Buccaneers’ Crunch-Time Crumble Data
December 7th, 2017
ESPN NFL Matchup continues to pump out intriguing data from their very well paid and highly-respected stats nerds.
Joe likes those guys. They rarely interpret the numbers.
Take a fun one they pumped out this week: The Bucs are NOT among the five worst teams in the NFL at getting their running backs to the second level of the defense. How could that be, Doug Martin lovers/O-line bashers? Sunday’s opponent, the Lions are in that dubious bottom five.
But this post is about third-down defense in the fourth quarter, aka crunch time. We already know the Bucs have the worst third-down defense in the NFL. But now we know the Bucs are brutal on third downs specifically in the fourth quarter. They’re fifth-worst in the NFL at 44 percent. (See the graphic below).
Want to know what’s a killer on that list? But a killer that also brings great hope? Look at the Saints. They allow offenses just 26 percent conversion on third down in the fourth quarter. Remember how brutal the Saints defense was last year?
Dennis Allen has done wonders for New Orleans.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Koetter was our OC for a year, now HC for the last two years… what happened to the development of our franchise QB under his watch for the last three years? I think he has shown just how bad a coach he is. Sorry, he’s gotta go. Not to mention the development of our defense. A new defensive coordinator every two years for the las 8 years is pathetic and shows just how dumb the glazers are at hiring coaches who are relevant.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Dennis Allen has done a great job. Hard saying that considering my hate for the saints. Just goes to show, all you people who dont think this defense has talent, what a good coordinator can do for a team. The bucs have far more talent on their D than the saints. We need coaches who Really put their players in position to succeed, not just say it. I hope the glazers hire a real head coach who will find an aggressive d coordinator.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Hey we’re not among the 5 worst! Wow, you’re totally right J0e, the o-line is just playing awesome this year! You’ve completely changed my mind now.
And the defensive ranking should surprise no one. We are unable to stop any team when it matters.
#ItsABucsLife
December 7th, 2017 at 1:41 pm
Indgre100% Darin
December 7th, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Saints have built up their defense and drafted a stud RB…aagin the bucs have ZERO identity
December 7th, 2017 at 2:13 pm
Look. You can keep throwing all the numbers you want out. Makes no difference other than coaches may be fired. Players will be leaving. We are once again in the basement and sitting at home during the playoffs and Super Bowl watching everybody else. And I will tell you now. Don’t expect different next year. Because they will be the same old Bucs If this team is not sold which is not going to happen.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:20 pm
@darin,
While I agree with the premise of your argument, we absolutely do not have the talent of the Saints defense when it comes to pass rush. DE is the most important position on the defense, and it’s no coincidence that it is our weakest position on the team. You can have a great end and cover up for a bad secondary, but when you can’t rush the passer, there’s not much you can do. I’m not saying the coaches don’t deserve some of the blame, but I have my doubts anyone would be able to do a lot with our lack of pressure from the edges.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
kwonton soup
December 7th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Unb
Didn’t I say this just last night? On 3&2 I’ll take graddy, short even Rankins over the tutti frutti positively buttercup rainbow sprinkle ice cream man.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
When u have vasoline jerseys yea those miss tackles adds up.
Grimes slipping and sliding all over the place. Makes one play and FOR SURE 100 percent of the time gets beat the next……… we juse need some consistent play
December 7th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
@darin
Totally feel you. We finally need to go 3-4 and try very hard to find a good DC for it. Beckwith, Kwon, LVD, and Noah could be killer back there. Add a Minkah, Chubb, or Key to the mix along with some others with talent ( a big time CB in FA maybe) and there’s a chance we COULD be nasty.
December 7th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
We are who our Head coach is
teams play similar to the personality of the Head coach
if the head coach is emotional and fiery, the team also plays with that same emotion
“Instead of the matchstick carriers giving Koetter a portrait of him as a godfather, they should have just given out free bifocals to everyone”
Son of Kobe Faker
December 7th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
It’s going to be a long off season if they don’t make a threat running the table….somebody is going to win….might as well be the 53 over the next 4 games…
December 7th, 2017 at 3:46 pm
SOE…….I agree. It’s time for this franchise to wake up and quit building around McCoy. It, basically, hasn’t worked since he has been here. We don’t have the personnel to make it work like want to think we do.
Mike Smith has proven to be a horrible hire because of this. They should have known better. You don’t bring in a guy whose defense centers around getting pressure with a front 4 when that’s the main thing this team lacks. He was the wrong guy for this team.
If they want to trot out another defense that relays on 4 man pressure they must get serious about bringing in Ends that can provide sustained pressure(Spence does not provide this). That’s a tall order that may be too much to expect in one offseason. They better make a big time trade or get a new system on defense or I will have little hope.
December 7th, 2017 at 3:52 pm
“SOE…….I agree. It’s time for this franchise to wake up and quit building around McCoy.”
——–
The franchise isn’t built around McCoy! If it were, we would have drafted guys on the edge, wouldn’t you say? This team is built around Jameis, but it just hasn’t been built correctly. We have ignored where games are won – from the inside out. We have virtually ignored both lines.
Everyone can blame coaching, GMC, Jameis, etc., but the simple fact is if we don’t get better in the trenches we could have Vince Lombardi and Bill Bellicheat coach us and we won’t have success. I’m not saying our current coaches are the answer, but the truth is we really don’t (and can’t) possibly know until we get them the guys they need. There isn’t an OC that can design a successful offense without guys that can block. There isn’t a DC that can design a great defense without guys that can shed blocks. Get those problems sorted out and we can have success. Ignore that, and we’ll be right back in this same spot next year.
December 7th, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Just think…the Giants will improve a slot when they hire aeay Smiley Smitty.
December 7th, 2017 at 4:48 pm
Hawaiin Buc
They’ve been unsuccessfully trying to build a 4-3 defense around GMC since 2010. The Glazer’s are the ones to blame for not being able to find GM’s and coaching staffs that know how to build around him.
December 7th, 2017 at 5:01 pm
Fair enough Hawaiian. You’re right the team is built around Jamie’s.
But on defense they have continued to build up the system around McCoy and keep trying to center it around 4 man pressure. Gerald is the centerpiece of that defense and has been since he has been here…….It’s pretty easy to see that it isn’t working and the best fix is likely a system change that feature our stout Linebacking core IMO…….We need Ends(emphasis on plural) here and the guys we have at that position are either garbage at getting to the QB or completely unreliable or a combo of both. We needs Ends and we need quality depth at the position.
It would be wishful thinking to say they can get the Ends needed with rookies and free agency rarely provides any……If they want to keep building around Gerald I think they need to get serious and make a big trade which may also be wishful thinking.
December 7th, 2017 at 5:09 pm
Instead of building around McCoy, just get rid of him. He hasn’t made anybody around him better, that’s what great players do. Where was McCoy when we needed his greatness in overtime? Like where he’s been every other time a game has been on the line, nowhere to be found. Why this guy gets a pass, and every other defender is at fault is beyond me. He’s been through 4 head coaches, and 2 G.M.’s. He’s a loser, and his smiling losing ways permeates what is really the problem with every defense he’s been on, soft like him.
December 7th, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Hawaii
Let it go…… it is obvious they did built the defenses in gmc likeness…. soft!
Msmith’s 4 safeties Cover 0 scheme doesn’t help either
December 7th, 2017 at 6:46 pm
DB-
so you’re gonna swap 1 DT for another, and still bring in no other help? Then it’s just gonna be the exact same situation we have now. This is my whole point. You can’t only have 1 guy on the line who deserves to be a starter.
Rankins plays next to Cameron Jordan.
Short has Star Lotulelei and Julius Peppers next to him. (not to mention Thomas Davis and Luke K behind him)
Aaron Donald has Robert Quinn, Connor Barwin, and Alec Ogletree coming off the edge.
Who is next to GMC? Mr. Yeasting? Fatty Baker? McDonald is the only guy with any decent skill, and he’s rotational.
December 7th, 2017 at 7:41 pm
truth be told, we haven’t build around GMC. The last DE who was any good and wanted to be a Buc we let go for no good reason(Bennett). the GMC bashers are deliusional
December 7th, 2017 at 7:43 pm
We were a 4-3 defense before McCoy got here. We didn’t change anything for him. We didn’t add pieces around him. That’s the definition of building around someone. With Jameis, they have surrounded him with weapons (even though they forgot the most important part – to protect him). Who have they added for GMC? You can’t give an answer because there isn’t an answer. Instead they have asked GMC to do everything by himself, which no player is capable of. You can argue your same BS points about we haven’t won (as if that’s his fault), but the fact of the matter is he hasn’t been surrounded by guys that can help him. As a result, he’s achieved a ton of individual success, but no one player can create team success. But carry on with your stupid reasoning that he’s the problem. I just hope that one day you can get in a room with a real coach or GM. I want to see their faces when you tell them what you write about GMC.
December 7th, 2017 at 7:45 pm
The common denominator of this franchise is our lack of addressing both lines. It was that way with Raheem, Schiano, Lovie, and Koetter. Maybe they were less the problem and the construction of this team was more so the problem. How many times do you have to hear that the game is won in the trenches before you actually believe it?
December 7th, 2017 at 7:54 pm
What I need a DE for on 3&2 when they running down the b gap? Idk wtfdik you right bro luv you but not as much as I love to scream for ice cream. Lol can’t help himself.
December 7th, 2017 at 8:04 pm
for real, how much better would we be if we kept Bennett?
December 7th, 2017 at 10:12 pm
I’m just talking about in general with the d-line. 3rd & 2 or 3rd &22 it doesn’t matter this defense seems to give up the booty more often than not.
But rather than get rid of the most talented guy on our d-line, I’d rather add some more talent around him. 1 guy ain’t gonna do it by himself no matter who he is if the other guys can’t get some push and pressure.