It’s Up To The Defense
September 10th, 2020
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
Joe sees parallels to this season’s Bucs team and the 2002 Super Bowl champions.
Now Joe isn’t quite ready to jump on the bandwagon, throw caution to the wind, rip off his shirt and go topless and hang on a pole and holler that the Bucs are Super Bowl-bound.
No, Joe’s not there yet.
Here is where Joe is reminded of the magical 2002 season:
The Bucs hired offensive wiz Chucky to come in and kick this franchise in the arse to get over the hump. Chucky brought in several new starters on offense and reworked the offense to fit what he wanted. It took time to click but when it did, in the latter part of the season and especially the playoffs, the Bucs’ offense hummed.
But before the offense was humming, it was the ferocious Bucs defense that had to carry the team. And boy did it ever.
The Bucs now have a new quarterback; you may have heard. And a new tight end. And a new right tackle. And a new running back. Even though the core of the offense of Bucco Bruce Arians won’t be changed, it will be modified.
Unlike the 2002 Bucs, this year’s team didn’t have the benefit of an offseason.
The Bucs return the NFL’s top run defense, a fearsome foursome of linebackers, including the NFL’s sack king in Shaq Barrett and two awfully good defensive linemen. And a young secondary.
Can the Bucs defense play stout, or even improve on last year, so that it will buy time for the offense to work out kinks? This is a question Jenna Laine of ESPN tried to iron out.
Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting said, “We’re not going to act like we’re going to allow our offense to carry us, because at the end of the day we have to hold our own.” Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles added, “I love having Tom [Brady] here, but I can’t focus on that. If we don’t stop anybody, we won’t win any games.” Both are right. In Weeks 1-11 last year, the Bucs’ defense gave up 371.8 yards per game and 31.3 points per game — the most in the NFL. But in Weeks 12-17, they gave up an average of 297.5 yards per game — fifth fewest in the league — and they gave up just 22.67 points per game. Keep in mind, when Tom Brady was with the New England Patriots, he had the benefit of playing with a defense that surrendered an average of just 18.44 points per game from 2001 to ’19 — the fewest of any team in the league. …
Joe doesn’t think anyone on the Bucs defense can sit back and confidently believe the offense will carry the Bucs. Yeah, it is a dream team of an offense but let’s not get carried away here. It’s not yet the 1987 49ers or the 1999 Rams.
And neither Joe Montana in ’88 nor Kurt Warner in ’99 were 43-years old, either.
The defense must play strong football for at least September. In particular, the secondary needs to demonstrate it was just as good as it was when it ended the season, if not better.
September 10th, 2020 at 4:07 am
Bucs 2001 defense > Bucs 2019 defense
But if they can pick up where they left off the last 6 weeks of 2019, I think we’ll be alright.
September 10th, 2020 at 4:16 am
There is no parallel to our old defense…
None
Comical comparison…
Absurd comparison actually. Games 1-11 dead last…
Smitty even had 5 good games
September 10th, 2020 at 5:47 am
Defense wins championships! In order for this team to advance to the playoffs, this defense will have to play much better.
It’s as simple as that.
September 10th, 2020 at 5:49 am
The defense would give up only 16 points in the games 12-17 if we remove 5 interceptions from Wilson and 1 fumble from RoJo that directly resulted in a touchdown for opponents.
I believe TB can cut down the TO at least 70%, then the defense will be a top 10 this year.
September 10th, 2020 at 6:52 am
Florio just picked the Bucs to win the SuperBowl!
September 10th, 2020 at 6:59 am
Go Bucs! It all starts tonight!
September 10th, 2020 at 7:23 am
Again who were we playing weeks 12-17, context matters.
September 10th, 2020 at 7:40 am
I’m with Clean House on this one.
The only defense better than 2002, was our 1999 defense. The current unproven defense shouldn’t have “2002” in their mouth.
Show me something.
September 10th, 2020 at 7:43 am
Brady will make our defense better…..fewer turnovers…..playing with a lead more…..better field position….
I’m looking for our defense to surprise this year.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:03 am
I want to believe the defense will come out of the gate roaring Joe. Without a preseason I don’t see how they are ready to tackle. It would not surprise me to see shootouts all September until defense catches up.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:22 am
Agree with TBBF. Defense won’t have to defend as many short fields caused by turnovers as in years past, plus the offense will be on the field longer, giving them needed breaks between possessions.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:43 am
The only thing 2002 and 2020 have in common is two 2s and two 0s.
Call it fate call it destiny call it anything you want but don’t call it conspiracy.
September 10th, 2020 at 8:45 am
who was our QB?…and how many INTs did he throw from week 12-17?…that matters?
GO BUCS!!!!
September 10th, 2020 at 8:54 am
I think the key ingredient about our defense that doesn’t get brought up enough is that the opposing team will be longer receive so many gifts (Winston picks) with great field position. Brady likely cuts the turnovers in half at the very least, which should make it easier for our defense. The Brady effect is real!
September 10th, 2020 at 9:09 am
It’s all about how our secondary performs, in a passing league.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:24 am
I think the key ingredient is JPP. Last year without him opposing offenses figured out what Shaq was doing and kept him quiet. When JPP got healthy, you had to pick your poison. The secondary didn’t have to cover as long. If the front 7 stay healthy, the young secondary is going to do great. I can’t wait! Go Bucs!!
September 10th, 2020 at 9:41 am
Oh I get it context matters but leading the league in turnovers doesn’t 😂. Winston hand more turnovers than all teams had as a whole combined last year. Just think about that the most horrible teams didn’t have 35 turnovers as a team. Our QB single handily had that🤯🤯.
September 10th, 2020 at 9:55 am
I love some of the in-depth slanted viewpoints of our Buccaneers.
It portrays us as mortal or like an average team.
Well, I will LAUGH my ass off at them for being so blind and once you realize how BLIND you have been or just plain deliberate in disbelief you may get quiet and not speak.
I hope not because everyone has been wrong before.
This is a DREAM TEAM.
Count how many players on this team that are probably HOF bound.
GO BUCS!!
September 10th, 2020 at 12:37 pm
I agree w Jmark that 1999 was even better than 02
It’s up to this unproven secondary to even be called a competitive defense.
Good sentence- this defense shouldn’t even have 02 in their mouths 😂
September 10th, 2020 at 12:42 pm
Who said the offense won’t come out humming? What do the Saints know about this Brady-lead offense? How much of it have they seen? Think Fitzmagic 2018 with a bit more rock-pounding!
September 10th, 2020 at 1:17 pm
THE DEFENSE WILL DETERMINE IF WIN OR LOSE !!!
September 10th, 2020 at 1:36 pm
First and foremost when it comes to the defense is the secondary.
Week One is no walk in the park. Saints are built to shred up bad secondaries and week defenses over the middle.
Now even if our secondary does get exposed we will still have a decent chance……That’s just what happens when you got skill players who can make game changing plays. Dean and Bunting have both shown the ability to make big splash plays. So has David and White…..Presumably so can Winfield…..We got a few guys on the DL that can make things happen too.
Everybody loves to mention we are #1 at rush defense. But you rarely hear about how good we have proven to be at creating turnovers.
We have a defense going into 2020 that has proven they can stop the run and create big game chancing plays. I say that’s a great start.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:43 pm
-We won the Panthers game because of a huge goal line stand(thanks Vernon) on defense.
– In the Rams game Shaq came up with a huge strip sack/TD when the Rams had their last chance.
-Dean made a huge pick in the 4th vs Ari that led to a defense stand for victory……Actually 2 defensive stands.
-Huge pick by Bunting in the endzone to complete a goal line stand against Jax.
-Another Bunting pick to basically ice the game against Detroit…..The next/last drive ends on a Suh strip.
That’s 5 critical plays leading directly to 5 wins. 5 outta 7 ain’t bad.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Oh and Devin won us the Titans game with a ST touchdown.
I saw him score that TD and it counted. I do not accept the offical results of that game. Bucs won. I saw it.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
813bucboi Says:
September 10th, 2020 at 8:45 am
who was our QB?…and how many INTs did he throw from week 12-17?…that matters?
GO BUCS!!!!
LOL you people are ridiculous. Who the QB on our team was has NOTHING to do with who we were playing against. You literally think the QB does everything. What does he make the schedule too?
I like to think the people that comment on a football site actually know football but you guys leave that for debate every single day.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Click next article up if you wanna talk about QB. This page is about defense. Get out you dont belong. Stop trolling chat.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:57 pm
Saints starting Center is out, if I was Brees or Kamara I would be a little shaky with Bucs front seven.
September 10th, 2020 at 1:58 pm
2002 OMG, anyone who even thinks 2002 when watching this defense last year needs to be banned for LIFE!!
That defense had two potential Hall of famers in the secondary, one Hall of famer already, a HOFer on the defensive line, another potential Hall of famer on the defensive line and a Hall of Fame at linebacker.
This current team has one third year corner that’s proven nothing, two second year corners, who played five good games and two safeties, one in which is a rookie and hasn’t even played yet, the other one has been slightly above average.
We have two outside linebackers one has had one great season, one has had quite a few very good seasons, but is he on the downside and we have one run stuffing defensive tackle and one defensive tackle that is about done.
For inside linebackers we have one player who has been great his whole career but will be winding down soon and one player who hopefully will bust out this year and be a great player.
None of that even comes close to 2002 let’s get real here people. But then again if you listen to half the posts on this site and the talking heads we had the best defense in the league last year, they were great because we all know what we lost because of one person right! Right?
Let’s just ignore the Giants game, first Saints game, Seahawks game Cardinals game, last Falcons game oh and the second Saints game let’s just ignore those performances they had nothing to do with our record. WE WERE GREAT RIGHT!!!
September 10th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Yes Ndog. Let’s ignore the Giants game. That game haunts my dreams. Literally.
The new season has already started. We can safely forget about last year now. Its finally time to worry about the Saints.
We will see what happens but I dont think we are gonna see the same D that played the Giants. Actually its Drew Bress. It is a worry.
September 10th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
But I will stand by what I said above…..Even if our defense does get shredded I still think we got a decent chance. Because we have big play ability on defense. That always gives you a chance.
When the Bucs are playing defense my eyes are glued on Devin all day. We need a big game….I need him to get to the point where I can expect a big game when we really need it!!!!
OPENING Day is Big!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 10th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Once the Bucs jettisoned CB Hargreaves and benched MJ Stewart, pass defense greatly improved.
September 10th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Alamba. Another big element to that is it was also the same time frame JPP came back………I’ll admitt to pure speculation but at that same time frame the Bucs inexplicably benched Dean……..This year Dean is CB3, Bunting is our 2nd……I loved watching Jameel last year but honestly wont be suprized if he is a footnote in a year. ….Dean has so much talent. Itd be awesome to see him live to it on Sunday and the 7 days later!!
GO BUCS!
September 10th, 2020 at 5:58 pm
That is ridiculous comparing Bowles’ defense to the SB one. Dungy built that troop over several years. This is Bowles’ SECOND season here as DC. He is already on target to give us another great Bucs defense. Let’s see what the 43 y.o. does with a great talented offense. It will be the two geriatric wonders facing each other Sunday: Brees vs. Brady.
September 10th, 2020 at 6:03 pm
JimmyJack that Giants game has happened quite a few times over the last 5 years.