Expect A Bounceback By Michael Bennett
November 28th, 2012
“Hey you, that’s right, you — Myron Lewis. You don’t want to step on the same field with me on Sunday. Otherwise, you’ll be working for the Outlaw country music channel on SiriusXM.”
The way Matty Ice ripped apart the Bucs secondary Sunday, Joe is almost afraid to watch the Bucs play the Broncos with the ultimate NFL surgeon, Peyton Manning, barking signals for the Broncos.
If Matty Ice carbed up the Bucs like leftover Thanksgiving turkey, imagine what Manning will do? It is a disturbing thought.
Maybe Joe is panicking? If one is to read between the lines of the breakdown of the loss to the Dixie Chicks by Thomas Maney of ProFootballFocus.com, it seems the Bucs’ front line, which barely breathed on Matty Ice, couldn’t have played worse.
Though Matt Ryan was just two of four for 21 yards and an interception on passes under pressure, the Tampa Bay defense just didn’t get to him nearly often enough, pressuring him on just six of his 34 drop-backs. Left end Michael Bennett (-3.4) had a particularly bad day as he failed to disrupt Ryan even once on his 28 pass rushes, only the second time in the past two seasons he’s failed to record a QB pressure. A matchup we highlighted going into the game was Gerald McCoy versus the interior line of the Falcons. And though he was strong against the run, McCoy, like Bennett, failed to make much of an impact rushing the passer, producing a single hurry. Among Tampa Bay’s front seven, only Da’Quan Bowers graded positively for his efforts rushing the passer, producing a team-leading two pressures on 19 snaps.
You know what this tells Joe? That Peyton Manning may see a little pressure from the Bucs. If last Sunday was the second time in two years Michael Bennett didn’t get pressure on a quarterback, why believe he will repeat that again in consecutive games?
Now Joe isn’t getting all giddy thinking Manning will be on the turf a half-dozen times. Every time a good quarterback has faced the Bucs (Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Matty Ice), the Bucs secondary has been ripped to shreds as if the quarterbacks were in seven-on-seven drills.
But perhaps if Manning is hurried once in a while the Bucs might be able to take advantage of a mistake?
Joe has a hunch the Bucs are going to be three-step-dropped to death by Peyton Manning just like his kid brother Eli did to them earlier in the year.
November 28th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Manning will eat our corners alive. We can win this game, but its going to have to be a shoot out. We need Freeman to bring his A game.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
“If Matty Ice carbed up the Bucs like leftover Thanksgiving turkey”
Did you mean “carved up”?
November 28th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Our offense is everybit as talented, except at quarterback of course. The prob to me is Denver has Champ Bailey, Tracy Porter and Tony Carter at CB to get a few stops every once in a while. I hate to be so non-optimistic but this is a horrible matchup for the Bucs. Talk about a momentum boost though if they pull this off
November 28th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Joe/ et al
At season’s end is Bennett a restricted or unrestricted free agent? He isn’t Jared Allen but he’s no Vernon Gholston either. What money will he command?
I don’t want us having to pay an arm and a leg to resign him.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
This game really won’t be any different than previous ones. Our defense will get shredded and surrender 35 points but our offense will be what keeps us in it.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
One positive is that the receivers are not as good as Atlanta’s. Also Manning is about as mobile as a turd. Whereas Matt Ryan has more mobility in the pocket and can actually run every once in awhile. However, their offensive line is much better than Atlanta’s plus they are playing at home both of which favors the Offense. Also their running game is much better than Atlanta’s. Plus their defense is ELITE. If our line doesn’t man up Freeman could get eaten alive out there. I think the best plan is run, run, run until they put a lot of people in the box then Jackson/Williams deep, also a turnover or two would hurt. Their corners are stout though. I wish we had their defense we would have 8 or maybe more wins.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Unfortunately the Bucs will be 6-6 after this game. The Broncos have improved each week all season long, and at this point they are at least as good as Atlanta. Plus the Bucs have to play away in Denver. I see the Bucs offense being held under its points total average again, scoring in the teens or low twenties at best. Manning will throw for close to 400 yards, maybe more. This is looking more and more like an eight-win season after all.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Broncos vs Giants in the Superbowl.
Peyton beats Eli.
You heard it hear first.
@MattHorse, Bennett is finna get $PAID$ at season’s end.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Given where we were last year, turning over the entire coaching staff, installing totally new offensive and defensive schemes, cutting more than 20 players from last years team, starting 3 rookies, losing 2 pro bowlers from the O-Line, and losing Bowers for half a season and Clayborn for most of a full season, then playing a very difficult schedule, I will be head-over-heels elated with an 8 win season!
November 28th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Manning is going to carve the Bucs up with intermediate passes. 3 step drop and it’s gone.
Let the DL worry about the run and drop the LB’s back to help in coverage.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@Macabee
I agree. In no way whatsoever as a Bucs fan am I disappointed in this season. Things are looking up for the Bucs. Way up.
November 28th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
How much stock can you put in PFF.They have for year’s stated that Davin Josheph is a bum but yet he makes probowls.I take issue with the offenceive linemen grades.They give each linemen a ave holding a block time.For scrambling Qb’s the clock doesn’t stop till he hit’s the line of scrimage or when he throw’s the ball.Well from the snap to throw Payton Manning time would be a lot less than RG3’s snap to throw or hit the line on a Qb run.And everyone has an agenda.If Josheph send’s them a nasty letter do you think they are not bias with those subjective “beat or not beat”grades.Heck they gave Talib a positive grade when Nick’s beat him over and over again against the giant’s.To me the last 5 minutes should be worth double or triple.Some player’s are 1st quarter hero’s and some 4th quarter hero’s.Like Underwood last week he made some great catches but that easy drop on 3rd down late would give him a negitive grade in my book
November 28th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Gee I’m not scared of the Bronco’s.Please they are handed 6 win’s for being in the worst div in football.The Falcon’s toyed with them,the giant’s are better than them and we hung with both of them.Ya our pass defence is brutal but they can’t get any worse only better.Manning will throw for 400 yard’s but if we can cause turnover’s and not comit turnover’s(like we’ve been doing all year)and the offence keep’s rolling we’ll be fine.If Free hit’s a wideopen Wiilliam’s or Underwood hold’s on to that 3rd down pass late last weekend.We might have won and the tone would be a lot different going into this week.We’ve been in every game this year dispite our secondary woes so no reason we won’t be in this one!!!Plus there is a good chance the Bronco’s look past us.They have the division locked up but I sure they want the bye
November 28th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
This is a major road trip, at altitude and possible cold weather.
Manning got off to a slow start because he and his receivers weren’t on the same page. Now they are.
If the Bucs go into their ineffective and repetitive blitz packages, Peyton will eat them alive. If they go into their 2 or 3 man rush packages, Peyton will pull out a ham sandwich and have a snack before ripping them to pieces.
The best defense against Peyton is to pound the ball with Martin and Blount while keeping Manning and the Buc defense on the sidelines. In other words, surprise them.
November 28th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
I don’t even know why Myron Lewis and Biggers are still on the roster. Buchanon and Foxworth are available…….and both major upgrades to any of our current CB’s.
November 28th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
“Otherwise, you’ll be working for the Outlaw country music channel on SiriusXM.”
LOL Joe 🙂 I think Myron Lewis would rather work for a rap station though. Doubt he listens to country, rock and roll, or any actual good music.