Can The Secondary Hold Up?
June 4th, 2018
Was 2016 really good?
A lot of folks are jumping up and down about the rebuilt Bucs defensive line. Joe understands why.
When a defensive line is as offensive as the Bucs were last year, the fact the team added five new players to the defensive front, including a first round draft pick, well, it makes Joe sleep better at night.
But about that secondary. It still scares Joe. Especially after reading a training camp preview typed by Herbie Teope of NFL.com.
Tampa finished the 2017 season ranked last in the league against the pass, after finishing 22nd in 2016. Clearly, something had to be done, considering the Buccaneers are in the division that Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton call home. Brent Grimes, who’s entering his 12th season, and Vernon Hargreaves return from last season’s roster, and the Bucs used second-round picks on cornerbacks M.J. Stewart (53rd overall) and Carlton Davis (63rd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. How the Buccaneers’ pass defense holds up in 2018 will have a large role in determining close games, an area of focus for a team that lost four of its final five games by a combined 15 points. The team’s secondary should get a boost from the Bucs’ revamped defensive line, which includes free-agent signees Jason Pierre-Paul, Beau Allen, Vinny Curry and Mitch Unrein, in addition to the drafting of first-round pick (12th overall) Vita Vea.
Let’s think about this for a second. When we thought the Bucs played decent defense in 2016, the pass defense was still No. 22. That not exactly something to be proud of. And that was when Vernon Hargreaves played decent for a rookie and when Brent Grimes was robbed of a Pro Bowl berth.
Being No. 22 was a good thing? That’s not a good pattern.
The way Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith and his assistants talked in recent weeks, it seems Smith and his staff have gone back to the whiteboard and are rebuilding the defense from scratch.
Joe applauds this. Because whatever the coaches thought was working before, surely wasn’t working.
June 4th, 2018 at 12:12 am
…as long as they only allow at most 19.9 average points per game. We should improve to 8-8 at least. Now that’s predicated on Jameis performance from last year when the Buc’s game score average was 20.9. If Jameis can score one extra touchdown a game this season then we could feasibly make a bid for a playoff berth.
June 4th, 2018 at 12:45 am
They were #22 on the season, because they were absolutely terrible the first 8 games of the season. They were on their way to being the worst in the league before that mid season turnaround. They were ranked #5 during that 5 game win streak, but then it all disappeared.
June 4th, 2018 at 2:56 am
If we had signed McCourty, we would be good right now.
Grimes and McCourty starting last year and this year with Hargreaves, Stewart, Davis, Smith, and Elliot developing.
But now, we will throw more rookies into the fire, and they will get burned.
June 4th, 2018 at 5:16 am
How did hargreaves play descent as a rookie? He was the only cornerback who gave up more than 1000 yards total to wide receivers. Thats not descent
June 4th, 2018 at 5:18 am
I wonder if the Bucs are interested in cb Adonis Alexander out of Va Tect, he’s 6′ 3″ 203Lbs considered 2/3 round talent, in the subliminal draft this July?
If they like what they see looking into him they should at least put a round 5 bid on him and hope that’s enough.
June 4th, 2018 at 5:35 am
Can the Secondary Hold Up? THE question for 2018. Doesn’t matter a lick what happened in 2016, that’s history. Same with 2017. All that matters is how THIS year’s secondary performs when the REAL games start come September. Would love for them to have another experienced outside CB in the fold come training camp, but even if that doesn’t happen, we’ve got some decent young talent to work with. Time will tell …
June 4th, 2018 at 6:36 am
I thought that at first as well Joe, about them rebuilding the defense from scratch but it’s not true. Mike Smith is not capable of adapting. I called.it the day Smith was hired and I’ll call it right now that if our corners don’t move up at least within 5 yards off the line and stop this 10 to 12 yard cushion it will not get better.
We won’t see ANY press coverage this season it’s pretty clear after watching the secondary coach presser. Nothing will improve as long as Smith is here. Without del Rio he has never had a good defense under his coaching
June 4th, 2018 at 6:46 am
I love how joe jumps to wrong concussions!!!! They are teaching the defense form scratch, not rebuilding the defense from scratch!!! And you do this because there are just about more new guys then there are those that were here last year!!!!!!!!!
And was the defense good in 2016???? NO!!!!!! The defensive coaches got their squad to over achieve!!!! They manufactured and schemed a pass rush from not much talent!!!!! They held teams in 2016 to 23.1 pts per game (which is the most important stat in my opinion)!!!!!!! They were ranked 15th in the league!!!!!!!
So many say that secondary, and D-line that the rookies can’t be counted on and don’t produce!!!! But you have to draft them at some point to get the productive years!!!!!!!!!
Would not be surprise in a year or two if Joe is not writing articles that the secondary has depth and the D-line is a need!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
June 4th, 2018 at 6:46 am
Let’s face it. We play teams that run 4 receiver sets (with some having tight end out wide). We need 2 slot dbs who can contribute so MJ Stewart , Hargreaves , and whitehead and even iguebueke should be given opportunity to see what they can do during camp.
We know what the other guys can do. Let’s give some other guys a shot. (This assumes Carlton Davis and grimes are 2 outside guys. )
June 4th, 2018 at 7:43 am
Play Tandy and you get the results you got in 2016. Don’t play Tandy and you will get the results you got when he didn’t play in 2017. I may be wrong but I may not!!!
June 4th, 2018 at 7:53 am
I know this….I feel a whole lot better about our secondary with the addition of 5 new linemen…..just think, Will Gholston could be our worst Dlineman.
Even if we hadn’t picked up 2 CBs in the draft…..this new line and the continued development from our fine DB coaches of our young DBs would help us this year.
And, yes our coaches are developing young DBs and will have at least 3 more to develop this year.
June 4th, 2018 at 8:03 am
@Stanglassman- As the resident Hokie, Alexander would be a project. He is very raw. With the right coaching, he’d be worth a look.
June 4th, 2018 at 8:43 am
Joe, there’s nothing wrong with our secondary compared to last year’s. We added two second round CBs and you can’t have enough CBs. Never know if a rookie CB is going to be pretty good and an amazing one is rare. But we’ve added good depth at CB and that never hurts. Haven’t heard much about Jordan Whitehead so I’m looking forward to what he can do and if Godwin Igwebuike could come out with a bang that would be sweet.
June 4th, 2018 at 8:44 am
Joe, there’s nothing wrong with our secondary compared to last year’s. We added two second round CBs and you can’t have enough CBs. Never know if a rookie CB is going to be pretty good and an amazing one is rare. But we’ve added good depth at CB and that never hurts. Haven’t heard much about Jordan Whitehead so I’m looking forward to what he can do and if Godwin Igwebuike could come out with a bang that would be sweet.
June 4th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Did you see anything interesting out of Igwebuike in underwear football, Joe? Getting to the ball, taking good angles, etc.?
June 4th, 2018 at 8:56 am
Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it.
June 4th, 2018 at 9:00 am
No. To be honest, with so much to watch, Joe pays scant attention to bubble players. Joe starts doing that, will miss what guys higher up the food chain will do. Only have one set of eyes. 🙂
June 4th, 2018 at 9:16 am
“The way Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith and his assistants talked in recent weeks, it seems Smith and his staff have gone back to the whiteboard and are rebuilding the defense from scratch.” – J0E
I think the phrase should be ‘building’.
This is the first time in a decade or more that the defense has gotten and true attention, aside from 1 player here and there.
This year, they gave the defense full attention, and they did it smart for a change. I think Mike was kept on because his side was mostly neglected in the draft (mostly) and horrible free agent signings brought bad results.
It must be like Christmas to him this year.
June 4th, 2018 at 9:19 am
Anonymous, you blew your cover as SOEbuc.
June 4th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Bonzai
I know. And it was so cool being so anonymous. I’m still getting this BS name problem so I might just go by Anonymous now. Let it be known, SOEbuc IS DEAD AND ANONYMOUS HAS ARRIVED TO CONQUER ALL!!!
June 4th, 2018 at 10:06 am
My man, Tandyman! Hey, you know, what could it hurt to have him rotate more frequently?
I think upgrading the line will improve the secondary by default. They have to do it on the field though. I hate this time of year!