. The Bucs need to spend a high draft pick on a James Harrison type linebacker just as much as they need to draft a DE. The days of Tampa linebackers who couldn’t get home on a blitz to save their mothers lives need to end.
November 7th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
i meant draft a linebacker but I guess the Glazers could find their lost wallet and sign an already established one instead. 🙂
November 7th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Um, yeah, we need some defensive ends. I do, however, believe that that our pass rush goes as our young DT development goes.
S.G. White is decent enough to put pressure on QB’s, so it’s up to the left end and our young DT’s to help him out.
November 7th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
I think they have some good young DTs and they will get better, but an edge rusher will make them all get better. it will happen next year in the draft and HOPEFULLY one signed in free agency. Mayb they even double in the first 3 rounds on DEs, I would not be opposed.
They need a Safety and more LB help and some O-line depth (although they might have found it already) but DE is CLEARLY the biggest need.
Imagine the leap forward this young defense can take with an actual pass rush from the edge next year?! Add that to a bunch of young DTs that have a year under their belt…..
I thnk next year the defense has the chance to be a massively improved unit.
November 8th, 2010 at 12:01 am
Definitely. 2011 draft will be spent primarily on the Defensive side of the ball. I still think the Bucs need a speed back, that can catch, to compliment Blount. But maybe that spot can be filled by Lumpkin or Huggins.
November 8th, 2010 at 12:18 am
We need powerful, backfield penetrating, filling the right gap, not get destroyed by a TE or WR, – LINEBACKERS!
November 8th, 2010 at 1:29 am
The first two picks of this past draft went to d-line. Cant go d-line again in first round next year. Its time to draft an elite linebacker. You draft one that can blitz worth a damn and it helps solve your pass rush problem to.
November 8th, 2010 at 1:35 am
I really hope we spend a little money in free agency next year. We need a DE that’s done it before. Just drafting a DE in the first and/or second year isn’t going to do it. We see how slow our young DT’s are developing. This sack production is embarrassing. The good news is that we play the Panthers next week. We had four sacks against them earlier in the year.
November 8th, 2010 at 2:00 am
DE and LB are both big needs but the Bucs have already spent a first and second pick this year and a second round pick last year on defensive lineman. They have not drafted a linebacker in the first round since Derrick freaking Brooks! Thats 15 years folks!! Let McCoy and Price develop before you go spending another first rounder on the line. And the guy above me also has a point about drafting DE that they take a while to develop. If there is one spot on the D where a rookie can step in and make an impact from day one its linebacker. 9 of the last 10 defensive rookies of the year have been linebackers. Lets draft that 2011 rookie of the year linebacker.
November 8th, 2010 at 2:14 am
I can’t find any details and haven’t been able to watch the game again yet, but apparently Quincy Black (who led the team in tackles today with 8) suffered an injury in the 2nd half today which led to Dekoda Watson playing (and doing pretty well from what I saw). I’m curious what the injury was to Black, and if we’ll be seeing more of Watson next week, even if he’s healthy? Another tidbit I heard was that the Bucs have played 15 rookies this season (of course, a few of them have been punters). If Black can’t play next week, and Watson starts, we might have all 3 7th round draft choices starting next week. I’m not sure that’s a good thing unless they all play well, but if they do that’s one hell of a 7th round.
November 8th, 2010 at 2:15 am
HA, that was supposed to be “led the team in tackles today with 8”. Didn’t realize I made a smiley face.
November 8th, 2010 at 3:49 am
This off season will be very different from last year in that we can really concentrate on one area – DE and line backer. Last year we had holes all over the place (WR, DT, CB, punter, RB, DE, LB, etc.), which we seemed to have done a pretty good job filling, with the exception of DE & LB. I totally agree with gitarlvr that a run stuffing LB might be even more important than a DE, simply because our secondary is good enough to cover without much pressure from the edge. However, we can’t continue to allow people to run down our throats. I like Ruud a lot, but he is in a gots-to-go situation (at least as a starter) for next year. He’s just not big enough and can’t strike fear into another team. I think the front office knows it too, and it will be addressed. I feel very confident that Dominik can find the right guys, I just hope there is a season next year to enjoy it.
November 8th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Hawaiian Buc – I have to disagree with you regarding Ruud. Twice yesterday I saw Barrett make a nice stop; he was flat on his back when the RB tripped over him and went down!
In fact in Ruud would put on another 20 pounds he would make an even better door stop.
Contract extension my azz.
November 8th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Finally, some talk of sanity.
Linebackers, DEs and more help in the secondary. Other than an olinemen, the Bucs need to go defense, defense, defense and make some tough decisions on making some of the current starters play special teams, back up or just have them walk.
Someone mentioned we haven’t drafted a LB with a 1st since Brooks. Exactly. Go get some top flight linebackers that are fast AND big.
November 8th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Can you imagine what the Bucs would look like had we drafted Clay Matthews? He’s a BEAST!
November 8th, 2010 at 8:15 am
I have been afraid of this since everyone at one buc place has been hyping Kyle Moore. Quincy black is a avarage blitzer and Rah dropping stylez and Bennett in covarage is just stupid. Right now we dont have the personal toi be droping are De in coverage. Hopefully we get a DE next year in the draft and or another in free agencey
November 8th, 2010 at 8:57 am
I also blame the defensive schemes by the DC.
I don’t see how he is considered a defensive guru in the first place. I mean, last season at the end where he got all sorts of accolades for improving the defense… we played poor teams with back up QBs and STILL got ran on, while stopping the pass is easy with back up QBs. (And don’t bring up the New Orleans game where they missed a game winning FG to hand us the game).
And now this year, the DCs defense is just downright not good. They can’t stop the run, they can stop anyone 80% of the drives. They can’t rush the passer. And when you drop everyone back, sure the pass defense will appear decent all the while giving up all else.
I don’t think it is just the players… I am absolutely not sold on our defensive coordinator… if you haven’t noticed.
I don’t think it is fair to the Buccaneers to keep giving the defensive coordinator a free pass.
If they are gonna keep the cheerleader at HC, they need to go get a real defensive coordinator. Having Rah ride on Freeman’s and Olson’s coat tails is nothing more than a charity case for rah.
November 8th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Mr. Lucky Says:
November 8th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Can you imagine what the Bucs would look like had we drafted Clay Matthews? He’s a BEAST!
================================================
Yeah, we wouldn’t have Josh Freeman.
Idiot.
November 8th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
when it is all said and done, McCoy will make his mark at end or he will be as big a bust as Adams if they continue to play him at tackle.
He does not have the strength to play the tackle position and gets blown off the ball to easy.
If he were down around 275 at end, I think we would see some havoc.
November 8th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I floated the theory a while back that the experimenting with McCoy at end could be a prelude to a permanent conversion. But I think it was mostly in the 3-3-5 and 3-4 formations in which its commonplace for guys that were DT to move to DE. I don’t think there was ever really any thought of McCoy as a 4-3 DE. McCoy is not too weak. He is actually getting upfield push a lot on his rushes. His problem is he needs to refine his technique to be able to finish off those rushes with sacks. Its more about technique and getting a signature move or two down pat than it is lack of strength.