Best Defense Against Matt Stafford? Don’t Blitz
January 22nd, 2022
Decisions.
We all know that Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles loves to blitz, blitz and blitz some more. If he tries that tomorrow, the Bucs may embody the old saying, live by the sword; die by the sword.
It seems Rams quarterback Matt Stafford thrives on blitzes. NFL Network Excel queen Cynthia Frulund dug up very interesting stats on Stafford against the blitz.
In this weekend’s matchup with the Rams, the Bucs may want to ditch their heavy-blitz philosophy. We know Todd Bowles loves to send extra rushers, with the Bucs blitzing at the second-highest rate (38.1%) of any team this season. But doing so against Matthew Stafford could backfire:
* His 17.1 percent QB pressure rate when blitzed this season is the lowest in the NFL.
* He has a higher completion percentage (71.9% vs. 66.2%) and passer rating (141.8 vs. 93.1) when he’s blitzed than when he’s not.
* 16 of his 17 interceptions have occurred against four or fewer rushers.
So would Bowles actually be open-minded enough to drop six or seven men in coverage like he did against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl? Of course, if that happens you have to worry about Cam Akers running or catching short passes.
Whatever Bowles did the last time the Bucs faced Stafford and the Rams cannot happen again. Stafford and the Rams just lit up the Bucs back in Week 3.
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Toilet Bowles will make the fetal mistake of now having the better roster. He will not change at all! Toilet Bowles will be exposed to tomorrow! They are not playing the Eagles this week. He better take a Head Coaching job so he can fleece some other team! Because once cheating Brady retires, the whole organization will collapse,
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Yep, blitzing Stafford is doing him a favor. Don’t fall into temptation.
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Presuming we can shut down their run game early, I like the idea of a passing down package using our three safeties, three CBs, two great inside LBs and a front three of Shaq Vita and Suh, with DL rotation galore from our very good depth (JPP, Nelson, JTS, Gholston, Nacho, Stevie Mac, etc). This will require us to send one or two of the back 8, but would love to see Bowles mix it up and also as many have said — the Rams WRs and TEs will get catches, They need to be contained.
Go Bucs.
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:20 pm
If you rush four from a three down DL set, is not that always a blitz?
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:36 pm
No because you rotate.
4 is always not a blitz.
You can fire 2 safeties and 2 DL and drop your 2 OLBs and it’s not a blitz.
Bowles needs to mix it up.
Did great at that vs the Iggles and Hurts looked like a deer in headlights.
Stafford gets rattled and makes dumb decisions so they will live by the sword and die by it as well.
McVay looking for the quick route.
I like our chances.
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:36 pm
@Cobra,
I believe if you rush more than 4, that is the definition of a “blitz,” – no matter which position rushes.
GO BUCS!! I can’t wait until tomorrow. 🙂
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:59 pm
The Lambs will not beat us at home. We have a Championship defense. Defense wins Championships!! 31-17 Bucs
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Well, not sure if any of you remember I don’t believe he blitzed much last game and he handed Bucs arses to them. That’s all Bucs.have is front 7. The secondary will get torched. Frelund needs to break that stat down by game to really take it seriously.
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:11 pm
You are a moron, Mr NCAA Division 1 Entrepreneur pretender.
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:14 pm
@Cobra
OK, I’m going to date myself…
Originally “blitz” was a verbal short-hand for safety blitz, because you were only rushing the QB with a safety. If you rushed the QB with an extra LB, usually it was called a “red dog”. I think the TV announcers just called sending an extra guy after the QB a blitz, probably to make it easier for the audiences to know what was going on. Eventually just sending an extra guy after the QB just became categorically a blitz.
Normally pass rush consisted of 4, because in the bad old days defenses all used 4-3 fronts. Nowadays lots of teams use 3-4, so that fourth LB in that formation might join the pass rush and it wouldn’t be called a blitz.
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Our secondary MOSTLY got torched because we had 2 backups playing
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:29 pm
I think our safeties were at least partially banged up also, Beeej.
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:32 pm
I expect our defense to bring it tomorrow but they have to be physical on both sides. Can’t let them win that battle.
What’s the deal with cyril grayson? Is he a game time decision?
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:56 pm
This clown on the top bashing bowls. Best D cord. This team has had since kiffen
But since your running your mouth am guessing you just hoped on the bandwagon last year.
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:09 pm
Bucs will win this game. It’s Stafford on the other side. He’ll choke like a dog when we get pressure on him with our front four and an occasional blitz. We have our entire starting D back, assuming SMB is gonna play. This ain’t Week #3 in LA and the Rams are coming across the country on a short week.
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:22 pm
Don’t feed the troll, it’s just a Rams or Saints fan in drag.
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Maybe we show blitz then drop in coverage a lot. Send the blitz once in a while.
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Swamparse, so how would you defend them on your Madden game? For sure I can tell you never played the game. I’ve always had appreciation for the men on the cheerleader squad.
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:41 pm
People seem to forget the super bowl, where we blitzed Mahomes at the lowest rate we had blitzed all season. I will never understand “Bucs fans” who constantly hate and talk down about our coaching staff.
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:09 pm
There are a couple of things that can be an advantage to us for this game versus week three in LA.
1) They are working on a short week
2) With that short week, they are also traveling.
3) I don’t know if it is an NFL rule due to covid or not, but we flew in to all of our away games less than 24 hours before game time. Getting acclimated to the time difference, weather conditions, and just settling down after a flight, will all have an impact on the quality of play. It affected us in LA, will it affect LA here? I don’t know their travel plans.
4) We had several “back-ups” playing (not well) in the last game.This game, our starters are playing and our back-ups are now veterans
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Shaq & JPP and the rest of the D line need to bring the heat
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Todd Bowles is a master at getting the most out of any defense IMO, BUT … you gotta have the horses to run with the big dogs (hmmm, mixed metaphor?). We’ve got a few guys banged up on our defense (like JPP, LVD & Shaq?), BUT … we’re talking Super Bowl hunt & those veterans know this might be their opportunity to chase another Super Bowl.
Despite being banged up a little, we’ve got the horses. I expect that we’ll start the same defense tomorrow that won last year’s Super Bowl. There’s no doubt in my mind that every one of our guys will do whatever it takes to win another championship. This defense can hold the Rams to 20 pts or less. Just need our offense to do its job and score 3 or more TDs. We got this.
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:17 pm
Oh oh, make that ‘ might be their LAST opportunity to chase another Super Bowl’.
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Let me plagiarize what should be the obvious comment from above. This team has the GOAT, Evans, LVD, Gronk , Bowles , and I can’t think of a single sign of “arrogance “ ever. I feel the rams will win with all our injuries and the playoffs is peaking at the right time. So to repeat what Devin J DiPalma Says:
January 22nd, 2022 at 3:41 pm
People seem to forget the super bowl, where we blitzed Mahomes at the lowest rate we had blitzed all season. I will never understand “Bucs fans” who constantly hate and talk down about our coaching staff.
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:39 pm
JPP has never lost a playoff game.
We have that going for us.
Bucs 31-13
January 22nd, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Like to see suh rough up stafford get in his dome
January 22nd, 2022 at 6:14 pm
What has the Rams offence done the last nine weeks:
34 Arizona 24 49er 20 ravens 30 Viking 20 Seahawks 30 Arizona 37 Jaguars 28 Green Bay 10 49ers.
Other than a rivalry game v. 49ers they minimum 20pts and maximum 37, other than Jaguars non of these teams were horrible most in playoffs or competing for a spot in week 18 except Seahawks who are always dangerous with Wilson.
There weird idea on here that the defence will just shut down an offence that puts up 24 in their sleep, if crazy. Rams will be putting up their 24, Bucaneers just need their 28-31 so they can win. The only two teams which curtailed the Rams offence titan and 49ers ran the ball the entire game as they used clock management to keep ball from Stafford.
January 22nd, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Stafford will be missing Whitworth during the blitz this time. The whole Defense has to step up, they’re as healthy as they’re gunna get this year apparently, so time to deliver. LFG!!
January 22nd, 2022 at 8:24 pm
All I have to say Let’s
GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
BUCCS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:07 am
“Toilet Bowles will make the fetal mistake..”
-Proud Bucs Fan
Whoa whoa whoa…let’s leave babies outta this.
Also, a horrible take like that doesn’t come from a proud Bucs fan. C’monnn, man! The defense is finally at (pretty much) full strength & Bowles is in the midst of having the defense flip the domination switch just like last year’s postseason. Watch. Bucs 23-16.
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:46 am
I said this before and I’ll say this again. Rough Stafford up and we win. Or make Stafford run out of the pocket and we win. The Rams will be trying the same with Brady, but I’ll take Brady over Stafford any day if both get pressured. Brady is simply the much better decision maker. Bucs 31, Rams 21.
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:32 am
Cooper Kupp got 400 more receiving yards than the next closest receiver on the stat sheet this year (Davante Adams). It’s no secret that he is Stafford’s safety valve and works mostly from the slot on short, quick crossers. The defense has to limit the damage by Kupp and take him away from Stafford. The Bucs’ front four must pressure the QB and shut down the run….and the linebackers take Kupp away. But if the linebackers are needed in run support, it becomes a very tall order to stop Kupp. Bringing a safety in to help in the middle exposes the top. If the Bucs can get a lead and make the Rams play from behind, abandoning their run game, then the strategy becomes much more simple.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:03 am
I read that the entire first-string Buc defense is starting today. We have a decent chance to win this game if that is true. Go Mighty Defense and play your best game since Bowles arrived.
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:46 pm
They’ve lit us up everytime we’ve played them.
In 2019 at least we were able to out score them.