Front-Seven Sets The Tone
July 6th, 2021
Pass rush helps secondary.
Yeah, Joe has been on a pass rush kick for a few days. It’s because it is so, so important.
All the reasons why Joe bellyached and hollered about for years during The Lost Decade, demanding the Bucs needed to put a 100 percent focus into building a pass rush, played out last season as the Bucs won the Super Bowl.
Because the Bucs had a pass rush.
Joe was listening recently to Greg Cosell of NFL Films break down the Bucs on the “Ross Tucker Football Podcast.” There, Cosell pointed out how much the rush helped the Tampa Bay secondary.
Ross Tucker: Is there a weakness on [the Bucs]? You know, barring injury, is there a spot where they can still be had? Or where you think teams will attack them or might be able to beat them?
Greg Cosell: I mean, look. You and I know how hard it is to repeat as Super Bowl champs. And it is very easy to say with all 22 starters back that they are the favorite. And that’s easy to say. You know how seasons play out. I mean, this is a really good starting group on both sides of the ball. … I think that Todd Bowles, the d-coordinator, did an outstanding job in the secondary. My sense is that people would have though that the two corners, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, when he was healthy, are players that are theoretically beatable. But obviously it did not hurt them due to other factors. Due to their pass rush and due to the play of their linebackers.
Cosell went on to rave about the play of Lavonte David and Devin White in the playoffs saying both “played at a really, really high level,” and that the two are the model inside linebackers because of their athleticism and speed.
Cosell even remarked how White is a ferocious blitzer and David kept Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in check in the Super Bowl, which also helped free up the secondary.
So yeah, athletic linebackers inside sure make a difference. But as we all saw against the Saints, Packers and Chiefs, the three biggest games of the season, the Bucs’ pass rush dictated play.
Wanna win games and perhaps a championship? Go get a pass rush. Nothing makes a defense look better than putting a quarterback on his arse regularly.
July 6th, 2021 at 8:20 am
Don’t know how it can get much better…….we did draft Tryon & Nelson will have more experience….so we have depth……our CBs & Ss will have more experience……maybe LVD & White will get even stronger & faster…..I’m also hoping Vea stays healthy….that could be the key.
July 6th, 2021 at 8:42 am
Dline and secondary go hand and hand. We had plenty of coverage sack also even in the super bowl plastering.
July 6th, 2021 at 9:18 am
Lavonte played the game of his life coverage wise in Superbowl. Fyi Pat Kirwan & Jim Miller ranked the teams w/ the Top DT’s yesterday
July 6th, 2021 at 9:20 am
ANY secondary can be beat, even Dion Sanders, if they have enough time.
The key is to not give the other team enough time to hurt you.
July 6th, 2021 at 9:37 am
The bottom line is this, no pass rush in the NFL, and you will just not be able to compete consistently let alone for any championships, plain and simple.
No pass and your team just might have a lost decade like our beloved Bucs lol.
GO BUCS!!!!!
July 6th, 2021 at 9:41 am
I would take our young secondary over 20+ teams in the NFL.
They’re no different than any other position group. Football is symbiotic in that all of the relationships rely on other parts to function. No secondary can hold up without a PR. This is just space filling for discussion by media types with Cossell. They know this.
July 6th, 2021 at 10:02 am
Can’t wait to see K Davis in preseason, he flashed into the screen late last season!
July 6th, 2021 at 10:37 am
If you can’t run the ball, you’ve got to pass, and it’s hard to pass if you’re being chased all over the field. Our secondary is good. The D-line and LBs made them look even better.
July 6th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
Did You Know: Kuekly ran a faster 40 time than LVD.
Does that surprise you?
Here’s where I’m going with this:
People are quick to praise White and LVD for their speed … Why don’t they praise them for their IQ?
Every good player has speed in the NFL. Great players look faster because they “know” where to be. They know their defense, they study the opposition, and they mentally diagnose plays faster. LVD is a film junky. He has a high football IQ.
Not to sound negative but “LVD and White play at a high level because they are fast,” this strikes me as racial stereotyping. People expect black players to be faster so when they are great people comment are about speed (i.e. LVD). White players are expected to be slower so when they are great people comment on smarts (i.e. Kuekly).
The comments are compliments but both have inherent racial stereotypes. Most people (of all colors) believe they aren’t racially motivated. Most people try not to be racist. It’s a good exercise to keep an open mind to when racial stereotypes appear so that you can see them and challenge them within yourself.
LVD is smart. Scotty Miller is fast.
Let’s keep moving forward.
July 6th, 2021 at 2:22 pm
What the hell Pirate?
So calling LD54 a “fast LBer” is somehow a racial slight?
Dude – put down the crackpipe….
David IS a “fast” LBer – who plays even faster on the field – in large part because of his knowledge and preparation. Nothing has changed about that since LD was a rookie and then had one of the most complete years in NFL history by a LBer in just his 2nd year under Schiano….
Devin White just clocked an official 4.37 40 a couple of months ago. If there’s a “faster” LBer in the NFL, I’d like to know his name.
This pair of LBers FLY to the ball. It jumps out on tape. They are “FAST”.
Bringing race into that discussion is absurd and abhorent.
Cut it out!
July 6th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
So lets be fair and honest here on the racial discussion. I would put Lavonte David and Devin White in the same Football IQ bracket as Luke Kuekly. At a press conference however, you can not tell me with a straight face the Luke does not sound more intelligent while using the proper use of the English language. That, in itself, tends to tilt the perception of intelligence IMO. It is truly a shame, IMO, to hear young men and women (especially college educated students/athletes) continue to use poor English.
July 7th, 2021 at 10:18 pm
SlyPirate…
Keuchly ran a blistering time. That’s why he was drafted top 10. And he outperformed every LB in the league when he was healthy due to his instincts and speed. He was excellent in coverage.