Solving The Next Puzzle
September 30th, 2019
This is blowing Joe’s mind and we may be witnesssing something truly historic.
Before the season, if Joe had a poll to guess what Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley, three excellent running backs who the Bucs were to face in three straight weeks, would tally against the Bucs, Joe is going to guess some smart aleck conditioned to horrible Bucs defenses of the past would say 600 yards.
However, the Bucs have held these three star running backs to a grand total of 63 yards.
That is truly incredible.
The string of strong running defense continued yesterday when Gurley ran for 16 yards. Before that, McCaffrey had 37 yards and Barkley had 10.
Joe almost wonders if this is too good. “What?” you say?
Well, the Bucs are beyond impressive in stopping the run but are disgusting in trying to stop the pass. Could it be the Bucs are so determined to stop a running game they are playing a little to soft in the secondary?
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has clearly figured out how to stop the run. Now, he has to somehow find a way to slow down opponents’ passing games.
Yesterday, it was borderline out of control the way Jared Goff ripped up the Bucs secondary.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:06 am
I imagine it’s pretty easy to sell out & stop the run, if they’re okay giving up 500 yards passing
September 30th, 2019 at 11:10 am
Should be 3-1. Could be 4-0. He is trying to figure out how to win games not give up certain amount of yards. If the Bucs werent up big most of the game the passing yards would have been down alot. Same as Giants game. Ill take the big leads, which leads to passing yards against, any day of the week. Go Bucs
September 30th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Because we are committing to the run so fully it leaves us exposed in the middle. If we had a good secondary this would not be an issue. We need the secondary to play better period. Not that they are not giving effort because they are but they are not ready for the task they have been given. Some because of youth, others because of talent.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Todd Bowels blitz scheme generated multiple turnovers yesterday.
Unfortunately Jason Lichts DBs resulted in 40 points and 500 yards on them.
– Mike Edwards
– MJ Stewart
– Vernon Hargreaves
You 3 are in the dog house.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:13 am
What a crazy game lol.
Hopefully Jamel Dean can play soon. Would be ideal if someone emerged between him/Sean Murphy Bunting as a legit outside corner and move VHIII inside but Gump really sucks at picking corners it seems at this point lol.
At least this defense goes down swinging and pressuring the hell out of the QB. The front 7 is doing it’s job but the back end needs to do theirs.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:14 am
If the offense is scoring points, the opponent MUST throw the ball. The D-line is stout against the run though and getting intense pressure on the QB.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:16 am
I’m going to say it, Jared Goff had a Jameis Winston day. He picked up tons of garbage yards with the team trailing by a ton most of the game, threw 3 picks, missed on the deep balls and fumbled when it mattered. If that doesn’t sound like many of Winston’s games the last couple years I don’t know what does.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:18 am
I don’t like all the yards that the defense is giving up, but yards does not equal points.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:18 am
Things have to be good at JBF world headquarters. Congratz to Joe and his minions. You guys deserve it.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:21 am
@conte no he dudnt have a jameis winston type game. Jameis was lights out, stop taking underganded jabs you troll with a new account.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:22 am
Why do these corners or this defensive philosophy not have the corners up in the WR face at the line of scrimmage. Hargreaves is still 7-8 yards deep and is flat out horrible in man coverage
September 30th, 2019 at 11:24 am
Folks forget this same offense lit teams up last year….
These same WRs were just playing in the SB….
DBs will play better
GO BUCS
September 30th, 2019 at 11:25 am
Tbbuc
Mike Edwards is good, he’s a rook in his second or third game. Give him some time. As for the other two burn them at the stake oh wait to late they already get burnt every Sunday 🥁
September 30th, 2019 at 11:26 am
GET RAMSEY!!!
September 30th, 2019 at 11:30 am
Now that Gerald (soft as charmin) McCoy has vacated the middle and he has been replaced by Suh and undersized Kwan Alexander has been replaced by Devon White and Minter and the emergence of Veah we are almost impossible to run against. With our remaining pass rush and possibly adding JPP before the end of the year I will take it all day long. I would have a team that has to tighten up on the pass rather than the run. Shutting down the run is as much a “want to” thing but when the Bucs need it the most Shaq Barrett has delivered an answer to passing on us. I love this defense, Todd Bowles needs a huge thank you from all Buc fans that we have a respectable defense again!!!
September 30th, 2019 at 11:31 am
DB55
I’ll give him that he was at least in good position on some of those big plays he gave up but still gotta make a play on those balls. At least he’s not flat out getting burnt like MJ Stweart. But he’s young we will see how he devolops.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:31 am
I wonder how many YAC’s occurred after the first tackle attempt! I though the backs were missing tackles a lot yesterday. Better position and better tackling would go a long way to shore up the back end of the defense.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:34 am
Shaq Barrett has as much impact on our defense as Warren Sapp and LeRoy Selmon. To think we gobbled this guy up from the Broncos is almost criminal. For all of the free agent strikeouts Jason Licht has had he deserves a huge attaboy for securing Barrett and Minter. Awesome pickup Jason Sha
September 30th, 2019 at 11:51 am
There were countless plays in the 4th quarter where our dbs were lined up so far back behind the first down markers they were compeltey out of the t.v screen view. This sint.rocket science. I dont understand why they dont play tighter coverage. Our pass rush is getting home nearly every play. The wide reciever is wide.open on every play. Hargraeves and davis both play best in press eveeyone knows this…
im not happy with this win. This game reminds me.of.last season week one when everyone was so happy and optomistic that we just beat the saints, while some of us knew tge 52 points allowed on offense was a big problem.
Had Shaq not stripped that ball, they would have tied the game and possibly won. maybe…maybe not but this was AGAIN an issue caused by coaching and lining players up in prevent to give the game away. Im glad they win byt this team can be soo much better on defense anf of all people I am surpised bowles is calling it like this
September 30th, 2019 at 11:51 am
Is it me or does it seem that the Bucs have been getting to the QB more with 4 man rush rather than the blitzing virtually every play. It looks like Barrett has more moves when there isn’t a blitz and when there is it’s just pushing the pocket and getting stoned at the line. Bowles needs to mix it up more.
September 30th, 2019 at 11:59 am
About to give up on VH3. The other DBs have a chance to get better.
Jamel Dean may turn out to be the best.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Possibly our best CB is back at practice….Ryan Smith
September 30th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Watching back the highlights it’s kind of crazy how many big plays the Rams made in 3rd and long situations late in the game. We got to clean that up.
Also looked like Shaq was held on one of their TD throws to Everette. And if not for the hold he would have hit Goff for possibly another strip sack.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Our biggest liabilities in the secondary are VH3, MJ Stewart and SMB.
I give Murphy-Bunting a pass b/c he’s a rookie still learning the game.
But MJ and VH3 are just too slow and too small.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
Funny how Ryan Smith is now the savior of the secondary…after he’s been called ever name in the book, and not in a good way.
Did Cichy break his arm?
September 30th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
The ends justify the means. Last year’s defense was not capable of getting pressure or turnovers. Although we gave up 500 yards we had 4 turnovers one of which won the game, and I believe we scored off of 3 of them. Very impressive
September 30th, 2019 at 12:24 pm
It’s the old adage:”You live and die with the blitz”!
We are literally leaving our DBs on an island on just about every play and they are relatively inexperienced. Speed seems to be a problem for our guys. Maybe Dean can contribute once healthy because MJ Stewart is getting beat regularly.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:28 pm
VV
Suh
Gholston
September 30th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
You can SAY that he ripped apart the Bucs secondary but when the pass defense accounted for FOUR turnovers what you’re saying is wrong. The Rams scored 34 points on offense playing catch-up the entire time. The defense could definitely be better but considering the type of game this was and how good the Rams are known to be on offense, this was actually a pretty good performance. How often are the Rams asked to score 40+ points in a game because their D wasn’t able to stop an opposing O? It’s not often, but when they need to score, they do. Considering the Bucs D took the ball away four times, or was it five (?), put over a dozen hits on Goff, there is little to be upset about here.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
@Joe … “the Bucs are beyond impressive in stopping the run but are disgusting in trying to stop the pass. Could it be the Bucs are so determined to stop a running game they are playing a little to soft in the secondary?”
GRRREAT question Joe. Kinda wondering though what you think of the Bucs’ pass rush play after play after play, because I think (?) it ties in to the question. Watching yesterday’s game on TV, it looked like Goff took the vast majority of his snaps while in the shotgun. His OLine is one of the best IMO (good enough to get the Rams to the SB?).
Our DLine did a great job of pushing them back AND maintaining gap integrity, but it looked to me like Goff had quite a bit of time to throw throughout almost all of the game. Also looked like we were ‘threatening blitz’ on virtually every play, but not getting there BEFORE he released the ball. In the 98 defensive snaps, we sacked him TWICE, had 9 QB Hits, 6 TFLs and got 3 INTs plus 1 fumble recovery (for a TD … yeah!!!). Goff was 45-for-68 (66%) on the day meaning that he threw 23 incompletions (Bucs BTW were credited with 10 Passes Defensed).
So IMO, credit the Rams’ OLine with protecting their QB quite well on the day. Yes, the Bucs could use more pass rush, but it’s still hard to get there against a quality offense like the Rams, and especially when they’re operating a BUNCH out of the shotgun. For its’ part, our Secondary needs to get faster and needs better depth. Hopefully Dean & SMB & R Smith provide some much needed help (and COMPETITION) in the near future.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
No BS I’m already thinking about the Saints.
Stay on the grind men👊🏾
September 30th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
It’s a bunch of rookies (essentially, having not been coached before this year), none of whom have speed, going against one of the great offensive minds, a pretty good QB, TE, and three outstanding wideouts (not to mention Gurley, who is more of a pass catcher at this point). We need Peterson and Licht has to do what it takes to get him. Bruce is 67 in 3 days.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Speaking of 67, wasn’t that the amount of passes? With the Bucs offense being so explosive, these teams HAVE to catch up, esp. when Gurley and Barkley were both hurt. It’s not as bad as it seems (but D. Jones is NOT a rookie, he’s way too savvy to pin that on him, just like we can’t say Goff is actually a multi-million dollar QB).
September 30th, 2019 at 12:56 pm
Ima say it now the bucs should really consider trading for Jalen Ramsey he can. Potentially shut down one side of the field with the way the front seven is playing I think we can contend in the playoffs a 1st and next year second should be enough right joe?
September 30th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
Mike Edwards has 3/6/6 tackles in his first three games. If ur already dissing him you’re an idiot. MJ Stewart has been much better in coverage and tackles. Excited to see what Ryan Smith looks like these next coming weeks back cus they love him in that scheme. VH3 is steaming garbage. This young secondary will put on weight and grow into Bowles scheme. VH3 doesn’t have the size to be an outside CB on anyone team.
Ryan Smith on the outside and in the nickel. That could a success if Smith can show up.
September 30th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
*MJ Stewart has been much better in coverage and tackles than last year.
September 30th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
*Ryan Smith on the outside and VH3 in the nickel.
Sorry with all the corrections. Still Woozy from last night celebration.
September 30th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
SOE
The number of tackles for DBs is completely irrelevant and usually means that they are giving up big plays. As for MJ Stewart I have seen no signs that hes a starter in the NFL. Dudes a bad football players. Slow and bad.
The Bucs aside from Carlton Davis and maybe 1-2 development projects have no good DBs and let’s not pretend that Ryan Smith isn’t gonna suddenly be a different player when he comes back. He’s still Ryan Smith.
September 30th, 2019 at 1:14 pm
now is the time to make a run for peterson, the cards are 0-3-1 and going nowhere, patrick is suspended for the first 6 games, he’s still a very good corner, knows arians and bowles system, we probably get him cheap maybe 3rd rounder, we got a bye after london he would have an extra week in the playbook, bring him in week 8 shoring up half the backfield man this makes sense to me, what do ya’ll think?
September 30th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
They were bad, but idk if they were mike smith or lovie smith bad
September 30th, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Still a lot of developing for the young DBs to do an there’s going to be more growing pains. FYI our GM drafted the DBs that his coach wanted. Sorry to tell most of you that your wrong on our GM he’s got us talent it’s bin the coaching that has ruined or stunted the talented players he got us. Doesn’t mean he hasn’t made some mistakes but right now Cappa looks like the 2nd coming of Marpet, Licht drafted both of them also Whitehead looks good Edwards is improving let’s not forget Evans Godwin an rojo look great an then of course you got his FAs like Jensen an Barrett Jpp wen he comes back if he does with better coaching our GM is looking good. It’s bin coaching THE REAL FANS KNOW THIS
September 30th, 2019 at 1:42 pm
If JAX can win without Ramsey, then so can we. Save the $ to pay Shaq.
September 30th, 2019 at 1:57 pm
Fire LICHT
September 30th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
James West
Agreed.. AZ not doing well and might be interested in unloading PP.
For the right price it would definitely be worth it for a season or two, until we can get some real DB’s in here…
September 30th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
Secondary is A) young and B) still learning a new system. I imagine to minimize thinking and maximize instincts they are keeping their assignments simplistic which creates easy yds but also creates more opportunities for sacks, strips/fumbles, interceptions…..Its a strategic bet that has been working. Will it continue to work as teams get a feel for our weakness and how to exploit it? time will tell.
September 30th, 2019 at 2:26 pm
When is Ryan Smith coming back?
September 30th, 2019 at 2:31 pm
A lot of the yardage yesterday was the DB’s playing way off once we had a big lead. The fact that we blitzed most of the time left the middle of the field wide open for a lot of those passes. I’m not to worried because it’s early in the season and these guys are still learning how to win. Ryan Smith is back and that should help a little. I expect when JPP gets back we won’t have to blitz as much and the pass rush will get there with JPP and Barrett. The second half of the season is where I expect the team to make a big push. Go Bucs!!!
September 30th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
We can’t trade for Jalen Ramsey, sign Winston and Barrett. This isn’t Madden of Fantasy Football.
September 30th, 2019 at 2:41 pm
defense rules, the corners we playing 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. Rams wts were simply running slants and posts and our off coverage (that our coaches said we wouldn’t be playing soft cushion coverage anymore) was leaving them open and a safe bet to dump the pass off to before goff would get hit.
Our ogfense, our pass rush looked great yesterday. I dont know what the hell bowles is doing.
September 30th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
@James West, I’ve heard much worse prognostication for sure. It makes a ton of sense the way you describe it.
September 30th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
It’s a simple idea… live by the blitz, die by the blitz. We will get to the Qb and they will make errant throws, but NFL QB’s are gonna hit big plays as we continue to blitz early and often. It’s a double-edged sword.
September 30th, 2019 at 3:23 pm
Eligible this week.
September 30th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Im been hollering this all day, the DBs aren’t that bad, it just Bowles was blitzing Whitehead a ton so you try cover man to man with no safety help a lot of the time see how you do.
September 30th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
BucEmUp … We had 10 passes defensed yesterday out of Goff’s 23 total incompletions. That’s pretty good IMO. Problem was that our 2 starting outside CBs had NONE of those. But on the good news side (?), Davis had 7 solo tackles and VHIII had 2 solo tackles, so we’re good (?). MJ Stewart led the team with 8 solo tackles, but he did have 1 PD. So our 3 CBs played virtually the entire game and had ONE PD and 17 solo tackles in total. Heck, Shaq had 2 PDs all by himself.
Edwards also had 0 PDs, but he contributed 5 solo tackles. Whitehead did quite well back there with 3 PDs, 1 INT plus 2 solo tackles.
Marlow is right. And the pass rush is the key. But if your pass rush is predicated on blitzing early-and-often, it becomes ‘live by the blitz, die by the blitz’. Our corners have to give a lot less cushion from now on. Also suspect that with that many defensive snaps each, they were plum tuckered out by the second half & the Rams took advantage. Plus we miss Devin White’s speed in the middle. Still, a win is a win, even if it involves giving up a ton of points.
September 30th, 2019 at 4:07 pm
Bucs are definitely playing with an edgyness to them, win or lose. Kudos to Cappa and Ronald Jones whom I thought were busts.
September 30th, 2019 at 4:08 pm
Let this coaching staff work with some of the young DB’s before you blame Jason Licht. Coaches have to develop players and put them in places to succeed. Lovie wanted zone DB’s and Bowles wants cover corners out on an island. Very different.
September 30th, 2019 at 6:31 pm
I also think this secondary is going to get better over he coming weeks. But the Bucs have 9 takeaways, 2’nd in NFL behind the Pats with 10. Number 4 offense in points. Other than a few plays, the Bucs could easily be 3-1 or 4-0. Starting at 2-2 isn’t bad. They just beat the NFC Champs. The Saints are probably the only team better than the Rams. I don’t think that Teddy will handle those blitzes and that pass rush well. Just my opinion. The needle is pointing up. Go Long on the Bucs.
September 30th, 2019 at 7:20 pm
With today’s NFL rules trying to emphasize the passing game and protecting qbs, recievers and punishing defenders, it doesn’t surprise me that the Bucs and other teams are having trouble stopping the passing game.
September 30th, 2019 at 7:49 pm
We are a missed field goal from being 3-1 so not that it matters what I say but Mr Bowles keep doing what you do.
Ugly, close, or a blowout win it all looks the same a week later.
September 30th, 2019 at 8:24 pm
68 throws is a lot.
September 30th, 2019 at 8:26 pm
Bucemup,
What the heck Bowles was doing?
The same thing that Chicago and the Patriots did to beat the Rams. That’s what he did. To the freaking letter!
# There was so much blame placed on M. Smith and his corner spacing that the calls for press coverage got way out of hand. Bucemup at what point are you going to stop looking at the alignment yards and finally get to the point where you see more of the game and. …Here’s the thing that is invisible due to wanting or thinking about such a super narrow part of the game…l.
PLAYERS. Look at the DB’S. …. Really look…Now how do you suppose that we press coverage all the time when there’s no one …not one..who can win against the others teams best. PLAY AFTER PLAY..
September 30th, 2019 at 8:42 pm
Defense rules,
Puzzling? There’s nothing puzzling about it.
Shut down the running game is part 1 on beating the Rams. The problem is that there’s space between 2nd and 3rd levels as a result. But the space works against the Rams and helps the defense.
Part of the equation is Goff . Beat him by not forcing him to throw quickly, extend the time in the pocket, pressure inside slows him down enough that it makes a massive difference .
This Game is the closest thing to a lock I’ve seen in awhile. I’m not psychic, couldn’t care to ships about gut feelings or something non tangible. I based it on the team and the Rams coaching staff. McVay …..isn’t kyle shanahan.
Which means it was a safe and profitable short term business investment.
Point is ..if your puzzled ..and confused. Stop thinking.
September 30th, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Schiano stopped the run too
September 30th, 2019 at 8:51 pm
With the Saints, Id rather stop Kamara, and Make Bridgewater beat me.
Although I have huge respect for Bridgewater.
The 3-4 is well suited for stopping the Run, struggles a bit against the Pass.
The Bucs started as 3-4 team. After a couple years- they were a dominant defense. Fans worried, as the league evolved into a passing league.
With all the QBs out, I thing stopping the run might be the way to go.
And our secondary is extremely young. Its going to take patience.