Return Of “The Gravediggers”
September 12th, 2022
Lockdown.
Last year the Bucs’ pass defense wasn’t that great. It didn’t help there were injuries up and down the roster among the defensive backs.
Long story short, the guys that developed the handle “The Gravediggers” lost their shovel.
This year, at least in Week 1, it appears “The Gravediggers” have returned. We all know about Antoine Winfield’s nice interception of Dak Prescott after Prescott was flushed feeling the heat brought by Joe Tyron-Shoyinka with Shaq Barrett in his face.
Well, Carlton Davis balled out last night. Per NextGen Stats, Davis was not to be toyed with by Prescott or his targets.
It seems Davis was targeted nine times last night, or at least receivers stepped into Davis’ personal space. Of those nine, only two were completed.
How about CeeDee Lamb? Well, when he went against Davis, the Bucs’ veteran corner locked him up. Lamb was lamb-like against Davis. Soft. No catches with Davis covering him.
So don’t give Joe any smack about Davis not being a top defender.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:04 pm
He had a nice game. I thought Jamel Dean played well too, defending a couple passes with timely breakups. Keep it going boys!
September 12th, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Grave diggers is a silly nickname..
Stay with the nautical/pirate theme…
What is a jail called on a pirate ship?
brig
A brig was a prison aboard any sailing vessel.
Seattle was the legion of boom… our secondary can be “The Brig” as in lock ‘em up in the Brig.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Great game, small sample size. We want more.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
Jmarkbuc. That is corny lol. No one is gonna say the Brig lol.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:15 pm
I’m surprised and thrilled that our secondary played so well, but it’s just one game. If our secondary doesn’t get embarrased in the next three games, I’ll be convinced that they’re good.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Injury plague transferred from the CBs to the OL. I think I’d rather it return to the CBs for Tom’s sake.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
The Briggers ?
Grave diggers is a silly nickname..
Stay with the nautical/pirate theme…
What is a jail called on a pirate ship?
brig
A brig was a prison aboard any sailing vessel.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
The corners were supposed to dominate their sorry receivers. Can’t get recognition on the national stage for that. Go in here week two shut down olave and slant boy then we can talk
September 12th, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Pewter power
Agreed.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
Jmark…. those that earned it get to choose the name. They aren’t asking for suggestions from us.
September 12th, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Jmark.
How about Ye grave diggers? Oh hell yeah, GO BUCS!!
September 12th, 2022 at 2:38 pm
I love the name grave diggers…the got the name for ending legendary qbs careers…drew Brees..Rodgers n so on
September 12th, 2022 at 2:50 pm
Right in the spot Pewter Power….
You couldn´t say it better, my friend……..
September 12th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
GRAVEDIGGERS!!!
That is their nickname, that is what they call themselves. It is awesome and absolutely fits the pirate theme.
Davis and Winfield played great. Dean and Edwards and Ryan all looked pretty good too.
DEFENSE!
September 12th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Well, it is the NFL so defensive backs have more bad games than good games.
When end of the season passer ratings are 100 and completion ratios are 68 percent, it should celebrated every time a team gives up no TDs, gets an INT, gets 6 pass defendeds, allows only 50% completion, and allows only 3.8 yards per pass attempts.
Did the Rams with Jalen Ramsey last year have any games as good as this one?
September 12th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Very very stout last night. Davis and Dean have always been able to do this, for whatever reason though they’ve been forced to play so much off coverage in the past. After the first series last night Bowles decided to let everybody play up, which was obviously a wise move.
Antoine Winfield is being allowed to spread his wings this year. Keep an eye on him from here on out. He’s going to have a special season if Bowles keeps using him like he did last night.
September 12th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
The Brig!?!? WTF lololol
September 12th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Didn’t get to see Keanu Neal out there thumping people. I only noticed him on special teams. Just wait until he gets involved
September 12th, 2022 at 3:33 pm
ANDDDDD how many interceptions dropped….AGAIN?
September 12th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
No brig on a pirate ship. Walk the plank or keel hauled. Keel hauling was a really effed up deal.
September 12th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Geno you are spot on. Thank you.
September 12th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Winfields interception def felt like a bit spark and defense never turned back. Be nice if we caught the others
September 12th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Buccos brought up a topic I haven’t read a lot about today.
Yes we mentioned that we may have found the next Ray Guy and it is exciting to have a punter who can kick the air out of the ball…great punting can really turn a game.
But even great punters need another great ten guys around them to have a truly “special” special teams. I was very pleasantly surprised by our Special Teams coverage. Reeves and Otton and other new faces have really improved that unit.
The thing about special teams is that they can change quickly because teams do not specifically draft for them other than to consider that abilility in other position players as perhaps a determinant. IE Scotty Miller is still here and Tyler Johnson is not. Although Scottie didn’t dress last night so we must have some studs on that unit this year.
Perhaps I remember incorrectly but in the Brady era at least I feel our special team coverage has sucked. I have no stats to back this up…just gut feelings so if someone like GENO who pays attention to facts can bring me some stats that our special teams weren’t that bad the past two years I’d be happy to eat some crow. I’ve had to do it so much over the decades I’ve developed a taste for it. lol
September 12th, 2022 at 6:56 pm
Keel Haulers! Then the other team will have to look it up to see what it means! Great idea, Anon.
September 12th, 2022 at 7:02 pm
@Jmarkbuc,
Thanks for the Cliff Notes. The Grave Diggers is perfect. Pirates would either toss the dead to sea or bury their own.
Just to explain “The Brig”, our guys would have to do a Jackson Mahomes tiktok dance. No thanks.
September 12th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
I believe Gravedigger monster truck made several appearances in Tampa…
September 12th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
The secondary definitely stepped up, but 1 game does not make a season. Maybe hold the confetti, 16 more reg seasons games to go, let alone post season.
It is good to see them pull their weight for the first time since the Super Bowl Run.
But this is what HAS to happen if the Bucs are going to be legit threats to take the Lombardi in Feb 2023.
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 13th, 2022 at 12:04 am
I’m glad to see the secondary play so well but…. Besides CeeDee Lamb who are the Dallas receivers? Nobody that’s scaring anybody. I never said CD didn’t have top 10 skills. He does. The question that never got asked was why did Rams receivers get wide open for touchdowns last year. I know there was a media blackout after the game but someone should have put the coaches and players involved heels to the fire and got some kind of explanation. Until I hear one I’ll reserve judgment on whether these corners can be elite.
September 13th, 2022 at 1:21 am
Weinfield moving to the nickel is awesome. Bowles ask him for seven picks and he’s got one already. Logan Ryan had a great night. Everyone was all over the place.