Enjoying Bucs Defense
September 23rd, 2020
Fan of Todd Bowles
Hand grenade tosser Jason Whitlock has been on a roll the past week or so.
Within a span of a few days, Whitlock, a columnist for “Outkick,” started a Twitter spat with Katie Nolan (who he called “a bartender”) which freaked her out so much she locked up her Twitter account, and then he started dropping mortars on Maria Taylor.
Taylor has not yet issued her expected haughty response. At least Whitlock didn’t call her a porn star.
In the midst of afflicting the comforted, Whitlock doffed his too-small trilby hat to Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. After watching the Bucs win their first game over the Stinking Panthers, Whitlock believes Bucs fans should be stoked for Bowles’ defense, not so much for Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense (Whitlock, like Arians, admitted Bucs receivers Pearl Harbored Brady from having an epic day).
I’m not going to knock Brady’s performance.
But Tampa’s defense is what jumps out at me, particularly the play of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh had two sacks on Sunday. He didn’t just make plays in the backfield. He made hustle plays downfield. Sunday is the best I’ve seen Suh play.
The Tampa D intercepted Teddy Bridgewater twice. In week 1, Tampa’s defense kept the Bucs in the game when Brady was struggling. The story in Tompa Bay is Todd Bowles’ defensive unit.
Yes, this defense could be special the way the secondary is playing better. Remember, that secondary struggled last year, stocked with young players, until the Bucs tossed Vernon Hargreaves off the side of the pirate ship for serial loafing.
Already it seems the defense picked up where it left off stopping stud running backs and locking down an elite opposing receiver.
Whitlock is right. Until the offense is humming, the defense is going to carry this team.
Now if the Bucs can only spring loose NFL sack king Shaq Barrett.
September 23rd, 2020 at 8:08 am
D looking good, spreading the sacks around.
Secondary better but did give up some yards vs Panthers……
Front 7 maybe stronger than last year….
1st week….Michael Thomas 2nd week Christian McCaffery…..who’s next in the injury list after playing the Bucs defense?
Shutting down Kamara & McCaffery…….awesome…..
September 23rd, 2020 at 8:13 am
Its a game of chess that Bowles seems to manage well with the pieces he has. The only stats most fans are following are “Ws” and “Ls”. 19.5 sacks came in another losing season. Its like touting 5,000 yds….its meaningless without the wins and playoff appearances.
September 23rd, 2020 at 8:23 am
I’m not worried at all about Shaq getting zero sacks. The TEAM had 5! And Shaq was a part of that!
September 23rd, 2020 at 8:46 am
Whitlock destroyed Katie “Karen” Nolan! Wow!
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:04 am
The D is very good. Still seems to me that the panthers completed a very high percentage of passes. More than they should have?
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:10 am
I was hoping our defense would pick up where they left off last year. They have. It was critical that we resigned Suh, JPP and Shaq. In some areas there is steady improvement (Winfield, Davis, White).
This is our identity. Stifling run defense!!! All year last year and now this year. The secondary is catching up. The D won the game last week!
I don’t get too emotional about individual stats, there are ways to contribute without a single mark on the stat sheet. I want to see complimentary football.
Go Bucs!
In BA I Trust!
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:16 am
Good to see someone outside of Tampa Bay finally giving Suh some overdue respect; he’s a monster in the middle of that line (6 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks & 2 QB hits in just 2 games is outstanding IMO). Gholston’s playing like a man-possessed too (9 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack & 2 QB hits … wow) and deserves a lot more respect than he gets.
I’m apparently not as concerned about Shaq as some seem to be (OK, yet). Kinda wondering if maybe Bowles might be using him more in pass defense and to seal the edge than he did last year (Shaq does have 8 tackles in 2 games but 0 sacks, 0 TFLs & 0 QB hits). And also the 2 QBs who we’ve played (Brees & Bridgewater) are both well-known for getting the ball out fast (doesn’t play into allowing DEs like Shaq to get a lot of sacks on them I would think?).
Overall this defense is clicking IMO. Only rank #16 in terms of Points Allowed, but they have had to contend with 5 TOs in just 2 games (which have resulted in one-third (17) of their Points Allowed). Along those lines BTW, their 4 TOs generated ranks #2 in the league & has resulted in 17 points scored by the Bucs’ offense off of TOs. That’s pretty good COMPLIMENTARY FOOTBALL IMO.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:18 am
That’s funny!
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:25 am
Is Shaq being double teamed a lot? I have seen him arriving at the QB a little late, but he should be able to figure out some way to get away from the doubles quicker.
The fact that Suh is getting to the QB is a sign that the interior is not gettig as many double teams as last season. If Suh continues to get sacks, that will change and Shaq will start showing up in the stats.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:32 am
Winfield is a significant upgrade over Edwards.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:35 am
Teams are taking him out. Defensive coaches had all offseason to figure out a way to stop him. So far it is working, which is a big reason why you see other linebackers and Suh blowing up.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:38 am
Teddy almost had 400 yards on this defense. What are talking about it?
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:45 am
defense wont give up a TD this weekend….
42-12 BUCS!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:48 am
lamarcus
teddy took the L….almost doesnt count!!!!
just ask JW……he was “almost” signed as a starter for 31 other teams….lol….
JW “almost” won the back-up job….lol….
hell, JW “almost” threw 31 INTs!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:58 am
So far this season reminds me of the 2001-2002 season: first game blip, solid defense for two weeks and an offense not quite “in sync” but still productive.
Take away the drops vs. the kitties, and Brady would have a bigly stellar 50 point day.
If D play continues solid—and barring a rash of injuries I don’t see why it would not—this team could peak at a most opportune time.
I find the general pressure on the QB to be an important factor even moreso than sacks. On passing down this D pushes the game back to the QB. Nice to see. Remember when fans lamented lack of QB pressure? Seems Bowles and Licht have fixed that big flaw.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:00 am
Whoa! You described that to a TEE, Joe: “Lobbing hand grenades!”
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:04 am
Lamarcus- You of all people should recognize this type of defense since it’s the one used against the Bucs all season last year. It’s called “garbage time”. Since we never led very much last year, this is generally a foreign concept to most Bucs fans; OUR defense playing soft zone prevent coverage!
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:20 am
Good take Cobraboy.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:27 am
Geez LaMarcus where to I start with you?
1. He didn’t have “almost” 400 yards. He had 367
2. He also had 3 turnovers
3. 142 yards came from their final 2 drives which lead to 3 points total. This means the Bucs were in a prevent defense and gifted him yards but only 3 points.
4. I guess you still haven’t learned that yards don’t matter when you’re giving the other team the ball.
THANK GOD THE CANCER IS GONE AND THIS TEAM CAN FINALLY BREATHE AGAIN!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:35 am
I dont care 367 is alot for Teddy Bridgewater. Other meanings when a decent Qb comes into town they will run us out of the stadium. Brees is not that good and had a stellar game
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:40 am
“Brees is not that good and had a stellar game”
Wait! 160 passing yards is a “stellar” game?
You’re confusing me now. So 160 passing yards is more stellar than 367 yards?
Please explain to me how brees had a “stellar” game in your eyes
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:46 am
“ I dont care 367 is alot for Teddy Bridgewater.“
Again, the last two drives (when bucs were in a prevent) added up to 141 yards, all passing yards. All of that equates to 3 points total.
Before that, they held teddy to 226 passing yards.
Again, you’re missing the point. 3 turnovers by teddy killed that team. Turnovers matter. Yards are meaningless when you gift the other team the ball. See last yr
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:48 am
I see Shaq with 2 sacks or more this Sunday. Against Denver. He knows he wants to show them he should have gotten a new contract. No way he doesn’t get the web down this week. Especially a backup with slower decision making. Should help the dbs too. I see a solid defensive game mixed with ya running a ton. Bucs win 30-13
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:49 am
It’s funny. Guys like you and NPUPPY spit all this bs out of your mouths but when hit with facts, everything is swept under the rug. I’ve dropped pure facts on the PUPPY and asked him to debate them and he never does. He knows I’m right and knows he’ll get worked over when I debate him.
It’s that easy.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:49 am
Excuse me the QB* not the web. Lol
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:19 am
From my point of view, this defense has passed the “sniff” test two days in.
They consistently seem to be causing turnovers and forcing punts.
The run defense has picked up from where it left off last year, and our secondary is vastly improved. Yes, people have moved the ball on us, but the catches are mostly contested, and the tackling has been solid.
We also seemed to have finally found ourselves a good safety in Winfield.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:19 am
“There is absolutely no way Denver can beat the Bucs this weekend
Shaq going to get 2 sacks vs his old team
Jeff Tebow not going to make it thru the game
Double Jerry Jeudy and Bucs win by 14 pts”
Kobe Faker
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:29 am
Nothing to add to the very nice posts by Defense Rules, Cobraboy, BucsFan 951, and Cannon. Nicely done, fellas.
tickrdr
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:27 pm
WoW Jason blew up a truck ton of Germans with the size of those grenades. I don’t see the point of him stating the obvious though: of course attractive women are going to be put in front of the camera and given every chance to succeed.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:30 pm
This guy seems like a closet racist to me, I read part of the link on Katie Nolan-
He’s a hater
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:50 pm
They get truly bent when you mention that to them. Joe’s response always is, “OK, if you were hired strictly for your smarts and savvy (and no, dummies don’t end up being where the Katie Nolans of the world end up) and no other reason, put on 40-50 pounds and quit wearing makeup. Then see how long your career lasts.”
At the end of the day, it is a *visual* medium.
September 23rd, 2020 at 2:49 pm
^ Of course, attractive women always have an advantage, especially in a visual medium. That’s the way it’s worked my entire life.
I just think it’s hilarious that Whitlock continues whines about it.
Like hey dude, maybe lose some of that extra 300+ lbs you’re towing around, and you would have gotten more chances earlier in your career too. (And you’d also be less of a burden on our healthcare system and we’d all have cheaper premiums)