The Race To 10
December 17th, 2020
Leader, with three to go.
So who is going to get to 10 first? And who will have the most when the season ends?
A decade ago, then-Bucs coach Raheem Morris boldly said the 2010 season was about the “Race to 10,” as in 10 wins and a possible division crown. Rah was raked over the coals by the national press for the audacity to suggest the Bucs would get anywhere near double-digit wins (they got robbed of an 11th win).
Alas, the Bucs missed winning the division by three games and finished in third place with a 10-6 record. The Bucs lost a three-way tiebreaker to the eventual Super Bowl champion Packers and the Giants for the wild card spots.
Now the Bucs have a different race on their hands. And it’s between their star pass rushers.
Veteran Jason Pierre-Paul has 9.5 sacks. NFL sack king Shaq Barrett, who has been hot the past month, has 8 sacks. Who will win? And are the two sort of foes, as one potentially stands in the other’s way to be the team’s best pass rusher?
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles today said it is nothing like that. He sees no animosity between the two, just two guys hungry for postseason play.
“I think they have a great friendly competition in competing against each other getting back there,” Bowles said. “They help each other out where you just can’t try to double one or the other, as well as the guys up the middle.
“They’re doing a good job getting to the passer. Sometimes the ball is coming out fast, so we’re happy with the production and we’re happy with the pressure.”
Last Sunday we may have seen an example of what Arians is describing. Shaq was hounding Kirk Cousins badly. And then, all of a sudden JPP bursts through and gets a strip/sack.
For what seemed like an ungodly long time, the Bucs couldn’t generate a decent pass rush to save their lives. Now the Bucs have two quality pass rushers.
Can’t have enough if you ask Joe. Just look what flattening quarterbacks has done for the Redskins.
December 17th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
JPP..
Hands down winner!
December 17th, 2020 at 5:24 pm
Hand down winner. Corrected for ya.
December 17th, 2020 at 5:50 pm
I’d like to see this as an annual “friendly” competition for years to come!
December 17th, 2020 at 5:50 pm
Probably end the season with two double digit sackers. When’s the last time the Bucs did that? Sapp & Rice? Good times.
December 17th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
A show of hand. Who thinks JPP will win?
December 17th, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Y’all better keep a look out over your shoulder. JPP may sneak up on you and show you just how well that ‘hand’ fits up your ***!
December 17th, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Just checked…last time was 2000 when Sapp had 16.5 and Marcus Jones had 13.
Rice had double digits every year from 2001-2005 but no one else did during those same years.
December 17th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
With the extra playoff spots one more win and we’re probably in.
In addition the league is having it’s typical balanced year. There are perhaps 3-4 teams at the top of the pyramid, then another half dozen…a dozen more in the middle and a dozen at the bottom.
We’re not in that top 3 or 4 but I believe we are in that second half dozen. We do possess the kind of team that could get hot in the post season and make a serious run to get back home for the big one.
First things first…let’s deal with Hotlanta. Normally this would seem to be a walk in the park. The Bucs in contention, the Falcons already out.
But there are the scary elements…Raheem has charisma…his players will play for him…frequently a team playing for their coach is scary. We better be ready.
December 17th, 2020 at 6:42 pm
They both have 13 + before the regular season is over
December 17th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
“ But there are the scary elements…Raheem has charisma…his players will play for him…frequently a team playing for their coach is scary. We better be ready.”
.
Didn’t his players bail on him in December when he was “their choice “ as the team’s head coach???
December 17th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
No gimmes in the NFL, except maybe the J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!!!
December 17th, 2020 at 7:08 pm
Suh is the North Star of this Defense.
December 17th, 2020 at 7:13 pm
Special Teams Trio back in business!
December 17th, 2020 at 8:25 pm
I am going to go with Shaq. Two games against the Falcons will give him a chance to almost double his total for this season.
It will be close, though, JPP will scare the Bucs out of the Lions.
December 17th, 2020 at 8:27 pm
For now these dudes are not spring chickens. We know this team they’ll wait and hold on to long then replace them with late round picks with no accomplishes veteran to mentor them
December 17th, 2020 at 9:02 pm
I’m going with JPP. I also think there’s a 90% chance the Bucs take an edge rusher in the 1st Round of the 2021 Draft. Right now, Anthony Nelson is the next guy up, and has 0 sacks in 22 games.
December 18th, 2020 at 4:11 am
final sack stats for jpp and shaq:
jpp: 12.5
shaq:12
imho
December 18th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
JPP first with Shaq right behind him.