Stopping The Run
January 21st, 2022
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
We all know how much the Bucs, and in particular defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, covets stopping the run.
In some ways, the Bucs have no peer in this regard. In other ways, the Bucs are one of the worst teams stopping the run.
Chase Goodbread of NFL.com offered up compelling NextGen Stats about the Bucs’ run defense.
The Bucs’ run defense has held opponents to 3.0 yards per carry inside the tackles (first in NFL), but allowed 5.4 yards per carry (30th in NFL) outside the tackles.
Joe thinks he can figure out why the Bucs were so awful stopping teams’ outside run game: injuries.
With Lavonte David missing five games, the Bucs lost one of the game’s best sideline-to-sideline tacklers. How good is David and how important is he to the run defense? Without David, fellow inside linebacker Devin White plays like some average, non-descript linebacker. With David, White is a beast.
The key figure for Joe here is that by getting Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaq Barrett and David back, that really beefs up the Bucs’ run defense, specifically on the outside. We saw evidence of that Sunday when the Bucs shut down the Eagles’ run game.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:14 am
Time for the D to carry the team.
The O carried it all regular season, so semi-limp into the playoffs (yes 2nd seed, but man many of those games were nail biters due to injuries on D).
D is hungry to regain their swagger. They are as healthy as they’ve been since kickoff vs. Dallas.
Let the suffocation begin.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:26 am
I hear you on lavonte but we saw creaks all season even when all LB were “healthy”. this stat would be interesting to see how this spreads out based on when lavonte was healthy. maybe our backup CB couldnt get the tackles done or our safeties?
January 21st, 2022 at 10:31 am
Next to the Saints, I despise the Rams the most, and hope we beat them.
They have literally sold their soul to the Devil to play in a Super Bowl at home, and I would love it if we ruin their party.
Go Bucs!
January 21st, 2022 at 10:33 am
#8, agree 100% correct. Keep Rams off the board. The addition of Akers is not good for the Bucs, he is quick and can break outside, Michel runs more inside. Big game for White this week.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:41 am
Healthy dbs too along with lvd. Plus shaq and jpp out towards end when teams ran more
Would you rather have carlton davis defending on run outside or pierre desir trying to make tackle
January 21st, 2022 at 10:49 am
This game is on the Defense. If they play well the Bucs should win
January 21st, 2022 at 10:52 am
@Chris@Apple Roof
Totally agree! The Bucs and their staff should be extra motivated to stop the Rams for trying to complete the same historical feat we did last year by winning a Super Bowl at home in their own stadium! I mean at least we dont share ours with another team so we will always have that too but this victory would be ever so much sweeter because of that type of win.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:04 am
Bucs D gives up 34 like last time, might as well start pouring the Pina Coladas on the sideline.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:03 pm
That ‘stat’ is skewed by a handful of long breakaway runs to the outside that mostly occurred while LD54 was out or playing injured.
I think the Bucs Defense (which is getting healthy at just the right time) – is going to step up big time against the Rams and help propel this team to the NFC Championship game for the 2nd year in a row……
January 21st, 2022 at 2:18 pm
Cam Akers looked dynamic last week, and his legs are fresh. Need to shut his a$$ down.
January 21st, 2022 at 2:22 pm
As Ira has mentioned many times during the season, our tackling has been outright awful. Specifically our open field tackling. That’s leading to the average just as much if not more than injuries.
January 21st, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Can’t agree more Joe , for once
On D If everyone is where there supposed to be and tackle well and in general come out to fight
Then Bucs shut down the run!
Force them to pass
Well then let’s just say we best start digging some 6ft graves for the visitors
January 22nd, 2022 at 12:01 am
I’m not concerned about that. Last week against the Eagles with Shaq, JPP & LVD back all was right with stuffing the run.
January 22nd, 2022 at 1:22 am
Matthew Stafford against Tom Brady. LOL.
January 22nd, 2022 at 11:32 am
We will need to look to the 49ers, and how they own LA. Defense needs to hit them so hard and male them pay for every inch!!! Were at home boys LFGO!!!!! TAMPA BAY ALL THE WAY