Historic Defense
October 27th, 2023
Fourth quarter for the ages.
Is anyone else like Joe this morning? Joe was fully outraged last night at the Faux Field Goal and, at halftime, Joe envisioned a lot of things happening with the Bucs in the next three months that are just not pleasant to think about.
That all seemed to change for Joe in the fourth quarter. Yeah, the glacial-like urgency (?) of the offense was frustrating, but man, if Chris Godwin turns around, Joe’s typing about a win and we are all too hungover to remember Sabby the Goat flashbacks provided by Ryan Neal.
It just doesn’t feel like a real loss this morning the way the Bucs nearly stole a win in northwestern New York.
Well, part of that is because the Bucs defense was historic in the fourth quarter. Yes, you read that correctly. Joe means “historic.” Per the stats outfit OptaSTATS, the Bucs defense pulled off something that hasn’t been done since Al Gore invented the internet.
Now, can the Bucs defense be counted on to pull this off the rest of the season to keep the team in games? No. Let’s not be silly.
Until proven otherwise, the Bucs have major flaws. Too many to overcome, this Joe thinks, now that the Bucs have a losing record entering November.
Is the season lost? No. Not yet. Joe doesn’t know how many rabbits the team can pull out of its hat the rest of the way to be a playoff team.
Joe guesses the bright side is, the Bucs haven’t yet used one of those rabbits. Well, maybe last night they did.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Too bad those punts landed in the 5 lol.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:20 am
Not to take away from our defense’s effort but the Bills played very conservatively the last 4 drives trying to protect a 14 point lead.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:23 am
Jim Harbaugh should be priority #1!
October 27th, 2023 at 10:24 am
How about the first 3+ quarters? Could not stop the Bills
October 27th, 2023 at 10:25 am
3 in a row and 4 of 5 Baker Mayfield is not the answer.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:25 am
I care more about the horrid defense of the first three quarters. I would also say something bad about the offense, but that is for another post.
The first three quarters the Bucs defense would not have been able to stop a three year old from moving the ball. That is going to mean the Bucs will always be in a hole and the Baker led offense could get out of a hole with a backhoe.
Something needs to happen to make the entire team play a whole game, starting with the first whistle that supposedly starts the game. They are not a come back team, they need to win from the start.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:29 am
Agree Tampabaybucfan…was about to say the same thing. And they intentionally were letting us have 4 and 5 yard gains on the excruciatingly llong drive, as long as we stayed in bounds, for the express purpose of burning the clock (which worked perfectly for them).
Sure felt like they were just toying with us for most of the 4th quarter. Nearly blew up in their face at the end, but let’s keep things in perspective here.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:30 am
Look the defense is good but the bend don’t break mentality is hard to watch. Why let them sustain drives then crack down. A great defense imposes their will right off the bat. We make every quarterback look all pro.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:32 am
This game was classic Dirk Koetter ball. Play horrible for 3 quarters on the verge of a blowout them some how make the game somewhat interesting at the last possible second….
Despite the “history”‘ The Bucs defense was not impressive at all last night, the only good plays the defense made was from the Bills shooting themselves in the foot like Allen taking a sack on 3rd and 1 or them not running a QB sneak at the 1 yard line.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:39 am
Can’t keep relying on having to go for it on 4th down and the opponent commit a penalty every time to keep the Bucs drive alive… Balls bouncing off helmets to luckily be caught for a 2 point conversion….. The Bucs did not get blowed out is the ONLY positive and that is more on the Bills playing conservative!
October 27th, 2023 at 10:42 am
You’re an idiot. He never said that. In fact, what he DID say was in reference to being part of legislation that helped create the internet as we know it… which is true. You republicans never give up dispensing idiotic counter-factual smears. Never let the truth get in the way of your propaganda.
October 27th, 2023 at 10:45 am
Calm down Tipper. Ever hear of “sarcasm?”
October 27th, 2023 at 10:49 am
Good let him be DC not HC/DC we need hire a HC with a brain
October 27th, 2023 at 10:52 am
Let’s think about this. Your team has a 14 point lead, your opponent has a terrible offense, and your punter is dropping dimes inside the 5. Why would they do anything else?
October 27th, 2023 at 11:05 am
@realistic-optimistic,
Bingo!!!. Clearly our offense is nothing to fear. If it wasn’t for the bills screwing up on 4th Down we didn’t never had a shot at the touchdown in the 4th quarter. And quite honestly that we’re lucky to have gotten one with Mayfield bouncing the ball off people’s helmets.
October 27th, 2023 at 11:15 am
This loss was NOT Baker Mayfield’s fault. He and the WRs were the only one’s earning a paycheck last night.
October 27th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Dungydance, what you said is somewhat true from the Bills POV. However, one thing I noticed with the Bucs on that long drive was that they really had no sense of urgency. It seemed like Baker was hiking the ball with under 4 or 5 seconds throughout that drive, bleeding away precious time! That is on Canales as well as Baker. Poor clock management. Why not some hurry up?
October 27th, 2023 at 11:28 am
TBBF, agree completely. They were primarily trying to burn time off the clock. Run three plays then punt and pin the Bucs deep in their own territory. Then only give up short passes as the Bucs moved the ball down the field. Had the Bucs played with more urgency the last half of the the 4th Qtr, the Bill’s strategy might have backfired, with the Bucs pulling off an upset. They almost did any way.
October 27th, 2023 at 11:32 am
@Sascrotch…got your lil libtard feelings hurt, LOL.
October 27th, 2023 at 11:32 am
They switched coverage to press man on those drives.
October 27th, 2023 at 11:46 am
bucsfaninOregon Says:
October 27th, 2023 at 11:15 am
This loss was NOT Baker Mayfield’s fault. He and the WRs were the only one’s earning a paycheck last night.
What are you watching. Baker has no poise in the pocket, throws late on timing patterns, and flat out does not see open receivers. I don’t know why people continue to make excuses for this guy, he is not good, below average at best.
October 27th, 2023 at 11:57 am
Hey Mike S. You always bring the vinegar every day. How miserable you must be. Why don’t you defend your statements with some facts? Give us a peek into your deep well of knowledge for a change. Tell us why Mayfield is so bad and Trask would do it better. And remember, Trask isn’t as mobile so all those hands and arms that Mayfield gets away from will at least result in a few sacks. Go to Greg Auman on Twitter, today he has all the stats on NFC South QBs. Mayfield leads every other QB in every category in our Division. Go to ESPN and check QB Ratings. Mayfield is 15 RTG and 16 in QBR, right in the middle. Throw in rushing and blocking issues he sometimes works with, not bad for an off-season, low-cost pickup. So come on Mike S. show us the receipts.
October 27th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Tell us why Mayfield is so bad and Trask would do it better. And remember, Trask isn’t as mobile so all those hands and arms that Mayfield gets away from will at least result in a few sacks. Go to Greg Auman on Twitter, today he has all the stats on NFC South QBs. Mayfield leads every other QB in every category in our Division. Go to ESPN and check QB Ratings. Mayfield is 15 RTG and 16 in QBR, right in the middle. Throw in rushing and blocking issues he sometimes works with, not bad for an off-season, low-cost pickup.
October 27th, 2023 at 12:10 pm
@SlyPirate….exactly. Dean and Davis are press corners. Bog physical corners who can use their size. We can’t press every play but far too often they are playing in a soft zone. Bucs aren’t paying 2 corners over 30 million combined to play soft zone…oh and neither of those players has an interception this season. Pass rushers over corners all day everyday
October 27th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
TYE yes. Jim harbaugh would have a contract in place already!!
October 27th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
^^^
What pocket? He has to scramble or duck almost every time.
October 27th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Absent a total collapse, i’d give bowles and licht more time to replace some great players that time and injury have taken .
He is one of the best defensive coaches. we’ve just got to find an offensive coach to go with him if canales doesnt make the grade
October 27th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
What about they are “historic” in the other 3Q, you know, when the game is still reachable and the other team is not being too conservative with their offensive play call?
THAT would be “historic”! Please…. You know better than this Joe!
October 27th, 2023 at 1:06 pm
The offense is starting to get its act together between its new coach and the players. I don’t know enough about BM. I know Trask. He’s taller than Mayfield. Should Canales practice the h3ll out of him with the 1st team O? Someone is beginning to comprehend that there are a LOT of talented receivers in different positions on this Bucs offense. Two are RB White and TE Otton.
October 27th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Bowles called a damn corner blitz from Diggs’ cover man….I was like wtf. We could have gotten the ball back with more time if we stopped them there.
October 27th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Joe: Is the season lost?
———–
Is Todd Bowles you head coach?
Is Baker Mayfield your starting QB?
Yes on all accounts.
October 27th, 2023 at 3:06 pm
Idc what fans are saying defense bends but doesn’t break. They give up a lot of yards but are great at stopping them from scoring. That’s all that matters. If they can fix the blown coverages and get pressure the defense will be elite. Offense is the one that needs all the attention. Bowles is a great DC but HC not so much. Example of that is that faux field goal come on Bowles side has the leg to hit that 59 yarder he hit a 57 with ease the one that was missed got tipped b
October 27th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
The season is not lost.
That implies something that can’t be found. This is a typical Todd Bowles thing. Some promise, but too many inconsistencies, busts, missed assignments, poor execution. Horrible decisions, and bad luck.
Bad luck goes to chumps usually.
If the chump suit fits, Todd, wear it.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Buffalo knew our offense wasn’t going to do jack, so they punted 4 times… pinning us near or goal line… It was not historic on our part by any means… The conservative approach to protecting their 14 point lead almost came back to bite them… Kind of reminded me of us, the Bucs, playing conservative ball… It’s hard, but I still love them, GO BUCS!!!
October 27th, 2023 at 11:46 pm
Those 4 punts probably had more to do with our anemic offense than our strong defense. “Why not punt it to them? Like they’ll do anything with the ball when we give it to them…”