“Teams Have A Method For Trying To Attack This Defense”
October 27th, 2022
You know it’s getting bad for Todd Bowles when a Bucs legend is on the team website implying that the NFL has figured out his defense.
Bowles has been relying more on zone coverage than in past seasons, notes Rondé Barber, and that’s allowing quarterbacks to get the ball out quickly in short drops and neutralizing the Tampa Bay pass rush.
Two weeks in a row that has burned the Bucs, per Barber speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network, and now with injuries to top cornerbacks, it’s even more unlikely that Bowles will ask younger corners to win at the line of scrimmage in tight coverage.
“Change for change” is on Barber’s mind, he said, because the current alternative isn’t working.
“It’s pretty clear that teams have a method for trying to attack this defense at this point,” Barber added.
Even more scary is the “method” Barber referenced was being executed by bottom-tier quarterbacks. Of course, the Bucs have little margin for error defensively because the offense has been so anemic.
Simply stated, the Bucs are playing the losing version of complementary football.
October 27th, 2022 at 7:59 am
You mean they’ve taken note that our corners lay back 10 yards on third and 5? Actually, I’ve noticed a lot of BIG runs are them just plowing up the middle, (like we continuously try to)
October 27th, 2022 at 8:04 am
Bowels has not admitted to his major f up last year and last play against the Rams and that crappy call; the bucs have not bounced back from leaving the best player in football wide open to win a game
October 27th, 2022 at 8:07 am
Bowles Defense only works IF the Pass Rush gets there. If not, it is quickly exposed.
Ronde Barber is correct that other teams have figured us out, and we have yet to adjust.
Tony Dungy led teams always adjusted, even at halftime!
But Bowles has shown me that he is as stubborn as Lovie Smith.
October 27th, 2022 at 8:16 am
When everyone was talking about more pass rush, I was saying what Ronde was said here
“and that’s allowing quarterbacks to get the ball out quickly in short drops and neutralizing the Tampa Bay pass rush”
You leave yourself wide open to get picked apart, while neutralizing the pass rush.
This is not going to change anytime soon.
Most likely at best it will be 1 and done in the playoffs, that is, if they make the playoffs.
Rough seas for the good ship Buccaneer for the foreseeable future.
They need at least 2 more drafts of talent and free agents to right this ship.
GO BUCS!!!!
October 27th, 2022 at 8:21 am
Lord knows i love a good laugh. I looked at ESPN’s % for tonight’s game and they have the Bucs at 55% chance of winning. PLEASE fire Heckle and Jeckle!!!! Just to be safe fire the cheerleaders too
October 27th, 2022 at 8:22 am
Chris Apple..
“Tony Dungy led teams always adjusted, even at halftime!”
Dungys defense could generate a pass rush with the 4 down lineman, what a luxury, this 2022 defense just is not able to do that. They need to blitz and bring the kitchen sink, and still do not get there so many times.
GO BUCS!!!!
October 27th, 2022 at 8:23 am
Unfortunately the trend that Ronde is pointing out has been used before against a Buc D in 2018: that led to the departure of a lazy defensive coach who never made adjustments during 3 straight excruciating losses and subsequently the HC losing his job after a 5-11 debacle. Seems like there are lot of similarities between the stubborness of the 2022 coaching staff and the 2018 staff, especially if the Bucs get boat raced like many expect……
October 27th, 2022 at 8:25 am
They better buckle the chinstraps tight tonight, the Ravens are going to try and smash the run game and play action to Andrews – no secrets
I am scared for them, I don’t think it’s going to go well but hope I am wrong
October 27th, 2022 at 8:36 am
Do or die.
October 27th, 2022 at 8:47 am
I dont like Bowles or Leftwitch so I could care less if they go I LUVMY BUCS but anyone with any sence knows this season is a wash with these clowns at the helm.
October 27th, 2022 at 9:06 am
Clueless Todd’s defense if perfect! Clueless Todd told me himself!
Ravens 40 Bucs 13
October 27th, 2022 at 9:26 am
The Ravens are a bad matchup for this defense. They will take advantage of all the bad run fits, and Jackson is playing at a high level. They will hold onto the ball, and try to wear the defense down in the second half. Huge gut check for the defenders tonight.
October 27th, 2022 at 9:29 am
I would add the defense has often been too quick to bite down hard on a distraction so they rush out of their zone or assignment which leaves a big hole for a runner or a receiver to get yards.
October 27th, 2022 at 9:29 am
This defense relies heavily on the offense controlling the clock and consistent scoring to keep pressure on the opposing team to keep up. This defense/scheme doesn’t have the personnel to shut down teams week after week. Whites biggest strength is blitzing, he’s pretty avg in run defense and pass coverage. Our DEs rely on speed, they’re undersized to control the line for four qtrs. We have NO shutdown CB….it’s really impossible for this defense to have much success if the offense is sputtering. Eventually they tire and opposing teams pull away in the 4th.
October 27th, 2022 at 9:45 am
Vea should only play 30% to keep the big fella fresh, Bowels is just as predictable as BL, how does Licht and Glaizers not see this, F BA’s feelings, he’s numb anyway. Rhonda and every other ex- player is saying the same thing about the predictable O & D. This team sucks to watch. When was it ok to for the Jets to dump their trash at One Bucs Place?
#BATBBLkilledtheGoat
October 27th, 2022 at 9:51 am
Bobby@ so what was the excuse the last two seasons when the O averaged 31 pts a game? The excuse then was they were tired. What I see is same o, same o with the exception of better personnel on D with Suh & JPP. JPP’s injury killed the D last season.
They have one hope, Brady over rules BL and O scores points and White shadows Jackson and does his job. Let’s see if the 2 time looser changes anything up.
October 27th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Jackson will run through this defense and have a fantastic night. Although his passing accuracy is suspect his legs are not. Expecting to be in a bad mood at the end of the day. Hoping I’m terribly wrong.
October 27th, 2022 at 9:54 am
I’m afraid we are not going to contain Jackson at all tonight and if we do, he’s going to pick us apart. Tonight’s going to be a tough game. We could definitely use a big offensive show…..
October 27th, 2022 at 10:01 am
Shouldn’t have to even game plan for it, it is going to be like a practice run, ugly.
October 27th, 2022 at 10:01 am
Since Bowles came here at 2019 the team when is facing a Backup or a Rookie QB had pkayed too SOFT instead of bringing the pressure. It happens every time and i still cant understand it. The time to crank up the pressure and throw more to the opposing Offense is when they are playing a Rookie or a Bacup QB and Bowles just doesnt do it, just sit back and waits for a mistake instead of pushing for one.
If you look at the first 3 games the Defense was flying around making plays, putting pressure, the coverage was tight and we got hands in a lot of passes INTs or break ups. And then suddenly the Defense gone SOFT. No 4 man pressure whatsoever, SOFT coverage, SOFT tackling and players running around out of position. Dont get it. Its not that Zone coverage is the best that most of the players do, too many times are out of position.
The team needs to go to a more agressive mentality on both Offense and Defense.
ATTACK on Defense be more agressive
ATTACK on Offense go hurry up or throw some more intermediate to deep passes.
DO something because things are not working
October 27th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Bowles prevent game plans for all to see in action tonight.
October 27th, 2022 at 11:18 am
Trust your guys in man and let them compete.
October 27th, 2022 at 11:32 am
The players need to hold each other accountable for each and every play of the game. Maybe they’ll listen to each other.
October 27th, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Ronde’s right, but it goes much deeper than that. Our pass defense has actually been quite good. We’ve given up the 6th FEWEST passing yards in the league thus far this year, and opponents’ Net Yards Gained per Pass Attempt sits at 5.3 … 4th lowest in the NFL. Not only that, but our defense has only given up 119 first downs thus far this year … to rank #2 in the NFL. And opponents are only completing 63.2% of their passes, much lower than in years past.
Of those 119 first downs, 71 have come by passing (59.7%), pretty much in line with the percentage of passes being completed. That’s actually quite low compared to past years. An additional 9 first downs have come by penalties (7.6%); not all that bad. But the remaining 32.8% have come via the rush. That’s MUCH HIGHER than in 2021 (27.3%), in 2020 (24.5%), and in 2019 (21.1%).
Our problem on defense deals more with FIELD LEADERSHIP and ATTITUDE than anything else. Too many wannabees trying to fill the shoes of Suh, McLendon & JPP. Opponents have figured out how to beat this roster … smashmouth football; we wear down big-time by the 2nd half. And I doubt that it’ll change all that much until we get some new dogs in here.
October 27th, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Dumb it down for Mongo #45…tell him ” chase man wear #8 jersey” and no other responsibilities
October 27th, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Sure they do.
It’s called “Lining up mano e mano, and kicking arse.”
So far it’s worked well.
This team is a bullspit RTP call away from 2-5, staring 3-6 in the face.
I never thought I’d look back on Williamson, Morris, Schiano, and Koetter with pleasant nostalgia—mainly because expectations back then were rather modest—but here we are.
October 27th, 2022 at 2:30 pm
@DR: why pass against the Bucs when you can chew them up alive on the ground?
October 27th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
Tony Dungy’s defenses weren’t just pass rush and sacks by the DL. They were also the linebackers, backed up by the DBs. He didn’t have old farts on his teams like Suh and JPP. He admitted his strength was not offense which is what got him canned. That’s why when the Colts hired him, he made damned sure the O guys coaching Payton Manning, etc. were in place. Go back and look at the NFL history. That is why his Tampa Two defense is considered a standard in excellent defenses. Also, why he is in the HOF. Bowles is very similar. But, he is overshadowed by fossilized Tom Brady. So is the offense and Jason Licht who helped put it together.
October 27th, 2022 at 3:50 pm
Pass rush? What pass rush? Shaq is invisible. JTS9 consistently ends up well behind the qb with a tackle in his face the whole way. I thought this was his year to blow up? The big boys up front aren’t really penetrating. It’s super frustrating to see, especially when we play zone.
Oh Joe, I remember what I was going to say a while back. All this talk of the defense being absolutely PO’d about the Rams game last year, if that’s supposedly the case, then one, why are they playing the way they are? And you can ask White this, how can you be bored if you’re sooooo mad about last year? Fans sure as heck haven’t forgotten. Seems like the defense has.
October 27th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Some great analysis in this thread.
Yes, the blueprint has become more obvious since last season, and glaring right now.
Especially because there is no pass rush and they passed on (good) replacements or upgrades for JPP, Suh, etc. Shaq has been totally silenced. JTS is driven wide and out of countless pass rush attempts. Nobody else has showed anything. Add to this a porous run D, injuries, LBs and secondary out of position….