Pass Rushers Were Devalued In Bucs Defense
February 25th, 2013
The Bucs blitzed, blitzed and blitzed some more last season under the New Schiano Order defense. It did wonders for run-stuffing, but the pass defense was historically heinous.
Some scrutinize the Bucs’ pass rush and assign them a load of blame, but don’t place former Bucs defensive end Steve White (1996-2001) in that camp. For Bucs fans unaware, White breaks down Bucs defensive line play like no other.
Speaking to Tom Krasniqi of WDAE-AM 620 over the weekend, White explained that unless the Bucs lose their blitzing mindset, like they did successfully against the Falcons in Week 17, then there’s no reason to stockpile premier pass rushers.
“We turned into Blitzburgh City South last year for some reason about the middle of the season. And when you blitz that much, unless you’re blitzing in a way where you defensive end is going to come off free, your defensive line isn’t supposed to be the one who gets the sacks. We just didn’t have anybody that could blitz, which is once again an indictment of our secondary,” White said. “And so if you’re going to blitz that way, I’d put a much higher premium on secondary guys because we’re going to need, you know, guys who can basically stand up out there one-on-one, play after play, and we don’t have that right now. We have cover-2 corners for the most part; we’re going to have to find some man corners and man up if we’re going to blitz that much.
“Or, we can do like we did in the Atlanta game at the end of the season, not blitz as much, have a lot more success just rushing four, and do alright. We started off the season that way. Then we got out of whack against the Giants and started blitzing every play and then Eli Manning roasted us for over 500 yard. And somehow we watched that film and said, ‘Hey, that’s something we should keep doing for the rest of the season.’
“My thing about it is if you’re going to blitz, you gotta pick your poison, if you’re going to blitz that much, you really don’t need premier pass rusher up front anyway because you’re not going to blitz them. You’re going to waste them stunting them inside and stuff like that so your corners and your linebackers can come in off the edge and get pressure. Or you do like we used to do, get better secondary guys, even for cover-2, and let the front four guys rush.”
White went on to say re-signing Michael Bennett should be a Bucs priority, but White said he can envision a scenario in which the Bucs brass believes Da’Quan Bowers would capably replace Bennett allow Bennett to walk if his price isn’t right.
White cautioned that Bennett rushes very well inside on third downs, an aspect of his game that would have to replaced, and not an area where Bowers has proved himself.
February 25th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
A pass rusher & 2 corners = problem solved…..We have the CASH & high draft picks….get it done Rock Star
February 25th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
So sick of these analysts that are aligned with the Tampa-2 style defense. It is a relic. Get over it. We are blitzing and playing more man to man. It is time to let go of the cover 2. There are too many high level QBs and the rules are too receiver friendly to effectively run that system. Bring the house baby!
February 25th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
@Warrenfb12
You totally missed the point that White was saying. He wasn’t advocating that we should use the cover 2 as our primary defense. He said that last seasons defense (personnel) was more conducive to the cover 2 scheme. Our secondary consisted mostly of nickel backs, not one on one corners. If we had used the cover 2 more often last year, I’m convinced we would have played better statistically and may have pulled out a few more of those games. Let’s face it, when we played Atlanta using strictly the cover 2, our players proved, that they are personnel wise, setup better as a zone defense. If we can get those premier corners, who can cover their guys for a full 5 seconds per passing play, then we can play blitzkrieg all game long.
February 25th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
As I state in a previous article
With the interest being somewhat high on DE Michael Bennett. Wouldn’t it be better to use the Franchise Tag designation on Bennett during (Feb. 18th-March 4th) period and trade him to a proposed buyer.
Sure the terms to trade can vary depending on what the team is asking for in return.But the Draft has some good prospects at DE-Like Datone Jones, Sam Montgomery, Devin Taylor, Corey Lemonier. And Hybrids like Brandon Jenkins, Jamie Collins, and Trevardo Williams.
I’m just saying wouldn’t it be better 2 let him walk. Pick up a draft choice or 2 in return.
Spread the love across the Roster
For Example: Depth Concerns
DT:Gerald McCoy. If dude goes down herrreee weeee go again. So signing someone like Oaklands 6′ 6″, 311 lbs DT Desmond Bryant.
Sign another Oakland player that’s not getting alot of buzz 6′ 6″, 285 lbs DE Matt Shaughnessy . He’s been the league for 4yrs has complied 123Tkls and 15.5 Sks
Sign (2) Veteran Corners:
6-2 182 lbs CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie(Bradenton,FLA) & 5’9 180 lbs Slot CB D.J Moore (Lakeland, FLA)
Sign 5-11 210 lbs S Patrick Chung. Since dude has been banged up the last 2 yrs. He should come at a bargain.
Offense sign
6-6 245 lbs TE Jared Cook. With Jackson & Williams on the outside Cook in the Middle. We would give opposing defense match up fits.
Plus Re-Up Mike Williams
February 25th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
With there being SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Many good propsect in the 2, 3, & 4th round. And with Sooooooooooooooo many holes on this roster. I’m more convinced then ever; that we need to trade back and pick up as many picks as we can.
We can can keep trading(If we can find trade partners) all the way back to the end of the 1st round. And still pick up some good prospects.
February 25th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Manti Te’o ran a 4.81. …..Mason Foster”s slowest time was 4.75….Lavonte David 4.64
February 25th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Anyone seen Dion Jordans combine performance ? kid is going to be such a beast in the NFL.
February 25th, 2013 at 4:48 pm
LUVMYBUCS:
Well, problem with that is, if you can’t find a dance partner, you are stucking paying Bennett $12 million. And with that price, good luck finding a trade partner.
February 25th, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Michael Bennet has played more snaps in the past 2 seasons then Bowers & Clayborn COMBINED!! He also tallied as much sacks as GMC has in his career in an entire season. If not to keep our front 4 potent vs, at least learn from the GMEN in regards to never ever having too many capable DEs.
White is absolutely correct, we came into 2012 with CBs programmed to play the cover-2 scheme while running Schiano’s version of Fast&Furious with the blitz heavy packages that exposed the majority of our personnel in the 1on1’s. I don’t expect our secondary to look anything near what it did in the 2012 season
February 25th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
wow I really like what this guy White had to say. he is spot on and I would like to hear more from him on your website Joe. Its all about what we want to do on Defense. do we want to sick back and cover and let the d line hunt like the old bucs, or do we want to attack with blitzes and play man in the back end of the defense? we showed both looks during the course of the season. my guess is we will find a happy medium between the two since Schiano said he wanted to run a multiple defense.
February 25th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Steve White tell it like it really is. I always like listening to his insightful and funny interviews on WTB. The funny thing is that we agree or think alike more often than not on bucs issues.
The main reason we should get pass rushers in this draft early. It reduce the need to blitz on obivious passing down and having four good pass rushers prevent the need to call 3 man down sets.
Plus dline is more talented than the cbs this time around. After Milliner, there doesn’t appear to be a true #1 corner in the draft, but FA does have guys that can be the #1. We should address our cb issue via FA and draft one to groom. But the safeties are much better this year than cbs.
February 25th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Red86 l,”…the safeties are much better this year than cbs.” I agree, but the Bucs may be interested in Sean Smith, along w/ several other teams.
”The 6-foot-3 former second-round pick is valued by cornerback-needy teams, a list that includes the Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions.”
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000144534/article/philadelphia-eagles-might-be-interested-in-sean-smith
February 25th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
I agree 100% with his assessment.
February 26th, 2013 at 7:31 am
I enjoy Steve White’s comments a lot more than Smoothie King’s.