Numbers Tell Story Of No Pressure
September 26th, 2017
All day.
It’s the same old song Joe has heard since launching this here site. It’s been repeated worse than a Bruce Springtsteen song on a classic rock channel.
The name of this song? “Bucs Have No Edge Rush.”
(Joe never got the fascination with Springsteen. Sure, two or three of his songs are OK. But folks go bananas for this guy. Joe’s seen him live in concert once and it was a whole lot of meh. )
So how bad was the inability to get to Joe Montana Case Keenum Sunday? Jenna Laine of ESPN has the data.
The Bucs blitzed Case Keenum 14 of his 37 dropbacks but only put him under duress twice and recorded zero sacks, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
As Joe wrote previously, when Noah Spence walked off the field Sunday with a shoulder injury, so too did the Bucs pass rush. If this is what it’s going to be like against Keenum, imagine the next nine days when Eli Manning and Tom Brady come to the Den of Depression?
Joe remembers once Bill Belicheat employing a two-man rush against Peyton Manning and dropping nine players and it drove Manning nuts. If the Bucs can’t pressure Keenum, what makes anyone thing they can put Manning or Brady on the ground? Why not drop nine guys back?
The inability of this franchise to find an edge rusher needs to be documented in history books it is so obscene.
This nonsense spans three general managers and five coaches. For whatever reason, this organization cannot scout/assess/coach/keep/develop an edge rush. Sure, Spence could be that guy, but we won’t know until he can stay on the field (talking to Spence in the Bucs locker room after the game, Joe was ill he felt so bad for the guy).
Maybe Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht can throw Team Glazer loot at DeMarcus Ware and lure him out of retirement, or even Dwight Freeney? Apparently Ware still has the football itch. Why not try? What’s there to lose?
September 26th, 2017 at 8:04 am
Why not try for Mr. Ware? From the article: “. “But my body just told me it’s time. It’s time to stop playing.” That’s one heck of a reason why. Now Freeney, that sounds a little better but Joe is so right. This team’s lack of production at edge rusher is borderline criminal.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:08 am
I know he is hurt now but the falcons got a stud in beasley albeit he is a clemson player and those are persona non gratis around these parts but he gets to the qb, licht has not addressed this area except for spence (jury still out) and then ghost johnson….i hear you on the 2 man front but then you let a stud RB in cook set an nfl rushing record and then keenum throws 5 times but cook gets 400 yards rushing….bucs defense is bad and tom brady is going to have a field day thursday in 2 weeks
September 26th, 2017 at 8:13 am
LOL!!!! Joe is in full tail spin mode!!!!!!! The sheep are out, and running scared!!!!!
News flash, The Giants are not the Vikings!!!!! to think this Sunday will be same as last Sunday is asinine!!!!!!! Can some back off of the Def Con 5 around here!!!! and Joe, stop acting like the sky is falling!!!!!
deep breathes sheep, it will be OK!!!! LOL!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 26th, 2017 at 8:13 am
Drafting Roberto over yannick of the jags is a good start to not improving the dline. Jason licht has mistakes all over his resumè here.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:13 am
From the article: “. “But my body just told me it’s time. It’s time to stop playing.” That’s one heck of a reason why. Now Freeney, that sounds a little better but Joe is so right. This team’s lack of production at edge rusher is borderline criminal.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:19 am
‘It’s been repeated worse than a Bruce Springtsteen song on a classic rock channel.’
Hey. He once walked to a 7/11 and didn’t write a song about it.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:23 am
First time commenting, which says a lot since I’ve been reading since the Raheem days. The Den of Depression line is so off base now because nobody actually buying tickets in the stadium and going to games feels that way with the Bucs on a big home game winning streak. Every time I see it I literally get angry and visit the website less often. Not saying I don’t visit (what else is there to read?) but it’s annoying and stuipid.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:29 am
Always wondered why Springsteen is called “The Boss”. LOL – What’s he the Boss of?
Sunday was not our day. The Bucs are 1-1 and there are 14 games to play. The sky is not falling – yet Chicken Littles abound.
2 beatable teams coming into our house over the next 9 days. What’s left of our team will be pissed at such a weak effort in the 2nd game and will show up to play at home. Lets just see what happens.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:32 am
7-9 is coming for the Yucs
September 26th, 2017 at 8:39 am
How do you expect to get pressure when your corners are giving WRs tons of space
September 26th, 2017 at 8:42 am
@ Realist & Pickgrin
Thanks for the positive here…….don’t panic….we have lots of football left…
Sure, it’s harder when you can’t pressure the QB but there are still ways to win.
It’s time for our offense to score like they should. I agree that it would be good to have one or two older proven pass rushers like Freeny on the roster instead of so many “developing” players.
Hopefully Jack Smith will be healthy.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:45 am
Hey GMC, I’m a big fan of yours. But added to the very well orchestrated kneel-down that you support, here is your badge of courage my friend. Hey, showed up to One Buc and they won’t let me in. What’s the deal, Buddy?
September 26th, 2017 at 8:45 am
The giants are not the vikings is right OBJ is going to destroy hargreaves like he did in SEC play and then ryan smith CMON…..and brandon marshall…..and eli is going to be headline on espn, that he is back and ready for hall of fame again
September 26th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Players off today. Bummer. I’m sure Winston will be in, and fooey on me that GMC didn’t give us a time. GMC…please tell us when you are available, and arrange with the Bucs receptionists to let us in. This thing called “security” keeps us from accesing you. Please arrange the time and place so we can meet with you.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:49 am
How about maybe drafting a defensive end early ?
Pass rush is over rated
September 26th, 2017 at 8:57 am
Hey GMC, I notice that most of the tackles came from the CBs and LBs Sunday. Wow, why is that? You have TWO. Woo-Hoo! Awesome play GMC! Cook owned your sorry azz. Hey bud, please release the time and place we can meet with you. Your team seems to have a different answer. Big fan of yours-seriously. You just had a bad game. Like Armageddon. I WAS a fan of Mike Evans and want to know if his display might have affected the game. After all, I’m not going to see you Sunday since you screwed the Bucs fans with a bye and kneel down, so want to get your thoughts on Patriots-Bucs. Does your team intend to play, or do you plan an effort like last year on Thursday night? Some of us need to plan our time and we don’t make millions, so just asking. Thanks GMC.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:11 am
@tampabaybucfan
I am just not into going into panic mode after 1 loss!!!! I do not like using past regimes to try to show how dire the situation is for this week!!!!!! What is the over/under of Joe trying to decide whether to post his already written post of “who the Bucs will draft with the 5th overall pick”!!!!!!!!!! And all I am seeing is a lot of “fans” who are even more weak willed than the players, coaches and front office personal that they are basing!!!!!!!
Where are all these “stick carriers” that we heard about all off-season????? did they just fall over like a Caribbean straw hut with a tin roof in tropical force winds???????? Do we not thing this team will respond???? Do these so called fans thing the G-man are going to come into our house and route us???????? I am disappointed about the loss, but I am totally embarrassed about these so called fans!!!!!!!!!
Jameis Winston says: Hey Mr, Realist, what time is it?????
The Buc Realist says: Its Time to RISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 26th, 2017 at 9:27 am
@ Realist
If the Bears can beat the Steelers…..then we can win some games…..
September 26th, 2017 at 9:29 am
I saw a very sore and physically fatigued team from snap 1 on. These guys were poorly conditioned in preseason. Same crap as last year. Will take 3 weeks before their bodies get NFL ready.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:29 am
@Realist- We’re still here! The Stick Carriers!
It was an awful showing and worried a lot of folks. People forget how good the Vikings are on defense. I have to believe that our defense is better than they played last week and that injuries really hurt us (they did!).
Honestly though, we are still lacking a consistent d-line pass-rush. GMC on one leg by himself isn’t going to cut it!
September 26th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Only the media was talking up Noah Spence this off-season. Get 5 sacks as a rookie and it’ll drive fans and media crazy. Jac Smith came here got 7.5 sacks one year then 5 another year and look at where he is. This base is so desperate for a franchise quarterback and a star edge rusher they anoint anyone with the tiniest bit of success. But fans of the game not wearing pewter colored glasses knew Jason licht screwed up again no different than drafting a kicker in the second round. Who thought a lighter, quicker Spence was going to somehow beef up the pass rush? Who thought there was no need to draft a running back? Who thought we were good at safety? McCoy and Baker and Ayers are older players and they refuse to look for young talent. Oh and Mike Smith scheme looks like trash, maybe week one was the fluke.
You draft a tight end in the first round and you won’t throw to him and your not running the b ball so what was the point? It’s turning out to be a luxury pick and DK has no idea how to use it. No longer can the weapons be blamed this weak offense is on DK and Winston. Defense that’s your defense licht
September 26th, 2017 at 9:46 am
The posts in this thread, my goodness just turrible.
Pass rush doesn’t matter or it’s not important or overrated? What da fak!?
Thinking the 0 and 3 Giants are beatable just cause the record is so freaking asinine. Did you watch that last game?! When that lack of pass rush/sacks allows Manning to throw for 400 yards, you’re in for a looooooooong faking day on Sunday. When the dline isn’t there to cause bad throws then you pray for mistakes. Sounds like a winning game plan. Please throw us picks like Glennon did, please?! There’s hope in Ryan Russell start him!
Mike Smith has the worst blitz packages in the game bar none. No disguise, no timing, hardly any stunts on the dline. GMC’s quick get off is great on 3rd and long but on running downs all it does it create running lanes. That’s the lack of skill around him to clean it up. Where’s that getoff on 3rd and longs tho?! Love the guy but why has that never been addressed?
You can hide a bad secondary with good dline pressure but you can’t hide a bad dline with a good secondary. If the QB is any good, they’ll dice you up 100% of the time.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:50 am
My question is this. What happens to our “multiple” defense? I thought we wanted to confuse quarterbacks. Have the two future hall of famers looked confused? Let’s face it we lack the talent to line up and beat the guy in front of us. So when was the last time we ran a twist, a stunt, an overload blitz? If you lack the talent advantage you have to get creative with the scheme. We haven’t looked very creative
September 26th, 2017 at 9:55 am
Its become so frustrating. If we can’t develop any sort of pass rush might as well drop 8 or 9 into coverage. At least we aren’t giving the opposing quarterback anywhere to throw with so many defenders back there. Maybe that would allow the down linemen to manufacture some coverage sacks. All I know is that we cannot let scrubs like Case Keenum gut our secondary. Their receivers were open instantly, Lawrence Taylor wouldn’t even make a difference in that game.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:57 am
If the Bengals lose 5 straight.
I would call and through a couple picks in the bucket for Carlos Dunlap.
Maybe a couple 2’s?
A two & future 3?
Time to stop setting on our thumbs
And make some power moves.
We’ve got draft capital.
Plus an average of $42M in cap space – over the next 3yrs.
So make something happen Licht. Its time brotha
September 26th, 2017 at 9:58 am
*I would call and throw a couple picks in the bucket for Carlos Dunlap.
September 26th, 2017 at 10:01 am
What’s with the GMC garbage Buford?! Did you see anyone else on the d-line making plays? You sure do talk tough for a guy who posts on a blog! GMC owe you money or something?! Football is a GAME! Why don’t you let it go?!
September 26th, 2017 at 10:01 am
DE – Carlos Dunlap
DT – Gerald McCoy
DT – Chris Baker
DE – Will Gholston
Mak’em an offer they can’t refuse.
September 26th, 2017 at 10:02 am
@Conte Piscateli that’s the million dollar question. I would think it’s cause Mike doesn’t trust Tandy or Conte. Maybe with Glanton and Beckwith getting more comfortable we’ll see more in the coming weeks. Oh and start Ryan Russell!
September 26th, 2017 at 10:40 am
I generally agree with Realist. It was one loss / one week. The ONLY thing that has me worried are injuries for the long term of this season.
1 – We likely had no time to scheme around that loss of talent. That was a huge injury bug that hit fast and hard in the middle of the week and I’m pretty sure the game plan would have been different if we knew sh1t would be that dire.
2 – we now know how sh1tty our defense can look when certain players are out. Time for Smiddy to show what good coaching can do for this week when he has a better idea of what he’s going to be working with; and make appropriate adjustments.
3 – It was one f*cking game against a solid opponent in their house; and for all we know 1/2 the guys playing were sick with the flu.
If you went into that week expecting a full strength mid-season form Bucs team well sorry but those were unrealistic expectations given all the circumstances lol
September 26th, 2017 at 10:48 am
LUV, that’s a great idea and one I’ve been thinking about for weeks, but now more than ever. Pull the trigger on a big trade while the season’s young. I’m on board with Dunlap. But why stop there? Robert Quinn. Wilkerson. Willie Young. George Johnson (haha). Jabaal Sheard. These are all relatively affordable options for a team like the Bucs. If Licht wants to make a statement he should make it happen.
September 26th, 2017 at 10:51 am
@Not there yet very well said. I knew Spence was in trouble when he came in LIGHTER this year then trying to bullrush Joe Thomas was NOT encouraging. It’s like he believed his own hype. Start Ryan Russell!
September 26th, 2017 at 10:58 am
@lord Cornelius
But it’s not just one game. In two weeks, Mike Glennon and Case Keenum have completed over 70% of their passes for over 300 yards each. Both of these quarterbacks will be backups by the end of the year. We were healthy for the bears, and had they not gifted us a bushel of turnovers, could have likely win that game. No I don’t think the team should throw in the towel, and I highly doubt we will be trading for help during the season. I do think it’s time for the defensive scheme to be adjusted, we are not good enough to think we can play vanilla schemes and out perform teams.
September 26th, 2017 at 11:14 am
@ Conte
Are you smoking crack and staring at a box score? Did you even watch that game lol?
If we didn’t pull our starters on defense we likely hold the Bears to a shut out and allow 0 points. The defense destroyed them. They held their rushing attack to 20 yards. MG looked like sh1t and we forced 4 turnovers and per PFF had pretty consistent pressure.
We gave up dink and dunk passes throughout the game sure- that’s how you can get to your 70% completion; but it took Glennon 45 passes to barely top 300 yards. We didn’t give up big plays like we did in Minnesota. We forced turnovers and stuffed the run. It was a night and day difference from what we did in Minnesota. We also had 5+ healthy starters that were missing against the Vikings. But I guess we should expect the same results regardless lol
September 26th, 2017 at 11:32 am
@lord
I would argue that the turnovers allowed the score to get out of hand early leading to the abandonment of the running game, and the defense playing all out pass. Yes there were dink and dunks, but also remember the Bears played with beer truck drivers at wide receiver, dropped a ton of catchable balls and still completed 68% for 300. Without the early gift turnovers I think the Bears likely get the running game somewhat effective and the soft coverage we keep playing likely makes that game a toss up.
September 26th, 2017 at 11:45 am
I’m a die-hard BUC fan, through thick and thin till the end. But this trash that we field year after year are not the Bucs. These are the YUCS, we haven’t been the Bucs since 2002. LakeLandBuc is proud to be a Buc, I challenge the Glazers to go out and get some BUCS. And fielding this imitation BS every week.
September 26th, 2017 at 11:47 am
Quit fielding this imitation BS every year. It’s an insult to the fans and the organization.
September 26th, 2017 at 11:49 am
The bears still attempted 16 rushes. It’s not like they only rushed 7 times.
16 rushes and all were stuffed.
And lmfao at a so called fan talking this way about “early gift turnovers” as if our defense just fell on a non forced fumble. Once again – pretty sure you didn’t even watch this game.
The McClain turnover was great coverage and a great break on the ball. The Noah Spence strip sack was all him beating his man and getting to the QB. The Kwon interception was due to tight coverage over the middle.
The only lucky turnover was the Cohen fumble. Cool. I’m pretty sure if Glennon tried to push it down field there may have been more.
The Bears identity is running the ball and we took that away. We almost shut them out and probably could have won 40-0 if we really kept the foot on the gas and kept the starters in the rest of the game.
It’s crazy anyone could complain about how the defense played in that game.
September 26th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Robert Ayers has been a complete bust as a pass rusher for us. Gholston does his job setting the edge on first and second downs but isnt a pass rushing DE. G Mac is constantly disruptive and causing havoc. Baker is a solid NT but lazy as hell. Spence might be injury prone for his entire career. Jac Smith would be a huge boost to this line if his knee is healthy but thats a big IF. That sums up our d-line for ya.
September 26th, 2017 at 12:02 pm
News flash, The Giants are not the Vikings!!!!! to think this Sunday will be same as last Sunday is asinine!!!!!!
are you serious?….we cant even exploit the giants weakness which is their sorry oline play especially their tackles….we got no pass rush….if we had a hard time against digs and thelin I cant imagine what a desperate eli…odell..shepard…ingram…marshall will do…..
giants have a better defense and will be hungry for a win….
to think this game will be a cake walk or doubt we’ll have a repeat performance is asinine!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
September 26th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
actually agree with 813
Giants have a great defense and their offense looked to get on track in the 4th quarter finally.
That said even our mediocre D-line should be able to do something – especially if we at least have McCoy/Ayers/McDonald/Baker all playing.
September 26th, 2017 at 12:52 pm
Realist- agreed 100%
The majority of this fan base is softer and weaker than the players they despise so much after a loss!
It’s ONE game people. The injuries are what should concern everyone.
@Joe- totally agreed on Springsteen. Generic Americana rock, never understood the infatuation.
September 26th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Well lord Cornelius we differ on the events of the Bears game, but since you are convinced the defense was so solid in that game, and we can all agree they were straight garbage against the Vikings. Which one are we? The team that shut down the Bears, or the hot mess that went to Minnesota?
September 26th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Joe why not dig up a stat that breaks down how many seconds it takes a D-lineman to get a sack on a qb on average throughout the league. I would be willing to bet that our D-lineman would be getting to the qb in the same amount of time as the average time it takes to get to the QB. My point being that our corners always playing ten yards deep and the zone coverage always leaving that gray area for guys to run slants and post routes against us….if our corners would press the wr at the line it would give our D-lineman that extra second needed to make the play.
If I’m wrong I will eat my words…but I would bet some cold hard cash that on average if it takes for example 3.5 seconds for the average sack to occur after the snap league wide, that our opposing Qb’s get the ball out in 3.0 or less on plays our d-lineman get close to making a play.
When the opposing qb knows before the game starts that all his war’s have to do is run two routes against us the entire game (which is basically what they did and what they used to do with Lovie) there will always be someone to dump off to in a very short amount of time.
Dig up those stats please I am dying to know!!!
September 26th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
@ Conte,
This defense was never dominant. Not against Chicago and not last season with the exception of maybe two games, the other three were mistaken for dominant performances because they were against bad offenses just like…..THE BEARS!!!
Actually one of theose 5 strong showings was against the bears. The only one I give them credit for is going into arrow head and winning that game. The other ones were either bad offenses and or average offenses with a boat load of injuries. Ive said all offseason this defense was going to suck and put Jameis in a bad spot to feel as if HE has to single handily win every game. I didn’t think Dirk Koetter would be the type to keep Smith around just because they are close, but apparently thats not the case.
I hope Jason Licht fires Mike Smith and promotes Jay Hayes at the end of the season…I knew this defense was going to be the same old crap we have been seeing for the past decade
September 26th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
when u blow 2nd round pick after 2nd round pick you won tbe great
good…. not great
September 26th, 2017 at 6:26 pm
David is a great blitzer, the best on the team, and he was sent on Sunday – but seemingly every single time the Vikings were rolling away from the pressure. Either the Vikings just got really lucky, or Mike Smith has a tell that told the Vikings where and when pressure was coming. It was uncanny how often the Vikings just rolled away from the blitzing side, again and again and again. Not sure if someone “lost” their playbook or something, but it was bad. Maybe getting back Jacquies Smith will help – assuming he’s actually healthy. If he’s not healthy then I’d ask why he was taken off the PUP.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:20 pm
Banking on a guy in the witness protection program is the height of desperation.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:29 pm
But Ayers is such a tough guy bad a$$ though??? CHILD PLEASE!!!