“Diversity”
December 7th, 2018
Changing things up.
No, the Bucs defense wasn’t trying to fill some sort of quota.
The way the Bucs defense played Sunday just amazed Joe. No, it’s not like the Bucs turned in a 2002 Bucs-like performance holding a stud team to one score. But the way the Bucs played good (not great) defense with four guys in the secondary who could be on an AAF roster was impressive.
So Joe has spent the better part of a week trying to figure out where that defense came from. Remember, just a few short weeks ago, the Bucs defense was hellbent on setting 99-year old NFL records for trash.
Well, film junkie Andy Benoit of theMMQB.com watched the tape and he summed up the Bucs defense in one word.
“Diversity.”
#Bucs Film: Carolina game was the best the defense has looked this year. 2 biggest keys: DT McCoy destructiveness, more schematic diversity (including blitzing in zone coverage).
— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) December 6, 2018
Joe knew last Sunday was at least going to be different when early in the game linebacker Kevin Minter flatted Stinking Panthers quarterback pouty Cam Newton on a blitz. A short time later, Lavonte David splashed Newton on another linebacker blitz.
Joe cannot remember the last time he saw the Bucs try that — and be successful at it.
The key to last week’s win? When the Bucs offense had consecutive three-and-out possessions in the fourth quarter leading by a touchdown and all but begged Carolina to tie the game.
Under Mike Smith, that’s exactly what would have happened. Instead, the new Bucs defense had two key stops.
December 7th, 2018 at 12:08 am
no doubt there has been some improvement. It all means nothing if they regress from this point onward.
I can see this going either way…………a complete train wreck or a miracle run.
It sucks we play in the toughest division in all of sports. And it sucks that we have had the most difficult schedule in the NFL this year.
December 7th, 2018 at 12:46 am
Reason number 99 why koetter should be fired. If everyday fans see how bad the defense was with Smith. He watches game tape Sunday night Monday morning. Bucs fans are getting over a hangover trying to forget what we saw. He is rewatching it and thinking it is good enough. Are we the most talented team defensively no. But are we the least talented heck no. He should have pulled the trigger in the offseason. He had no excuse after the Chicago debacle. But yet still made one. I’m going to fire him and then what. And then what is you have no where to go up. Worse defense in the league was on pace to be historically bad. Yet you can watch tape from every angle and know what defense was called in every situation and still think he is doing a stand up job. You wasted another season for the bucs. We could easily be 7-5 or 8-4 without the defensive nightmares and musical quarterback situation. That is all on coaching. I just don’t know if there is a better coach we can get in the offseason. I think what koetter needs is a new gm who will run the team and make the important decisions with the team. And let him just handle the offense and be an offensive coach. Instead of being an offensive to coach to the fans. He can’t make the hard decisions and is to loyal in a cut throat profession. Are main problem is a hands off general manager who drafts horribly. Out of 4 picks in the first two rounds we might have got one starter in Davis. Vea will always be a clog the middle big body type who could be had in the 5th round. Jones just doesn’t have it. My Stewart is what every talking head scout said he was to slow to play corner. I really believe if we get a new coach and staff Stewart and jones will not make the team next year. And they are high second round picks. And throw in Spence, aguayo and heargraves
December 7th, 2018 at 1:53 am
“Aha! is just more proof that things suck and we should fire everyone!” – Bucs fans
December 7th, 2018 at 1:55 am
FIRE KOETTER!! HE made Buc fans Suffer under his stubborness and Stupidity.
Stevie Wonder Could have seen our Defense was terrible last yr and fired pressbox Smitty! Now that his job is on the line, He;s tryin to rally. To little..To late there Dirk. pack your bags!!
December 7th, 2018 at 3:50 am
2 good plays justifies paying McCoy $12 million dollars? Hell no
December 7th, 2018 at 4:51 am
Kudos Joe on your incessant efforts to generate enthusiasm for this Bucs’ team but they’re exactly who most thought they were at the start of the season … mediocre. Only TWO of the teams we’ve played have winning records (Saints 10-2 and Steelers 7-4-1). The rest appear to be having their own mediocre years for various reasons (chief among them is mediocre QB play & mediocre defenses IMO). Sounds all too familiar doesn’t it.
Bucs’ offense has now shown me that they can march up-and-down the field very nicely (#1 in TOTAL YARDAGE) but still can’t figure out how to finish (#10 in POINTS SCORED). We lead the league in the number of first downs, but also lead in the number of turnovers … not exactly a winning combination. Prolific passing offense (#1) & well-below-average rushing offense (#26) all combined with a tendency for self-implosion.
Bucs’ defense is improving in this second-half of the season (sounds all too familiar?). Bunch of high-priced new ‘pieces’ to start the year (especially on the DLine) that took 8 games to finally get their act together & start generating some pressure. Beyond GMC & JPP and now Nassib however, the rest of the DLine has played, oh ya, mediocre (those 3 have 23 of our 33 sacks). What’s particularly interesting IMO is that since Duff has taken over, our pass defense has improved (passing yardage allowed has come down somewhat), but our rushing defense has worsened CONSIDERABLY (especially in these last 3 games). Hmmm, wonder if the Saints, Ravens & Cowboys (all excellent rushing teams) will notice.
December 7th, 2018 at 7:01 am
@Jeffbuc……Exactly Koetters mistake was keep M. Smith too long he and Monkens offense is good but would be deadly with a run game D. Smith belongs on the right side and should be paid like a right tackle R. Jensen was grossly overpaid, Cappa, and Bennenoch wont cut it Demar is aging! You’ve seen what the D line could look like when G. McCoy does his job look at the Carolina game Nassib and JPP are the motor we have no good back up LB’s , no comment on the woeful secondary but I believe Licht is the biggest problem year after year his picks rarely pan out from high rounders to mid and low guys and free agent guys either!
December 7th, 2018 at 7:03 am
Why are people obsessed with GMC’s salary?! It ain’t your money, get over it!
This is what is so frustrating about this team. Even fans like #7423 can see that the defense wasn’t working. Good coaches don’t wait 3/4 a season, one game, or even one play to make adjustments. This is a huge indictment of this coaching staff.
I’m glad that they’re FINALLY turning the corner.
December 7th, 2018 at 7:15 am
Y’all are unhinged now
December 7th, 2018 at 7:54 am
“Has Klueless stopped his stubbornes?
I think Duffner perfers his young hungry attacking corners
Grimes should sit and not play however…
Klueless is Duffners boss so slip slide grimes will be starting…
We need this no commonsense buffoon out of tampa asap”
Kobe Faker
December 7th, 2018 at 8:58 am
I’ll be sold on the defense when this team starts playing better on the road. As they say good defenses travel. If they travel to Balt and Dal then we’ll have the answer. If they travel like they did to NYC then oh well……………….