The D-Line Rotation Emerges
September 29th, 2014
The Bucs used all eight available defensive linemen yesterday. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
NFL fans watched the Seahawks rotate a seemingly endless stream of nasty defensive linemen on the field en route to Super Bowl glory last season.
Bucs fans have long heard about how Tampa Bay plans to revive that kind of glory days Bucs rotation that struck fear in opponents.
Well, fans finally got a real taste of that yesterday in Pittsburgh. With Gerald McCoy and Michael Johnson not 100 percent but playing effectively, Tampa Bay was all about rotating bodies on the D-line.
Scott Solomon, cut earlier this season, had a big sack. So did Da’Quan Bowers. The D-line had five in all.
This is how it’s supposed to be.
“We dressed eight linemen, and all of them played, and they all contributed.” Lovie Smith said tonight on WDAE-AM 620. “So we rolled guys, had fresh bodies in there. Again, in different situations. Of course, [defensive line coaches] did a great job and our guys came ready to play.
Lovie spoke about how impressed he was with Da’Quan Bowers, and it wasn’t just Bowers’ strongman, one-arm sack of Ben Roethlisberger.
“I was pleased with how he ran to the football. He played hard, just a good solid game for Da’Quan going forward,” Lovie added.
Yes, in the photo above, that’s Bowers who is airborne. Joe, too, noticed an extra level of hustle from No. 91 during the game. He sure seemed energized by that hard-earned sack.
Perhaps Bowers finally has the scary ghost of Greg Schiano out of his head.
September 29th, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I thought Gholston did pretty well, considering he is still a young man.He will get better.I am of the opinion that he fits at DT on passing downs better than Bowers does, but that experiment (Bowers inside) may be over & the issue is moot.
September 29th, 2014 at 6:39 pm
We need a free safety Joe. We have 2 strong safeties back there who have no feel for the pass. And that TD pass to Miller looked liked it should’ve bn picked by Banks or Fletcher. They have to trust their eyes
September 29th, 2014 at 6:42 pm
In Lovie I Trust!
The d-line showed us a preview of what is to come in the future. The first 2 minutes of the game were priceless! There was no denying to our d-line on those 2 minutes. It remind me of Sapp and Rice. But it was just a reminder. I know they are not there yet…
September 29th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
I agree King.
If this passing league is gonna skewer defenses AND players are not allowed to hit any longer… THEN the DBs and LBs need to just play for the pick. They should see the ball and go for it. Forget the 1 handed pass defense or tackling safely… they need to make the QB pay by intercepting and intercepting often.
September 29th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Is this JoeBucsFan? What happened to all the fighting today? Hmmm
September 29th, 2014 at 7:09 pm
Buc Fan #237…plus I’ve concluded a little while ago. That a D nowadays needs to have a helluva pass rush, more so than at any other time in the league.
If the safeties and DB’s can’t hit very hard anymore than they HAVE to get to the QB. It should be priority one. Especially nowadays.
September 29th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Bowers is a little better than Gaines Adams
September 29th, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Scott Solomon had an awesome sack. Was he the one that had the horsecollar sack?
September 29th, 2014 at 8:04 pm
That was bowers who made that sack. He made it playing inside and just burned the OT on a nicely executed stunt.
September 29th, 2014 at 9:47 pm
No Scott Solomon had the one where he jumped on Bens back and tried to rip the ball all while single handedly bringing him down. Most eye opening individual play I saw
September 29th, 2014 at 10:33 pm
Bowers was one good step in the right direction. He played inside and out. He played hard to the ball. For the most part he kept contain when needed. Still think he looks slow, though.
Gholston had his moments, and had his share of terrible. Getting manhandled by a tight end one on one is shameful. He’s got to dominate those type of matchups.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
was at the game, i know GMC is not healed just yet but i was surprised how comfortable they were not having him on the field throughout the game. it’s a big help late in the game and it seemed to play out that way on sunday. i was at the game and couldn’t always tell who made which play, but i was happy to see alot of unfamiliar names\numbers penetrating and wrapping up ballcarriers close to\behind the line of scrimmage. looking forward to reviewing the broadcast in the coming days