“Embarrassing” Defense
October 18th, 2018
Scolded by film junkie.
Bucs fans used to scream about it. And it took almost until the time Mike Smith was out the doors for some national folks to recognize this.
As Andy Benoit is wont to do, the X’s and O’s guy from theMMQB.com reviewed tape of the Bucs’ loss in Atlanta and highlighted one small sample size of why Smith was fired hours later.
Embarrassing amount of cushion given by Bucs defense here. Uncontested 3rd-10 conversion in middle of the field. pic.twitter.com/mSchVYDAAE
— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) October 17, 2018
More embarrassing is that this continued game after game, with no end in sight.
Joe hopes Item No. 1 on new defensive coordinator Mark Duffner’s to-do list is to knock off this type of stuff. Hey, if a corner gets beat, he gets beat. Don’t make it impossible for the guy to cover a receiver adequately.
Derrick Brooks takes on the tough questions of the day — your questions — with sage columnist Ira Kaufman.Click below and enjoy this great production from The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.com, presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating.
October 18th, 2018 at 5:29 am
Isn’t this the play where Andrew Adams bailed deep but was supposed to be zone middle?
October 18th, 2018 at 5:35 am
Brent grimes is not playing like a ten million dollar cornerstone of this defense.
Only problem is Licht failed to address this previously so we are starting rookies
that haven’t had a fair chance to develope yet.As some have said ,lose the cushion a nd disrupt routes in the first 5 yards. IMO we are going to rely on LB”s
and D lineman to stop run and use both safeties in coverage to prevent big plays.
October 18th, 2018 at 6:15 am
Yeah the one Adams back peddled 5 yards past the sticks?? Looks like it
October 18th, 2018 at 6:33 am
I’ve wanted our Secondary to play much more aggressively for a long time (like everyone else?) and still can’t figure out WHY they kept playing off so far … play after play after play. Doing the same thing over & over (and expecting different results but never getting them?) is totally maddening.
Our Secondary played MUCH more aggressively IMO against Philly, but then went back to soft in the 1st half against the Steelers … when Brent Grimes came back after missing Games 1 & 2. When he was ‘sat down’ in the 2nd half of that game, they became more aggressive once again. And yet, with Grimes staying in the lineup for all of the Bears & Falcons games, Bucs went back to soft once again … with catastrophic results.
Coincidence that the Bucs played their worst defense this season when Brent was on the field? Perhaps. But my gut still tells me that Smitty was adjusting how the entire Secondary played (soft zone?) to accommodate how Grimes plays (off-man?). And that he’s done that the entire time Grimes has been a Buc. The strategy MIGHT have worked IF our DLine got consistent pressure on opposing QBs AND IF our LBs provided decent short zone coverage. NEITHER has been the case.
I think that Smitty got caught up in one of those ‘damned if you do AND damned if you don’t’ conundrums … OF HIS OWN MAKING. His rookie corners aren’t fast enough to keep up with guys like Julio Jones & many others, BUT playing deep zone didn’t work either. Hopefully Mark Duffner starts the young guys AND let’s them play aggressively. They’ll probably get beat deep once in awhile, but at least opposing receivers will know they’ve been in a dogfight.
October 18th, 2018 at 6:38 am
You should see Benoit’s tweet after that. It featured a video of a run to the edge for a big gain by Tevin Coleman. The Bucs D-linemen were gassed, and linebackers were taking bad angles. The defense was built to stop the run up the middle and rush the passer (believe it or not). However, offensive coordinators have found the formula: throw slants (this a problem after how many years?), three step drops, and hot reads early in the game to neutralize the pass rush and then run to the edge. I don’t see 30+ year old D-linemen doing this for long. And, young rookie Vita Vea is not built for the sideline to sideline runs, either. The result: ex-Coach Smith has a: #PaidFloridaVacation
October 18th, 2018 at 6:47 am
It was UGLY, and let’s all hope it is over!
October 18th, 2018 at 6:55 am
Isn’t that the mlb job? Isn’t the mlb the QB of the def? Ijs
October 18th, 2018 at 7:10 am
The game evolves, changes. Especially with all the rule changes it’s harder to do the stuff that was once effective. It just seems like the game has past MS up.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:12 am
Doctor Stroud … excellent analysis. Seems to keep coming back (for some anyways) to TEAM-BUILDING. The DLinemen are obviously a BIG concern (they’re SUPPOSED to pressure the QB?) AND stop the run up the middle, BUT our LBs are a bigger concern IMO. Underneath is where we keep getting beat, game after game after game. Our LBs HAVE TO be responsible for that short zone, and right now they’re not doing a very good job of that. LOTS of tackles … but all after-the-fact.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:25 am
Like how Brian Baldwin got all up in arms after Smitty got axed, trying to act like it was solely on the players. For a proclaimed film junkie he certainly didn’t seem to catch how often we gave receivers 10-15 yards on the outside.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:43 am
I also like doctor stroud analysis nonetheless this is where good d coordinator will make adjustments. May not solve the problem completely but this is how good d coordinators and their teams make the playoffs and of course you have to draft or sign different types of players.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:59 am
Doctor Stroud, #paidFloridavacation
The word must be out around the league about free Glazer loot and al the vacation spots in Florida.
Collins. Johnson, sweezy, swaggy…..who’s next?
October 18th, 2018 at 8:33 am
What’s even more embarrassing is that certain fans that were “Totally confident” actually believed the defense would be improved and that the Bucs were playoff bound.
As for Mike Smith, I cannot comprehend what he has been thinking this entire time with his scheme. I know he has forgotten more football than I will ever know but what is the expectation here with this cushion? When the closest defender is 30-40 feet away at any given time, did he believe the talent on the field can close that distance in a second or two while receivers have the momentum?
October 18th, 2018 at 8:34 am
By delaying the wide outs in getting into their routes, the d line pass rushing has a second more to attack the qb. Pressure creates mistakes and the dbs have more opportunity for success.
October 18th, 2018 at 8:38 am
Defense: dude you hit the nail directly on the head–no doubt you are right. The secondary disaster is all about Brent Grimes. It isn’t worth playing off just to accommodate Grimes who is not even playing well anyway. Let our young rooks do what they do playing man–we might just be pleasantly surprised. Like you say–worse that could happen is they get beat some times but they get better, smarter etc. The last 3 weeks have been harmful to these kids development.So glad Mike Smith is gone–hope Duffner has insight into what is happening.
October 18th, 2018 at 8:47 am
Defense Rules- I’m not sure I agree 100% with your analysis of Grimes. Winning the first 2 games disguised the fact that we were gashed significantly in those games, without Grimes.
With Grimes we haven’t been much better. To the eye, it seems like we were worse so I’ll give you that.
It’s, overall, been terrible.
On the LBs. I could not agree more. For some reason fans have been enamored by Kwon and LVD, and frankly, they are playing poorly. Teams are connecting on that crossing route at an alarming pace. Meaning, LBs are not disrupting the route. There’s only so much the DBs can cover, especially playing 10 yards off!!!
October 18th, 2018 at 8:54 am
With all of the focus on defense in the wake of ex-Coach Smith’s firing, it’s apparent that the offense will have to shoulder the burden and score more. With all of the injuries to the Falcons defense, that game should have been a shootout. The coaches are panicking and calling empty backfield shotgun formations way too early. If Barber is as good as we think, mix up the play calling and let him carry the rock to take the load off of JW. #R-E-L-A-X
October 18th, 2018 at 8:58 am
… and why not more batted balls? If you can’t get to the QB then get your hands up, especially on a shorter QB like Breeze and Baker this week.
Like others I want the receivers re-routed; force them to execute well; stop the giving! #Almshouse Stadium
October 18th, 2018 at 9:19 am
Two years ago Grimes had 24 passes defenced. It dropped to 11 last year. Still
stuck at zero this year. Should be interesting to see what Duffner does with the corners. IMO ,we need to get Carlton Davis back healthy at the very least, without him Duffner’s options are limited.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:24 am
Football has evolved and some coaches haven’t. Pretty simple. The Vince Lombardi big box TV sets have been replaced by the Sean McVay OLED flat screens. If you are employing the big box set you aren’t getting the full effect of your TV viewing. I’m sure I’m not the only Monday morning QB to see this.
#Get After It!
October 18th, 2018 at 9:35 am
You need speed on the defense
I have been saying his for years
But the Bucs keep getting slower
Signing old, slow guys in free agency
Drafting young slow guys
October 18th, 2018 at 9:50 am
**saying this for years**
October 18th, 2018 at 10:04 am
lol….smittys scheme was outdated and passive…..simple as that….smitty had 2.5years to get his defense to work and couldn’t…..bottom line is, the defense got worse with the addition of better talent…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 18th, 2018 at 10:44 am
Better get to 8-8 somehow Koetter. Smitty’s got your reel/rod and tackle bait ready if you do not. A less than 500 season is totally unacceptable. No Mercy shall be granted.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:54 am
Is Buckner still talking about GMC getting the defensive player of the year award?
October 18th, 2018 at 11:18 am
I can handle watching defensive backs getting beat if they at least are given the opportunity to challenge receivers. This off coverage crap is just plain stupid.
Even when we were running the “Tampa 2” zone they were more in the face of guys than this garbage.
I pray that Duffner let’s these young secondary players have a say in how they feel comfortable playing.
Pass rush has no chance either in these situations.
October 18th, 2018 at 11:54 am
I think Kwon may be one of our biggest problems on D.. His whole career is based on one play in ATL 3 years ago..It was agreat play, but even then he was running down the middle of the field..behind again..
Well, that and Db’s who run AWAY from receivers….
October 18th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
“Even when we were running the “Tampa 2” zone they were more in the face of guys than this garbage”
Tampa 2 was predicated on jamming WR’s at the line to throw off the timing, and to give the front four an extra second or two….
The thing I remember most about DB play in the T2 was that IF a receiver made the catch, he got pummeled..
Our guys now run away from receivers and are barely near enough to make a half arsed tackle much less pummel anybody
October 18th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Mike Smith is gone because of plays like this above. If I’m correct that was the 3rd and long completition to the TE for a first.
The defense rarely clamped down on 3rd down and when they are consistently giving up the booty on long conversions their are serious issues. How they kept Mike Smith employed and let him”play scared(as Chris Spielman said)” on third downs is a question for the ages.
Even in Mike Smith’s first year we had a good 3rd down rate but not when it was 3rd and long. And bite me stat geeks I’ve seen enough football in my life to positivity know that Mike Smith’s defense was at or very near the worst in the league defending 3rd and long.
3rds and longs cost us a playoff spot.
October 18th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Jmark…..The tackling has been the most disappointing to me. Our tackling looked good to start the season then came Monday Night which featured 3 highlinght reel missed tackles, each resulting in a TD. since then we have looked like replacement level players trying to make a stop. Maybe Duffner will understand if you give All-World athletes the ball in open space they will throttle you.
And then they will do it again and again and again until you take away the open fields.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
@Lakeland … “You need speed on the defense. I have been saying this for years. But the Bucs keep getting slower. Signing old, slow guys in free agency. Drafting young slow guys.” Totally agree Lakeland … there’s no alternative for having speed in today’s NFL. Receivers have gotten bigger & faster, and slow CBs & Safeties get left in their dust (remember what DJax did to the Saints & Eagles in Games 1 & 2 this year? 11-for-11?). None of our CBs are especially fast … Carlton Davis (6’1″, 206 lbs, 4.53 sec 40-yd time); MJ Stewart (5’11”, 200 lbs, 4.54 secs); VHIII (5’11”, 204 lbs, 4.50 sec). Ryan Smith is probably the fastest (5’11”, 189 lbs, 4.47 secs). Compare those guys though to some of the faster receivers & it’s not much of a foot-race.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
@JMarkbuc … “Our guys now run away from receivers and are barely near enough to make a half arsed tackle much less pummel anybody.” Was thinking exactly the same thing for virtually every game this year JMark, and I’m convinced now that’s why so many of our Secondary guys keep getting hurt. Punish someone when they first catch the ball & it’ll probably hurt them more than you. But let them get up a head of steam & THEN try to tackle them, and you’d probably stand as good a chance of getting hurt as they do (ask Chris Conte). Our Secondary is having to make a helluva lot of tackles because of (1) higher percentage of passes caught; and (2) our LBs aren’t covering that short zone particularly well. (Not to mention how many RBs have been allowed to get up a head of steam before our Secondary take them down).