Improving The Third Down Defense
December 1st, 2021
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
The sad story of the past month of games played out again in the win over the Colts.
When the Bucs had to rely on backup corners, the pass defense cratered. In the first quarter, the Bucs defense was simply excellent. Somewhere, Warren Sapp nodded his head in approval, Derrick Brooks lit a cigar and Rondé Barber’s smile lit up a room.
Then Jamel Dean got hurt. And the pass defense collapsed and nearly allowed the Colts to run away with the game.
Thankfully, opportunistic defensive plays not only kept the Bucs in the game, but pushed the Bucs over the edge for a key road win.
The third down defense, again, was just sad after Dean left. With Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles having to adjust and not force backup corners to play assignments they can’t play, the Colts’ pass game came alive.
Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians was asked about the third down defensive woes and he said the fix is simple:
Keep the starting corners on the field.
“The big thing is to get the secondary back,” Arians explained.
Arians seemed to do more than hint that the backups are limited in what they can do. The starting corners can mix things up and help to confuse opposing quarterbacks. With backups in, Bowles can’t do that. And Joe has sadly seen the grisly results.
“Be able to mix up some coverages,” Arians said, which the defense can do with the starters on the field. “When we have played some man we’ve gotten some sacks. If you are playing a ton of zone, pro quarterbacks got a chance to pick you apart pretty quick.
“[When] we’ve got blitzers coming, [quarterbacks] get the ball out of their hands too fast. So, being able to mix [coverages] up.”
For Joe, Arians’ answer answered a lot of questions for Bucs fans. On gamedays, Joe fields questions from Bucs fans irate that the Bucs corners are not playing press-man coverage enough at the line.
Basically, from what Arians is saying, the backups cannot play man defense, or at least cannot play man-defense well enough so not to get roasted every other play for six points.
As Joe always writes, backups are backups for a reason.
December 1st, 2021 at 2:42 pm
It’s what I’ve been saying repeatedly: The reason why you don’t see press-man coverage is that once these backups get beat (and they will be beaten) you give up 6 points. Think of it as “prevent defense”. These CBs are career special teamers and street free agents, you cannot expect them to play great man defense, let alone tight zone defense with little cushioning.
The less confidence the coach has in his CBs against the WRs, the greater the cushioning.
December 1st, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Eight yards > six points.
December 1st, 2021 at 2:54 pm
I think Passing Thru gives a concise summary of what is wrong. We need our CB starters back. Hope that fixes it.
December 1st, 2021 at 2:55 pm
That was the most frustrating thing about the Bucs defense lately is getting off the field on 3 down. They gave up some 3 and longs against the Colts too.
I knew this but it’s nice to be reminded.
December 1st, 2021 at 3:10 pm
5 sacks on 3rd down the whole year so far…. I think the 2002 Bucs had 5 sacks on 3rd down in one game!!! has to improve, a must.
December 1st, 2021 at 3:31 pm
Did all Bucs take the little bus to school? It’s been 10-11 games now, they can’t learn different coverages? This is the NFL they are supposed to be pros. Not to mention they played against 2nd and 3rd string offenses. Sorry more excuses for lack of coaching. I would buy it if it were a couple of games not 10. Nice try BA, it’s always the players fault.
December 1st, 2021 at 3:42 pm
I agree with @Listnfrmafar
December 1st, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Eh, I mean, you can only coach up camp-meat so far… at some point, its about the talent on the field.
December 1st, 2021 at 4:08 pm
So let me get this straight nfl backups have to play 10-12yds off their WR no matter what. Got it.
December 1st, 2021 at 4:30 pm
We simply didn’t invest in backup CBs……we have the WRs, TEs, RBs, Oline & even the LBs & Dline…..OK at S…..but we have 3 serviceable CBs & 2 were out…..
December 1st, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Passing thru
Playing 10 yds off on 3rd and 10 will eventually lead to six points, it just takes a little longer and keeps the D on the field.
Even a street free agent can mug a guy within five yards… and throw off the 2nd and third string QBs timing a little. Giving NFL WR a free release and a 10 yard head start is RIDICULOUS.
December 1st, 2021 at 4:52 pm
BA … ‘The fix is simple: Keep the starting corners on the field.’
Just a hunch, but there’s probably nothing that Todd Bowles would love to do more than keep his starting corners on the field. Unfortunately our Secondary is FRAGILE, and even if we got them all back for the Falcons game we’ve still got 10 games until we win the 2021 Super Bowl. Based on what we’ve all seen in the first 10 games, not sure I’d put a whole bunch of money on all our starting corners being together for these next 10.
And for those who are down on SMB, yes he got burned twice in the 2nd qtr plus the DPI, but after that he settled down nicely I thought. Ended the game with 8 targets but only 3 completions (37.5%) and 5 tackles; not all that shabby. Still like him better as a Nickel than outside but right now we don’t have that luxury.
December 1st, 2021 at 5:33 pm
@Jmarkbuc
Longer drives are harder to sustain due to inaccurate third-down passes and penalties. The CB backups are pretty dismal, Bowles simply doesn’t think they have the technique, hips, speed, etc. to keep up with quality WRs. Understandably, he’d rather roll with forcing that long drive rather than giving up 6 on a lop-sided gamble.
December 1st, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Passing, I would agree except 3 of Indys scores were 1 deep down the middle and two others 15 yd shots to Doyle on a corner route. So how far do they have to drop to get burnt anyway? These guys are NFL corners, back ups or not they should know how to cover, it’s their fulltime job. Do they sit out practices like the coaches do meetings? Simeion hasn’t played QB since 2017. Tired of using the backup CB’s as an excuse it’s been the entire season. Time to make up another reason.
December 1st, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Stop blitzing on 3rd down, especially when corners are 10 yards off the receiver.
December 1st, 2021 at 7:58 pm
I, too, would like to blame this on coaching. It can’t be easy to get communication working with the revolving door of back ups that has been our secondary, but that is why he makes the big bucks.
There has to some eye candy pre-snap to mess with a QB’s head, give him doubt. If there isn’t they will eat your lunch, just like this whole season.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:14 pm
Learning is one thing. Executing is a far different story.
Just heard Bill Polian tonight talking (not about the Bucs) but that if you are pulling guys off the street midseason, these guys are limited otherwise they would already be on someone’s roster.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:59 pm
If we don’t draft at least one corner within the first three rounds next year, I’m gonna start losing my mind. Every single decent defensive back that we have is injury prone and it would be be negligent AF not to be more prepared next year. C’mon Licht, no more gambling on secondary health!
December 1st, 2021 at 11:58 pm
Excuse after excuse. You picked them, have “coached” most of them since training camp, and pay them for a job. If technique is a problem 10 games in, look in the mirror. Even LBs have to run up to tackle dump passes. BA’s glib answer is testament to how much effort is being put in to modify scheme for personnel, rather than allowing ego to drive the ship. And to state that the team invested in every position but corner only illuminates a lack of judgment in a pass happy league.
December 2nd, 2021 at 4:12 am
Look, they are not asking these guys to be Darrell Revis and cover elite WR’s 40-50 yards downfield. Most of the time in 3rd and long, there are two safeties behind these corners. It is inexcusable and frankly a weak excuse to watch a TE like Doyle or a slot receiver run 10-12 yards straight off the line, turn around and have no one within 5 yards of them on 3rd and 7.
Trevor Siemien is not a good QB and he figured it out cold off the bench;
Taylor Heinicke is not a good QB and he beat us all game long on 3rd down;
Carson Wentz is a decent 2nd tier QB and he converted 3rd & 8, 10, 13 and 15 (#’s may be a bit off but it was multiple 3rd and longs;
What do you think Matt Ryan is going to do if we don’t cover Kyle Pitts? 5 step drop, throw, first down.
If the defense doesn’t clean this up (or doesn’t force 5 turnovers a game), the Buc offense is going to have to score on nearly every possession to not lose this game.
December 2nd, 2021 at 6:31 am
Everybody thought we should’ve traded for Gilmore from the Pats, instead he goes to Carolina. Funny the Pats traded away their best corner yet have more picks, and a top pass defense. Carolina keeps losing. Coach what you got up better. No excuses.