The House Of David
December 29th, 2012
Now Joe has written about how the Bucs are on the cusp of a truly horrific 93-year NFL-worst record for pass defense, which is simply unacceptable and demands full explanation from Greg Schiano to Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and Team Glazer next week, This should not be tolerated under any circumstances and specifically how Schiano intends to repair this abomination must be explained.
(And stop with the comparisons to the Packers. Worst means worst! Trying to spin this 93-year mark or wave off how rank the pass defense has sunk is crazy talk, an exercise in idiocy.)
The Bucs, however, are also on the verge of setting another defensive mark, but this time it is very good. Aaron Schatz, the mastermind behind FootballOutsiders.com, has crunched the numbers and documented that the Bucs’ rush defense is one of the best in NFL history.
The Bucs also lead the league stuffing runners for no gain or a loss 34 percent of the time. That’s only tenth historically, but it’s by far the best figure this year. Detroit — maybe Suh can stop the run too? — is second at 27 percent.
Anyway, let’s congratulate these mostly unknown players on doing at least part of their job really, really well. Unfortunately, in the modern NFL, the other part of the job — “getting to the quarterback” — is the more important part.
Now Joe is on record stating he cannot fathom what kind of sales job Schiano must do with Dominik and Team Glazer to somehow justify bringing defensive backs coach Ron Cooper back next year — frankly, there is no justification. Some of Joe’s readers point to defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan as culpable as well, and Joe believes that is a fair point.
But if we are to mock Sheridan for the pass defense, then he must be lauded for the outstanding rush defense.
Joe wants to believe this is the handiwork of Bucs front seven assistant Bryan Cox, who deserves a handsome bonus or raise for the job he has done.
Also in Schatz’s article, he writes extensively how great rookie linebacker Lavonte David has played and referred to the Bucs defense as “The House of David.”
Joe believes that’s what the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway should be called, “The House of David.” Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Mazel tov!
December 29th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Who is trying to “spin” the pass defense? I haven’t seen anyone say anything good about it all year.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Outstanding rush defense? You gotta be kiddin’ me Joe.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
It’s the house that Hardy built. I believe David is going to be a great player for years to come and he did have a great rookie year but lets not crown him yet.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
@ Joe
“But if we are to mock Sheridan for the pass defense, then he must be lauded for the outstanding rush defense.”
the two go hand in hand. The fact the we constantly sold out to stop the run by staking the line of scrimmage with lbs, playing the safety down in the box, and playing predominantly a cover 1 look was a big reason why our run defense was so great, but at the same time caused our pass defense to suffer. The other big reason why our secondary sucked, as we all know, is poor talent. I have no doubt though if we were to play a more of a base, non aggressive style of defense we would have been dead last against the run and pass. so if your going to judge Sheridan it should be for TOTAL defense.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Marknlutz:
Uh, one of the best in the NFL. How should Joe describe it, “crappy?”
December 29th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Love-hate relationship with our defense. Love it how our rush defense this year is one of the best in NFL history, especially considering how horrible it was last year. Then the hate part of the relationship.. our pass defense is just horrible, one of the worst in NFL history. In todays NFL when it is more of a passing league, we can’t even expect to make the playoffs with the leagues worst secondary almost ever. Very tough situation for the players, coaches, and even us the fans. Cooper has to go, i’m not saying our troubles this year are all because of him, because we have a HUGE lack of talent in the secondary, I just think we need a fresh start in the back end of our D. Get some new talented guys and a new coach, who knows how we will be next year? Does anyone know what that kids name from college is, he’s a db, hes pretty damn short like 5’7 – 5’9, great coverage and great tackling? I remember watching a highlight video of him but I just cant put a name to him right now, anyone?!?!
December 29th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I agree about Cox. The fact that the Bucs are selling out to stop the run but ignore the passing game, means that Schiano and Sheridan can not walk and chew gum at the same time.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
our current rank for TOTAL defense right now is 30th. freakin 30th! I might be alone when I say this but I would much rather a dominate defense rather than a dominate offense. must be a result of being a bucs for most of my life.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Thanks Macabee for providing this article in the last thread.
Fact is that what’s more important apparantly is being able to he a balanced defense and that’s not happening with this defensive scheme. Sheridan needs to go and someone else needs to help bring in a more applicable defensive approach. Who in their right minds decides to continually use a scheme that requires elite backfield man to man CBs with below avg man to man CBs repeatedly game after game after seeing awful results the first time is beyond me. No way in hell we beat the record for worst past defense in NFL history and he keeps his job.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
We need to start from scratch in the secondary (seriously it’s THAT bad). All of our cornerbacks need to be cut; they’re not even suitable backups.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
We sell out to stop the run and leave terrible corners by themselves. You get zero credit for stopping the run when you leave yourself that exposed. Frankly this stat is horrible when it comes at the expense of such terrible pass defense.
December 29th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
It’s on Sherridan and lack of talent and pass rush. The Good Run Defense can also be credited to Schiano’s constant practice of the basic tackling and gap responsiblities drills. Blitzing Ronde and Barron often from the safety spot is a bad idea and very risky. When it’s not working then that’s a wrap as far as good coverage. All the WRs have to do is a deep Curl, Flat, or Slant because the corner most likely is responsible for playing a Deep Zone to cover for safety blitzing. They should move barber to corner if the want to blitz with him. It just makes no sense to keep doing something that’s not working. Especially those McCoy’s stunt. It’s better for the De to Stunt in than have a Dt stunt outward. Sherrindan lasted just a year with the Giants for a reason.
December 29th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
David is a Beast and if he can stay healthy could be one of the best to ever put on a Buc uniform.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
If Jekyll/Hyde gets us a win tomorrow it wouldnt surprise me…
He set on ruining us
December 29th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
COMPARIONS ASIDE:
The NFL rules have changed, and passing the ball has become easier. The game is a changing, Joe.
Imagine Marino in today’s NFL. Now that would something.
Your Rock Star signed “my guy” in Eric Wright and traded Talib. Our top 2 CBs removed from action.
Our D does suck, but it’s a 50/50 outlook: quality of CBs/ Quality pass rush. Get to the QB in this new passing league, or else you are going to break rcords from a different era in NFL history.
This is a new era of football, and the novelty of “93 year old record” means little to nothing. It should be used to point it how the game has changed.
December 30th, 2012 at 11:02 am
It is a little unfair to criticize undrafted rookies and 7’th round CB’s for not being great. Blame the person who put them there. I think Leonard Johnson will improve and be serviceable, but the rest are very suspect. None of them are worthy starters and the Bucs have sucked at drafting CB’s.
The sad thing is that when the team fixes one problem, something else goes wrong. I don’t know how they fix Freeman but hopefully they can.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
PFF says that the guy who has played well recently at corner is old Stone Hands himself:” Pro Bowl or not, the two Falcons will be tough to handle for a Tampa secondary that has struggled the past two weeks. They’ll likely face the pair of Danny Gorrer and Leonard Johnson, with EJ Biggers’ status uncertain due to injury. Of the two, Gorrer has played fewer snaps, but has yielded a better 1.59 yards per snap in coverage, while opposing QBs have a team-low rating of 58.9 when throwing in his direction.”