It Starts In The Trenches
November 25th, 2019
Harrassed Matty Ice.
That Bucs had six net-sacks yesterday, which is the most telling of stats Joe has come upon in a long while.
It doesn’t take a genius to see what won the game for the Bucs. The uniform of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, was kept clean. Meanwhile on the flip side, the Bucs made Matty Ice eat turf in Artie’s Ark six times.
Very, very impressive.
Not just that, but the offensive line allowed the Bucs do pretty much what offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich wanted.
This was not lost on Jameis.
“It has a lot to do with how efficient our run game was,” Jameis said about the Bucs’ smooth offense yesterday. “When you run the ball efficiently defenses can’t just pass rush the entire game, it keeps them on their toes. Our offensive line did an amazing job of dominating the line of scrimmage today.”
Even Dixie Chicks coach (for now) Dan Quinn pointed to the Bucs controlling the trenches as the key to the game.
On the Bucs’ six sacks and 12 (!) quarterback hits. “I think that says quite a bit right there,” Quinn said. “We knew in the run game, one of the strengths of their team was their run defense, so we knew that part. You’d have to win some hard yards and move on some. We didn’t get much going in that space.
“And then to the second half, to fall behind, I’ve talked to you about that before. That’s when you’re totally out of balance and when you can tee it off and go, but not to the standard of the level that’s acceptable for us for sure.”
Said Matty Ice, “They did an excellent job today getting after us. We weren’t able to get into any rhythm.”
So for the folks who say winning in the trenches wins games, yesterday was your day.
And it was also another day that the stat net-sacks proved correct as well.
November 25th, 2019 at 5:12 am
Yea verily … winning in the trenches wins games.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:05 am
This is the real reason why the saints are so good. Sure they have Brees, Thomas, and Kamara, but they also have one of the best Olines/Dlines in the game.
Last week the stats were nearly the opposite. Jameis was hit 12 times, Brees twice.
We should spend every draft pick we have on pass rushers and trench players on both sides of the line.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:23 am
We dominated the trenches yesterday. That is how you win football games, plain and simple.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:28 am
“We should spend every draft pick we have on pass rusers and trench players on both sides of the line”
Little excessive no? Not to undermine the importance of the trenches, but you still need defensive backs. Cant just plug anyone back there no matter how good the Dline or Oline are. Look at Philly look at the Rams.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:33 am
Look at the Rams prior to Jalen Ramsey I should say. The Bucs need still a dominant exciting defensive back. When was the last time we had an explosive player in the secondary? That can change a whole team. And im not about to let one game against the Falcons sell me on Dean and Carlton Davis yet.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:34 am
Pinch me! Unreal how our team played yesterday. Our secondary was in the tv frame of every pass! When have we ever seen that? Along with the 6 take downs there were a bunch of coulda, woulda, shouldas that had Ryan totally off balance. What a great game for the Bucs! Let’s hope they can build on it. As young as these guys are they showed what Tampa football could be in the future. I’m not crazy enough to believe that they can do this every week but they DID do it which proves they can. Good omen. Great game Bucs!
November 25th, 2019 at 6:46 am
I don’t think we need to spend every draft pick on the trenches…..but we need to spend the first two (at least)……we need to pick RT & DE or DT…….we may not have enough money to resign both Suh & JPP…..so will need to replace one of them and then there is Dotson.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:50 am
With the d-line and the secondary playing like that consistently and continuing to get better it may help to answer some of the questions for this off season. I think you do all that you can to keep Shaq and JPP. JPP for the emotional leader he is. If you do that and the secondary continues to get better then we can truly draft BPA.
Obviously we would probably want to draft a OT, Pass rusher or QB with that first pick. The only true first round pick for the secondary is Okudah. Outside of him I do no see anything that would truly be an upgrade over our current DB’s. Maybe Grant but that’ll depend on how the secondary finishes the season.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:51 am
Joe. Off topic but I think you should leave Arians son’s best guess off the blog. Article about Brate getting 7-10 targets against the Falcons. Brate had ONE. Seems the insider was a little off. You could certainly mention his take in other articles but until he gives you straight skinny you should leave out featuring him any more than you feature tmax.
Joe finds some of his takes interesting. And that’s Joe’s only real standard. Joe’s only quoted Arians’ son about 5 times since January, so that’s not a lot. Joe thanks you for your feedback and patronage.–Joe
November 25th, 2019 at 6:52 am
Jalen Ramsey? The Rams made the SB last year with Talib and a horribly blown call against the Saints.
The Rams are 2-2 with Ramsey. This guy is a good DB…he does not walk on water and he’s had marginal impact on LA’s defending SB defense.
Yesterday proved what D.R. and others like me have been saying about our DB’s…they are YOUNG!!! Many of us felt that our back four showed promise and simply needed experience.
Yesterday was the culmination of those beliefs as we had a half dozen guys…counting the safeties ball out big time. That’s one game but it was against a QB who is a four time Pro Bowler and made All Pro just three years ago…
Let me get ahead of naysayers…yeah JJ was suffering from a tender shoulder…his wheels were fine.
Let’s see these final five before we make judgements about our DB needs. BA may have actually been correct…just off by a year. Our defensive backfield may be fine and in fact it may be excellent by next season.
November 25th, 2019 at 6:54 am
BTW Ryan Smith has worked out great. Guy is a beast on ST’s.
And he provides some decent if not great depth in our DB.
November 25th, 2019 at 7:19 am
The young players in our Secondary, especially Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean have been getting better every time they take the field. Not saying we shouldn’t add to our secondary. But we should buy proven DBs in FA.
I say again, we should spend every draft pick we have on pass rushers and trench players.
It’s hard to be a bad football team if you can dominate the line of scrimmage.
November 25th, 2019 at 7:59 am
StPete
You sound ridiculous! You must of forgot how bad the Rams defense was prior to Ramsey’s arrival. I forgot which team it was but I heard a 4-7 team put up 55 on them at home.
2-2 is more of a reflection on their system QB and you certainly cannot argue that Ramsey hasn’t made a significant impact. Oh and how are the Jags doing recently? Not too good.
So since Ramsey arrived in LA they have allowed the following scores of………….10, 10, 12 and 7. So I don’t really know how you can make that argument?
November 25th, 2019 at 8:00 am
Get Suh and Barrett back, find a new RT and plug in ANY QB and we are back in business for 2020…
November 25th, 2019 at 8:05 am
“he’s had marginal impact on LA’s defending SB defense.”
Again 10, 10, 12 and 7.
November 25th, 2019 at 8:17 am
TbBucs3
All excellent points! I certainly accept them. Perhaps my point was that NO defensive back turns around a defense. A killer DE or LB that can get to the QB is far more valuable.
Perhaps the FSU homers here have jaded me. Again I root for all Florida teams. I went to U Cinti..a big deal for us to make the top 20 LMAO. Noles and Gators expect National Titles and I respect that.
I rood for all Florida teams but I am a true front runner though. When FSU was riding high I rooted for them in the FSU-UF game…this year I’ll root for UF simply because I select the team that can garner the most national attention for our state.
It just seems that every time an FSU stud comes out Nole fans go nuckin futs here if we don’t draft them. Just sayin’.
Again though I take your points.
November 25th, 2019 at 8:17 am
And the mediocracy continues.
I’m happy for the win but I still don’t have trust in the front office to take us to the playoffs let alone put together a winning season.
White had 2 sacks I’m excited about but he is not good in coverage: leaving the ATL TE wide open for that TD was elementary. I think he is a big weakness in our coverage Def
Is this team going to mustard up enough wins to save the from office?
In that case I hope we tank.
November 25th, 2019 at 8:21 am
I am happy with the win however, we must be consistent if we want to make the playoffs next year. Don’t know about other Bucs fans but it seems to me that the team is starting to mesh together especially on defense. I am pretty sure Arians is gonna draft or trade for a QB this off season Either to push Jameis or replace him and I think Suh will be replaced I have confidence in Arians and can’t wait to see what the Bucs look like next year
November 25th, 2019 at 8:22 am
Front*
November 25th, 2019 at 8:40 am
So an article about our pad rush, and no mention of how the savior is the defense #5 pick Deven White had two sacks! He played as billed as an explosive Blitzer in this defense but no mention. Huh
November 25th, 2019 at 8:47 am
pass rush and secondary go hand in hand
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 25th, 2019 at 8:52 am
I have preached that for years…..It starts up-front on both sides of the ball….I totally agree that the Bucs need to go into the 2020 draft with O-Line in mind…..first and third round picks should be O-Line…..Even with folk thinking Winston isn’t answer, this team is one or two players away from being very good…..Tweak some things on defense and we will have a monster…..Licht needs to get on board
November 25th, 2019 at 8:59 am
813 Dbs actually being in position to contest catches helps a lot. Something your boy Vernon rarely ever did.
November 25th, 2019 at 9:08 am
Donnie wish, I am also concerned about some of the Bucs front office moves. However, I am gonna wait to the end of the season and wait to see what they do this off season and in April. My reason is, with Arians in the picture now I want to see what kind of talent evaluator Arians is and will his input straighten this front office out
November 25th, 2019 at 9:27 am
Boombang I totally agree with you
November 25th, 2019 at 9:55 am
#TRENCHWARFARE
Nuff Said
November 25th, 2019 at 10:04 am
I’ve been a critic of Buc’s draft, I thought that these young DB’s would be playing for the Vipers next season. I could be wrong.
Remember Miko telling us how legendary her husband was because he deflected a pass once in a while? These guys knocked down at least 16 yesterday. I repeat, 16!
I think something, like VH3’s firing, got their attention. This defense went from pathetic to good, in a blink of an eye.
Yesterday was actually an enjoyable game for the 1st time in a long time, a real laugher. Crowned with a Vita Vea hat trick, an offensive TD, a sack and a deflected pass.
Imagine if the defense didn’t have hands of stone and they actually caught those 5 interceptions?
November 25th, 2019 at 10:40 am
Most complete game the Bucs have played in a damn long time. The coaching staff finally showed us what a difference they have made. To have a run game with Rojo dictating to the Falcons was awesome. Hats off to BA for reclaming Ronald Jones unlike Koetter who had written him off. The kid will be a great player in my mind and it took BA to see it. I was starting to wonder about this new staff but they gave me much more hope than I had at the end of last year. AWESOME JOB and it does show that even with Jameis picks the wrest of the team came together who knows if we can get a defense maybe we can do damage in the playoffs next year. I say Franchise him and wait one more year with a better team. Dean is a stud too we finally have two corners the Auburn boys who I think are playoff material. Loved it. .
November 25th, 2019 at 10:54 am
Just maybe if we keep Winston another year we can build up our O-line and get secondary beefed up in FA, resign everyone–if possible! See the possibilities when our O-line is not moved about at will by the other team.
Starting to think Winston being resigned may be worthwhile based on fact ME and Godwin both hit 1000+ and there are 5 games left-amazing! Even without wins our offense every other game is amazing, kinda don’t want to get in the way of that. Kind of historical and hate to see that come to an end which it probably would with a rook.(we will not get Joe Burrow).
November 25th, 2019 at 11:30 am
Duh.
November 25th, 2019 at 11:43 am
St Pete-
NO defensive back turns around a defense.
I think you forgot about Deion Sanders..
November 25th, 2019 at 12:45 pm
@tbbucs3 I understand why you don’t want to jump too early on the dean and Davis bandwagon but it wasn’t just this game where dean showed out. After the Seattle game (his first start), he has been completely lockdown since. And with only 2 or 3 starts is only behind 1 dB with passes defensed in the entire league with 13. And I’m not even sure if he started a couple of those 2-3 games I mentioned. I think he can be dominant in his career and Davis too but Davis needs to learn when not to be physical
November 25th, 2019 at 11:15 pm
Yep, and we’re probably in good position to draft Big Derrick Brown, Auburn DT! But if not, Its not much trench but SS/LB Isaiah Simmons.