“We Gotta Get Back To That Standard”
September 5th, 2023
Shaq Barrett is now No. 7; Leonard Fournette has no team.
The Buccaneers’ season may come down to one relatively boring element of the game, one the team used to master at a historic level.
Yes, Joe is referring to run defense. In 2019 and 2020, the Bucs truly were legendary run stoppers. Then came a half-step back in 2021 before a full step backward last season, when the team was an average run-stuffing unit.
With Alexander Mattison replacing Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook on Sunday for the Bucs’ opening day matchup against the Vikings, Joe knows it’s the perfect time for the team to restore its run defense.
It’s been a focus since the spring and now it’s time to put it on the field. Literally, there are no excuses. The Bucs have the premium horses to stop the run.
Frankly, if Todd Bowles can’t get his guys to produce a suffocating run defense, then Joe has to question Bowles’ fitness as a coach.
Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett weighed in on this subject yesterday.
“We gotta get back to that standard of nobody can run on us,” Shaq said. “And we’ve been working on that, like coming into training camp we knew that was a problem — to get back to our stingy run defense. So we’ve been working on that already. So we’re just trying to just elminate everything we need to elminate so we’re ready to peak from Week 1 all the way to the end of the year.”
Healthy Vita Vea, Devin White, Shaq Barrett, tackling defensive backs, and more. It’s time to stop the run again, gentlemen.
Ira Kaufman Draws A Line In The Sand On Todd Bowles’ Bucs Future, Names His Overachiever On Offense, And Much More
September 5th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
From your clicks to the Football god’s ears! Go Bucs!
September 5th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Honestly, I don’t hold out a lot of hope for that. The burning desire is not there anymore and Bowles isn’t the type of inspirational leader that ignites passion.
I believe that the Super Bowl defense was more about BA’s attitude and the Brady fire – he demanded that everyone up their game.
This year’s team has proven guys with a history of loafing, being out of their gaps, and players that aren’t who they were 3 years ago.
The talk is still there but the walk is not.
September 5th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
you wann stop the run you need SUH!
true beast.
until the D line steps up they will steamroll us. I am hopeful and do think they have at least gotten younger. we’ll see if the talent is there and the nickle drops this year.
September 5th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
Trying to relive the glory year (not years) is gonna be tough.
September 5th, 2023 at 2:53 pm
Lol at SUH.
Like he was the only guy to stop the run.
Passion isn’t there anymore?
What?
September 5th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Kancey can go a long way to helping that. Did he practice today Joe?
September 5th, 2023 at 3:13 pm
IDK, Hall and JTS don’t give me a lot of confidence. Kancey is a total unknown at this point. Guess we shall see on Sunday.
Think this defense is going to need to blitz Cousins a lot and play a lot more press coverage. Not so concerned about the run, unless it’s Cousins scrambling.
September 5th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Barrett is back. White is happy. Kancey will be a monster, though he may need to develop a bit. LD is LD. Two of the best corners in the league (sub 75). YAYA itching to step in if JTS doesn’t step up. One of the greatest defensive minds as HC.
I’m hyped AF for our D this year.
September 5th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
That legendary run Defense in 2019, that was 4th best since the merger in 1970 was anchored with Suh. They were good again in 2020 and 2021 but not 2019 good. That Run defense was anchored by Suh, like it or not. It is not a coincidence that when Suh left so did the stout Run D. 2022 was a night and day difference when Suh who never missed a game, was gone and replaced by an oft injued A Hicks.
Go Bucs!!!!
September 5th, 2023 at 4:07 pm
Get back to the 2020 attacking scheme and not this passive soft garbage they ran a lot of last year, and they should get better results. But without Arians there to push Bowles to be aggressive, I just get the feeling we’re going to see more Mike Smith II than anything else.
I hope I’m wrong.
September 5th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
@Divis: As am I. to piggy back…
I’m also excited to see Mike Greene, Watts #58, Yaya, and Calijah not only bring different body types rushes etc. but the ‘youngry’ energy x sprinkled in with the vets (Vea, Gaines, Shaq, Gholston) is going surprise a lot of people.
We had ‘fat cat’ syndrome after winning SB imo and its time to get back to our DOMINATE DEFENSIVE ways.
Go Bucs!!
September 5th, 2023 at 4:58 pm
One person that gets forgotten about from that defense is Jason Pierre-Paul, he was a monster against the run. He held the corner and forced the run inside with Suh waiting. Smart, ditched his blocker early and tackled well. I miss his play on the outside, hopefully Shaq can do some of this because it was missing last year.
September 5th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Yep, this Sunday will be revealing. The right side of the Oline will be assaulted by safety and LB blitzes; the CBS and Safeties will be challenged. We shall see how the QB does. I have very little confidence the Bucs will compete.
September 5th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Blue Ridgs Buc – So Todd Bowles doesn’t show sufficient passion?
You mean like Bill Belichick the GOAT of NFL coaches shows passion?
Oh yeah, that extreme passion. Necessary for wins, huh!
LOL
September 5th, 2023 at 6:19 pm
Duane. Bowles & Belichick should never be mentioned in the same sentence. BB leads commands his team and demands/gets results. TB is as disengaged as he can be.
The players do not fear Bowles, that shows up in the loafing and endless mental errors.
Sadly, this year will be a repeat of last year. Bet on it.
September 5th, 2023 at 6:47 pm
I played against Minnesota on Madden. I was controlling Vea, hit Cousins as he was throwing. Caught by Hockensen who was promptly hit by David. Fumble. Scoop and score Winfield JR. Wouldn’t that be nice? Won the game 28-17 btw.
September 5th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Joe … ‘Healthy Vita Vea, Devin White, Shaq Barrett, tackling defensive backs, and more. It’s time to stop the run again, gentlemen.’
Totally agree on their need to solidify the run defense Joe, but Vea, White & Shaq aren’t the keys IMO. Bucs DLine did a meh job of holding their gaps last year and more importantly did a lousy job of sealing the edges.
We actually had a very good run defense when Akiem Hicks was in there; problem was that he wasn’t in there enough. First 2 games, both wins, we held Dallas to 71 yards rushing & then the Saints to 100 yards rushing. Did good in Game 3 also, holding the Packers to 67 yards rushing and only 14 points (that’s OK though, our offense out-did them by scoring only 12 points in the loss). But then the bottom fell out in terms of the rushing defense; letting the Chiefs pile up 189 yards rushing was abysmal & it went downhill from there.
Adding Greg Gaines is huge IMO, as is bringing back Will Gholston (great at stopping the run). Hall beefing up hopefully helps, because he was a liability last year. And hopefully George Edwards has taught out younger OLBs how to seal the edges (JTS in particular needed a lot of work there). Can’t wait to see what we’ve got this Sunday.
September 5th, 2023 at 11:26 pm
Agreed that the train left town with The dreadful decision of not signing Suh.
Best interior lineman we’ve ever had next to Warren Sapp.
Prove me wrong
September 6th, 2023 at 1:01 am
We could not tackle worth a damn last season, especially early. We need to come out of the gate tackling well this year if we want to at .500 early in the season.
Preseason did not look good in this regard…It is preseason thoough so…Who knows. Gholston, LVD and Gaines should be solid and Vea is of course Vea. JTS, White, and Hall. All need to step up! As for the rookies. Kancey who knows… but Diaby looked solid.
Go Bucs!
September 6th, 2023 at 6:52 am
If Winfield can’t go we are in trouble. That’s how important he is to this defense. Forget about Kancey doing anything for at least 4 to 6 games. He’s missed so much time to develop he’ll be useless for some time.