Secondary Sharp
August 12th, 2016
Vernon Hargreaves and the Bucs’ corners had a solid outing. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
One big task this past offseason for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was to fix the secondary, specifically the corners.
The defensive backfield of the Bucs last year was beyond horrid. Even made Freddy Krueger barf.
If the first preseason game is any indication — always a dicey proposition — then consider Licht’s goal a success. Of the first two quarterbacks the Bucs faced last night, Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, the Eagles attempted 11 passes and completed but five for a measly 19 yards.
In the first half, the Bucs held the Eagles to 21 net yards passing, the fewest first half passing yards the Bucs have allowed in a preseason game since facing the Chiefs in 2000.
That impresses the hell out of Joe.
Sure, the defensive linemen put pressured quarterbacks like Joe hasn’t seen a Bucs team do in a decade.
Still, it takes a team. Part of the reason the line got pressure was the secondary was getting the job done.
Yes, it’s preseason, but it is encouraging that you didn’t see slant passes go completely undefended while the first team defense was on the field.
August 12th, 2016 at 8:06 am
Yep…..they dropped back…..looked for that trusty wide open receiver for the slant pass and…..it wasn’t there.
One of the reason our pass rush looked so good is that our corners covered and covered very well…..the good news is that we are very deep at that position.
August 12th, 2016 at 8:19 am
i think the defense has a very good chance of rebounding under Mike Smith this year. Liked what i saw on the line and in the secondary. And I’m really excited about how i saw Noah Spence getting a lot of pressure on the quarterback. If not for him McDonald didn’t get that 1 sack. And i liked what i saw from VH3. He came in hot on a nickle blitz for a almost sack. Think both rookies will do well this year
August 12th, 2016 at 8:26 am
Excellent game all around. It served it purposes now we need to get better.
August 12th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Lets all remember that its the FIRST preseason game. The offenses on both teams did not have their schemes in place. Without full scheme’s and game plans to attact, It gives a smaller advantage too those defenses!!! The good news is that our defense did not employ its full scheme of blitz and zone rushes!!!! This was a mainly get your 1 on 1’s on tape, and let the position coaches review techniques!!!!!!!
Hang on Bucs fans, It is about to get “REAL” this year!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
August 12th, 2016 at 8:48 am
No only the did the backfield look good, but the defense as a whole looked for encouraging if your a bucs fan. That line was getting after it. Such a beatiful thing to watch. Chase got harassed the whole time he was in there. Love it. The corners looked very solid as well, Banks flashed a couple times, VH3 made a nice play on the ball and dropped his first int unfortunately. But all in all, very good signs for this defense all together. I think this team will only go as far as the defense will take them, because we all know the offense will hold up there end of the deal.
August 12th, 2016 at 8:50 am
Line played extremely well, especially Ayers, both Spences, Mcdonald, Smith, Jones. Can’t wait to see how they do when Gholston plays also.
August 12th, 2016 at 8:57 am
It wasn’t just the coverage. The DL was really putting on a nice display of QB chasing. You could already see them begin to run away from Spence or double team him. The whole DL looked great last night.
August 12th, 2016 at 9:08 am
So far, so good. Lets keep working.
August 12th, 2016 at 9:29 am
Howard Jones is a keeper,Spawn is a future star in this league. That secondary can flat out cover. This defense has heard all summer about the improvement on the offensive side,I get the feel they are ready to get some recognition of they’re own.
August 12th, 2016 at 9:34 am
It was just one pre season game but it was nice to see a sideline engaged to what was happening on the field. Seeing smiles and faces that appeared anxious to get back on the field. Arrow pointing 👆.
August 12th, 2016 at 9:42 am
The Bucs DB play was the best unit on the field for either team in Philly.
Very impressed with the grit & coverages. There were a couple of scheme I’ve not seen before, explosions getting into a different pre-snap look that had to confuse the Iggle QB’s.
Great coverage = an extra .5+ seconds for the rush to get to the QB. Haven’t seen that in Tampa Bay for many years.
August 12th, 2016 at 10:39 am
All I know is it’s BEEN A WHILE since i’ve heard the words “Bucs defense” and “coverage sack” in the same sentence!
WOOOO!
“Let’s make Tampa great again!!”
August 12th, 2016 at 10:52 am
I am VERY confident this defense will look very good this year. Might be a few growing pains and we might see a few mistakes, but it should still be top 15. Next year? top 10.
August 12th, 2016 at 11:50 am
Dare I say defensive line coach Hayes needs to be retained at all costs until Mike Smith departs ? After this upcoming season, teams will be throwing the bank at him to run their defenses .
August 12th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Love the optimism. But as gen McArthur once said, A loss is a loss. There are no good points to a defeat. The best thing is though, it does not count..not yet.
August 12th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Every year..and I do mean Every..Buc fans here laud the play of our Bucs during preseason. Our bucs defense played well, Jameis did this, we did that. What I don’t understand is..if we did so good, so..spectacular? How come we lose people? Maybe my vision is off but the Tampa Bay Bucs look like the SOB’s to me (same old Bucs).
However for what its worth?
GO BUCS!
August 12th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
defense played great….got tons of pressure all night….noah spence and howard jones played very well….VHG played well….very encouraged with what I saw from the defense last night….GO BUCS!!!!
August 12th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Our pass rush and coverage looked fantastic I’m concerned about the rush D and our Red Zone D hopefully we can get that fixed soon enough
August 12th, 2016 at 3:39 pm
But did they perform well because they are that skilled? Because it’s preseason? Or because the Eagles have bad receivers?
August 12th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
The return of OneLove?
August 12th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Buc1987 Says:
August 12th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
The return of OneLove?
Can’t be – No mention of a WANG in the mouth
August 12th, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Mike Johnson sounds like the SOD (same old d!ck) as last year. It’s preseason. Who cares what the score is? Preseason is for learning, an extension of camp. The team needs to appreciate the good and work on the bad.
August 12th, 2016 at 9:27 pm
Buc1987 Says:
August 12th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
The return of OneLove?
YES! I missed you too! Some of us have to actually work for a living!! These WANGs don’t go off by themselves!!
“Let’s make Tampa GREAT AGAIN!”
August 13th, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Love your rationale there Buccodave… Like you say..its preseason..who cares? You’ll be sayin the same thing come regular season when the losing starts!