A Legendary Bucs Defense?
October 24th, 2021
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
For those with clear memories of the Bucs’ defense in the late 1990s and early oughts, it was as ferocious as they come.
Many believe it to be one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. NFL Network even ranked it in the top-10. That defense could feature five Hall of Fame players when all is said and done.
So is that the greatest defense in Tampa Bay history? Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles says, “Hold my beer.”
It seems the Bucs defense is on the cusp of doing something only four defenses since 1950 have accomplished. And none were the Bucs defense from a generation ago.
The @Buccaneers entered Week 7 leading the league in run defense, limiting their opponents to 54.8 rushing yards per game.
They can become the 5th team since 1950 to allow opponents to fewer than 60 rushing yards per game through their first 7 games of a season. pic.twitter.com/0wNK2ev9xv
— NFL345 (@NFL345) October 23, 2021
Pretty remarkable.
Just for reference, the Bucs allowed an average of 97 yards rushing a game in the 2002 Super Bowl season.
Now Joe was at Bowles’ press conference last week and someone (not Joe) reminded him his defense coughed up 100 yards rushing in Philadelphia for the first time this season.
Bowles was not happy about that. At all.
Joe pities the poor Bears runners today.
October 24th, 2021 at 5:22 am
“The @Buccaneers entered Week 7 leading the league in run defense, limiting their opponents to 54.8 rushing yards per game.”
No question that our Bucs have an excellent run defense through these first 6 games, BUT … rushing YPG is not the most meaningful statistic for comparisons IMO. It’s based on how your opponents choose to attack you, and in this year’s case they’ve chosen the short pass over the run because against us it presumably gives them a better chance of winning.
Bucs opponents have run against us 98 times in 6 games this season for 329 yards rushing, an average of 3.4 Yards/Attempt. Last season they ran against us 130 times in the first 6 games for 386 yards rushing, an average of slightly less than 3.0 Yards/Attempt. I’d say last year’s run defense was better, and it was the same players.
The team with the 2nd most rushing attempts against them this season BTW is the Saints … 118 rushes against them in 5 games (early BYE). They’ve given up 395 yards rushing for an average of 3.3 Yards/Attempt … ever so slightly better than our 3.4 average.
October 24th, 2021 at 6:33 am
short pass over the run can be very effective at moving the chains thats why depth at every position is very important… when dealing with injuries
October 24th, 2021 at 8:43 am
Win a second SB and then the chatter can begin.
October 24th, 2021 at 10:34 am
I care about total defense, points allowed, and total yards allowed, with the most important stat being wins. The run defense thing, I’d gladly trade a few more rushing yards for a lethal pass defense.
October 24th, 2021 at 11:03 am
I agree with swampbuc. I think I saw we are ranked 20th in defense overall but #1 against the run. Does that mean we are last against the pass? I know our secondary is injured but…. I’ve read comments that we are getting better the last 3 weeks but I think that’s because we’ve played lesser offenses with lesser QBs. I haven’t see improvement. Also we’ve gotten more pressure because of the lesser QBs holding the ball longer. I think we will be okay through the bye with fields and Winston but we desperately need help in our secondary to play the team defense Bowles likes to play.
October 24th, 2021 at 11:30 am
Defense Rules – As I always appreciate your comments because they are intelligent and for the team. I have to disagree with you on this only because if the Bucs we’re giving up fewer yards on the ground last year , then they would be on this list that they put out it this article.
October 24th, 2021 at 11:35 am
What I meant was , who cares about yard’s per carry over yards per game ! They are running less because they know they can’t get the yards.
October 24th, 2021 at 11:35 am
That’s a very misleading statistic. In the 90’s teams ran the ball a lot more.
Imagine this Bucs defense facing Barry Sanders twice a year. I guarantee he would have 100 yards both games.
Additionally the leagues rules want teams to throw now. Back in the 90’s these receivers would get blasted. No penalties it was just a good play.
It’s not even fare to compare different eras in sports.
October 24th, 2021 at 11:48 am
Would be nice if our secondary would help. Yeah I get there’s some injuries. Maybe we need to give Barber, Kelly, Robinson, Abraham, Smith & Jackson a call & get them to come back & maybe send a draft pick to SF to get Lynch out of the front office. Maybe we should sign the Aflac duck. Since obviously he’s got a good WINGSPAN according to Deion & then maybe we could see about getting Deion out of Jackson St. & get him out of retirement.