Third Down = Bucs Down
December 6th, 2016
Critical improvement.
Of course, a team cannot reel off a four-game winning streak, which included beating two powerhouse teams plus a dangerous team on the road, without solid defense.
And when it comes to third-down defense, the Bucs continue to be among the NFL’s best.
The Bucs held the Chargers to just four third-down conversions in eight attempts, not a great day. But after 12 games, the Bucs rank No. 3 in the NFL in third-down defense. Bucs opponents are converting just 34.5 percent on third down.
To give you an idea of how much the Bucs have improved in this statistic, consider that last year the Bucs finished the season at No. 30 in the NFL in third down conversion (46 percent). That is a total turnaround.
And this, friends, is a major reason the Bucs are tied for the division lead. In December!
December 6th, 2016 at 9:06 am
Even in the begging of the year, there were flashes of the defense stepping up that made it look from last year!!!! And even though some called the raiders game (wrongly) a “debacle” , only two other teams have held the raiders to a lower score during regulation!!!!!
The change in culture is very apparent!!!! The Upgrade in coaching is even more apparent!!!!!
What a year 2016 has been!!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 9:19 am
Realist.
Yesssir what a year it has been. Keep it up bucs. Youve gota believe the raiders game was a debacle tho. An nfl RECORD, all time, in penalties for the raiders. The bucs still lost. Thats the definition of debacle, well maybe not word for word. Anyway lets talk future this thing is finally getting interesting. Go bucs, whoop them aints
December 6th, 2016 at 9:20 am
The upgrade in coaching, and in talent procurement, has paid big dividends for our team.
December 6th, 2016 at 9:35 am
We are going to need that 3rd down efficiency. The Bucs have only beaten the Saints 1 time since 2011. The Saints have won the last 7 of 8. We are going to need a fired up Bucs team and home crowd. No falling asleep at the wheel, no listening to press clippings on our 4 game winning streak, tied for 1st, media attention and flexed games and all that stuff. The Saints are capable of punching us in the mouth and ruining this great run we are on.
December 6th, 2016 at 9:52 am
The change in culture is very apparent!!!! The Upgrade in coaching is even more apparent!!!
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You know you ain’t never lied.
I would have thought the ATL game would have put a big dent on our 3rd def. does this mean ATL didn’t even make it to third down? Bad enough they never punted in the game but they didn’t even get to third down? Seriously?
December 6th, 2016 at 10:27 am
There was a home loss earlier this season. I think it was Oakland–please correct if I’m wrong. GMC, LVD and the Kwonster played lights-out. It was a mindblower listening to their play on the radio. The loss was frustrating to say the least. It hinted something big with the defensive players; the problem was Smitty. He and DK definitely had some serious sit-downs/head sessions after that Hotlanta loss. It is showing up now. 🙂
Go Mighty Bucs–Please HooDoo The Aints at RayJay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 10:55 am
D Bag 55 going back to the Atlanta game. It was probably GMC’s fault.
December 6th, 2016 at 11:11 am
Buc nihilist
You’re probably right. Good for you guy.
December 6th, 2016 at 11:15 am
See Lovie, a stop on third down IS like a takeaway!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 11:16 am
It was the same against the Chargers, they converted on so many 2nd downs so it never got to 3rd. Only 8 3rd downs in a game is pretty low to be honest…
December 6th, 2016 at 11:46 am
Oh way to bring back the bad memories. It wasn’t just that the Bucs couldn’t get off the field on 3rd down last year, they took it to ludicrous levels. One game they gave up the booty on 3rd and 19 not once but twice in the same game.
I wish somebody kept records on the longest average 3rd down conversions. The Bucs had to be serious competitors for that last year. No 3rd down was too long or unimaginable for our opponents.
December 6th, 2016 at 11:59 am
Don’t forget talent, Realist. Last year we could’ve set a milk crate across from receivers and did a better job of defending the slant!
It is quite the turn-around. Props Smitty and D!
December 6th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
@Bucsfanman
Excellent point, Because of lovie’s system it limited the talent here in tampa!!! The “this is what we do” scheme that could only fit “his” players ran the defense into the ground!!! as did his free-agent pick of micheal johnson because he had the “body” of simeon rice!!!!!!!!
good riddance coach my scheme!!!!!!
December 6th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
As Jameis has said, you learn even from the games you lose. (paraphrase).
Even debacles!