D.J. Moore A Silent Bucs Killer
September 16th, 2023
Slowing down a baller.
The Bears stink. However, they may have enough skill mismatches to give the Bucs trouble.
One mismatch Bears receiver D.J. Moore against the Tampa Bay secondary. Already the Bucs are short a strong corner with Carlton Davis ruled out for Sunday.
Davis is often tasked with shutting down the opponent’s best receiver. With the Bears, that would be Moore, who is no stranger to the Bucs. The previous five seasons, Moore played for the Stinking Panthers so he faced the Bucs twice a year.
Per Courtney Cronin of BSPN, Moore has had more production facing the Bucs than any other team.
Moore has had more success against Tampa Bay – 58 catches for 766 yards and three touchdowns – than any other team he’s faced in his six-year career. The opportunity to get the Bears offense on track starts with consciously putting its top weapon in position to make plays.
So this is something for Joe to watch. Of course, the Bucs have to take care of runaround Bears quarterback Justin Fields. But with a depleted secondary, the Bucs have to find a way to slow down Moore.
Naturally, the best way to help a secondary is to put the quarterback on the ground.
It’s one thing to harass a mailbox like Kirk Cousins. It’s quite another thing to bring down a quarterback who has elite mobility.
September 16th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Another way to make up for Moore’s success is to have some of our own….we need our offense to get it gear tomorrow.
September 16th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
The Bucs front seven will create so much pressure that Fields won’t have time to make a play downfield. Even if he did there’s a strong chance he won’t throw it anyway.
I’m more curious how it will go on offense since the bears will be without the D- Coordinator and Eberflus will be calling the defense instead.
September 16th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Still isn’t letting me post my cool comment. *SIGH*
September 16th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
It is a pretty simple game plan against Chicago.
Load the box and stop the run.
Have LVD, D. White or Winfiled shadow Fields.
Be prepared for the dink and dunk and a ton of screen passes.
Make Fields beat you with his arm and downfield passing.
September 16th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Pfffft.
September 16th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Huge game. Take the Bears lightly and we will lose.
Straight up. The Bears will play better this week. They were embarrassed at home. I’d be treating this game as if we are 7 point dogs. This is the NFL. Everybody is beatable.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Can’t post a link here, but there’s a video of Chase Claypool loafing last week on a dozen or so plays, absolutely incredible
September 16th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
They need to bracket Moore and QB spy Fields the whole game. Force Fields to throw
September 16th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Justin Fields got sacked 4 times last week. I think with how Bowles likes to blitz, they’ll have no trouble bringing Fields down.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
No Mercy,
That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to post for almost 2 hours. If we can limit Fields and Moore, we have a good chance to win.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Is USF being quarterbacked by Derek Carr? On 4th down the dummy takes a sack, doesn’t even try to get rid of the ball. What an idiot. Who cares about your stats, throw the ball in the air towards something and hope for the best, it’s a turnover at midfield if you don’t.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:28 pm
What are you guys worried about. This game is an easy of a W as there is. I’m predicting 38-10.
If Bowles somehow loses this game, he should literally be fired. Arians doesn’t lose this game. Not even Dirk loses this game.
Bucs have destroyed the Bears the last three times in Tampa.
2021 – Bucs 38, Bears 3
2018 – Bucs 29, Bears 7
2016 – Bucs 36, Bears 10
No reason the Bucs shouldn’t destroy the team that just traded away the #1 pick in the draft a few months ago.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Oh my God, the fruits on ABC saying they have to go to static cameras because it’s raining. Players can play, fans can sit in the seats, but the camera he/she/theys have to take cover and shelter in place.
Truly embarrassing. Probably some union garbage. Thankfully these cupcakes will soon be replaced by robots and AI so we can get good coverage of games.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:42 pm
@ Rod
USF is playing a great game so far… But I understand your frustration.
Keep in mind Brown is a freshman QB…
He will only get better.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Marine Buc – yeah, I get it, but just a terrible play on his behalf. Just chuck the ball in the air, but don’t take a sack there. Also, on TV, they should never ever ever compare this kid to Quinton Flowers like they were doing last week, that was a huge disservice to him, sets the bar impossibly high for him.
September 16th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
I’ve always liked that guy since his Maryland Terps days. He’s no easy cover. Hoping we play smart defense this week against Fields and Co.!
September 16th, 2023 at 5:00 pm
@ Rod
“Just chuck the ball in the air”
I agree.
Sometimes it seems like the ability to give up on a play is a very rare trait with young inexperienced QBs.
IMO – Tom Brady’s ability to throw the ball away and move on to the next play was one of his best attributes.
September 16th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
good luck Zyon
September 16th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
Double him and rush 3
Dude cant read d’s
September 16th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Marine. Agreed. Stuff the box and go man up.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
For some reason, when Bucs go soft zone, everything breaks down…
September 16th, 2023 at 6:02 pm
I am a Bucs fant through and through. But this a horrible spot emotionally. Bears season hinges on this game. Bears 20 Buccaneers 14.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Rod, if it’s pouring at a game, the cameras are worth a bundle$$$$. Go price one, plus the lenses. So, they will shut down the coverage to protect the equipment. I hope it will be halfway decent weather tomorrow at kickoff. At least, no hurricanes.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:38 pm
Hmm, he also played the Bucs, Saints, and Falcons more than any other team, kinda that has some impact
September 16th, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Deans a better man cover than Davis is so you might as well have Dean earn his big money tomorrow. Plus they could do what they should have done last week with Jefferson and have 2 players on him at all times. Why they didn’t do that last week from the word go just blew me away
September 16th, 2023 at 6:53 pm
orlbucfan — before the stoppage, for a single lightning strike a few miles away, it was just heavy rain and they said they removed the camera people – not the cameras – for “safety” reasons. It was ridiculous. I’d have no problem if they said we’re protecting our s–t it’s expensive – but there’s no safety concern about it raining. Really ridiculous how soft everything is getting.
For tomorrow, it looks like there’s less of a chance of rain than originally forecasts, but who knows, it’s going to be hit or miss. For the Bucs sake, it would be great to get a shower right around kickoff, assuming the Bears get the ball, then that’s it – and it’s a nice super hot steamy afternoon. Make all those July and August workouts mean something by giving the Bucs a meaningful home field advantage.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Rod Munch Says
Bucs have destroyed the Bears the last three times in Tampa.
Bucs have a 4 game winning streak against the Eagles. So put the Bucs down as 3-0 going into the Saints game? Another lay down?
Hopefully the team doesn’t go into the game with your mentality because that is one of the worse things they can do.
I don’t have to go back as far as 2016. Just 2022. 49ers and Patriots may have looked at the Bears in the same light and came away with the L’s.
September 16th, 2023 at 6:58 pm
Kind of bumb. So of the division teams, he had the most yards on us. 1 out of 3. Whatever.
September 16th, 2023 at 7:22 pm
D Cone Says:
Bucs have destroyed the Bears the last three times in Tampa.
Bucs have a 4 game winning streak against the Eagles. So put the Bucs down as 3-0 going into the Saints game? Another lay down?
——
Yes, I’ve said since the schedule came out the Bucs will beat the Bears, then the Eagles, they’ll be the talk of the NFL, how Mayfield is the second coming…
Well, then you picked up the rest of the story. The Saints are a stumbling block. But the real downer, in the orange jerseys, vs the Lions, a team they never beat in Tampa… Well, I spent all summer comparing this team to the old Ray Perkins Bucs for a reason, those teams started out hot, beat really good teams as well.
But, maybe I’m wrong about that second part, hopefully.
But I’m not wrong about the Bucs destroying the Bears. Just like if the Bucs were on the road in Chicago, I’d be 100% confident that the Bears would blow out the Bucs. It’s just the way things are.
But, last year, even though the Bucs always beat the Packers at home – I said they weren’t winning that game, mainly because they stole that victory in NO and Mike was out. So I do not strictly stick to trends, it’s mixed with a gut feeling, and my gut says this is going to be a big blow out victory, and then the Bucs will follow it up by beating the Eagles… then, well…
September 16th, 2023 at 8:12 pm
Miller5252
You typed my post for me! lol I was wondering why people forgot Jamel Dean who when on fire is as good a cover as you could want…and when he’s healthy.
Sadly while I love the Bucs DB’s…both Davis and Dean while dependable ON the field are not as dependable to BE ON THE FIELD. Sadly I’m getting the same fears for Winfield but it’s early in his career.
Still that’s three guys you can only PENCIL in with an eraser at the ready.
September 16th, 2023 at 9:31 pm
Time to ride !
September 16th, 2023 at 10:23 pm
Bowles can’t wait a whole half before adjusting on a player torching our secondary. What Jefferson did to them was on him because he refused to come up off that zone defense he and Kissing Cousins ate for breakfast and lunch. At least he gave them bread and water in the 2nd half but he’s gotta adjust sooner
September 16th, 2023 at 10:25 pm
DJ Moore is no J Jefferson. The Bears suck.
September 16th, 2023 at 11:57 pm
Yup! he has absolutely killed us!
Time to put a stop to that Todd!
Go Bucs!
September 17th, 2023 at 12:05 am
They will play zone to keep Moore in front of them and hope to tackle well. As stated above, I agree that 45 and 54 play the hero ball on defense this week. They gotta stop the run, clean up the plays, and keep Fields in check. I think they get the job done. LFG.
September 17th, 2023 at 12:42 am
mailbox 🙂 pure gold