Fix Jameis? Fix The Defense
April 10th, 2019
Has prescription for America.
It seems Bucco Bruce Arians has the elixir for America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. And that solution can be found on the other side of the ball.
Back during the March coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings, Arians was asked if Jameis may have had his growth as an NFL quarterback stunted because the Bucs’ defense was so horrible.
Arians believes there is no doubt about it.
“Oh, it’s huge!” Arians said. “First of all it’s not playing from 20 down and throw it 50 times — you are going to throw picks. Keep it balanced. At the end of the year you like to throw your [statistic] sheets up and see that you are 50 percent pass and 50 percent run.
“I think the greatest stat I ever saw was Joe Gibbs was calling plays it was 10,004 passes and 10,004 runs. That’s unbelievable. And a lot of that is by design.
“The game, the first three quarters, will dictate what the fourth quarter is going to do. If you have a 10-point lead you will try to pound it. And if you are down 10 you are going to throw it every down. Until then, until the game is decided you try to stay balanced.”
It wasn’t just about playing from behind all the time, though Arians is right on the money about that. But it was a complete inability to hold a lead late in the game. The Bucs blew four fourth-quarter leads in 2017.
No matter how you slice it, that Bucs defense the past two years was nothing short of a football atrocity. How the hell Mike Smith was brought back for the 2018 season is beyond Joe.
But having a dependable defense should take some pressure off Jameis’ shoulders.
April 10th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Jameis would have thrived as Tony Dungy’s QB 😉
April 10th, 2019 at 2:09 pm
BA does realize that Gibbs who was a coach for the Bucs, but also coached in the NFL many moons ago and the NFL was a much different animal in terms of players and the rules which have forced the coach’s hands to throw the ball due to the many rules that hurt the defense now. If Bowles can make something out of this crappy defense he deserves to be the bucs next HC
April 10th, 2019 at 2:11 pm
Stop the turnovers and the D goes from very bad to average. Find a couple of play makers on D and good coaching and you might have a good D
April 10th, 2019 at 2:11 pm
Even if he is available I want no part of Nick Bossa. I have a feeling he is going to free fall about character issues. When you twitter out that Colin Kaepernick is a clown and all this pro trump retoric, you don’t need that in your clubhouse. Move on and pass on this player.
April 10th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Arians is right, but the Bucs also have had a poor running game and the worst special teams in the NFL over the past three seasons.
I’m not worried about Jamies. What worries me is how much improvement can they make with the worst defense and special teams over the past three years and one of the worst running games in the NFL?
April 10th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
the defense hampered winston’s growth as well as others……
smittys lousy defense is the gift that keeps on giving…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
April 10th, 2019 at 2:19 pm
The Bucs have talent on defense – and are about to add some more in the draft.
If Todd Bowles can transform this group from bad to average with a better scheme and better coaching – then the Bucs are going to win at least 10 games in 2019.
Considering Bowles pedigree and experience and penchant for “aggressive” play calling – I’d say its quite doable with the players he’s got now along with adding a couple very good young players to the starting mix via the draft.
Bolster the Oline (and thus the running game) – and get decent play from the defense and special teams.
That’s all this team needs to become a real contender for a Super Bowl run.
April 10th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Marques you do realize that there is already a huge Trump voice in the bucs locker room right? The biggest buc is also the biggest Trump supporter and that is demar dotson as well as the owners of the bucs are huge trump backers…..who cares who someone supports or doesnt as long as they play for 60 minutes with their wigs on fire
April 10th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
@Dusthty … “If Bowles can make something out of this crappy defense he deserves to be the bucs next HC.” I’m still convinced Dusthty that Bowles WILL BE the next Bucs HC when BA decides to retire (again). He’s got ONE mission right now: FIX THE DEFENSE. Free agency didn’t do him any favors to be sure, BUT … if the defense gets priority in the draft for a couple of ‘upgrades’ then we SHOULD improve some this year, and a lot more next year.
@Miken … “Stop the turnovers and the D goes from very bad to average.” Turnovers certainly don’t do the defense any favors Miken, especially when they result in a short field for our opponents. Plus a lot of times it puts an exhausted Bucs defense back onto the field before they’ve had a chance to catch their breath from the PREVIOUS series.
@813bucboi … “the defense hampered winston’s growth as well as others”. Jameis has been ‘growing’ for 4 years now bucboi, and seems like the Glazers are still reluctant to offer him a long-term contract. Jameis’ biggest enemy isn’t the defense, nor is it the Bucs running game. It’s Jameis himself. I personally believe that Jameis WILL improve this year because Coach Arians has a history of holding players ACCOUNTABLE, and that’s exactly what Jameis AND a LOT of other Bucs need. Too many flippin’ excuses.
April 10th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Just think how much further of a setback jw3 would have been then if incompetent loser lovie had stayed!!!!!!! That buffoon’s defense was a full point allowed higher than Coach Smity!!!!!!! And talk about blowouts!!!!!! Most of those the opponents shut it down and started running the clock in the third quarter!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 10th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Marques, maybe it’s because kapernick is a clown? And how about we let people support whatever president they want. You sound like a jaded Hillary fan
April 10th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
DR
ive never made an excuse for winston…he has to stop turning the ball over and keep his nose clean….
with that said, the defense has to help him out and coaches have to know what the hell their doing…..i mean, as you like to say, its a TEAM right?….
how many times has winston gained the bucs lead only to have the defense cough it up?…..numerous!!!!!!!
winston(and others) will improve because he finally has coaches who know how to develop players and their skills along with putting them in position to be successful and not just call plays…..
imo, the glazer havent given him a long term deal because of his off the field issues not his performance….glazers know dirk failed at getting him to the next level…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
April 10th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
realist
winston played great his rookie year!!!!!!…..we knew we had a franchise QB…
smitty had more blow outs than lovie……and what makes it worse, smitty had more talent!!!!!!….games were over before halftime!!!!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
April 10th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Excuses….excuses ….for #3. I hope Capt. Accountability shows up soon.
April 10th, 2019 at 3:35 pm
Winston’s numbers vs the NFC South… 62.50%, 1202 yards, 12 TDs, 4 INTs, 105.2 QB rating
Winston’s numbers vs the AFC North… 56.25%, 798 yards, 1 TD, 7 INTs, 55.6 QB rating
So what does that tell you? To me that says the coaching staff stinks and they didn’t have the team prepared to play new opponents.
Also someone said the issue was Winston turning over the ball which made the defense look bad and put the team in the hole. If you actually watched the Bucs you know how stupid of a statement that is and how it’s completely untrue, but here’s the numbers.
Playing with the lead… 62.60%, 948 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 88.2 rating
Tied… 65.57%, 491 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs, 103.9 rating
Playing from behind… 65.24%, 1553 yards, 10 TDs, 10 INTs, 86.6 rating
So, as I said all year long, the issue with turnovers generally came from when the team was already down by 21 in the 2nd quarter and he’s forcing the ball downfield trying to get the team back into the game. That’s what happens when you have an awful defense. It’s also why Winston was the 4th ranked QB in QBr, which does take into account when you throw INTs, and how difficult your passes are, etc. If you’re on the Winston sucks bandwagon, that’s because you’re an idiot.
April 10th, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Kapernik is a talented athlete but not very smart, this made his play very inconsistent
Which is why he was benched
Which is why he started kneeling
Which is why the fans got upset
Which is why he came up with the “social justice” story
Which is why he is a clown
April 10th, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Cgmaster27 Says:
April 10th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Marques, maybe it’s because kapernick is a clown? And how about we let people support whatever president they want. You sound like a jaded Hillary fan.
——————-
Well said @Cgmaster27:
The Bucs have a starting player that is a conservative, but he does not express his views publicly because of the backlash he anticipates he would receive.
April 10th, 2019 at 4:59 pm
But Rod I was just told Jameis makes the defense worse. If he wouldn’t create a lead they’d have nothing to calapse on at the end.
RodMunch-Great stats. I appreciate the work.
April 10th, 2019 at 5:11 pm
@Rod Munch … “So, as I said all year long, the issue with turnovers generally came from when the team was already down by 21 in the 2nd quarter and he’s forcing the ball downfield trying to get the team back into the game. That’s what happens when you have an awful defense.”
Interesting Rod, guess I’m not seeing the same thing you are. Looked back over a couple years & I’m kinda seeing a mixed bag. The 2017 Bucs-Viking game looks to be a decent example. First half drives: Vikes – TD; Bucs – FG; Vikes – Punt; Bucs – Punt; Vikes – TD; Bucs – Punt; Vikes – Punt; Bucs – INT; Vikes – TD; Bucs – Punt; Vikes – End of Half.
So the Vikes end the half up 21-3 (and go on to win 34-17). Vikes score TDs on 3 drives, punt on 2 drives, and run out of time on another drive (6 drives). Bucs score 1 FG on 1 drive, punt on 3 drives and Jameis throws an INT on another (5 drives). At the time of that INT (a long bomb to DJax that was intercepted at the 2-yard line), Bucs were behind 14-3 AFTER settling for a FG AND punting twice.
Don’t get me wrong Rod, the game wasn’t that close. Minnesota’s defense performed significantly better than ours. BUT SO DID THEIR OFFENSE. And BTW, Jameis went on to throw TWO MORE INTs that game 1 was short … to DJax once again … and the other was deep to ME13).
And since football is a TEAM sport, what the offense does … or DOESN’T DO … impacts the defense, and VICE VERSA. As an example, Bucs FG drive ate up 8 plays (4:40 total time) which allowed the defense to rest … and they forced a Vikes punt after 6 plays (3:22 total time). But then the Bucs punted after 3 plays (1:34 total time) and the defense was on the field for 13 plays & allowed a Vikes TD (5:57 total time). Bucs offense then punted AGAIN after 3 plays (1:50 total time), but the Bucs defense held the Vikes that time & forced a punt after 5 plays (2:58 total time). Jameis followed with his INT after 4 plays (1:46 total time) and the result was predictable: the pooped Bucs defense gave up another TD. Bucs offense followed with yet another punt after 5 plays (0:43 total time) but thankfully the half ran out on the Vikes.
The Bucs defense stunk last season IMO, but the Bucs offense very often didn’t do them any favors whatsoever by (1) turning the ball over; (2) very slow starts in terms of scoring POINTS themselves in the first half of games; and (3) too many short drives that didn’t allow the Bucs defense chance to catch their breath. Yes Rod, football is a TEAM SPORT.
April 10th, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Defense Rules – The Vikings were the best team in football at the time and could have won that game by 50 but they left off the gas. Anywho the first TO of that game came when the Bucs were down 14-3 in the 2nd quarter, and against the best defense in football, that’s like being down 31-3 against the Falcons. The Bucs scored 17 in that game when the Saints, two weeks prior, had scored 19, the Lions only put up 14 and the Packers a couple of weeks later scored 10. I really don’t get the point here. You expected the Bucs offense, on the road, to score 35+ points against the best defense in the game (and they were the best, giving up 15.2 ppg that year).
If the idea is the Bucs are down 14-3 and Winston throws an INT and thus the defense giving up a 92 yard drive for a TD to go down 21-3 means Winston lost the game… huh? Again, that makes no sense. If you turn the ball over at the 50, then yes, that’s on the offense for the points scored, but when they have to go 92 yards, that’s on the defense to make a stop there at some point.
Anyways, as stated, the Vikings just ran the clock out, so even if the Bucs did manage to put up 35, the Vikings would have put up at least 50 if they had just kept throwing.
A better example is the Falcon’s game, the Bucs are down 21-6 in the 2nd quarter, Winston take a deep shot from midfield to D-Jax and the play ends up in an INT after there was clear defensive PI which wasn’t called. It’s 2nd and 12 after on first down there’s a flag which made it 1st and 15. Again, you’re down by 15 in the 2nd, your defense can’t stop anything, you have to throw the ball to stay in it. In any case after the INT the Bucs defense does finally make a stop, the Bucs get the ball back and take it right in for a TD. Of course the Bucs defense still screws it up as they give up 50 yards in 25 seconds to give the Falcons a cheap FG before half-time, which changed the outcome of the game.
Winston has had the worst defense in football since he’s entered the NFL, and he’s had the worst defense while playing the hardest schedule. If you don’t think that matters then I don’t know what to tell you. The Bucs had the #1 passing offense last year, while having the #31 defense after being #32 last year. You have to really have an agenda to think the offense is the issue here.
April 10th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
“1 of the major reason why we lost the past 2 years was because Kluess turtle mentality
JW can start at our 20 and 3 passes later we are in scoring territory. But Klueless would go turtle and get his playbook of run up the gut and loosen up the kicker…You cant win 10 games per year with this mindset…It hurts the offense and the Defense
The past 2 years, WE NEVER DICTATED GAMES
We will be witnessing a altogether different frame of mind pertaining to scoring and the killer instinct
Under Klueless, remember all the games we were up double digits but the opponent came back because we starting going conservative and predictable
remember after every halftime there was no offensive adjustment?
remember when we did catchup in the 4th quarter, we started setting up for the fieldgoal?
Klueless didnt know what was momentum, He tried to kill it
There will be a different Tampa Bay Buccaneers football this year”
Kobe Faker
April 10th, 2019 at 7:23 pm
Seriously Rod? I have an agenda? Tend to think it’s exactly the other way around. Here was my ‘bottom line’ (the
“The Bucs defense stunk last season IMO, but the Bucs offense very often didn’t do them any favors whatsoever by (1) turning the ball over; (2) very slow starts in terms of scoring POINTS themselves in the first half of games; and (3) too many short drives that didn’t allow the Bucs defense chance to catch their breath. Yes Rod, football is a TEAM SPORT.”
And BTW, if you want to tout the Bucs’ offense as “the #1 passing offense last year” that’s fine. But please don’t use the EXCUSE that the Vikings had the best defense in 2017 so obviously the “the #1 passing offense last year” shouldn’t have been expected to score more than 3 points in the first half. That’s horsepuckey and you know it. Had the Bucs offense been able to complete drives instead of punt (or turn the ball over) and actually SCORE POINTS, the Bucs defense would’ve been more rested (less time on the field) & MIGHT HAVE performed better. The Bucs defense “stunk last season” like I said, but please stop playing like every loss is on the defense.
April 10th, 2019 at 8:11 pm
DR, the over the top pro winston crowd does not see facts like you present, those stats/facts will always seen as biased towards the greatest seminole bucs qb ever in some ppls noggins
April 11th, 2019 at 11:00 am
Duthsty, I am part of the “pro-Winston crowd”, Jaboo is not the greatest “Seminole-Buc” QB ever. That distinction, sir, falls upon Brad Johnson. Also, as far as I know, Winston and Johnson are the only two Seminile-Buc QBs ever. Now, don’t get me wrong, Jameis has the ability to be a GREAT QB, he won’t get there until he learns not to press so hard. He has shown, at times, he recognizes when a play is dead. However, not with great consistency. That is his major weakness, thinking every play HAS to gain in order for it to be a positive. Johnson, on the other hand, was secure with the ball and understood the ideology of living to play another down. That is where Arians and Leftwich come in. They will help him to understand these aspects of the game, hopefully not at the complete hindrance of his ability to make something out of nothing. If they can get him to tow that line, #3 can be a top 10 quarterback in this league, easily